Ten Thousand Villages Cobourg

CHOCOLATE SALE TIME!!
Yes, you read that correctly. Several flavours will reach their best before date of mid-July so we are putting them on sale now along with last year's Christmas flavours that won't last until this Christmas. Sale includes some Divine and some Camino flavours (but not all shown in the picture). You'll have to pop in to see what's moving out! Please note that chocolate cannot ship via our webstore due to summer temperatures.

Longer days and warmer evenings can lead folks to spend more time in outside spaces, enjoying the deepening dusk. The warm light of a candle can provide light and atmosphere. These paraffin-based, hand-painted Kapula candles from our friends at Thumbprint Artifacts will last a long time — 20 hours for the cube, 50 for the pillar — and you’ll be supporting women artisans and their families. Drop in for yours today. We’re open 12-4.

EVERYone loves our Quilling Cards. The combination of charming images and precisely expected craft makes them irresistible. A customer recently came in to buy a card for someone whose cottage they were staying at; the perfect card, matched with a perfectly-sized frame for the card, makes for an ideal thank-you gift for their host. The flowers are simply there because flowers are beautiful. But you can get your own bouquet from our friends at Owl Grove Roses.

It is , and today’s quote is from education advocate Colleen Wilcox: “Teaching is the greatest act of optimism.” Education is a priority for many of our artisan partners around the world, who provide scholarships for school fees or operate educational programs for staff or their children. Celebrate the educator in YOUR life with a fair-trade gift that supports education worldwide, and … why not top that off with “A gift of trees”? Our 15th anniversary initiative will plant four saplings for every $10 purchase. And you get an enclosure card to share with the recipient. Teachers grow the mind; give them a gift that grows a tree.

June 20 marks World Refugee Day. We live in a world where too many people are forced to flee their homes and make new lives elsewhere to build lives that are safe, healthy and productive. When you purchase fair-trade products from us — or anywhere fair trade is sold — you are quite likely helping to make those safer, healthier lives possible. A number of our artisan partners are either refugees themselves or help to train and settle refugees as part of their activities. Take a moment on Friday to think about helping to create a world where refugees are welcomed.

The coffee shipment has finally arrived! The sale can begin in earnest!!

Chances are that if you have a set of keys in your pocket, you’re out of your house. But no matter how far afield you happen to be, a mini-telescope or a compass on your key fob will help you safely return to home base while supporting our artisan partners Noah’s Ark in India.

New socks have arrived with spring / summer themes. Conscious Step is partnering with the organization "Pollinator Partnership" to emphasize the importance of species that aid in pollination. New sock designs include bees, butterflies, ladybugs, and spring birds.

We recently had a customer come in and try to buy the bells from our door. Unfortunately for them, we NEED those bells. But they did find the jingle-jangle they were looking for, because we have a variety of chimes that will give you good vibrations.

A customer dropped in recently to buy more of a vase they particularly liked. Alas, we had none to sell them. Unlike giant corporate stores, our artisans work in small groups around the world, so there’s never a guarantee that they will continue to produce a given item, or that we will be able to stock an item for an indefinite period. So if you see something you love, don’t hesitate — you might not get a second chance. We’re open 12-4 today to alleviate your retail FOMO.

Yikes! Our back shelves should be overflowing with coffee for the start of the coffee sale this weekend, but a delay in the large skid shipment from Level Ground means that we are on the verge of Old Mother Hubbard despair! We expect the skid to arrive Monday or, latest, Tuesday. If you have a coffee pre-order, we strongly suggest waiting until Wednesday to ensure your order can be filled.

If you’d like to infuse a little goodness in your cup, we’ve got the solution in the bag: tea from Eco Fair Trading. We’ve carried this Nepali tea in the accompanying shoulder bags for year, but if you already have the bag, we will happily sell you the tea in its renewable lotka-paper packaging as well. On the other hand, if you aren’t a tea fan but want a funky, hand-sewn bag, we have a supply of bags for sale. So there’s no reason at all to … purse your lips.

Today’s quote comes from fair-trade activist Raul del Aguila: “Fair Trade is an agent of change. It promotes a new way of being.” Support change. Support fair trade.

At some point in recent history, we all became very aware of staying hydrated and began carrying water bottles around with us. If you’d like both hands free to do things, perhaps this water bottle holder will be just what you needed. These come from UPAVIM, a women’s cooperative making hand-crafted and colourful products like this to support families and community projects in La EsParanza, Guatemala.

Whether it’s full-on-lie-down-and-take-a-nap hammock or sit-and-let-your-feet-hang hammock, we’ve got the one that will maximize your relaxation on your deck, at your cottage, or in your back yard. Hand made in Central America by fair-trade artisans (of course), and available in a variety of colours. Get busy doing nothing today.

