When you shop this month, please help us by taking the member survey. It will only take a few minutes and your answers will help us improve your Co-op.
The survey will change every month, so please be sure to take it each time!
Thanks!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
2 chances to support the Co-op!
This Saturday, June 28, the Co-op will have an informational booth at The Grand Rapids Water Festival. The Water Festival will be going on ALL DAY at Riverside Park. Be sure to stop by the festival. At the festival you'll be able to eat some local food from some of the vendors, listen to Michigan-based bands (folk, jazz, country, soul, blues, gospel and rock n’ roll) and buy some local art. Check it out at grandrapidswaterfestival.com.
On July 2 at 7 pm we will be at the Wealthy Theatre educating the city on the importance of eating local food. We're teaming up with Common Lens and Slow Foods Potawatomi Convivum to present the provocative and thought-provoking documentary "Genetically Modified Food: Panacea or Poison." The Common Lens Series is made possible by the support of the Dyer-Ives Foundation. Find out more at http://www.grcmc.org/theatre/.
On July 2 at 7 pm we will be at the Wealthy Theatre educating the city on the importance of eating local food. We're teaming up with Common Lens and Slow Foods Potawatomi Convivum to present the provocative and thought-provoking documentary "Genetically Modified Food: Panacea or Poison." The Common Lens Series is made possible by the support of the Dyer-Ives Foundation. Find out more at http://www.grcmc.org/theatre/.
Monday, June 9, 2008
New Policy - Late Pick-ups and forgotten items
Please be aware of this new policy, which goes into effect this shopping cycle.
West Michigan Cooperative Policy for Late Pick-ups and Alternate Pick-up times
If you fail to pick up your order during the designated pick-up day/time or if you cannot make the designated day/time, you must contact the WM Co-op at help@westmichigancoop.com or 616-248-0760 to arrange a time for pick-up at Media Rare within the next two business days (between 9am-5pm on the first business day and between 9am-3:30pm on the second business day).
The following penalties will apply:
Fees will help cover the costs of leaving the coolers/freezers running and the disruption of normal business hours at Media Rare.
At 3:30pm on the 2nd business day all remaining orders will be donated to a local non-profit and members will be responsible for paying their invoice in full within one week of the designated pick-up date by delivering the payment to Media Rare or by sending a check made out to WM Co-op to Jerry Adams at:
Media Rare
1111 Godfrey SW Bldg Q
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Payments must be received in a timely fashion in order to pay our Producers. Failure to receive payment within one week may lead to the cancellation of your membership.
Appeals based on extenuating circumstances will be heard and decisions made based on the discretion of the board.
If you know ahead of time that you will not be able to pick up your order during the designated pick-up period, please try to find someone else to pick up your order for you.
Policy for Forgotten Items
If you realize that you have forgotten an item from your order please
contact the WM Co-op at help@westmichigancoop.com or 616-248-0760 to arrange a time for pick-up at Media Rare within the next two business days (between 9am-5pm on the first business day and between 9am-3:30pm on the second business day). No penalties apply but any items left after two business days will be donated.
West Michigan Cooperative Policy for Late Pick-ups and Alternate Pick-up times
If you fail to pick up your order during the designated pick-up day/time or if you cannot make the designated day/time, you must contact the WM Co-op at help@westmichigancoop.com or 616-248-0760 to arrange a time for pick-up at Media Rare within the next two business days (between 9am-5pm on the first business day and between 9am-3:30pm on the second business day).
The following penalties will apply:
- Pick-up during the next business day - $15 fee
- Pick-up during the 2nd business day - $30 fee
Fees will help cover the costs of leaving the coolers/freezers running and the disruption of normal business hours at Media Rare.
At 3:30pm on the 2nd business day all remaining orders will be donated to a local non-profit and members will be responsible for paying their invoice in full within one week of the designated pick-up date by delivering the payment to Media Rare or by sending a check made out to WM Co-op to Jerry Adams at:
Media Rare
1111 Godfrey SW Bldg Q
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Payments must be received in a timely fashion in order to pay our Producers. Failure to receive payment within one week may lead to the cancellation of your membership.
Appeals based on extenuating circumstances will be heard and decisions made based on the discretion of the board.
If you know ahead of time that you will not be able to pick up your order during the designated pick-up period, please try to find someone else to pick up your order for you.
Policy for Forgotten Items
If you realize that you have forgotten an item from your order please
contact the WM Co-op at help@westmichigancoop.com or 616-248-0760 to arrange a time for pick-up at Media Rare within the next two business days (between 9am-5pm on the first business day and between 9am-3:30pm on the second business day). No penalties apply but any items left after two business days will be donated.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Buying Local - Even When You Eat Out!
An article caught my eye in the paper this past week about another Grand Rapids' restaurant jumping on the "local" bandwagon.
Rockwell's Kitchen and Tap, and Republic, located at 45 S. Division, are actually two distinct restaurants situated next door to each other, sharing a kitchen, but with different flavors and atmospheres. Rockwell's is an American pub, while Republic is a bit more upscale.
According the the GR Press, co-owner, Peter Hamm said he will emphasize using local produce, when its available. It doesn't stop there either, locally made art work adorns the walls.
