It is hard to believe, but six months have passed since we visited the vanilla farmers at LittlePod’s collaborative orchard in Indonesia. Much has happened in the meantime, both here at our base in East Devon, and there, at our pioneering plantation. Here at LittlePod HQ, we are continuing to spread the word about REAL vanilla and its importance to the planet. In Bali, meanwhile, the vanilla farmers have been busy, as underlined in our most recent update.

Coming almost six months after we celebrated International Real Vanilla Day – and, coincidentally, on National Orchid Day – we were all delighted to receive some up-to-date images from the LittlePod orchard. Here, Made and the vanilla farmers use a pioneering polyculture system to preserve and protect the rainforest environment around them. It is obvious from this update that this strategic approach is working.

Last October, Janet accompanied Made 2 to a thriving area of the LittlePod orchard. There, she was fortunate enough to watch him carefully hand-pollinate several delicate orchid flowers, growing around the trunks of native tutor trees (pictured).

Six months later…

Six months later, we were thrilled to receive these images (below) showing the same vines. Bearing fruit indeed, the pictured pods are plump and – no doubt – packed with seeds. It’ll take more time, care and attention before the vanilla farmers in Indonesia are able to harvest these particular pods. Growing vanilla demands great patience, but Made’s polyculture system means there is no rush.

Indeed – as Made reports – this innovative approach means LittlePod’s vanilla farmers have multiple income streams. These latest images show vanilla growing around coffee trees, amongst other species. It is this system that means the farmers can take their time in cultivating their vanilla, the most labour-intensive of crops. Moreover, Made’s method means our vanilla vines are more robust and better able to withstand climate anomalies, which is often an issue for the farming communities.

Six months since visiting the vanilla farmers, it is a pleasure to share these images and report so positively. To Made 2 – who is representing LittlePod so wonderfully in his community – and to all involved, we send our thanks.

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