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Mendocino Trail Stewards Update
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Mendocino Trail Stewards Update
Mendocino Trail Stewards Reflects on Progress
by Chad Swimmer – President
July 10, 2021, marks sixteen months since the founding of the Mendocino Trail Stewards–488 days that have changed my world irrevocably. It wasn’t just that six mountain bikers gathered around a table then somehow matured to a coalition which has grabbed the attention of the highest levels of the state government. It wasn’t only the pandemic, the acceleration of climate change, the barely averted July 6 Capitol Hill putsch. It wasn’t vapor trail-less blue skies turning apocalyptic orange, the shattering of heat records across the Pacific Northwest, the dying of billions of clams and mussels.
It was a greater transformation, a surprising ray of hope for the future, an unlikely group of strangers joining hands and hearts into an unexpectedly effective coalition, one which includes the Pomo People, young children, once-retired forest activists, and climate scientists, among others. The Coalition to Save Jackson State Forest has struck a chord with our push for accountability, tribal rights, and a legislative solution to the California Department of Forestry’s (CDF) mismanagement of our beloved public lands. Fueled by a pervasive rage at the Trump Administration’s incessantly racist crisis-mongering and by the powerlessness we all felt with Covid-19 sweeping the nation, our ranks have boomed.We have opened the door on an issue right in our backyards, one combining our love of the redwood forest with our greatest fear: climate-driven annihilation.
From 18-year old Greasy Pete, who climbed into Mama Tree’s branches and captured the imaginations of thousands on April 9, to 5-year old Jory, our youngest activist hero, to Paul and Joan Katzeff, whose Redwood Forest Reserve Blend Coffee has kept me organizing late into the night. From the prayers and blessings of Priscilla and Michael Hunter of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo, the tireless work of their lawyer and ally Polly Girvin, to U’ilani Wesley’s proud chants echoing through the groves, the people of Mendocino County are again at the forefront of change.
CDF has been forced to take notice and they are fighting back, but we still have the moral upper hand. Members of the Mama Tree Network and Redwood Nation Earth First! have repeatedly stopped timber harvest operations, saving thousands of trees and frustrating forest managers. Public comments submitted to CDF have delayed the approval of the controversial Little North Fork Big River and Mitchell Creek plans by months–and hopefully indefinitely. We have overwhelmed California Natural Resource Agency meetings with our calls for change.
Where we go from here is uncertain, but our aim is high. We are drafting litigation to rewrite the Forest Practices Act for the entire State of California, righting historic wrongs and paving the way for this forest to become our ally in protecting our children’s future. Join us for our first ever Caspar Forest Fest, on July 31, from 1:00 to 7:00 at the Caspar Community Center for music, speakers, food, kids’ fun, and to find out how you can become a part of it. Hope to see you there!
Join us for our first ever Caspar Forest Fest
July 31, from 1:00 to 7:00
at the Caspar Community Center
Mendocino Trail Stewards are working to create a visionary model demonstration forest on the Northern California Coast, the Mendocino Coast Redwood Forest Reserve, 20,000 acres of second growth coast redwood forest, preserved in perpetuity for the demonstration of how humans and nature can partner to:
- Fight Climate Change
- Restore Degraded Ecosystems
- Promote Spiritual & Mental Health
- Support Sustainable Economies
Sign the petition and add your voice to the movement to #createthereserve.
The Coffee
The Mendocino Trail Stewards’
Redwood Forest Reserve Blend
When you drink this coffee, your purchase supports Mendocino Trail Stewards’ efforts to create the Redwood Forest Reserve.
Medium Roast
A big, bold, sweet and fruity cup of coffee – with a long finish.
Your purchase supports forest conservation efforts by Mendocino Trail Stewards.
Buy this coffee
Dark Roast
A bold, sweet blend with hints of nuts, chocolate, and caramel.
Your purchase supports forest conservation efforts by Mendocino Trail Stewards.
Buy this coffee
Decaf
Complex and sweet enough to enjoy straight, yet bold enough to punch through milk.
Your purchase supports forest conservation efforts by Mendocino Trail Stewards.
