Faf ,16 De Julho 2010tive A Felicidade

Eu, Joao Evangelista De Freitas , Nascido Na Fazenda Fortaleza , No Dia 09 De Novembro 1940, Filho De Jose De Freitas Silva E Maria De O. Freitas , Quando Nesta Epoca Me Pai Foi Administrador Aqui.

Após Todos Esses Anos Tive A Felicidade E Oportunidadede Retornar Aqui E Passar Algumas Horas Que Me Deixou Muito Feliz Em Poder Mostrar Toda Esta Natureza Para Minha Familia, Que Foi O Inicio De Minha Vida . Agradeco Com Todo Coracao Ao Sr. Marcos E Silvia Por Nos Ter Recebido Com Toda Cordialidade.

Um Grande Abraco A Vcs.

Eu Amanha 17/07/2010 Terei O Prazer Em Poder Visitar A D. Odila Barretto Que Foi Que Me Batizou Juntamente Com Seu Marido Na Epoca O Sr.Paulo Teotinfo Dias

Gratos

Joao Evangelista De Freitas

Eu, Joao Vitor Freitas Munhoz , Tive O Maior Prazer De Vir Vistar Onde Meu Avo Nasceu , Gostei Muito De Ter Ouvido As Historias Que Sr. Marcos E D. Silvia Contaram. Eu Quero Voltar Aqui Muito Em

Breve. Obrigado Por Tudo E Obrigado Pela Compreensao . Grato.

Joao Vitor Freitas Munhoz

Eu, Denise Freitas, Estou Encantada Com Tanta Beleza , Harmonia , Paz , Saude , Natureza , Preservacao Ambiental . Desejo Muito Voltar Com Minha Familia Em Breve . Foi Um Imenso Prazer Conhece-Los E Saber Que De Alguma Forma Faco Parte Desta Historia . Parabens Pelo Belo E Competente Trabalho Que Estao Realizando Nesta Fazenda .

Que Deus Possa Ilumina-Los Sempre Com Muita Paz , Amor E Estrategias Para Concretizarem Seus Projetos . Muitas Felicidades

Denise Freitas

Marcos,

I simply wanted to put into words what our visit to your farm has meant to me. The time spent on your farm did more than give me a better appreciation for coffee growing standards, it rejuvenated my soul in what is the coffee industry. With your farm as our final stopping point along our journey, our group had already seen the very nature of the commercialized growing processes that seek to manufacture volumes of coffee versus quality of coffee. FAF, however was completely the opposite of that. It was a reversion back to simpler times, quieter times, and times where people sought to let nature control herself instead of humans controlling nature. The beauty of a coffee shrub that bends like it is supposed to and the knowledge that there is nothing unbeneficial going into those plants under the shade-grown canopies... Well, I consider that priceless, and I consider you one of the most visionary men on the planet towards this movement. The work you are doing of building community and a better tomorrow is to be commended, and I will forever cherish this first of many visits to your farm! Thank you for introducing us to all the families we met, too, as those smiling faces and warm embraces of the people...well, quite honestly, that is why I love this industry and do what I do!

All the best!

Troy Lucas
Lucas Roasting Company LLC
www.lucasroasting.com

Marcos,

I arrived home safely today. I just wanted to thank you for your hospitality
at your farm. I also want to let you know that is not often you meet someone like yourself in life. When I started Bodhi Leaf Trading Company I had a vision of a company that would approach business by making relationships and hopefully spread some sort of compassion and hope in this world, but I was not sure how to do it.

You have given me inspiration and passion to approach the coffee business in ways I have only dreamed of. I am looking forward to sharing your vision with others and working by your side. I will never forget the kindness and peace
I felt during my stay at your farm. You are truly someone I admire and I look forward to making a difference in the coffee industry and in this world with you. Thanks again and I am sure I will talk with you soon. In the meantime, be well.

