Glossary of Terms
The following terms provide insight into the key strategies, principles, and challenges that define our work with coffee-farming communities.
Glossary of Terms
Agroecology
A sustainable farming approach that works with nature to improve soil health, conserve biodiversity, and enhance productivity. It prioritizes ecological balance and social equity in food systems.
Agroforestry
A land-use system that integrates trees, shrubs, and crops to enhance biodiversity, improve soil quality, and provide additional income for farmers. It helps build resilience against climate change and market fluctuations.
Beekeeping (Apiculture)
The management and care of honeybee colonies to produce honey, beeswax, and other byproducts while supporting pollination for crops. Beekeeping also provides coffee-farming families with a valuable source of supplemental income.
Capacity Building
Strengthening the skills, knowledge, and resources of coffee-farming families and communities to implement sustainable farming practices, improve food security, and increase resilience.
Climate Resilience
The ability of coffee-farming communities to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change through practices like diversified farming and agroforestry.
Coffee-Farming Communities
Smallholder farmers and their families who rely on coffee cultivation for their primary income. Many face seasonal hunger due to economic and environmental challenges.
Diversified Farming
The practice of growing a variety of crops alongside coffee to improve food security, reduce reliance on coffee income, and build economic resilience.
Food Security
A condition where all people in a community have reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences for a healthy life.
Home Gardens
Small-scale gardens cultivated by farmers to produce fruits, vegetables, and herbs for household consumption and local sale, improving nutrition and providing additional income.
Intergenerational Knowledge Sharing
The practice of passing down agricultural techniques, cultural traditions, and sustainable farming practices from one generation to the next to preserve community resilience and wisdom.
Livestock Management
The care and breeding of animals such as chickens, goats, or pigs to provide coffee-farming families with additional sources of nutrition and income.
Organic Farmers’ Markets
Community-driven markets where farmers sell organic, locally grown produce. These markets provide an important income source and create access to fresh, healthy food.
Participatory Approach
A collaborative method that involves coffee-farming families in planning and decision-making to ensure solutions are tailored to their unique needs and priorities.
Resilience
The capacity of farming families to withstand and recover from challenges, such as climate change, food insecurity, and market volatility, by diversifying their livelihoods and implementing sustainable practices.
Seasonal Hunger (Las Meses Flacas)
A recurring period of food scarcity experienced by coffee-farming families during the off-season, when coffee income is insufficient to meet basic needs.
Seed Saving
The practice of preserving seeds from crops to replant in future seasons. Seed saving ensures genetic diversity, reduces costs, and supports self-sufficiency for farmers.
Sustainable Livelihoods
A strategy to create long-term stability for coffee-farming families by supporting diverse income sources, food production, and community-driven solutions.
Women-Run Initiatives
Programs and enterprises led by women in coffee-farming communities, such as organic farmers’ markets, that contribute to food security, economic empowerment, and community well-being.
Youth Engagement
Involving young people in farming, leadership, and decision-making to cultivate the next generation of innovators and stewards in coffee-farming communities.