Buy this coffee
Recommended Reading
Back to the Blog-
![Cause Coffee Legacy Guide]()
Your Guide to Our Legacy Cause Coffees
This season, we’re making an important change to our coffee lineup, including our Cause Coffees. As we simplify our offerings, here’s how to stay connected to the causes you care about. Thank you for supporting coffees that give back.
Starting in September, we're streamlining our packaged coffee offerings. With a simplified lineup, we can focus on the blends and origins we can source consistently, roast with excellence, and deliver to you at the highest possible quality.
This means saying goodbye to a few long‑time favorites, including some of our beloved Cause Coffees.
We will continue to offer SongBird Coffees and Bee Bold Medium Coffee.
While some coffees will no longer be available in our online store, our commitment to the causes and communities they support remains as strong as ever. In many cases, we'll continue to support these causes through private-label collaborations.
Support These Causes & Find Your Next Favorite Roast
The following Cause Coffees are retiring, but the missions they support continue on. We encourage you to visit their websites and sign up for their newsletters to stay connected. Plus, explore our recommended alternative coffee roasts — and keep brewing with purpose.
Delicious Peace
Continue to support INTERFAITH UGANDA. The spirit of Delicious Peace lives on beyond coffee. One of the cooperative’s original founders, Sinina Namidosi, transformed her crochet skills into a thriving artisan collective: Nabugoye Crafts.
- For Medium Roast → Try Rwanda Single Origin or Bee Bold Medium
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
Bee Bold Alliance *
Continue to support PROTECTING POLLINATORS.
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
* Note that Bee Bold Medium Roast is still available.
Save Our Wolves
Continue to support DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna
or Songbird Colombian - For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Mara Elephant Project
Continue to support WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN KENYA
- For Light Roast → Try Kenya - Nyeri Peaberry or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Baby Rhino Rescue
Continue to support PROTECTING ENDAGERED SPECIES
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Mendocino Land Trust
Continue to support LOCAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Wild Grounds
Continue to support AMERICAN WILD HORSE CAMPAIGN
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast →Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers
Continue to support COASTAL HERITAGE
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Redwood Forest Reserve
Continue to support ANCIENT FOREST PRESERVATION
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Continue Supporting Causes You Love
To help the causes behind these beloved coffees continue to thrive, we encourage you to:
- Visit the cause’s website and sign up for their newsletter.
- Purchase their private label coffee directly, where available.
- Follow their work on social media and share their story.
Thank you for continuing to support these causes—and our ongoing cause coffees below.
our ongoing Cause Coffees
Join us in our evolution
Lavender Grace is the Sustainability Consultant for Thanksgiving Coffee Company
Cause Coffee Legacy Guide
read more -
![Simplifying to Serve You Better: A New Chapter in Our Coffee Journey]()
Simplifying to Serve You
The coffee landscape is dramatically different than it was when we began this journey 53 years ago.
In those early days, we built our lineup coffee by coffee — adding blends and single origins as new beans became available and relationships grew. For decades, harvests were plentiful and sourcing was straightforward.
Today, the world of coffee is evolving. Climate shifts, supply chain realities, and changing customer preferences mean we need to be as thoughtful and resourceful as possible to keep doing what we do best: bringing you exceptional coffee with integrity.
Change for the Better
We're streamlining our packaged coffee offerings, starting in September. With a simplified lineup of coffees, we'll focus on the blends and origins we can source consistently, roast with excellence, and deliver to you at the highest possible quality.
By simplifying our offerings, we will:
- Deepen our support for the farmers we work with through more focused purchasing.
- Maintain freshness and quality in every cup we roast.
- Stay nimble in a changing coffee landscape, so we can continue being your favorite coffee company for years to come.
What This Means For You
We know change isn’t always easy — especially when it means saying goodbye to a favorite. But change also creates space for something new.
- Nearly every retiring coffee has a suggested alternative: matched for flavor, roast level, and story.
- All coffees will remain listed on our website, so you can easily find info about alternatives or select a bulk purchase option.
- Cause Coffees: For special details on replacements and recommendations, visit our Cause Coffee page.
- Bulk options: Many coffees will still be available in 5 lb bags, even if they’re not sold in retail-size packaging. We’re happy to share our best practices for keeping coffee fresh in larger quantities.
Find Your Next Favorite Cup
We know you might be wondering, “What will replace my favorite?”
