If I could describe today in one word, it would be thriving.

We had the chance to meet Don Guillermo, one of the owners of a smaller coffee farm known as Life Monteverde. He discussed with us the history of coffee growing in Monteverde, as well as took us on a tour of the farm. As he explained, with an economy that is always changing, it is important for farmers in this area (and in surrounding areas) to find new, more-sustainable ways (through environmental engineering and significant technology systems) to run their business. As he suggests, conservation of resources should be a big focus for business nowadays, as we should be constantly seeking for ways to improve the environment around us in order to instill necessary change.

In the Monteverde area, tourism is taking over. Many people who were once coffee farmers have started to take advantage of the fruitful business and utilize their land for things like hotels and zip-lines. This is becoming a main challenge for farmers like Don Guillermo. Since tourism fosters competition and individualism, it is not very common to see businesses working as cooperatives, let alone working as a smaller family-run business.

Additionally, there is a generational shift of lifestyle, with children of these farmers not planning to operate the farm when they are older. Don Guillermo is confident that his children will realize the importance of continuing the lucrative business. For others not so confident, the future of their businesses will become dependent on what they grow.

In a conversation with Don Guillermo, I asked him what his favorite part of this business was. In a heartfelt tone, he explained to me that he enjoys being a bridge for education. His favorite part is being able to wake up everyday and educate visitors who are touring for the first time (like us) and hopefully be able to have a profound impact on their life, simply through the introduction of his daily lifestyle.

To sum up, this experience really meant a lot to me. The intimate feel of being able to see the behind the scenes of the coffee farm paired with witnessing the amount of heart and soul that goes into running a family-business was incredible. Life Monteverde’s focus on conservation of resources is one thing, but their commitment to running a unique, trustworthy business is something truly special. Unfortunately, I think this important trait is somewhat lacking in many bigger, nationally-known, competition-based businesses of today.