This Saturday is National Honey Bee Day! Take time in the garden and around your neighborhood to thank the pollinators around you this weekend. These little black and yellow insects play a vital role in keeping all of us alive on this planet, and they are worth taking the time to appreciate.

In addition to simply appreciating these creatures, it’s also important to learn more. Why do we need pollinators? What would happen if bees went extinct? What action do we need to take to make sure communities are protecting our bees? Take a look at the Bee Action Friends of the Earth page to get a better idea of what you can be doing for your community.

Thanksgiving Coffee on Honey Bee Day

In 2016, Fort Bragg became the first Bee-Friendly City in California. This was due to the efforts of local beekeepers, the Fort Bragg Garden Club, and Thanksgiving Coffee. We were proud to lead the movement in California toward ridding our state of harmful pesticides and neonicotinoids that are killing our pollinators. Over the course of the past two years, Thanksgiving Coffee Company has partnered with two organizations to save our pollinators: our local Noyo Food Forest in Mendocino County and the international group, Friends of the Earth. We have raised over $17,000 for these non-profits, thanks to YOUR support of Bee Bold Coffee.

Pick up a bag of Bee Bold Coffee at your local grocery store, or grab a bag online through our web store. Let’s celebrate National Honey Bee Day together, and save our pollinators!

Coffee and Movement

Athletes have long appreciated the many helpful properties of coffee. As a pre-race ritual, a hot cup of coffee gets the blood flowing and puts a spring in your step. After a hard workout, the capillary dilation effects of caffeine help aid in recovery, increasing blood flow to tired muscles. Here at Thanksgiving Coffee, we believe in the magic of coffee and we know that it can be so much more than just a morning beverage— it can be a true medium for change.

Zachary Friedley was born missing his right leg above the knee, but that has never stopped him from being a natural-born athlete. Participating in wrestling, football, and baseball, Zachary is now pursuing his dream of competing in the 2020 Paralympic games in Tokyo as part of the track and field team. His goal is to spread awareness for his new non-profit organization, The Mendocino Movement Project, whose mission is to provide prosthetics to landmine survivors and those suffering from limb loss in developing countries.

Thanksgiving Coffee was proud to provide coffee for the athletes at this year’s Fort Bragg Whale Run and sponsor Zach for his very first 5k race. A fundraising event for the local Soroptimist group, the Whale Run celebrated it’s 35th year on the town’s brand new coastal trail.

With support from Thanksgiving Coffee’s Brand Manager and accomplished marathoner, Marchelo Bresciani, Zach ran his farthest distance to date. As a world class sprinter, Zach never imagined how much he would enjoy the 5k distance and seeing just how far he could go. Now, he is pursuing more events and 5k races around the country to share his story and promote movement throughout the community.
>A recipient of this year’s Challenge Athlete Foundation Grant, Zach is gearing up to receive a new leg later this month. He can’t wait to hit the ground running and start posting new personal records.
Thanksgiving coffee is proud to support Zach and his efforts to bring the Mendocino Movement Project to life. Follow him on his adventures this summer and keep an eye out for a special package of Mendocino Movement Project Coffee in the months ahead.

Living in a small rural town means that we all have to work together to support our community resources. Fundraising events are seasonal cornerstones out here on the Mendocino Coast, and of all the events we participate in throughout the year Winesong is the most prestigious. Since 1985, Winesong has raised over $7.5 million for the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation and has contributed to our local health care services by funding everything from ultrasound machines, ambulances, and patient beds to uninsured cancer treatments. Every year it takes the whole town, and an army of volunteers, to put this event together and Thanksgiving Coffee is always there to lend a hand to serve everyone a delicious cup of coffee.

And what a beautiful event to attend! Held every September at the Mendocino Botanical Gardens, guests are surrounded by dahlias in full bloom while they enjoy wineries, musicians, and food vendors from all over California, culminating in an exciting live auction at the end.

We were happy to share our beautiful Congo medium roast with guests from near and far who appreciate a great cup of coffee while supporting health care services for our community.

Not Just A Cup, But A Just Cup.

