January 2014 Coffee News

-News from Honduras
-Climate Action - Renewable Energy
-Cancer Center Fundraiser
-Holiday Flavors

We’re fresh back from our latest trip to Honduras. After 20+ years of traveling there (Cathy's first visit was in 1991) the journey has become very familiar: two grueling flights, winding bumpy mountain roads, chaotic Honduran cities; and always a warm welcome from Guillermo's large family, soaking in the beauty of the cloud forest and enjoying familiar Honduran foods. Through it all, the constant presence of coffee, in our hands as we drink it multiple times a day, in our conversations as we discuss the next year's harvest, and all around us in the brilliantly green coffee plants that fill the countryside of this coffee centered country. We have more details of our trip below (including links to a few pictures).

News from Honduras
Since so many aspects of our trips to Honduras are the same from year to year, we've decided to add a page to our website with more details about our flights, Guillermo's family, the foods we eat and the places we stay. That way we can limit our update in this newsletter to the things that were unique to this trip. The first day of our journey, we hung out at Guillermo's sister Alma's comfortable new house on the edge of the city of Comayagua, a far cry from the small one room apartment above a noisy Tegucigalpa marketplace where she was living when Cathy first visited. Over the years, we've experienced the steady improvement in the family's basic living conditions, particularly as they've moved from rental properties in noisy dusty city centers, to owning their own homes and getting established in their careers.

On the second day of our trip, we traveled with Guillermo's brother Sabel and his wife Daysi to see a new coffee farm they have aquired. Look for more details and lots of photos in our February newsletter. As 2013 came to a close, we gathered with Guillermo's family to feast on carne asada (grilled beef) while the kids set off firecrackers. At 11 pm, we were able to hire a local band to play for us while we danced. And at midnight, with firecrackers exploding all around us, we exchanged hugs and New Year's greetings. We've uploaded a few photos and a short video of the festivities on our Facebook page.

Climate Action - Renewable Energy and Personal Action
Plans for an interesting discussion on alternative energy options continued while we were away. J. Drake Hamilton of Fresh Energy will be featured at the next Timely Topics session on January 19 from 6:30-8:00 pm at Prospect Park United Methodist Church at 22 Orlin Ave SE in Mpls. Hamilton will speak on emerging energy policies and opportunities for community solar, plus opportunities for residential efficiency. Steve Ozanne and David Robinson, both members of the congregation, will speak on their experiences with home solar and home energy efficiency. Steve will talk about his experience with the photovoltaic system installed on his house and David will talk about the economics of efficiency and the enormous opportunity it presents for increased cost-effective investment on the user side of the utility meter. The gathering is free and open to the public.

365 Days to Change My Life. Also, friend and coffee customer Christy Myers started this personal blog with the subtitle "learning to save the earth for my grandsons - one day at a time." Check it out, get inspired, share with your friends and join in the conversation!

Cancer Center Coffee Fundraiser
We are excited to be able to partner with Health Partners to support the work of the Cancer Care Center at Regions Hospital and Riverside Clinic. Your purchases of Velasquez Family Coffee from now until January 17 can be designated to support the fine work of the Center. Simply choose the "fundraiser" price option when selecting your coffee in our shopping cart and indicate "Cancer Care Center" in the notes at the end of your order (or let us know via email if you'd like your January coffee order to be designated that way). $4.00 from each $11 - 12 oz bag and $2.50 from each $7.75 - 8 oz bag purchased in this way will go to the Center. To learn more about Cancer Care Center, click here.

Holiday Flavors
To keep you in the holiday spirit, we still have our four holiday flavors available for just a little bit longer. All four are available in 8 oz packages, whole bean and ground, regular and decaf for $6.50, although supply is limited. To order, respond to this email or use our website store to place your order. (And of course our regular flavors continue to be available during this time as well.)

Feliz Año Nuevo!