Valhalla Experimental Station, Antigua Guatemala

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The Valhalla Macadamia Nut Plantation is an organic farm. The nuts fall to the ground when ripe, and they are harvested by hand. They have an outer husk as well as a hard shell. These guys built a husking machine that can process 1 ton per hour, and an old tire is one of the main parts. The nuts are dried and then go to a gravity-fed sizing machine. They send them out to Ciudad Vieja to be cracked because it uses too much electricity. The outer shells get composted, and they are experimenting with making activated charcoal from the inner shells and using it to make water filters for poor people. This business isn’t selling nuts. They are manufacturing high-end cosmetics from the nut oil.

Valhalla gives baby trees away to indigenous farmers, 100 trees per family because that is how many one family can care for A tree matures in 8 years, but it will produce some nuts before that. One tree produces 150 lb. of nuts per year, but ¾ of the weight is shells. They could eventually get $1000 per year in income from them. In addition to the economic benefit, the trees will help fix the soil. Valhalla has distributed 350,000 nut trees around Guatemala. He drives out to a village with a truck full of trees and convinces the villagers to take them.

Touring the facility is free. They will even give you a free facial using their products.

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While staying in Antiqua in August of 2009, my sister and I took a fun bus ride to Valhalla Macademia Nut Farm (got lost by taking the wrong bus on the way, but that made it more fun!). I loved the owners and the unpretentious facilities. The pancakes looked better than they tasted (a little dry) but they were free and it was a fun meal. The bathroom there is a must see: it almost seems like a toilet and sink in the jungle, but it is actually in a facility that is overgrown with plants and flowers. The grounds are very pretty. I bought a few products to take home for gifts, but what I bought for myself and a couple of friends was the macadamia nut oil. I used the oil on my face at bedtime and it felt great! I has an earthly smell with a very slight nut odor. I fell in love with the stuff. I use it all the time now. I loved this place and it is an especially nice excursion if you aren't up for hiking up a volcano.

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The Valhalla Experimental Station is an example of a working macadamia nut farm. Macadamia nut trees have been introduced as an easy-to-grow and easy-to-harvest sustainable crop with a focus on providing opportunities to local farmers to improve their livelihoods. Visitors get a tour of the operations and an explanation on the many products that can be manufactured from the harvested nuts, including soaps, lotions, oils, and of course the edible nuts themselves.

The ride out to the macadamia farm isn't long, and passes some scenic countryside. The tour of the farm surpassed my expectations...it was very interesting.

The macadamias grow in clusters, like grapes, and one cluster can contain as many as 62 nuts. The machine used to remove the husks looks like it was made in someone's backyard, but it is very effective. Once the husks are removed the nuts are left to dry in the sun for 3-4 weeks.
Macadamia trees produce more oxygen than any other type of tree. It is also a sustainable crop because it puts nitrogen into the ground instead of removing it. The rich ash soil in this area is good for growing these trees.

Valhalla gives seedling to villages for reforestation, and teaches the villagers about the benefits of raising macadamia trees.

At the farm you can buy "panqueques" made from macadamia floor, and served with macadamia honey, and a cup of Rosa de Jamiaca tea. The pancakes are good and the setting, with the volcano in the background and shady macadamia trees, is beautiful. You can buy produces made from the nuts there including chocolate covered macadamias, facial oils and lotions, macadamia flour, and the delicious macadamia honey.

This is a great spot to visit. Earth friendly plantation that provides 200 macadamia trees if they agree to work one month learning how to grow trees. Provides macadamia nuts and beauty secret macadamia oils. Macadamia trees are
Carbon Dioxide sinks since their large foliage takes up the carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. The white chocolate macadamia nuts are to die for....

This is a great spot to visit. Earth friendly plantation that provides 200 macadamia trees if they agree to work one month learning how to grow trees. Provides macadamia nuts and beauty secret macadamia oils. Macadamia trees are
Carbon Dioxide sinks since their large foliage takes up the carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. The white chocolate macadamia nuts are to die for....