Visit to Coffee Farm owned by local woman

Greetings from my bungalow hammock in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

We are nearing the end of week two as I sit here ruminating on all the lovely activities we’ve done so far. For example, this week we got to visit La Lluvias de Gloria Farm. It is ran by a 70-year-old women, named Hermida. She has an abundant farm filled with diverse vegetables and fruits local to Costa Rica. She plants, not only for herself but also for the wildlife nearby. Hermida’s farm goes back generations , and something that students could relate to was that she is a woman running a sustainable farm. 

During our visit students we’re able to tour her coffee plantation see how coffee was harvested, naturally dried and processed.  We finished our tour with a coffee tasting and snack, specially made for us by Hermida herself.

This excursion was super beautiful to see how students felt inspired and empowered. Here’s what Miigis Curley student of Women in Environmental Action Program had to say:

“The Women in Environmental Action program had the opportunity to visit Finca Lluvia de Gloria Farm. Hermida was our tour guide, and she carried herself with such grace that her love, and humor transcended language barriers. She guided our program through the coffee farm, we got to see the abundance of diverse fruits and flowers. The farm was beautiful- a biodiverse system of cover crops, plants to avoid erosion, and a coexistence of man-made with nature.

While I loved the whole experience, I think what I will most remember from the excursion is Hermida. She reminds me of the strong matriarch figures that have led me through my life like my mom, my aunties, my host mom from Morocco, and more. Like every Abuela, Hermida fed us at every chance; fruits from the farm, coffee, and delicious tacos. If I come back to Monteverde, I am definitely going to visit Gloria's farm- and her cute dogs!”