That's how it all started...
The story of Welttisch begins at Christmas time in December 2022 with a long journey to the other side of the world.
We, Jannick & Laura, traveled to faraway Colombia. The plan was to have a big family vacation where our families would finally get to know each other in person and from which so much more would emerge.
Before we continue, a few words about us:
We are a young, German-Colombian team. Laura is from Colombia, Jannick from Germany. We met in Bogota, Laura's hometown, in 2019. Over time, a holiday acquaintance turned into true love, which helped us overcome some obstacles. We have been living together in beautiful Hamburg for 2 years. Due to the effects of COVID, our families had no chance to get to know each other beforehand.
And this is where the story of Welltisch begins with the aforementioned journey.
One day we took a day trip near Bogota to visit the Choachí waterfall. We were fascinated by the beauty of nature, the breathtaking, green mountain landscape in the middle of the Andes. Deeply touched by this, the seed was planted for the idea of one day being able to call such a refuge our own. This idea would become more concrete over the course of the trip, on other unforgettable excursions.
We met interesting people, learned about the cultivation of coffee & cocoa and the hard work that goes into it, and got to know and appreciate some of these hard-working “campesinos” (farm workers).
Not everything that glitters is gold..
And not everything is as beautiful as it seems at first glance. When we took a look behind the scenes, we learned
- of difficult individual fates;
- of beautiful places that have been left to themselves due to a lack of prospects and have become neglected over time;
- of loneliness and isolation of the rural population;
- of environmental pollution due to lack of knowledge & alternatives and much more.
Many people in the countryside are old, left behind by children and families who moved to the city due to a lack of prospects. And so they toil away day in and day out, sometimes at an advanced age of over 80. With broken knees, but with an impressive willpower, born out of love for their country.
Our goals
All our impressions, experiences and acquaintances from this trip fit together perfectly and led us to a decision:
We want to buy a finca and combine the many little dreams that have arisen during the trip into one big project.
-
Showing unknown sides of Colombia
away from drug trafficking and problems:
diversity, breathtaking landscapes
and people, a look behind the scenes of Colombian coffee in the country of origin -
Preserving Diversity & Beauty
Colombia is the country with the greatest biodiversity on earth
This should be preserved for the world and not destroyed by pollution, deforestation and other problems
-
Giving "Campesinos" a face
the Colombian agricultural workers
provide the necessary recognition and remuneration for their hard work, which is often invisible to many people. This should sustainably improve their living conditions and, above all, create new prospects for young people in rural areas.
We will combine all these wishes in a project whose heart is the Finca “La Macarena”. Because one thing is clear: With the current trend,
In recent years, many fincas have grown coffee, cocoa and other staple foods
There will be no more cultivation. And then...?
The past of "La Macarena"
The finca perfectly combines the above mentioned beautiful & sad sides:
"La Macarena" is located in the coffee zone of Colombia, in the foothills of the Andes in the department of Quindio, near Genova. In the midst of graceful mountain landscapes near a large river, crossed by a stream with waterfalls. It was once one of the most famous coffee fincas in the region.
Due to poverty and rural exodus, it has been largely left to its own devices and is neglected. Due to a lack of economic prospects, the coffee trees were cut down; the harvest was more expensive than the profit from the sale. Wastewater was channeled into the beautiful stream that runs through the finca. Plastic and other rubbish was burned and left lying around. The paint is peeling off the house, much of the wood is rotten, the roof has holes in it and the bathrooms are in a pitiful state. The neighbours are kind-hearted people, but old, often lonely and without many prospects.
That's why people looked at us in surprise when we wanted to buy this finca. "Oh God, what do you want with it? It's a grave for your money," they said.
A look ahead
We disagree.
We see enormous potential.
We see incredible beauty.
And we see a golden future.
For the finca, for the people who work with us and bit by bit for the whole region.
Therefore, we will completely revitalize this finca with coffee, banana trees, avocados and many other plants and trees that Colombia's biodiversity has to offer.
We start completely from scratch on a green meadow.
Our focus is the production of high-quality, authentic, Colombian coffee. Sustainable
for the environment and people.
From the root to your cup.
Appreciating the work of our coffee farmers is our top priority, along with protecting nature. And we are not alone on our journey.