While working on a bean and sugar cane farm in the township of Santa Monica within the borders of San Agustin, more and more “paisanos del Cauca” arrived in the area
following his same desire for a better life. Through these connections, he became part of a broader workers collective made of people from Cauca, and in specific, Indigenous people from this area. He and other members of this collective worked for 25 years to achieve the recognition of more than 60 Indigenous Jatun Wataka-yo families who then succeeded in achieving a reservation, granted to them by the Huila government within San Agustin. He planted it with Pink Bourbon (a fussy, high-maintenance varietal that punches way above its weight when done right), and has steadily refined his process through his work with Monkaaba—a producer-led initiative supported by Semilla.

Edil is now widely known as one of the best coffee growers in the area, and his beautiful coffees are constantly impressing the specialty world.