Corkonians Abroad: We live in paradise... Guatemala

How did you end up across the world in Guatemala?

I came to Guatemala first in 2008. I was 28 at the time and got let go from my job due to the economic downturn. At the time I was pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical industry, but looking back on it I was not very excited at all by the prospect. When I got let go I decided to try and do something more meaningful with my life. I applied for a volunteer position overseas. I was sent to Guatemala and put to work in a rural village in Guatemala. I didn’t know anything about the place, the history or struggles, but I loved it here.

I was extremely moved by the ‘plight’ of the people here and I really wanted to help. At that time I just didn’t know how to do that. 

It was a very confusing time, but along the way I got really interested in agro-ecology and permaculture. I came home for a while but couldn’t really settle. I did a masters in international development in Kimmage. While I was there, studying and thinking about all of the worlds’ problems, I became even more convinced that taking responsibility for ones own choices and actions was the only way forward.

I fell in love with the science of permaculture and ecology. I came back out to Guatemala in 2013 to write my thesis on Permamculture as used by indigenous farmers. I wrote it while working for an NGO called IMAP (the MesoAmerican Permaculture Institute).

I learned a lot working for IMAP and a number of other NGOs and foundations, but I began to yearn to be my own boss and to prove to myself and others that permaculture was not only ecologically sustainable, but that it could work as a business.

My now wife and I and my business partner bought a small piece of land in Tuzunana, Lake Atitlan Guatemala and started a permaculture farm. Over the years we developed it into a farm to table restaurant, guest house and teaching centre.

What is life like in your new home?

I love it here, we live in paradise basically. I live with my young family (3 and a half year old son, and daughter due in July). I travel all over the country (and sometimes continent) doing consultancy and helping to get other permaculture projects off the ground. Our farm is now working like a regular business, so it doesn’t take too much of my time. I have a really good work, life balance. I enjoy hiking around the mountains on the shore of the lake or swimming or canoeing around it. We have a beautiful life here, I’m very grateful.

What has been the biggest challenge?

There is a lot of poverty here. This inevitably means crime and violence are going to be issues. You have to get a lot smarter and tougher than I was brought up to be. The challenge is to keep an open heart. You want to live in the right way, and to try and help people, but you need to be clever about it make sure you protect yourself and your family.

How might you spend your weekends?

My life is very varied, I like to spend time in my garden, go hiking, do BBQs with friends, the lake is wonderful for paddle boarding or going out on canoe.

Of course during the summer months I put on GAA go and watch the hurling. We also have integrated an Irish pub and sports bar into our permaculture farm!!

Tell us a bit about the culture of where you live?

Well, Guatemala is a country that suffered terribly from Colonialism. They are a small country, with very big neighbours (Mexico and the United States), who kind of look down on them. The indigenous people are very religious (mostly catholic) and love to drink, often to excess. They have a great sense of humour and refuse to take life too seriously. So, in a lot of ways I always felt really at home here.

I’m kind of joking of course. Guatemala is a very chaotic place. There is a huge gap between the wealthy and the poor. Being a foreigner here is extraordinary.

Because of the work I do I am able to move between social groups very easily. I spend a lot of time working with campesinos or rural farmers, but I also work with and know a lot of people from the other end of the social demographic. The trick is not to judge. I never put people in a category based on the colour of their skin or their social standing.

It is an extremely diverse, multicultural place. Spanish is the main language but there are 23 languages in total. The rest being different Mayan dialects. There have been so many culture shocks, but the most obvious one is the violence. Several friends of mine have been murdered and I have had guns pointed at me on numerous occasions. It sounds mad, but you do get used to it, and on some level I think it has made me appreciate life a lot more.

Tell us about your line of work?

I’ve basically had to invent my own category as a career. I am a professional permaculture teacher, designer and consultant. My work here taught me that permaculture design holds the solutions to so many of the worlds’ problems. The issue is, before people and organisations can start doing it, some education is necessary.

My partners and I developed a training program which brings our clients ‘up to speed’ on everything from the world of permaculture. We then work with them to brainstorm and solve their most pertinent issues. I work with large farmers, but also with businesses and corporations and people wishing to start ecological communities. 

My work takes me all over the country, and often to other countries. I also offer my service online, through the platform that we created last year. It’s amazing what technology allows us to do these days!!

What has been your most memorable moment in your new location so far?

I mean, I’ve been here so long now and had so many moments!! A few weeks ago I got asked to do a demonstration of how to ‘properly kill a pig’ in a free-range pig farm that I designed. The farm is run by an Italian chef that I’m friends with and we basically just integrated the pigs into the existing coffee forest. It was working really well, but he wasn’t happy at how his workers were doing it. So I offered to help.

What I didn’t know was that he decided to make it into a party. So I show up and there are all these ‘well to do’ people in suits and fancy cloths. The owner of the farm makes these amazing cured meats and he wanted everyone to meet the guy who designed his farm and for them to see how ‘humanely’ he kills his pigs. I said a prayer to Cuchulainn, to guide my hand. Luckily the sacrifice went really well and everyone was happy, but it was another one of those bizarre situations I often find myself in!!

Any special mentions to friends or family back in Cork?

My parents Tony and Maria Hegarty gave me an incredible start in life. And all the boys from FarranFerris.

If you were back in Cork for one day, what would be the ideal day for you?

Few pints of Beamish in the Lobby, before going down the park to see the Cork hurlers beat Limerick in the Munster final. Passing by Muskerry Golf club for a few holes with the ole fella before it got dark. That’d be heaven.

What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

The birth of my second child. Finishing building a few bamboo cabins I been working on and seeing how a few of these large Regenerative projects I’ve been working on come along.

Is there anything that you especially miss about Cork?

The lads, the craic, hurling, my family. A lot really, I hope to be home more in the coming years.