Thanksgiving Coffee Company

2017 Roaster of the Year

We love dogs here at Thanksgiving Coffee, and we are happy to celebrate National Dog Day this Sunday, August 26. Brutus and Zoe are Thanksgiving’s reliable four legged co-workers, a joyful addition to the team, always ready for a head scratch or a treat. Sometimes the twins, Venture and Mariah, stop by for a visit. And who could forget how all our hearts melted when Palmer brought his new puppy, Mocha, in to say hello?

We celebrate National Dog Day everyday, not just with our furry co-workers, but through our coffee. With your support, we raise money through for the local humane society with our Good Dog Blend Coffee, and we champion their wild cousins with a variety of Save the Wolves coffee roasts. Even the Art Explorers, a local non profit that helps adults with developmental challenges through art therapy, chose dogs as their main subject for 3 of their 20 unique coffee labels. Clearly, the love of dogs has a profound impact on our lives.

This year, we hope you will celebrate National Dog Day with a canine that you love, and maybe a cup of coffee. Pick up a package of Good Dog Blend in your favorite roast color and help find homes for pets in need. Give a friend a bag of Save Our Wolves and you can help protect the legacy of wild dogs. Whichever you choose, together we can honor our four legged friends, just by enjoying a great cup of coffee.

Not Just A Cup, But A Just Cup.

The 26th annual Art in the Gardens is this Saturday, from 11a to 5p at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Mendocino County is teeming with creativity, and will be on display in the form of pottery, jewelry, paintings, photographs and more throughout the 47 acres of oceanside gardens.

In addition to showcasing the craftsmanship of Mendocino’s artisans, Art in the Gardens also features an array of refreshments. Every visit to AIG begins by grabbing a wine glass or a beer stein. As you wander through the garden, you’ll have the chance to taste beers and wines from all over Mendocino County. All of this is set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. We love the Botanical Gardens year round, but we are always thrilled when Art in the Gardens rolls around.

This year, Thanksgiving Coffee will be serving coffee at AIG, giving out samples of our nitro cold brew, and making our regular cold brew available to purchase through Rhody’s Garden Cafe. We can’t wait to once again attend this excellent event, and we’re looking forward to seeing many of you there.

It’s summer in Northern California, and that means festivals are everywhere. One of the classic festivals that takes over Southern Humboldt County is Reggae on the River, which makes its home on the banks of the Eel near Garberville.

2018 marks 34 years of this event, pulling in reggae musicians from all over the world to our little corner of the universe. Just like the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, a good group of the Mendocino Coast travels inland for this event, since it’s only a two hour drive from the cityof Fort Bragg.

Thanksgiving Coffee at Reggae on the River

This year, Reggae on the River attendees will have the chance to taste Thanksgiving Coffee cold brew, courtesy of our friends at Good Vybz Devine Design. Good Vybz just opened up a retail location in Willits, and will be traveling to the festival with their handcrafted designs.

In addition to the tie dye and bright colors that Good Vybz brings, they will be serving cold brew from Thanksgiving Coffee during the 80+ degree days that this festival is predicting. As a bonus, these guys also sell shaved ice–and we can’t imagine anything more refreshing than shaved ice and a cold brew on a hot summer day, especially while enjoying music on the river!

If you’re planning on attending Reggae on the River this year, stop by the Good Vybz booth and say hello to Lynesha and Jason! Tell them thank you from Thanksgiving Coffee, for serving locally roasted Fairtrade and Organic cold brew. Follow Good Vybz on Facebook for more information about their work.

Good Vybz LLC in Willits
1637 S Main St #C
Willits, CA 95490

Summertime brings so many fun things to Mendocino County, and as the tourists start flooding our coastline, we thought it was a good time to do a roundup of our favorite summer events here in Fort Bragg and Mendocino. This place has so much to offer, and there’s no better time to celebrate the goodness than on the First Day of Summer!

Sierra Nevada World Music Festival

June 22 – June 24
Sierra Nevada is just a day away, this weekend in Boonville. For the 25th year in a row, this reggae music festival is sure to be a good time–and Thanksgiving Coffee will be serving coffee at the STEEP Organic Coffee & Teas tent!

