Back to Earth

Hi Everyone! Kelli from the Starbucks Support Center here and I still can't believe we've already been here an entire week. In just that one week we have accomplished so much more than I could have ever imagined and seen more than I ever anticipated. In just the past three days we have seen a composting farm, a rain forest with a breathtaking waterfall, and brushed up on our Spanish skills ("Me gusta arroz y habas" "I like rice and beans") and Erinn and I might have had some time to brush up on our Karaoke...

Yesterday morning we drove up the winding hillside while taking in views of the town of San Marcos below. We spent the morning setting transects and recording data from the field. For our "fruta" break we ate fresh grapes, apples and kumquats then took a 20 minute walk down the hill to a fresh water resource within the farm. After a hot meal prepared by Nati's mom back at the lab, we were ready to head back out to see the Coope Tarrazu composting farm. On the way up the mountain we had a clear view all the way to the Pacific Ocean and down the mountainside to see the vacas (cows), coffee farms, and green hills for miles. Once at the composting farm, we were educated about the process of composting the leftover parts of the coffee cherries after the pulping process. Under a huge tarp tent, we saw up close the natural process of allowing worms to do the work of the composting. The fertilizer is then used in coffee farms and greenhouses around San Marcos and Coope Tarrazu. The farm has been owned and operated by Coope Tarrazu for four years and is a vital part of the coffee farming process as it provides natural plant food while recycling the parts of the coffee cherry. And as we learned a few days ago at the roasting and processing facility, other leftover parts of the coffee cherry are used for products such as ethanol.

Every day has been full of new experiences and each day I can't believe how lucky I am to be here. The beauty of the landscapes never cease to amaze me but more than that, the kindness of the famers and especially the Earthwatch team of Nati and Sebas is amazing. Over the past week we've learned that the cornerstones of CAFE Practices have trickled down into the communities around Coope Tarrazu in the way of environmental consciousness, improved quality of coffee, and community involvement. Only one week left to go and I hope to be able to take in as much as I can in the short time we have until we're back in the U.S. Hope you're all doing well! Pura Vida y Hasta Luego!