Bird eggs laid at the CSU Chico farm

Monday, May 31, 2010

Kauai Coffee Company

May 30, 2010: Kauai, Hawaii

My family and I visited Kauai Coffee Company which is located on the south side of the island. It was a very welcoming place and the people are very friendly. They have a gift shop where you can buy their coffee and other souvineers. At the back of the gift shop, they have a covered porch area where you can try many of their coffee flavors for free. My family and I liked the "Estate Roasted" and the "Hawaiin Hazelnut". For those who like sweeter flavors, there were "Hawaiin Style Irish Creme", "Vanilla Macadamia Nut", and others. They also have a video playing about their whole coffee processing operation.

In the back, there is around an acre of different varieties of coffee trees. You follow the side walk and signs that explain their operation. It was great to spend time in the orchard, learning about coffee trees. I am a huge coffee fan and this experience was very educational. I highly recommend this free self-tour for anyone who loves coffee and is spending some time in Kauai.



You can visit their website at http://www.kauaicoffee.com/

Sunday, May 30, 2010

OVP


Chico, California

The first real farm I have worked consistently at was the CSU, Chico farm. I started my freshman year volunteering in the beef unit. That lasted a semester. I found my niche when I started volunteering at the newly started Organic Vegetable Project. I knew nothing about organic farming practices, but I found it fascinating how you could grow a great product without using chemicals. I have been working there for a year and a half and I learn something new everyday. I highly recommend visiting the student-run CSU, Chico farm if you ever have a chance. It is part of the Sierra Oro Farm Trail every fall. We have an organic cattle dairy, beef unit, swine unit, sheep and goat unit, free range chickens, greenhouses, a rose garden, the organic vegetables, row crops, and orchard crops. You can take a tractor ride around the farm and see the students working in the different sections of the farm.