It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and we’re all poised to craft time with friends and family. Food will be prepared and ovens warmed as respite against the cold as we ease into fall weather - the sleepy cozy of winter already seeping in.

The seasons fold into each other much more quietly this time of year, and love is a particular focus: families--both of-origin and chosen--are so special in light of another pandemic year filled with its own challenges. 

We hope that, wherever you are, we can help you craft a meal with those you love. There are still some turkeys left, and Field Day canned veggies are on sale, as are Imagine veggie and chicken broths. We have canned cranberry sauce and fresh cranberries in produce. Our veggies are here and ready for all your sides and additions. Baking ingredients like Wholesome Cane Sugar and King Arthur’s flours are key along with Let’s Do Organic coconut flakes and Dandies vegan marshmallows. Don’t forget to grab a few extra cans of pumpkin and some of our seasonal squashes.

We understand that crafting memories and resting from this year and the last one deserves good ingredients: we hope you’ll be able to lean on us for that!

As always, we’ll carry our local farms and brands: plenty of Creature Comfort beer, local wines, Luna bread, and local gift items. 

Our hours of operation are the same except for the day of Thanksgiving (Thursday, the 25th); on that day, we’ll be open from 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM. Next week, our normal hours will resume: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM and Saturday - Sunday, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM.

Purchasing from the Daily Groceries Co-op will not only help us continue providing the goods we do, it helps us continue programs like Food For All and Wholesome Wave’s Georgia Fresh for Less program. If you round up for Daily Change at the register, you benefit the chosen recipient for the month: Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition. When you support your local co-op, you’re leveraging your purchasing power away from capitalist systems that degrade sustainability. With Daily, you’re supporting your neighbor and helping provide for a community. 

Here’s to a good season! Happy November. 

HOW TO MAKE DAILY’S VEGETABLE SOUP!

We sat down with our Fresh Manager, Laura, to take some notes on how she makes Daily’s delicious veggie soup!

Keep in mind that Laura tenderly refers to this soup as her “Garbage Soup” since you can put anything in there and it turns out yummy! This is a great recipe for tossing in all those veggies sitting in your fridge that are getting a little past their prime.

Our ingredients list is a great place to start basing what flavors you want to incorporate into your soup - but don’t be afraid to experiment! You can throw in everything but the kitchen sink!

Fresh Manager Tip:

“I like to keep it simple as far as ingredients go. I start with a short veggie list, since I like to use a large amount of each vegetable. Big portions of each veggie makes sure the soup is hearty and healthy.”

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How it’s done:

All you really need to do is chop, sauté, & toss everything together!

Laura has included some helpful tips below for everyone who wants to
follow along step-by-step!

1 — Making your broth.

The broth is where the magic happens. Get a good broth going and it just doesn't matter what you toss in the soup - follow along to get a great broth!

2 — Grab your soup pot and toss in the mirepoix + a heathy pour of olive oil.

I love to begin with Daily’s mirepoix (chopped onion, celery, carrots and bell peppers), a fantastic soup starter! It makes things convenient & easy without sacrificing quality. We chop everything fresh, in house, so our pre-cut veggies don’t need any additives or preservatives to survive miles of highway! Just fresh veggies, chopped for you, where you live.

Get that sautéing over a medium low heat. Whatever olive oil you prefer is great, we recommend La Riojana’s olive oil for it’s blend of spicy and sweet notes!

3 — While your soup pot is sautéing, chop up another onion and peel+chop more carrots. Throw those bad boys in!

4 — Salt generously.

You can think about adding more olive oil now, depending on what's going on in the pot.

5 — Add your chopped and/or minced garlic.

I like a lot because it is so healthful and a great anti-inflammatory —and just delicious.

6 — Now it is time to add chopped potatoes.

Now, red potatoes are the best soup potatoes because they will retain shape as they cook and won't disintegrate like other potatoes.

7 — Salt generously. Stir. Add herbs and spices. Stir.

Turmeric, ginger, ground pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, garlic granules… plus anything that sounds good to you!

Typically I like to be generous in my measurements because we will be adding water, but remember you can always add more, so beginning with about a teaspoon of each and adding more as necessary, to suit your taste will work out well.

I love putting turmeric in everything because it is so mild BUT SO GOOD FOR YOU. Ground or minced fresh are both great, also adds beautiful color. I firmly believe food is medicine and this is a great way to boost your immunity.

Ginger provides all the good stuff turmeric does, plus it adds an interesting, savory depth.

Curry powder is my favorite secret ingredient - here you want to be fairly conservative because it can be overpowering (though some people like that); but it adds a beautiful homey warmth. If you're making it at home, i'd recommend a hefty teaspoon.

8 — Add chopped zucchini + cherry tomatoes.

Zucchini will definitely fall apart because it is so soft; we must practice acceptance.

I like to cut the cherry tomatoes in half, but do what you want - this is your rodeo!

9 — Here comes the tomato paste + sugar.

