Eddy Kuhl
Eddy was born and raised in the mountains of Matagalpa and has become a leading historian of the region and the country of Nicaragua itself. He has documented the history of Matagalpa through interviews of many of its eldest residents and through lifelong research into its fascinating folkways, traditions and music. For his first book, Matagalpa y sus gentes (Matagalpa and its peoples), Eddy wrote a special section at the end that listed the name and ages of every person that he interviewed. This is a testament to the meticulousness of its methods. Eddy has also authored the definitive history of coffee in Nicaragua, and the biography of one of its best poets.
In addition to being an author, Eddy has also produced a CD of traditional Matagalpan music. He travelled the breadth of the region in search of musicians who could play traditional Matagalpan songs on traditional instruments. Then he brought them together in a recording studio to preserve the music for the enjoyment and study of generations to come.
Mausi Kuhl
Mausi Kuhl co-owns and operates the award-winning Selva Negra Coffee Estate. She has devoted her life to producing one of the best-tasting coffees in the world through innovative and sustainable practices, employee empowerment, and improving the quality of life for the estate's families. In addition to coffee, she has diversified the economic base to include tourism, cattle ranching, dairy farming, and horticulture.
Mausi is continually improving the estate's environmental practices by learning and exchanging innovative ways to save energy, water, and the beautiful environment that surrounds Selva Negra with neighboring farms and cooperatives. Over the years, she has incorporated sustainable practices, large and small, into the estate's daily life. Mausi's passion for sustainable practices has earned Selva Negra international recognition including Rainforest Alliance Certification, Organic Certification, the Specialty Coffee Association of America's 2007 Sustainability Award, and invitations to discuss the estate's progressive practices at international conferences.