Today we got to take another coffee tour! This was our third coffee tour this trip, but this one was unique because it was a farm and very interactive. During the tour we got to plant corn, work with compost, and work directly with various farm animals. My favorite part of today was definitely getting to learn more about the farm animals and their roles on the farm. While today’s main focus was coffee production, it was interesting because Life Monteverde is a functioning farm and also focuses on educating students and tourists.

As we learned more about the lifestyle of a Tico farmer, I truly realized how committed they are to creating sustainable practices so that everyone can continue enjoying Costa Rica’s coffee and biodiversity. Life Monteverde has a strong emphasis on sustainability and that is seen all throughout their production process. From recycling parts of the coffee plants to creating their own fertilizers that are not chemically based. In addition to creating these unique sustainability practices, they work to educate others on their sustainability initiatives to increase awareness. Near the end of the tour we had to split into groups to create suggestions for how Life Monteverde can improve their sustainability. My group focused on creating a barter system where volunteers can work on the farm and learn more about their sustainability practices. Education and awareness is a major factor in creating a more sustainable future and that is a factor that Life Monteverde could focus on more to improve their sustainability.

Engineering and technology play a crucial role in creating a sustainable farm because they allow for changes that promote productivity while limiting the environmental impact. For example, they are currently using plants they grow and waste from their farm animals to create fertilizer to improve the soil for the coffee. Continuing to evolve technology will lead to the improvement in their practices. Striving to develop better technologies will help reserve resources for future generations. Additionally, engineering and technology is important to continue developing because the growth of coffee is weather dependent, which can be very unpredictable. Finding technologies that limit the unpredictably of coffee production will allow for more consistent production and revenue.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed today and Monteverde as a whole. I learned a lot these past couple of days and will be able to apply this information in the upcoming site visits. Monteverde was unlike anything that I have experienced before and I am extremely grateful for all that I got to see and learn.