Elephants belong in nature
Forest-grown Thai coffee and a commitment to supporting elephants’ lives in the jungle.
Wild Nomad Elephant Commons is our coffee business. Donations support the separate Wild Nomad Elephant Foundation.
What we're doing here
We work with Karen farming families in the highlands of northern Thailand.
Conventional crops like corn require clearing and repeated replanting. Canopy-grown coffee doesn't.
🌳 Forest-grown coffee
Grown beneath native canopy to protect biodiversity and soil health.
🐘 Elephant habitat protection
Keeping forests intact supports elephants and shared ecosystems.
☕ Community livelihoods
Partnering with Karen hill tribe communities for sustainable, locally led income.
Two Futures for the Forest
In Northern Thailand, forested hillsides are increasingly cleared for sun-grown corn, exposing soil and stressing water systems.
Coffee grown beneath existing forest canopy offers another path, keeping trees standing while supporting livelihoods and elephant habitat.
Meet Yo:
This work is rooted in long-term relationships. Yo was born and raised in these mountains and has spent years guiding visitors, cultivating coffee, and tending forest land.
Wild Nomad Elephant Commons exists because of this partnership, built on trust, shared values, and stewardship of these mountains.
Why canopy coffee works
Shade moderates growing conditions
Tree cover helps shelter coffee plants from direct sun and heat.
Farmers diversify income
Coffee provides a viable alternative to sun-grown monocrops on steep hillsides
Roots hold soil
Forest cover protects hillsides from erosion and supports long-term soil health
Coffee coexists with elephant habitat
Keeping native trees standing reduces pressure on surrounding wild habitat
Try the coffee
Small-batch roasted in Portland using forest-grown, hand-picked coffee from the highlands of Northern Thailand. Every bag supports an agroforestry model that keeps forest standing and strengthens the communities at the center of this work.
Free shipping within the contiguous U.S.
Support their lives in the jungle
MoPauMae and her son, PaTang, are living in the jungle of northern Thailand. Wild Nomad Elephant Foundation is committed to supporting their ongoing lives there, with care from their mahouts.
Spend time in the forest
Small groups, Northern Thailand, led by Yo. Three to seven days in the jungle, with the people who know it best.