It was a long, bumpy and beautiful drive up to the plantation.
There we met Rodrigo and the vision he has for his coffee.
He grows his coffee to be rainforest certified and green. He picks every bean by hand and lets the plants grow naturally without harmful pesticides.
He showed us how the beans are hulled, dried and then roasted. He also taught us what makes a good coffee and the perfect way to brew it.
The part that amazed me the most was how he takes care of the people who work for him.
He hires women to make their meals everyday on the plantation. His workers don’t have to worry about catching the bus to go down the mountain and again to go back up. He doesn’t over work them by having them out in the hot sun for 12 hour days. When someone tells him they finished their task for the day he believes them. He also helps other growers by purchasing their coffee and roasting it for them.
One plantation is owned by a woman named Luca who is a single mother of two daughters. He pays her a competitive amount and is willing to work with her. I’m sure she sees Rodrigo as a blessing to her and her family! I can’t imagine how her life would be if someone wasn’t there to give her a fair price for her coffee.
He has such a passion for coffee and the people of El Salvador! His plantation and roasting plant is all to support the people. He believes that if he has a sustainable and trusted farm that the community around him will be blessed as well.
You can buy the coffee he grows and support the ministry Envisioned Wired (the one we’re partnered with this month) here: Envision Coffee
Thanks to everyone who has been supporting me! Over half of what was needed was given last week! That means I only have $1,100 left to raise! God is so good and I know He’s going to keep providing the rest! Only one week to go 😀
