Brazil Water Project
Alchemy is a mainstay in our shops. It’s the backbone of each of our signature drinks and stands up beautifully on its own. Fifty-percent of Alchemy is made up of Brazilian coffee. For every pound of green beans we buy from Brazil to blend into our house espresso, we give back 10 cents to help fund social welfare projects. If you’ve enjoyed a double shot at the cafe, sipped on a Honey Bear with a friend, or brought home a bag of Alchemy, you’ve contributed to something larger than yourself, larger than Deeper Roots, even. Alchemy wouldn’t be Alchemy without Brazil, and we wouldn’t be able to contribute to these projects without you.
Our donations from Alchemy go to an organization called FAF, an acronym for Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza, literally translating to “environmental farm fortress.” FAF wears many hats. Most notably, it’s a farm, a center for coffee study, an exporter, and a network for farmers. Being in closer, more frequent contact with the farmers they represent, FAF is better equipped to delegate incoming donations to those who need it most.
This is where Ivan and Rose Dos Santos come in. They both grew up in coffee-farming families and have been operating their own farm since 2008. Each year they provide us with a taste of their homeland that we offer as an aptly named single origin.
They were in dire need of a new septic system at their house and FAF chose to allocate some of the donations to help fund that project. Previously, they had been using a simpler system that was prone to leaks. Leaky septic systems lead to polluted water sources, which pose a threat to the community’s well being.
Their new system is more efficient, less invasive and requires less maintenance .The upkeep involved with this system can be done without professional help, which means less money shelled out from Ivan and Rose. All solids are separated with gravity, stored in a drying tank and eventually turned into compost. The wastewater is fed into a wetland where it’s filtered by the soil and root system. Once clean, it’ll feed into a garden and reenter the water cycle. Not only has their new treatment system improved their quality of life, but also it minimizes harm to the local ecosystem and ensures clean water for future generations.
Your continued support has allowed us to be a part of this project. Thank you for helping us take care of our own. We couldn’t have done it without you.