Farm Update - A place that I love

Never underestimate the importance and liberating effect of documenting the positive in your life! @deadgrlsuppastar's #sevendaysoflove challenge is a great outlet to share those things that you love and respect in this life!

On Day three, we are encouraged to show a place that we love. Like @ecoinstante's post, I love Líbano, Tolima.

_{Our empty clothes line on Buena Vista Farm}

My very favorite place in Líbano, a place that I can really relax, is Buena Vista Farm. We are working on Agroforestry strategies and experimenting and learning about permaculture, ecology and all manner of plants and animals here, and it has quickly become a place close to our hearts.

Practically anywhere we walk, we are confronted with trees, bushes, herbs and vines that we have either planted or let grow. These plants are inhabited by an incredible quantity of insects, arachnids, rodents, birds, mammals and other living creatures both small and large.

_{I love the views}

The incredible topography of the Andes Mountains allows for spectacular views in most every direction. Specific high points where one can go and see particularily far are call miradores in spanish. I love to stand on an Andean Mirador.

_{Coffee fields and more traditional agriculture}

Agroforestry is not new if we are talking about millenium, but talking about decades, it is slowly starting to replace the Green Revolution techniques of monoculture cultivation. As seen above, our area was never fully converted to industrialized agriculture, because of the topography the main methods that we hope to improve upon are monoculture coffee and pasture.

_{I love exploring these mountains}

Even as we continue to plant and experiment with new sustainable agriculture techniques, we love looking at examples from other local farmers moving away from monoculture and agrochemical usage. Many farmers are realizing the limitations in monoculture, along with the biological and economic costs of buying fertilizers and chemicals, and are starting to add diversity to their farms.

We continue to explore and photograph, as well as plant and prune on our own farm. I love El Líbano!

I also love the #ecotrain! Check out @ecotrain's current magazine issue for the best of the best articles to read about making the world a better place!