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Description
Help preserve two UNESCO PCCC located World Heritage coffee farms through agriculture, coffee production, and engineering. We are located in the state of Quindio’s coffee-culture landscape. Enjoy the scenic ridges of the Colombian Andes and traditional architecture while learning and exploring old-fashioned coffee production techniques. Live on one of the oldest coffee farms which helped kickstart Colombia's coffee growing fame, and became the first farm in the region to be established as a historical landmark. The farm has been continuously run by our family for 4 generations, established in 1882. Family businesses usually last only 3 generations; our task as the 4th is to cement the farm’s foundations for the future. However, current social, political, climate, and economic trends are threatening its survival. We hope to provide volunteers a deep dive into all of the steps needed to produce a quality bean.
Our Family owned Business Presently has 2 Full time employees and we hire between 4 and 6 part time labourers depending on the time of the year. We usually require a larger team while coffee harvests occur (6).
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Farming requires “renaissance” men and women, as the endless list of desired skills above shows. Workers need to be knowledgeable in business, biology, physics, electronics, and even history in order to thrive; from optimizing tree growth, to fixing tools, every skill is needed. You will learn to be a Jack of all Trades.
On and off the farm, you will learn how to speak the language; Colombia is known for speaking one of the purest forms of Spanish.
Both farms are hotspots of biodiversity, and include scenic views, hiking trails, and large portions of the farms dedicated as natural reserves. Both are a paradise for people interested in ornithology, entomology, and botanics. You will be able to eat a wide array of tropical and jungle fruits directly on the farm.
Help
WARNING: Coffee farming is physically demanding.
All work will be on a volunteer basis with accommodations and food provided by us.
Targeting farming and construction volunteers, business people, baristas, wine and beer brewers, agronomists, and technically skilled people who can contribute to preserving this financially endangered way of life.
Alongside any of the specific skills above, we are looking for everyone to help take care of the coffee plants, including fertilization, weeding, lopping, and plating bushes. Each will be responsible for a specific lot within the farm. We appreciate any input, new ideas, and technology that you might be able to bring to increase the farm’s efficiency. Volunteers will also be aiding with coffee harvesting and processing, including peeling, fermentation, and drying.
Construction and Engineering: Each link in the coffee production chain provides greater and greater value. As raw bean producers, we only earn about 1/30th of the final price of a cappuccino. This often puts us in the red. This is why we also plan to build a roasting facility in house, and would appreciate the help of anyone with construction and engineering experience.
Business people: We are seeking business and marketing oriented people to help us advertise our coffee so we can sell directly to retailers and coffee shops. Hopefully capitalizing on our 140 year history to build a brand with its own legacy.
Baristas and coffee roasters: We hope to gain your insights into the later steps of the coffee production process, while providing you with valuable knowledge about the different factors on a farm that affect a bean’s flavor, and how to select the most high quality coffee for your customers. Our intention is to receive input as to how these work, we presently do not own or operate any facility were clients are served, and our intention is merely to learn from these arts in order to better our product. Workawayers are not expected to serve clients in any sort of way.
Beer and wine brewers: Coffee gains its taste through its fermentation. We currently use traditional techniques, but we hope to explore alternatives to create richer and more unique flavor profiles. We also hope to experiment with tea and liquor production using coffee cherries and leaves. (Coffee cherries are the sweet exterior husks of the coffee bean.)
Agronomists: The farms are currently managed with renewable agricultural practices, including our RainForest Alliance certification. This has forced us to abstain from mainstream agricultural practices including the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, putting extra strain on our productivity. We would greatly appreciate an agronomist who could help us find economically and environmentally sustainable alternatives for these techniques.
Technically skilled people: Farming requires a great deal of construction and machinery, from coffee peelers to weed whackers and old 1995 Ford Broncos. Anybody with experience in tinkering, electronics, mechanics, carpentry, drone operation, or any other handy-person would be extremely valuable to us. We can provide the materials, and you can put your expertise into practice while gaining a deeper understanding of the technical needs of the rapidly growing market of 3rd world farmers.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Interested in learning German, French, Slovak, Czech, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Italian, Japanese, Korean
Accommodation
You will rotate between the scenic farm (“finca”) on the Central Cordillera mountaintops facing the Quindio valley, and the historical Finca where the region's coffee growing began.
In the scenic Finca, you will stay in a mountaintop cabin with a shared kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Food items will be provided, which you may prepare in the kitchen.
In the historic Finca, you will be provided a room in the historical landmark protected house and a shared bathroom. You will be served with traditional local food by the farm manager.
What else ...
We are located next to the city of Armenia, which has an international airport that we will pick you up from by car. We are also situated close to Salento and Buena Vista, with the Calarca bus depot right down the road from the historic Finca.
Both farms will provide bicycles for personal transportation.
We do not allow smoking, drug use, or sexual tourism of any kind.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We will provide internet access if requested in advance.
Space for parking camper vans
Both farms have the space for parking in campervans. The gates will let 2 meter wide vehicles through. 4 wheel drive is required.
Can possibly accept pets
You must provide everything for your own pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours/day, 5 days/week