The sugar balances the acidity; you won't taste it, i promise!

10 — Now we add water.

Add enough to fill your soup pot to your desired amount for your end result. (Broth to veggie ratios are like ____).

11 — Toss in 2 bouillon cubes.

(Okay... 3… I just like flavor).

12 — Taste your broth and adjust as necessary

Remember that potatoes soak up a whole lot of salt, so this is an important step. (Conversely, if it is too salty, you can add more potatoes and it will balance back out... just a little pro tip from our General Manager, Kara).

13 — Now bring it all to a rolling boil.

Cover your pot (but leave it a little open for steam to escape) and turn the temp down to medium. Let it cook on medium for 20ish minutes- until the potatoes are tender.

While this is happening, if i am at home, I will make some pasta on the side to serve with the soup (like veggie noodle soup- you can add it directly to your soup but it will get mushy, so this is why i keep it separated).

14 — When your potatoes are done, turn it off!

15 — Now we add in shredded greens

Any will do, but I like curly kale because it’s so hearty. Mix them in, letting them wilt and come to temp.

16 — Serve with warm bread and butter.

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INGREDIENTS

Veggies to add some heart:

• Carrots

• Onion

• Celery

• Green bell pepper

• Potatoes

• Zucchini

• Curly kale

• Cherry tomatoes

• Apprx 1.5 Tablespoons of tomato paste

• 2-3 Veggie bouillon cubes

• Laura’s also been known to also toss in cauliflower, radishes, shallots, etc...

Herbs & spices to keep you warm:

Start with a teaspoon of each, add more to taste.

• Turmeric

• Ginger

• Curry Powder

• Basil

• Oregano

• Garlic granules

• + 1 tablespoon of sugar

By Jenny Gallucci, Board Member

One of my favorite things about Athens is the fact that I can cross most of town in 15 minutes. 

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Athens offers a vibrant music and art scene, a bounty of local restaurants and foods, top-notch brews, and a little bit of something for everyone. It’s got everything - all in a smaller city of just over 100,000 people. A lot of the things that make Athens great are central to downtown and accessible by foot or by bike. 

Every year I look forward to fall days strolling through town, admiring the stunning yellow gingko trees, walking to my favorite bar in Normaltown, and of course biking to my favorite local grocery store—a short 7 minutes away from my apartment. 

The Daily Groceries Co-op originally took the place of a Bell’s which was located at 197 Prince Avenue. When that Bell’s closed its doors permanently in 1992, Daily opened theirs. Since then, Daily has remained incredibly resilient, offering a unique and essential service to many Athenians. 

The Daily Groceries Co-op is committed to offering a variety of transportation options to make the shop the most accessible it can be. Daily invites you to walk right up to the big apple hanging over the front door, stop-by on your bike, or drive up to the side door.

Plus, it’s the only grocery store in Athens that offers bike benefits!

As many large grocery chains have come to be characterized by sprawling (and often dangerous) parking lots, Daily offers blocks of scenic neighborhood parking. The chains buy up locations just off major roads or highways, Daily is located on the edge of downtown - in a convenient but not overly bustling area. The seemingly endless aisles that turn grocery shopping into a maze are simplified at Daily, you can always find what you need within minutes. 

If you’re looking for a grocery store that’s a short bike ride away, a regular in-and-out pit stop on your way home from work, and the go-to place to pick up some basics - Daily is the place for you.

Bike Daily! Eat Daily! 

the fire-starters

Our friends at Smokey Road Farm brought by lots of perfectly-tied bundles of firewood this morning, bright and early. Now your Co-op has firewood bundles just in time for the cold weather!

Leave these convenient bundles out by the hearth for as long as you need - they’ll brighten any room (or fire pit!) they’re in. They’re also better for your family and for the Earth than most of the other accessible firewood in town. No chemical treatments. No deforestation. No miles of highway pollution. Just local wood chopped by local folks - who also happen to be familiar faces as Daily Co-op Owner-Members!

Learn more about this firewood from the folks at Smokey Road Farm themselves! Read below to hear about the oak tree that will be keeping you warm this year.

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From Smokey Road Farm

So here’s the story. Mother Nature gratefully supplied the material for our all-natural fire starter kit. This year, we are giving back some warmth through a 100-year-old white oak tree felled by a lightning storm 2 years ago. 

At Smokey Road Farm, we only use 100% naturally felled oak firewood seasoned for 2 years minimum. No chemicals, no cutting down living trees, and absolutely no deforestation practice.

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The kit includes: large and medium logs, small kindling pieces, an all-natural fire starter with matches – tied together in a bundle with hemp twine. The entire kit can be burned. Just place it in your fireplace or pit and strike a match.

Thank you tree - for your light and warmth.

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Stop by the Co-op or order online to pick up a fire starter kit.

See you soon!

board election time is coming up! Wanna join? Click here!