Steve Sims
Bodhi Leaf Trading Company

Hi mom and Nessa,

If you could forward this to dad I’m not sure what e-mail I should use of his. Brazil is the most beautiful place ever. I am staying in a utopia; it looks a lot like the Cayman Islands actually. Everyone is about to go horseback riding so i am staying back and get some time to myself. We had a lot of travelling yesterday but seeing everything is awesome. There are a lot of hills which is cool. Everyone is staying in one cabin with a few different rooms, mine is with Rita which is awesome. Also, everyone is getting along so that's really nice.

I hope everything is going well for you guys. I’m eating homemade bread with homemade butter and jam with homemade coffee and milked milk, so I’m soooooooooooooo happy.

Much love, I’m not leaving here.

Charlotte

Hello Marcos and Silvia,

We are getting settled back at home. Missing the farm, our trip was wonderful. More than we could have ever imagined. It was like a dream at the farm. It already feels like another home to us. All of the staff made us feel so welcome, just like family. We all felt so comfortable there. It was beautiful. The food was wonderful. Most of all it was the people. Meeting the farmers of Bob-o-link, the women of Cafe Igarai and all of the people who work on the farm. It definitely changed the way the kids and I look and our lives and our business. And all that you taught us about coffee, nature and the environment. We are so much better for everything we learned. The education was priceless. We can never thank you enough except to carry your message on to our customers and anyone else who is willing to listen.

We have already put the Cafe Igarai merchandise on display. It is awaiting some finishing touches. We are placing our first order for Bob-o-link coffee from Theta Ridge today. We are looking forward to launching to entire package as soon as possible. I have been trying to call Silvia, but I think I may have the number wrong because I have not been getting through. Silvia, Can you give me a call sometime soon so we can do some planning and catch up. I miss you!!!!

Hope all is well. Can't wait to see you guys.

Carol Harris
Casteel Coffee Evanston, Illinois

Hey Felipe,

This is Dave, we met a couple months back in South Carolina for the roaster's retreat.

We've really been enjoying a microlot coffee from your farm this season. Its a pulp natural Red Catuai from the Silvio and Celso families. Anyway, I've decided to compete with it this year at the USBC next week in Anaheim, and I was wondering if you could pass on any information you happen to know about it.

Also, I know you're in Portugal, but i'd love it if you'd consider watching the performance at usbaristachamionship.org. I go a week from Thursday at 10:30am Pacific Time.

Anyway man, i'd love to hear from you, hope you're doing well.

Dave Delchamps (1000 Faces Coffee)

United States Barista Competition

Joe Marrocco

Visita FAF em 21 e 22 de março de 2010

Marcos,

When I think back about the time we spent with you all, I am overwhelmed with feelings. The energy at FAF is so healthy and beautiful! It's the reason
I wanted to bring my family back to experience what I felt when I was there 4 years ago. You and Silvia are the most generous and gracious hosts!

You have created an environment that is abundant and nourishing for the spirit of all. I have already written to Silvia that my kids rated FAF a number 10 on a 1-10 scale of family vacations we have taken. And, as you might imagine, my kids have been on some pretty great trips. I was delighted to see how quickly they recognized what is special about you and Silvia and the mission of Fortaleza. Yes, we are Bob-o-links for life! Already thinking of the next group to bring into the mix.

Lots of love to all of you from us,

Miriam Glabman (Highland Park)

Dear Sylvia and Marcos and family,

It is we who are honored and grateful for the opportunity to meet your family, get to know you, and spend time at your wonderful home. You have opened the door to knowledge and lifestyle that will last a lifetime. My grandfather always spoke of the importance of a farmer planting a seed, even if he never saw the crop harvested by himself, and you have dropped a pebble in the pool with ripples and waves that will wash a far shore. I can no longer drink a cup of American coffee without thinking of burnt rubber, or eat vegetables without thinking of Montsanto, or walk without asking where is the pond or waterfall. We again thank you for a wonderful trip.

Thank you Marcos and Sylvia and Phillipe,

The week we spent with you on your farm was extra ordinary. Now that I have returned to the cold I ask myself, what am I doing here? My heart is still in your dining area, sitting at the communal table with everyone, conversing and sharing our thoughts. I loved meeting new friends and sharing a rich experience with my family and yours. I know that the seeds we planted will thrive.

