What is a "finca INtegral"?
Though sustainable practices, such as reducing the use of chemicals and looking out for the welfare of wildlife, are important practices on an integrated farm, it is the interconnectedness of the environment, the family, and the community that makes the farm truly "integral."
For instance, farmers may plant
beans next to coffee plants so the beans will rejuvenate the supply of nitrogen in the soil and balance the nutrients that the coffee extracts from the earth. Wind breaks made of fruit trees between the coffee plots provide shade for the plants and shelter for migrant birds.
Farmers can also use this fruit to feed their families and spend less money on buying food. These interconnected cycles allow farmers to have profitable businesses and maintain a healthy ecosystem
around their farms, which they can then promote to the public in order to receive visitors to educate them about the integrated farm principles and processes.
Interconnectedness is a Key Pillar