Good Shepherd Convent Baguio is not only renowned for its Ube Jam, which has helped many young Cordillerans pursue higher education, but also for its rich variety of trees.
Every year, during Arbor Day, the sisters and their partners in mission engage in a tree-planting activity. As the pine trees within the convent grounds age and get “sick” , they ensure that new ones are planted to take their place. Aside from pine trees, there is also an abundance of coffee trees in the compound.
Recently, Sr. Guada Bautista shared the story of their coffee harvest. She explained, “When our maintenance team has ample time, we manage to harvest four sacks of coffee. But when they’re busy, the fallen beans just multiply.” This is how the more than 500 Arabica coffee trees have flourished on the convent grounds. A coffee grower from Kalinga taught them the techniques of trimming and bending the branches for easier harvest.
In addition, they also have produce of civet coffee. Wild musangs (civets) come out at night to harvest the ripe red beans, eat the pulp, and then expel the beans in clumps. (The gray ones on the ground are the civet coffee. )