Fourth of July in Mendocino

July 4
If you’re on the coast for Independence Day, you are in for a treat. The Mendopendence Parade takes place at noon on the Fourth of July, making its way through downtown Mendocino. After the parade, you can stroll over to the Kelley House for a BBQ, visit Ukiah Street for a block party, or just wander around the shops and enjoy the local flavor.

World’s Largest Salmon BBQ

July 7
Just after the Fourth of July is Fort Bragg’s annual “World’s Largest Salmon BBQ.” This event has been happening for 47 years, and it’s a staple in the community. The BBQ raises money for salmon habitat restoration here on our coastline, and we serve coffee every year. The event takes place on the south side of Noyo Harbor, just down the hill from the Thanksgiving Coffee Roastery.

Mendocino Music Festival

July 7 – July 21
For two weeks in July, Mendocino is filled with the sweet sounds of music! Performers from all over the world come to the coast to entertain tourists and locals alike on the headlands, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Noyo Headlands Race

August 5
The first annual Noyo Headlands Race is happening on August 5, now that the Fort Bragg Coastal Trail is open from Noyo Bridge to MacKerricher Park. This event is going to feature a half marathon, 10k, 5k, and a few different races for the kids, as well.

Paul Bunyan Days

September 1 – 3
This event over Labor Day Weekend brings us back to the logging days of Mendocino County. It’s a weekend of competitions with axes, saws and a lot of plaid. The annual parade occurs on Labor Day itself, and finishes up with the joyous sounds of the Humboldt State Marching Lumberjacks, who always put on quite a show.

Winesong

September 8
As the summer winds to a close, we finish up with one last excellent event to complete the list. Winesong is probably the most popular event that happens here on the Mendocino Coast, and is attended by people from all over the state of California. This fundraising event for the local hospital is held at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, and features the best food and beverages from restaurants, vineyards and breweries all over Mendocino County. Do not miss Winesong 2018!

Enjoy this long beautiful First Day of Summer… and all the gorgeous days of summer to follow!

One of Northern California’s favorite music festivals is coming up once again. The great Sierra Nevada World Music Festival is celebrating its 25th year this weekend! Pulling in some of the greatest names in reggae, this event draws enormous crowds to Mendocino County, with everyone descending on Boonville to dance, sing, relax and have a grand time.

We are a part of that crowd, and are excited to announce that our partners at STEEP in Hopland will be serving Thanksgiving Coffee at this year’s Sierra Nevada Music Festival!

Coffee at Sierra Nevada

Ever since STEEP opened three years ago, they’ve been serving Thanksgiving Coffee out of their bright yellow building on the edge of Hopland. Mike and Jess and the STEEP staff will be serving Thanksgiving Coffee espresso and cold brew at Sierra Nevada this year, in the main music bowl at the Valley Village Stage. We’re also providing coffee for the performers backstage, keeping everyone at the festival caffeinated!

The STEEP team is serving up espresso drinks and regular coffee, alongside some excellent cold brew. The cold brew we’re bringing for the festival is our Upsetter, a light roast espresso blend that draws its name from Lee “Scratch” Perry. Lee is an artist, producer and innovator in the world of reggae, and actually performed at Sierra Nevada in 2017.

Be sure to stop by and tell the STEEP Coffee team thank you for serving locally roasted Thanksgiving Coffee at Sierra Nevada World Music Festival 2018! We are honored to be a part of this event, and can’t wait to join in on the dance floor this weekend.

Thanksgiving Coffee in Anderson Valley

Wondering where else around Boonville you can snag a cup of Thanksgiving Coffee? Here’s a list of our accounts throughout Anderson Valley!

BOONVILLE

Lizbby’s Restaurant and Bar
Anderson Valley Market
Redwood Drive In

PHILO

Lemon’s Market
Philo Apple Farm

NAVARRO

Navarro General Store

YORKVILLE

Yorkville Market

CLOVERDALE

Dahlia and Sage
Eagles Nest Deli
Hamburger Ranch

If you’ve spent any time following Thanksgiving Coffee on social media, you know how much we love the place where we live. Our roastery is less than half a mile from the Pacific Ocean, and you’ll routinely find us walking the headlands at lunch and heading to the beaches for sunsets after work. The ocean is in our blood. June 8 is World Oceans Day, and this year we are partnering with the Noyo Center for Marine Science in support of their 2018 campaign: Help the Kelp.

