From Laundry Room to Coffee Shop

Written By: Maggie

Having gotten so comfy at our location on Red Drive over the last couple of years most of us have forgotten the historical significance of this location.

Higher Grounds currently resides on the north side of the old Laundry Building for the Northern Michigan Asylum for the Insane. This building was once responsible for doing the laundry for over 3500 patients. Under the philosophy of “work is therapy” patients were enlisted to do certain jobs within their capabilities. Many of these patients were put to work in the laundry room where Higher Grounds now calls home.

Another philosophy the asylum believed in was “beauty is therapy”. This meant that patients were encouraged to work while also surrounded by the tranquility of nature. To help display the full beauty of the scenery buildings were built in a way to let in the most light and put the countryside on exhibit. This explains the full wall of windows in our coffee bar. Even today the sun shines intensely through those windows and warms the air in the coffee bar. And now that spring is finally here the view allows us to watch the dogs play fetch in the field and the creek trickle by under our mini bridge.

Pictures courtesy of History Center of Traverse City

Red Drive Summer Concert Series Announced!

We've put together a stellar Red Drive Summer Concert Series this year! Like last year, we are moving our concerts outdoors on the Piazza in front of Higher Grounds. Each concert, as always, will be a benefit for a non-profit organization that is doing great work in our local community. As each show approaches we will be announcing the non-profit partner.

June 17th (Friday) - Steppin in It 

w/ Samantha Crawford

7 pm / $10 (children under 6 free)

Coming back to Higher Grounds after getting the whole crowd up and dancing last year - Steppin in It is joining us for another night of getting down with their full 6 piece band!

"Steppin’ In It conveys the wonder of the American spirit, but also its heartache. Led by composer/guitarist Joshua Davis, traditional roots music is celebrated here by plaintive vocals and sweet harmonies, plus musicianship that is positively staggering. The number of instruments manned by Davis, upright bassist Dominic John Suchyta, steel guitarist Joe Wilson and the harmonica-playing Andy Wilson includes trombone, trumpet, Cajun accordion, dobro, slide guitar, Cajun fiddle, clawhammer banjo. Even rarer, though their competence on these instruments is clearly superior, there is little, if any, soloing taking place. All four musicians play to support the essence of the song. A true ensemble, their wonderful arrangements take us on a rich journey through the jaunty "Give My Regards to Miss Moline," the Texas swing of "Hittin’ on All Six," the laid-back "Wren’s Lul-la-by," the true-blue "The Long Haul," and my fave, "Washtenaw County." Though mostly originals, there’s also a rollicking version of Randy Newman’s "Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man)." These artists earn my vote for band of the year." - Fred Kraus Minor 7th

July 23rd (Saturday) - Breathe Owl Breathe

7 pm / $10 (children under 6 free)

Straight off their European tour and their first show in Traverse City for quite some time, Breathe Owl Breathe will bring a mid-summer musical extravaganza not to be missed!

"While some peers have reveled in reinvigorating the old, weird side of Americana, the band's flare for pop-addled melodies flips the contemporary folk aesthetic, eschewing freakiness in favor of charm. It's dynamic built on coupling clever arrangements with lyrical whimsy. On Magic Central, shadows tilt the sunshine, a frailty that plays out with oblique narratives and ghostly vocals." - Paste Magazine July, 2010

August 13th (Saturday) Seth and May

7 pm / $10 (children under 6 free)

Just in time to release their single "When we Run" from the their Run Across Ethiopia adventure Seth and May will be sure to entertain and enlighten. Performing separately they are a forced to be reckoned with - together they will blow your socks off!

