A 90% clay soil, highly eroded water systems, and a land that had been liberally spalshed with commercial fertilizers was the starting phase for the coffee plantation. Over a decade of moving concientiously towards natural approaches comprised of planting techniques that included intercropping, companion planting, and contuour lines. 

Intercropping comprised of adding trees and shrubs that complement the needs of the coffee tree while enhancing the flavour. Plantings of trees followed the in-situ composting processes that premaculture experts including Clea Chandmal promotes, digging a deep hole, filling it with browns, greens, compost, manue, and soil before planting the tree. Building along contour lines, especially in a hilly region, allows for slowing down water and can capture fertile soil as these begin to get washed away. 

These practices create an aerobic sub-terranian space that encourage microbial activity resulting in the building of microaggregates by bacteria and fungi that are integral to water storage and penetration. The result: an increased water table, less flooding, capturing soil erosion, and allowing for natural healing of the soil.