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Where? San Marcos and Antigua – Guatemala
When? October 5th – 12th (8 days & 7 nights)
or October 16th – 21st (6 days & 5 nights)
Beans for Hope offers direct trade relationships with Guatemalan coffee growers and promotes their coffee here in Saint Louis. Founded by third generation coffee farmer Dr. Wilman Ortega BFH coffee will be bringing down 2 tours this October to participate in the harvest season on the family farm, Finca Morelia. Trips are geared for coffee enthusiasts and one for Baristas.
For more information email sean@beansforhope.com, send me a message here or you can call our office at (314) 725 6770.
You will be hosted by the Ortega family on the family farm. Most meals and travel is included in the price.
These will be incredible trips with opportunities for exploring Guatemalan culture and history.
Filed under: Hope Projects | Tags: coffee, Coffee Changing Lives, guatemala, More than Fair Trade
Photos from our recent project work and letters from staff offering thanks and asking for continued support. Thank you to our friends and partners for your continued support, if you keep buying our coffee we can keep working for change. www.beansforhope.com. (more…)
+ Beans for Hope = Awesome!
We are very grateful to the local buyers at our neighborhood Whole Foods, particularly Krista and Neil for their enthusiasm and passion for good coffee and a good cause. All our coffee sold at Whole Foods will be wrapped come in our beautiful hand woven textiles to support our Mayan textile co-op. (more…)
Filed under: Hope Projects
Dear Friends,
Thank you for supporting our mission to encourage positive change in the coffee industry and improve conditions in small coffee towns, through your recent purchase of Beans for Hope coffee. I sincerely hope you enjoy our high-quality coffee and would love for your feedback. Please send your comments, suggestions and questions to contact@beansforhope.com . (more…)
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Thanks to the West End Word coming and chatting and taking some photos of our humble little operation. The article is in the latest West End Word. (click link for full article)
“But the key difference is that while Valdez is a fictional character, Beans for Hope uses imagery of real coffee farmers in its marketing, Ortega said. On the company’s blog, Ortega writes about his trips to Guatemala — he visits about three times a year — and the company is organizing a trip in the fall, during which grocery-store managers, baristas and members of the public can get to know the people who grow Beans for Hope coffee and learn a little more about the origins of their favorite brew.”
The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about “point-of-origin” coffee tours, a new trend among fair-trade coffee companies. These tours allow consumers to visit the coffee farms and villages where the coffee is harvested and are very eye-opening because attendees are brought face-to-face with the hardships endured by the farmers and communities.
Not only are these experiences eye-opening, but they also offer some background about the coffee farm, farming process and the area. Many of the tours allow hands-on learning at the farm, allow attendees to participate in good works and offer tours of the countryside or villages.
We applaud the efforts of UK retailers who are becoming more dedicated to the Fairtrade movement to increase wages and lifestyle of poor farmers in foreign countries and urge more American-based companies to become more socially responsible and follow the UK example.
For the last 9 months if you’ve been drinking and enjoying our coffee then please remember we started this company to benefit the farmers that labor so very hard for this pleasure we take for granted. Edwin Martinez writes,
“On February 15, Carlos, the manager of Finca Vista Hermosa, and his son Edwin, were on their way back up to the Finca with supplies and money for payroll. On the way up the mountain, some bandits not from the area took their money and their lives as well.”
Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the FVH family. Please, please, please, if you can, there is a donation account set up on Paypal, with all funds going to the family left behind.
VISIT: http://fincavistahermosa.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/carlos-garcia-martin-and-edwin-garcia-martin/
and click on the donate button. please.
Much respect to the Barefoot Coffee Roaster Community for their fund raising efforts. You can continue to donate on their website as well.
Carlos leaves behind 11 children.
To learn more:
http://coffeegeek.com/opinions/coffeeatthemoment/02-26-2008
I’ll put it point blank here: It’s specifically because of people like Carlos Martin that you and I get to enjoy some amazing coffees. Without special people like this, not just working the earth but working it well, always learning and always sharing their knowledge – these are the reasons why you and I get to have these absolutely singular moments enjoying great coffee.
http://www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com/2008/02/22/tragedy-at-finca-vista-hermosa/
Carlos Martin and his son Eddie were an amazing team of coffee professionals and our hearts are saddened at their passing. Carlos’ older brother and original farm manager Lencho and Carlos’ son Diego are working with the Martinez family to manage the harvest right now as they are in the middle of the key part of the harvest.
http://fincavistahermosa.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/carlos-garcia-martin-and-edwin-garcia-martin/
Edwin 1991 – 2008. While not the oldest he was the first in his family to go to high school. Ever since he could kick a ball he fearlessly played with people twice his age and is a legendary goalie.
Please forgive our delay in notifying you of this.
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Commitment isn’t a dirty word, so we just wanted to float out a reminder if you believe in Beans for Hope’s mission you can join our subscription program and get a pound of premium 100% single Origin Guatemalan coffee EVERY MONTH! Pretty Incredible right?! (more…)
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There’s snow in the forecast for this week so we post in hopes of karma reading this entry and bringing and end to the St. Louis winter woes. We’ve had a great time over the winter at our local farmers markets. We’ve met some wonderful people, producers and supporters alike. But alas Spring time approaches and the Winter markets will be done soon.
If you like local producers and farmers and want to come talk to some people that love coffee and know a little something about the beans come visit us as the last winter farming market dates approach.
St. Louis Community Farmers’ Market St. John’s Episcopal Church 3644 Arsenal St., just west of Grand Blvd.
8:30 a.m. – Noon on second Saturdays of the month:
March 8th. and the again on April 12th!
Maplewood Winter Farmers’ Market
Schlafly Bottleworks’ Crown Room 7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood
Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
LAST DATE!!! March 29
Come Join Us and the other farmers for good coffee, jelly, baking, meats and more.
