Memorandum

Date: December 8, 2022

To: Prof. Le Compte
From: Luis A. Vélez Velázquez, Alana D. León Guzmán, Patricia C. Rodríguez Rodríguez
(students of ENGL 4021, section L03)
Subject: Progress Report: “Finca Buena Vibra” and Atabey garden

I. Introductory Statement
The purpose of this report is to discuss and inform Professor Pier LeCompte of the work
done by the students in “Finca Buena Vibra” and the participation in community service in
Atabey garden at the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce. The students completed the hours
of community service at “Finca Buena Vibra” located in Ponce, Puerto Rico and did
community service hours with “Coalición Estudiantil Pro-Agricultura" (CEPA).

II. Project description

This project consists of participating in community service in the Atabey garden at the
University of Puerto Rico- Ponce (UPR-P), or any approved agroecological farms. The
students helped the CEPA in the garden maintenance, which includes cleaning the green
areas, watering the vegetation, planting new seeds, and organizing the storehouse. In addition,
the students carried out work on the "Finca Buena Vibra” where they helped with harvesting
of coffee beans. This group activity seeks to enrich education through service and care for
the environment.

III. Work accomplished in the preceding period/ work done

a) Work completed
i. Atabey garden (Patricia C. Rodríguez Rodríguez)
During the service carried out in the Atabey garden in UPR-P, green areas
were preserved. Twice a week the plants were watered depending on the weather; On
rainy days, water was not poured on the plants so as not to overwater them. As weekly
maintenance routine, invasive grass was removed from around the fruits or vegetables
planted. Vegetable waste was placed in the compost pile and stir twice a week so that
all matter could get air and regulate humidity. The storehouse was organized weekly
to keep the tools organized and easily accessible.

ii. Finca Buena Vibra (Luis A. Vélez Velázquez, Alana D. León Guzmán)
The owner of the farm, Rafael Rodríguez, said that the coffee beans that
were red and brown had to be picked. The black beans were thrown away because
they were sick. He explained that to make a cup of coffee you need 60 coffee
beans. Also, cocoa was picked and the beans that were yellow had to be picked.
Then, he explained the process must be done and put the beans in a bucket with
water to wash them and then put it to dry for a day. Then it must go through a
machine that separates the beans from the husk and that is put in another bucket
with water for several days. When the days pass you must remove the water and
put those beans on top of a sack to catch sun and dry. He showed other things that
are planted there as ketambilla, raspberry, chironja, hibiscus flower. Also, has
turkey of which sells their offspring, chickens for meat and eggs hens.

iii. International Coastal Clenup (Patricia C. Rodríguez Rodríguez)

Community service was also carried out by cleaning the coasts. As part of the
initiative of the CEPA organization to promote care for the environment, they allowed
us to carry out hours of service in the International Coastal Cleanup of the "Sociedad
Honoraria de Biología Tribeta" association. In this activity, we carried out a cleaning
of Tamarindo Beach in Guánica, Puerto Rico. We performed a report of the waste
founded on the beach, to inform the Scuba Dog Society. The Scuba Dog Society uses
the coastal cleanup reports as an international record and statistics of the waste
generated. In addition, the garbage was placed in bags and deposited in the
corresponding containers to ensure correct waste processing
 b) Planned work
i. Atabey garden (Patricia C. Rodríguez Rodríguez)
The main idea of this project was to help the CEPA association in the maintenance
of the Atabey garden in UPR-P. Tasks designated as part of this collaboration
include:
• watering plants.
• clean up the green areas.
• give the necessary routine care to the compost.
• organize the tools and equipment used for the garden.
• sow new plants as stipulated by CEPA.

ii. Finca Buena Vibra

The main plan the students (Luis A. Vélez Velázquez and Alana D. León Guzmán)
have for our community service hours were to learn and gain knowledge on how to
influence other young people and encourage the youth to be a part of this big project
that not only helps us, but it helps the community around us as well. The students
planned with this new understanding to be able to share it and put it into practice.

IV. Problems a) Atabey garden

Some of the problems in this Project were that many of the experiences were aimed
at cleaning only. I think it was necessary to have the students help with the weekly
maintenance tasks, but I also think it's important to put an educational factor on the
experience and make it more interesting. In addition, I also think that the CEPA
association needs a better organization for the maintenance of the Atabey garden.
Many of the plants that were seeded in the garden needed better attention and more
specific care.

b) Finca Buena Vibra

At Mr. Rodríguez’s farm he explained that there are several problems that affect the
coffee harvest. The problems are:
i. animals such as múcaros, rats and wild pigs that eat coffee beans.
 ii. a disease that affects the coffee beans and they turn black, so they spoil
those coffee beans.

