The Nesting Grounds recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.  It originally opened in the summer of 1999 and was so named because it shared space with a bird store and used birds and birdhouses  as its decoration theme.   The concept thrived for a few years until the bird store closed.  Now the name is a reminder that The Nesting Grounds is like a second home - a place to gather, relax, enjoy great drinks and food.  It also reminds us that the cafe is committed to sustaining a bird-friendly environment by only using Fair Trade coffee and teas.

In Januray of 2004, Jim and Sondra Mericle went to Nicaragua with Lutheran World Relief and Equal Exchange to learn more about the impact of trade on coffee farmers and others.  We saw first hand how FAIR TRADE, rather than "free trade," was much more helpful to coffee farmers and was actually making a positive difference in their communities and family lives.  We came home from that trip and prayed to God about what to do here at home to make fair trade coffee and other products more accessible to people in Wyoming, MN and how we could share about its benefits. 

Jim tried to increase awareness at church through regular use of Fair trade coffee at fellowship times and by selling fair trade coffee, chocolate, cocoa and tea to members.   But what really needed to be done was to establish a greater presence in the community and that led to Jim and Sondra buying The Nesting Grounds on June 1, 2004.

Since then, The Nesting Grounds has served the community  of Wyoming by increasing its food and beverage menu options alongs with adding a whole new section of high quality hard-to-find specialty foods and fairly traded gifts from around the world.  In the Fall of 2004, it started to add some occasional music opportunities for area residents to enjoy and now has music at the coffee house on Friday nights year-round.

The Nesting Grounds is committed to being a local cafe with a global connection and continues to focus on treating those producing the coffee with respect as well, offering only fair trade certified coffees from around the world including its delicious Organic Black Bird Espresso Blend..  In addition, fair trade teas, chocolate bars, sugar and chai are also available.  By purchasing fair trade certified products, The Nesting Grounds and its customers are providing family farmers and workers much needed extra income to sustain and improve their lives.  The Nesting Grounds add to this commitment by helping support  Lutheran World Relief's Small Coffee Farmer Fund. Over the last five years, that has resulted in over a $5500 donation. We also purchase coffee from Cafe Feminino, coffee grown by women,  which helps improve the lives of women in their small coffee farming communities.   Finally, we have a Fair Trade Global Market that has fairly traded hand-crafted gift items from around the world.

Most of all, we are proud to be serving the people of Wyoming and beyond with  great food and drinks and a warm and friendly encounter and look forward to continue doing so for many years.