Starbucks on the Farm

Telling the Story of Fair Trade and Sustainable Farming

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:33:00 +0000

As I flew home from what I consider one of my most amazing experiences, I was wondering how do I tell the story of Fair Trade and Sustainable Farming? How do I tell the story of my time in Costa Rica? How do I tell the story of William and all the farmers I met? How do I explain the importance of C.A.F.E. Practices and Fair Trade?

Today as I got back to my life in Chicago, people would ask me about my adventure. I made an attempt. I got polite looks and smiles. "Yeah, but did you go on the Zip Line?"I was asked. I got puzzled looks as I talked about counting coffee berries and measuring to the nearest shade trees.

So how do I do it? I think it's so important that people understand what fair trade means, not only to the farmers at Coope Tarrazu or Coope Dota, but to the farmer in Africa, or the wood harvester who makes sure the wood is being replaced in the forest.

I bought a cup of coffee from my local Starbucks, and I thought about what goes into that cup of coffee. After going up and down those mountains, and seeing what goes on in a coffee plantation, it is hard work, and these people need to be paid accordingly.

Starbucks pays a good price for coffee. It is certainly more than the average coffee purveyor. C.A.F.E. Practices means not only a fair price for coffee, but that money is going back into the community to improve the lives of those who live there.

So the best way for me to tell the story, is to make sure my family and friends understand that William, Jorge, and all the other farmers deserve a good life, and that fair trade practices are the best way to accomplish that.

Charlie

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:09:00 +0000

Day 10

It’s hard to believe that we only have one day left of counting coffee beans together. I started my day by “smelling my socks to see which ones were the freshest to wear”, getting a little thin on clean socks. Today was beautiful, no rain in the morning, and it stayed dry while we were out on the coffee farms. Everyone was in a light mood with lots of playing around once we were finished counting beans, taking shade measurements and soil samples.

The banana fight was the best, there is nothing better then smashing a banana in your hand and throwing it in hopes that it makes it make on your target. A few people ended up with banana down their shirts, and smashed on their backs. It was all fun until the smell; nothing smells more then rotten smashed bananas, and wet socks, "yummy".

On day ten we had dinner with all the farmers and their families, Ingrid put together an awesome slid show using pictures that all of us had taken over the past ten day. The slid show really hit home to all of us why we were in Costa Rica and the bond that we formed with the Famers and their families, and as a team.

Alexandra Sommerfeldt

A Coope Tarrazu cupping

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:47:00 +0000

Hello - Ingrid Barrentine here, from Tacoma, Wash.

Ever since I became a Starbucks Coffee Master, I've wanted to experience a professional cupping.

So needless to say, I became very excited when I noticed the "coffee tasting activity at Coope Tarrazu" on the two week schedule that came out at the beginning of the trip.

When I worked for Starbucks, I learned how to find - and more importantly - describe coffee flavor profiles. They used to have us taste every single coffee in the store and note our thoughts in a "Coffee Passport." It was that activity that planted in me the desire to go straight to coffee's source in origin countries.

Countries like Ethiopia, Brazil, and Costa Rica.

The cupping activity reminded me of many wine tasting tours in the Yakima Valley: First, you aerate the coffee with a spoon, then smell it, swish it around, slurp (rather noisily), and spit it - with authority - into a spittoon. You then back away from the cups and ponder what you've just experienced.

We tasted several coffees from Coope Tarrazu, followed by three from Starbucks. My favorite was the Ethiopia Sidamo - it's citrusy notes beg for a lemon loaf chaser.

I made some photos of the event, and wish I could include the taste and smells that accompanied them.

Enjoy.

La Pastora

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:35:00 +0000

Hi Y’all,

I am Christine from Atlanta. The only one on the team with a direct flight which means I can come back so easily. I can hardly believe we have already been in Costa Rica for twelve days.

