Notes from the atelier.
Century-old coffee roots, the lathe, and the grain that dictates every piece, written from Antigua, Guatemala.
The Giant Kites of All Saints' Day
Every November 1, enormous kites rise over towns in our department. The sight is hard to forget.
The Pickers Arrive for the Season
Each year, the finca fills with people who come for the harvest. Their arrival changes the whole rhythm of the place.
The Craftspeople of Sacatepéquez
The department around Antigua has a deep tradition of making things by hand. Here is a respectful look at the trades around us.
September in Guatemala: Independence Month
September 15 is Independence Day, and for weeks beforehand the country fills with flags, drums, and children carrying torches.
What Antigua Sounds Like at Five in the Morning
Before the tourists wake, the town makes a particular set of noises. If you listen, you can hear a whole day being prepared.
Saturday at the Antigua Market
Early on a Saturday, the market is the loudest, most colorful place in the valley. A morning there explains a lot about the region.
How a Farm Supports a Town
A finca is more than its harvest. It is a source of work, of purchases, of connections, and sometimes of simple neighborliness.
The Craft of Picking Only the Ripe Cherry
Anyone can strip a branch. A skilled picker leaves green cherries behind and takes only the red, and the cup knows the difference.
Sunday Lunch on the Finca
On Sundays, the machines are quiet. A long table, a pot of something slow-cooked, and family stretch the afternoon.
What Our Neighbors Grow
Coffee is only one crop in the Antigua valley. A walk through the surrounding hills reveals a whole patchwork.
The Community Around the Finca
A finca does not stand alone. Around it are families, small farms, shops, schools, and neighbors who share the road.
Mother's Day in Guatemala
Every May 10, Guatemala celebrates its mothers, and the day is nothing like a quiet brunch. Serenades, flowers, and long tables.
Why Antigua Is a City of Makers
Walk the cobblestones of Antigua and you will pass stone carvers, weavers, bakers, woodworkers, and goldsmiths. The town runs on craft.
What Marvin Knows About Trees That I Do Not
I own the finca. Marvin understands it. The difference matters more than any title.
Holy Week in Antigua and the Craft of Patience
Every year, Antigua spends days building carpets of sawdust and flowers that will be walked on within hours. It teaches something about making things…
The Handwoven Bag: Where the Ropa Típica Comes In
Each piece arrives in a handwoven cloth bag. The fabric comes from a tradition older than the country's borders.
How We Work With Local Farmers and Woodworkers
The pieces are made in Guatemala, by Guatemalans, from Guatemalan roots. Here is how those relationships actually work.
A Picker's Day, From Dawn to the Weigh-In
From the cold start at first light to the weighing of the baskets, here is how a coffee picker's day unfolds on the finca.
The Harvest Table: Lunch With the Pickers
At midday, the rows go quiet and the pickers sit down together. It is the part of the harvest I look forward to most.
Marvin, the Tractor, and the Trunk That Would Not Move
A farm manager, a tractor, and a root ball that had been in the ground longer than the finca's oldest worker. Moving it was…