La Milpa (Corn Field)

In the Costa Chica, corn is clearly the most important crop, and from a young age, boys are taught the ins and outs of planting, weeding, and harvesting. Most boys accompany their fathers in the Summer months, while the work falls on the fathers' shoulders during the school year. Most boys begin to dedicate themselves to farming on a full-time basis once they end their formal education, usually at about 15 years old.