I am just getting into the routine- up at 5 am (they were not kidding) and on the finca by 7. We measure coffee trees, count beans and leaves, surrounding shade trees and ground cover. There are 3 transects in each field and each one is located by GPS. I have not been trusted with that as I am directionally challenged. I have trouble finding my way into and out of the coffee field. Today I was actually left behind. Fortunately I was rescued by my fellow volunteer, Jason and quickly put to work.

The coffee grows on steep slopes in what I like to call Georgia red clay. It is not easy to negotiate especially when wet. Most days we are covered in mud and depending on how many times you fall it could be quite a lot. The second day several of us bought rain slickers. Mine is Smurf blue and covers me from head to toe.

Todays finca, located in La Pastora, was so picturesque. The altitude of this region promotes harder beans, higher acidity and great coffee. I am learning to drink my coffee negra appreciating the aroma and flavor. We met the farmer, Eliecer Naranjo Barrantes and his son. They worked with us. The view was spectacular the surrounding hills filled with coffee fincas and shade trees of poro and palm. You could see the town of San Marcos below. The blue dome of the church stood out against the background of red orange roof tops. The day too was spectacular. The sun was out- NO RAIN. There was a gentle breeze which boosted everyone’s spirits. You know the saying all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy – Well -- Nati started a coffee bean war which turned into a banana fight. Jason managed to tag her pretty well with mashed banana. Then there was the banana throwing contest between Ingrid and Alex. Ingrid won hitting the shed way below us on the path into the finca.

It has been fun and a lot of hard work. We have worked well together from the beginning and now are just hitting our stride. Several times we have completed 2 fincas in a day having lunch in the field and returning after 3:00 to the lab. That is 6 transects to be exact. It has given me a new appreciation for coffee and all the hard work that goes into production. I can now imagine the effort it takes to pick coffee. Support Fair Trade.

It will be hard for us to leave and leave each other. It has been a unique experience and a wonderful way to connect to another culture of people as well as to the culture of coffee. While being here everything else in my life evaporated. I became so focused on our group and the tasks we had to do that it will be disorienting and challenging to return home.

Pura Vida- We will meet again.

Pictures..

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:49:00 +0000

Greeting!

Here are just a few of the amazing pictures of Costa Rica and some of the team, hope you enjoy them. Some of the dates are wrong on the pictues," I am a littel Technically challenged ". I kept forgetting to reset the date on my camara when I had to re-charge my Batteries . I soon learned it was better to just take the date stamp off.

La Vida es Bella,

Alexandra

The Moist Fun You Will Ever Have

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:32:00 +0000

The Moist Fun You Will Every Have

The moist fun you will ever have is what we are calling our “adventure” it always rains in the afternoons like clock work; in fact I am sure you could set your watch to it. During the past week we have gotten used to sliding down the hills at the coffee bean farm. I am now calling it “Houston we have a controlled burn”. We are always slipping and sliding all the while trying to stay in control.

While visiting William’s Coffee bean farm the other day we got a rare treat, William rode his horse out to see us and have lunch with us. William let us ride the horse, which Christine and I jumped at. William then invited us to visit his home and have coffee with his family. It is the highlight of my day during these times that we actually get to visit with the famers and meet their families.

The team got a much needed break from counting coffee beans on Monday when we were taken to Quetzal National Park. What a spectacular place, we hiked to a waterfall that we had to crawl under a huge boulder to get up close and personal to see. The water felt as if it was rushing at you while you were standing under the boulder. By the time we got back to the cars to go for a late lunch we were all drenched from head to toe. We stopped at the local restaurant and had Trout for lunch. Needless to say by the time we all got back to the hotel, no one wanted dinner that night. All we wanted was dry clothes and a warm bed.

Today we visited two farms, one was Wiberth farm, and we had the opportunity to meet part of his family which is always a treat. The famers and their families are as happy to see us and meet us as we are them. Agricola farm was very steep and lots of us took a few slides in the mud today. We are going to have a big mud fight or Banana fight before this trip is over. The morning here are mostly Sunny and Beautiful, some more then others, and the afternoons are filled with downpours, good thing I love the ruin.

The worm has turned...

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:06:00 +0000

Not many people get excited about organic composting, but we are a different kind of people. As it turns out the process to produce organic compost is quite complex and interesting.

