I just now have time to write about my three (!) weeks at the Orongo research farm.
Basically, Orongo is Maquipucuna’s organic research farm. It’s located about 45 minutes away from the ecolodge, near a really small town named Palmito Pamba. The main crops are banana, coffee, and lemon. I think they also grow a type of walnut called “nogales”, because I saw some locals cleaning them there, but I never saw the trees so I’m not sure. Anyway, I got to help harvest the coffee and bananas, trim the banana trees (see pics), and also assist in a reforestation effort that is part of the Kyoto Protocol.
I was originally supposed to be there for one week only, but due to the shuffling around of volunteers, I decided to stay for two weeks, so I could be there with my friend Elke also. The first week I was working with Rachel Small, who also goes to UGA (I think she is in the forestry department). Then I was working by myself for almost 6 days, where I mainly spent time cleaning up 400+ banana trees located on a steep hillslope… it was fun, and not fun, at the same time.
Elke and Andrea, a new volunteer from England, arrived the next week but we only got to have 3 days working together before we went back to Quito for the weekend… so Elke and I decided to come back again the next week to help some more.
Orongo is run by one guy, Marco. He is amazing… I really don’t see how he does it by himself. There are thousands of coffee and banana plants and I think a couple hundred lemon trees. For all of you in Athens, if you ever go to Jittery Joe’s in the SLC (and maybe elsewhere in town) and buy Ecuadorian coffee, 100% of it comes from Orongo. I helped harvest about 150kg, of which probably 60kg will make it through the processing and quality control to end up in Athens. So go buy a cup in a month or so and know that my hands probably touched those beans.
Also, while I was at Orongo a few archaeologists from the states showed up. They are investigating a “tola” near the town that was built by some unknown ancient civilization. Basically about 3m of dirt was added to the top of a hill to make it higher, and the scientists have been coming here for years to investigate it (they guy who discovered it has been coming for 2 decades). They were really nice and it was fascinating to talk to them about it.
One of the scientists was named Alexandra and she brought her 9 year old daughter Paula. They were amazing and we really bonded. It was so fun to talk to Paula… she is so smart and totally hilarious. Definitely the best 9 year old I have ever met. And her mom is one of the smartest and most kind persons I have ever met as well. I have pictures of Paula and I somewhere… I will try to add later… I think they are still on Elke’s camera.
Photos…
There’s a type of butterfly that invades the stalk of the banana plant and kills it. Here are some photos. Interesting!
Banana trees, before and after cleaning the dead and infected leaves. Looks like a warzone after!
Work pictures!
Rachel helping to separate the beans from the skin
Elke and I helping plant trees for Kyoto Protocol
Another view of the tree planting
Marco, the man who does it all
Marco washes the coffee prior to drying
Random good pictures…
A great view across the mountains
Ever wondered what coffee looks like before it’s processed?
Dude, you look so cute when you’re working! This looks like so much fun. :)