The Harvest

How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
La Cosecha was founded in May 2016 as a cooperative bookstore specializing in texts on global struggles and resistance, feminisms, gender, diversity, dissidence, migration, anticolonial theory, narratives, and contemporary poetry, to name a few. Most of our books are published by independent presses in Mexico and Latin America: here you won't find the classics or the “best sellers", not because we don't like them, but because those books are already widely distributed. We sell only gems that you'll hardly find anywhere else. We don't like shrink-wrapped books, that ugly plastic that covers them; we're a free reading space, so feel free to remove the plastic and sit down to read, browse, and smell all the volumes you find.

What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
This space is our haven of ideas; many hours of our lives unfold here, among free books, pages, and words. Wonderful ideas have been harvested here, and undoubtedly, the moments of reading, book presentations, sharing knowledge, and everyone's visits are what we enjoy most. La Cosecha has been nourished by the passions, interests, and knowledge that all the numerous booksellers have contributed over these almost ten years: selecting books, opening boxes, recommending readings, and organizing gatherings are our daily bread. 

If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss? 
Our recommendation is that readers get lost among the books; that's what it's all about: exploring the bookstore and taking the time to pick up a book, open it, and browse its pages until you find something you like. You can also ask the bookseller for a recommendation: each one has her own tastes and preferences and is sure to find the perfect read for that moment. In addition to books, we have graphic materials, screen prints, engravings, postcards, and notebooks. Visiting a bookstore is something that requires time and a love of books and reading. 

What has been an interesting challenge that has made you rethink something about the project?
Running a bookstore in this historical era and in this southern region is a constant challenge, one that has often seemed insurmountable. Promoting reading in an increasingly digital world, where people read less and less, distributing alternative books with critical and radical perspectives, organizing informal and horizontal learning spaces from the "periphery" of a country where culture is highly centralized in the capital: these are just some of the challenges we constantly encounter. But they haven't intimidated us; they've made us grow, always seeking new paths and strategies to resist and build networks with like-minded communities. 

What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
We believe in a horizontal, non-hierarchical, cooperative, and collaborative form of work organization. We believe in free culture, promoting freedom of access, use, and distribution of any cultural content. We believe in self-management, autonomy, and independence from the state and large corporations. Collectivity and interdependence with sister projects are our greatest political commitment.

What place, project, or person has inspired you recently and why?
We are always motivated by the work of our sister bookstores that champion independent culture and foster connections among readers. We have immense admiration for creators writing in Indigenous languages, especially women writers of the diverse languages ​​of Chiapas. We are inspired by the organized communities of Chiapas and around the world, who resist dispossession and neocolonial violence and defend their lands and their identity.

If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
We would love to welcome Cristina Rivera Garza, who is a crush shared by all the booksellers and has a huge readership here in Chiapas. We would organize an open discussion with her where she could share her experience as a writer and reader. 

Answers by Rosario and Francesca Di Saint Pierre