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About the Pillars

Cooperative governance is all about guiding the vision of the Co-op toward success. It’s about stewardship of a community-owned asset and answering the big questions about roles, responsibilities, expectations, and accountability. 

Within a co-op, regardless of role, everyone gets to hold responsibility for working together effectively, for being accountable, for empowering each other. We all help each other remain focused on purpose and we’re all responsible for ensuring a healthy democracy. Since we’re all a part of “The Circle of Accountability,” our staff, our board, and our owner-members are all connected. The board is responsible for steering the direction of the Co-op, making key decisions, working together for common goals— but The Four Pillar model and its intentions apply to every role within the Co-op by providing some guide-rails to our thought and action.

In order to properly care for our community-owned shop and answer the questions of running it, we need both big picture guides and specific skills & processes & tools. This is where the pillar model helps guide board thought!

The Pillars 

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Teaming

Teaming is about successfully working together to achieve common purpose. This is the most obvious component. It’s all about learning together and being able to maintain a supportive group culture - even when there’s disagreements or places to grow.

Accountable Empowerment

Accountable Empowerment is about successfully empowering people while at the same time holding them accountable. 

On behalf of the owners, a board delegates power - to each other and to the general manager. A powerful board and a powerful GM are an ideal combo of support and community focused growth. 

Accountability is maintained and vigilantly preserved by having clear expectations, assigning responsibility, and checking in. We ensure accountability through a Policy Governance model which structures role clarity, accountability, and focus.

Strategic Leadership

Democracy

Strategic Leadership is about successfully articulating the cooperative’s direction/purpose and setting up the organization for movement toward that goal. 

Strategic leadership is about defining purpose and setting direction. How can the cooperative most effectively meet owner needs? How can it distinguish itself in the marketplace? What should the co-op achieve?

Boards need to be able to learn and build wisdom together in order to develop foresight and make informed decisions. Boards need a way to free up board agendas to focus on strategic thinking and have a process for building the knowledge pool. 

Democracy is about successfully practicing, protecting, promoting, and perpetuating our healthy democracies.

Democracy in cooperatives is about more than voting. A healthy democracy gives owners opportunities to meaningfully participate in reflection and change in their organization. All owners have the right to participate in the co-op regardless of their wealth, investment, or patronage. Owners are entitled to information, voice, and representation, and boards must understand the diverse needs of their owners.

The board is challenged to build alignment & shared understanding among owners about choices the co-op needs to make. Ownership and democracy are at the heart of what makes a co-op different from other businesses! Take part in this process and run for the board!

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Board Elections are coming up!

Want to run? Apply here!

Our board is staying busy! We’ve got some (very) tentative planning going on for our virtual annual meeting, policy governance is getting checked off as usual, and we’ve got board elections coming up soon.

With election time quickly approaching, we’re asking our members to run for the board - or to send a text to their favorite up-and-comers telling them to rep their co-op! A strong board means a strong co-op, which means we can do more for the Athens community. 

Voting for the board is a major component of membership and running for the board is a way to directly help steer the vision of Daily. Take a look at what the board is all about and then send us a note with any questions! The Board Candidate Packet and Application is right here - it includes more info and walks you through how to apply!

The Board

Our board has five active members right now, and after this election we’ll be seven board-members strong! Four seats will be open during this up-coming election, meaning we’ll have lots of space for fresh faces and new ideas.

The role of the Board is to establish a vision for the future of the Co-op and govern the cooperative towards these ends. At Daily, our Board governs via our By-Laws and our Policy Register. In addition to governance, the Board provides fiduciary and management oversight.

Our Ends Policy is used to guide our organization in every decision that we make. The general manager regularly reports on Daily’s progress toward achieving our Ends. Meaning that during every board meeting our general manager reports on a policy to let the board know whether we’re doing everything in accordance with that policy on the Co-op floor and the board votes to approve (“Yea”), disapprove (“Nay”), or alter the operational definition of that policy (“Wait, y’all - quick question”). 

Being on the board also offers a lot of opportunities to lead subcommittees - Are you great at organizing communications? Do you plan the best video-conference parties the neighborhood has ever seen? Do your accounting books stay flawless? If so, there’s a sub-committee that needs you!

Being on Daily’s board is really all about helping our community food co-op stay pointed in the right direction and helping to hold Daily accountable to the policies that govern it. 

Remember, all it takes to run is a membership with Daily and an application!

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By Kara Brown, General Manager

Being a grocery store is never just being a grocery store.

And part of being a cooperative is taking responsibility for your role in the community.

Grocery stores are designed to make you buy more.  To buy what you don't need.  Even as I say that, I know -- there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself, splurging, or trying something new and different.  But we don't want to be in the business of buy, buy, buy.  We want to be the facilitator of you getting what you need.  In the easiest, safest, most empowering, and the most fun way that you can.

We want to be sustainable.  We want to help you live sustainably.  All to keep reaching toward the kind of world we want to live in. There is a lot of work to be done to create that kind of world and there are many things in society that need to be repaired right now.

