I did learn a thing or two during our down time about the site: First, I didn’t realize how important the site is for folks, but the myriad of calls indicated otherwise. Second, I realized how I need to do a better job of focusing more of my time writing. It was odd, but when I couldn’t blog, I had all of these great ideas I wanted to write about. Hopefully, I can carve out some quality time to keep everyone informed of whats happening.

Cheers,
Bald Guy.

“Each year over 40 million gallons of chemical pesticides, untold millions of gallons of herbicides, and billions of pounds of fungicides are used by the international coffee industry. You can see how you are saving the earth by supporting organically grown coffees.”

Life is hard enough…no need to drink coffee that is saturated in chemicals.

A business is a means to an end. Nothing more, nothing less. The business owner defines what the end is. This end could be about money, security, accomplishment, legacy, nearly whatever.  At Bald Guy Brew, I periodically ask myself the following questions which help guide my thoughts and in return, my actions.

Business and the Imago Dei

•    What are some tangible ways in which Bald Guy Brew can demonstrate a genuine respect for human life?

•    What is the difference between “customer service” and “entertaining angels” for Bald Guy Brew?

Business and Environmental Stewardship

•    What are five, low cost, eco-friendly projects Bald Guy Brew can initiate and implement that will result in less waste?

•    In what ways can Bald Guy Brew reduce its carbon footprint over the next year? Three years?  Five years?

Business and Social Responsibility

•    What does a socially responsible business look like in Watauga County?

•    How can Bald Guy Brew “do justice” and “love mercy” globally by working in the coffee industry?

Business and Life

•    What does success look like both personally and for our family?

⁃    How much time do I want to take off?

⁃    Where do I want to be in the next twelve months, three years, and five years from a family standpoint?

No business is meant to last forever.  Personally, I believe we are just passing through, sojourners, aliens living in a foreign land.  The key is to learn to live with a loose grip, holding only onto those things which are important.  Learning  to hold loose or hang tight is a process…a process that, for me, always starts with these two fundamental questions:  “Where do I want to go?”  and “How do I know when I’ve arrived?”

The crew at BGB hope that your first day of the new year has started off on the right foot (or left…depending on what side of the bed you sleep on…or maybe you haven’t slept yet!)

Anyway, a friend of ours turned me on to a podcast on NPR concerning Shade Grown Coffee in Chiapas.

Enjoy and remember, Bird Friendly coffee does make a difference!

First a dream…a dream of creating a business that would be socially responsible and eco-friendly. What does that look like? It looks like a guy and girl with two little boys in tow trying to create a business that isn’t all about the money! After working in coffee growing countries doing relief work, we had the bright idea that we can create a business that “empowers coffee growing communities” rather than “exploiting coffee growing communities”!

Then an idea…an idea which my wife shared with me upon her return from a recent visit to Seattle to visit a girlfriend. Eventually the idea took the form of a fully functional mobile coffee-espresso-coffee roasting-buggy that runs on bio-diesel with the power for all of the equipment supplied by solar-power! This idea has now morphed into the Bald Guy Brew International Head-Quarters in Boone, North Carolina.

Throw into the mix some timely conversations and divine guidance, and boom: the bald guy brew! Now that you know the “short” version of the story, here are the official Bald Guy Brew values which guide our decisions and planning.

Eco-Friendly
The BGB is committed to using organic, shade grown beans. By purchasing eco-friendly beans, we support farmers using sustainable practices which maintain an equitable partnership between birds, farmers, consumers, and the environment.

Socially Responsible
By offering certified fair trade coffees, we are making an ethical choice because every pound we sell will make a difference in coffee growing communities. We also donate 10% of every sale to the International Justice Mission to help fight the battle against children who are either forced into slavery or prostitution.

Artisanal Coffee
Call it what you will, but there is an art to roasting coffee. By cupping all of our coffees, we are able to determine the right time & temp. profile for roasting our coffee…ensuring that our customers get what they pay for: the best stinking cup of fresh roasted coffee they ever tasted!