It started like many of our excursions, it was raining and we were at the bottom of a hill. The drive up took us through windy, muddy roads and the few brave among us peered out at the cows grazing on land meant for mountain goats. The clouds closed in on us as we arrived at the massive facility made up of three separate buildings.

Manuel Caldaron, the director of the facility, which was recently purchased by Coope Tarrazu, showed us the life cycle of organic compost. Our journey took us to a population of millions...millions of worms. You haven't lived until you have plunged your arm, up to your elbow, into a moist pile of wriggling invertebrates. The feel of the worms combined with the vinegary aroma was unforgettable, but it is the worms that make the magic. These hard working creatures eat their way through the massive piles of pulp and two years later organic compost is born!

We walked next into a building where the final product was piled. Manuel demonstrated how workers fill 40 kilo sacks, a 5 gallon bucket at a time. To much the amazement of all, Lewis was so overcome with joy by the compost that he leapt backward into a large pile and proceeded to make a "compost angel." This was fortunately captured on film!

We learned that the compost is extremely nutrient rich and made entirely out of waste left over from the milling of coffee. And with the cost of traditional fertilizer increasing 120% annually, it presents a great opportunity for the co-op to turn waste into Colones (the local currency).

In the end, we were all glad to climb a mountain to see a mountain of compost...
By Lewis & Chris
Worms...more worms...and a worm.Oh Louis.

Observations and Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:50:00 +0000

Greetings! Charlie here again. I wanted to share some thoughts and observations about my experience here in Costa Rica.

I had no expectations when I came here. I knew I would be working with a team of people to help with research which will help farmers in the Tarrazu region not only improve their crops, but help them with sustainable solutions to coffee growing. What I did not know was how my life was going to change here.

Let me tell you the team of people I work with everyday are an incredible group. We started as strangers, and I can say we will leave as friends. Everyday we navigate some of the most challenging, hilly terrain and work hard. As we work, we share, we laugh, we talk. Most importantly we have a strong sense of teamwork.

The terrain has been difficult for me to navigate. I do not have great range of motion in my feet and legs. It is a challenge for me when I run on flat surfaces; however at 5,000-10,000 feet, and mostly on muddy soil, this has been one of the most physically demanding things I have ever done. I will never complain about marathon training after this.

My teammates have been nothing but supportive. When I have needed a hand up, they have given it to me. When I have fallen they have helped me back up, when I have needed someone to take equipment, so I can walk through a rough patch, they have been kind enough to do it for me.

Today, we visited a nearby national park. I have never done trail hiking, and I admit it scared me, especially since it was raining, making the footing even more difficult. We were making our way to the most amazing waterfalls I have ever seen. I am proud to tell you I made it, but I had the help of my team to get me there. When I got to the falls I was overcome with emotion. It was an experience I will never forget. Natalia saw my crying and asked me if I was happy. I was.

Other than the physical challenges. I have been challenged on how I see ecosystems, the environment and how I fit in. The farmers here are so eager not only to produce the best coffee they can, but they understand how important it is to do it in an environmentally safe way. Why is it they get it, and so many of us don´t! I can tell you I will be making some ¨green¨changes in my life when I get back.

As we drove through the mountains and the rain/cloud forests, I wondered how is it we can let such beauty vanish. Just as this team of previous strangers have come together, why can´t more people and work towards something better and preserve what we have?

I am profoundly thankful for Starbucks and Earthwatch for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to be here. I also thank my new friends: Kimball, Jason, Harmony, Debbie, Christine, Ingrid, Chris, Alexandra and Lewis for being such an amazing team. I have learned so much from them. Thanks to Natalia and Sebastian as well. They have been nothing but wonderful in answering all our questions, and making sure we are well taken care of in Costa Rica.

I am not sure if I will post anymore before we leave, but I wanted to get these thoughts out.

Thanks!

Charlie
Charlie is counting again.
The falls along the Savenge river.