"Patty Griffin. Emmy Lou Harris. Ani Difranco. These are names that come to mind when one hears the gorgeous voice and lyrics of May Erlewine. She's enough folk to satisfy most and enough country to satisfy the rest. It's hard to find much wrong with this singer/songwriter; her poetry is tangible, her voice and sound are more than accessible and, after all, anyone who hitchhikes from coast to coast has earned enough indie cred for a lifetime. This artist is worth it -RECOIL Magazine

Seth Bernard's frayed balladry will melt your heart... "Being This Being" is accessible without being predictable - the type of collection that reveals its gifts gradually. With their humble presentation and wistful swoon, songs like "May's Waltz" and "Travel" leave quite an impression, while "Dinosaur" and "...being this being..." bask in lo-fi jingle-jangle. Good enough to dazzle Roots Radio and eccentric enough for college airwaves, Seth Bernard's intensely personal approach to folk is nothing less than astounding. -Ryan Hoffer A&R, Shut Eye Records, Atlanta, GA

The Higher Grounds Extended Family

Pet Edition

Written by: Emma Smith- the proud mother of Liver

The Higher Grounds family is a very tight knit group. Our family is not limited to just the employees, close friends and associates, but includes our beloved pets. Each of our employees has a unique and loving relationship with their animal friends. We like to share our feline/canine/equine relationships with our whole family. At Higher Grounds we love each of our family members equally, human or not.

STELLA

Stella “Gangbuster” Wald is the lovable lab and best friend of Brian and Nikki (coffee bar lady). Stella can be seen frolicking around the commons. Her favorite activities are anything involving snow, chasing squirrels and cuddling up with her best pals. Unfortunately, Nikki and Brain are moving to Ann Arbor. This is going to leave a void in our hearts. Stella will no longer be gracing us with her presence and we will miss all three greatly.

EMMA

Emma is the lovable pooch of Bill Paladino. She is one of our favorite and most frequent visitors at Higher Grounds. Emma always heads straight for the office (this is where we stash treats for our much loved dogs visitors). Emma is approaching the grand ole age of 14; which is 98 in human years! Once in a while you can catch the sight of Emma howling along with a harmonica. She is always dressed to impress, wearing her purple halter.

SAMMY

Sammy is a big trusty labradoodle. He hangs out with Phil, our sales representative. Phil refers to Sammy as his bother-in-law. Don’t be fooled by Sammy’s size, he is as gentle giant. He loves the water and likes to play fetch with whatever you have on hand, a stick, ball or anything else.

LULU

Lulu is the trusty friend of Jason, our head roaster, and his wife Becky. Lulu is originally from Tanzania. Jason and Becky spent two years in Tanzania while in the Peace Corps. This is where they adopted Lulu. She loves long walks on the beach and strolls in the woods. You can find her sunbathing on warm summer days in the garden.

LIVER

Liver is the best friend of Me (Emma, barista). Liver would like everyday to be filled with running through the woods and chasing whatever animals comes within range of her super sniffer. She loves swimming so much she will jump into even the smallest puddles. Liver is always finding the muddiest places around. She lives to play catch and will play for hours on end.

SONNY

Sonny was a little guy and best pal of Karin for 16 full and happy years. One of Sonny’s favorite things was digging up vegetables in the garden and eating them right up (carrots were his veggie of choice). Sonny went wherever Karin went and he even had his own seat on her canoe.

MOLLY

Molly is a 26 year old horse that is much loved by Ruthie, our Bike Delivery Babe. Molly resides in East Jordan but her heart is with Ruth, here in Traverse City. When Ruth and Molly are together they enjoy sauntering through the woods. She enjoys giving Ruthie rides through the forest but she doesn’t like to be hooked up to a cart. Molly loves when Ruth grooms her coat and feeds her yummy grain.

RAFAEL

Rafael (Rafa for short) is a beautiful orange cat and best pal of Maggie (the office gal). Maggie rescued Rafa from the pound a few months ago; it was love at first site. Both reside in Leland and love spending quiet nights together. Rafa’s favorite activity is chasing a little red laser and stalking his evasive cat nip toys.

