A duck house was built, and turtles were introduced. An economic return was provided by the making of ceramics and textiles depicting cosmology and beliefs of the people. A new design for water wheels and water distribution is needed as all of the existing ones are contaminated and disease-ridden. In Guatemala, a tribe of the Mayan people live on the shores of Lake Catalan. The lake, which is sacred, is surrounded by three volcanoes.
Food production is considered sacred and a ritual is performed after harvest.
Alternatives to farming have been found in permaculture. The land had been abandoned by the Catholic Church due to flooding so the raised beds system was implemented to avoid the run-off problem. Swales were established and sand and organic matter were combined to form garden beds. Financial assistance was minimal but the Gaia Foundation have been influential.