Maybe part of what we are repairing is our relationship with food and the food industry.  Maybe we can build a model based on value, not volume.  On valuing the worker and the producer, not just the product.  Maybe we can actually be in the business of nurturing.

Retail food workers are called ‘essential workers’ now.  The fact is, we were always essential workers.  The people working in retail food businesses, whether co-ops or independents or chains, were always essential to getting good quality food to your plate;  they are a vital link in the food supply chain.  People who have made careers out of working in cooperatives and grocery stores and restaurants and the retail community are integral to our communities.  It’s a pleasure and a privilege to feed people.  And it’s also a great responsibility.

Our goal is to offer you value. Not only value in the food we sell you, but value in customer service & care, and value in your community.

Though Daily can’t go head to head with other retailers on every price point, we are offering a different kind of shopping experience.  When you purchase an item from Daily, it might be a little more expensive than another store, but that extra 50 cents, that extra dollar, that goes to pay your neighbor.  When you buy that apple or that sammie or that coconut water, you are directly contributing toward the fundamental well-being of the person in front of you. That person being a co-op team member, a farmer dropping off the produce they picked that morning, or a local maker stopping by to pick up their wholesale order.

For three decades now, our food systems have been industrialized, farmers have been marginalized, and food workers across the supply chain have been taken for granted and underpaid.  No food tag on any shelf in any store reflects the true cost of food.  Rather than continue the race to the bottom, Daily wants to steer our organization and our community toward the valuing and nourishing of human beings.

We have access to programs through our new membership with National Cooperative Grocers that give us the support and flexibility to offer our customers and members more dollar value, which is especially important in these uncertain times.  This week, we get to introduce Co+op Basics, which features everyday low pricing on the Field Day organic line of food, as well as certain items on other national brands, such as AppleGate and Seventh Generation.  We have some great in-store coupons, and by this fall, we will have monthly promos that will offer great discounts on national brands.  Plus, we always have immediate and direct savings available on owner-member special orders and local partner wholesale orders.  We will continue developing ways to get you the best food, at the most holistic price, all in quantities that allow you stock up or reduce packaging while saving money.

Where we put our money matters. We have seen the direct impact of spending money locally. We are supported by you and our local partners, and because of that we are able to turn that around and hand it right back. 

That’s why we feel so lucky to offer so many local items. The local items on our shelves and in your carts represent direct financial support of our local farmers, makers, and their teams. Local means high quality products, and a reliable supply, which is essential as disruptions in the food system continue. Buying local demonstrates a vibrant community which has the drive to support itself and love it’s members. Supporting local upholds our vision of contributing directly to the well-being of the person in front of you.

We cannot do this alone.  It will take government action.  It will take the subsidizing of everyday needs, rather than simply the structures at the top of the food chain.  And it will also take trust and patronage from you.

Our world already needed to be remade. We knew that.  We are not letting ourselves excuse or fight or buy our way out of it anymore. The only thing left is to make it happen.

Buying groceries can be a revolutionary act. Join us on the journey of what a tiny co-op can become in a new world.

By Sage Rios, Wellness Buyer

We’ve got a few shelf highlights from our Wellness Department! All these folks are doing their part to care for Earth and we want to show them some love today!

Dayempur Farms Herbals:

This farm is located in Carbondale, Illinois. They nurture organic herbs on their 80 year old, natural farm and strive to keep their air, water, and soil as free from modern, industrial toxins as possible. They sustainably care for their land and provide their community with opportunities to learn about the benefits of herbs, how to maintain them in your home garden, and how to naturally care for yourself and your family. Daily carries their products in support of their mission to provide natural, organic herbal remedies to communities across the country. Be on the lookout for their demo once we get pass this virus! 

Here’s a few product recommendations from our team:

• Boo Boo Spray - Our wellness buyer used this when her dog found some poison ivy in her yard. It helped alleviate itching, rash, and inflammation. It can also be used for any cuts!

• Elecampane herbal tincture - This is great for keeping the respiratory system healthy. It helps strengthen lungs and bronchial passages. 

• Mullein Leaf herbal tincture - You can use this as a natural decongestant.

• Ear Oil - Use this to alleviate ear infections. Children can use it too.

• Breast Friend - This product is great for those who are breastfeeding or have any inflammation in the breast. It contains calendula and vitamin E. It’s great for people who have sensitive skin because it doesn't contain any essential oils.

• Herbal Salve - This little container is great to use for injuries. For one, it's nice and compacted; two, it has Daily's cute logo; and three, it can be used on cuts, bruises, burns, or dry skin.

• Bug Repellent - This is great natural alternative for bug spray. It’s good for sensitive skin and can be used on children. 

Jack n' Jill:

This company is based out of Australia. Their mission is to provide natural dental products for children and families while minimizing wastes. All of their packaging is recyclable and their toothbrush handles are biodegradable!

