Order Overview

Estimated Total: $

Crop to Cup: Spilling the Beans on Specialty Coffee

Join Steven Colageli from Paradiso Farm Coffee for an exciting dive into the world of coffee. We’ll learn about the farmers from whom Colangeli sources his green coffee beans, green coffee processing methods, green coffee purchasing, coffee origins, coffee roasting, and the way that roasting impacts flavor profiles. Participants will also explore different brewing methods and we’ll brew coffee together using the pour-over method. Bring your coffee questions — there will be plenty of time for Q & A. And everyone will leave with a free bag of Paradiso Farm coffee!

Steve Colangeli and Dovie Bailey are co-owners of Paradiso Farm Coffee, a micro-batch, farm-roasted coffee business located on their farm in Charlotte, Vermont. Paradiso Farm is committed to their local community, being sustainable in all aspects of business, and having fun while doing it! Armed with a degree in Horticulture and Agronomy, Colangeli has always had a passion for working with the land and has dreamed about owning a small organic, community-based farm for as long as he can remember. His mission is to educate coffee customers on not just how to experience the best cup of coffee but to understand where their coffee is sourced and the amazing stories of the farmers that grow the coffee. A portion of sales are donated to local non-profit organizations and Colangeli strives to purchase organic and wild-grown coffee beans whenever possible. He also delivers by bike for local deliveries!

Advance registration is required. Please register at least one week in advance. 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. To register, email Denise at the Hannaford Career Center (dsenesac@pahcc.org) or call (802) 382-1004. 

Cooking Grass-Fed Beef

Industrial livestock production has been rightfully implicated in many injurious processes including land degradation, excess water use, nutrient excretion, fossil fuel use, and emission of greenhouse gases. However, when livestock are raised on their natural diets of grasses and other diverse forage, they offer great potential to positively impact human health and the health of our environment. Properly managed grass-fed cattle raised in silvopasture systems, like those at Squier Family Farm in Tinmouth, VT, are capable of sequestering carbon and regenerating land by restoring soil microbial diversity and increasing soil organic matter, making land more resilient to flooding and drought. This practice can also boost the nutrient content of the meat, resulting in more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, more antioxidants, and more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Join Meadow Squier of Squier Family Farm to learn more about how her cattle are raised and how to prepare the meat, including one of her favorite recipes for “farmers deli meat”, a dish made from a marinated, sliced beef roast.

Meadow Squier is the female force behind a small, local family farm that focuses on regenerative agriculture and farming in ways that provide maximum ecological benefit while providing high-quality food for their community. They are excited to be building a large-scale silvopasture system on their 300-acre farm and seek to continually learn more about how they can better integrate regenerative food production on their steep, rocky terrain in Tinmouth. They take their land and animal stewardship roles very seriously and take pride in building ecologically beneficial farming systems that nourish their community.

Advance registration is required. Please register at least one week in advance. 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. To register, email Denise at the Hannaford Career Center (dsenesac@pahcc.org) or call (802) 382-1004. 

Mushroom Walk

Are you fungi-curious? Do you see interesting mushrooms in your travels and wish you knew more about these fascinating organisms? In this workshop, we will explore the woods and learn about the mushrooms we find along the way including what they are, how to identify them, and the essential roles that these fungi play in forest ecology. We will also discuss the importance of community science and learn tips and tricks for taking mushroom photos. We will meet at Wright Park on Seymour Street Extension in Middlebury at 5:00 pm. Wear comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and bring your questions and curiosity! A smartphone equipped with the iNaturalist app is a plus, but not required. 

Fungi educator, author, and professional photographer, Meg Madden, can often be found in the forests of her childhood practicing what she calls “mushroom yoga” — laying on the ground, standing on her head, or balancing precariously on a log — to capture the perfect snail’s-eye view of her favorite photo subject: Fungi! Her colorful, highly detailed mushroom portraits offer an intimate look into the often-overlooked world of these extraordinary organisms. Inspired by the belief that people are more likely to take care of something they love, she finds great joy in facilitating fun and meaningful connections between humans and nature. Meg shares her knowledge and contagious passion for the fantastic world of fungi through visually engaging presentations, mushroom walks, and via her Instagram gallery @megmaddendesign. An advocate for fungal diversity and community science, Meg teaches iNaturalist classes, organizes educational workshops and Bioblitzes, and is compiling an Atlas Of Fungi for the state of Vermont.

