WHAT'S NEW!
.. Celebrating inspiring women in our lives (plus we're getting closer & closer to spring)!
And just recently returned from Peru, here are some thoughtful words from Development and Peace volunteer and Fairtrade ambassador Elizabeth Fedorkow:
"After having promoted Fair Trade for many years, it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to meet the Fair Trade coffee farmer co-ops and the farmers that produce and sell the beans. I was very impressed when seeing first hand the pride and commitment the farmers have in producing the best quality coffee. The Fair Trade model of small farmers working together as a co-op is a clear demonstration of how sustainable development is working today and can for the future. For example, one of the new programs at the Cenfrocafe Co-op (Peru) is to be able to provide technical assistance to more farmers, increase productivity and encourage young people to become more engaged in the future of coffee production. For me this whole experience has further validated that when we buy a bag of Fair Trade coffee we are empowering producers and their families to better their own lives and have a voice in the market place."
Yahoo! There is 2 way car traffic on Roncesvalles - parking too!
Bean Update!
Great Big News! I am very happy to introduce you to our brand NEW espresso blend: The Queen "E". She's the new kid on the block joining our august "Velvet" in the crema crowd. You should know that we have been experimenting for quite some time with some of the different origins we've been receiving so when we picked up our "new/old" Electra espresso machine, well! things got kicked into high gear!! The Queen "E" is sweet and smooth, very mild acidity with a slight leathery/smokey thing going on as well as a hint of caramel. The perfect shooter! While the Velvet presents a more traditional Northern Italian taste - big in body, a gentle kick in the acidity department, dark cacao hints in the flavour. Oh, the bounty of the beans! And now we have 2 espressos to choose from!
If that is not enough excitement, we just received our first load of Brazilian from Coopfam. Roasted medium, this bean is utterly gorgeous: a creamy body, sweet with a touch of leather and tobacco, and a little nutty on the nose! Run for it, we have a limited amount! This is a semi-washed bean which is the classic processing method in Brazil. The cherries are pulped, quickly rinsed and dried immediately. There is no fermentation - a similar process to that done with our Sumatran coffees.
Heard about Faitrade Proof? It is Coop Coffees' latest initiative which addresses "transparency" in our fairtrade transactions. At fairtradeproof.org, you can trace the beans you love from farmer to roaster, and learn about the intricate yet rewarding inner workings of fairtrade partnerships. Click, browse and learn!
At the Cafe
Good news to those who drive to our neck of the woods: Parking has returned to our part of Roncie! YAHOO!!
They're here, they're here!! Our new and snazzy Travel Mugs/Cupanions have arrived. These babies are easy on the earth, are fully recyclable and biodegradable, and keep your coffee nice and warm (or cool during those Ice Coffee days of summer). So make a mad dash for Roncie and pick yourself up a mug, they are only $9 a piece!!
Remember that part of the proceeds from the sales of our cool coffee mugs goes towards supporting great initiatives including the Survivors of Domestic Violence Foundation (Fundacion Sobrevivientes) in Guatemala City.
The cafe is now home to an adorable collection of hand-knitted animals couirtesy of "Bridges of Hope" in Peru. The animals are hand-crafted by a group of inspiring women from the displaced community of El Mercurio. There is a limited number so you might want to pop in to see them for yourself! And for more info make sure to visit www.fairtradeperu.com/grupmercurio.htm.
Interested in using fairtrade and organic products for a good cause? Custom roasted coffees, teas, chocolate bars, cocoa, and hot chocolate to get you started! Many school clubs and groups use our coffee and other products to fundraise for great projects. Have one in mind? Give us a call and we will be happy to provide you with more information and ideas, the number is 416-534-6335.
We could all use more music in our lives..
Join us Thursday, March 18 from 7 to 9 pm, when the cafe will be filled with bluesy & folksy melodies courtesy of Laura Blaise.
Local musicians, are you reading this page? Interested in playing at the cafe? Email Brenda at: cafe@alternativegrounds.com
Mark your calendars! We've got loads of music in store for you in the coming months every third Thursday of the month between 7-9 pm.
Here's our line up for the coming months: Apr. 15 - Tasha Forster (Folk), May 20 - Celina Van Merlin (Rock, Alternative Pop), and Jun. 17 - Alex Andrews (Rock, Folk).
Any one who knows us, knows that we feel deeply about good ol'fashioned face-to-face encounters! Hence we have come up with Twosome TwosDays!! Bring a friend, a mate, a buddy or someone who enjoys a good cup of joe as much as you do and have two for only one twoonie, yippie!!
And for those who don't know.. The rumors are indeed true! We have gone wireless at the cafe!! So now you can work, surf and enjoy your java while spending time away from home. Our connectivity comes to us thanks in part to Wireless Toronto, a not-for-profit community group dedicated to bringing no-fee wireless access to Toronto. They aim to build community in interesting and innovative ways. You can find out more about them at www.wirelesstoronto.ca.
