#bookraven

[thelairofthebookraven]

What a lovely January book haul. I really wish I worked at a bookstore with a 50% discount. Lol. I would be buying like $200 worth of books a month. I was disappointed in the selection of books because everything is what has been popular forever and they had so much romantasy filling the fantasy section. On to what I picked up.... Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer, and The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb.

[thespianontheair]

just little one shot from an AU I'm working on. It's a human+crossover AU for MH/EAH. This isn't really cannon to what the main story will be, but I wanted to write something while working on the main fic.

[fluffsik]

*Heh I guess I found someone who said all I wanted to say about Ravi being cut out from weekly idol episodes ^^ I mean I love that the other members were absolutely cute and dorky in it but most of the episode were of Leo and N. The only time the camera focuses on him was when he was introducing the title track. I mean for the stretching game, I had thoughts like "Ravi could do that, he's a lead dancer in VIXX". I guess I don't know how I feel about the episode other than disappointment.

yeah seriously….  I was hoping that they’d maybe even focus extra on Ravi since they cut him almost completely from the previous episode, and then this happens :// I was hoping it was just gifmakers only paying attention to the other members and I just needed to wait patiently to see Ravi before realizing that there was…nothing to wait for ._.

I adore N and Leo and am endlessly amused by their stuff I’m seeing from the episode, but did they need to sacrifice each and every part with him to fit it all in?? :// 

cries stuff like this is probably why he insisted on AS4U that he’s boring and no good at variety (which turned out to be far from the truth)

[thelairofthebookraven]

I always bring a book to family functions. I'd rather read than socialize.

[thelairofthebookraven]

Using AI to ask questions...

When comparing tea and coffee in terms of farming, selling, and environmental impact, tea generally has a smaller ecological footprint than coffee. However, the sustainability of either depends on how they are grown, processed, and distributed. Here’s a breakdown:

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1. Farming

Tea

Land and Water Use: Tea requires less land and water compared to coffee. Tea bushes can produce leaves for decades, making them more sustainable long-term.

Pesticides and Fertilizers: Tea farming can still involve chemical inputs, but shade-grown and organic teas reduce these impacts.

Biodiversity: Tea plantations, especially shade-grown varieties, often support more biodiversity compared to coffee monocultures.

Coffee

Land and Water Use: Coffee farming requires more water and land, especially for arabica coffee, which needs specific climates and altitudes.

Deforestation: Coffee farming has historically driven deforestation, particularly when shifting to sun-grown methods.

Biodiversity: Shade-grown coffee can support wildlife, but sun-grown coffee (more common) reduces biodiversity and harms ecosystems.

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2. Selling

Tea

Processing: Tea requires fewer processing steps than coffee, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint. Drying and packaging tea are less energy-intensive compared to roasting coffee beans.

Waste: Loose-leaf tea generates less waste compared to single-use coffee pods or bags.

Transportation: Tea leaves are lighter than coffee beans, reducing emissions associated with transport.

Coffee

Processing: Coffee requires energy-intensive roasting, which increases its carbon footprint. The wet milling process for coffee beans also consumes significant water.

Waste: Coffee grounds and disposable pods contribute to waste if not composted or recycled.

Transportation: Coffee beans are heavier than tea, resulting in higher transportation emissions.

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3. Environmental Impact

Tea

Carbon Footprint: Tea generally has a lower carbon footprint than coffee due to less intensive farming, processing, and transport.

Sustainability Practices: Many tea plantations are moving toward organic and fair trade certifications, which help reduce environmental damage and support workers.

Coffee

Carbon Footprint: Coffee has a larger carbon footprint, with significant emissions from farming (fertilizer use, deforestation), processing, and transport.

Deforestation: Coffee farming has a more substantial role in deforestation, especially in tropical regions.

Sustainability Practices: Sustainable coffee options (shade-grown, organic, fair trade) can significantly mitigate environmental harm but are not yet the industry standard.

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4. Economic and Social Impact

Tea

Tea often provides stable income for smallholder farmers, as tea bushes can produce for decades.

The tea industry is less volatile than coffee in terms of market prices, which benefits producers.

Labor conditions in tea farming are still a concern, especially on large plantations.

Coffee

Coffee farming is highly sensitive to climate change, with rising temperatures threatening crops and farmer livelihoods.

The coffee market is more volatile, leading to income instability for producers.

Fair trade coffee can help improve working conditions and wages but is not universal.

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Conclusion

Tea is generally more sustainable than coffee due to:

Lower water and land requirements.

Less energy-intensive processing.

Smaller carbon footprint.

However, sustainability depends heavily on how tea or coffee is grown and produced. To support sustainable practices:

Choose organic, shade-grown, or fair trade options.

Reduce waste by buying loose-leaf tea or coffee in bulk.

Compost used tea leaves and coffee grounds to minimize waste.

By making mindful choices, both tea and coffee can be enjoyed sustainably.

When analyzing the sustainability of tea and coffee, there are several other factors to consider beyond farming, selling, and environmental impact. Here are more pros and cons for each:

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1. Energy and Resources in Preparation

Tea

Pros:

Tea requires less energy to prepare since it’s often steeped without additional equipment.

Can be brewed multiple times from the same leaves, reducing waste.

Cons:

Tea bags, especially those with plastic linings, contribute to microplastic pollution if not compostable.

