Like so many other traditionally in-person events, our Annual Meeting is going virtual again, this year. While we will miss gathering in person, sharing a meal, and enjoying the warmth of face-to-face community, we hope that we can keep you informed on Co-op happenings and provide a space for your voices to be heard through a virtual meeting. So much is going on at the Co-op this year, you won’t want to be left out of the conversation!
This year, Co-op Annual Meeting attendees will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of three Co-op Gift Cards, valued at $200 each! Winners will be announced at intervals during the meeting and MUST REGISTER VIA THE LINK BELOW BY 5/31 AND BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING TO WIN!And, there’s more! The FIRST 50 MEMBER-OWNERS WHO REGISTER to attend our Co-op Annual Meeting will be eligible for a free Co-op Snack Sack, to enjoy while we toast our Co-op Staff, Membership, and the Community for helping us all to get through this monumental year. WE WILL CONTACT YOU BY EMAIL IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE FIRST 50 TO REGISTER. Please click the link below, to register:
Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the meeting. Registration enables you to be an active participant in the meeting and join in the Question and Answer Session, at the end of the presentations.
To Livestream the meeting, or to view it later, please watch on YouTube:
All April, Co-op shoppers receive an additional 20% off ALL Eos Botanicals products. Eos will donate 10% of Sales to United Plant Savers and the Co-op will MATCH this donation. United Plant Savers’ mission is to protect native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitat while ensuring an abundant renewable supply of medicinal plants for generations to come (from their website at unitedplantsavers.org).
Julie Mitchell has been working with the Co-op for 30 years, providing homegrown and handcrafted botanical products, and sometimes serving as our “herbalist in the aisle” in our Wellness Department. Here’s what she has to say about her experience working with botanicals and with our Co-op.
In 1989, I established Eos Botanicals and started making herbal products for the Farmers Market in Burlington and Middlebury. Over the years, I have tried to maintain the hand-crafted and quality aspect of my business, growing what I’m able or wildcrafting what is abundant and available here in the Northeast.
As the years have passed, the herbs and their optimal gathering times, mark the seasons – knowing when April rolls around, I need to prune the crampbark limbs, pick the young nettle; that first week in July is time to look at the flowering of St.Johnswort and the fall for digging many, many roots, elecampane, dandelion, yellow dock, and wild yam.
I was so grateful when United Plant Savers (UPS), came into being in 1994. Herbalist and visionary Rosemary Gladstar had the foresight to implement this non-profit. She recognized that conservation and sustainability would be necessary if we wished to continue to learn from these plant medicines. UPS has become an international endeavor, as we continue to ask plants to be part of our food and support our well-being. UPS’s mission statement is: to ensure an abundant renewable supply of our medicinal allies for generations to come. For information on how to become a member, visit UPS at www.unitedplantsavers.org
2021 is my 30th year of making and selling tinctures to the Co-op, and I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to the Co-op and this community’s generosity in supporting Eos Botanicals. I found my first invoice to the Middlebury Natural Food Cooperative from January 3rd, 1991 (see photo)…Yowza! I clearly remember being quite excited to be able to offer herbs to the community in this way.
Eos Botanicals and MNFC in conjunction, are offering a 20% discount on all Eos products. 10% of the total sales from April will also be donated by Eos Botanicals to UPS. The Co-op will MATCH this donation!
In humble appreciation, warmth, and goodness to all people and plants! Walk gently on the earth.
Round up your totals at the registers February 4 – 10. The Co-op will match your donation and pass it along to Addison Allies.
Rally Every Time You Shop! When not featuring a specific non-profit, donations are given to Addison County Food Shelves
In April 2017, responding to the Latino farmworkers’ desire to learn English, Addison Allies Network (AAN) was created. Now, we are a network of over 40 volunteers in Addison County. As times have changed, so have we, but our purpose has always been to:
offer English language coaching
help with accessing services like the GED program and driver licenses and permits
support the acquisition of daily necessities like cell phones and warm winter clothing
provide transportation for shopping and medical (or other) appointments
During these three-and-a-half years, we have built many social relationships and forged a strong web of social service providers who can work with those in the Migrant Community who need support. As Addison Allies Network continues to grow, we now also see the need to gain a deep connection with the farm owners in Addison County to create better solutions to some of the most pressing issues, like transportation and housing.
