Being a farm girl…checking out a coffee plantation has always been on the “must experience” list. So visiting Nicaragua was the perfect opportunity since coffee production is an important part of this country’s history and economy. How fortunate to see the process on what turned out to be the very last day of harvest!
The Kilimanjaro Coffee plantation is located on about 500 acres in the hills of San Rafael del Norte in the Jinotega area of Nicaragua. Pictured on the right in the above image is the owner, Andres. He explained that his father named the plantation after seeing the movie…Kilimanjaro which is why we have a coffee plantation in Nicaragua named after Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa! Really enjoyed knowing that the plantation is multi-generational and even his sons are now involved in the business. As much as I love coffee, I’ve never really had the opportunity to understand how it’s grown and harvested.
The plant itself is like a large shrub…growing as tall as a small tree. Banana trees are tossed in the mix to provide shade as well as yummy afternoon treats. (voice of experience)
Who knew the fruit which contains the bean is called a cherry? This particular plantation selectively pick the ripe cherries (red ones) by hand…a very labor intensive process. My understanding…since this was the last day of harvest…all beans were picked and then sorted by removing the green ones.
This was the very last load of the harvest for this season…
The cherries are processed using the wet method…meaning they are passed through a pulping machine where the skin and pulp is separated from the bean. The pulp is washed away with water, usually dried and used as mulch. After several additional steps, the beans are then ready to be dried. For this particular plantation, the beans are dried at another facility in another town. It was fascinating to view up close and personal the harvest process!
Returning home after a hard day’s work…you know they must be tired!
This pretty much sums up my trip to Nicaragua. I do have one more post that I’ll share soon…the hospital in Jinotega where the surgical missions are performed. To give you an idea…I got one bad ass case of chiggers (in the mite family) in this hospital that I’m pretty much over at this point…minus the scarring which I’ve read could last for a real long time. So let’s just say I don’t have a lot of affection for that place, ha! There’s also many one-off type images – abstract, wabi-sabi, contemplative – to name a few…that will be sprinkled in via the blog or Instagram in the future. But what a trip! Thank you all for tagging along and providing such wonderful thoughts and comments along the way!
It’s been wonderful to be in the desert this time of year and I’ll miss the afternoons on the patio and evenings by the fire…but now I’m off to the farm in Virginia…before I head north to my city! Yeah…summer in the city!!
Such really beautiful land … as always, safe travels to you.
Thanks Susan! It was a real treat!
I will think of this post every time I have a cup of coffee from now on… I had no idea what all went into the process of getting the coffee beans to market… thank you so much for sharing what you learned. Wishing both you and mom safe travels to the farm, then you to “your city” from there… Until we see each other again my sweet frister, know I love you to the moon and back and so much MORE!!!
I’ll now do the same! So much work…that we don’t even realize! Arrived on the farm..all is good and we’re having nice weather here too! Love you!
I know what you mean about the coffee process, Robin, from growing and harvesting it. My time with the Campa Pajonal in the foothills of the Andes in Peru was on a coffee plantation but the Indian laborers were tribesmen and women. They’d chew some sort of drug (?) all day long and be laughing and singing and shouting to each other until dark before they came home to sleep around the campfire. The next day they’d stretch out the burlap sacks on the ground and spread out the beans to start drying them. I’d love to compare the two systems! Actually, I think they first washed the beans in a small stream of water that came off the nearby hills…the same place where I took my baths. HA!
You don’t forget these experiences! Mine goes all the way back to 1969 and I still remember it as though it were yesterday.
So sorry about the chiggers (sigh). Let’s just say you’ll have your “scars” of giving to remind you it’s been worthwhile. You have given much and we’ve been lucky to share it with you. Now go to Virginia and enjoy your mom before you go back to your city!
I can picture the foothills of the Andes…I loved that area…hiking through the villages… Oh to have a video of your description of the workers laughing/singing/shouting! On another note…I do kinda see my “scars” as a badge of honor, ha ha! Thanks so much Ginnie…and I’ve arrived at the farm and all is good. Beautiful spring weather here! xoxo
YAY for your safe arrival at The Farm, dear Robin. I know you’ll eat it all up. Do say “HELLO” to your mom from us who love her through you.
Will do! Thank you!
Great post & photos, Dear Robin.
So interesting, what a process.
I’m more of a tea drinker but absolutely love the smell of coffee. One day, (if you haven’t alreay), you’ll visit a tea leaf field and experience that process, too.
Sorry about your case of the chiggers. Battle scars for sure.
Thanks so much for sharing your adventureous journey.
XOXO
And thanks so much for following along with all your wonderful comments! I’ve only passed through a tea field…so have yet to experience the complete process, but hope to one day! xoxo
Robin, I actually saved this post so I could enjoy it with a cup of coffee! I love the rich colors of every photograph . . . the colors of the landscape, the people, the coffee beans. I love all things farm related and have a total respect for people who grow and make and create. I’ve so enjoyed “my travels” to Nicaragua with you . . . and learning about the people and the culture. So sorry about the chiggers! I worked in home health for years and had my share of nasty little bugs from my rural travels – understand your pain.
I visited your Instagram feed and WOW what beautiful images – such variety! What a great venue for your images . . . seems like a great place to see your own voice unfold. . . the images you share are really the sum of your adventures and habits. Enjoy your time in VA with Mom!
Thank you so much Donna! I’m thrilled to have you follow along on my adventures and so enjoy following your beautiful art! Can’t wait for our meet up in July as I can tell we’d be kindred spirits! Thanks for checking out my Instagram…I find that space FUN and an opportunity to play around with various textures etc. that I normally wouldn’t do with my regular photography! xoxo
I can almost smell the coffee! Spectacular countryside and wonderful pictures ( as usual!)
Enjoy your time ” back home”.
Thank you Karen and I so hope this note is coming from your home! I was very concerned hearing about the killings in Kenya and knowing that you were there! I’m sure you were not near the school, but it still produces an air of concern and uncertainty throughout the rest of their country!
Great pictures and you did a great job telling what is going on. The polished shoes of the man took my notice. That is a great harvest and I think they need that to survive.
I hope you got rid of the chiggers 🙁
Love and hugs.
Thanks so much Astrid! Yes, Andres, the owner of the plantation is a true professional. I noticed his shoes right away too! And also witnessed how wonderful he was to his workers.
Chiggers are on the mend…just the scarring left at this point! But I love what folks have mentioned…they are my battle scars that will always bring back memories of that trip. Have no idea if the “scars” will ever disappear as one of the nurses told me she was bitten three years ago in the hospital and still has them!
The textures are so rich in your photos, especially in these. Fabulous.
I love your stories and photos, but I might haven mentioned that once or twice before … it’s always a great joy to read about your adventures!
Robin, I’ve just finished reading all your Nicaragua related posts and feel quite overwhelmed by the stories, both told and implied, related by means of your words and by means of your photos. I appreciate the fact that you showed both sides of your adventure, the difficult as well as the beautiful aspects. That mission must have been a very emotional experience…
There are many groups gathering money from people and quite a few of them doing it with fraudulent intentions so it must wonderful to see that the money people donated to this program are used purposefully.
PS I was sorry to get to know that you were not chosen for the free portfolio review you mentioned some time ago but I absolutely agree that regardless of the result, it was a great experience. Keep going! 🙂
Thank you so much Petra! I hope I didn’t put you to sleep, ha! And you are so right…so many organizations that only give 50 or 60 percent of your donated dollar to the real cause…spending so much on salaries/administration. That’s why we’ve given to this organization for so many years!
Appreciate the visit!!