The semi-desert region of the Mexico Sierra Gorda mountains is experiencing the worst drought in 71 years. Rivers and arroyos are dry, and rural arid communities find it difficult to obtain water for food generation. This affects the health and well-being of a population already suffering from marginalization and malnutrition. Extreme poverty has forced mass emigration from the area. SPA funds were used to train and provide materials for a small rural community to build ferrocement cisterns to collect and store water from intermittent rains, otherwise lost. This water was then used to cultivate small patio gardens with amaranth, an ancient nutritious “superfood” native to Mexico but basically forgotten. This photo shows a SPA-supported training/building session. Community members young and old alike participated in training and building of 5 rainwater cisterns, producing 5 associated patio gardens. Training proved portable, as 3 additional cisterns soon showed up in nearby areas.