visited a coffee farm in the mountains above Karatu. Leon and Aideen,
the 40-something couple that purchased the farm 2 years ago, walked us
through the farm. The farm was very poorly manage by the man who owned
it before them and they discussed their efforts to rehabilitate it,
expand the coffee acreage, and deal with their challenges with limited
water and string winds (and elephant damage!).
It was interesting, too, to learn about their complex relationship
with the nearby villages, in terms of land rights, employment, and the
adjacent Ngorongoro preservation area. They are determined to improve
the quality of Tanzanian coffee (notably to expand beyond the
association with peaberries). I am convinced that their farm and the
several others on the same mountian ridge, are going to produce great
coffees.
We enjoyed a fantastic lunch with Leon, Aideen, and Moses. The views
from their veranda are breathtaking and this farm is truly a slice of
heaven, even with the farming challenges. They invited us to join them
for dinner at their home in Arusha later on our trip, which we are
very much looking forward to.
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