In our Artspace
Our featured artist for February is former AG barista Catherine Mellinger. Drop by and visit with "Billy and Edith", a collection of works that poses the questions: "What really happens when we truly go into our imagination? When we discover what capacity it has to store and hold things we dream of, but also things we fear, things we disown?" Inspired by Catherine's therapeutic work with children, this exhibit explores the stories we retain in ourselves - those we reject and those we embrace.
Catherine Mellinger is a freelance artist, arts facilitator, creative coach and stuent of Inter-Modal Expressive Arts Therapy. With "Billy and Edith", Catherine realizes that questions will arise and she would love to hear from you so visit, ponder and if inclined do drop her a line at mellangearts@yahoo.com.
Interested in displaying your work in the cafe? Contact our cafe manager Brenda at cafe@alternativegrounds.com if you wish to showcase your work on our walls.
Events.. out & about!
On Monday March 1st 7-8:30pm, it's "Eat Your Hart Out: The Edible City at Hart House". An evening of discussion, local food tasting and presentations from contributors to the book "The Edible City".
Into art? "The Open Studio Collective" will be at Exhibition Place the weekend of March 4th. If you get your ticket on-line, it is $8 as opposed to $12 at the door.
Your are invited to the launch of "The Lucky Child" by local author Marianne Apostolides on Sunday March 21 7-9pm. The event takes place at Hart House, East Common Room U of T. Featuring live music and theatrical readings, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Congrats Marianne!
Did you know that every Friday from 7-7:45pm, Jennifer the librarian at the Bloor Gladstone Library, hosts an adult story time. Bring your knitting or whatever, and she will read to you!
Coop Coffee member "Just Coffee" is planning a visit to our coffee producing partners in Africa and is inviting everyone along. They will visit our partners in Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania, and spend a week in each place. You can opt in and out of different countries. For more details check out www.justcoffee.org. If you are going, we would love to hear about it!!
Congrats to Zatoun on their new home! Not only will it provide a venue for their products, but it will also serve as a culture and art venue with a gallery and performance space. You can visit them at 612 Markham St. For more info call 647-726-9500 or www.beitzatoun.org
Don't forget about the Stop's Good Food Market - especially you folks north of Bloor! It runs every Tuesday from 4:30 -6:30 out of the lobby of the Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Community Centre. While our own Sorauren Farmers Market continues through the winters months and is held indoors at the Wabash Fieldhouse from November 16th till the spring - every 3rd Monday of the month there-after. Check out their newsletter at http://tiny.cc/WEFCnews
And our Sorauren Farmers Market continues at the fieldhouse. Next markets: March 15th and April 19th.
In the spotlight!
Every month we place the spotlight on one of our customers as a way to say "Thanks!" for their continued support and for choosing fairtrade, as well as to introduce you to some totally dynamic people and business'es. This month we roll up the curtain for Saving Gigi, one of the newest and most welcomed additions to the Bloorcourt Village map. This cozy spot is located at 859 Bloor Street West (at Roxton) and has become a local favorite. 
So let's hear from the friendly folks at Gigi as they explain their brief but exciting history:
"From the gang at Saving Gigi, to the gang at Alternative Grounds, we would all like to extend our thanks for featuring us this month. Amelia and I (Kristjan, that is) took over the post of ownership from Luigi and Monica in October of this year. The neighbourhood has been so accepting of the turnover that we would also like to thank everyone who not only accepted us, but have helped to grow our cafe over the last few months. The first thing we did was change the coffee and it was an easy choice to go with Alternative Grounds for the great flavour and great philosophy. We are slowly adding new adventures to the cafe and this includes the addition of Chef Davey Jackman to our cooking team. Davey will be whipping up three specials of crazy culinary delights every sunday in our small open kitchen, while Amelia and I will continue to handle the regular menu which consists of homemade food, from the mayo, to the muffins and cookies (which sell out early!) to salad, soup and other specials.
We love food and coffee and hope it shows! All that, along with our love of music which is mainly displayed and played on vinyl (often our customers bring in records while they peruse the internet with our free wifi), usually amounts to a pretty fun day. We'll be putting together a web site soon to let you all know what we're up to in the next little while. Again, thank you very much guys, your coffee is the talk of the block." - Your friends at Saving Gigi.
Many thanks to photographer Karol Orzechowski for making the stunning shot above available. And remember, next time you are strolling on Bloor, west of Yonge or east of Keele, trek over to Saving Gigi for a good cup of joe and a tasty treat, oh la la!!
