As city slicker turned Kona coffee farmer, there was definitely a learning
curve I had to go through. Before moving to the farm I spent a
lot of time learning everything I could about coffee farming.
There is a lot of literature on the subject, everything from simple
pamphlets to college text books. I also talked to everyone I
could. Any time I saw another coffee farmer out in his field, I'd
invite myself over and start barraging him with questions. Most
farmers are quite happy to help. After all, there is a bigger demand
for Kona coffee than supply, so Kona coffee farmers are better off
cooperating than competing with each other.
Even with all my preparation, there was still a lot I had to learn on
the job. There are plenty of odd little things you just can't
learn from a book. For example, always assume the electric fence
is on. You might think that goes without saying yet it's not as obvious
as it seems. Learning the best way to free the mower after getting it
stuck in a hole is still something I practice occasionally.
And how to not loose the trailer hitch pin, that's something I think
I'll never figure out.
There is a lot to learn on a Kona coffee farm. Everybody knows what a tractor looks
like but can you point to a tractor's PTO? Can you tell a three point hitch
from a class IV ball hitch? What does a pineapple plant look like? What
does a coffee pulper look like? If you were asked to fetch the
moisture meter, would you know what to look for?
Here is a short quiz to test your coffee farming knowledge. For each
picture, choose the most likely answer. All Kona coffee farmers should be able
to score 100%. City slickers will probably score significantly lower.
