Please Read!

I’m very excited! The Co-op soon will be changing over to an application where the members can control their baskets and payments online called CSAware. The software is owned by Local Harvest, which many of you know. I have found them to be a tremendous asset in running this co-operative. 

Here in the beginning, you will have the choice to stay as a cash or check paying member, or switch over to CSAware. With CSAware, all your payments, except the last minute refrigerator decisions, will automatically be made by credit card each week, and you can add, change and cancel baskets in your private members account.

I have been working with the CSAware team and the website is almost complete. For ease of set up we will ask each of you to claim your membership online in the next few weeks (you will receive an email invite from CSAware). If for any reason, you have trouble with the site, you can always email or call me and I will correct the problem.

Choosing to move to this automated system, removes the guesswork from the billing. I will no loner need to send out emails asking if you paid because there is loose cash and no payment record from you. I also will not have to spend hours each week inputting the payments, and can spend that time on other aspects of the co-op that are demanding attention.

Again, If you would rather stay with paying by cash or check, please feel free to stay with the present system. CSAware is not hooked in to the website yet, but will be soon. So stay tuned!

Co-op Vacation!

Co-op vacation weeks will be August 16th and 23rd. We will have no baskets those two weeks.

Enjoy! 

Marnie

Going Solar!

Please forgive me for the roofing. They were supposed to be done by today, but the rain last week set them back. It’s actually very exciting. Tomorrow I am getting solar panels put on my roof! I did my homework and found a reputable firm. I have a tree that is a little in the way but I can still get 1/3 of my electricity from the panels. If the tree wasn’t there it would be 1/2 to 2/3. Being from the Shade Tree Commission I couldn’t just simply cut down such a big beautiful healthy tree!

If any of you have any questions about the process or contacts, please phone me. I am very willing to help out.  :-)

Co-op Vacation!

I have finally decided! My vacation weeks will be August 16th and 23rd. We will have no baskets those two weeks.

Enjoy Your Summer! 

Marnie

Local Produce Has Begun

The apples, kale, and kohlrabi are from NY state, Blueberries, onions, and lettuce are NJ, yams are NC, and peas are MD. As the weeks progress we will be getting more from even more local sources. We have four reputable certified organic sources and are working on a fifth that is in Andover, NJ.

The local farms are sending the produce to us in cases, not prepackaged. Items like the blueberries, we have to package ourselves, so I would appreciate it if you bring back your berry boxes. This week we are using paper cups, but I have purchased the green paper cartons for future use. Please do not throw them out! They are relatively expensive so please return especially them for reuse, unless of course they are soiled. 

Thank you all for getting your vacation times to me. I will have our vacation schedule out within the next 2 weeks. 

Don’t forget your watermelon!

Enjoy Your Summer! 

Marnie

Local Produce Has Begun

The apples, spinach, lettuce, and cilantro are from NY state, peaches from SC, Blueberries are NJ, and peas are MD. As the weeks progress we will be getting more from even more local sources. We have four reputable certified organic sources and are working on a fifth that is in Andover, NJ.

The local farms are sending the produce to us in cases, not prepackaged. Items like the blueberries, we have to package ourselves, so I would appreciate it if you bring back your berry boxes. This week we are using paper cups, but I have purchased the green paper cartons for future use. Please do not throw them out! They are relatively expensive so please return especially them for reuse, unless of course they are soiled. 

Rolls, Rolls, Rolls - Food Preparations Class 

Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM 

There are many ways to make a roll using some of your favorite ingredients. Spring time is the season to begin to lighten up the menu and making rolls stuffed with fresh raw and cooked vegetables and grains is a perfect way to lighten your load.

Montclair Environmental Movie Night: The Farmer and The Horse 

Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 6:30 PM 

Montclair Public Library - 50 South Fullerton Montclair, NJ 

A story about a landless farmer, a non-conformist, and an escaped office worker...The Montclair Environmental Affairs office and Community Green present another eye-opening environmental movie from their Green Film Series.

