Tamandua News - September 2002

Tamanduá Farm celebrates its 25^th anniversary with an evening of singing.

To mark Tamanduá Farm’s 25^th anniversary, a great evening celebration was held on August 15, with the presence of all the Farm’s residents and their families (over 120 people !).

The famous North-Eastern cantador (improvising singer) Ivanildo Vilanova led a remarkable singing session, forming a duo with Fenelon. They enchanted the audience, old and young, with their improvised verses, full of meaning, emotion and fun, accompanied by the viola. Iponax Vila Nova, Ivanildo’s talented son, recited several of his own humorous poems, provoking laughter and mirth.

Ivanildo Vilanova and Fenelon

Pierre Landolt recalling his first days in Nordeste, 1977

Pierre Landolt recalled his first days after his arrival in 1977, and concluded that loyalty, friendship and stability are among the values put into practice here. He congratulated Afonso, Fernando, Manoel Batista and Severino personally; these were our workers from the very start, and continue working with us, together with many of their sons and daughters.

Pierre thanked everyone for their efforts, and particularly Manoel, who made it possible for Tamanduá Farm to win the prestigious Banco do Nordeste Enterprise 21 Award, "recognizing the talent and work of those who have contributed most to the North-East", and making the Farm an example to be followed throughout Brazil.

Finally, he paid tribute to Mrs. Catherine Landolt, who has been at his side since the beginning of this North-Eastern adventure, as well as Didier Jean, the friend who agreed to exchange his life as a Parisian architect for the harsh reality of the sertão.

This event also marked the inauguration of the Zé Bié Cultural Center, installed in an unusual "taipa" (sticks and mortar) house, built and lived in by Zé Bié, Afonso’s father, from 1923 until he passed away in 2000. This house, carefully restored, is a living witness to rural life in the sertão. It still contains all the furniture and every-day implements of a big family of small-scale breeders and farm workers.

From now on it will be the scene of the events and parties held on the Farm, taking special advantage of its large round dance patio. A clay floor covered with sand, it intensifies the marvelous grating sound made by the steps, which is celebrated in many songs of the North-Eastern repertoire, and especially by our Tamanduá Trio, the king of the forró pé de serra (a local dance).

Trainees’ lodgings

The refurbishment of the trainees’ lodgings has been concluded; this will permit us to accommodate guests from Brazil and all over the world, who wish to share the life and work of an organic farm in the North-East, with its diversified and integrated production.

It is close to the Farm House and comprises a living-room, two bedrooms with two beds each, bathroom and kitchen, offering excellent living conditions, as well as a totally independent space.

The first person enrolled, who is doing his final year in Agronomy at the Botucatu Campus of the "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" São Paulo State University (UNESP), will arrive in October in order to do a curricular traineeship in organic fruit production, with a view to preparing the student for professional life.

We are now actively looking for trainees to work during the organic mango harvest, which takes place from the end of October to December. Such trainees will be able to follow the whole cycle, from the harvest itself – with the necessary care in respect of trackability – selection, packaging, palletization and cooling of the first-quality mangoes, as well as the process of dehydrating the second-class mangoes.

Those interested are requested to send a résumé to our e-mail address for further information:
mocoltda@uol.com.br

A flower from the Sertão