Patience is not a popular virtue in our instant gratification culture. We’ve become accustomed to having our wishes granted with the tap of an app or by simply shouting, “Hey Siri, build us co-op in Cedar Falls!” We wish it were this easy. Building a community co-op is pioneer work, one bumpy, risky, dream-filled step at a time. What does it take to get to the Promised Land?
TIME
We will spare you the list of platitudes about perseverance. It is a simple fact, demonstrated time and time again at co-ops across the country, building a co-op is marathon, not a sprint. We get one shot at this. We can’t rush into something that might not work in the long run.
RESEARCH
Each location comes with unique factors which must be thoroughly vetted. Due diligence is critical in site selection. The Rooted Carrot board is carefully considering location options with the help of legal, financial, and construction professionals.
MONEY
Grocery stores are not cheap. Even a modest sized store can cost millions. The Rooted Carrot’s store is anticipated to cost $2.9 million. The good news is that we’ve secured over $1 million so far!
Keep the pioneering spirit alive! Your generous donations, loans, and commitments are creating the path forward to having our own local co-op. You can further help the process by sharing co-op information with your friends and family through a conversation, sharing social media posts, and forwarding newsletters. Encourage others to join or gift a membership to someone special.
Thank you for your membership and belief in the co-op philosophy. Getting there together makes this journey all the sweeter.