FRIENDS, we need you!

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:58:09 -0500

We are trying to figure out what we, as part of the community, can do to be constructive and supportive of our FRIENDS who may be affected by new development.

It’s seems that Starbuck’s is coming to the towns of Middlebury and Rutland here in Vermont. These won’t be the first Vermont outlets for the giant chain, but they are the first outside our larger communities. Both these towns are served by a variety of small, locally owned coffee shops and cafes, many of them serving fair trade, organic coffee from Vermont’s roasters.

These cafes are social and activist centers of their community where people meet informally to share news and ideas and rally around local causes. Several feature live performances of local musicians. They aren’t big money-makers - I believe the owners are motivated to build community as much as make a living. But, they do provide a living to a lot of local folks.

We are interested in any ideas you have that might help our FRIENDS. We are following the lead of our local newspaper, the Addison Independent, to address this issue positively and constructively (You can read some good letters on the link below). This isn’t about Starbuck’s; it’s about our local businesses and what we can do to support them.

Send us your thoughts by clicking the “Say Hello” link above.

Thanks. Paul

link to the article

Anita Roddick

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:31:07 -0400

My friend and mentor, Anita Roddick, died last night. She was 64, and she got a lot out of her years.

Anita did things – pioneering things, challenging things, creative things, compassionate things, unconventional, things. She read all the time; she traveled constantly; she talked with so many people, gathering ideas and sharing her own. Her mind was wide open, and she was always willing to be wowed and moved and motivated by something new and real, whether that something was big or small. And, she worked hard her whole life – to create success, to create change, and to grow as a human being.

Anita really did change the world; she certainly changed mine.

I first learned about ‘community trading’ from Anita. She called it “trade not aid” back then; now we call it “fair trade.” I was one of many who worked with her on projects that were inspired by the people and conditions she encountered in her travels around the world. We worked with communities and co-ops in the developing world (Anita called it “the majority world”) to develop indigenous ingredients and handicrafts that could become part of her company’s products. It was my first experience of the empowerment inherent in fair trading.

It was in her West Sussex kitchen in 2001, with her husband Gordon, that I laid out my plans for “Coffee Roasted for Friends.” Her encouragement, as usual, was so enthusiastic, and specific, and challenging. She argued that if fair trade and organic were important to me, I should be nothing but fair trade and organic. I had to agree; it was hard not to when Anita put her intellect and charm behind an argument.

So, that’s what I’ve done. And, it has made all the difference.

Thank you Anita.

Love, Paul

Roaster Rebuild

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:45:12 -0400

For six harrowing days in the middle of July, we tore apart, modified, and rebuilt our Sirocco smokeless roaster.

We planned this project, so it wasn’t a surprise, but it took longer than expected, and we fell behind in filling our orders. As of today, we have caught back up, so we can start thinking about celebrating.

We are very pleased with the modifications that were made to our big, red roaster. When you are an early adopter, as we were with this smokeless technology, you have to expect a certain amount of learn-as-you-go adaptation. All our learning led us to significant modifications in the design and operation of the machine, and those changes meant we had to learn to roast all over again.

Still, the changes have been great, and the coffee roast quality is fantastic. The machine runs more reliably, and we even got rid of that annoying squeak that was driving us batty.

Thank you to Jay Enders of CoffeeTec for his inspired design and diligent engineering. Thank you also to Jackman’s Fuels, Mainly Metals, Vermont Boiler, and Eli and Razzy at White Rock.

Friend’s Tour - NYC

Mon, 9 Jul 2007 14:36:02 -0400

Our intrepid FRIEND, Lori, visited Jack’s Stirbrew in New York City. She is sampling a cup-o-Jack with Mel and Cory. Jack only serves our fair trade, organic coffee, and he makes great espresso drinks with farm-fresh, local milk. Naturally, his was voted “Best Coffee in New York” by New York Magazine. Jack’s could also be called “The Friendliest Cafe in New York,” as witnessed above.

When you are in NYC, stop by, have a coffee, and tell them you are a FRIEND of ours. They are located at 138 West 10th Street, between Greenwich Ave and Waverly Place.

