University of Puerto Rico at Ponce

English Department
ENGL 4021 – M03

MEMORANDUM

DATE: ​October 23, 2020

TO: ​Pier A. Le Compte Zambrana, ​English Professor at University of Puerto

Rico at Ponce Campus

FROM: Yarek J. Vega Olivera,​ Leader & Language Coach

Cydmary N. Torres Montosa, ​Secretary & Information Gatherer
Amanda J. Toro Santos, ​Secretary & Material Manager
Doliany K Velázquez Rivera, ​Research & Timekeeper
Yaidelis Rodríguez Avilés,​ ​Research & Material Manager
(Students of section M03)

SUBJECT: Progress Report on students at the ​Finca Buena Vibra ​Ponce, Service Learning
Project

INTRODUCTORY SUMMARY

This report documents the work done by each student of this group toward reaching
the needs of Finca Buena Vibra at Ponce for the 2020-2021 academic year. We help clean
areas containing leaves, remove weeds, collect coffee cherries, and plant coffee trees during
our time working in this place. Also, we acquire knowledge about the entire coffee
production process, from when it is grown until it is packed in bags. Rafael Rodríguez, one of
Finca Buena Vibra owners, taught us several interesting planting techniques and made us
aware of growing coffee under shade. For this project, we completed four hours of
community service on the farm mentioned above.

BACKGROUND

Finca Buena Vibra ​is a family agribusiness dedicated to the cultivation of Arabic
coffee that follows agroecological practices and coffee planting in the shade. The farm is
located at PR-511 Km. 14.3 Barrio Real Anón. 00780 Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rafael Rodríguez
and his sister Alexandra Rodríguez Rodríguez are the owners, and although the farm belongs
to both of them, only Alexandra is the one who has the agronomist certificate, obtained from
the College of Agronomists of Puerto Rico. She studied Agricultural Sciences at the
University of Puerto Rico and was part of the FFA Association (Futures Farmers of
America). Subsequently, Alexandra obtained an MBA (Master of Business Administration) at
the Universidad del Turabo. Finca Buena Vibra began five years ago by planting 2,000 coffee
trees, but coffee is not the only thing collected because they also have beehives from which
they obtain their honey. The Rodríguez family are the ones who manage and work on their
farm. They only have one employee who works three days a week and does community
service from different parts of Puerto Rico and the world.

Finca Buena Vibra​ keeps its doors open to the general public any day of the week
without specific hours.

MAINTENANCE HOURS

Being a family farm, they have no set schedules or maintenance routines. However,
they take care of everything related: cleaning, planting collection, cultivation, among others.

WORK PLANNED

As a group, our goal was to choose a farm in Puerto Rico, where we could enjoy and
acquire new knowledge about what it takes to maintain a farm and the different techniques
used. After researching various farms, we decided that the best farm for us to learn was Finca
Buena Vibra at Ponce. Initially, our goal was to learn how to plant coffee trees, harvest coffee
cherries, and acquire knowledge about the entire coffee production process, from when it is
grown until it is packed in bags. Also, we were excited to carry out beekeeping.

WORK COMPLETED

Despite being aware of how difficult it is to develop a farm in Puerto Rico due to
monopolies and corruption in the government, Finca Buena Vibra has managed to create an
effective system in both beekeeping and planting and collecting coffee harvest. On the other
hand, it was not possible to work and acquire knowledge regarding beekeeping because
Rafael Rodríguez, one of Finca Buena Vibra owners, did not want to expose us to danger due
to a lack of equipment for the entire group of students.

I. Cleaning the coffee trees crop

The students collected the dried leaves and removed the weeds and nettles found in
coffee plants' cultivation. It was group work; while some students collected the dry leaves,
the others were in charge of removing the weeds from the crop.

II. Planting of coffee trees

Initially, the students used a shovel to dig a hole approximately 10 to 12 inches deep
in the ground. Then they planted the coffee plants using the Pyramid-shaped staggered
planting technique, which consisted of planting, leaving a horizontal distance of four feet and
a vertical distance of seven feet between each plant. The primary purpose of this planting
technique is that when they grow up, the one that harvests them has room to walk between
them. Finally, the group tied a blue ribbon to them to identify them from the other plants.
III. Collecting of coffee cherries

Using baskets given by Rafael Rodríguez, the students collected the coffee cherries
ripe in the crop. It was group work due to the lack of baskets for the entire group. Some
students only collected the coffee cherries while the others carried the baskets and collected.