Here’s the list of our retiring coffees with the roasts we recommend in their place — each one carefully matched for flavor, roast, and story.
- ⏳ Albion River Inn Blend → Try Paul’s Blend
- ⏳ Beaujolais Blend → Try Old Town French
- ⏳ Costa Rica → Try Peru
- ⏳ Delicious Peace Dark → Try Mendocino Vienna
- ⏳Delicious Peace Medium → Try Rwanda
- ⏳ Guatemala → Try Song Bird Guatemalan
- ⏳ Hazelnut → Available in 5lb bag
- ⏳ MacCallum House Blend → Try Beaujolais FTO
- ⏳ Mocha Java FTO → Try Mocha Java Classic
- ⏳ Nicaragua → Try Song Bird Nicaragua
- ⏳ Vienna → Try Mendocino Vienna
- ⏳For Cause Coffees →See Cause Coffee Guide
Our Commitment Remains the Same
For over five decades, we’ve been devoted to ethically sourced, artisan roasted coffee — and that will never change. Every decision we make is rooted in our mission:
- Source with integrity
- Roast with care
- Honor the stories behind every coffee bean
Thank you for growing with us, embracing new favorites, and sharing our belief that coffee is more than a drink. It's a daily connection to people, to our planet, and our sense of purpose.
With gratitude since 1972,
The Thanksgiving Coffee Team
You might be interested in...
Sold outSold outSold out
Lavender Grace is the sustainability consultant for Thanksgiving Coffee Company
Stay in touch - we like to stay connected
Simplifying to Serve You Better: A New Chapter in Our Coffee Journey
read more -
![Earth Day Event in Fort Bragg 2024]()
Earth Day Event in Fort Bragg
The Noyo Food Forest is having their annual Earth Day celebration this 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.
15th Annual Earth Day Event
Saturday, April 20, 12 - 4 PM
At the Learning Garden at 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. 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 Blend, our new Nitro 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 20 – see you at the Learning Garden.
Thanksgiving Coffee Company
Partnership with the Noyo Food ForestLearn more about how we support our Mother Earth
Earth Day Event in Fort Bragg 2024
read more
Your Guide to Our Legacy Cause Coffees
This season, we’re making an important change to our coffee lineup, including our Cause Coffees. As we simplify our offerings, here’s how to stay connected to the causes you care about. Thank you for supporting coffees that give back.
Starting in September, we're streamlining our packaged coffee offerings. With a simplified lineup, we can focus on the blends and origins we can source consistently, roast with excellence, and deliver to you at the highest possible quality.
This means saying goodbye to a few long‑time favorites, including some of our beloved Cause Coffees.
We will continue to offer SongBird Coffees and Bee Bold Medium Coffee.
While some coffees will no longer be available in our online store, our commitment to the causes and communities they support remains as strong as ever. In many cases, we'll continue to support these causes through private-label collaborations.
Support These Causes & Find Your Next Favorite Roast
The following Cause Coffees are retiring, but the missions they support continue on. We encourage you to visit their websites and sign up for their newsletters to stay connected. Plus, explore our recommended alternative coffee roasts — and keep brewing with purpose.
Delicious Peace
Continue to support INTERFAITH UGANDA. The spirit of Delicious Peace lives on beyond coffee. One of the cooperative’s original founders, Sinina Namidosi, transformed her crochet skills into a thriving artisan collective: Nabugoye Crafts.
- For Medium Roast → Try Rwanda Single Origin or Bee Bold Medium
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
Bee Bold Alliance *
Continue to support PROTECTING POLLINATORS.
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
* Note that Bee Bold Medium Roast is still available.
Save Our Wolves
Continue to support DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna
or Songbird Colombian - For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Mara Elephant Project
Continue to support WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN KENYA
- For Light Roast → Try Kenya - Nyeri Peaberry or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Baby Rhino Rescue
Continue to support PROTECTING ENDAGERED SPECIES
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Mendocino Land Trust
Continue to support LOCAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Wild Grounds
Continue to support AMERICAN WILD HORSE CAMPAIGN
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast →Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers
Continue to support COASTAL HERITAGE
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Redwood Forest Reserve
Continue to support ANCIENT FOREST PRESERVATION
- For Medium Roast → Try Paul’s Blend or Songbird Nicaraguan
- For Dark Roast → Try Mendocino Vienna or Songbird Colombian
- For Decaf → Try Royal Decaf or Songbird Decaf
Continue Supporting Causes You Love
To help the causes behind these beloved coffees continue to thrive, we encourage you to:
- Visit the cause’s website and sign up for their newsletter.
