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Work Parties this Sunday and Tuesday at 3pm and FW: The Co-op Home
Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm,
First a BIG THANK YOU to all who came out to our last round of work parties, turnout was great and we had a good time and got a lot done! I really enjoyed talking and working with you all – Thank You!
Now the bees are buzzing and the blossoms are blooming and the weedy trees are trying to outgrow the berry bushes! Lets get out there this Sunday and Tuesday at 3 to the 2 bridges patch to clear the bushes of some brush and vines. We will be cutting weedy trees and vines, while disturbing the opening berry blossoms as little as possible. So far it looks to be a good year for berries!
So c’mon out on Sunday and Tuesday at 3. I will be by the barn with plenty of tools. You bring plenty of drinking water, gloves and long sleeves, and snacks for any kids you bring. Kids are very welcome but please leave pet friends at home.
If you have never worked with us before, Sunday would be a nice time to come out and check out the farm, the weather should be beautiful! You can work as much or as little as you like – we have until June to get hours in before the season starts. So c’mon out and enjoy our favorite neighborhood farm – what are you waiting for?
And read on for GREAT NEWS from the Citizen’s Co-op!
Hope to see you down on the farm!
maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org
READ ON=>=>=>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 09:30:09 -0500
From: citizenscoop@gmail.com
To: maureenreschly@hotmail.com
Subject: The Co-op Home
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| Home Sweet Home – March 2010 |
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| 435 South Main |
A Letter from the Steering Committee . . .
To our dear friends, fellow co-op owners & the community,
We are pleased to announce the headquarters of Citizens Co-op, the Kitchen Incubator, and Cooperative Communities in downtown Gainesville.
This is just the beginning of the first Local Food Market to grace our town. There is a lot of work to do still. We aim to provide only local and regional food products in the store, supplemented by some necessary bulk goods from other locations. We cannot promise you tomatoes year-round, but you will find all the bounties of our local harvest each time you walk through the doors.
We are so very proud and grateful to see these projects finally solidified on a common ground. We have excellent neighbors – the Civic Media Center and South Main Arts Center – welcoming us to our new home and collaborating on the future development of this corridor. There is much to be done, but we hope to have the beginnings of our marketplace open for business by May 1st. This depends on fundraising efforts and the permitting process. You can help by JOINING NOW, if you’re not already a member. Or purchasing INVESTOR SHARES to fund the build-out. We have estimated the need for another $40,000 to renovate this into the beautiful, vibrant, healthy market space that our community deserves.
Some of the bulkiest costs are the refrigerated display cases and units that are required to keep produce, dairy, and meats stored. If you know or have access to used equipment of this nature, please contact Gretchen McIntyre at 352.219.1562.
Please read through the updates on each of our projects below, including Member Poll results, on the Kitchen Incubator & Cooperative Communities, upcoming Board Elections, and other important events and news from the community. Also check out Gretchen & Noah’s TV20 Spot!
In cooperation,
Citizens Co-op Steering Committee
Gretchen McIntyre, Co-Chair
store look: people’s co-op in portland
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| 485 Members & Growing |
Why This Space?
Thank you to everyone who responded to the Member Poll in January, around 300 voices were represented. We chose the Store location based on the following results:
- 45% favored this location (next highest 30% for NW 13th st)
- 92% approved of starting with current member totals
- 45% wanted to see a physical location (next highest 26% wanted more frequent communication)
- 26% are most concerned with having more local food options (next highest 16% want organic food choices)
- 47% prefer a small but vibrant neighborhood marketplace
The vision for this storefront is as follows:
- To make some tasteful, basic renovations to bring the space up to code and allow for some immediate food access.
- To begin a distribution point for drop-off and pick-up of Gainesville Farm Fresh Online Market.
- Begin supplying any and all local food produce and products we can find, supplemented with some organic Bulk goods.
- Build out a mini-kitchen with baking oven to sell fresh bread, baked goods, and small prepared food items.
- Raise the necessary funds to build food storage sheds in back to house our donated walk-in coolers from Shands AGH.
- Aid the growth of the local food system & local food products through supporting the Kitchen Incubator and Cooperative Communities.
- Expand into a larger space in a few years, or open another small marketplace in a different sector of town.
