On the occasion of being a tour guide for my Japanese friend, I have the opportunity to visit some of my brother’s garden. This season is the harvesting coffee time, most of the farmers have got to run to get the right process of work.
My brother takes ¾ area of land to grow coffee trees and the rest of it is for planting fruit-trees and herbaceous plants. He is 2 years younger than me, however, he has great mind and knowledge to take care of his garden and trees.
By following the lifestyle of letting nature takes it course, he started to change the way of cultivating. For instant, he stopped using the chemical subtances in trees for over 3 years. He also learn how to use the organic fertilizers and organic substances with the purpose of improving the poorness of the soil and so on.
Furthermore, with an enormous desire of making the good quality and fresh coffee, that is the reason why he did not hesitate to collect the coffee beans even though over a half of it is ripe already. He is waiting for next week when the ratio of riping fruits reachs at peak, he would harvest all.
Actually it is not a garden for him simply. He would love to turn it to his personal resort in the future. To do that, he starts designing and growing some Areca palms, then he plans where to build house, warehouse and camp site.
Leaving the coffee area in my brother garden, we move to visit the other garden of my brother's friend. His garden also plants a lot of coffee trees and especially pepper trees. The species of this pepper is from Sri Lanka, it leads to greater productivity and better smell for the fruit. He asks me if I want to use the green pepper for cooking, I can pick up some.
My Japanese friend is so excited to explore and get more experiences here. It is the first time he has had a chance to look at the coffee tree, plantation, how the farmers collect the coffee, the way to take care of it and all the processes of making fresh coffee beans and especially he can enjoy the fresh fruit in farm.
There is only a drawback for us in this season is about the weather. By staying outside in the morning till afternoon, we cannot get rid of sun or especially the rain and fog. It also affects to other works such as drying coffee beans, moving into the garden, carrying the things.
Well, next time it will be my garden turn when I go back there to collect the coffee and beans. I have left my garden since June this year, and I let them stay with the nature. Hopefully they are strong and well during those days.
I would love to invite my friends joining the last garden challenge by sharing your garden and your experience while farming as well in Hivegarden community. ^^ Together to share and learn, we can get further in gardening ^_^.
Have a great weekend, all.