SAMPSON

Sampson is another loveable orange cat who has been in the Higher Grounds family for years and years Sampson first came on the scene with Sheree Jamrog, our previous bagging queen. She made the move to Santa Fe many months ago and left Sampson to the great care of Justin (a great friend of Higher Grounds), Brittney (former barista) and Andy (our new bagging king). Sampson is one tough cat who loves to play outside, chase birds and sometimes enjoys his catch for lunch.

Nikki’s Farewell to Higher Grounds

Nikki will be leaving us to earn a masters in Social Work from University of Michigan

Remember when you were seven years old and you sat directly on the August sidewalk in shorts even though it burned the backs of your little bruisy legs? You did this because you knew summer would end, and eventually, it would be dark before you even got home from school. There would be no popsicles, definitely no shorts and no warm smells of pool water splashing on hot concrete left to embrace. You did it because you knew it was the high-flying flag of summer, freedom and what it meant to be a kid.

My time working for Higher Grounds has been like an epic childhood summer: full of bellies that ache with laughter, warm hugs from real friends, AMAZING coffee of a quality I had never tasted, and sadly, the inevitable element of sundown, autumn, and the threat to end. All of this, in turn, has rendered me madly and helplessly in love. As I continue down the road, I have HG to thank for the warmest welcome a new kid on the block has ever seen. Personally, you are one of the most supportive companies I have ever worked for. As a consumer, your efforts to share a beautifully wholesome and real product with your community make me proud. If you're reading this you are likely already an HG proponent, but for that slim margin of blog explorers out there, consider this a well-deserved, but blatant and shameless plug.

Thank you, Higher Grounds, for the summer of a life-time. Please keep sharing.

-Nikki

Baristas Unite!! We are Hiring

Job Announcement: Barista/ Roastery team member
Part-time - Immediate Opening.

Higher Grounds Trading Co. seeks a person to join our growing Traverse City-based Fair Trade/ Organic Coffee company. We seek individuals who are enthusiastic about our mission and want to be a part of a growing alternative economy. We encourage people of all ethnicities, race, gender, age, and sexual orientation to apply.



About Higher Grounds:

Higher Grounds Trading Co. was founded with the intention of creating and growing markets for fair trade, organic coffee.  Our guiding principles are based upon internationally recognized Fair Trade standards and practices. We specialize in linking small-scale organic coffee farmers to domestic consumers who appreciate a high quality cup of coffee. Higher Grounds Trading Co. values involvement in community-enhancing initiatives as well as national and international efforts to improve the fair trade system and the general promotion of economic, social and environmental justice.


Please visit our website at http://www.highergroundstrading.com to learn more about our company.

Primary Responsibilities:
.
    •    Develop, pour, and brew specialty espresso and brewed coffee drinks
    •    Provide courteous and responsive service to our customers
    •    Assist in the roastery to meet the requirements of daily production schedule by helping to bag,
          sticker, grind & prepare orders for shipment/delivery
    •    Maintain a clean and organized work area
    •    Complete inventory and process logs accurately and to specifications
    •    Educate customers about the intricacies in making a quality cup of coffee

Requirements:

    •    Pleasant disposition with customers and staff
    •    Self-directed, have a great attention to detail, and adaptable to ever-evolving workplace          
    •    Able to lift up to 60 lbs and 30 pounds repeatedly
    •    Able to stand, walk, and lift for entire work day
    •    Maintain a professional appearance

The ideal candidate will have a clean, well-groomed appearance; enjoy a fast-paced, energetic workplace; be an enthusiastic supporter of social justice and environmental sustainability; dedicated to continually improving the quality of their work and the services they provide; and love coffee!

To Apply: Please answer the following questions in the form of a cover
letter and email them with your contact information and resume to jobs@highergroundstrading.com

• Why do you feel you would be a good fit to work at Higher Grounds?
• Give an anecdote that demonstrates your ability to be resourceful.
• What past experience has most prepared you to work in this capacity?

Position Compensation: competitive hourly rate commensurate with skill level and experience