This campaign is focused on bull kelp, an essential part of the Pacific Ocean’s ecosystem, and a seaweed that has been disappearing from our coastline. Learn more in this excerpt from the Noyo Center’s Help the Kelp page:

“Bull kelp forests are the foundation – or structure – of our nearshore coastal ecosystem. The floating canopy of this brown algae gives shelter to young fish and the kelp itself provides food for valuable species, such as red abalone and red sea urchin.

Today, our kelp forests are in serious trouble. Though annually variable, in the past five years, California’s kelp forests have decreased by 93% of normal. Higher sea surface temperatures in recent years have limited kelp growth, and sea star wasting disease has removed a key predator of purple sea urchins, a voracious eater of kelp. Though our waters have cooled this past year, the explosion of the purple urchin population—60 times higher than normal—has prevented the kelp forests from recovering from these multiple blows.

The Noyo Center is raising awareness, and bringing people together to learn more and do something about this issue. Mendocino is very lucky to have this inspiring group of people here in our county, and they’ve proven that they can get things done time and time again, most recently through the Orca Project here in Fort Bragg

Noyo Center Cause Coffee

We have created a Cause Coffee, which will only be available at the Noyo Center. This allows the nonprofit to get the largest amount of donations right back into their organization. While you can’t sign up for a club subscription with this coffee, as it will only be available for a limited time, you CAN buy multiple packages and give them out to friends and family.

Our oceans are not only special and beautiful–they’re an essential part of the existence on our planet. Everyone has to work together to protect natural resources like our kelp forests, and this is one small way to give back. If you want to make an even bigger impact, you can also donate directly to the Noyo Center. This organization is doing important work, and we are happy to have them in our community, working toward healthier oceans for everyone.

Noyo Center for Marine Science
155 Cypress St
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Phone: (707) 733-6696

Tom and Jerry, Bonnie and Clyde, Chips and Salsa, Mulder and Scully… some things are just meant to be paired up. We have one more duo to add to that list this week: Doughnuts and Coffee. June 1st is National Doughnut Day!

Clearly, there is only one way to commemorate National Doughnut Day, and that’s by stopping by your local bakery. We can help you out with one aspect of this celebration though, and that’s the type of coffee to enjoy alongside your doughnut.

It’s time for a doughnut and coffee pairing.

Beaujolais Blend + Maple Bacon Doughnut

Ahhh, the maple bacon doughnut. Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that the collision of savory and sweet has made this dessert one of the most popular choices at the corner doughnut shop. Our Fairtrade and Organic Beaujolais Blend is also a balance of unique flavors, with coffees sourced from Africa, Central America, and Indonesia. This Medium Roast is full-bodied and complex, and holds its own alongside the contrasting flavors of bacon and maple.

Ethiopia Yirgacheffe + Beignet

Our Ethiopian Gedeb Yirgacheffe is a light roast, with rich notes of ripe cherry and golden raisin. This coffee alone can be a sweet treat, so pairing it with something overly sugary isn’t the right choice. Instead, we chose the beignet. A simple fried pastry with a dusting of powdered sugar can enhance the flavors of this award-winning single origin.

Noyo Harbor French + Apple Fritter

No Doughnut Day blog post can go by without mentioning the over-the-top apple fritter. This glazed explosion of sugar will go great with your dark cup of Noyo Harbor French this morning. The hint of roasted nuts in this coffee and that classic smoky french roast flavor enhances every sweet bite of the apple fritter, making these two the perfect companions.

Whatever pastry or roast you choose this morning, all of us here at Thanksgiving Coffee wish you an excellent National Doughnut Day!

National Trails Day – The First Saturday of June
Pelican Bluffs Trail Work Day: June 2, 2018 from 10am-12pm
hosted by the Mendocino Land Trust

A mile south of the town of Point Arena, a beautiful new addition to the California Coastal trail has been created at the 70 acre Pelican Bluffs Preserve. Owned and maintained by the Mendocino Land Trust, this epic landscape is free and open for the public to enjoy. Because the Land Trust is not funded by taxes like other parks, the work and energy it takes to maintain open spaces is a burden carried by community members, whether through monetary donations or ‘sweat equity’. Over the past year, volunteers from near and far, in addition to service organizations like the California Conservation Corps, have all come together to build over two miles of trail along this breathtaking blufftop.