My First Impressions of Tarrazu

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:06:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, This is Alexandra from Tarrazu Costa Rica. I knew before coming to Tarrazu that it was going to be an adventure of a life time; I was just not sure how great of one it was going to be. It is truly amazing, everything from our rustic hotel that only has hot water in the morning to all the truly wonderful people that live in San Marcos where we are staying. The people that live in San Marcos are so friendly and have such heart and soul. There are few places left in this world that has more soul then the people of San Marcos.

Everyone on the team comes from very diverse back grounds, it is so amazing. By day three we are all so comfortable with each other and work together as if we had been doing it for a long time. Everyone just jumps in and does what ever needs to be done. We have starting working on the coffee farms; it is so amazing to be in the thick of it just slipping and sliding away mud that you forget you working. The first day in the field I worked with Jason from Starbucks, it was kind of surreal working with him knowing this is his livelyhood. It was great seeing it from his point, and getting to meet the famers as well. Ingrid is our photographer; she is a freelance photographer and a student in real life. Ingrid is capturing the hearts of the people that live here with her lens.

I feel so grateful that I have been given this opportunity to meet such caring and wonderful people; everyone on the team adds their own special touch that makes the teams what it is. I will be writing more about each and every one of them.

We have Jason and Chris from Starbucks, and then our contest winners are Debra, Kimball, Charlie, Ingrid, Harmony, Christine and Lewis. I feel such a strong connection with each and every one of them already. Our Earthwatch team is Natalia and Sebastian, they are a blast to work with. Almost everyone on the team can speck Spanish but a few of us, me being on of them. We should have pictures posted hopefully soon, having trouble uploading them onto the blog.

Bye for now,
Alexandra

Alexandra and Nati.Our "taxi."
Jason just had to get dirty.
The team in front of Coope Dota.

A date with William

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:31:00 +0000

It was like something out of a movie on Telenova. The farmer, William, riding his horse on a steep muddy hill, gazing into the distance. Actually, gazing at us, a bunch of Americans working at his coffee farm on a mountain in Costa Rica. This could have been one of the many times Chris, one of our Starbucks compadres, says: How many times are you going to see something like that? The answer since we arrived in Costa Rica on Monday has always been the same: once. It´s a rhetorical question, Chris helpfully explained.

Besides the friendly farmer on the horse, who later hosted us at his house for, surprise, coffee, today was a big day because we worked on a farm in the morning and another farm in the afternoon. Take it from a lazy American--working on a farm is real work. It wasn´t clear that we would get there, though, first thing in the morning, as the cars that shepherded us up the mountain had to contend with mud roads with not much room to spare. Journey played on the radio as the car slid up the mountain: Don´t stop believing, mes amigos!

We saw a lot of coffee fruit today, and I saw a lot of dirt, taking dozens of soil samples from near coffee plants. We even had lunch in the field. We power counted and measured through six transects. Even though that doesn´t mean anything to most people, believe me, it´s a feat of epic proportions.

I was going to get through this without mentioning the rain. It rained.

Lewis
The steep incline... what a ride.
William NaranjoTrudging up to the farm.Chris, left to right, Kimball, and Lewis at the Naranjo house.Carmen Naranjo, William's daughter.

Dinner with the locals

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:20:00 +0000

Hi all, it is Chris from Seattle here. After a few near-death days, I am back on the scene and running at 100 percent. As it turns out the view from standing is much better then the view of from the bed! Costa Rican hotels only have typical ceilings...

Costa Rica is beautiful beyond words and the people are extremely friendly. For the second evening we were invited to Nati's house for dinner, which is the picture that you see here. It was an amazing experience and Nati and her family were very accommodating. Her mom did the cooking, and her brother, father did the serving and entertaining. Needless to say, the food was incredible!

Dinner consisted of a citrusy salad with fresh pineapple and hearts of palm, a very fragrant rice, a delicious stew of beef and green beans all topped off with a tall, cool glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade! Fried plantains followed for dessert accompanied by a very traditional drink called "aqua dulce", a sweet, warm beverage made from boiled sugar cane.