Enjoy! Marnie

VitaMix

One of our members has a connection to get the fabulous VitaMix blender with free shipping. They need to place an order with 3 or more to get free shipping. Her pricing is cheaper than the Costco pricing on their website. Contact Deb Stark at debragreccostark@weighbetternutrition.net  

Variable Speed Control - Turbo Blend VS Black           MSRP $549   Minimum advertised price - my retail price - $449  

Without Variable Speed Control - Turbo Blend 4500                $499  - my retail price - $399            

The Brand Chosen By Leading Chefs Worldwide

• Variable Speed Control you control the blades allowing for flexibility and creativity - fine chop, grind or fully blend ingredients, all in one container
• POWERFUL 2 PEAK MOTOR HORSEPOWER propels the blade tip speed up to 240 mph to blend even the toughest ingredients.
• BPA-FREE, SHATTER-PROOF CONTAINER WITH 64 OZ. OF TRUE BLENDING CAPACITY designed to create a powerful vortex to force ingredients up from the blades and back down the center for thorough processing.
• METAL-TO-METAL CONTAINER-TO-BASE COUPLING for maximum durability and long life.
• SPILL-PROOF LID WITH REMOVABLE LID PLUG seals securely allowing ingredients to be added while processing.
• The TAMPER allows for processing thick, dense ingredients and prevents air pockets from forming.
• “LET’S GET STARTED!” DVD featuring an Eco-Lifestylist and Raw Food Author, Nut Milk Bag, and “Live Fresh” Recipe Book with easel-back design containing more than 200 raw, vegan, and vegetarian recipes.TU

Enjoy! Marnie

Summer is Here!

Please get your vacation schedules to me!

I’m putting together the summer plans and we will take a few weeks off, but exactly what weeks those are will depend a great deal on how many people take off when. We hope to start our local produce next week. Keep your fingers crossed!

I hope you all had fabulous Memorial Day Celebrations. Mine was very good. I have to say the Centennial Committee is doing a terrific job for Mountain Lake’s 100 year anniversary!

Court of Appeals Dismisses Monsanto's Appeal of Biotech Beets Case

May 20th the U.S. Court of Appeals issued a summary order concluding a long-standing lawsuit over the impacts of genetically engineered (GE) "Roundup Ready" sugar beets.  As a result, previous court rulings in favor of farmers and conservation advocates will remain, including the order requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prepare a rigorous review of the impacts of GE sugar beets, engineered to be resistant to Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, before deciding whether to again allow their future commercial use.
Center for Food Safety (CFS) attorney George Kimbrell: "Today's order cements a critical legal benchmark in the battle for meaningful oversight of biotech crops and food.  Because of this case, there will be public disclosure and debate on the harmful impacts of these pesticide-promoting crops, as well as legal protections for farmers threatened by contamination."

More: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_23267.cfm

Enjoy! Marnie

Woo Hoo!! School’s out!

For me anyway. I finished everything for this semester at 7:30 last night. Now for a few weeks of R&R in my garden and back to summer school. I didn’t want to do it that way, but if I plan to finish by December, I need to.

Anyway, the produce is being sourced closer and closer. Sorry for the asparagus from Mexico the other week. My sales rep didn’t flag me on that which she usually does. We will be starting with Karley again this summer. It looks like the week of June 14th or 21st. Please get me your summer vacation schedules when you get them!

We will be changing over the website to one that is a little more automated this summer. You will each be able to manage your own accounts with what baskets you choose and even pay safely through the site. This will be my summer project, getting this up and running. I like to make it so people don’t have to change a thing if they don’t want to. 

Recycling Efforts

We like to use paper that has been used on one side for the invoices and NewsLetters. If any of you have some, please help out and just leave it in the garage when you pick up. We have had a few sources, but are finding we could use more these days. Thanks to all who supply us!

I hope you are all enjoying your spring. I like that the weather is getting into the 70’s these days. It’s my favorite temperature zone.

Enjoy! Marnie