One of the definitions of Amrita is rejuvenating waters.  For the water to be rejuvenating, it needs to be pure and free of pollution.  As the Baxendales built Amrita Island, they built bath houses where one could recharge and refresh in the pure waters of Buzzards Bay.  While today, the Bay faces certain pollution threats, toxic pollution from legacy industries has become a relic of the past.   In recent years, the Buzzards Bay Coalition has spearheaded projects to raise awareness of cleaning the Bay and create events to educate adults and children on the importance of maintaining a pollution-free Bay.  These events bring participants up close with nature.

Amrita Certified Pure participated in the Buzzards Bay Swim event this past June by donating coffee for the swimmers and spectators.  The objective of the event

was to show how important it is to have clean water not only for swimmers but for the fauna and wildlife of the Cape.

The Cape is fortunate to have an organization like Buzzards Bay Coalition, with its vision for a clean and healthy bay where current generations and future generations can enjoy the water, fauna and wildlife that make the Cape so beautiful.   Today the Buzzards Bay Coalition has two learning visitor centers and four nature preserves (http://www.savebuzzardsbay.org/about-us/our-centers-reserves/)  where people can enjoy and learn about nature.  Unfortunately, this is not the case around the world including coffee producing countries.

Amrita Certified Pure® Coffee selects coffees that are grown in harmony with the environment and exhibit a high quality cup of coffee.  All of our coffees are grown organically.  By growing the coffee organically, there are no harmful chemical runoffs into nearby rivers.  Farm workers and wildlife are protected from harmful chemicals.

In addition to purchasing organically grown coffee, Amrita Certified Pure Coffee offers a variety of coffees that are

Rainforest Alliance Certified.  The Rainforest Alliance Certification ensures that crops are grown in a manner

that is in harmony with nature.  The Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal means that the farmers follow more sustainable agricultural practices that protect forests, rivers, soils and wildlife, while being good community neighbors.  Rainforest Alliance certification also ensures that workers have just wages and improved access to dignified living conditions, health care and education for their children.  To learn more about the Rainforest Alliance, visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org.

Our Blue Heron Espresso from the Selva Negra in Nicaragua is named for the Blue Heron bird whose habitat can be found both at the farm and the Cape.  The bird was admired so much by the Baxendales that they carved images of the bird on the stone towers of the bridge leading to Amrita Island and on their home. The Baxendales made sure the Blue Heron was safe from snares.  The bird would not survive in either habitat without clean water.

I write this blog to show the deep appreciation I have for the work of Buzzards Bay Coalition, Selva Negra Farm and the

Rainforest Alliance, especially after my recent trip to Mexico.  Cape Cod is very

fortunate to have an organization like the Buzzards Bay Coalition to protect the waters and surrounding lands around the Cape.  In many coffee producing countries, the population needs to be educated in on preservation of the environment.  Trash is a major problem throughout the land and water in the producing countries.  It breaks my heart to see beautiful land and water marred by trash.

In my 30 years of working in coffee, I have seen vast improvements in environment preservation in coffee farms.  These improvements have been brought on by coffee roasters visiting farms and working with farmers and third party certifiers in improvements to the environment and sustainability.  When I arrive at a farm, within five minutes I can determine whether the farm is a Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farm or not.

Much of the improvement on coffee farms is in the manner of cleaning water after it has been used in processing coffee.  Farmers have learned how to use less

water, filter the water and reuse the water on their farms.  During my first few visits to coffee farms, the dirty water from the fermentation tanks was dumped in nearby streams and rivers.  In recent years, every farm  with a wet mill has a water filtration program.

Clean water is vital for the survival of wildlife, fauna and mankind.  We all must work together to make sure this

valuable resource is preserved for future generations.  Every part of our lives is affected by the way we treat the water.  We are proud to support the work of Buzzards Bay Coalition, The Rainforest Alliance and all the farms where we purchase coffee in preserving clean water.

I end this blog with some natural water falls found on my trips to coffee growing countries. One image is from the Sumidero Canyon in Mexico.  The other

three of the falls are found on coffee farms where the farmer has we revitalized the falls through sustainable farming practices and preservation of natural habitats.