Emilio's farm

Experimental tanks & Emilio's new breed "jaguar fish"

Today I met a friend of my friend Naresuan who lives here in Cali, and is a consultant for the World Wildlife Fund working on conservation, sustainable development and land use planning in the Putumayo department to the southeast. This was completely unplanned before yesterday and an incredible opportunity for me to learn more about Colombia and many of the things I'm most interested in learning about on this journey!

In addition to his consulting work, Emilio has a farm about a hour's drive from Cali, near Dagua, where he grows coffee as well as many experimental crops for income including flowers, ornamental plants, giant bamboo, tropical hardwoods such as mahogany, butterflies and aquarium fish. In addition he grows a variety of food for his family and is planning to open an ecotourism center. At breakfast, I changed my plans to leave Cali today and instead rode with him to the farm where he gave me a tour for a few hours. Enjoyed a lot of good conversation (in English) and views of beautiful countryside and interesting roadside market activity.

Tree fern

Cali, Colombia