18 Months in the Soil: Nurturing 500 New Fine Robusta Trees at Nine North Lake

Eighteen months ago, Jay and I stood in the middle of our farm in Lamae, Chumphon, looking at a massive pile of soil and exactly 500 young coffee saplings.

We had a very clear vision: we didn't just want to grow coffee; we wanted to change the ecosystem of 9°N, 98°E. Today, as we officially launch our global pre-sale, we want to take a moment to look back at the incredible journey of these 500 trees and what they mean for the future of Thai Specialty Coffee.

Breaking the Monoculture Mold

When you plant 500 trees in a traditional commercial farm, you bulldoze the land, plant them in straight lines, and drench them in synthetic chemicals. We chose the exact opposite.

Over the last year and a half, we have carefully integrated every single one of these 500 Robusta saplings into our permaculture food forest. We planted them under the protective shade of native fruit canopies and alongside fresh ginger and turmeric. It was back-breaking work—getting our hands deep into the soil every single day—but it was necessary. By fostering this rich biodiversity, we are restoring the health of the earth and creating the complex, vibrant flavor profile that makes our coffee so unique.

Supervised by the Best

Of course, we didn't do it alone. Every hole dug and every sapling watered over the last 18 months was strictly supervised by our Chief Security Team, Tilli and Thong. From chasing away pests to keeping our morale high on the longest, hottest days in Chumphon, the dogs have watched these 500 trees grow just as closely as we have.

The Next Chapter: Terra9

Today, those 500 saplings are thriving, deeply rooted in our Community Enterprise. They are living proof that when farmers take control of their own land and prioritize nature, incredible things happen.

As we celebrate our launch today, we are inviting you to become a permanent part of this 18-month journey. You can now taste the results of our regenerative farming by ordering a farm-direct bag of our harvest, or you can go a step further and officially adopt one of these trees through our new app.

Thank you for believing in Jay, myself, Tilli, Thong, and the future of Nine North Lake.

Ready to taste the harvest? : Shop our Farm-Direct Specialty Robusta (Free Global Shipping!)] 

Become a Terra9 Tree Adopter