V. Conclusion
The main objective of this activity was to help the local farms and gardens in the
maintenance of their green areas. Through this project we learned the importance of caring
for the environment. Currently, the deterioration suffered by the environment is clear, so
reversing this situation has become primordial. In addition, being able to encourage
students to learn about and explore the production of their own food has a very positive
impact. Taking care of the environment is something that we must learn from a young age
to protect the world in which we live. This type of projects and activities put us in contact
with nature, providing experiences that open our eyes to how fundamental our help and
actions are. It was satisfying to see how many students enjoyed spending time on the
Atabey garden (Patricia C. Rodríguez Rodríguez). With the Finca Buena Vibra (Luis A.
Vélez Velázquez and Alana D. León Guzmán) were able to experience the honest work this
type of project requires. Mainly, big responsibilities and effort on how to take care of the
environment, specifically coffee beans. Finally, the CEPA initiative is important, since the
value of producing our own food and the importance it has as a society is very little
promoted.

VI. Enclosure
Image 1. Photos taken in the Atabey garden in UPR-P of the seeded plants. Image taken by
Patricia C. Rodríguez Rodríguez, 2022.

Image 2. Photos taken in the Atabey garden in UPR-P of the seeded plants. Image taken by
Patricia C. Rodríguez Rodríguez, 2022.

Image 3. Photos taken of the Tamarindo Beach in Guanica, Puerto Rico. Image taken by
Patricia C. Rodríguez Rodríguez, 2022.
Image 4. Photos taken from the Clean Swell platform of the registry of garbage collected
on Tamarindo beach in Guanica, Puerto Rico, of the International Coastal Cleanup. Image
taken by Patricia C. Rodríguez Rodríguez, 2022.

Image 5. Photos taken at “Finca Buena Vibra” of the turkeys. Image taken by Luis A. Vélez
Velázquez, 2022.
Image 6. Photos taken at “Finca Buena Vibra” of the turkeys. Image taken by Luis A. Vélez
Velázquez, 2022.

Image 7. Photos taken at Finca Buena Vibra of raspberries. Image taken by Rafael
Rodríguez, 2016.
Image 8. Photos taken at “Finca Buena Vibra “of “Mazorcas de cacao”. Image taken by
Rafael Rodríguez, 2020.

Image 9. Photos taken at “Finca Buena Vibra”; coffee in the drying process. Image taken
by Rafael Rodríguez, 2021.
Image 10. Photos taken at “Finca Buena Vibra” of the coffee beans. Image taken by Rafael
Rodríguez, 2021
 University of Puerto Rico at Ponce
English Department
ENGL 4021

Service Log

Name: _______________________________ Course Section: __________

Group/Team: ________________

Selected service site:

___________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

Tasks performed:

___ 1. Planting/Plowing DATES: # Hours: Initials:

___ 2. Composting ______________________________
______________________________
___ 3. Cleaning garden, removing weeds ______________________________
___ 4. Creating seedlings ______________________________
______________________________
___ 5. Painting or building ______________________________
___ 6. Watering
___ 7. Sowing
___ 8. Other Specify: __________________________________

Contribution /Donation (optional):

_______________________________________________________________

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that__________________________ completed ______hours

name of student #
of service at _____________________________________________________
name of farm or urban garden

Supervisor’s signature: __________________________ Date: _____________

PRINTED NAME: __________________________________
 University of Puerto Rico at Ponce
English Department
ENGL 4021

Service Log

Name: _______________________________ Course Section: __________

Group/Team: ________________

Selected service site:

___________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

Tasks performed:

___ 1. Planting/Plowing DATES: # Hours: Initials:

___ 2. Composting ______________________________
______________________________
___ 3. Cleaning garden, removing weeds ______________________________
___ 4. Creating seedlings ______________________________
______________________________
___ 5. Painting or building ______________________________
___ 6. Watering
___ 7. Sowing
___ 8. Other Specify: __________________________________

Contribution /Donation (optional):

_______________________________________________________________

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that__________________________ completed ______hours

name of student #
of service at _____________________________________________________
name of farm or urban garden

Supervisor’s signature: __________________________ Date: _____________

PRINTED NAME: __________________________________