Harvest is over. The mill is chugging along and preparing our remaining lots for shipment over the next 3 months. Our hand cleaning room is working with their new reality of fewer employees, staggered shifts, and slower processing. The coffee trees are empty of ripe cherries and popping with flowers here and there. So while things may look quiet on the farm, there is plenty going on at the moment in anticipation of the next crop. 2020 was a drag, and we are happy to leave it behind.
The good news is that life moves on and we are already hard at work preparing for next year and the future. 2021/22 will be an “on-cycle” year; This is an early advantage as we anticipate our trees to be healthy and in good shape to produce a heavy crop. We have also made changes to certain farm practices that will improve overall tree health and help to mitigate wide yield swings from on to off cycle years. One of these is a return to row pruning from block pruning. We found that block pruning kept us focused on certain parts of the farm at the expense of others. Row pruning will force us to visit every section of farm more attentively and spread the work over 100% of the farm in a more holistic manner.
Another important change - This year we are rededicating our efforts to have the finest nurseries in Tarrazu. Our team has been hard at work rebuilding Russ’ favorite nursery location on the Hybrido Tico section of Minita, at high elevation with access to water and excellent wind protection. This area had been recently repurposed from nursery to coffee production, due to its more remote location and difficult access.
Our interest in changing this location back to a nursery represents a mindset shift for us. Yes we may have to make tough decisions as we manage the farm for profit and efficiency. But we need not make those decisions at the sake of our history, and the things that have brought us success and joy. When you come visit in 2022 or later and this area is full of beautiful baby trees we think you’ll agree.
The hilly nursery in 2015.