– Addison Allies
Redondea el total de su compra en la cooperativa del 4 al 10 de febrero. La cooperativa igualará su donación para apoyar la red de aliados de Addison En abril de 2017, respondiendo al deseo de los trabajadores agrícolas latinos de aprender inglés, se creó Addison Allies Network (AAN). Ahora, somos una red de más de 40 voluntarios en el condado de Addison. A medida que los tiempos han cambiado, nosotros también, pero nuestro propósito siempre ha sido: – ofrecer entrenamiento en el idioma de inglés- ayuda para acceder a servicios como el programa GED y licencias y permisos de conducir- Ayudar a adquirir las necesidades diarias como teléfonos celulares y ropa abrigada de invierno.- proporcionar transporte para compras y citas médicas (u otras) Durante estos tres años y medio, hemos construido muchas relaciones sociales y forjado una web fuerte de proveedores de servicios sociales que pueden trabajar con aquellos en la Comunidad Migrante que necesitan apoyo. A medida que Addison Allies Network continúa creciendo, ahora también vemos la necesidad de lograr una conexión profunda con los dueños los ranchos en el condado de Addison para crear mejores soluciones a algunos de los asuntos más urgentes, como el transporte y la vivienda. – aliados de Addison
Round up your totals at the registers November 12 – 18. The Co-op will match your donation and pass it along to Counseling Services of Addison County
Rally Every Time You Shop! When not featuring a specific non-profit, donations are given to Addison County Food Shelves
Since 1959, the Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC) has promoted stable and safe communities by helping people live emotionally healthy and satisfying lives.
CSAC strives to provide the best mental health, substance use, and developmental services to improve the quality of life for all community members. CSAC collaborates with community partners to help individuals and families achieve maximum wellness. Moreover, CSAC is committed to assisting members of the community regardless of their ability to pay.
Last year CSAC served over 2,300 people, totaling over 920,000 service hours. Whether it is trauma, addiction, disabilities, or acute and chronic illnesses, we help people:
obtain meaningful employment;
support their families;
thrive in school;
find and secure stable housing;
work through crises;
recover from acute symptoms of mental illness, and;
achieve life goals.
We honor the trials, accomplishments, and individual journey of each human being. We reject stigma, ignorance, and negativity toward any person.
In 2020, CSAC earned recognition as a Center of Excellence by Vermont Care Partners for its commitment to:
ensure easy access to services;
build a culture of top customer service based on engagement and wellness;
Round up your totals at the registers November 12 – 18. The Co-op will match your donation and pass it along to Counseling Services of Addison County
Rally Every Time You Shop! When not featuring a specific non-profit, donations are given to Addison County Food Shelves
Since 1959, the Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC) has promoted stable and safe communities by helping people live emotionally healthy and satisfying lives.
CSAC strives to provide the best mental health, substance use, and developmental services to improve the quality of life for all community members. CSAC collaborates with community partners to help individuals and families achieve maximum wellness. Moreover, CSAC is committed to assisting members of the community regardless of their ability to pay.
Last year CSAC served over 2,300 people, totaling over 920,000 service hours. Whether it is trauma, addiction, disabilities, or acute and chronic illnesses, we help people:
obtain meaningful employment;
support their families;
thrive in school;
find and secure stable housing;
work through crises;
recover from acute symptoms of mental illness, and;
achieve life goals.
We honor the trials, accomplishments, and individual journey of each human being. We reject stigma, ignorance, and negativity toward any person.
In 2020, CSAC earned recognition as a Center of Excellence by Vermont Care Partners for its commitment to:
ensure easy access to services;
build a culture of top customer service based on engagement and wellness;
For 28 years, the Co-op has had the pleasure of collaborating with Middlebury Studio School (formerly, Frog Hollow) to help us bring you our annual Empty Bowl dinner to benefit local food shelves, CVOEO and HOPE. The Studio School has been instrumental in coordinating dozens of local potters to create up to 80 bowls for this event, each year. This year, the challenges of COVID 19 have made our traditional community dinner an impossibility.
As an alternative, we are hosting The Great Empty Bowl Silent Auction. From 11/6 to 12/6, stop by the Co-op’s “seating area” to view beautiful hand-made bowls from Middlebury Studio School. When you find one that’s meant for you or someone you love, please write your bid, your name, and your phone number on our auction list, next to the bowl of your choice. A photograph of each bowl, with a corresponding number, will be included on the list. Bids start at $30 (the usual cost of an Empty Bowl Dinner ticket). The Co-op will match all final bids (maximum total match will be $5,000).
