Introducing the community of Logoche

Nestled at the southern edge of the Central Valleys, against the backdrop of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains, lies the village of Logoche. This small community of 110-people holds an esteemed position as a hub of artisanal mezcal production in the region.

Reflective of Mexico's diverse legal frameworks, Logoche operates under two distinct systems: federal governance and indigenous customary laws known as Usos y Costumbres. The latter empowers direct community involvement in the welfare of all and in land stewardship.

Central to Logoche's identity is the age-old practice of "Tequio," a communal practice dating back to pre-colonial times. Here, community members come together to work on projects that benefit everyone. In the realm of mezcal production, tequio is enlisted during “la tapada,” the burying of agave piñas that happens during the cook. Whether aiding in the agave roasting process or assisting a neighbor in their endeavors, Logoche exemplifies the significance of community collaboration. Even agave harvesting, an integral aspect of mezcal-making, embraces the communal spirit, highlighting the essential role of joint effort in Logoche's mezcal tradition.

The Challenge: Water scarcity 

Throughout the entire process of mezcal production, water is a constant necessity—from agave cultivation to mezcal distillation. A typical seedbed in Logoche, home to 3,000 plants, demands around 3,600 liters of water per week, drawn from the individual wells of each producer. During the dry season from October to April, plant irrigation takes place weekly. Watering frequency varies based on plant size, with newly planted or smaller plants needing more frequent waterings, while mature plants are tended to once a week.

Every producer family has access to wells on their lands, drawing water for both fermentation and mezcal distillation. The process of fermenting 10 tons of raw agave requires approximately 7,000 liters of water, a ratio of 1kg of agave to 1 liter of water, mixed in fermentation vats or tanks with capacities ranging from 800 to 1400 liters. 

The cooling phase of distillation relies on well water, as each producer's well supplies the necessary water. An estimated 15,000 liters of water are used during the distillation of 10 tons of agave. Cooling tanks are initially filled and emptied as needed throughout distillation, with capacities ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 liters of water.

Water usage for agave cultivation and mezcal production in Logoche:

  • 80% of producers maintain agave nurseries

  • 1,329,000 liters of water are needed per year for nursery irrigation

  • 22 liters of water used to create a single liter of finished mezcal

Project overview:

At the outset of 2023, after months of producer interviews and community surveys in Logoche, we partnered with independent sustainability consultant Selene Osorio to assess the ecological impact of mezcal production. Working in tandem with Logoche's dedicated mezcal producers, we began quantifying water usage, firewood consumption, and plant mass in agave cultivation, cooking, and processing. What emerged from conversations with 15 producers was a unanimous concern—water scarcity.

In response, we united forces with Isla Urbana, an organization dedicated to promoting sustainability across Mexico through rainwater capture, successfully implementing three water capture system at the Grupo Productor Logoche bottling facility, at the Logoche community school, and at the chapel. Each cistern holds between 52,000 and 70,000 liters of rainwater and benefit the entire community.

After effectively implementing these three community systems, families are ready to take the next step: capturing rainwater at their homes and distilleries with 16,000-liter cisterns.

The determination and organization are already in place—what’s missing is your support. Your donation is a powerful gesture of solidarity with a community that refuses to give up.

Below you can watch video documentation of the week of workshops led by Isla Urbana and Semiáridos Latinoamérica which took place in Logoche in May 2024.

Your Contribution:

Your generous donation will directly contribute to the construction of 16,000 liter cement cisterns in 19 family homes, the purchases of the filters and component parts for the integration of the Isla Urbana Kit Chaac filtration system, and the facilitation of essential technical visits and training sessions. Your contribution will also enable us to co-design educational programming on water sustainability with community members through informative sessions and ongoing training sessions throughout 2025 and 2026.

The Road Ahead:

Our aim is to raise $950,000 MXN the equivalent of $48,400 USD to fund the Logoche Water Project / Lluvia para Logoche in partnership with Isla Urbana. All materials with the exception of the filters and the Tlaloques will be locally sourced from Miahuatlán, and the cistern construction will be completed through the collective effort of Logoche community members. NETA will act as the liaison between the Grupo Productor Logoche and Isla Urbana by project-managing in Oaxaca and in Logoche and documenting the progress for donors. We will be fundraising for this goal over the next months through bottle auctions, events, and sales.

About Isla Urbana: Isla Urbana is at the forefront of advocating water sustainability in Mexico through rainwater harvesting.