We even were able to meet the pets which consisted of 6 members, a small dauchenshound which would lay at your feet, belly exposed for attention and a large retriever who could actually peel a banana! The other four remained unseen, although I am sure they had equally as impressive personalities.

It was an great evening with good conversation and delicious food! This is la pura vida (the good life) and was a great way to kick off this adventure.

More adventures await! Adios!

Nati, at the head of the table.
Nati's mom, left to right, father, and Jose.
Nati's mom piles food on Chris' plate.

Meeting New Friends and Doing New Things

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:02:00 +0000

Hello All! Charlie from Chicago here. Can't believe it is Day 3 in Costa Rica. The first couple of days have been filled with meeting the folks from all over the country who came on this adventure, as well as the good folks we are working with here in San Marcos de Tarrazu, Costa Rica.

For those back in Chicago, you will be proud to know I am eating the rice and beans! Hehehe!

Today we met the folks at Coope Tarrazu, the cooperative of coffee farmers we are working with. As a bonus we have been invited to join them in a meeting with the President of Costa Rica. How could we turn that down?

More importantly today we learned about the field work we will be doing. And yes....we will be working in the rain. It is truly the rainy season, as it rains every afternoon. I am really out of my comfort zone, and having the time of my life!

My goal is to be open to all the experiences here, well....except one. Yesterday we visited the InBio Parcque, a national park dedicated to learning about the biodiversity of Costa Rica. I passed on the opportunity to learn about the snakes. UGH!

During our presentations today, I realized how important the work we are doing is to these people. The farmers are depending on the field research to help them produce the best quality coffee. I don't want to disappoint.

Hello to all my family, friends and especially Mark. More from me later!

Charlie

Jason, left to right, Charlie, and Chris listen to presentations by the Earthwatch team.
Sebas talks about annual rainfall... notice where we're at.
Sipping coffee during our meeting at Coope Tarrazu.Green beans just after the pulping stage.

Thoughts at the "End" of Expedition #2

noreply@blogger.com (Earthwatch Volunteers) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:17:00 +0000

This is Devin, and on Sunday we successfully completed our expedition and all returned safely home—I know for many on Team #2, the experience was life-altering, and much too short. Like those before (and after) us, we shared full days of meaningful work, education, meals, and play--I will be “unpacking” this experience for a long time to come, but I thought I’d share a few of my thoughts:

Coffee: I have been passionate about coffee for many years, but now, even this week in the office when I poured a cup or pulled a shot of espresso, I was much more “aware” of the coffee; especially the people whose lives revolve around the planting, cultivating, harvesting and processing of this miracle. For a true coffee lover, there was something magical about wading through “forests” of coffee plants, handling the branches, cherries, and leaves, wondering if one of those beans might end up in my cup some day. (However, while experiencing this magic, watch out for the caterpillars that hang out under the leaves—they have a sting that hurts like crazy!)

People: there is nothing quite like a group of people coming together and working toward a common purpose, with a common passion. The relationships we made with farmers, with co-op staff, and each other within our large team representing Costa Rica, France, Canada, and the US may have been a few brief weeks, but they were deeply impacting. I walked away with a renewed passion for supporting with my lifestyle those business practices that positively impact the quality of a product, the state of the environment, and ultimately quality of life for PEOPLE.

Practice: spending time in the coffee fields, hiking through a wet rainforest (If you didn’t know, it rains a lot in a rainforest), or gazing across a green valley to the hills across the way, I found a lot of time to think—and I found myself thinking quite a bit on my personal impact on the world--I know I will continue to ask myself questions--how do my choices, my lifestyle, and my consumption impact the wonderful people and the beautiful ecosystem that I’ve encountered in a far-off place like Costa Rica, and in the thousands of places I haven’t yet visited? And even more importantly, what things can I do with my life that will positively impact and improve the world I live in, and the one I don't see every day?

These are just a small sample of the things I’m thinking today as I pout a bit in my cubicle, looking back at this amazing adventure. I’m truly thankful for this opportunity to spend two weeks with a great group of people in a wonderful place. I’m sure that any member of this team would be thrilled to sit down with you and share everything they experienced, and everything they learned.

