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the Coop all the news that’s fit to eat
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE DIXON CO-OPERATIVE MARKET ISSUE #37 JULY
2011 WWW.DIXONMARKET.COM
The Sun. The rays. The heat. The light. The warmth. The
daylight. The sunrise. The sunset. Our days begin and end with the
Sun. It is our best friend and a challenge at this time of the
year. It warms us up, heats the Earth, nourishes plant life, dries
our clothes and offers us much. There were many ancient cultures
that revered the Sun and gave the Sun god a name. Ra in Egypt,
Helios in Greek, Inti for the Incas, and so on. Today, we contend
with local fires – more heat - and the sun’s strength on our
bodies, the foods we’re trying to grow and our days’ tasks. So what
do we eat in the heat? That will be part of the 2nd Food Initiative
event on Friday, July 15th. A potluck for all to join. (Check out
the Calendar listings for specifics…) For now, let’s talk about
what to do when we get a sunburn, a bee sting or an insect bite.
And how natural remedies are available right here in Dixon at the
Co-Op for all these summertime conditions. But in the meantime,
keep those shades down, your body covered with light cotton clothes
(which breathe), the curtains drawn and enjoy the Summer and all it
has to offer!
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE A SUNBURN?
One of the best remedies for
sunburn is aloe vera. Originally from Africa, the aloe vera
plant soothes burned skin. It nourishes cell regrowth and calms the
heat that is a result of too much sun on the skin. Since the skin
is the largest organ of the body, it is good to be aware of what we
put on it. And know that whatever we put on our skin gets absorbed
into our bodies. A natural product is always best. When purchasing
aloe vera, the best for topical use is getting a gel form of it.
You can purchase Aloe Vera Gel right here in Dixon at the Market.
Use it continuously until the sunburn abates and the heat subsides
(as aloe is anti-inflammatory) and the tissues are restored. And
keep drinking plenty of good water throughout the day! Our bodies
are approximately ¾ water, just like the Earth. We need to keep
those oceans replenished.
Saving Your Summer SkinBug Bites & Bee Stings & Sunburn,
Oh My!
WHAT’S THE BUZZ ON THE STREET? WHAT TO DO
ABOUT BEE STINGS?Ouch. Yes, bee stings can hurt. They can
sometimes cause swelling. What to do if we’ve gotten into a bee’s
way or upset a stinging hornet or wasp too much? There is a
homeopathic remedy specifically for bee stings, other stinging
insects or bug bites. It’s called Apis Mellifica or Apis Mel, for
short. If homeopathic remedies are new to you, here’s some tips:
Make sure you do not touch the actual pellets or tablets. This
could upset the remedy’s ability to work in your body. Empty the
pellets into the cap, following the number suggested on the bottle,
and tap them from the cap into your mouth so they land under your
tongue. Let them dissolve there. It’s also best to stay clear of
coffee and mint products (such as peppermint and spearmint
toothpastes) as these
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THE HERB CORNERMINT ICED TEA
When it’s hot, it’s hot. Sipping a refreshing glass of herbal
ice tea in the summertime is a great way to cool your body down.
Here’s where the mint family comes strolling along. Spearmint,
locally known as Yerba Buena and Peppermint, locally known as Yerba
Poleo, are examples of the many members of the mint clan and they
offer delicious tastes in the summertime. Does one of your
neighbors grow a specific type of mint? Perhaps this could be a
sharing – both in what can be offered across the yard as well as a
time to sit quietly in the summer afternoon and share a
conversation while sipping on some soothing mint tea. Maybe you can
come up with an unusual recipe to share at one of our Dixon
community events using a type of mint in the area! We’d love to
What IS the Food Initiative?
The Dixon Food Initiative wants to thank all the folks who came
out for its first event, “A Nite of Little Bites”. If you missed
it, you might be wondering ‘What is the Food Initiative?’ It is a
program of the Dixon Cooperative Market funded by the HUFED grant.