 

Advance registration is required. Please register at least one week in advance. Enrollment is first-come, first-served. This class will be capped at 15 participants. All classes are $30, or FREE for members of the Co-op’s Food For All Program. To register, email Denise at the Hannaford Career Center (dsenesac@pahcc.org) or call (802) 382-1004. 

Take the September Eat Local Challenge at the Co-op!

Co-op Member-Owners – check your receipts!  All September, you can track how much you spend on LOCAL each time you shop at the Co-op.  Choosing local products is always a winning choice for the Vermont Economy, and this September, choosing local could make YOU a winner, too!  Read on to find out how:

 

JOIN THE EAT LOCAL CHALLENGE!

  • All September, check the bottom of your receipts to find out how much LOCAL you’ve purchased.
  • Receipts from LOCAL purchases of $25 or more are eligible to be entered into a drawing for one of six $25 Co-op Gift Cards.
  • Receipts from LOCAL purchases of $50 or more are eligible to be entered into a drawing for one of six $50 Co-op Gift Cards.
  • You may enter as many receipts as you like.

The more LOCAL you purchase, the greater your chances of winning.  Raffle Boxes will be located at the Customer Service Desk near the Registers.  Not sure if you’re buying LOCAL products?  Just look for these signs:

Co-op Annual Meeting and Celebration is September 7th

Join Us for our 46th Annual Meeting and Celebration!

It’s been three long years since we last gathered in person for our Annual Meeting and Celebration.  We are so excited to see everyone, again!  On Wednesday, September 7th, 5;30-7:30 pm, join us at American Flatbread for our 46th Annual Meeting.  We’ll talk about the past year and the progress we’ve made in meeting our Ends.  Our new General Manager, Greg Prescott will update us on how the Co-op is doing and what next year may bring.  We’ll hear from our Board of Directors and make time for questions from our members.  Enjoy delicious flatbreads, salad, and desserts on us!

New to the Co-op’s Annual Meeting?  Have a look at some of the photos from past Annual Meeting Celebrations to see what’s in store!!

 

 

 

Rally for Change August 18-24 for Vermont Professionals of Color Network!

 

Round Up Your Totals at the Registers August 18-24 for Vermont Professionals of Color Network…The Co-op Will Match Your Donation!

Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) is a community and network that promotes, supports, and affirms People of Color in a way that helps them succeed personally and professionally.  Our network is built from within (“for us, by us”) and focuses on young people of color, professionals of color, businesses, and entrepreneurs of color, because prosperity starts with opportunities to climb the economic ladder. A prosperous BIPOC community is a good thing for ALL of Vermont!

At VT PoC, we have three core areas of focus:

1. Networking: the foundation of our organization, and is a mainstay of our offerings. Each quarter, VT PoC offers at least one in-person event for our members, as well as monthly virtual and in-person meet-ups.
2. Mentoring and Education: Empowerment comes from knowledge and access to knowledge; this helps us and our community to continue to grow. To us, mentoring is not just about the relationship between our youth members and experienced professionals.
3. Visibility through Advocacy: The visibility of BIPOC in Vermont is crucial to our mission. There are over 40,000 individuals identifying as People of Color in the state and about 60% live outside of Chittenden County. Yet, we are overlooked because we are not seen nor present at the “table”. Our goal is to increase the visibility of all groups, including non-profits, businesses, individuals – the entire community. We work to identify the barriers to access and break them down.

VT PoC is so grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Co-op’s Rally for Change! When you round up at the register for VT PoC, your donation will go towards:

● Promoting BIPOC professional development
● Supporting BIPOC entrepreneurship
● Empowering BIPOC youth
● Engaging in advocacy
● Paying for 3 full-time employees to grow and effectively run the organization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you!
The Fam at Vermont Professionals of Color Network

 

 

Member Appreciation Event – Join Us!

We are so grateful to our member-owners for all that you do to support your Co-op.  It’s time we showed you a little appreciation!  Stop by the Co-op on Saturday, June 4, 11 am to 2 pm to feel the love!  Start your visit at the Co-op Plaza and:

  • Meet your new General Manager – Greg Prescott (he’ll be tending the grill, so you won’t be able to miss him!)- he’s excited to talk with all of you!
  • Enjoy free Co-op Kitchen Made Quesadillas (bean and cheese), hot off the grill on the Co-op Plaza!

Then, reap the benefits of member-ownership and get a FREE Co-op T-Shirt when you:

  • Become a Co-op Member-Owner
  • Renew your Membership (12 months will be added to any renewed membership, so nothing is lost by renewing early)
  • Donate a Member Share to our Food For All program

Membership is just $20 per share and always fully refundable!

See YOU there on Saturday, June 4th, 11-2 at the Co-op (rain or shine)!

 

 

Rally for Change May 5-11 for United Way of Addison County!

 

Round Up Your Totals at the Registers May 5-11 for United Way of Addison County…The Co-op Will Match Your Donation!

Together with thousands of volunteers, supporters, and advocates, United Way of Addison County is building a stronger community by finding solutions, supporting programs, and fighting for the health, financial stability, and educational success of every person – at every age – who calls Addison County home. We are proud to work with 30 of the most compassionate, intelligent, nonprofit partners in Addison County who are:

● Increasing access to health care and healthy foods. Providing resources to encourage healthy, active lifestyles. Encouraging connection to one another and to our community to combat isolation. Reducing youth substance use rates.

● Preparing children so they enter school ready to learn. Providing the support students need to stay in school and graduate. Encouraging lifelong learning and skill-building.

● Ensuring that all families have safe housing, healthy food, transportation, and quality childcare. Providing access to financial tools and coaching to help build a better future. Supporting employees in crisis so they can maintain employment and grow professionally.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to participate in the Co-op’s Rally for Change! The intersection of COVID and inequity has only widened the gap in health, financial stability, and education. When you round up at the register for UWAC, you are helping the most vulnerable people in Addison County stay in their homes, feed their families, keep the lights on, flee unsafe situations, and more. Your donation helps close the divide and give every person an equal opportunity to succeed. Thank you.

United Way of Addison County
unitedwayaddisoncounty.org

Remember To Vote…Our Board of Director’s Election is on in May!

Any day now, Co-op member-owners will receive a Board of Directors Election Info packet in the mail.  Inside this packet, you’ll find information about our Board, the election process, candidate biographies, and instructions to help you cast YOUR vote for our Board of Directors.  Don’t want to wait for the mail?  You can check out the packet online right HERE!

Are you ready to vote?  Please follow the link below to get started, May 1st – May 31st (link will not work until May 1st!).  

middlebury.simplyvoting.com

You’ll need the first initial and last name of the co-op member-owner in your household, plus the last five digits of your member number (you can find this on the back of your paper Election Info Packet mailing label, or on the back of your co-op member card).

Your vote is completely anonymous, and after you participate in this year’s election, your name will be entered for a chance to win one of 50 $25 Co-op Gift Cards! Happy Voting!

Election results will be shared by Friday, June 3, via our website, e-news, social media, and in the store.

 

Homeward Bound Fundraiser 4/28-5/4

National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is April 30.  Let’s celebrate!  From April 28 through May 4th, co-op member-owners will receive an additional 20% Off ALL Pet Products at the Co-op!  And guess what?  The Co-op will donate 20% of the pet product sales from that week to Addison County’s Homeward Bound!  If you aren’t familiar with this amazing local organization, here are a few lines, in their own words, to help explain their place in our community:

Our  Mission:  

To be a community-centered shelter that supports the human-animal bond through compassionate care, adoption, education, and advocacy.

Our Vision: 

  • A community that is nurturing and compassionate towards all animals.
  • A community where no animal suffers from abuse or neglect.
  • A community where companion animals are treated as lifelong, valued family members.