Shopping and Cooking with Bulk Foods

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**

Optimizing Lymphatic Health

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**

Ready, Set, Cook!

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**

Cooking for Beginners: Simple and Fun!

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**

Join Us for our Annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 21, 12-3 at the Co-op!

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!

 

Rally for Change for Living Well Residence is August 8-14

 

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.

For more information about Living Well Residence, please visit https://livingwellgroup.org/location/living-well-residence-bristol-vermont/, call 802-453-3946, or email Cameron Segal at csegal@livingwellgroup.org.

Thank you!

Living Well Residence, 71 Maple Street, Bristol, Vermont 05443, 802-453-3946, https://livingwellgroup.org/location/living-well-residence-bristol-vermont/

Co-op Annual Meeting and Celebration is June 5th

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!!!

 

 

 

Rally for Change for Vermont Adult Learning is May 16-22

 

Round up your totals at the registers May 16-22.  The Co-op will match your donation and pass it along to Vermont Adult Learning of Addison County.  Read on to learn more about this incredibly important organization.

Vermont Adult Learning of Addison County is a private, nonprofit member of the Vermont Agency of Education Adult Education and Literacy system.  Our goal is to reduce the negative effects of poverty on our families, communities, and workplaces by ensuring that all Vermonters have the skills and confidence necessary for success in the 21st century.  

We provide:

  • basic skills instruction, high school completion and GED certificate plans
  • transition to college and career services
  • computer classes
  • English language instruction for immigrants and refugees
  • our new workforce development program, VT YouthWorks

Our programs and services are free to students aged 16 or older.  VT YouthWorks is a 12-week paid workforce development program for 18-24-year-old youth. Participants develop employment skills and self-confidence through an entrepreneurial carpentry program, career exploration, internships, and community mentorships.  VAL serves 140 towns with 12 locations. Last year, the Middlebury center served 131 students with skill levels ranging from emerging readers to college prep. Also last year, we celebrated 28 individuals who earned their high school diploma or GED, 2 who became US citizens, and 5 who entered college.  

Thank you to our local collaborators: Middlebury Union HS, Vergennes Union HS, Mount Abraham Union HS, Otter Valley Union HS, United Way of Addison County, Hannaford Career Center, VT DOL, Addison County Parent Child Center, CCV, Restorative Justice, UVM HEP & Migrant Ed programs, CSAC, Northlands Job Corps., Turning Point Center, and Reach Up.

 100% of all funds raised will be used to pay out-of-pocket expenses for our low-income students. These out-of-pocket expenses may include GED testing expenses, industry certificates such as Forklift and Serve Safe, online educational courses, driver’s ed and other direct costs related to student educational and career success.

Vermont Adult Learning, 282 Boardman St., Middlebury, VT 05753, 802-388-4392, addisoninfo@vtadultlearning.org, www.vtyouthworks.org

Join Us for Green Up Fest on Saturday, May 4th, 12-3 pm at the Co-op

Green Up Day is on its way!  When your green bags are full and your roadsides are looking good, take off your work gloves and come join us at the Co-op.  We’ll be celebrating with good food and great information, all for free and all for YOU.  Here’s what to do when you get here:

See YOU There!

Cooking with Odds & Ends

Don’t toss out those carrot tops! Join Emily Fleming and Brooke Wilcox for a fun hands-on class focused on utilizing the parts of food that may otherwise be discarded. Together, you’ll prepare some of their favorite recipes to help you stretch your food budget, minimize waste, and please your palate/ They’ll also share tips and tricks for creative food storage to minimize spoilage of fruits and veggies.

Advanced registration required. To register, please contact Denise at the Hannaford Career Center at (802) 382-1004. All classes are $30 or free for members of our Food For All program. Classes are capped at 12 participants. Enrollment is first come, first served.