Its mission is to explore ways of eating good and healthy food on a
budget (especially food from the local market) and nourishing our
families through food. We believe everyone has a part of the answer
to this question and we will be organizing a broad range of special
events that will bring people from our local environs together to
share and talk about food. Events will include potlucks, in store
tastings, cooking demonstrations, recipe sharing, nutritional
presentations and more. Throughout the events we will explore the
connection between our health and the food we eat, we will remember
the
The Board ofDirectors
Shelby Leonard ~ President [email protected]
579-0048Steve Jenison~Vice President
[email protected]
Kiva Duckworth-MoultonTreasurer
[email protected]
Elena Arellano - [email protected]
579-4027Susan P. Lewis - Director
[email protected] (575) 751-7015
The Co-Op is openMonday-Friday
9am - 7pmSaturday and Sunday
9am - 6pm505.579.9625
pleasure and fun of cooking and eating, as well as the cultural
traditions associated with our food experiences. We welcome your
participation. Kate Myers is the Coordinator of the Initiative. It
you have ideas for an event, want to schedule a time to speak, or
want to be a part of the organizing effort, please contact her via
email at: [email protected] or leave her a note at the Dixon
Market with your name and number to call. Stay tuned for the next
event...
hear from you. Drop off a note or recipe at the Dixon Market any
time and enjoy the cooling aspects of this luscious plant. Remember
to use fresh herbs, as they will be the most beneficial to your
body. And remember to give thanks to the mint family in helping
your body cool you down this summer.
NEWS FROM THE FIELD Local Produce Report
Welcome to the first edition of a column that will be reporting
on the Dixon Cooperative Market’s efforts to bring customers more
locally grown food — direct from the farm to your table. René
Disbrow, Produce Manager and Lynda Prim, Farm Liasion are seeking
to provide the freshest, highest quality, locally grown products,
in season.
Our goal is to provide the community with as much locally
produced food as we can, choosing quality, environment, and health
over low prices and lesser quality. We are working to create
relationships with, and opportunities for, local farmers. If you’re
a local farmer or gardener interested in supplying us, please be in
touch!
As Produce Manager, René is focused on buying from local growers
because fruits and vegetables grown locally have exceptional taste,
freshness, and
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JULY CALENDAR:Sunday, July 3rd10% off storewide for all Co-Op
Members.
Wednesdays: Dixon Farmers Market 4-7pm - in front of the Coop
Come see what the Farmers and other local providers are bringing
each week. Every Wednesday find something new for your dinner
plate, knowing the food was grown with care by someone in our
area.
Thursday, July 7th, 1-3pm “Let’s Go to China” at the Embudo
Valley LibraryJoin us to make and then eat Asian Noodles with
Coconut Rice Balls and learn some language and geography of China.
Led by Felicity Fonseca. For all ages.
Friday, July 15th, 6-7pm at the Dixon Community Center “How to
Eat in the Heat: A Potluck” What do you eat in the summer? How do
you stay cool? Come be part of a potluck event at the Community
Center. Let’s gather, share and see who has some really cool
recipes. Everyone is welcome! 1.) Bring a dish that you like in the
summer. 2.) Bring your recipe to share and. 3.) Bring your own
plate, cup and fork for an extra surprise. This event is sponsored
by the Food Initiative. More to come – keep your eyes peeled. For
questions or information regarding this evening, please contact
Kate at: [email protected].
nutrition due to not being harvested and shipped long distances,
often seven to fourteen days before they reach the Co-Op shelf. The
produce we’re purchasing locally was harvested sometimes just an
hour or two before it’s on the shelf. The long term goal is to
build a produce department that can expand the selection over time
and handle it the best possible way to preserve the freshness and
nutrition. Many of the growers who are currently supplying the
Co-Op are using organic growing practices, although they are not
certified organic. Others provide the Co-Op with their organic
certificate to keep on file. If you have any questions about the
growing practices of an individual gardener or farmer, René is
prepared to answer them.
As Farm Liaison, Lynda is working to foster a greater sense of
connection between food and farming — to bring more awareness of
the perseverance, knowledge, skill, and ingenuity it takes to grow
food where soil health is the main product and where water is
ecologically insecure. There’s substantial evidence now to suggest
that the best way to achieve a balance between people, food, and
land is through local community-based agriculture that’s tied to
ecologically responsible land and water use and rooted in local
culture. This movement towards local is not intended as a retreat
from the global realities of the world we live in, but as a means
to respond more sanely to its challenges by providing a place from
which to work toward a more sustainable, just, and equitable way of
farming and eating.
What can you look forward to finding on the Co-Op local produce
shelf in July?
Spinach, peas, beets, carrots, garlic, onions, herbs,
raspberries, blackberries, maybe even cucumbers and more! See you
at the Co-Op, René (579-9625) and Lynda (579-4386).
have strong volatile oils which could also discount the remedy.
Homeopathics are very safe to use and often work very quickly.
Check in with the Dixon Co-Op if you have a bee sting, bug bite or
other insect swelling where Apis Mel could be found.
