Dispatches
Maquipucuna Foundation – Ecuador, Part V
April 21, 2009
We didn’t have much time left (and the light was quickly fading thanks to all of the clouds) so we scrambled to get shots and organize our last few interviews this morning. While everyone was running around, I took the chance to sit down with Rebeca Justicia, President, Owner and Founder of the Maquipucuna Lodge and Foundation. What a fascinating person!! Looking at all that she has accomplished over the last 20 years, and learning that it was just from the desire to do something to help her home country – buy 100 hectares and preserve them – and now seeing that she is shooting for 5 million hectares, as well as helping families in communities all over central and northern Ecuador, is just inspiring.
The rain didn’t let up or make our job any easier this morning or afternoon. We packed up, ate a quick lunch, took a few final shots and then stopped at a few spots on the road out of Maquipucuna to finish covering the last few details of Maquipucuna Lodge. We got to see their very large, well-maintained, organic garden, as well as their shade grown coffee. One of the farmers was on hand to explain what exactly shade grown coffee is – the coffee is grown right up next to banana trees and this helps improve the quality of the beans – the shade allows all the beans to ripen uniformly, thus improving the chances of getting a better (larger) crop. Talking with the farmers though, this winter was much longer and wetter than normal, so while we saw red (ripe) beans on the tree we also saw just as many green beans and even a bunch of flowers for beans that had yet to even sprout. The mishmash of ripening times makes for a weaker crop and less income this year.
After this trip through the gardens, we hopped back in the car for a twisty, misty, twilight ride down the mountain back to Quito. We stopped at several spots to take more pictures of the clouds and forest, and then took time to catch up on a little shut-eye. At some point we saw signs for “Mitad del Mundo.” I wasn’t sure exactly where we were geographically, but asked if we were anywhere near the equator. As we had a Spot and another GPS unit, we found out that we were indeed 8 seconds away. Around a few more corners and we saw a huge monument to that giant belt around the earth. We took a quick peek as we flew by and headed to the hotel. Getting in after dark, we took time to wash some clothes, grab a bite to eat and all it an end to another day.