Lily Goes to Maine

Mon, 21 May 2007 16:38:40 -0400

Hello my friend,

As you can see from the photos I've been on the road again. And thinking of you along the way.

My sister and I have been venturing our way to Maine; Monhegan Island specifically; where we've been inundated with the spring migration. It's been fantastic! On the way we met some of your FRIENDS, of course. First stop was Buffalo Mountain Co-op in Hardwick. Angus remembered me! Why I'm surprised I don't know. But he's waving 'hello' to you.

Next stop was Natural Provisions in St. Johnsbury. Wow, what a great use of a church! A fun place to shop in and made me giggle to think the wine section was in the vestibule and the coffee in the confessional!! Your coffee display was full and prominent. Hilary was at the bank so I couldn't get my picture with her and all the other ladies were bashful but are your FRIENDS nonetheless and we didn't leave without getting a few provisions.

Before we headed out of town we drove around the corner to the St J Co-op where Michele greeted us. And yes, he remembered me too! Although a small co-op they had a lot of product and I left with some VTea [reishi mushroom] for the trip.

And before I leave this missive I send a photo of my sister waking up at our campsite in Maine before heading to the ferry. She holds one of her dear morning beverages.
I hope this finds you deep into all this spring loveliness. I'm intoxicated by it!

Thinking of you and missing you,
Lily

Where “Talk Radio” is a Civil Discussion

Tue, 8 May 2007 16:29:41 -0400

Mark Johnson created a radio show years ago to discuss current events, and he continues to host it weekday mornings (9-11 a.m.) on WDEV in Waterbury, Vermont.

The format is “talk radio,” but Mark doesn’t play games with guests or callers. His show is serious journalism, and he keeps the discussion civil. Because of this straight forward fair play, Mark’s guests, callers, and listeners represent a broad spectrum of issues and ideas.

On any given day, you can hear an interesting and informative mix of ‘experts’ and their supporters and critics discussing the merits and myopics of newsmakers and the news. It’s really fun, too!

Check out Mark’s website for a guest list for upcoming shows.

Why Not Fair Trade Milk?

Wed, 2 May 2007 15:36:03 -0400

Most of us agree: Dairy farms are important to Vermont; and many Vermont family farmers are struggling to get by with low payments for their milk.

Some farmers in other parts of the world earn a fair price for their crops through a voluntary system called “fair trade.” Processors (like us) agree to pay farmer coops at least the fair trade minimum price which is guaranteed to cover the cost of sustainable production. We pay two additional premiums: a social premium for social and economic development, and an organic differential to cover the additional costs of producing fair trade coffee that is also certified organic.

The fair trade system is working and growing. Farmers are earning real benefits, and consumers have shown their commitment to pay a bit more. We believe the fair trade model can be applied to Vermont milk. It will take some work and cost some money to set up, but this market-based approach holds the promise of a meaningful, sustainable solution.

Fair trade isn’t a subsidy; it is a mutual agreement between farmers and processors to conduct their business outside the commodity-driven model. For us, fair trade is a philosophy, not a flavor. We chose to purchase all our coffee (100%) through the fair trade model, and we believe our choice–and our customers’ support–is making a difference.

The Vermont Legislature is exploring ways to help Vermont dairy farmers. Call your legislator and ask them to consider fair trade. I’ve often said, “If we had fair trade milk, we’d still have small family farms in Vermont.”

To learn more about fair trade, check out these sites:

transfairusa.org

fairtradefederation.org.

Our Coffee Plant

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 09:00:25 -0400

Several years ago, Bill and Julia brought some fertile coffee seeds back from their Dominican farm, Alta Gracia. Joni carefully germinated the seeds, and planted some in pots.

Over the years, Joni transplanted the fledgling plants a couple of time and looked after their health and well being. The plant is now three years old and just eight inches tall. While small, our ‘bonsai’ coffee plant is healthy and growing. New leaves have sprouted out this Spring.

We keep our plant in a south-facing window, but during the long Vermont winter, we need to shelter it from the cold overnights.

Our plant is a nice reminder of the coffee-lands and the people who work on the farms to bring us beautiful coffee.