Meet the Composter: Blossom Café

Blossom Café

“There’s a downside to our disposable lifestyles,” said Michelle Buckman. So, when she opened Blossom Café at Floral & Hardy, in Skippack last year, she was compelled to have a sustainable coffee shop. She not only consulted with Back to Earth Compost Crew when deciding on eco-friendly products, but also has been composting with us since her Earth Day opening last year.

“It was nice to have Colleen consult with me before I opened the business because she helped me understand which items are compostable and which items are not, so I could do it right from the start,” Michelle said.

At Blossom Café, you’ll find that 95% of the disposables are compostable or recyclable. The plates are palm leaves and compostable; cold drinks come in recyclable glass bottles; the cups, flatware, bamboo stirrers, filters, and coffee are all compostable.

Michelle became more sustainably minded in the past 10 years, doing her own research, and learning just how many things actually don’t break down. “I don’t want to leave the planet this way for my daughter, or anyone else!” she said.

She made a lot of changes at home to be more eco-friendly. It’s about habits and lifestyle, she said, and it takes baby steps.

When she and her daughter had moved to Skippack some years back, they felt so embraced by the welcoming community they’ve come to call home that Michelle was motivated to fulfill a childhood dream of owning a coffee shop – and one that honors the environment and the community.

“Community and sustainability go hand in hand,” she said.

Blossom café serves Philadelphia-based La Colombe coffee and partners with Montgomery County-based services and businesses to source everything else in the shop. Only the hand-made, reusable coffee mugs come from an artist in Indiana.

If you’ve never been to Blossom Café, stop by with a friend or solo – the casual, warm atmosphere invites everyone. Attend a workshop or stop by in spring for refreshments and coffee grinds for your garden as Michelle packages them and hands them out for personal use. Otherwise, you may just get inspiration to become more sustainable in your own life, following Michelle’s example! 

Back to Earth Compost Crew is happy to have Blossom Cafe in our composting community!