I have heard it said that it’s a gift to know when it’s time. I have received many gifts in my tenure here at the Brattleboro Food Co-op, often in thoughtful and caring conversations in the aisles. For now, though, I am stepping down at the end of December as General Manager. I believe that a new person taking the lead, with new energies and new vision, will be just the ticket for our beloved Co-op, to continue to shepherd it through the next few pastures.
Food For Thought
News
Pete’s Greens
Pete Johnson first identified his love for farming when he grew and sold pumpkins as a child with his siblings in the Pacific Northwest. The pumpkins were gorgeous and it was a financially successful business. Flash forward to the mid-1990s, when Pete Johnson was about to graduate from Middlebury College and, for his senior thesis, he built a solar greenhouse on campus. This project was the result of his fascination with winter growing and the idea that plastic or glass structures could positively impact the growth of vegetables in the extreme winter temperatures of Vermont.
Board of Directors Meeting Agenda: August 2021
Answering your Questions About COVID-19 and the Co-op
What you need to know about Shopping the Co-op during Covid-19:
- June 2021: Cafe is open.
- Community room and kids room are in process of reopening too. Stay tuned for more details.
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June 4, 2021: Mask Update.– As of June 4 the Town of Brattleboro has rescinded the town wide mask mandate. We will follow suit. While masks are no longer required at the Co-op please feel free to wear a mask if it makes you more comfortable. We wlll continue to provide masks at the door.
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May 17: Summer hours begin. We will open one hour earlier Monday – Friday.
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Hours will be: Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sundays 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
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Meet the Board: Tamara Stenn
You’ll probably recognize Tamara Stenn, not just from her photos from being on the Brattleboro Food Co-op Board, and her articles in Food for Thought. Tamara has been in this community for many years, and a fellow shopper in the Co-op for all of that. This interview gives a fun look at what brought her to this area, why she likes being on the BFC Board of Directors.
Sunburn DIY Salve
Bug Bite DIY Balm
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes: June 2021
An Update on Our Welcome
The conversation about inclusion and systemic racism has developed quite a bit in our community since the Annual Meeting of 2019, when we were rightly challenged about racist aggressions that we were perpetuating in our store. Although we had begun some work on our understanding, we clearly had much to learn, and I recommitted our organization to a more rigorous and focused attention on inclusion and equity.
AlpineGlo Farm
There is a way for professional dairy farmers to have truly loving partnerships with their animals. This is the central notion of AlpineGlo Farm that Rachel Ware wants to convey. Plus, milk from animals who are relaxed, secure, and respected invariably makes the best cheese. Aspiring animal-loving goatherds, pay attention!
The Ripple Effect
You have probably heard that staff shortages are the new normal. We at the Co-op have suffered this for quite a while, especially in the last few months. Some new hires have left, often relatively suddenly, due to either personal situations that have changed, or yet another lucrative job offer. Still, we soldier on, though we are now facing the reality of potentially not offering all of the services in our deli department to which you may be accustomed.
