El Corazón del Mundo:
The Heart of the World
Deep in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia, lies a region known by the local Arhuaco tribe as El Corazón del Mundo, or the Heart of the World. And within this heart lies ANEI, a coffee cooperative dedicated to nourishing not only their land and home, but also each and every one of our souls.​
Different Approaches to Farming
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When one sees these two photos, it's abundantly clear that one is a farm, and the other a forest . . . right? Not quite.
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​Coffee agriculture exists in two separate spheres:
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Sun-grown coffee
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Shade-grown coffee
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While the former is what most big coffee farms use as their primary farming method, the latter is the hallmark of sustainable, high quality, coffee agriculture.
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The coffee plant actually prefers to grow under a canopy, and is in fact intolerant to direct sunlight. Coffee that's shade-grown therefore, suffers less stress throughout its life, and ends up creating more flavorful, complex beans. In addition to the boost in quality coffee, shade-grown agriculture also lends itself to biodiversity.
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When we cut down canopies in forests to make room for traditional agriculture, we also cut down micro-ecosystems, homes for multiple small animals and birds, and oxygen producing plants in the area. We cut down biodiversity. Furthermore, with less microorganisms to naturally enrich the soil, we create an environment that demands the use of fertilizers and other sources of artificial enrichment, which in turn, lead to an increase in soil erosion, water pollution, and nitrogen waste.
The ANEI Cooperative​
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The ANEI Cooperative, located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region in Colombia, ​specializes in shade grown coffee, and were actually one of the first to pioneer this technique in Colombia.
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Drawing their values from the connection that the Arahuacan tribe has to their land, the members of this cooperative have a feeling of deep responsibility towards Mother Earth, and it's clear that this is the case through their work.
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Pictured here is Aurora Izquierdo, the "first Indigenous Arahuaca woman" to pave the way in the world of coffee, and the founder of ANEI.​
Arhuaco Culture​
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The Arhuaco are one of four "elder brothers," or one of the four tribes in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region who believe it is their role to care for Mother Nature.
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In addition to their dedication to honoring Mother Earth, and creating a symbiotic relationship between humans and our environment, the Arhuaco tribe has some of the most beautiful traditions. ​
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The mountains guide them - in fact, the Arahuaca people believe that each of their ancestors is a snowflake atop the mountains. Climate change, and the fast rate at which these ice caps are melting, then, is a clear indication to the Arhuaco that something is wrong - their ancestors are leaving them.
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But the mountains are not the only way the Arhuaco communicate with Mother Earth. ​At an early age, Arahuaca children are taught to read nature, the same way one may read a book. From listening to the birds to understanding the way water flows, they're well versed in how Mother Nature speaks to us, and they understand just how we're all intertwined.
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In fact, to them, everything is intertwined, because ​they believe all of life is in the process of being woven. Our thoughts are woven into our words, and our words are woven into our reality. One must be cautious, then, about what they think, what they speak, and what they weave into reality. At the same time, one can find solace in the fact that what they think and speak will become their reality.
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From the beauty of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region, to the significance of Arahuaca woven works, especially the bags, or mochilas, which bear the weaver's thoughts and emotions, Arahuaca culture is multi-faceted and beautiful, and their inherent connection to our planet is undeniable.
The Arhuaco, one of the four "Elder Brothers," have been warning the rest of the world, or the "Younger Brothers" to mend their ways, and to fix their relationship with Mother Earth for years now.
It may seem like a small step, but purchasing shade-grown coffee from cooperatives like ANEI, supporting biodiversity and Arhuaco culture, and helping them further spread this message, is crucial to long-term change.