A few of our favorites:

• Teething Gel - Our wellness buyer has used this for her 4 month old's itchy gums. It has provided relief and they don't mind the taste! The great thing about this product that it is plant-based and natural.

• Children's Toothbrushes - They have cute little characters on them, come in fun flavors, and are biodegradable.

HeartSong Herbs:

This local farm provides the Athens community with local, organic herbal tincture that have been carefully nurtured in their greenhouse. They also host a local, medicinal herbs plant sale once a year to make medicinal herbs more accessible within the Athens community! 

• Allergy Tonic - This is great to combat the intensity of Georgia's allergens.

• Spirit Lift - With everything that is affected by the virus, it’s normal to feel a tad blue or out of place. This is great to use to help shift your perspective.

• Stay Well - This is a great immunity boost! Taking this before getting sick can really help with fighting off upcoming illnesses. Along with healthy eating and habits, of course.

• Reishi - It’s a great immunity boost. Reishi in particular can aid in better sleep quality, coping with stress, and combatting allergens.

• Echinacea - This is a traditional herbal preventative for many illnesses.

SunSoil CBD:

This company is located in Vermont. Their mission is to provide the community with natural, high quality CBD while keeping the price affordable. They provide their local farmers and community opportunities to learn how to sustainably grow hemp. 

We’d recommend:

• CBD cinnamon - This is the high potency formula (and we’d say it’s our favorite flavor). If you don’t like the herby taste of most CBD tinctures, you’ll like this.

• CBD chocolate mint - Our General Manager highly recommends adding this to your coffee. It’s a perfect treat!

• CBD Capsules - Convenient, easy dosing without the fuss of a tincture.

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Resources:

• Info on Elecampane

• Info on Mullien

• Info on Ear Oil

By Sage Rios

I think we all share very similar experiences at the moment, and that can be a point for us to relate to one another. We are all uncertain of what will result from this pandemic; we are uncertain if we will have a functional local economy; we are uncertain if we will be able to pay the bills; we don't know if we are going to get sick. These are all very real and scary possibilities, and there is no way to predict how things will turn out. 

It would be very easy to surrender to our fears and the panic that surrounds us, however, that would only breed more fear and panic. There are other options for us that allow us to empower ourselves, our community, despite our circumstances.

What we can do is take this time and allow ourselves to work with what we are given:  a chance to slow down from our day-to-day lives or a chance to serve our community. Acknowledge what our power is as an individual and allow that to be the focus of this time. This is the time to connect yourself to the people you love, the community you love, and the world around you with fresh eyes. 

For those who are social distancing, that doesn't mean you have to disconnect yourself from the world. This is a chance to give yourself some much needed 'you-time'. Get back into the hobbies you haven't been able to make time for. Take a walk outside (still practice social distancing outdoors, and wear a mask, bandana, or scarf if needed) and enjoy nature and our city. Make that phone call to a loved one that you have not been able to make due to your busy life. Read that book that is patiently waiting for you on the shelf to pick up and enjoy. Clean and disinfect your house! Maybe that will spark some inspiration to redecorate or reignite your appreciation for your surroundings. Take the time to re-envision your home. 

Find a way you can support your community. Everyone has something that they can bring to the table. If you are able, look for mutual aid groups around town and contribute your efforts.

One of the biggest ways we can contribute is taking care of ourselves and our family to slow down the spread of the virus. By boosting our immune systems, self-isolating when we can, and practicing social distancing, we are being respectful to those who continue to serve us as well as those who are at high risk. That doesn't mean we can't share a warm smile from behind our masks or offer assistance to our neighbors who need groceries.

Here are some things you can include in your day to boost your immune system:

• Ginger

• Elderberry

• Astragalus Root

• Ginseng

• Maca Root

• Olive Leaf

• Spirulina

• Exercise

• Water

• Leafy greens

• Activities to reduce stress

• A cold shower

• Practice Yoga or Meditation

Most importantly, if you feel the urge to rest, just allow yourself to act on it. Everyone needs to rest. This is the time to recharge yourself so that you can adapt to what is about to come, whatever that may be. 

For those who are working to serve their community at this time, we greatly appreciate your service. Your sacrifice of time and your own rest allows us to feel safe and reassured. We will continue to do our part in aiding your service by making a conscious effort to keep ourselves, my family, and my community healthy. Thank you for all that you are contributing during this time. Your work does not go unnoticed nor is it taken for granted. 

Whatever your role during this crisis, your actions make a massive contribution to the collective, which is why we must be mindful about what we are bringing with us as we engage with our environment.  

Take care of yourself. Be aware and accept all that you feel. Don't forget that everything passes and this will too. Don't be afraid to ask for help at this time because we are all in this together. We will continue to rebuild our community and strengthen it.

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References:

Buijze, G. A., Sierevelt, I. N., van der Heijden, B. C., Dijkgraaf, M. G., & Frings-Dresen, M. H. (2016). The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PloS one, 11(9), e0161749. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161749

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). (2020, March 13). Retrieved March 20, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). (2020, March 18). Retrieved March 20, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html

Ripley, A. (2020, March 17). Opinion | Four ways to help prevent loneliness while you're social distancing. Retrieved March 20, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/17/combating-loneliness-an-age-self-quarantine/

To our co-op members, customers, and staff:

After the Clarke County ordinance passed on March 19th, and in an effort to keep our staff and customers as safe as possible, while also still providing for our community, we are changing store hours, effective immediately.

• Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays (days we get large deliveries), we will be open from 8am-7pm.

• Tuesdays & Wednesdays, we will be open 10am-7pm.

• Saturdays & Sundays, we will be open 10am-5pm.

These hours are still subject to change as our circumstances change, and we will keep you updated as best we can.

For the health and safety of everyone, we request that people attempt to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Reserve the first hour of the business day for high-risk customers.

• Even when waiting in the area outside our store, practice social distancing with customers and staff.

• Use credit or debit cards whenever possible instead of cash.

• Use the hand sanitizer provided.  We also have gloves available.

We will be offering curbside pickup for customers, which will require payment over the phone with a card.  This service is for all customers, not just members.  For curbside pickup, email orders@daily.coop with your list and your phone number, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.  Please allow up to 24 hours for an order to be fulfilled.  Check our website for inventory lists, and be aware that some items may be out of stock or unavailable.

Besides curbside pick-up, we also have limited delivery through Cosmic Delivery, which you can access via their website.  For members, we can also do special orders, which you can pick up at the store, or have curbside pick-up.

Finally, and most importantly:  we are no longer allowing customers in the store.  Our little co-op is too small to allow staff and customers to manage their space in a healthy manner.  We are setting up a POS terminal at the front door, where we can take your orders.  Anything that we have in the store is available to shop for.  Our staff will simply pick and pack your order themselves; you will pay at the front door; and then you will pick up your bag at the side door on Pope Street.  This is a big experiment, but one that we hope will work for all stakeholders.  Think of it as going back to the days of full-service general stores.

Stay posted for more details and circumstances for all of our community continues to change.

Thank you for your support during these uncertain times.  Be safe.  Be well.  Be excellent to each other.

Helpful tips to celebrate (a belated) National Kidney Day with some healthy habits! 

 The kidneys serve a very important role in detoxing waste from our bodies. As most know, drinking about half of one's weight in water (but in ounces not pounds!) makes the body happy and healthy. This practice keeps our circulatory system active! However, there are two great herbs that also helps maintain kidney health. They are turmeric and ginger!

In turmeric, the curcumin aids in blood circulation, contains antioxidants, and reduces inflammation (Taylor, 2020). One can simply add this colorful rhizome into their diet by adding it into their food, cooked or raw. There are also supplements that are convenient to take when you're out of your local rhizome. The best tip for picking out an efficient turmeric supplement is checking to see if black pepper is added or remind yourself to add it to your routine (prep it in a meal to go with your supplement or grab a pinch and swallow the crushed pepper and supplement with water). The black pepper allows the curcumin to become more bioavailable (Axe, 2019). 

Ginger, oh, ginger. This lovely rhizome is related to turmeric which is why it holds similar properties such as containing antioxidants and reducing inflammation. It has been used to treat colds for thousands of years (Bode and Dong, 2011)! Like turmeric, it is also easy to include ginger into your cooking! If you're looking for a small kick in the flavor department, look no further because it has it all. Finding ginger supplements or tinctures is also very convenient if on the go or feeling some congestion. 

Here is a little recipe for a tea that is great for any detoxing practice:

1 1/2 thumbs of ginger
1 thumb of turmeric
1 tsp. of dried thyme
A shake of ground cinnamon
10 whole cloves
A shake of ground cardamom
2 shakes of ground black pepper
32 ounces of boiling water

Steep and enjoy with milk or favorite milk alternative! 

References:

Axe, J. (2019, March 15). Turmeric and Curcumin: Can This Herb Really Combat Disease? Retrieved March 10, 2020, from https://draxe.com/nutrition/turmeric-curcumin-benefits/

Bode AM, Dong Z. The Amazing and Mighty Ginger. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 7. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/ 

Hewlings, S. J., & Kalman, D. S. (2017). Curcumin: A Review of Its' Effects on Human Health. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 6(10), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods6100092 

Link, R. (2018, June 14). Ginger Benefits, Uses, Nutrition and Side Effects. Retrieved March 10, 2020, from https://draxe.com/nutrition/10-medicinal-ginger-health-benefits/

Taylor, A. P. (2020, February 5). Benefits of Turmeric. Retrieved March 10, 2020, from https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2020/02/turmeric.php

On Tuesday, November 19th, Daily took a trip out to Ladybird Farm. Here’s a short write up of our trip. 

You can find Ladybird produce stocked on co-op shelves all year round!

