Javier Gasca Cano has been farming coffee for more than 30 years in the small community of El Naranjal, nestled in the Timaná region of southern Huila, Colombia. His two-hectare farm, El Limón, sits between 1,450 and 1,600 meters above sea level, where he cultivates varieties like Colombia, Cenicafe 1, and Castillo Tambo. Coffee farming runs deep in Javier’s family, and what began as tradition has become his life’s work. His favorite part of the harvest is still the simplest one: hand-selecting ripe coffee cherries after months of care and attention. Javier uses a washed process with 24-hour dry fermentation, followed by slow sun-drying in a marquesina for about 15 days. His methods reflect years of experience and an ongoing effort to improve both quality and sustainability. He manages pests and soil health with minimal intervention and has begun incorporating more regenerative practices as a way to protect his land and livelihood. Most recently, Javier joined the Biochar Program, an initiative that transforms coffee prunings into a carbon-rich soil amendment that improves water retention, boosts crop resilience, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Since adding biochar to his fields, Javier has seen the soil respond with greater strength, and not just in coffee. El Limón also produces maize, plantain, beans, and arracacha, which support the household and diversify income. For Javier, these shifts represent more than just farm improvement. They are part of a larger commitment to long-term stewardship, community wellbeing, and a future where smallholder producers can thrive while caring for the land they live on.