Best Regards,

Devin

An Amazing Man

noreply@blogger.com (Earthwatch Volunteers) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:32:00 +0000

Hi! M.A. from Long Island, New York here, finally getting around to the blog. This trip is great! We're seeing and doing so many things! It's hard to believe it's almost time to go home.

Before we leave I'd like to tell you about Edelman Blanco, one of the farmers participating in this study. Edelman is young (28, I think), and tall, dark and handsome, but that's beside the point. He's one of the kindest and gentlest men I've ever met. He spent the day with the group as we worked on his farm, accompanied by his dog, Junior. Nati and I were working on coffee beans, and Edelman stayed with us for a while. He spoke to us of his farm, his dreams, his problems as a coffee farmer, his wife and daughter, and Junior.

As a younger man, Edelman spent five years living and working in New Jersey and learned to speak English fluently. When he had saved enough money, he returned to Costa Rica to fulfill his lifelong dream of owning a coffee farm. It's a small farm, so he must also work a part-time job to make ends meet, but he feels it's worth it. And he hopes to add to his farm someday, but it's not easy to earn a living plus save money.

I think what impressed me most was his love for his family. He's been married for 6 years, and must love his wife very much. Very few Costa Rican men wear wedding rings -- Edelman is one of them. He spoke lovingly of his three year old daughter, telling stories about her. And then there's Junior. The dog keeps Edelman company in the fields, in his truck and at home. I can imagine the two of them wandering through the tightly packed coffee trees, losing sight of each other but always knowing where the other one is.

And then I fell down and tumbled through three terraces on the mountainside, lost my glasses for a moment, bumped my head -- if only there were film of it. But that's not why I mention it. Edelman helped me out of the field, slowing making our way along a terrace to the road and them walked me slowly up the hill to where the cars were parked. He treated me kindly and gently, with the respect that he would show his -- mother.

That's my story of a most amazing man.

Downtime!!

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:30:00 +0000

Hola! Jaralyn from Omaha here...our trip is coming close to an end and I think all of us are thinking the end is coming way too fast. We're living in a somewhat surreal world right now and we're a little hesitant to find out what it will be like when we go back. So, that being said, we've learned to take things one day at a time and that being in "Tico Time." While I would like to wax poetic about what an amazing experience this has been (and it has been), that would best be done at a time when we haven't spent a long day in the field and are trying to find some R and R before our next outing...tonight to a restaurant called "The Skinny Cow."So, I will share some photos from our "downtime." What we do on our breaks, time-off, etc. A lot of bonding time, I guess you could say...

Photos from the field

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:30:00 +0000

[Photo] Nati and Jarilyn Finding the transect
[Photo] Coffee farms

Photos From the Field

noreply@blogger.com (Earthwatch Volunteers) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:27:00 +0000

Just a small sample of photos from our work in the field--

Kelli counting coffee cherries and leaves

Erinn, doing more counting...

Devin measuring distance to nearest shade trees

Steph, Ali, and Doug pausing for a quick photo op while evaluating ground composition and taking soil samples

Ali with soil samples from 15 coffee plants

Lisa measuring shade tree density

Carey tagging measured coffee plants

Manuel joined us while we worked on his farm

Lunch break!

Jean collecting insects from traps

Lisa, Dana, and Leonel (farmer) examining insect samples

Kelli and Erinn entering data from farm into GIS database

Dana and Ali preparing the soil samples

Day 9

noreply@blogger.com (Earthwatch Volunteers) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:42:00 +0000

Hi everyone! You guys really need to see this place, it's absolutely amazing! I've never met people so warm and welcoming....including our bartender last night! Coincidentally, I've also never met spiders so.... friendly, and I've learned to check my shoes before I put them on!
Today has been a little bit different from our regular schedule.... We actually didn't get rained on out in the field this morning! The farm we worked on was a little less steep and overlooked a bubbling brook from the mountainside. We also found the local "party log" on the way to the farm ;) It was so nice out we finished our three transects a little faster than normal. When we returned to the lab, we had a fantastic presentation from Peter, the Director of the Farmer Support Center for all of Latin America. The presentation was completely interactive and was so informative I feel like I could go out and grow coffee myself (which would be cool, except I can't even keep cacti alive.)
Anyway, we're having a great time... wish you were here!
Steph

Back to Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Earthwatch Volunteers) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:01:00 +0000

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!