Here’s How to Participate:
– Take a look at these beautiful bowls, handmade and donated by the generous artists at Middlebury Studio School.
– When you find one (or more!) that you like, match the number on the bowl to the number on the Auction List (center table). Fill in your name, phone number, and your bid (bidding starts at $30 and must increase by at least $5 for each additional bid).
– The auction ends on 12/6. If you have placed the highest bid on a bowl, we will contact you to let you know, so you can stop by to pay for and pick up your bowl.
The Co-op Will Match The Highest Bids for Every Bowl (maximum total match will be $5,000)
“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.
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 place a bid at our Empty Bowl Auction and be a part of the effort to wipe out hunger in Addison County.
NOFA Vermont’s Farm Share Program is a great way that limited-income Vermonters can afford to purchase CSA (community supported agriculture) shares of fresh produce from their local farmers. Donations to the Farm Share Program go into a fund that helps subsidize CSA shares to needy Vermonters. NOFA Vermont believes that all Vermonters should be able to eat local organic food, regardless of their income level, while also making sure farmers get a good wage for their hard work.
Demand for Farm Share Program support is significant. The Farm Share Program is funded by individual donations and by the annual Share the Harvest fundraiser.
If you know of a restaurant, brewery, co-op, or food store who would like to participate in Share the Harvest 2020 or partner with the Farm Share Program, please contact Becca Weiss at becca@nofavt.org or 802-434-7178 or Emmet Moseley at emmet@nofavt.org or 802-434-7162.
A robust, properly responding immune system is so important for health and wellbeing— and that is especially highlighted in current days. The immune system is responsible for responding to microbes, toxins in the environment, and even particles in the air we breathe. Join Functional Nutritional Therapist & GAPS™ Practitioner Melanie Fielstra, FNTP and Integrative Physician Jeff Wulfman MD, ABFM, ABIHM in exploring foods and helpful tools for building and balancing a healthy, resilient immune system.
Classes are held at the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center. Pre-registration is required for in-person participation. To register, please contact Denise Senesac at 382-1004 or email dsenesac@pahcc.org. Classes are capped at 10 participants to allow for social distancing. Enrollment is first-come, first-served. All classes are $30 or free for members of the Co-op’s Food For Allprogram. Please register for classes at least one week in advance. Participants attending classes at the Career Center must adhere to the following guidelines:
Wellness screening upon arrival, including a temperature check as well as a list of questions regarding symptoms
Wearing a face covering while in the building. No exceptions.
Encouraging good hand hygiene using soap and water when practical and hand sanitizer when not
Maintaining a minimum of six feet (6’) between individuals in the building whenever possible
Signing in and providing contact information when gathering in classrooms and other spaces for contact tracing purposes
Participants who are unable to adhere to the above guidelines or who would simply prefer to avoid gathering in person may opt to participate via Zoom at no cost. Here are the Zoom details for this class:
Topic: Eating for Immunity
Time: Sep 30, 2020 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 921 4975 7943
Passcode: 500618
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Meeting ID: 921 4975 7943
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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:
Want to learn to make a healthy soda that’s packed with probiotics? Join Tom McElhaney as he demonstrates how to create this naturally fermented probiotic drink at home! You’ll learn how to prepare a “ginger bug” (or ginger starter) from scratch, how to flavor your ginger beer, and he’ll share key tips for troubleshooting when the process goes awry. You’ll leave with a kit including all of the things you’ll need to make a batch at home!
Classes are held at the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center. Pre-registration is required for in-person participation. To register, please contact Denise Senesac at 382-1004 or email dsenesac@pahcc.org. Classes are capped at 10 participants to allow for social distancing. Enrollment is first-come, first-served. All classes are $30 or free for members of the Co-op’s Food For All program. Please register for classes at least one week in advance. Participants attending classes at the Career Center must adhere to the following guidelines:
Wellness screening upon arrival, including a temperature check as well as a list of questions regarding symptoms
Wearing a face covering while in the building. No exceptions.
Encouraging good hand hygiene using soap and water when practical and hand sanitizer when not
Maintaining a minimum of six feet (6’) between individuals in the building whenever possible
Signing in and providing contact information when gathering in classrooms and other spaces for contact tracing purposes
Participants who are unable to adhere to the above guidelines or who would simply prefer to avoid gathering in person may opt to participate via Zoom at no cost. Pre-registration is required using the following link:
