The Naranjo farm and other odds and ends

Guess what?

I'm tired again tonight and feel the need to catch up on some much-needed sleep.

Today we worked in the fields. This time, our goal was to complete six transects on two separate farms near El Salado.

William Naranjo's two acre farm was our first stop.

The 45-year-old farmer greeted us as we pulled up to the assigned meeting place. He smiled and shook Jose, our driver's, hand. He told us the road to the farm was going to be difficult and rough due to all the recent rain.

Our caravan of three vehicles decided to proceed up the steep and muddy mountain despite the warning.

We had a lot of work to do.

After some of hemming and hawing, Jose threw the Mitsubishi into four-wheel drive and courageously navigated us through one of the worst roads I've ever seen as far as mud goes.

At last, we made it to a drop off point where we could begin our work.

We finished our day as a downpour arrived. It wasn't an easy one, but it had been productive. Naranjo had invited the team over, so we joined him and his family for sweet bread and watery coffee.

Just like that, another day had come and gone. I can't believe its been a week already.

Tomorrow will me more of the same... a.k.a. coffee farm mapping, farmer interaction, and plenty of good laughs.

Enjoy.

William Naranjo.
Machete Man II.
Naranjo tells Jose that the drive up will be steep.
Louis chose not to look over the edge.
Finally, we made it to a safe spot for the cars to turn around.
The mud was pretty bad.
Everyone focuses on one step at a time.
The view of surrounding coffee farms from the top.
Amongst the coffee bushes there are a lot of spider webs. This one looked nice in the morning light.
We took our lunch break once we finished Naranjo's farm. Our tortilla-rice-beans-potato-egg, beef-plantain dish was fantastic.
The team didn't really feel like working on another farm.
Carmen Naranjo, William's daughter, watches us sip coffee from the door jam to the Naranjo home.
Deserted soccer cleats sit near a bench at a soccer field near Naranjo's home.
The Naranjo mutt.
I thought this was a bit ironic.
Lights out for me!

Color and Coope Tarazzu

Tonight I'm only posting photos of today's activities because I'm too tired to write.

We have to leave the hotel at 6 a.m. tomorrow to begin work in the fields. So that means an early wake up call, for sure.

Today was our "in class" day and my brain has officially hit information overload. We toured the coffee farmer's cooperative, also known as Coope Tarrazu, which was by far my favorite activity of the day.

The afternoon was spent at the research office where we learned more about local farming practices and the push toward sustainability.

Here are my favorite images from these activities. I was impressed by the color and contrasts found in this culture and hope you enjoy it as much as I am.

Inside the shop around the corner.The street in front of our hotel.Debra pointing out our enormous rear view mirror.Charlie, center, sips coffee while listening to to a lecture at Coope Tarrazu.Red and green coffee cherries.
Coffee beans after being washed.You never know where you'll see these.A mechanic at Coope Tarazzu (notice the poster in his shop.)Working man's hands.Coope Tarazzu.The life blood of the community is the river.Sebas talking about annual rainfall.Alex displays the necessary poncho.Jason sneaking under a fence.

Uniforms

I've never really liked wearing a uniform.

I used to wear one when I worked for Starbucks, and can honestly say that I've not worn any combination of black, white, and khaki since I quit over a year ago.

Today I put on a uniform again.


In a few hours I'll board a plane to Costa Rica and join nine other lucky individuals who "won" the Starbucks Earthwatch Expedition.

Yes, for the first time in my life I actually won something more significant than a door prize.

Twenty people were selected as grand prize winners in the contest that was accessed via Starbucks' website.

My husband, Joe, did not enter and will not be joining me. Its really my fault he didn't, because I forgot to tell him that I did and frankly, I forgot that I did. He found out I won (and entered) while we were in the car on our way to play golf when I got the call informing me I'd won the "grand prize." We both thought it must be a fluke. But it wasn't. One thing's for sure: he'll be missed!

Over the next two weeks, I'll be telling tales of a journey through coffee fields, team building, and random moments of hilarity.

I hope you will enjoy the ride.