LADYBIRD FARM

Sydney and Derek, Farmers & Owners

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Driving out to Ladybird Farm is an easy twist of dirt roads. Pulling in and parking by the towering magnolia tree makes arriving at the farm feel particular, sturdy and steady. 

We’re greeted by a quick barked hello from Ladybird, the namesake of Ladybird Farms, a Bluetick Coonhound with a spark of mischief. She ambles up as the official mascot, joined by her sibling, Gus, while we take stock of the farm.

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It’s a textbook fall day with crisp air and copper leaves. The farm winds around itself, every corner revealing another row of color; green and red climbing up from the ground in true fall spirit. It’s a big operation of seemingly endless produce packed into a small slice of land. 

Cabbage. Kale. Turnips. Chard. Cauliflower. Carrots. Broccoli. Beets. Garlic. Fennel. Lettuce.

And then you turn to see another field of well-spaced rows, leaning out between trees. 

Sydney and Derek, the purveyors of Landbird Farm, are just as charming as you would expect them to be. They’re the type of folks you can imagine building a really fantastic campfire. And the chances of that are good since fire-pits are tucked here and there around the property, telling stories about stories between tractors and greenhouses. 

Our produce team, Jim and Shelley, look like kids in a candy shop as we’re stepping through the rows of greens. We talk about choosing crops according to the land, according to the shapes of shade trees, where summer lettuce can thrive but potatoes will get leggy. Shelley gives the word covet fresh meaning when she catches sight of the deer fence outlining the property. 

Poking our heads through the seeding greenhouse marks a change in temperature, and just as quickly Sydney and Derek are out again jogging around the side after a small cat (“Oh! There she is!” “The one from earlier?” “Yes! I knew I saw one out here!” “OH! A SIAMESE!”).

Then we’re back to it, gathered around drying okra propped at a 45° angle, looking more like a found-item sculpture than a means to an end. 

Moving back out under a giant magnolia, we find the processing station. An old tub on a metal stand, a washing machine that’s been converted into a salad-tosser. The whole farm is filled up with touches of elbow-grease, coming together to lead us through a collected parcel of ingenuity and cohesion - no small feat for a farm that’s only a little over a year in. 

Then there’s more talk between the farmers of the group about drainage, compost, and soil health, jokes about the stools folks use when harvesting strawberries, and questions about metal vs plastic trellises (plastic’s easier to store and easier to work with; metal is more frustrating - “We get angry!” “Mhm! ..Quickly!”)

As we start making our way back toward Sydney and Derek’s home, we start to wonder after Penne, one of many beloved farm cats. And so the search begins: Where in the World is Penne? Pear tree? Magnolia tree? Barn? Then an ah-ha! And here she is. Once again, all is well; all is in its place. Penne scrambles around Sydney’s shoulders and is holstered in Derek’s overalls.

The rest of the cats, Linguine, Pasta Salad, Macaroni, the Siamese from earlier now tentatively named Udon, napping in the distance. 

So we trek back to the co-op, talking about fences and cauliflower. Thinking fondly of our farmers, ready to await Derek’s upcoming delivery of kale.

There has been a recall on King Arthur Flour. We currently have no affected lots. Affected lots include those dated best by 12/04/19-1/15/20.

If you have any questions shoot us a message through our contact form!

Check out this article on food waste.

We do all we can to eliminate food waste. We buy local (so you can buy local), we make sure you get 5% off when you bring your own reusable container in for bulk, we compost, we’re conscious of our energy usage, and we recycle! (Not to brag).

We love Cooking Cooperatives, and we know our membership would create a great one! If you’re interested in starting a Cooking Cooperative with other Owner Members send us a note and we’ll link you to with other interested folks!

Here’s what one of our favorite cooperators, Matthew Epperson, has to say about Cooking Co-ops -

“What better way to build the co-op spirit, eat well and affordably, and build community all in the same stroke? I love how concrete and attainable this sort of cooking cooperative can be. To me, this speaks to the historical cooperation that humans have always done, but largely lost in the process of industrialized alienation. The very roots of mutual insurance, credit unions, food co-op stores, all of it, goes back to people working together to do more together than they could apart. And that such ideas seem so lofty can be disheartening, but this is the root, the minimum viable model of mutual aid and cooperation.”

Learn more about starting a Cooking Co-op here!

Published by VTDigger

By Anne Wallace Allen

May 8 2019

Four Vermont mobile home parks have been sold to become resident-owned cooperatives since the start of the year.

Lakeview Cooperative in Shelburne, Westbury Park in Colchester, Sunset Lake Cooperative in Hinesburg, and St. George Community Cooperative in St. George all worked with Cooperative Development Institute or CDI, a Northampton, Mass., nonprofit that helps small businesses and other entities form cooperatives.

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Helping mobile home park residents form a cooperative protects those residents from the uncertainty of living on land owned by someone else, said Andy Danforth, director of New England Resident Owned Communities, a CDI program.

