Image Source: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/survey-do-you-buy-fair-trade-c-68151
What is the daily grind?
It is something you must do
every day
day after day
day in
day out
every day of the year
repetitive
tedious
boring
Image Source: http://michpics.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/truing-up-a-3-ton-stone-in-grindstone-city/
The phrase ‘the daily grind’ has origins in Anglo-Saxon England after the fall of the Roman Empire.
It refers to the grinding and crushing of grains to produce flour, to make the daily bread.
Bread was the staple food of Roman and later Anglo-Saxon society.
Without the ‘daily grind’, there was no flour. No flour, no bread.
No bread meant hunger.
Image Source: http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Derbyshire/Melbourne/photo1349496.htm
Metaphorically speaking it means work.
When you grind something, little bits wear off.
Gradually.
Bit by bit, tiny amounts wear away.
Yet over a long time a lot is worn.
The ‘daily grind’ metaphor can be used two contrasting ways:
___
Hard work grinds away your energy, your enthusiasm.
Grinding away hours, months or even years.
___
Keep grinding away at your tasks, and you will gradually reach your goal.
Image Source: http://archive.cyark.org/historic-photograph-of-hopi-girls-grinding-corn-media
Many related meanings, but all dealing with a subsistence strategy – a means to survive .
I’d like to get back to coffee on that thought.
Have you ever placed much thought on the coffee you drink?
Where does it come from?
Who grew it?
Image Source: http://programs.lwr.org/site/c.asKTJbNPIlI2F/b.8021767/k.C146/Coffee.htm
Does it matter?
I’ll let you decide.
every day
day after day
day in
day out
every day of the year
Image Source: http://www.equalexchange.coop/small-farmer-campaign
I shop Equal Exchange.
Please join me.
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Just Desserts 
And keeping one’s nose to the grindstone meant applying yourself to your work
Yes, that is one of the meanings!
Looks like an interesting concept for a blog … good luck. Hope you keep posting!
Thanks so much !
Equal Exchange, I have seen some products in our local stores-like Walmart, for instance. How do know that the money is going where they say it is? So many scams exist in this day and age I am afraid I don’t really trust.
Hi Linnie, I understand the skepticism – there are many brands out there hopping on the ‘fair trade’ or ‘natural’ bandwagon. Definitely do your research and ask questions. Equal Exchange is a worker-owned company that has pioneered the fair trade movement in the U.S. since 1986. You can read more about our authentic model of fair trade here: http://www.equalexchange.coop/small-farmer-campaign
Thanks, will do!
Thanks so much, for you valued input.