IV. Depulping the coffee cherries

Finca Buena Vibra​ had two pulping machines available, where one was manual and
the other automatic. The group decided to use the manual pulping machine, where each
student used the machine in turn. Once the students pulped the coffee cherries, they put it in a
fermenter tank for 3 to 4 days. Finally, after spending 3 to 4 days, the coffee beans were left
to dry in the sun for 5 to 7 days, where every 2 hours, the farmer must turn the coffee beans.

MATERIALS

1. boots
2. repellent
3. cap
4. mask
5. long jeans
6. long-sleeved shirt

FUTURE PLANS

Currently, Mr. Rodríguez dries the coffee leaving it exposed to the sun. It is not a
highly recommended technique because if it rains and the coffee bean gets wet, it is damaged.
As future plans, Rafael plans to build a type of greenhouse by converting the process into a
drying under shade. This way, he does not have to worry about picking up the coffee bean
every time it rains.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED

During our community service at ​Finca Buena Vibra,​ we found several problems.
While we were going towards the farm, we observed that the road did not have a direction to
facilitate reaching our destination. Further, we found many nettles plants, which we touched
and got welts and irritation on our skin. Another problem we found on the farm was the soil;
it was wet, making our planting procedure more difficult.

RECOMMENDATIONS

● Since the location of the farm is not easily found, we recommend marking the path so
that people can arrive without problems. Also marking the path to the planting areas.
● Wear gloves.
● Make a warning sign for people allergic to bee venom or pollen.
TIME DEDICATED TO FINCA BUENA VIBRA

On October 23, 2020, the five members of group 5 dedicated 4 hours (8:00 am - 12:00
pm) to ​Finca Buena Vibra​.

CONCLUSION

Community services help us connect with communities or organizations' needs to

provide help, be it monetary or specific tasks. This farm aims to promote domestic
agriculture, producing food like coffee, cocoa, yucca, yam, pineapple, honey, among others,
that the family consumes. Together with Rafael, we had the opportunity to cultivate the
coffee tree, learning various techniques that were not familiar. We collected coffee cherries
for the first time and used a pulping machine to obtain the coffee beans. Thanks to this family
farm, we learned about the coffee harvesting process from planting to consumption. This
experience was very educational; it helped us understand the importance of community
service and can help us in our professional careers by teaching us to have a dedication at
work and to collaborate with a large group of people.

Appendix A: Photos

Figure 1. ​Yarek J. Vega Olivera, Doliany K. Velázquez Rivera, Amanda J. Toro Santos,
Cydmary N. Torres Montosa, and Yaidelis Rodríguez Avilés arriving at ​Finca Buena Vibra.​
Photo taken by D. Velázquez, October 2020.
Figure 2. ​Cydmary Torres, Yaidelis Rodríguez, Amanda Toro, Yarek Vega, and Doliany
Velázquez before collecting coffee cherries with Rafael Rodríguez. Photo taken by C. Torres,
October 2020.

Figure 3.​ Yarek Vega with Rafael Rodríguez, owner of the ​Finca Buena Vibra​, depulping
the coffee cherries. Photo taken by C. Torres, October 2020.
Figure 4.​ ​Yarek Vega planting a coffee tree. Photo taken by C. Torres, October 2020.

Figure 5. ​Cydmary Torres collecting coffee cherries. Photo taken by D. Velázquez, October
2020.
Figure 6.​ Cydmary Torres planting a coffee tree. Photo taken by D. Velázquez, October
2020.

Figure 7. ​Yaidelis Rodríguez planting a coffee tree​. ​Photo taken by C. Torres, October 2020.
Figure 8. ​Doliany Velázquez preparing the coffee tree to plant. Photo taken by C. Torres,
October 2020.

Figure 9. ​Doliany Velázquez and Yaidelis Rodríguez planting coffee trees. Photo taken by C.
Torres, October 2020.
Figure10. ​Amanda Toro planting a coffee tree. Photo taken by C. Torres, October 2020.

Figure 11. ​Amanda Toro collecting coffee cherries. Photo taken by D. Velázquez, October
2020.
Appendix B: Progress Report Minutes
Appendix C: Service logs that evidence the work performed by all members