Otherwise, if the land is sold for another purpose, the residents have to move their homes or lose them, and mobile homes are not easy to move.

“It costs a lot of money to move them if they move at all,” Danforth said. The homes are usually sitting on a slab and hooked up to water and sewer, with external improvements like stairs and landscaping. “In New England, it’s rare to see one move from a park.”

Even if the land continues to be used as a mobile home park, residents don’t have much control, Danforth said.

“Here’s the thing about landlords: You can have a great landlord, and we’ve all had terrible landlords,” he said. If landlords continually raise the rent, or fail to enforce park rules, he said, the residents are stuck.

“If you own it, you control it,” he said.

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When two of the four mobile home parks went up for sale, the owner, Burlington businessman Trey Pecor, asked Champlain Housing Trust to buy them, said Michael Monte, the trust’s chief operating and financial officer.

“We said, ‘You should work with CDI and residents in creating a coop,’” said Monte. “We made the introduction because that was the best thing. Trey was going to get the real value, and the people who lived there would have the opportunity to get really good financing and technical support and assistance.”

CDI’s NEROC has been converting mobile home parks to cooperatives since it started in 2009, said Danforth. It has now converted 13 in Vermont and 46 in New England.

According to the state Department of Housing and Community Development, which maintains a registry, there were 241 mobile home parks in Vermont in 2018. Those parks included more than 7,000 lots and had a vacancy rate of 5.1%. The average monthly rent was $340.

Vermont law uses the terms “mobile home” and “manufactured home” interchangeably, according to Housing and Community Development, which said on its website that only about 1% of the mobile homes in Vermont were moved in any given year.

Danforth said that Vermont law governing mobile home parks helps supports CDI’s goals.

“Vermont has some of the best laws in the country for anything to do with manufactured homes,” he said. “Residents have the right to purchase the community, the right to negotiate. In Texas you could be given five days notice and have to move our home; in Vermont I think it’s a year and a half.”

The St George Community Cooperative mobile home park. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Nowadays, the most common purchasers of mobile home parks in New England are residents, Danforth said. When CDI steps in, it talks to residents about the merits of cooperative ownership versus ownership by a nonprofit, and then participates in negotiations with the owner. CDI helps find the financing for the purchase price; Danforth said the nonprofit has received financing from the Vermont Community Loan Fund, the Vermont Housing Authority, the Cooperative Fund of New England, and the Vermont Housing Finance Association.

Residents don’t put any money down, Danforth said. Instead, the CDI loans cover the purchase price and residents repay the loan through their monthly rents.

The cooperative is governed by an elected board and committees. There is one vote per home, Danforth said; the board is almost always made up of park residents.

“Basically it’s a democracy like a small town,” he said.

By WholeFoods Magazine Staff - July 18, 2019

Happy Customer: Co-op Love

We’re asking shoppers to share what they love about their local natural products store. This month, the spotlight shines on one shopper’s experience with co-ops in Illinois, Georgia and Vermont.

“I shop in local co-ops, when and where possible,” says Ashley Arnold, Carbondale, IL native and lifestyle health coach. “Going primarily organic has been supportive in my journey with autoimmune related conditions. Also, I enjoy learning about brands and food suppliers in this niche, especially when it also includes local and regional options.”

Arnold shops at multiple co-ops including Dill Pickle and Green Grocer in Chicago, Neighborhood Co-op in Carbondale, IL, Daily Groceries in Athens, GA, Life Grocery & Cafe in Marietta, GA and City Market/Onion River Co-op in Burlington, VT.

When it comes to shopping, Arnold’s favorite items to buy include items in bulk bins, pantry and shelf product staples such as broths and diced tomatoes, nut milks, kombuchas, organic & fair-trade chocolate bars, cleaning products for the home, and, best of all, Equal Exchange coffee beans.

“The Neighborhood Co-op in Carbondale carries a salmon sourced from Alaska that is really nice to have as well,” she says.

What makes shopping at a co-op enjoyable is the community feeling. “The operations director from the City Market/Onion River Co-op in Burlington attended the same college as I did and met with me while I was in town last,” Arnold says. “He shared that the community is significantly supportive for Vermont grown produce and how it’s clearly reflected in their sales data.”

The co-ops usually have a nice selection of food, skin & personal care, and home care options and Arnold appreciates that if you follow them online, you will pick up on their various sales and promos.

“The stores with the overarching ‘co-op’ branding do have some consistency from one location to the next and state to state, but sometimes the little hidden gems are great to find because they may have something really special.”

As an environmentally conscious shopper, Arnold loves purchasing bulk skin care items that have BYOC (bring your own container) options.

Offering more than just groceries, Arnold gains a great deal from her local co-ops. “I’m able to learn about brands that are fair-trade and/or organic as well as purchase items in those categories on-site versus needing to order them online. Further, I have also attended cooking workshops at the Neighborhood Co-op in Carbondale, which even led to two new friendships.”