Coffee

Pros:

Coffee grounds can be composted or reused in gardening.

Espresso machines and cold brew concentrate allow for efficient use of coffee.

Cons:

Coffee brewing equipment (espresso machines, drip coffee makers) consumes more energy.

Single-use coffee pods contribute to significant waste if not recycled properly.

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2. Packaging and Waste

Tea

Pros:

Loose-leaf tea generates minimal waste compared to pre-packaged options.

Biodegradable or reusable tea strainers eliminate the need for disposable bags.

Cons:

Many commercial tea bags are not biodegradable due to plastic components.

Over-packaged specialty teas increase waste.

Coffee

Pros:

Coffee grounds are biodegradable and can be repurposed as fertilizer.

Some companies offer recyclable or compostable pods.

Cons:

Coffee pods and single-serve packaging create significant non-biodegradable waste.

Instant coffee packaging often uses non-recyclable materials.

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3. Land Productivity

Tea

Pros:

Tea plants can thrive in hilly or marginal land unsuitable for most other crops, reducing competition with food crops.

Long-lived tea bushes reduce the need for frequent replanting.

Cons:

Large tea estates may contribute to monocultures, reducing biodiversity.

Coffee

Pros:

Shade-grown coffee can coexist with forest ecosystems, preserving habitats.

Cons:

Coffee farming often requires more fertile land, leading to deforestation and soil degradation.

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4. Climate Change Resilience

Tea

Pros:

Tea plants are generally more resilient to climate variations, especially certain hardy varieties.

Cons:

Extreme weather can disrupt harvests and lower quality, particularly for premium teas.

Coffee

Pros:

Research into climate-resilient coffee strains is advancing.

Cons:

Coffee is highly sensitive to climate change, with rising temperatures threatening many major growing regions.

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5. Economic and Social Impact

Tea

Pros:

Tea farming often supports small-scale farmers, especially in countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya.

Labor-intensive plucking provides employment in rural areas.

Cons:

Workers on large plantations are often underpaid and face poor working conditions.

Coffee

Pros:

The coffee industry supports millions of smallholder farmers globally.

Fair trade certification programs can improve wages and conditions for growers.

Cons:

Market volatility affects coffee farmers more drastically, leading to income insecurity.

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6. Consumer Behavior

Tea

Pros:

Tea is often consumed in smaller quantities per serving, reducing overall resource use.

Culturally, tea rituals tend to emphasize mindfulness and simplicity, which aligns with sustainable living.

Cons:

Rising demand for trendy teas (matcha, bubble tea) may encourage unsustainable farming practices.

Coffee

Pros:

Coffee’s cultural significance drives initiatives for ethical sourcing and sustainability in the industry.

Cons:

High demand for coffee drives unsustainable farming in many regions, leading to environmental degradation.

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Summary: Tea vs. Coffee Sustainability

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Conclusion

While tea has a smaller ecological footprint in most aspects, coffee has the potential to be more sustainable through innovations like shade-grown farming, fair trade practices, and recyclable pods. Tea remains the more sustainable choice overall, especially when bought loose-leaf or organically.

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I am not a vegan or an extremist environmental activist; however, I am an Earthling and lately I have been thinking about ways I can help the Planet.

[thelairofthebookraven]

I forgot to share the amazing book I found on Amazon. Something to read after I finish the first one. Ready to bite into something weird with drama, mystery, and the supernatural... Any suggestions?

[thelairofthebookraven]

This is the book I started reading on January 1st. A Wizard Of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. So far it is quite enjoyable and I also have a book haul coming up soon.

[thelairofthebookraven]

[thelairofthebookraven]

So I will probably read the Maltese Falcon and one of the Lovecraft books.

[thelairofthebookraven]

Pick two books from the choices that I should read....

[thelairofthebookraven]

I am taking a break from reading for these next few days. I am not sure how I will start off 2025... Any book recommendations? I lean more towards fantasy, science fiction, and horror.

[thelairofthebookraven]

I just finished "I Was a Teenage Slasher" by Stephen Graham Jones. While I found it enjoyable, it wasn’t my favorite slasher. I did see the ending coming and something about it didn't tug at my weird little heartstrings. It is an interesting book if you like slashers.

[thelairofthebookraven]

Last new book of the year. My boyfriend and I are trying to become more mindful and find a better path for ourselves in this life.

[thelairofthebookraven]

So the boyfriend is 1500 miles away and I prefer my romance in real life instead of in books. I guess today I need a small bit of romance. It looked like it was a love story and hopefully not smut. It's giving me vibes of lovers destined to be. True love really pulls at my heartstrings since it was a dream I had for so long.

Update: The book wasn't horrible by any means. It was a good read, but I wanted a bit more action in the second half of the book. It didn't have the soap opera kind of action I was hoping for. I wanted a physical reason that was keeping the two lovebirds apart after the growth between them. The struggle for one of the characters was something we see alot in lgbtq stories.

I still enjoyed the book, felt like the romantic aspects were done well, and I would read another book by this author.

[thelairofthebookraven]

My December book haul!!!! So fortunate to be gifted most of these books and bought a couple myself. This next year is gonna be very entertaining.

[thelairofthebookraven]

I opened the final gift from my boyfriend. He is amazing and now I can emboss all my books.