WHAT’S BUGGING YOU?They say an ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure. To keep bugs away from your body, other than
covering yourself with a large bug net, the Dixon Co-Op is carrying
some natural Bug Repellant. In addition to that, it’s recommended
to use products with the least amount of sweet smell – like
shampoos, lotions, soaps and anything else you put on your body.
Bugs can be attracted to that aroma,
like the smells coming out of a cookie shop. So when using these
products, try to find ones that are fragrance free if you’ll be
outside a lot. When buying bug repellant, it’s the essential oils
that keep those frisky little critters away. Some essential oils
you might see in these products include citronella, peppermint,
(rose) geranium and pennyroyal. Again, it’s what we put on the
outside, our skin, that goes inside. But when you do get a bug bite
or sting, a good summer product to have on hand is Ssssting Stop.
It’s a homeopathic gel that is tremendously helpful and offers
soothing relief. Ssssting Stop helps ease itching, pain and redness
from insect bites and stings. Stop by the Dixon Co-Op where you’ll
find this wonderful product on the shelves.
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COOL AS A CUCUMBER
When we think of what to eat in the summertime, leaving the
stove to rest, salads are a natural meandering thought that comes
to mind. We just pull out those delicious ingredients from the
fridge and start that magical creation in our kitchen. Cucumbers
are a natural part of summertime enjoyment in our bellies. Hence
the phrase “Cool as a Cucumber.” And haven’t you seen those ads
where a woman has slices of cukes over her eyes? Doesn’t that look
appealing? Anyway, back to your stomach and the enjoyment of food
during this warm season.
Here’s a recipe that was brought to the Food Initiative’s 1st
event in mid-June. Raita is a dish used in India and people from
that country use yogurt to cool spicy dishes – too hot on the
tongue. Enjoy and find these ingredients easily on the shelves at
the Dixon Coop.
Kheere Ka Raita(Yogurt with Cucumber and Mint)
An excellent dish that can be stored in the refrigerator and
then taken out whenever someone comes in complaining of being
tired, hot and hungry. It’s also good alongside Indian food or
grilled meat of all kinds.
1 pint plain yogurt5 inch cucumber peel – chopped or grated
coarsely2 Tbsp. finely chopped, fresh mint½ tsp. roasted ground
cumin (For
extra flavor, roast whole cumin seeds for a few minutes in a dry
skillet till fragrant. Then grind in a coffee grinder. Roasting the
ground cumin in a dry skillet a couple of minutes also brings out
the flavor.)
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper1 tsp. saltFreshly ground black pepper
Put the yogurt in a bowl. Beat lightly with a fork or whisk
until smooth and creamy. Add all the other ingredients and mix.
Cover and refrigerate until ready – Eat & enjoy!
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I would like to provide some information about the dividend
returns you have received. Some of you received a check and some of
you received a voucher to use in the store. As we (the Co-op board)
looked at the net profit from last year, and had to make a decision
about how to share out with our members, we looked at it in a few
different ways. By sharing with our members, we save on taxes (this
helps our bottom line); by rewarding our members, we fulfill part
of our cooperative mission and vision. As such, we decided to give
back dividends this year. We then had to decide how much of the
total to give back. We chose to retain a portion so that we had
money left for sustainability and accountability and give out an
appropriate portion. We used a slightly complicated calculation
(thank goodness for Excel) and voila! each member was allotted
their portion. Hopefully, this was clearly described in the letter
accompanying your check/voucher.
Some interesting statistics for 2010:Highest gross sales by a
member/family: $7,138.53Number of members who spent $1,000 or more
(our cut-off for a “check” refund): 91Average dividend amount:
$12.99Mean (middle) dividend amount: $21.10Number of members who
received a dividend: 229 (active members as of Dec 31, 2010)Number
of members who spent $600 or more: 117 (that’s about $50 a
month!)
What if the remaining 112 members who spent less than $600 a
year pledged to spend $50 a month at the coop? That’s only $12.50 a
week! What a way to make our co-op grow.
The Co-op is continually trying to find balance in providing
healthy, local/organic products with serving as a true local market
for the community. If we have the products you want, we can save
you a trip to town. As gas prices and crop prices rise, so must our
attention to the bottom line follow. We are so pleased to celebrate
our success with our members, and as we continue to evolve as your
local store, we look forward to another successful year. Come
shopping.
The Dirty LowDownKiva Duckworth-Moulton
...followed by a photo of apocalyptic doom