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| Kitchen Incubator in Boynton Beach |
Project News
We are currently applying for 501(c)3 status through Cooperative Communities, an umbrella non-profit corporation, to continue expanding upon and supporting the growth of our local food system. This is an integral function for the success of the Co-op Marketplace. Without a local food supply, infrastructure to support it, and regulations to ease the flow of goods to consumers – we’ll be selling only “PET” food in our store.
The Kitchen Incubator is a separate entity within Cooperative Communities. It is currently researching and applying for multiple grants to fund the build-out of the certified kitchen space – to begin local food production immediately, support the creation of new businesses and jobs, and provide educational and nutritional courses to the community.
Support for these projects can happen through donations, directly or in-kind with kitchen equipment, offices supplies, and wood shelving; grant writing support; or signing up for the Kitchen Referral Program to begin matching entrepreneurs with restaurant kitchen time. Contact val@celestejet.com for more information.
There is a Kitchen Incubator FUNdraiser on March 20th, from 5-8pm, at the 30124 Junction in Waldo and unveiling of the Local Food Roadshow featuring tastes from our local restaurants and farmers. A $20 donation gets you delicious local food and drinks, tastes of upcoming Kitchen Tenants, door prizes, silent auction, good company, live local music, and information about our local foodways. |
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| Example of Produce Display Case |
Store & Equipment Needs
Items can be donated through Cooperative Communities for a tax-deduction, or credited towards future food dollars for in-store use.
Store Needs: Refrigerator & Freezer Display Cases, 2 Computers, 2 Cash Registers & Scanners, Inventory Software, Gallons of Eco-friendly Paint, Wood Shelving, Scales for weighing, Shopping Baskets, Display Baskets & Produce Bins, Ceramic Pots for displays, Large Shoulder Bags, Commercial Coffee Maker, Kitchen Utensils, Food Processor, Panini Press, Hand Sink, Eco-cleaning supplies, Office Supplies.
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Upcoming Events
March 26: Downtown Art Walk & Music Show @ The Co-op Store!
April 12-13: UF Local Food Summit. Food on the Lawn April 12th on UF Campus.
April 24: 1st Annual Gainesville Garden Bike Tour, sponsored by Citizens Co-op.
More details on Events page. |
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| Bearded Brothers in AGH Coolers |
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Donated Equipment
The Co-op & Kitchen Incubator would like to express a warm thank-you to the Alachua County Commissioners, especially Chair, Cynthia Chestnut, for their support in procuring two walk-in coolers from Shands AGH. The Bearded Brothers have kindly de-constructed these items for us at cost. Receiving these major pieces of equipment will allow us to begin operations much sooner than otherwise anticipated. The City Commissioners have also helped procure a triple basin sink and stainless steel cooking pans from Mom’s Kitchen, which will be very useful in the Kitchen operations.
Please express your thank-you’s to any of the Commissioners or Bearded Brothers when next you see them. |
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Spring Garden-to-Go
The spring garden-to-go kit from Comet Farms will consist of 36 plants that are strong, robust, beyond organic, and grown with the utmost care and love. Also included will be seed packets of green beans and pumpkin to be direct sown. The kits are $30. To order, contact haleygardner@gmail.com, or call 386.496.8211. |
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| Courtyard Stage Being Built |
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Upcoming Board Elections
It’s about time to elect our first representatives to sit on the Co-op Board. The board’s role is to oversee major decisions about the store, and integrate long-term goals with sustainable operations of the co-op. For our first election, general members will elect one Member Representative. Producer members will elect one Producer Representative. Board service requires attendance at one monthly meeting, phone conferences, and frequent emailing in between.
Please nominate your Member Representative at citizenscoop@gmail.com. All nominated individuals will need to attend upcoming information & training sessions to be eligible. |
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| French Broad Co-op in Asheville |
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Work Exchange
Members: Start accruing some volunteer hours now, and we’ll credit you discounts on your future grocery bills!
March 26th: Help us clean up & clear out the space on Friday, March 26th from 10am-5pm for the Art Walk & Music Show that night. We might also do some painting.
We’re also looking for any help from members with renovation, building, & electrical work or grocery store management experience willing to earn future food dollars. Call us or come to the store on a work day to get your hands dirty!
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