A
Just Cup...
Grounds for Change
If you haven't tried a cup of coffee at church recently,
you're in for a pleasant surprise. Not only are we
purchasing coffee from a local couple -- Kelsey and
Stacy Marshell, who own and operate their business
"Grounds for Change" in Poulsbo -- but they are making a
difference in our world by being "triple-certified."
The coffee is shade- grown, organic-certified, and
fair-trade-certified ... and the coffee is wonderful!
This
small change in our coffee drinking habits at church may
seem small, but it's a great way to "walk our talk" and
match our actions with our words.
"Coffee, if grown right, can be one of the rare
human industries that actually restore the Earth's
health."
-- Brian Halweil,
World Watch, May/June 2002
The
Grounds for Change mission is: "To support social
equity and environmental sustainability through fair
trade, organic, shade grown coffee."
Grounds for Change grew out of the idea that, as part of
the global community, it is our responsibility to make
our purchase decisions wisely, taking into account the
environmental, social and economic impacts of our
spending. Coffee is the world's second most
valuable commodity behind petroleum and given this
scale, the opportunity to make positive change is
tremendous.*
Why
purchase triple certified coffee?
- The
Environment: We are helping to reduce clear
cutting of the forest. Shade-grown coffee
shrubs live twice as long and the shade trees
generate natural mulch, which means less replanting
and less need for chemical fertilizers.
-
Migratory birds: Shade-grown coffee provides
important habitat for migratory birds whose
populations have declined 50% in the last 25 years,
primarily due to habitat destruction caused by full
sun coffee plantation, which have 95% fewer bird
species than their shaded counterparts.
-
Flavor: Experts agree the flavor of
shade-grown coffee is superior to that of full-sun
coffee and is significantly less bitter.
-
Organic certified: no chemicals were used during in
production.
-
Fair-trade certified: The farmers were paid a
living wage for their crop.
For more
information about Grounds for Change check out their
website:
www.groundsforchange.com
Thanks to the Deaconate for taking the lead in helping
us make a difference with a "Just" Cup!
Fundraiser: If you would like to buy some of this
special coffee for your personal use, you can do so and
help the church at the same time. Just stop by the
church office... $9.95/bag, and $4.00 goes to the
church!
If you have any questions about the coffee, Leah Floyd
is the contact person.
