To get to Gilmer’s farm you have to drive up a mountain, and then another one, and one more, and finally, nestled deep in the rolling Andes Mountain range, you will find the seven hectare Finca Ecologica. Never mind the two days of air travel it takes to get to the small but somehow sprawling coffee city of Jaen. The farm is about a three hour drive up and down a slim dirt road from Jaen. There is barely room for two cars to pass, and often times one car has to back up so the other car can squeeze by. Not for the faint of heart. Don’t look down.
Just when you think you are in the middle of nowhere a small town appears with a church, a school, and several little corner stores. These small communities are the heart and soul of Peruvian coffee. In between the mountain towns of San Francisco and Agua Colorado lies the farm.
Seven hectares of steep terrain with four hectares dedicated to growing coffee. The coffee aspect of the farm is mostly a mix of Bourbon and Yellow Caturra varieties. The trees are neatly spaced 3 to 4 feet apart in succinct rows.
After hiking up a little bit, you can turn around the see the expansive valley below. As if Pachamama created it herself. It is a stunning place, with different shades of green and big hills everywhere. It feels ancient, wild, and almost mystical. Above the farm is a steep, dense forest that has been designated as a conservation area, it's so dense it looks ominous yet beautiful. Uninviting yet appealing all at the same time. I'm told there is a lot of wildlife up there, I’ll take Gilmer’s word for it. In this far off place, is where Gilmer and his family live. Following the spirit of Pachamama, they give thanks to the land and grow great coffee.
