The Giving Café and Harbest Partner to Uplift Coffee Farmers in Itogon
Coffee has always been more than a drink—it’s a story. A story that begins in the soil, flows through the hands of farmers, and ends in the cup you hold. Recently, that story took a meaningful turn in Sitio Hartwel, Itogon, Benguet, where our team at Henry & Sons and The Giving Café, through the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence (FSCE), joined hands with our partners at Harbest Agribusiness Corporation to bring support to our adopted coffee community.
We first embraced Sitio Hartwel in 2016, and our mission has never changed: to help farmers thrive. Not just by producing better coffee, but by building stronger, more resilient livelihoods. The farmers of Sitio Hartwel have always carried incredible potential, but they’ve also faced challenges familiar to many coffee-growing communities: declining soil fertility, the high costs of farm inputs, and the growing impact of climate change.
Yet despite these challenges, their spirit remains unshaken. Coffee here is more than a crop—it is a lifeline, a heritage, and a source of pride. And every step we take together is about strengthening that heritage, one harvest at a time.
This August, the farmers of Sitio Hartwel received organic fertilizers and hands-on training from Harbest. At first glance, it may look like just sacks of soil conditioners and microbial solutions. But to the farmers, it represents much more: healthier land, stronger trees, and the promise of better harvests.
Harbest generously provided Naturcomplet-G Granulated Humic Acid and Effective Micro-Organisms (EM-1). Both are 100% organic and chemical-free—tools that restore life to tired soils instead of depleting them further. Naturcomplet-G works deep in the soil, enriching it with humic acids that improve structure, water retention, and nutrient absorption. In practice, this means coffee trees can grow stronger roots and take in more of the minerals they need to flourish. For farmers, this translates into trees that are less stressed during dry months and more productive when it’s time to bear fruit.
EM-1, on the other hand, introduces a living community of beneficial microbes into the soil. These microorganisms break down organic matter, suppress harmful pathogens, and help create a balanced environment where coffee trees can thrive. In short—it helps the soil breathe again.
The timing of this fertilizer drive couldn’t be better. As rains soak the mountains of Benguet, the fertilizers begin working in harmony with nature. Farmers can already expect to see more vigorous growth, more uniform cherries, and potentially higher yields in the coming harvest season. This isn’t just a long-term investment—it’s an immediate boost that will make a difference this year.
During the turnover, one farmer shared:
“Matagal nang pagod ang lupa namin. Ginagawa namin ang lahat ng kaya namin, pero minsan pababa nang pababa ang bunga ng mga puno. Ang mga pataba at pagsasanay na ito ay nagbibigay ng pag-asa—alam naming mas mapapabuti pa namin ang ani.”
(“For years, our soil has been tired. We do what we can, but sometimes the trees give less and less. These fertilizers and the training give us hope—we know we can do better now.”)
Another farmer added with a smile, “Kapag mas malusog ang lupa, mas malusog din ang pamilya namin. Alam naming hindi lang ito para sa kape, kundi para sa kinabukasan ng mga anak namin.”
(“When the soil is healthier, our families are healthier too. We know this is not just for coffee, but for the future of our children.”)
Their words remind us that initiatives like this are never only about farming techniques or inputs. They are about dignity, legacy, and giving farmers renewed confidence in the future.
Coffee is often celebrated in the cup, but its journey is much longer. It begins in the soil, with the nutrients that give life to the trees. It continues through the choice of species and varietal, the unique conditions of the microclimate, and the care of the farmer in picking and processing the cherries. It takes patience during drying, skill in roasting, and artistry in the hands of a barista. And finally, it arrives with the consumer—the one who chooses to value coffee not just as a beverage, but as a story worth telling.
By strengthening the soil, we strengthen every link that follows. From the farmer in Sitio Hartwel to the barista behind the counter, to the person who sips their morning brew, each one becomes part of this larger journey.
None of this would have been possible without the generosity of Harbest Agribusiness Corporation and the continued support of the customers of The Giving Café. Harbest provided not just fertilizers, but also their knowledge and dedication. We thank Julius Barcelona, along with Jas Nito, Joms Balagtiw, and Richard Silva, for their kindness and hands-on involvement in the program.
And to our customers at The Giving Café—we owe you immense gratitude. Every cup you’ve chosen at TGC fuels programs like this. Your daily coffee purchases ripple outward, bringing fertilizers to farmers, restoring life to the soil, and creating brighter futures for families in Sitio Hartwel.
For readers who may not be customers of TGC, your role is no less important. By choosing to support sustainable coffee, by sharing stories like this, and by valuing the people behind your cup, you are part of the same movement. Together, we keep the chain of impact alive.
The visit concluded with a farm assessment and a heartfelt discussion between the farmers, FSCE Director Emil Cuaresma, Henry & Sons’ Bianca Marvida, and the Harbest team. Farmers listened, asked questions, and shared their own visions for the future. The air was filled with eagerness to learn and pride in what they are building together. Coffee farming here isn’t just work—it’s a heritage, passed down and strengthened with every season.
For nearly a decade, we’ve walked with Sitio Hartwel, turning challenges into opportunities. The Fertilizer Donation Drive is a reminder of what can happen when businesses, farming communities, and coffee drinkers come together.
Coffee is more than a drink. It is soil alive with possibility. It is farmers rising before dawn to tend their trees. It is roasters and baristas carrying forward the story of each bean. And it is consumers—people like you—who choose to make every cup count.
To the customers of The Giving Café, thank you. Your choices sustain this mission. And to everyone reading this, thank you for being part of the larger story of coffee.
Together, we are not just cultivating coffee. We are cultivating community. We are cultivating change. We are cultivating hope and a beautiful coffee future… 🌱☕💚