Other Great Stuff
Have we got bags for you?! Our popular and practical tote bags have arrived and are they ever cool!! Roomy, stretchy and in a funky denim black, these bags are great for shopping or strutting around town. They are $14 each and make for great gifts. They are also sweatshop free and made by the truly inspiring Single Mothers Cooperative of El Salvador. Drop by and check them out for yourselves (we double dare you leave without picking one up)!!
Remember to visit the Greenstuff page for tips and suggestions to help us soften our collective and individual footprint as we take residence on this beautiful planet of ours! In this section you will find neat and fun ideas for the use and re-use of our burlap/jute bags, paper bags, etc. (for regular and worm composting, bulk shopping, and halloween custume making ideas!!). And I'll bet your compost could use a little of our coffee chaff to lighten its load after a long winter!! If you can use chaff or burlap/jute bags, give Linda a call at 416-534-6335
Educate/Advocate!
Interested in learning more about Fairtrade, Organics and Social Justice? Make sure to check our Resources page for more info and great links!
Are you looking for news and updates from the frontlines of the struggle towards a more ethical and fair trade system??! Read Coop Coffees Newsletter here. It's a good read and is also available en Español!!
Have you been watching the tube recently and encountered Ads by a certain coffee chain advocating on behalf of struggling poor farmers in the South?! We encourage you to visit the Clean Food Connection website for a great commentary written by our friend Bob on this very interesting "development", inspiring and thought provoking indeed!!
And while on the subject of corporate good will, here's a link to a great article written about the benefits vs. the disadvantages of corporate involvement in fairtrade. And if you have any comments, thoughts or burning questions, we love to hear from you so send your emails our way care of info@alternativegrounds.com.
Remember, if you want to become better acquainted with our fairtrade pricing policy, check out the Fairtrade section of the website. We are always on the look-out for great ideas - things that partner well with us and what we are trying to accomplish through Alternative Grounds. So feel free to drop us a line and share suggestions with our staff.
Coop Coffees member & roaster Dean Cycon has published a great book titled Javatrekker: Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee. This is a wonderful exploration of the world of social justice and good coffee from someone who has been there and done that! So if you are looking for a good read or a great gift idea, drop by the cafe and get a copy! And check out a video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD8EBiQZs3M produced by Dean featuring Tadesse Meskela, General Manager of the Oromia Coop in Ethiopia.
Our friends at Zatoun have pointed out for us a great audio documentary on their history! "Zatoun, a life story in 4 parts" is a great way to learn about this great initiative which is supporting the development of fairtrade opportunities in Palestine and helping olive farming cooperatives connect with the North American market. So do check it out at at www.zatoun.com/audiozatoun.htm!
Our Solidarity Corner
At the presentation of "Under the Rich Earth", (which is now available on DVD) there was also information on info and advocacy organizations concerned with the mining industry. www.solidarityresponse.net is one such source and really worth a visit. If nothing else, it is good to make ourselves aware about what Canadian mining companies (as well as others) are doing at home and abroad. On travels to visit our coffee partners, mining is frequently a part of their landscape and generally, not in a positive way. The sight lists events and ways to get involved - you can also buy or rent "Under the Rich Earth" - a film about communities peacefully resisting the intrusion of a Cndn mining company, in Ecuador. Great for teachers, faith organizations, wanna be legal eagles and anybody elsewho loves a great tale rooting for the under-dog!
And in the last mad-dash to the 2010 Olympics, it is worth visiting www.clearingthehurdles.org. This site, organized in part by the Maquilla Solidarity Network, looks at steps to improving working conditions in the global sportswear industry.
More Good Stuff!!
Curious about where our cafe specials come from? Meet The Local Café! a small for-profit social enterprise and an experiment in local street food, an initiative begun by Carole Ferrari. The Local Café sources locally grown, high quality, environmentally sound, ethical, and fair trade produce and other goods to make really good meals and snacks that are affordable and accessible. You can find them at a wide variety of community events. They provide many of the yummy specials at Alternative Grounds. You can contact them for your event at 416-534-0454 or thelocalcafe@gmail.com.
Need a good Caterer? For those of you who don't know, the folks at Lemon and Allspice who make our yummy gingerbread and chocolate chip cookies (yes they use real butter) also do catering.The company which is run by and for folks with developmental dissabilities, does a mean lunch! The shortbread is my personal favourite. You can contact them at info@commongroundco-op.ca or 416-686-1906 (yes, I have a vested interest as I am on the board and love what these guys do!!)
We're Passionate About Fairtrade and Love to Share Our Passion! Over the years we have gathered a good collection of articles, books and videos about different aspects of Fairtrade and coffee. These are available for your perusal at the cafe or on loan. We're also available to do slide shows and presentations. So give us a call at 416-534-6335.
And thanks to...
Gerry for bringing a quotation from the late Tommy Douglas to our attention: "Courage, my friends. It is not too late to build a better world." Words to live by!!