Organic and Shade Grown

Organic and shade grown concepts go hand in hand.

Coffee grown under the shade of a canopy of trees creates less need for pesticides as the surrounding foliage helps dilute and deter pests. This gives farmers a healthier work life, as well as producing other crops to harvest and creates/sustains habitat for beneficial flora and fauna.

One example of this type of farming is the Rustic method. Coffee is planted amongst the existing canopy and plants.This is a traditional polyculture, which  involves integrating many species together to create a beneficial ecosystem.