|
|
UPick at the farm this week!Open to the Public – no need to work trade – just pay by the pound! & FW: Citizens Co-op
Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm,
Happy Summertime! Hope everyone had a good Summer Solstice. Many of you have asked about U-Pick at the farm and Im happy to say that Ken Bostwick co/owner of the farm, will be providing that opportunity this week starting in the morning between 9 and 10 – if the gate is open drive in and honk if you dont see anyone. The berries will be $4/pound and there are still plenty of them. You must bring your own bags and buckets for picking, and of course hats and plenty of drinking water – there are no waterfountains or flushing toilets at the farm so plan accordingly. Please check out the ‘Pickin Pointers’ and U-Pick pages on our website www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org for important things to remember when picking at the farm!
Also he has asked that I only issue cards to people who have already worked some toward this year (or last) So tomorrow (wednesday June 23rd) I will be at the farm beehives from 6 to 7 pm issuing pickin cards to folks who have worked some in the last 2 years. Remember all hours worked toward last years pickin rights will be credited to this year because the harvest was so meager in 09′ due to the late freeze. I will also be issuing cards on Saturday morning from 8 to 9am at the beehives to folks who have already worked some toward this year. Sorry to everyone else. You can come during U-Pick and still get lots of berries without even pledging to work, and maybe Ill get permission to issue cards to new folks next week. We will see.
Please dont ask to sign up for a pickin card at U-Pick, Ken is not dealing with this – only U-Pick – pay for your berries by the pound.
Again I ask that all members try to keep a running total of how many pounds or gallons you have picked and let me know at the end of the season becuase this could help with getting grants next year!
And Finally, read on about the exciting plans that the Citizens co-op and our own dear Dr. Kristin Joos and Melissa Miller and their fabulous ‘Young Entrepreneurs for Leadsership and Sustainability’ have for an acre of community garden space in the Porters Community! All of these folks are great community builders and have helped the farm out in many ways – lets show them appreciation and help them help the community! Read on about how!
maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org
maureenreschly@hotmail.com
Read ON=>
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:48:49 -0400
From: citizenscoop@gmail.com
To: maureenreschly@hotmail.com
Subject: Summer Schedule
 |
| Summer Schedule |
 |
|
 |
| Road Construction on South Main |
Summer Workplans
Dear Friends -
We are poised and eager to get underway with renovations on the Co-op as we await the approval of the first round of permitting. We are also converting an acre lot in Porters Neighborhood, just a few blocks from the Co-op, into a thriving community garden, art walk, and meditation space. Many thanks to Kristin Joos and Melissa Miller for connecting us with a team of students from the Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership and Sustainability to help us with this project. If you’ve been looking for a way to participate, helping with the Garden will be a great way to get involved. We love garden tools, supplies, and giving hands to help us build the raised beds.
Garden Workdays: June 28th – August 6th, Monday thru Friday, from 2:30pm-5:30pm.
Location: We will either be in the co-op or at the plot on SW 5th Ave & 3rd St.
Bring Tools: Shovels, Hoes, Rakes, Buckets, Seeds, Organic Compost & Other gardening supplies.
There are no Food Credits available for garden work. This is a community building venture that we are offering in order to unite our neighbors around the celebration of art, food, and culture.
Summer Member Potluck
Wednesday, June 30th, 7-9pm. Graciously being hosted at our neighbors, the Civic Media Center (they have A/C!). Help us kick off the Summer construction, view a 3D model of the renovated space, meet the Board of Director nominees, and share some local food. All members are encouraged to come and bring friends and family. No fee, just bring a dish, plate & utensils, and your preferred beverage.
|
 |
| 535 Members & Growing |
Investors Wanted
We have sold 15 Investor Shares this week! Thank you all for your continued support. Only 85 more Shares are available for purchase by August 31, 2010. Shares will begin accruing dividends at 8% in 2011. Fill out the Application today and become a Local Investor in your hometown community.
- Earn more than a typical Savings Account with less risk than the unregulated stock markets.
- After three years of holding your shares, you can request the co-op to repurchase them through an economically feasible repayment plan.
- Investors do not have any extra voting rights or power over business operations, beyond their one vote as a member. Stock is non-transferable.
- The co-op has budgeted for an 8% annual dividend in its financial projections. These are preferred dividends, and will be paid before any membership rebates are issued at year-end.
- In the unlikely event of liquidation of the business, Investors have preferential status to receive a return of their investment and accumulated dividends before member equity is paid back.
|
 |
| Ted Lacombe, Doug Nesbit, Gretchen McIntyre, Elizabeth Nesbit, Ed Brown, Noah Shitama |
A Trip to BALLE
Recently, the co-op helped to send 10 participants to the annual BALLE conference in Charleston, SC. If you’re unfamiliar with local, living economies, please read up on this wonderful business network. Some of the most inspiring lessons learned:
- Flow like water. Collaborate with projects that are easy to work with, share the same goals, and make sense for you. [SeaCoast Local]
- Share the vision. Communicate the milestones of your project and your progress in fulfilling them. [Zing Train]
- Deepen your roots where you are planted. Make small strides in your hometown that will have lasting effects for good [Annie Leonard, Story of Stuff]
- Art has a powerful and transformative effect in healing and building communities. [Lilly Yeh, Barefoot Artists (watch her presentation!)]
We don’t expect to change the world by opening a small co-op in Gainesville, but we do plan to provide access to fresh, healthy, local and seasonal foods to our community, improve and expand a dependable and viable market for our local producers, and to create a collaborative and cooperative model for doing business. This we can all be proud of.
|
|
|
|
|