Both Rockwell's Kitchen and Tap, and Republic join other restaurants in the area that are choosing to create a healthy community by supporting a sustainable and humane food system. Other restaurants doing the same are Bistro Bella Vita, The Green Well, Marie Catrib's and Naya. If you know of any I'm missing, please be sure to let me know by commenting below!
When choosing where to eat out, I'm happy to have another choice that seeks to protect the integrity of the natural environment and our resources. This should be something we should all be thinking about, whether its purchasing an air conditioner from the mom & pop shop down the street, or going to Best Buy. I am even more happy to support businesses that support a humane food system. In fact, there are a few restaurants in town that I refuse to go to because they serve foie gras, refuse to take it off the menu, and do not respond to my letters (*cough cough* Restaurant Bloom and Six One Six).
The entire article can be found on Mlive. Be sure to stop in and say hello. Thank them for buying local, and spread the word of the Coop while you're there.
Rockwell's Kitchen and Tap, and Republic, located at 45 S. Division, are actually two distinct restaurants situated next door to each other, sharing a kitchen, but with different flavors and atmospheres. Rockwell's is an American pub, while Republic is a bit more upscale.
According the the GR Press, co-owner, Peter Hamm said he will emphasize using local produce, when its available. It doesn't stop there either, locally made art work adorns the walls.
Both Rockwell's Kitchen and Tap, and Republic join other restaurants in the area that are choosing to create a healthy community by supporting a sustainable and humane food system. Other restaurants doing the same are Bistro Bella Vita, The Green Well, Marie Catrib's and Naya. If you know of any I'm missing, please be sure to let me know by commenting below!
When choosing where to eat out, I'm happy to have another choice that seeks to protect the integrity of the natural environment and our resources. This should be something we should all be thinking about, whether its purchasing an air conditioner from the mom & pop shop down the street, or going to Best Buy. I am even more happy to support businesses that support a humane food system. In fact, there are a few restaurants in town that I refuse to go to because they serve foie gras, refuse to take it off the menu, and do not respond to my letters (*cough cough* Restaurant Bloom and Six One Six).
The entire article can be found on Mlive. Be sure to stop in and say hello. Thank them for buying local, and spread the word of the Coop while you're there.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Slow Food Potawatomi Convivium
I'm just discovering Slow Food. Slow Food is an organization that believes that pleasure and quality in everyday life can be achieved by slowing down, respecting the convivial traditions of the table and celebrating the diversity of the earth's bounty. From the spice of Cajun cooking to the delicious simplicity of produce at a farmers’ market; from animal breeds and heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables to handcrafted wine and beer, farmhouse cheeses and other artisanal products; these foods are a part of our cultural identity.In essence, they believe in a food system that is good, clean and fair.
- Good: Naturally delicious food created with care from healthy plants and animals.
- Clean: Grown and harvested with methods that have a positive impact on ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Fair: Produced by people who are treated with dignity and justly compensated for their labor.
Thankfully, for us West Michiganders, there is a local chapter. The local chapter, Slow Food Potawatomi Convivium, just started up a blog. Their blog highlights all the cool events that they are putting together. They have put together some screening of The Real Dirt on Farmer John on June 3 and 5 at two Schuler's Books locations in GR. There is also a Garlic Festival and Tomato Tasting Weekend coming up.
Be sure to check out their blog. To join Slow Food or get more info, contact their president, Amy Sherman.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Library's Indoor Farmer's Market
A handful of West Michigan Coop sellers participated in the Grand Rapids Public Library's Indoor Farmer's Market during the Library's Earth Week Celebration.
The West Michigan Coop had a booth and were able to meet new people and talk with them about the importance of shopping for local food. The farmers also connected with a new audience and got to show off their stuff, like Dog Wood Farm's Goat Lady, Barbara Jenness, pictured on the left.
While people shopped, the Coop gave a presentation about the coop and how to get involved. Afterwards, the library showed some films on the impact large factory farms have had on the family run farm and the environment.
Hundreds of people came out and it was a huge success. Thanks again to everyone who participated, sold, and shopped!
Here's George and Shelia Wright from H&W Farms posing with all their goodies!
Betsy Meerman from Grassfields Cheese manned her booth all day handing out cheese samples and raw milk from their Green Pastures cow share program.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Water - Think Global - Act Local
Dr. Todd Jarvis will be speaking on the geography of the world-wide water crisis. He will present information on how individuals can become involved in solutions to improve the water challenges we face today in our world and in our communities.
Todd Jarvis has 20 years experience as a hydrogeologist and is an expert on a range of complex water management issues. He is a member of the faculty of Oregon State University Water Resources Graduate Program. Todd is the Associate Director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds.
Event is on April 24 at 7:30 pm
Room 403
Mars Hill Bible Church
2501 Fairlanes Ave SW
Grandville, MI
If you have any question please contact Holly duMond at dumond@comcast.net
Todd Jarvis has 20 years experience as a hydrogeologist and is an expert on a range of complex water management issues. He is a member of the faculty of Oregon State University Water Resources Graduate Program. Todd is the Associate Director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds.
Event is on April 24 at 7:30 pm
Room 403
Mars Hill Bible Church
2501 Fairlanes Ave SW
Grandville, MI
If you have any question please contact Holly duMond at dumond@comcast.net
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