OUR BLOG

When we bought Spirit Mountain back in 2003, I had no idea what I was getting into. Coffee? I was hardly a coffee drinker. Sure, I'd sip it when someone offered, but let's just say my expertise was more in sipping than cultivating. Lucky for me, though, Angostura de...

There’s something about flying at 40,000 feet that makes me feel like putting my thoughts on paper. Maybe it's the thin air, or perhaps it's just the looming fear of plummeting from the sky that turns reflection into a priority. Whatever it is, I find myself once...

Ah, coffee. The magical elixir that transforms us from groggy zombies into semi-functional adults. But not all coffee is created equal, and if you've ever waded through the ocean of coffee labels, certifications, and buzzwords—Direct Trade, Fair Trade, Organic, Shade...

When I went off to college, I quickly realized that my tuition bill didn’t magically disappear, and unlike a few of my friends, I didn’t have a trust fund waiting to swoop in and save the day. So, I had to get creative. One of my more "enterprising" side hustles...

At some point along the way, I began to see the world differently.  This new perspective was the result, in large part, to having lived and worked to the Dominican Republic.  There are two distinct sets of rules in the world, and which set you are expected...

In recent years, the concept of experiential hospitality has gained global prominence. Our design team in Colorado has been diligently working on RED, a new boutique hotel adjacent to Red Rocks Amphitheater, the world's premier music venue. As the only hotel in...

Coffee is an incredibly complex agricultural product.  I have heard people try and compare coffee to wine.  I can-not claim to know much about wine; I’ve only read a couple of books and toured vineyards in the US, Italy, France and Argentina.  What I...

Hospitality, once a term I vaguely understood, has become the cornerstone of my career in architectureand development. Reflecting on my journey, I realize that hospitality has been a guiding principlethroughout much of my life, shaping the way I approach design and...

Estancia Natura A-Frame Club consists of a maximum total of 36 units and will be developed in small communities of 4 to 5 units scattered throughout the farm. Phase 1 has been fully reserved now and we are excited to start construction of the first community of 5 A...

To start off the new year, we had many of our friends, both old and new, visit us at the farm.  The table, set for meals, is a sacred space, as anyone who knows Krista and I, and our family can attest to.  The conversations around the table were rich and...

2023 was a year to be remembered for so many reasons.  January, we officially inaugurated the new wet mill, coffee processing plant, custom built in Columbia.  We celebrated 20 years of Spirit Mountain being under the leadership of the Wallace Family. ...

2013 Spirit Mountain from Left to right, Kate, Krista, Keren Chad As the year 2023 gently folds its pages, we find ourselves in that cherished season of Thanksgiving and reflection. November holds a special place in our hearts, for it's a time when our family...

Ever had a dream or a vision?  Something you thought about often, but wasn’t sure it would ever come to pass?  As a youngster I spent a lot of time exploring the woods, imaging I was in a magical world.  If I’m honest with myself, and you, I have to...

In 1995, when Krista and I moved to Santo Domingo, we had no idea what our life in the Dominican Republic would be like, that we wod spend most of our adult life there, eventually becoming citizens and the deep impact this new culture would have on us.  We’ve had...

This September will be an epic month for us all of at Spirit Mountain.  We are excited to welcome a new member of the team, Marcos Lanfranco, a Doulos Discovery School alumni!  Marcos will be working under Krista as the on-site director of our Hospitality...