Before having my own farm, I was a handpicker and I travel into different provinces according to the harvest seasons, I picked coffee in Huila, Tolima and also Caldas state. After several years working as picker, I had the chance to buy my own farm from my uncle. That was 18 years ago. The price of the farm was 240.000 colombian pesos at that time, I paid 200.000 pesos to my uncle directly and with the first crop I had, which was red beans, I paid the balance. In 1987 I planted the first 3000 coffee seeds. At that time, I met Nydia, who is my wife. We got married in 1988 and we have now 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl). Thanks to the coffee all my children have had the change to get primary and middle school education.

Environmental Care

I am conscious of the environment preservation, for that reason, all the coffee is shade grown in the farm. The farm has also 2 natural sources of fresh water, which I really take good care of, because I know the importance of the water for our lives. When I do have to adequate a lot of the farm for crops, I don't burn, I prefer to pick by hand all the weeds.

Coffee Processing Information

I am a member of the the Second Cooperative of Huila, called COOCENTRAL. So I have had the chance to see the cupper in the Coop, and I follow his suggestions. I always bring to the coop excellent quality coffee, and to get this quality I only pick the ripe beans, not the green or the overriped ones, because I know how important is this for the quality of the cup. Washing is done only with clean and fresh water from the natural sources I have in the farm and drying process is done in patios.

Other Statistics:
Soil Type: Franco Arcilloso
Annual Precipitation: 1,750 millimeters
Shade Grown Type: 45% Shade Grown
Water Source: Natural Source
No. Permanent Employees: 2
No. Temporary Employees: 6