We Need a New Home Base!

Potatoes are for Being Shorted Two Weeks Ago   

I didn’t get us double the potatoes but added them to the  basket. So in all we have 6 veggies in todays basket instead of the usual 5.
No Baskets next week – Oct 23rd!

We Need a New Home Base!

I got a phone call from the town telling me that in Mountain Lakes businesses with a lot of traffic cannot be run out of houses. The Co-op is about 30 years old and has always worked out of home garages here in Mountain Lakes, who knew. 

So we are looking for a small store front/warehouse space that can house a food business and is reasonably priced in the greater Mountain Lakes area – Morristown, Denville, Parsippany, and Boonton. This is where we can get creative too! Maybe we can get a space that can also be used for events, or cooking demonstrations, or even a real shop. If any of you know of a space or are energized by the possibilities, please call or email. I don’t know much about real estate, so even to talk to someone who does would be helpful! I have my phone with me, but if I don’t answer, please leave a message. I will get back to you. Thank you in advance for all your efforts. Working together on these issues is part of what I love about this Co-op.

Enjoy!

Marnie

No Potatoes Today!

I had ordered them, but they were forgotten. I will make it up to you all in 2 weeks, 10/16, with extra produce, most likely potatoes. It will be in 2 weeks because it is the Basic Week, and the list of members on this week that will get them. If you are a Trial Basket, I will have a bag of potatoes for you on the 16th as well. My apologies.

Urgent Call to Action!

You can help pass this country's first GMO labeling law, Prop 37 The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, contacting your friends and family in California and urging them to vote “YES” on Prop 37 on Nov 6th. Please send them to this site for information on the bill, it’s importance, and why we need to vote YES: www.organicconsumers.org

Organic Technicality

Thank you everyone for your response to our ‘Organic Technicality’ survey. Overwhelmingly the response was Choice A – to no longer use the term organic. I read through your comments too and felt I should fill you in on what is happening. A few of us smalltime co-operatives have been handed notice from the National Organics Program (NOP) to stop using the term organic. I responded immediately by phoning them. They asked a few pointed questions and decided from my answers that we are closer to ‘handlers’ than ‘retailers’, which has a lot more restrictions. Retailers have much more leniency with use of the term, but it still seem like we cannot call ourselves organic without certification.

I spoke to the owner of another local organic co-op, and she proceeded to hire a very expensive lawyer. The latest with them is they have a verbal ok to continue as a ‘retail’ operation, though she is still waiting for the written letter. I hired a different lawyer, and we have sent in our response, arguing that we are retailers. We may also be considered retailers, but even retailers can’t use the term ‘organic’ in their name without being certified. The term ‘organic’ has a giant list of regulations behind it, which is part of what we love about organic foods. In some ways, this is just the NOP doing their job.

We are waiting now to hear the NOP’s response. They may have decided we aren’t worth the effort and we won’t hear from them. If we do, we won’t take it to court, and are just preparing for the next step. Our lawyer suggested I ask you all, which you would prefer. With about half the co-op responding, over 80% chose to not use ‘organic’, 6.5% wanted us to become certified, and 13% was happy either way. I have to say, I too would prefer not having to go through the hoop jumping involved with the certification process, though loosing organic in the name would have a negative marketing impact. I can’t help but feel their time could be better spent making sure the farms themselves are compliant.

Welcome all New Trial Baskets!

We have the highest number of Trial Baskets today ever! We had 15 last week and 18 this week! I am guessing it is because of the articles in the Daily Record Grassroots section on April 5th.

So with this, I’m particularly distressed that the strawberries did not come through today. We will make it up to everyone in two weeks with an extra pint of strawberries. Trial baskets are welcome to come on 5/8 for their berries as well.

Meet the Farmer

If you are interested in raw milk; soy-free, grass-fed, pasture-raised, organic meats and dairy; and fermented foods and drinks, please some out to Madison, NJ this Saturday, April 28th to meet a wonderful Amish farmer and sample some of his delicious products.  The farmer will arrive around 7:15 a.m. He is a wonderful farmer who is part of the C.A.R.E. and Weston A. Price organizations.  Please e-mail ban5143@yahoo.com or call 973-520-8614 for more information.  Hope to see you there!

Enjoy!

Marnie

No baskets on the 27th

Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy New Year!

Enjoy!

Marnie

No baskets on the 27th

That’s in two weeks. 

More purchasing power on the website

I have started to put the refrigerator items on the website for one time and repeating orders. If you purchase through the website, you can choose the regularity of it – one time, weekly, biweekly, and monthly. If your creditcard has been charged for it, the sticker on your basket will state what items have been paid for. If you have any trouble, please call me for assistance.

This also opens up Dairy and meat purchasing capabilities to the outer pickup sites. Please be aware the items will be in a cooler with ice blocks waiting for you at the site. They are left there between 1 and 3 pm, so the sooner your pick up the better.

Christmas presents from a local green store!

Check out : http://transitioningtogreen.greenhome.com/

Enjoy the Season!

Marnie

The Holiday Season

Is in full swing! I got my tree and started decorating. I have my Christmas cards and will send them out later this week. The best party of the year was this last weekend. I DO have good friends. I’m going to try to not shop in stores this year. All the presents I give will be bought online and delivered. Everything I give will also be related to food or gardening. I have no plans to get stressed out this season!

No milk available this week at all! I guess we all used so much over Thanksgiving or the stores have bought it all up for the Holidays.

We won’t be having baskets on the 27th, that’s a Basic week. I was going to go to Florida, but we are not sure these days. We may just go to the Catskills for a pretty white holiday. The road through there is still washed out from Irene. They say it’ll be finished in February. My last paper will be finished on December 19th. I will then have a Masters degree! WooHoo!!

Enjoy the Season!

Marnie