This Sunday is Father’s Day. If there’s a dad in your life who deserves a little something, may we suggest… Socks? A journal? A compass? Coffee? None of those are as good as love and companionship, but … they’re still pretty good. Drop by today and find the perfect gift for your father figure.

THIS JUST IN: JUSTUS! We apologize, but the wordplay was irresistible. The latest shipment from our friends at Just Us! Coffee arrived, and we have the ever-popular Maritime Breakfast Tea in stock again. If you’ve been pining for a classic cuppa, this is it. Of course, we also have Green, Earl Grey, and Chai from JustUs! as well. Enjoy!

This is Canadian Environment Week, and a good opportunity to note that action against climate change and protection of the environment form principle 10 of the World Fair Trade Organizaiton’s 10 fair trade principles. The WFTO says: “Fair Trade Organisations support and practice production, agriculture, service and trade activities that are natural resource conserving, low-emitting, culturally sensitive, socially just and economically viable. They work on adapting and building resilience to climate change and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of their operations. Where they work with groups of agricultural producers and indigenous people, FTOs contribute to the conservation of their territories, strengthen their systems of land use (cultural landscapes) and protect their biodiversity with the aim of preserving the ecosystem and strengthening their agricultural models to gain resilience to climate change. Buyers and importers of Fair Trade products and services support their supply chain partners in adopting practices and transport options that encourage sustainable development and protect our planet at this time of crisis.”

We say that when you buy fair trade, you do a little bit to mitigate the impacts of we humans on our environment, and we say thanks.

After a long absence, upcycled silk sari kimonos (with sash and pocket) are back in stock and now in three sizes (S-M, M-L, L-XL). Each one is uniquely made from old sari material and features stunning lines of kantha hand-stitching. Stop in to find the one that suits you best!

It’s Fair Trade Friday, and today’s thought comes from a volunteer for Global Gifts: “Fair trade is essential if we want to see a future that can combat climate change and end systemic oppression. Fair trade is an essential path on the way to that future.” Every time you shop at a fair trade store, you take a step along that path.

It’s remarkable how a series of VERY large bags full of 2600 kilos of fair-trade rugs can attract attention. “Are your rugs being delivered?” Was a frequent question on Monday. Sadly, our 2024 rug event was ending -- a very successful one, by the way — and those folks missed out on beautiful hand-knotted rugs from Pakistan. If you wish you’d made it to the store, we have two bits of advice: first, there are a few Bunyaad rugs and cushions still in the store for sale; second, if you subscribe to our email list, you’ll receive advance notice of our 2025 rug event and other events in our weekly emails (like… our coffee sale, which starts June 14!) Just go to our website (in our bio) to sign up.

In some parts of the store, you may well see "New Product" signs alerting you to new things. We have, for example, lots of new jewelry on the jewelry wall, and some new food products. But in the main store, you won't see those tags, because if we tagged each new product, those new product tags would blend into the mix. We're always adding new things to the shelves and to the webstore. Drop by and have a look.

Visitors to the store today may notice some disarray — with the end of our 2024 rug event (one of our most successful), our Bunyaad rugs are moving on to the next stop on their tour and we’re working to return the store to its normal layout. If you missed out on the rug event, there’s still a chance! We will have a few rugs in store until they’re sold; just ask.

Last call to find a Bunyaad Rug! ⏰

There’s only a few hours left of our Annual Fair Trade Rug Event!

🌟 Today (Sunday) is your golden opportunity to snag the rug of your dreams before they return to our friends over at in Edmonton, AB.

Don't miss out on adding a touch of artistry to your space! 🏡✨

We’re sad to say, but this weekend marks the finale of our fabulous in Cobourg. Don't miss out—swing by and snag your dream rug before the curtain falls!

Your front door has been longing for this moment, and we've got the perfect rug waiting for its grand entrance.

Worried about upkeep? Fear not! Bunyaad rugs are a breeze to maintain. A quick vacuum keeps them looking fresh, and for any unexpected messes, a little soap and water do the trick! 🧼💧 Bid farewell to dull spaces and hello to rug perfection!

We're all ready for Pride weekend in Downtown Cobourg! Stop by to enjoy a free sampling of fair trade coffee and chat with our lovely volunteer, Kara. Pride-themed products will be sold tax-free outside under our tent! Celebrate pride and be proud of who you are...we are all stronger, together, when we are open to seeking unity amongst all our many differences!

Even regular shoppers may not be aware of the principles behind fair trade. And given that today is the kickoff for Pride Northumberland’s Pride month celebrations, what better time to look at the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)’s Principle 6 for fair trade: “ The organisation does not discriminate … based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation, HIV/AIDS status or age.” It’s just one of the things we’re proud to be Northumberland County’s fair-trade store. Hope to see you downtown for today’s PRIDE celebrations, organized in part by Downtown Cobourg. It’s going to be fun!