First Day in the Field!

noreply@blogger.com (Earthwatch Volunteers) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:54:00 +0000

Hi Everyone! This is Ali from Chicago. We started bright and early today with a 6am breakfast for our first day in the coffee fields. The day began a little rainy but as the morning wore on, the sun came out and we were able to take in the amazing scenery that surrounded us. We were very surprised to see how big the trees were and how dense the farms were. A few of us got lost in the coffee and needed some help finding the way but we eventually found our way. One of things we focused on today was coffee bean abundance on one of the farms. First, we sectioned off a 10 meter by 10 meter area and chose 20 trees in the area to survey beans. With a lot of slipping and sliding up and down the rows of coffee trees, we managed to successfully finish our surveys! We were very muddy, dirty and some of us a little bruised from taking some nice falls in the field but we felt good about our first morning.

Another part of the survey has to do with biodiversity, looking at arthropod popluations. So after lunch, Devin, Dayna and I volunteered to go out to help set up the insect traps. We headed out to one of the farms to set up traps in three different spots. We set up three different kinds of traps and will go back tomorrow to see what we have caught.

Tonight we area heading out to San Marcos to celebrate our first day with a nice dinner and a visit to a local karaoke bar. Everyone on the team is a little tired from today but we are excited for a chance to go out and have some team bonding. Tomorrow should be another fun day in the field!

Cheers,
Ali

Day 3, part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Earthwatch Volunteers) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:40:00 +0000

This is Devin again--it is only our third day, and we´ve already experienced so much--too much to put into a single post! Some of my favorite items on our trip thus far--yesterday Jean set the standard for us by boldly sampling some local beetle larve (apparently it tasted like peanut); this morning I kept the group waiting at breakfast by getting myself artfully locked and trapped in my own hotel room; and this afternoon we were adopted by possibly the homeliest puppy I have ever seen, which evoked great affection from (most of) the team. We received an excellent orientation to the research we will be conducting with Nati, Lisa, and Sebas starting tomorrow, we have been served incredibly large, delicious meals, and we are getting to know each other better, laughing a lot along the way.

On a more serious note, last night we had dinner at Natalia´s family´s coffee farm, where I talked to Nati´s father Jorge all about his farm, and the process of planting coffee. Sometimes I fool myself, thinking that I know some things about coffee--but spending just a few moments with a bona fide coffee farmer, hearing him talk with great passion and pride about planting and cultivating their crop, I realize that I am just at the beginning of an amazing learning journey!

Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (Earthwatch Volunteers) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:04:00 +0000

Hello everyone my name is Dana Salerno. Originally I am from Colordao now I reside in Omaha, NE for school. So far this has been an exciting trip. After traveling up a winding mountain road dodging crazy drivers, large "dogs", and skilled bikers we arrived safely to our new home. San Marcos has been a very welcoming town and the Earthwatch team has taken us in as part of the family. Following an afternoon of an informative overview of the field project we were welcomed to dinner at Natalia's family's home for a wonderful dinner we settled in for our first night. Today's agenda was filled with a visit to the farmers' cooperative and an introduction into the sustainabilty project that we are soon to be involved. So far this trip has proven to meet all expectations, and the impact that we will all have will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

We're Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Earthwatch Volunteers) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:59:00 +0000

(After some technical difficulties with the computer...) We're here! This is Devin, Erinn, and Kelli giving an update from our first day. From the minute we descended from the clouds, we were welcomed by the lush green landscape and red clay roofs below us. After flights from all over the US and Canada, we all arrived safely in San Jose and converged at the Hotel Bougainvia for a fantastic welcome dinner on our first night. After dinner we went around the table and shared our expectations for the next two weeks--As a team we expressed the common desire to develop relationships with farmers and their families; to see how coffee is cultivated and learn about sustainable practices; to discover the culture and ecology of Costa Rica; to develop a strong relationship as a team; and to have a little fun in the process.

