Honduras Highland Finca Los Cabos

Joel spent several of his teenage years on his dad’s farm but didn’t have a farm of his own until 2012. That is when he bought a small plot from his brother Eric. This 1.5-acre plot was already planted in coffee and ready for production. In 2020 he purchased another five acres of coffee land next to the home farm, most of which needed to be entirely renovated by cutting off the old bushes and letting them grow out anew. After much hard work, this farm is now producing quality coffee as well. Joel has been a Honduras coffee farmer for Javataza since 2015.

Both Joel and Eric have realized that sustainable agriculture requires careful attention to soil nutrition. Currently, they are working with a consultant and soil lab in the USA to improve the natural fertility of their farms. By adding large amounts of lime and seeking to raise the level of effective microorganisms they hope to significantly reduce the application of chemical fertilizers.

Having a small farm has allowed Joel and his family to treat each coffee bush with special care. Selective pruning and intense maintenance have resulted in an outstanding production of the coffee fruit. Joel also has some fruit trees scattered among his coffee bushes, including plum, peach, and citrus fruit.

Joel has focused on reducing the use of chemicals by creating traps to catch the destructive Coffee Borer Beetle. He also utilizes hand labor for weed control instead of spraying herbicide. Both Joel and Eric have totally discontinued the use of Glyphosate (Roundup) on coffee land. This makes for healthy coffee for you and a healthier environment for the local wildlife. Joel’s coffee plantation provides a natural habitat for many small animals, reptiles, and birds.