Obrigata, Laurie Glenner (Highland park, II)

Posted by John Berg on his blog
September 9, 2009

Click here to view photo album

Regards,

Paul Aeshos. Mecca. Sydney, Australia

"Thank you for a beautiful stay! I'm happy to have the opportunity to get to know such warm ad generous people better."

Best,

Jamin Haddox. Minneapolis, MN, USA

"Your passion is contagious! It was a real treat to spend time with the people you have touched. I wish you much success."

Cheers,

Mike McKim. Texas, USA

"This is a place of life. The peace and ease of being here has made this one of the best coffee trips ever. We are excited to work with you to help find the coffees and the partners to make this prosper."

Until next year,

Tim Chapdelaine. Minneapolis, MN, USA

Click here to view photo album

I wanted to email you and forward, again, my gratitude for our recent visit. The Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza's goal is one that I share with you.

Having now had time to reflect on my time on the Quest, it is within your home and business that I find the most inspiration. Having now returned to Manchester, and looking towards my return home to Cumbria, I find is poigniant that the UK do not share the hospitality and warmth that I felt on your farm. It's something that I also believe needs to change!

My students will study Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza's goal and I will send you copies of their work, photographs etc if you would like. They will also share the phographs that were taken on our visit, even of me break-dancing with Jonathan! We will create an army of holistic individuals who are at one with nature and I will try everything in my power to get my students to you!

I hope I find you well and again, thank you for your hospitality and warmth.

Kind regards, as always

We live in a time of radical transformation, and these signs of change are all around us, albeit few seem able or willing to stop, reflect, and listen to the signals. Perhaps this is because it's difficult to see ahead, perhaps humanity is looking for an answer, an example, or model; an alternative to "business as usual".

At Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza, you live your vision, and through your love of the land and each other provide hope and leadership to a world struggling to adapt to the urgent challenges it is facing. Spending four days with you was inspiring, an organic retreat which I look forward to repeating, and sharing, with many others.

A special note on the FAF shade grown organic coffee we now have the pleasure of serving at Open World Café Stockholm; what a great way to start a dialogue about sustainability!

Thank you!

FAF is an incredible place! I organized a “Raw Food Lifestyle” retreat in March and I came back home completely rejuvenated and even more committed to organic and sustainable farming. There was an abundance of exotic fruits and veggies growing on the farm, both wild and cultivated.

We prepared delicious meals with the FAF house chef – like Bamboo Veggie Lasagna and Baby Banana-Chocolate Torte. The nutritional value of the food grown at FAF is so much greater than anything we can access in the United States because the land there is Atlantic Rainforest and the soil is rich with minerals.

FAF is a true rejuvenation experience from massage to hiking to peaceful quiet to stargazing to sugar cane juicing! It was a truly one of a kind experience!

My retreat at FAF was an amazing experience! FAF is a shining example for all of us of how we should be living together with nature.

The “farm” is part rainforest, fruit and vegetable heaven, rejuvenation center, adventure, and pure beauty. I loved picking the guavas growing everywhere and popping them in my mouth right from the tree. The weather was perfect and the stargazing was incredible. I loved pressing my own sugar cane juice the old-fashioned way and swimming in the beautiful lake. The nature walk in the rainforest was really the highlight of the trip – I was transported to another world – hard to believe it is part of the farm!

The staff of FAF went out of their way to make our stay the best ever!
The meals were delicious (all farm-grown!) and the accommodations excellent. There were more activities to do on the farm than I could have imagined and I learned a lot. I especially enjoyed learning about their community projects like Café Igarai – the women’s co-op. Most importantly,
I got to experience being part of the cutting edge of the organic, sustainable, ecological farm movement.

FAF is working to share their sustainable organic model with the world.
I commend Silvia and Marcos for all their efforts to make the world a better place with FAF. I miss the farm already and can't wait to go back next year!