Fern Forest a new hybrid of coffee arrives at Fieldhouse Farm. Pots of what was originally Kona coffee are ready to plant once the weeds are cleared out of a sunny spot in the forest. It will take a little patience to see them turn into actual pots of coffee, yet worth the wait! This hybrid of coffee is grown for local forest dwellers, and aptly named by Fieldhouse Farm as Fern Forest coffee, which will eventually be roasted Dark, Medium and Light.
We've been on the hunt for locally grown coffee plants, and this past weekend, were able to find plants already acclimated to Fern Forest.
I'd like to post the health benefits of coffee, but unfortunately, while coffee in moderation is okay, coffee is addictive (I cannot wait to go to bed so I can wake up and have some.) Coffee is a digestive irritant and adrenal stimulant and should be used in moderation.
Like all things that should be used in moderation, there is a huge appreciation for the indulgence. We wait with great anxiety (I mean calm patience) as the trees grow to maturity and produce beans ready to roast and toast.
April 29, 2010 update ... the coffee trees are growing slowly on the side of the cabin. Most of the coffee trees planted along the driveway have not made it. They were transplanted as small trees and have had trouble rooting, particularly as that area is hard to control the weeds. The main threat to coffee are weeds as they compete for the nutrients in the soil (or what soil there is). Coffee are heavy feeders. I have planted beans as a companion to the coffee to add nitrogen to the soil and worked hard at getting rid of the weeds right down to their roots. We had originally placed cardboard down to block the weeds, but they quickly grew back around the edges. Where the weeds have been pulled (vs. blocking with cardboard) and companion veggies grown, the coffee has done better. Patience patience patience.. it will be a while for the coffee to root and grow, but it seems we have found the right location and method to get them to root.
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