Adelson (ah-DEL-son) Teixeira (tay-SHER-ah) is a farmer along the Amazon River. He and his family live in a beautiful setting in a small house next to Adelson's parents. Adelson's parents moved here in 1940, when they were some of the first farmers to arrive in the region.

The Teixeira family raises many animals: cows, chickens, turkeys, pigs, ducks, and bees for honey. The family also grows bananas, cashews, cocoa, coconuts, mangoes, and many others. They have several dogs and a parrot as a pet.

We decided to interview Adelson about the rainforest's seasonal changes. We wanted to find out what life was like adjusting to the changes in water levels throughout the year. For nearly six months each year, the Teixeira's house is surrounded by water. For the other six months, the house is perched up on top of a huge hill with pasture all around.

The WCO Team on the front porch of the Teixeira family house with the whole family.

WCO: What season do you like best: the rainy season (winter) or the dry season (summer)?

AT: I like summer best. There's much more room, and my cows are here. In the winter, when the area is flooded I have to send my cows to brother's house. It takes me many days to load up all of my cows onto my boat and take them there in several trips. My brother's farm is located on higher ground so it doesn't flood like it does here. I have to take four or five trips to my brother's house to move the cows. Each trip takes one day.

The summer is also the time that I can use the bees to make honey. It provides a good income.

WCO: Is there any job or task that is easier during the rainy season?

AT: Fishing is easier during the flooded season. We get lots of fish during the rainy season. On our flutaunte (floating raft, which serves as a convenience store), fishermen bring us fish to sell. When we sell the fish, we pay the fishermen and keep some of the money. It works out well for everyone. Note: In all of our time in the rainforest, nobody has ever told us that the rainy season is best for fishing. Usually, the dry season is the best time for fishing.

Frosty tries some of the local honey. It was really sweet like honey we're used to, but it was much thinner like liquid.

WCO: How do you make money?

AT: Most of our money comes from the flutuante (FLU-tant-jay). We sell many things, such as fish, gasoline, and food staples like rice, salt, beans, sugar, cookies, canned meat, canned vegetables, soda and guarana (soda-like energy drink), honey, and farina. We also sell flip-flops, pens, batteries, and other things that people need often.

Everybody arrives at the flutuante by boat or canoe.

The Teixeira's flutaunte. It's like a convenience store on a raft. People come from mile around to buy necessary items.

WCO: Do you ever sell your animals?

AT: Most of our animals are for us. We raise chickens for eggs and meat. We do sell our cows, but we also eat one or two per year.

WCO: Do you sell any food crops?

AT: We make farina out of manioc (yucca) to sell. However, my family mostly eats what we grow.

WCO: Do your cows ever get diseases from insects? What about your family. Do you have to worry about malaria?

AT: Ticks don't seem transmit diseases to cows around here. Although they do in other parts of the Amazon.

Malaria is very uncommon here now. It's mostly a problem in very remote parts of the rainforest, away from the main river. We don't really worry about it anymore. However, when my dad first arrived here in 1940, malaria killed many people who were moving to the Amazon.

WCO: What was it like here when your father moved here?

AT: There were a lot fewer people here. There were only two houses between here and Boa Vista (10 miles) and only four houses between here and Parantins (86 miles). Now there are many people living here.

We used to see manatees and other animals that you don't see anymore. Even when I was growing up there were many monkeys and sloth in our trees. Now they aren't there anymore.

There were many more animals and fish back then. It was easy to hunt and catch fish. It was a much more wild place then. Now, it's mostly farmland along the river. You have to go away from the main river to see many animals.

But life is much easier and safer now than it was back then.