From the parking lot, the newly completed loop trail leads visitors up through a coastal prairie that climbs to a crested hill. At the top, the wide expanse of Pelican Bluffs is revealed. Wildflowers speckle the bluff top, while dramatic white cliffs drop away to the rocky beach below. The sound of the waves tumbling over the shore and the smell of the ocean breeze is a feast for all senses. Continue to follow the trail along the coast and you might see seals resting on the beach and whales spouting in the distance, while an osprey soars overhead. Home to Peregrine falcons and the endangered Point Arena Mountain Beaver, Pelican Bluffs is a beautiful place for people and wildlife in equal measure.

This National Trails Day, spend some time helping to take care of the trails and the wild places you love. It’s time well spent, and always worth the effort.

Mendocino Land Trust and Thanksgiving Coffee Company

Thanksgiving Coffee and the Mendocino Land Trust have collaborated to create Fog Dodger, a Cause Coffee benefiting the MLT and their efforts building trails all over our county.

For the twelfth year in a row, the Noyo Food Forest is having their Earth Day celebration next Saturday at the Learning Garden. This four hour event is a fundraiser for the Farm-to-School and Youth Intern programs that the Noyo Food Forest operates year-round. We partner with the Noyo Food Forest throughout the year, and we especially love being a part of this annual event in Fort Bragg.

12th Annual Earth Day Event
Saturday, April 21, 12-5PM
At the Learning Garden behind the Fort Bragg High School on Dana Street.

This Earth Day event is free and geared toward everyone in the family. There will be live music, and you can participate by putting down a bid for the silent auction, paying entry to bouncy houses, and tasting goodies from local chefs. This is one of the most fun events that happens in the city of Fort Bragg every year, and we are looking forward to it once again in 2018. Local organizations and nonprofits are a big part of this event, and you’ll see booths and representatives from the Noyo Marine Science Center, the Mendocino Land Trust, our Mendocino County state parks and many more important parts of the coastal community.

Thanksgiving Coffee will be serving up samples of our Bee Bold Coffee, and the Noyo Food Forest will be selling 12oz bags, as well. All the proceeds benefit the Noyo Food Forest and their important work here in our community. We are very happy to be a part of this awesome event. For more information, visit the Noyo Food Forest Earth Day page on their website, and RSVP on Facebook to share with your friends. Join us on April 21 – see you at the Learning Garden.

Thanksgiving Coffee and the Noyo Food Forest Partnership

For every bag of Thanksgiving Coffee’s Bee Bold Coffee sold online, 25% is donated to the Noyo Food Forest. You can purchase these online, or stop by the Earth Day event this Saturday to pick one up in person.

This past weekend, Thanksgiving Coffee had the opportunity to sample our coffees at the Taste of Mendocino event in San Francisco! This annual event highlights the many wineries, resorts, restaurants and food producers of beautiful Mendocino County. No Mendocino foodie event is complete without Thanksgiving Coffee, and we were happy to be among fifty of the best food and drink purveyors of Mendocino County.

A few of the restaurants and hotels featured at the event also happen to serve Thanksgiving Coffee at their locations:

Kemmy’s Pies

299 E Commercial St
Willits, CA 95490
(707) 367-5498
www.kemmyspies.com

Inn at Newport Ranch

31502 CA-1
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 962-4818
www.theinnatnewportranch.com

Mendocino Botanical Gardens (Rhody’s Garden Café)

18220 CA-1
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 964-4352
www.gardenbythesea.org

Noyo Harbor Inn

500 Casa Del Noyo
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 961-8000
www.noyoharborinn.com

Winesong

September 7 and 8, 2018
www.winesong.org
Winesong is an annual charity auction and tasting at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, featuring local restaurants and vendors! Check out our Winesong 2017 blog post for more information on how Thanksgiving Coffee participated.

Thanks to everyone who came out for Taste of Mendocino 2018. We were honored to participate, and we hope to see you all when you visit our fine Mendocino coast.