Las Minas Tular

Formally, we are from two communities: Las Minas and Tular. But since our communities are very small, and very close, it usually considered as only one: Las Minas Tular.

We are located beyond Mercedes, the municipality where Cafesmo is located. It is an isolated area, covered with pine forests, in the middle of which you can find our coffee farms, and obviously our hamlets as well. 

The hamlet of Las Minas is the smallest. There are only eight houses and we are a group of 25 people. We all grow coffee. El Tular is bigger. There are some stores there to buy basic necessities, and also the elementary school where the children from both communities go. The kids from Las Minas walk about 40 minutes to get there. To go to middle and high school, they have to go to Mercedes, or even to San Marcos for other types of education, like technical. 

But most of the young people prefer to stay with their families and work in the fields. We have very strong links in our communities; we are very united. The fact that we depend on each other helps a lot to create an atmosphere of peace and harmony. We all celebrate birthdays together, and in recent times we have had three weddings. In our community we don't have a pastor or priest, so we organize the mass together.

But most of our time is spent in our other temple: the natural temple that our farms offer. Our work is hard and requires a lot of effort, a lot of discipline, and long hours. The mountains in the area are steep; it is not easy to get the coffee out. There aren’t any people that we can employ, so we have to do all the work ourselves, even during harvest time. And in the pine forest it is cold. The summer weather is nice but in the rainy season, sometimes we suffer from the cold wind during days without end. 

However, we do not complain. On the contrary. We have no boss to give us instructions, we are never stuck in traffic, we never have to sit in an office for long hours without being able to move. Ours is pure freedom. We breathe fresh, clean air, and we always take our time to eat quietly because we live in the sweet rhythm of nature and our biological clock. In addition, we have many fruit trees. In the forest where the coffee grows, we don't need them to provide shade, but we grow the fruits for our own consumption. In the same way, we have some cows, a handful of pigs, and of course chickens. The latter for eggs, and chicken meat as well. 

The freshness of our forests offers an excellent climate to obtain quality coffees. The beans ripen a little more slowly, and for drying there is not as much need for solar or mechanical dryers. We regularly pool our coffee at Cafesmo to prepare consistent batches of constant quality. This allows us to join forces and present ourselves as a group. In this way, we increase the consolidation options and sales opportunities.

Technical data of the community

Estimated area: 36 Ha approx.

Altitudes: 1200 - 1400 masl.

Most important varieties: Parainema, Pacas, Obata

Producers members of Cafesmo: 16

Estimated production in one harvest of SCA 81-83 coffees: 38,000 kilo

Certifications: Fair Trade, Organic, RFA