Clams, Crabs, and the Forest Table

While waiting for the tide near Maje, there’s plenty of time to look around—and that’s often when you notice the small, beautiful things.

Tiny shore crabs dart in and out of footprints. Children gently coax them into their hands before letting them scuttle away again. Beneath the sand are small clams, easy to gather by hand and soak overnight. By the next day, they’ll become part of a warm, simple soup—a quiet gift from the river.

Food in the village is often shared. Families specialize—some fish, others raise yucca or collect oysters—and the harvest is exchanged from one household to another. The same is true for weaving: chunga palm, natural dyes, and coil techniques are passed from family to family, just like food.

Nothing is wasted. Nothing is rushed. Every part of the land has something to offer—if you take the time to see it.