A Day on the Pepper Farm in Kampot – Harvest, Encounters and Progress

A few weeks ago I returned from Cambodia, and it is high time to tell you about my eventful and moving time there.

Especially lovely was the visit to our pepper farm in Kampot.

There are places you do not simply return to – you come home. That is how it feels for me every time I visit our pepper farm in Kampot. And this time it was particularly intense. Not only because the harvest was in full swing, but because much has changed in recent months – on the farm, among the people, and within me.

Anticipation at the market

Before we set off for the farm, we strolled across the local market in Kampot. For me it is simply part of it – not just to shop, but to immerse myself: in the colours, the scents, the hum of voices. We bought fish and meat, fresh fruit, cool drinks, a few sweets for the children. Everything you need for a day that combines work, community and joy.

Welcome back

On our arrival we were warmly welcomed and the joy of seeing each other again was great – it felt familiar, almost like a reunion among friends. The pepper plants stood strong, but the long dry season had left its mark. The peppercorns are a little smaller this year than usual – but their aroma? Intense, warm and full of character – exactly the way we love it. I am surprised every time how much aroma there is in such a small peppercorn.

Hand work and dedication

The harvest was in full swing. Men and women – some barefoot, others in straw hats – walked carefully between the rows of plants. Everything is done by hand: picking, sorting, drying. It creates a calm, a matter-of-factness that is often lost in our world.

After school, some children came by. For a little pocket money they were allowed to help sort the red pepper – peppercorn by peppercorn, by hand. For them it is a special moment: helping, belonging, taking responsibility. It was lovely to see how much pride and concentration they brought to it.

A step into the future

A real highlight of this visit was the new irrigation system – and the workers' pride in it was clearly noticeable. Thanks to a newly installed solar plant, they no longer have to haul the water laboriously. Instead, solar energy drives pumps that carry the water from a freshly enlarged pond directly to the field.

There, a clever drip system ensures that every pepper plant is supplied with water precisely and sparingly – exactly where it is needed. A closed cycle, efficient and sustainable. For the farm this is great progress – and without your support it would not have been possible.

Farewell with anticipation

We spent the whole day on the farm – lent a hand, talked, ate and laughed a lot. Days like these show me again and again why we do all this. It is this closeness, this trust and the shared path that make PeppCorn what it is.

I am already looking forward to the next reunion – perhaps next year. Until then, I am determined to keep practising my Cambodian mother tongue. There is room for improvement – but plenty of motivation too.

On the mango and cashew farm

Besides the pepper farm, we also visited a mango and a cashew farm. It was fascinating to see how the fruit is processed after harvest – how much hand work, patience and experience goes into every single product that later ends up in our shop. Another moment that showed me: what we do here is much more than trade. It is connection.

Warm regards
Nau Stülpnagel