Archive for the 'Miscellaneous' Category
The holidays are a great time to thank those around us for all that they do to make our lives better. It is also a great time to initiate those random acts of kindness that many of us want to do, but often find ourselves too busy to execute. One of my favorite random acts of kindness is to pay for the person behind me in line (think café, movie theater, drive-through, etc.). Not something that I do every day, but certainly a surprise worth doing every so often! When writing a blog post for Arbor Teas I wondered, “What can I do with tea to celebrate the holidays?” Obviously, I can give Arbor Teas as a healthy, socially conscious gift. But what else can I do with tea during these cold months to celebrate those strangers and loved ones that fill my life?
Here are a few simple ideas that I hope to do this holiday season:
- Give a cup (or two) of hot tea to my postman, who always looks chilly on these winter days.
- Boil a mixture of water and holiday spice black tea in a pot on my stovetop to infuse my home (and family!) with its festive holiday scent.
- Use tea in one of my favorite holiday recipes to “spice it up” and then maybe bring it to work to share with my co-workers. For a great example, try From the Kitchen of Olivia’s masala chai tea scones (yum!).
- Host a holiday tea for my family and friends. A tea during the hustle and bustle of the holidays is a perfect excuse to slow down, take a breather, and enjoy the season! Because evenings are generally committed to the typical host of social gatherings at this time of year, mornings often work well for a holiday tea. I plan to keep my menu simple and fill it with items that can be prepared in advance, so I have a chance to slow down and enjoy the tea, too. Menu: Cheesy egg bake (veggie and meat options); scones (perfect timing Olivia!); bread, butter and my mom’s homemade strawberry jam; Sweet cakes and breads (lemon poppyseed is a favorite!); and of course, our Holiday Spice Black Tea.
Hope this post helps you get started celebrating the holidays with tea! I know there are plenty more ways that tea can help you celebrate – leave us a comment to add your ideas!
December 04 2009 | Miscellaneous and Tea Fun | No Comments »
This month marks the fifth anniversary of our humble little tea company, and it just wouldn’t be appropriate to let the occasion pass without comment. Looking back, it’s remarkable to realize how far we’ve come, and all that we’ve accomplished along the way!
Starting with a meager 100 pounds or so of tea, this company has grown from a part-time venture of a newly-married couple, to a company that now sells thousands of pounds of organic loose leaf tea every year, employs four, and is run by a family of three (finally a true mom-and-pop shop!). From absolute tea “unknowns,” to a company featured in the national media for it’s staunch commitment to sustainability, invited to panel discussions as a leader in the industry, etc. Wow!
So far, this one company has been through two generations of packaging (with a third to be revealed early 2010), three different websites (starting to think about version 4.0…), four school years teaching tea appreciation at the local community college and elsewhere, five World Tea Expo’s, countless certifications, inspections, approvals, mentions in the press, etc., etc., etc.
Above all else, however, the story of Arbor Teas has been about friendship. From the friends (and family!) who helped us make it through that lean first year, to the friends who’ve helped us shape and continue to grow this business, to the customers who come into our lives every day – offering not only money in exchange for the products we sell, but friendship and appreciation for what this company stands for. At times, running our business feels like keeping up with an ever-growing collection of pen pals throughout the country – who also happen to buy organic tea from us!
It’s been quite a ride, and we wouldn’t change a thing. If you measured success in the number of friends made, Arbor Teas would be on the cover of Fortune Magazine. And that’s how we’ll continue measuring it over the next five years!
November 09 2009 | Miscellaneous | 8 Comments »
As many of you may recall, Arbor Teas was joined by Arthur S. Lopatin, Director of Time Management, last July. Well, we are very excited to celebrate his first anniversary with us! In his short tenure, Arthur has implemented a wide variety of initiatives to increase efficiency and productivity at Arbor Teas, including:
- A flexible nap policy, in an effort to combat employee fatigue;
- Clothing-optional work environment for improved employee comfort (except in tea packing room, of course);
- Regular playtimes to stimulate employee productivity; and,
- An expanded selection of finger foods in the cafeteria to boost employee morale.
