Pruning the coffee. – Bolivar Garden

In today´s Bolivar Garden activity we made our first pruning of our Catimore Coffee trees. This was led by our friend and mentor, Dr Phillipe Vaast of CIRAD. He taught the volunteers how to select where the trees have to be cut, and led a practial session of how to do this with our volunteers.

This was nerve wracking as these are the trees that have produced fruit for us since day one and it seems a shame to be cutting them back. However, like a phoenix, they will grow back and produce more coffee in time.

*The best way to teach a practical task is to do it in-situ*

*Dr Vaast answering questions about the process of pruning coffee trees to Bolivar Garden Volunteers*

*Dr Vaast explaining pruning to Bolivar Garden Volunteers*

*Luis and Dr Waliszewski having a go at pruning a coffee tree*

Dr Vaast was on hand to show us how to do this. Volunteers made the first cuts and students then continued this. Students produced cal de Bordeux to paint over the cut stems to prevent fungal rot.

*Students making Cal Bordeuxle ready to use to protect the plants that were about to be pruned.*

Pruning the coffee.