- Purchase their private label coffee directly, where available.
- Follow their work on social media and share their story.
Thank you for continuing to support these causes—and our ongoing cause coffees below.
our ongoing Cause Coffees
Join us in our evolution
Lavender Grace is the Sustainability Consultant for Thanksgiving Coffee Company
Cause Coffee Legacy Guide
read more
Simplifying to Serve You
The coffee landscape is dramatically different than it was when we began this journey 53 years ago.
In those early days, we built our lineup coffee by coffee — adding blends and single origins as new beans became available and relationships grew. For decades, harvests were plentiful and sourcing was straightforward.
Today, the world of coffee is evolving. Climate shifts, supply chain realities, and changing customer preferences mean we need to be as thoughtful and resourceful as possible to keep doing what we do best: bringing you exceptional coffee with integrity.
Change for the Better
We're streamlining our packaged coffee offerings, starting in September. With a simplified lineup of coffees, we'll focus on the blends and origins we can source consistently, roast with excellence, and deliver to you at the highest possible quality.
By simplifying our offerings, we will:
- Deepen our support for the farmers we work with through more focused purchasing.
- Maintain freshness and quality in every cup we roast.
- Stay nimble in a changing coffee landscape, so we can continue being your favorite coffee company for years to come.
What This Means For You
We know change isn’t always easy — especially when it means saying goodbye to a favorite. But change also creates space for something new.
- Nearly every retiring coffee has a suggested alternative: matched for flavor, roast level, and story.
- All coffees will remain listed on our website, so you can easily find info about alternatives or select a bulk purchase option.
- Cause Coffees: For special details on replacements and recommendations, visit our Cause Coffee page.
- Bulk options: Many coffees will still be available in 5 lb bags, even if they’re not sold in retail-size packaging. We’re happy to share our best practices for keeping coffee fresh in larger quantities.
Find Your Next Favorite Cup
We know you might be wondering, “What will replace my favorite?”
Here’s the list of our retiring coffees with the roasts we recommend in their place — each one carefully matched for flavor, roast, and story.
- ⏳ Albion River Inn Blend → Try Paul’s Blend
- ⏳ Beaujolais Blend → Try Old Town French
- ⏳ Costa Rica → Try Peru
- ⏳ Delicious Peace Dark → Try Mendocino Vienna
- ⏳Delicious Peace Medium → Try Rwanda
- ⏳ Guatemala → Try Song Bird Guatemalan
- ⏳ Hazelnut → Available in 5lb bag
- ⏳ MacCallum House Blend → Try Beaujolais FTO
- ⏳ Mocha Java FTO → Try Mocha Java Classic
- ⏳ Nicaragua → Try Song Bird Nicaragua
- ⏳ Vienna → Try Mendocino Vienna
- ⏳For Cause Coffees →See Cause Coffee Guide
Our Commitment Remains the Same
For over five decades, we’ve been devoted to ethically sourced, artisan roasted coffee — and that will never change. Every decision we make is rooted in our mission:
- Source with integrity
- Roast with care
- Honor the stories behind every coffee bean
Thank you for growing with us, embracing new favorites, and sharing our belief that coffee is more than a drink. It's a daily connection to people, to our planet, and our sense of purpose.
With gratitude since 1972,
The Thanksgiving Coffee Team
You might be interested in...
Lavender Grace is the sustainability consultant for Thanksgiving Coffee Company
Stay in touch - we like to stay connected
Simplifying to Serve You Better: A New Chapter in Our Coffee Journey
read more
Earth Day Event in Fort Bragg
The Noyo Food Forest is having their annual Earth Day celebration this 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.
15th Annual Earth Day Event
Saturday, April 20, 12 - 4 PM
At the Learning Garden at 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. 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 Blend, our new Nitro 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 20 – see you at the Learning Garden.