Shade Grown, Organic, Fair Trade Coffee



Shade Grown coffee - note coffee plants in a row with larger trees on both sides.  Banana plants were nearby to distract the birds from the coffee plants.





Coffee plant with flowers and fruits



Shade grown, organic and free trade coffee was on the agenda for our teams today. We went by van to see the coffee operation. It is a cooperative of  small coffee farms.



Coffee beans drying



The coffee beans are harvested by hand as soon as they are ripe.  We saw the whole process that they go through.  Processing uses a lot of water.  This is not in short supply here, but the water needs to be cleaned before it can go back out into the environment.  Tilapia are raised here in the water from the coffee processing.  The fish clean the water and provide food at the same time!

Tilapia Raised Here





The fruit that contains the coffee bean as well as the seed coat from the beans are composted using vermiculture - red worms.  There was a large building where this takes place.  The compost is then used to organically fertilize the coffee plants. 



Red Worms in Compost



We have all heard of shade grown coffee - here it was!  Large trees are standing by the rows of coffee plants.  These help to protect the plants in heavy rain.  In addition, there are banana plants nearby for the birds.  Instead of birds feeding on the coffee, they are attracted to the banana plants. 

Great example of sustainability!  This is a well thought out system and seems to work really well.  And the coffee was delicious!





Vermiculture Building - full of composting materials and redworms