On Saturday, November 9th, at 6 pm, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op will host our 28th Empty Bowl Dinner to support our local Food Shelves – CVOEO and HOPE. This will be a small community event, coordinated and attended mainly by very local folks. You may be surprised to know then, that all over the world, at around the same time, people will be gathering for just the same cause. If you are interested in volunteering your time to help out at the event, donating a bowl, or making a dessert, please contact Karin Mott at karinmott@middlebury.coop.
“Empty Bowls” is an international project to fight hunger, personalized by artists and arts organizations on a community level. It was founded by Lisa Blackburn and Art teacher John Hartom in 1990-91 when they joined a drive to raise charitable funds in his Michigan community. Hartom’s idea was to organize a charitable event to give artists and art students a way to make a personal difference. Hartom’s students made ceramic bowls in their high school art classes. The finished products were then used as individual serving pieces for a fund-raising meal of soup and bread. Contributing guests kept the empty bowl.
Today, hundreds of communities hold some version of an Empty Bowls event. Their efforts support food-related charities around the world and have raised millions of dollars to aid in the fight against hunger. Although the sponsors of the events may differ widely – from glass blowers to churches to Co-ops like ours, their goals remain the same:
Raise as much money as possible to feed the world’s hungry people.
Increase awareness of hunger and related issues. Through education, awareness, and action, concerned individuals can change human attitudes that allow hunger to exist.
Advocate for arts education. Nurturing the creative process through the arts enhances the possibility of finding new solutions to old problems.
For 25 years, the Co-op has had the pleasure of collaborating with Middlebury Studio School (formerly, Frog Hollow) to help us pull off this event. Kathy Clarke has been particularly instrumental in coordinating dozens of local potters to create up to 80 bowls for us, each year. In addition, we have enjoyed the generosity of the Middlebury United Methodist Church, which has provided the venue for this event free of charge. In fact, virtually every aspect of our event is possible because of the generosity of local businesses, organizations, and individuals, from the local farms that provide soup ingredients to the local musicians that provide entertainment.
According to the U.S. Census, Current Population Survey, 1 in 9 Vermonters are dealing with food insecurity. This is a number well below the national average, but for 12% of our State’s population, the number is still too high. Please join us this year for our 28th Empty Bowl dinner and be a part of the effort to illuminate hunger in Addison County.
Vermont is famous for its cheeses, bringing home a record number of awards at this year’s American Cheese Society Competition, and Emily Fleming would love to remind you that there are so many delicious ways to enjoy these culinary treasures beyond the classic cheese platter. Join Emily to explore the various ways to bring cheesy goodness to your fall meals.
To register, contact Denise Senesac (802) 382-1004 OR DSenesac@PAHCC.org. Classes are capped at 12 participants. Enrollment is first-come, first-served. All classes are $30, or FREE for members of the Co-op’s Food For All Program. Please disclose food allergies during registration.
**PLEASE REGISTER FOR CLASSES AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE**
Join John Bagnulo, a nutritional medicine expert with 23 years of teaching and consulting experience, for a discussion on how to choose those foods that offer you and your family the most nourishment with the fewest potential downsides. Topics covered include digestive disorders, inflammation, autoimmunity, and cardiovascular health. Each have pivotal roles played by nutrition and understanding the choices available can significantly alter and/or reverse disease processes.
To register, contact Denise Senesac (802) 382-1004 OR DSenesac@PAHCC.org. Classes are capped at 12 participants. Enrollment is first-come, first-served. All classes are $30, or FREE for members of the Co-op’s Food For All Program. Please disclose food allergies during registration.
**PLEASE REGISTER FOR CLASSES AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE**
Shopping in bulk sound may sound like purchasing a 50lb bag of flour, but in fact, it can be an opportunity to make healthy, affordable, and delicious meals while also reducing excessive packaging. In this class Lily Bradburn, Local Food Access Coordinator for HOPE, will help demystify shopping in the Co-op’s Bulk Department. Through hands-on cooking you’ll learn how to utilize the array of spices, herbs, grains, and beans available.
To register, contact Denise Senesac (802) 382-1004 OR DSenesac@PAHCC.org. Classes are capped at 12 participants. Enrollment is first-come, first-served. All classes are $30, or FREE for members of the Co-op’s Food For All Program. Please disclose food allergies during registration.
**PLEASE REGISTER FOR CLASSES AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE**
Overall health is reliant on what is known as the white bloodstream or Lymphatic system. It is crucial in the movement of metabolic wastes, working in conjunction with all organs of elimination. This eliminatory process is an important aspect of the body’s immune function and crucial to a robust response to illness. Join herbalist Julie Mitchell to discuss plant medicines, foods, and physical movements to address lymphatic stagnation or congestion. Discussion and recipes will be shared addressing the abundant herbal lymphatic allies that grow readily in our gardens, (think burdock!).
To register, contact Denise Senesac (802) 382-1004 OR DSenesac@PAHCC.org. Classes are capped at 12 participants. Enrollment is first-come, first-served. All classes are $30, or FREE for members of the Co-op’s Food For All Program. Please disclose food allergies during registration.
