Why Is Biodiversity Important On.a Coffee Farm? With Hacienda Iluminada
Coffee farming is magical, it's a work of art that takes time and dedication! However, it's not just about the coffee plantation, good soil, and great climate. It's also about including biodiversity. Biodiversity helps us create a healthier ecosystem, healthier coffee plantations, and of course, healthier planet. At Hacienda Iluminada, we are committed to bringing the best cup of coffee while we create a healthier world with small actions like this one. In this Hacienda Iluminada blog, we’ll talk about biodiversity and why it is so important.
What is Bidoodversity and why is it so important?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including humans, animals, and even organisms that are not well-known. In a coffee farm, biodiversity is crucial because it helps to include various plant species, insects, and birds that contribute to the health of the farm's plants and, of course, coffee cultivation. Every single animal, plant, and insect is important to us!
How does Biodiversity help the farm?
Soil health: Having diversity helps our coffee farm maintain healthy soil. Different plant species make our soil richer and more fertile, which in turn helps the coffee plantation grow steadily and easily. Each plant root provides different nutrients that benefit the soil. This also helps the plants remain healthy without the need for fertilizers, providing the coffee plantation with a balance of natural nutrients. This is why at Hacienda Iluminada, we do not use chemicals like fertilizers. The variety of plants helps our coffee plants stay strong and healthy!
Helps with Pest: Coffee plantations can face problems with harmful pests and diseases that can harm or kill the coffee plants. However, a mixture of insects and animals around, helps naturally keep these harmful pests away, which means we don't need to use as many chemical pesticides. Here at Hacienda Iluminada, our awesome birds also help out by controlling insects in a natural and friendly way!
Climate Resilience: Extreme weather conditions can harm coffee plantations. Coffee plants are very delicate, so if they receive more water than needed, they can be hurt or even die. Biodiversity helps coffee plants become more resilient to these types of weather. For example, including trees in the coffee farm provides the plants with beautiful shade. This is how Atacineda Iluminada grows shade-grown coffee. The shade helps the coffee plants by regulating temperature and moisture levels, protecting them from severe weather and reducing the use of chemicals!
In Conclusion…
In conclusion, biodiversity is important for our sustainable coffee farming. It's as easy as taking care of nature and animals.It contributes to a healthier ecosystem, stronger and healthy coffee plantation and of course better coffee because we avoid the use of chemicals! Having a diverse environment on Hacienda Iluminada we are not only preserving the natural world but also ensuring the health of our coffee while we take care of the planet. Remember small actions, make a big difference in the world