Resources for Michigan Blue Magazine readers and American Birding Association members on the birds and coffee connection.
Background information
Coffee growing bibliography update
Latest update of peer-reviewed coffee research.
Bird-friendly coffee short
A film about the decline of North American songbirds called The Messenger includes a segment about coffee and bird habitat.
The Annual Year in Beans summary
Annual recap of how much we spend on coffee in a year Here we are on our 6th year of standardized tracking of how much the two-person Coffee & Conservation household spends on coffee. We keep track of each bag we buy, including shipping, since we purchase the majority of our coffee online. As we’ve…
Coffee & Conservation on the air
An episode of the local program The Green Room where I talk about eco-friendly coffee and birds.
“B Corp” coffee companies – what and why
What is a certified B Corp, and which coffee companies have the certification?
Update on coffee growing in China
An update on the accelerating pace of land use for coffee growing in China and its environmental impact.
Resources for BirdWatching Magazine readers
A guide to more information of interest to readers of my article “The True Cost of Coffee” in BirdWatching Magazine.
The True Cost of Coffee
The February 2013 issue of BirdWatching Magazine (formerly Birder’s World) is in bookstores and other retailers now. It contains my article on the connection between coffee, birds, and biodiversity, The True Cost of Coffee. It can be read at the magazine’s website here. I have been answering questions from readers, and you can submit your…
All about robusta: what it is, and what it might be
We may all be getting to know robusta a little better in the future. It seems fitting to offer a little introduction.
When birders drink Folgers, part 2
Multiple studies have shown that birders can well afford to drink sustainably-grown coffee that supports the birds they enjoy so much.
Fair Trade environmental standards
In spite of what many people believe, Fair Trade certification alone does not automatically mean or guarantee that rigorous environmental standards were followed, or that the coffee was grown under shade. Here’s a summary of the Fair Trade environmental standards.
When birders* drink Folger’s
Not only is it time for us — birders — to acknowledge that our consumption is often in conflict with our professed beliefs and passions, it’s time to do something about it.
Fight poverty: Quit drinking corporate coffee
If you are one of the 160 million coffee drinkers in the U.S., you can make a decisive, positive impact on poverty by refusing to buy cheap grocery store coffee from NestlÁ©, Procter & Gamble, Kraft, and Sara Lee.
More on botanical varieties
I have updated my post covering botanical varieties of coffee with a link to James Hoffman’s family tree of coffee, and a table of coffee genotypes from a paper published in the Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology which I…