Every Day is Earth Day at Kind Coffee
The fight for a healthier and cleaner environment will always be there and that is why KIND Coffee strives to be as “green” as we can. Encouraging the use of reusabl
e mugs and water bottles (with perks like free drip coffee refills and a newly installed filtered water station,) the use of biodegradable cups, plates, and utensils, and our recycling efforts all help to keep waste minimal. The coffee we roast is organic (using no chemicals) and shade grown (maintaining trees for their shade, filtering carbon dioxide, aiding in soil moisture retention, and providing a natural habitat for birds who in turn provide natural insect control,) two important commodity choices we have made. And our partnership with 1% for the Planet, an “alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier planet” is evidence of our continued effort to fulfill our own mission of “promoting the sustainability of our environment through the sale of certified organic and fairly traded coffees.” Over the years KIND Coffee has given 1% to various causes and organizations, leading our creation of Roast 422, in honor of Earth Day (4/22…)
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This year we have committed our 1% to the Estes Valley Land Trust, an organization that works with land donors to ensure the land that is donated will never be built on, preserving it for nature and future generations to come. Every bag of coffee you purchase from KindCoffee, through our website, or one of our many wholesale locations supports the ever important work of this organization.
Recognizing the importance of a clean and healthy environment has and will always be a big issue for the entire world. The movements to make our environment a priority began in 1970 after a book by Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, quickly became a New York Times best seller. The book rose awareness and concern of the importance of living organisms, the environment, and the links between pollution and public health. Air pollution was initially commonly accepted as the “smell of prosperity.”
Enter Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, inspired by the student’s anti-war movement and stunned by a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, CA in 1969. Gaylord recruited the help of Pete McCloskey, as co-chair, and Denis Hayes, as national coordinator, and a staff of 85 to promote events raising awareness to the need to protect the natural environment. April 22, 1970 achieved rare political alignment with 20 million Americans, democrats, republicans, atheists, religious, young, and old demonstrating for a healthier and more sustainable environment creating the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts). And in 1990, environmental leaders persuaded Denis Hayes to organize the next campaign sending Earth Day Global with 200 million people in 141 countries demonstrating their devotion to our planet and boosting recycling efforts worldwide. 2020 will mark the 50 year anniversary for Earth Day and the network is constantly working on goals to help shape the 21st century.
Sitting outside of KIND Coffee on a day off or lounging about before or after a shift at the shop is always a rejuvenating time with the Big Thompson River flowing next to our seating and beautiful mountain views all around. KIND Coffee’s location is perfect for reading a good book, enjoying a conversation with old or new friends, or just leaning back in one of the patio chairs and watching the ebb and flow of Mother Nature at her finest. Without moving from your seat, you can witness the wildlife of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, from begging wide-eyed chipmunks to squirrels racing from branch to branch, hummingbirds enjoying the sweet flavors of wildflowers, and at times our bigger friends, elk, enjoy grazing the grass to the east side of our building, making the stunning views even more majestic. Estes Park’s heart beats for its wildlife and natural beauty surrounding us, and maintaining this environment will continue to be our top priority.