It’s been a real joy bringing up our son in the midst of this exciting and satisfying business, and sharing his growth and development with so many of our customers who have taken an interest. Can’t wait to share his second anniversary with you!
August 18 2009 | Miscellaneous | 3 Comments »
On May 25, 2009, Cyclone Aila made landfall in southern Bangladesh and eastern India. The Times of India reported that the storm took an unusual turn directly to the north, causing it to rip through areas rarely affected by tropical storms, including the famed Makaibari Tea Estate in India’s Darjeeling region. A relief effort is underway to help the managers, workers and families at Makaibari who were affected by Cyclone Aila, and Arbor Teas has committed to raising whatever funds it can to assist in rebuilding effort.
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July 01 2009 | Media and Miscellaneous | 3 Comments »
You know that saying about the postal service, “neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night…”? Well the same can be said doubly for our package courier, Dave Askins (aka Homeless Dave) – because he does it on a bike! Every day, Dave and his bicycle-powered hauling company, HD Hauling, loads our outbound packages onto his industrial-grade bicycle trailer and hauls them to the post office and other shipping depots. And we’re not just talking 10 or 20. More like 60 to 80!
This holiday, Dave had to contend with somewhat more generous snowfall than we’ve seen in recent years. And of course, on the morning of our last day of shipping for Christmas Eve delivery, we got a major dump. Even before the City could clear the streets, Dave arrived to haul away the last of our holiday deliveries. And although many, MANY cars and trucks found themselves mired in the snowy mess that day, our packages made it through the first leg of their jouney to our customers safe and sound.
By hiring HD Hauling to help our packages reach their destinations, we not only support a cool local endeavor, but it stands as one more small way we’re working to reduce the carbon footprint of this little tea company of ours. So, next time you place your order with Arbor Teas, think of Dave!
January 06 2009 | Green Business and Miscellaneous | 2 Comments »
Arbor Teas is happy to announce the birth of our son, Arthur S. Lopatin, on July 27, 2008. Arthur will fill the newly-created position of Director of Time Management. In between naps and feedings, Arthur’s primary responsibilities will involve improving the efficiency of all aspects of the Arbor Teas operation, and reducing the labor necessary to run the company to allow more time for his upbringing. In all seriousness, it has been our pleasure to share our first “baby” (aka, Arbor Teas) with all of you, and we’re thrilled to share the birth of our son, as well.
Arbor Teas. Growing a better tea company… literally!
August 25 2008 | Miscellaneous | 13 Comments »
As part of this year’s Earth Day activities in the City of Ann Arbor, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama delivered a special Peter M. Wege Lecture on Sustainability. It was sponsored by the University of Michigan Office of the President and by the Center for Sustainable Systems in the School of Natural Resources and Environment. As an alumnus of the School of Natural Resources, I was very fortune in being able to get tickets for Aubrey and I to attend. His Holiness has long held views on the subject of the environment and has talked about it in the past. One prior address carried these statements:
“We are also being drawn together by the grave problems we face: overpopulation, dwindling natural resources, and an environmental crisis that threatens our air, water, and trees, along with the vast number of beautiful life forms that are the very foundation of existence on this small planet we share. I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for his or her own self, family or nation, but for the benefit of all mankind. Universal responsibility is the real key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources and, through concern for future generations, the proper care of the environment.”
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April 20 2008 | Miscellaneous and Sustainability | 1 Comment »
After months of hard work, we are very happy to announce the launch of our new site: www.ArborTeas.com! With the launch of the new site, it was important to us to increase the level and frequency of communication with our customers and the broader tea-loving world, so we’ve also created SustainabiliTEA, the official weblog of Arbor Teas. Here you can expect to find info on new developments at Arbor Teas (like new products or content), as well as discussions about the sorts of things we spend our time dwelling on — like the world of tea, sustainable living, organics, fair trade, etc. Please tell us if there are other topics you’re interested in related to our mission of providing the most sustainable teas in the most sustainable fashion.
October 10 2007 | Miscellaneous | 2 Comments »
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