Background:
I graduated in December of 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in
Political Science and Anthropology. I accomplished this with many
honors like Dean’s Lists and Magna Cum Laude. Many friends and family
have asked what I wanted to do after graduation. Back then, I was
uncertain about what to do. Now I have my answer. After searching from
many interests, I decided that studying how cultures and societies
deal with their surrounding environment was my call in life. I am now
on a trajectory to obtain a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies
with a concentration in Tropical Conservation and Development.
For this program, I have decided to write a thesis that
involves analyzing my own Cuban culture on the island. This thesis
project aims at understanding the present role of single-family home
gardens in creating differing cultural ties across the Plaza de la
Revolución, a municipality of La Habana, Cuba. The purpose of this
thesis is to provide case studies that would expand upon the current
understanding as to how single-family home gardens are creating social
and cultural links within a barrio. By focusing on case studies in
Plaza de la Revolución municipality, this project sets to elucidate
the home garden’s Cuban context – which has been dominated since the
early 1990s by literature that focuses on the home garden’s role in
plant diversity conservation, economic subsistence, and political resistance.
In order to conduct this research project, I am required to
contribute monetary funds to cover the cost of food, housing, and
transportation. I am also required to pay for my visas and plane
tickets. The 2000 dollars asked in this campaign will go towards
paying for food, housing, transportation, visas, and plane ticket.
What I am asking is not traditional, somewhat atypical. Nevertheless,
would you be willing to support me in pursuing my dream of conducting
social science research in Cuba?
What Is the Problem and Why It Matters?
Most of the research on the island focuses heavily on
politics or biodiversity
conservation. My research aims at
understanding the lived experience of the people. I want to highlight
Cuban cultural love for their environment and their interaction with
their ecosystems. This research attempts to stay away from politics by
looking at daily life and the many social and cultural connections
that come from something so simple as gardening.
Additionally, seeing how these home gardens are also located in
a very urban setting, I
want to utilize my research to highlight
the need for urban green. One cannot deny that the loss of urban green
in cities has led to increased pollution and heat in many contexts.
With more and more humans moving to the cities, I want my research to
give a new dimension to why having urban home gardens is essential to
a healthy city living – with not only giving a biodiverse green space
but also giving a space where culture and social interactions arise.
Price Points and Reward
10 $ Donation- Generalized "thank you" email
25
$ Donation – Personalized “thank you” email
50 $ Donation -
Hand-written thank you note.
100 $ Donation – A digital picture
of a unique aspect of Cuban culture, emailed to you. Every picture
will be different
200 $ Donation - A 3.5x5 physical picture of
a unique aspect of Cuban culture, framed and mailed to you. Every
picture will be different.
400 $ Donation - Name listed in the
Acknowledgement page of thesis
1000 $ Donation - Speaking one on
one or to a group (example; classrooms, retirement homes, etc) of your
choice to talk about Cuban history and culture.
2000 $ Donation
- Speaking to three groups (example; classrooms, retirement homes,
etc) of your choice to talk about Cuban history and culture.
About Me:
Hello everyone! I am Marcos S. Ramos Valdes. I am a
graduate student at the University
of Florida. I am currently
pursuing a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies, concentrating in
Tropical Conservation and Development. I choose this career track
because I am very interested in contributing to society by creating
and formulating socially beneficial research projects that bring an
in-depth understanding of culture and nature. I am very interested in
understanding the culture that arises from the interaction between
humans and plants at different historical scales. I am also interested
in research on Caribbean ethnobotany, the ecology of religion,
indigenous people, and cultural history.
I am originally from El Vedado, La Habana, Cuba. Coming from
Cuba inspired a lot of my academic passions, specifically my love for
plants and animals. Growing on the island, I noticed how many families
had home gardens with a diverse collection of plants. Looking back at
my childhood now that I am a scientist, I am intrigued by the many
cultural and social dynamics that came out of these home gardens.
Seeing this as part of my Cuban heritage, I want to understand this
unique phenomenon and bring new light to my people’s culture.
