Featured Artist: Meg Gallup

 

We have had the work of a handful of local artists within our shop, but nothing has proven to sell as well as the hand crafted, one-of-a-kind mugs made by Pemberton's own, Meg Gallup. If you're looking for a wonderful holiday gift or stocking stuffer, pop in and check out the few remaining mugs we have left.

We were lucky enough to be able to check out Meg in her element this past Summer. She was able to show us the entire process from kneading to firing. It was amazing. Thanks Meg!

A bit about Meg:

Meg flourished in the University of Calgary Ceramics Dept. while acquiring her Bachelor of Arts degree. She moved to BC and began a career in pottery, which she pursed in Vancouver, Whistler and Pemberton. Focusing on production of functional high-fired stoneware as well as one of a kind art pieces, she has made pottery that is enjoyed in homes throughout Canada and the United States.

This artist's creations are now fired in a gas kiln at her studio in Pemberton using glazes she personally developed. The love for hand thrown wheelwork and revealing the unique qualities that ''reduction'' fired glazes create has motivated Meg's involvement in clay for the last twenty years. Bringing art and the medium's natural beauty to household objects is a continual theme in this potter's work.

La Pastora

Some of the finest coffee on earth is grown in Costa Rica. While traveling there last month, we were fortunate to visit a coffee farm just outside the town of San Marcos De Tarrazu. Countless family run coffee farms cling to the steep hills surrounding this bustling coffee town.

 

The afternoon mist rolls in. Banana trees are planted between the coffee plants to give the soil nutrients and provide shade for the coffee.

  Minor Picado is a third generation coffee farmer. He is taking his farm to the next level by currently constructing his own micro-processing facility. This will enable him to process and export his unique lots of coffee directly to quality coffee roasters. It ensures that his signature "La Pastora" coffee will not be blended with lesser quality coffee. The niche market of "direct trade" relationships motivates the farmer to produce the highest quality coffee. The price they receive directly relates to the quality of their coffee.

 

The first few coffee cherries are starting to ripen.

 

 The micro-processing facility under construction.

  

Three generations and certificates decorate the walls of the family home.

This coffee was roasted in a pan on their stove, it was delicious!

Featured on ChoosePemberton.com

Featured in an August post on Choose Pemberton!

Here is an excerpt:

Before November 2007, when the Mount Currie Coffee Company opened its doors, Pemberton was a kind of Siberia for coffee-purists, an isolated wilderness far far from anywhere. But when the much anticipated cafe opened it doors, that all changed. The Pemberton coffeehouse scene started happening. Owner Chris Ankeny, a photographer and snowboard pro formerly of Bozeman, Montana, didn’t just bring excellent coffee to Pemberton. He brought what makes real coffeehouse culture something that Italians will raise protests for – an artisan approach to coffee, a commitment to community, a powerful sense of place and an honest connection to quality ingredients. His personal network has also meant that a steady stream of US journalists and pro athletes swing by, shining their spotlight on the happenings of P-ton. He’ll be fuelling riders this weekend at the registration for Slow Food Cycle. One double-punch Tuesday, (one coffee counts for two purchases on your coffee card, awesome!), we tore him away from the panini station, to ask him how it’s all going.

 

Visit ChoosePemberton.com to see the full interview.

Until Next Year...

Cheers to everyone behind Slow Food Cycle Sunday. A heartfelt thank you to all the organizers, farms, volunteers and cyclists for another successful event. 4,000 people came to our lovely valley to enjoy everything that Pemberton has to offer. We had an amazing time and are already looking forward to next year!

Until then... (August 19, 2012)

We do have a handful of SFCS merchandise on hand if you're interested. We find they make great gifts as it is a reflection of Pemberton. We are selling the remaining items at cost so stop by and stock up on SFCS liberty water bottles at $12 each, trucker hats $10 and stickers $2!

2011 Slow Food Cycle Sunday

This Sunday is Pemberton's biggest Agritourism event.
Slow Food Cycle Sunday is upon us.

You will find Mount Currie Coffee Co. at Registration slinging coffee and selling Official Event Merchandise.

Please also join us 'in house' for a pre-ride breakfast and coffee, or stop in when it's all said and done and enjoy a gelato or iced mocha frappé for the drive home.


Event Details:

No pre-registration necessary.

Register on event day in the Village of Pemberton starting at 8am; farms close around 4pm.
Event is FREE (donations gratefully accepted)
Follow signs leading into town for parking and registration

Bring food and drink to carry you over! There are no stores en-route. There will be food and drink for sale at the farms, but supplies are not guaranteed to last.
Full ride is over 50km on a flat, mostly paved (farm driveways are gravel), out and back, open road. You can turn around at any point.

There will be a map at the registration area on event day.

NO dogs on farms.
Helmets are mandatory as per provincial legislation.
Share the road with cars. Give way to tractors.
Rotary AugustFest Beer Garden in Pioneer Park following the ride from 1-7pm

For even more details, go to the 2011 Event Page on their website.