**PLEASE REGISTER FOR CLASSES AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE**
Have you ever wanted to be a contestant on one of those exciting cooking competitions like Iron Chef or Chopped, but without the stress or pressure?. Bring your inner Iron Chef and collaborative spirit to feel the thrill of creativity as your team tells its story through a harvest mystery basket challenge. Success is the simple pleasure of allowing yourself to be inspired by this beautiful local bounty. Cheering on each team will be Chef Matt Laux, providing participants with helpful guidance and cooking skills along the way. Matt brings a wealth of culinary insight and enthusiasm having cooked alongside Master Chefs from France to India. Join the love food club!
To register, contact Denise Senesac (802) 382-1004 OR DSenesac@PAHCC.org. Classes are capped at 12 participants. Enrollment is first-come, first-served. All classes are $30, or FREE for members of the Co-op’s Food For All Program. Please disclose food allergies during registration.
**PLEASE REGISTER FOR CLASSES AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE**
You want to cook, you love food, but you’re nervous in the kitchen? Looking for a fresh perspective and an encouraging approach to cooking? Let’s have fun using all of our senses as we create a simple meal to share. The joy of cooking is for everyone, we will find connection and inspiration from our ingredients, gain confidence with our knives and break bread together! Easing any hesitations towards cooking Chef Matt Laux will guide and encourage you to continue your cooking journey.
To register, contact Denise Senesac (802) 382-1004 OR DSenesac@PAHCC.org. Classes are capped at 12 participants. Enrollment is first-come, first-served. All classes are $30, or FREE for members of the Co-op’s Food For All Program. Please disclose food allergies during registration.
**PLEASE REGISTER FOR CLASSES AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE**
Stop by the Co-op on Saturday, September 21st, from 12 pm to 3 pm. We’ll be three-quarters of the way through our Eat Local Challenge, we’ll be ready to celebrate! So, what’s going on that day?
A dozen Local Vendors will be tabling, sampling and ready to talk to you about their products and their businesses – meet the folks who make your food!
We’ll have free Co-op T-shirts for members and “not yet” members who purchase a share of the Co-op! Shares are only $20 and add up to a year of Co-op member benefits. There are three ways to “purchase a share”, get some awesome freebies and support your local Co-op:
Not yet a Co-op Member-Owner? Join for just $20 and get benefits like the Co-op Connection, Member Deals, and Patronage Refunds. To find out more about the different types of Co-op Membership, click HERE.
Already a Co-op Member-Owner? Renew your membership for just $20, and we’ll apply another year of membership after the date that your current membership expires. You won’t lose any time be renewing early (even if you just renewed the day before!), you’ll just get some free stuff for renewing that day!
Already a Full Co-op Partner? There’s still a way for you to help grow Co-op equity and also support Food Security in Vermont. Purchase a $20 share for Food For All, our member assistance program. Your purchase buys a year’s membership for a local household in need, including 10% off their Co-op purchases, every day.
You can enter to win a gorgeous harvest wagon from Woodstock Foods, chock full of goodies from the Co-op!
Enjoy free local Burger Sliders and Local Cider on us!
Make a fun Harvest Craft!
Check out some photos of last year’s festival, to help get you in spirit! See YOU There!
Round up your totals at the registers August 8-14. The Co-op will match your donation and pass it along to Living Well Residence of Addison County. Read on to learn more about this organization is bringing quality eldercare to our community.
Living Well Residence is a 15-bed holistic, residential eldercare facility located in Bristol, with a focus on engagement, holistic health, and a wide range of community connections. Bristol residents are accustomed to seeing residents from Living Well walking with volunteers in the village, listening to weekly summer band concerts on the green, and attending other community events such as the Fall Musical at Mt. Abraham Union Middle/High School. The residence is part of the Living Well Group community, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a model of whole-person elder care that honors, respects, and elevates each individual while redefining aging in America.
Headquartered in Burlington, Living Well Group operates three holistic, residential campuses throughout Vermont-Living Well Residence in Bristol, Heaton Woods Residence in Montpelier, and Ethan Allen Residence in Burlington- as well as providing consulting services for other level-3 care facilities.
One of Living Well’s core philosophies is to honor our residents by promoting conscious aging, vital living, and providing individualized care. Our innovative Farm to Care™ food program supports the Vermont food system by prioritizing local purchasing to provide our staff and residents with delicious, locally-sourced meals.
Our mission to provide our residents with a space to “age in community” when they can no longer “age in place” is essential to our functioning. We achieve this in a number of ways, including bringing community members into our residences to lead classes, perform, and visit with our residents, as well as working with tons of local vendors.
100% of the proceeds raised by the Rally for Change will be used to support engagement programming at Living Well Residence. For nearly 15 years, the residents at Living Well Residence have been engaged through expressive arts, music therapy, yoga, Bone Builders strength training, garden programs at our beautiful onsite garden, attendance at community events, and more. Charitable donations are essential to sustaining these programs as well as engaging our residents.
Join Us for our 43rd Annual Meeting and Celebration!
So much is going on at the Co-op this year, you won’t want to be left out of the conversation! On Wednesday, June 5th, 5;30-7:30 pm, join us at American Flatbread for our 43rd Annual Meeting. We’ll talk about the past year and the progress we’ve made meeting our Ends. Our General Manager, Glenn Lower will update us on how the Co-op is doing and what next year may bring. Enjoy delicious flatbreads, salad, non-alcoholic beverages and desserts on us!
Have a look at some of the photos from last year’s Annual Meeting – what amazing member-owners we have!!!