Our team includes:

Carey from Washington
Steph from Ontario
Jean from Ohio
Mary Alice (M.A.) from New York
Jaralyn from Nebraska
Ali from Illinois
Dana from Nebraska
Doug from Indiana
Erinn from Washington
Kelli from Washington
Devin from Washington

The Earthwatch staff:

Sebas from Costa Rica
Nati from Costa Rica
Lisa from Tacoma
Fabian from Paris

Looking forward to sharing more!

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

noreply@blogger.com (Starbucks Coffee Company) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:08:00 +0000

Hi there! This is Wen, from the 2007 volunteer season. I am so excited to read all these posts by this years' volunteers... How lucky you are, and how I wish I was back! I just wanted to tell you all that even though the program lasts for just 2 short weeks, the experience does not end when you pack up your bags. Be prepared to make life-long memories and friendships! Yes, team members do come from all over North America, but rest assured that you will find opportunities to cross paths again... Last winter, three members of the 2007 team were able to have a reunion in Los Angeles. I was so happy to see Sandy and Scot again! We had Indian food (although we would have much prefered fresh Costa Rican pineapple) and reminisced about those 2 marvelous weeks we spent together in Tarrazú, under the shade trees amongst the beautiful coffee plants. Other members of our team have also had reunions in other cities across the continent (in fact, I've heard that there was just a gathering up in Vancouver earlier this month). Let's face it... Earthwatch volunteers have a stong bond we share with no one else!

The sound of one hand clapping...

noreply@blogger.com (Earthwatch Volunteers) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:32:00 +0000

This is Matt with a few final thoughts after returning from our expedition. A week has passed since I left Costa Rica and parted ways with some amazing new friends. I've had some time now to decompress, get much needed rest, and think about how our expedition has affected me and what it means.

First, I want to say that Earthwatch did a great job in describing what was needed. I was well prepared with the recommended gear and worked harder during my workouts in anticipation of the physical requirements, but I don't think anyone can prep you for the mental stress of living every moment in a vacuum for 2 weeks with a dozen strangers, working in the pouring rain on slopes steep enough to start the adrenaline pumping, and the bouts of home sickness that would hit as you went to sleep each night. There were some days where the signs were visible on everyone's faces, where it wouldn't take much to send each one of us over the edge, both literally and figuratively. But I wouldn't trade those moments for anything. It's in those times where you learn the most about yourself and the others around you. We formed new friendships in a very short amount of time because everyone was being their true selves and couldn't keep up the facade that we all put up for people we don't know well. In the end we all made it, we all learned about our mental and physical limits and how to push through them, and now we are all stronger for it. This is something that I simply could not experience in my world of information technology at the Starbucks Support Center.

Once you go through that inner transformation, you have more mental clarity and are able to better see the world around you. Observing the world that the coffee farmers live in, the challenges they face trying to balance between sustainability and profitability where the standard of living continues to rise, you develop an immense respect for what they do and the intense pride they exude for their farms and country.

Some people may go home and make life changing decisions about their lives because of this expedition, while others will simply make small but meaningful changes to better themselves and the world we live in. I don't believe anyone will simply return to the status quo. We've experienced what sustainability really means at the source, and I hope we can all teach that to others and improve the lives and ecosystems around us in even the smallest way.

Costa Rica left an imprint on every one of us. I can't look at one of the 500 photos that I brought back without taking a deep breath and feeling a sense of peace. I can't sip a cup of coffee without thinking about where those tiny beans came from and if I might have counted one of the trees. I know that this is a place that I will return too as often as possible and when I do, I know that there are warm and welcoming people waiting to say hello at the local market.

Thank you Starbucks, Earthwatch, Costa Rica, and all my new friends.

- Matt