Lauren Tennent goes to work at and she also goes regularly to prison, as it is part of her job to teach women inmates at Arohata how to make good coffee. In this interview find out why this young lady loves this part of her job and the reason why Peoples Coffee want to be aligned with a prison.
Local organisation Conscious Consumers were recently described by the Herald as a “phenomenon,” as since only 2010 they have been helping to shape a better world in the NZ hospo industry by accrediting the good stuff that 300 cafes and restaurants do, and communicating that to 40 000 Conscious Consumers, who have signed up to support those businesses.
Melissa Keys is one of the backbones of the Conscious crew, and in this interview she talks about why she cares about the work she does and why she wants us to be part of their next revolutionary idea, the – !
The Good Spend Counter will mean that more free range produce, fair-trade coffee and more local suppliers will be supported by our cafes. That can only be a good thing for our animals and our local economy and our environment, so yes please .
For more info www.countmein.nz, only one week to go.
DJ Kelvinator talks to Ebony from Eb and Sparrow about their live gig in Bicycle Junction this Sunday 31st May. Ebony plays a selection of unreleased unheard on the radio b-sides tracks especially for us.
And owner of Bicycle junction Dan Mikkleson talks all things bicycles, and about how the burgeoning bike scene in Wellington is building community.
Thanks to Newswire for the photo.
http://www.ebandsparrow.co.nz/
http://www.bicyclejunction.co.nz/
For more about the event, but sorry it is sold out.
Daniel Kinne is a coffee farmer from the highlands of Papua New Guinea. He is also a founding member and the chairman, of the Highland Organic Agricultural Cooperative (HOAC) which includes 2600 farmers.
He is here to celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight, through and to share his stories on the impact we have on communities like his, when we buy Fair trade.
But what fascinates me, is that this man manages to get the 2600 farmers of this collective to make a decision together on how to spend the premiums ($ from their sales) for their community . Is he learning from us or are we learning from him?
Daniels coffee can be drunk at Kokako, available at Common Sense Organics and Esquires.
Wellington was the first Fair Trade City in New Zealand.
In 2013 New Zealanders spent $69.3 Million dollars on Fair Trade goods.
Would you consider moving your business goods by bike, using biogas produced by some of the 1 tonne of coffee grinds only 30 of our cafes go through in a week OR taking your friends on a tour of Wellington on an effortless E-bike? Well these are the kinds of ideas that were explored and some kicked into businesses from the Smart Energy Challenge earlier this month.
In these interviews we talk to Russell Silverwood from No Car Cargo, Charlie Hanna and Rory Wagner from CoffeeCo, Ryan O’ O’Connell and Sofia Robinson from about where they are at with their city changing, energy reducing ventures.
And just so you know we are not joking; http://www.bio-bean.com
and http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/waste-coffee-grounds-fuel-london
Ryan and Sofia have a pledge me campaign going where you can pre-invest in the E bike experience. help them out to kick start the face of Wellington.
It will be forgiven that half of Cuba streets doors are closed today, as every store, restaurant, spare space, artist and available pair of hands were devoted to transforming the street into an epic weekend for the revival of the Cuba st. Carnival, the Cuba Dupa.
Even though I’ve walked or cycled up and down that street three times a week in the last 25 years, this weekend, Cuba Street shone in a new light.
Out of virtually no hype, zero expectation, and no over excited face book traffic that I could see, the lid on the bottle of the magic mulled for a bit during a drizzly saturday and then as dusk moved in, exploded into a plethora of awesomeness that made one remember why this city is like no other.
What were the magic ingredients that left me with such a delicious taste?
The SPACE; the removal of cars and traffic created a blank canvas to play,explore and be in. I am always amazed at how freeing this act is. ( apart from Viv of course, as a few friends were nearly bowled walking carefree into state highway no1).
The PEOPLE, the PEOPLE, the PEOPLE– the best, the worst, the regulars, the friends, the artists, the extravaganza stars, they all came. And they came with an open attitude, prepared for fun.
The IMPRINT- that was already laid down. Homage must be given to all those who created the early version and vision of the Cuba St. Carnival. So for many it wasn’t a foreign feeling, this is how Cuba Street always was and is. It has just been enabled after being been cooped up like a battery hen for too long.
The COLLABORATORS – we think it is normal, but it is not. It is quite a talent to drop the ego and work with others. Collaborations were rife, from Steve Logan of Logan Brown making Paua Fritters at the front of Lucky’s fruit shop, to Adam Page conducting the Mass Cuba St. Orchestra made up of nearly every musician in the city, to the actors, choirs and community groups who made The Grand Opening at the Opera House such a riot. I get such a kick seeing musicians running onto the stage of already performing bands, arriving slightly late after a previous performance but determinded to be there non the less.
The CHERRIES; each will have their own but for me, the Hairy Lollies, the Saturday finale on the Upper Cuba St. stage, were off the hook, with such good Welly musicians and songstress divas, who were there because….. They LOVE it. The second to last song was a funky Mariachi track, with a dirty slide guitar and trumpet that just kept evolving. It was so good I nearly couldn’t take it anymore.
The kids and I trouped back in on the Sunday determined to make it to The Grand Opening . The geniuses of Barbarian Productions took us on a wild ride to get to a show that we didn’t know we were already starring in. All I can say is I have never experienced anything like that before.
Thank you to all those who consented and contributed to the weekend that was the first Cuba Dupa. An even bigger thank-you to all those who curated and organised it. I would have lost sleep for months trying to pull that off.
But most of all thank-you to Wellington for being there with the spirit that is the Soul of Cuba street. To me, letting our creative culture reign is part of the long term sustainability and prosperity of our city.
So please may we have another slice of that… PLEASE!!!!!!!.
# Why Wellington # Cuba Dupa
Kaleidoscope
Mass Cuba Street Orchestra
Steve Logan, cooking mean paua fritters at the front of Luckys fruit shop
the Hairy Lollies funking up a storm
Just some of the Cast or crew at the Grand Opening.
There is no denying the incredible influence has had on making Wellington the coffee culture strong hold, as well as spring loading and inspiring many other cafe businesses around the country. This year has achieved a massive milestone, leading the nations coffee revolution for 25 years. So to celebrate, founder and partner Geoff Marsland is about to launch a new book, telling the original Havana story. In this interview Geoff talks about his serendipitous journey from fish to fashion to coffee, what those early caffeine fueled days in Wellington were like and what might be next for the Godfather of coffee.