So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

A Better Brew With Organic Gourmet Coffee

By Kurt Keasler


Many people love the smell and taste of a good cup of joe. At the same time, more people are becoming aware of what goes into producing that delicious brew. This is why the market for organic gourmet coffee is rapidly growing.

Traditionally, farmers plant the trees among other trees, so that they grow partially in the shade. Often it is difficult to tell natural forest from planted trees when production happens in this way. This means that wildlife can still live in the area without too much of an impact on their natural habitat.

Large producers have had a very negative impact on the environment. Planting the trees in big commercial plantations requires clearing of the already existing vegetation, destroying natural forest to the detriment of many species of wildlife. Chemical pesticides threaten species of insects and birds, while run-off from fertilizers and pesticides get into the rivers that then flow into the oceans, often destroying coral reefs.

In the mainstream industry, the farmers don't really benefit much from the sale of their produce. Producers are based in poor, developing nations in Central and South America and Africa. They get paid very low prices for their produce while the huge profits go to big businesses in developed countries. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty in the developing world.

You can make a difference by choosing a better brew. One way is to choose organically grown beans that required no agrochemicals in the production cycle. You can also help improve the lives of those who grow the beans by buying fair trade products that will ensure that the farmers get paid what their produce is worth.

Even though fair trade beans are not the same as organic beans, they are usually grown in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way. Farmers tend to be small-scale producers who use traditional production methods and form co-operatives to sell their produce. Getting their produce certified organic can be too expensive for them, but for the most part their methods are the same anyway.

You can order fair trade gourmet coffee or organic gourmet coffee online or buy it from specialty shops. You can even buy coffee gift sets that contain everything a caffeine lover needs, from the beans to plungers or mugs. Some big retailers also stock these products. However, if you want to focus on fair trade, it is best to buy your beans from the co-operatives themselves or from small businesses that act as agents for these co-operatives. In this way you'll help the producers empower themselves and their communities.




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