Free Shipping On Orders Over $100 / Buy A Bag = Plant A Tree
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Michael Wenzlawe, Co-Founder of Calgary Heritage Roasting Company reminisces of our years fighting wildfires in Alberta and spreading the good word about how we are leveraging our company for good. Calgary Heritage Roasting Company’s incredible “Buy a Bag, Plant a Tree” program plants one tree for every bag sold. We have planted over 101,000 trees in the past 3 years and are looking to plant 1,000,000 trees by 2030.
Why trees you may ask? Well the reason has stronger ties to our Wildfire past than you may think.
In a wildfire, poplar/aspen stands can be utilized as an anchor point or “safe zone” for firefighters as a last resort due to the tree species ability to naturally resist fire. Forests used to be vastly dispersed with aspen and poplar which helped in stopping, interrupting, and slowing the spread of wildfires. Unfortunately, over the past century of logging and timber harvesting most of the trees replanted are planted specifically for harvesting. Spruce, Douglas Fir, and Pine trees are the preferred trees to plant due to their incredible ability to grow quickly in a short amount of time allowing for harvest again and again. The problem being that as they age they become an excellent fuel source for wildfires, pine beetles, and spruce bud worms, which all contribute to their volatility in a wildfire.
One long term solution to decrease wildfire occurrence and volatility is to selectively plant poplar and aspen into the reforestation plots along with harvestable timber. CHRC is currently looking at ways we can fight fire naturally, planting the proper diversification of tree species is an incredible solution.
Harvesting lumber is critical to our economy and society, but we need to do a better job at maintaining proper biodiversity throughout our forests in order to limit the spread of devastating wildfires.
So the next time you buy a bag of CHRC Coffee, you can feel good about planting a tree in our backyard!
Back in 2015 when Jame and I started Calgary Heritage Roasting Company – now known as Canadian Heritage Roasting Company we felt a strong pull to align ourselves with a philanthropic mission. Even as a startup with no revenue, access to capital, or even a logo at that time we knew the importance of giving back and establishing a deeper purpose. Gaining inspiration from existing mantras like Let My people Go Surfing from Patagonia’s own Yvon Chouinard or widely known outdoor teachings to “leave no trace” – we felt it imperative to carve out our own path that others could follow.
In May 2024, our team partnered with the Wilder Institute to support whooping crane conservation by enriching their habitat. These endangered 5-foot-tall migratory birds, known for their distinctive calls - face challenges such as habitat loss, poor reproductive success, and poaching. Alongside the Wilder Institute team, we planted 450 hardy willow saplings to act as natural windbreaks and privacy screens between habitats, enhancing conditions for the cranes. This work aligns with the Wilder Institute’s mission to improve reproductive success and establish self-sustaining populations. As Canada’s tree-planting coffee company and 2% for Conservation Certified roaster, we are proud to contribute to projects that mirror our commitment to environmental stewardship.
