Fazenda Flor do Cafe

Fazenda Flor de Café, framed by steep canyon walls of the Chapada Diamantina, is run by an incredible woman named Brigida Salgada. Brigida left her job in the private sector over a decade ago because she sought a spiritually-fulfilling livelihood in which she could have a more positive impact on her environment. Today, she runs a beautiful organic farm with dozens of crops ranging from mango trees to garden vegetables to her primary crop: coffee.

I began my work at the Fazenda Flor de Café at the end of April, which happened to coincide with a weekend seminar that Brigida was due to give a group of farmers and laypeople in the small village of Capao regarding the biodynamic farming technique. A fellow WWOOFer and I both attended and learned how more and more farmers are beginning to use a technique that views the farm as a single, living organism whose interrelationships are refined to create a self-nourishing system which does not rely on chemicals, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or other staples of conventional farming. Biodynamic farming uses a holistic approach, seeking to balance and harness the energies of the earth and the sky to produce delicious, organic food. Brigida, a seasoned implementer of this technique, taught the course alongside her son, Fabio, who works with agriculture in Seabra.

A typical day at the farm involves rising with the sun and enjoying a delicious breakfast of couscous, fresh fruit, and a cup of the fazenda’s coffee before setting out to the fields. I happened to arrive in the midst of harvest season, so our days focused mainly on picking coffee beans, soaking them, and laying them out to dry in the concrete area behind our kitchen. Among my favorite memories from working at this farm were all of the conversations that I had with Brigida in the field while harvesting the coffee. We talked about politics, women in farming, biodynamic coffee, and much more!  Brigida’s endless enthusiasm for answering our questions and offering her insights greatly enriched my understanding of how farmers like Brigida are transforming the face of agriculture across Brazil, setting the standard for holistic approaches that promote sustainability and social responsibility.

The Fazenda Flor de Café is a hidden gem in the heart of Brazil --- in addition to collaborating in producing delicious, organic food, the farm is an opportunity for an authentic cultural exchange. Come to learn more about the language, the biodynamic farming technique, the local customs of the people living in the Chapada Diamantina, and to visit one of the most stunningly beautiful areas of Brazil. Because there is no electricity at the farm, it offers a rare escape from the electronics that tend to dominate our lives, allowing us to relax amidst the natural beauty that surrounds us in all directions, including the thousands of stars that glitter above the horizon as the fireflies light up the fields below. From the first moment that you set foot on the farm, you will realise that you are about to become a part of something special.

If you are interested in WOOFing in Brasil, biodynamic farming, or the Chapada Diamantina, please contact me for more information.

Also, do check out this beautiful blog entry from another WWOOFer and this wonderful article in Portuguese.