Blue Jay fans are beginning to proudly sport their ball caps and fan attire while waiting patiently to fill the stadium for the home opener Monday April 9th, 2012. 

The grass is starting to green and dormant plants are starting to awaken, enthused by the early spring sun. It’s a great time of year to get back out into the garden for all of you to re-discover the joy of gardening.

People are returning from the Florida beaches and Arizona sun in preparation to welcome and enjoy a beautiful Canadian summer spent in their backyards or at the cottage.

“What delights us in the spring is more a sensation than an appearance, more a hope than any visible reality. There is something in the softness of the air, in the lengthening of the days, in the very sounds and odors of the sweet time, that caresses us and consoles us after the rigorous weeks of winter.”
-  Philip Gilbert Hamerton

Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? To find out more you can click the link below.

http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

This statement can be found in a short article on the Veteran’s website which I have posted below. Veteran’s Week is November 5th-11th. There are many small yet very meaningful ways to show that you remember and honour our Veterans and recognize the significance and importance of November 11th. Never Forget.

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/veterans-week

REMEMBER that Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00am this Sunday November 6th.

Fair trade coffee is coffee which is purchased directly from the growers for a higher price than standard coffee. The purpose of fair trade is to promote healthier working conditions and greater economic incentive for producers. Coffee farmers producing fair trade certified coffee are required to be part of a co-op with other local growers. The coops determine how the premiums from fair trade coffee will be spent. Growers are guaranteed a minimum price for the coffee, and if market prices exceed the minimum, they receive a per pound premium. Because they get a fair price, these small family farmers can grow coffee with respect for the community and the land, avoiding cost-cutting practices that sacrifice quality and the environment’s health. In addition to the price standards of Fair Trade labeling there are other principles that must be abided by.

Standards for Fair Trade Coffee Certification:

Fair labor conditions: Those who work with Fair Trade farms are able to work with freedom of association, safe working conditions, and fair wages. Child labor is strictly prohibited.
Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating the middle man and letting the farmer compete in the global market.
Democratic and transparent organizations: Through proof of a democratic market, Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide how to invest Fair Trade revenues.
Community development: Fair Trade farmers and workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, healthcare services and quality improvement training.

Markcol now has Blue Mountain PODS and hopes to soon carry grinds and beans. So before sampling the Blue Mountain Coffee for myself, I thought I would do a little research and try to figure out what it is about this particular coffee that separates it from the rest. So here is what one of our suppliers has to say about Blue Mountain Coffee.

“Well, much of this has to do with the fact that Blue Mountain is rather difficult to come by.  The scarcity occurs as a result of the 7+ years it takes for the coffee to mature properly as well as the strict requirements and laws imposed by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica (CIB). The CIB approves and issues licenses to the cultivators and exporters of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee through an arduous process that ensures only the most deserving coffee beans — those harvested under precise conditions, at an elevation of 3000-5000 feet, with perfect size and color — end up in official Blue Mountain coffee bags.”

Another source I scoped out was wikipedia which has this to add.

“Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee or Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is a classification of coffee grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. The best lots of Blue Mountain coffee are noted for their mild flavour and lack of bitterness. Over the last several decades, this coffee has developed a reputation that has made it one of the most expensive and sought-after coffees in the world; over 80% of all Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is exported to Japan. (You will find anything and everything exotic and edible in Japan)! In addition to its use for brewed coffee, the beans are the flavor base of Tia Maria coffee liqueur.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is a globally protected certification mark, meaning only coffee certified by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica can be labeled as such. It comes from a recognized growing region in the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica, and its cultivation is monitored by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica.

The Blue Mountains are generally located between Kingston to the south and Port Antonio to the north. Rising to 2,300 metres (7,500 ft), they are some of the highest mountains in the Caribbean. The climate of the region is cool and misty with high rainfall. The soil is rich, with excellent drainage. This combination of climate and soil is considered ideal for coffee.”

Well, I believe it is time I discover the wonderous flavours and aromas on my own.

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We finally picked the right time to vacation!  There was not a single day of rain only a solid week of temperatures reaching over 100F. We were rained out last time! Our destination was a road trip ‘Down East’ through Canada which somewhere in the mix of our ‘no-plan plan’ became a trip down the coast through the United States. From New Brunswick we traveled down through Maine and worked our way to Boston. This is a very scenic, drive with countless shades of green and beautiful rivers running in all directions, not to mention the stunning ocean views and water you can swim in (if you dare… it is freezing trust me). I would highly recommend this drive to anyone looking for a great road trip. My advice to you however, book your accommodations in advance as sleeping in a car isn’t all that it is cracked up to be. Lesson learned!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Fall is around the corner which brings a lot of new and exciting things happening at Markcol. We now have PODS and Pod Holsters which work in your KEURIG! We are hoping to launch this product come September but carry it already. Here are just a few names of the coffee pods to introduce to you: Jelly Filled Donut, Blueberry Cobbler, Apple Fritter, Double Dip Chocolate, Blue Mountain coffee, Marley coffee, etc.  I am in the process of updating our website with the pods so please bear with me and if this is something that peaks your interest, please don’t hesitate to call and we can help you over the phone or send an email with the pods listed until I get everything up and posted online. Thank you for your patience.

It is July 5th and I don’t know what it is but I believe my brain has been trained from all the years of going to school that summer means slowing down, relaxing, and forgetting everything.  What if I told you that I completely forgot I had a website to administer? Well, truth be told today is the day I remembered that I have a job of informing you of new and exciting things at Markcol. So please excuse my tardiness and I apologize for those who were checking to see what our K-cup of the month is. Also, I will have the newsletter sent out tomorrow as that was something else I put on the backburner for the long weekend.  Maybe I should not feel so guilty for not working this weekend and actually remember how much I enjoyed my time. Maybe slowing down for the summer isn’t such a bad thing. Here is a little something to ponder about.

In our rush-aholic world slowing down seems subversive. What do you think of this statement? Here is something to try out as well. I myself instantly prepared an image of the list of things I need to accomplish around the house. Clearly I need to work on this ‘slowing down bit’. 

A thought experiment
It’s your time. It’s your life. You can think of time as an investment. So take just a few minutes to imagine now.

Try this thought experiment. If you took tomorrow off and spent it by yourself, what would your day be like? How would you feel? For this experiment you’ll do nothing of practical value. You won’t use it to get things done.

The above is only a thought experiment. Just thinking about your day, what will the early morning be like? Where will you be at mid-day? Can you describe the place you imagine yourself to be? How do you anticipate your feeling at being alone?

Now try thinking about how you would spend half a day. Remember, this is not time to achieve a goal. You can spend your half-day with other people doing anything you like. How would you feel during this time, and how would you feel afterward?

Slow hour
If the thought experiment above took only a few minutes, could you actually take an hour to slow down? What would it be like to spend an hour completely free from any pressing matter 

***TIMOTHY’S GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE 

 K-CUP OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE***

So as you can see I have not been able to figure out how to update our picture with our new K-cup of the month so I am hoping this POST will fill the void for now.

Timothy’s San Lorenzo Dark is our special of the month.

Timothy’s hand picked Colombian coffee that is roasted in a very dark, tangy Parisian fashion. San Lorenzo Dark has an assertive flavour and is silky smooth.

Thank you for your understanding.

Shawna