Join us for the Farm Crawl After-Party!
Anyone is welcome and no registration is required. This will take place at We Arose Demonstration Garden (300 Peek St. Waterloo). We will have a vendor booth in addition to UNI Local Food Program, SILT, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and more!
Food will be available for purchase at this event from Concept Kitchen.
The Community Relations team has been hard at work getting this new committee off the
ground and out into the community. After the member owner meetings last fall, it was apparent
to the board that the membership saw a need for a community outreach and education team to work towards developing open lines of communication with local officials. As a result, this
committee was formed.
We have been engaging in conversations with local leaders in an effort to showcase the benefits
of the Rooted Carrot and to express the desires of the membership to move this project forward.
We have identified key individuals that can be helpful in working towards the goal of a site for
the future storefront. We have also had meetings with the site team as we identified that our
work might overlap in many areas at this point in the process.
Moving forward, we may be reaching out to you, our members, to encourage reaching out to
your city councilperson to let them know how important this project is to you and the community.
It is so important to let your local leaders know what you want your community to look like and
when it comes to the Rooted Carrot, reaching out to your elected leaders might make the
difference in compelling leaders to work together with us to achieve the goal of a cooperatively
owned grocery here in the Cedar Valley.
Nick Phillis
Board Member
Happy Summer! The Board of Directors and committees and volunteers are keeping busy! Our Community Relations Committee is making good connections and our Membership/Communications Committee is at farmers markets and planning fun events for all of us. In addition they bring us lots of information through our monthly Garlic Press and social media posts.
The Board approved our 2024-2025 fiscal year budget that started July 1st. We are planning for board members and committee members to attend the Up & Coming Conference in September in Michigan.
We are planning a volunteer appreciation for August and possibly bringing the Fall Festival back in September. Also watch for information on the member-owner annual meeting and how you can apply to become a board member starting November 1st.
Jodie Huegerich,
President, Board of Directors
The Membership Team is excited to participate in several farmers markets this season. Markets are a great opportunity to connect with people who appreciate locally-grown produce and locally-made products. We always love when member-owners stop by, and we will have yard signs available. Look for the orange tent!
If you would like to help out by hanging out in the co-op booth, sharing the co-op story with market-goers, PLEASE email membership@rootedcarrot.coop. New volunteers are always welcome!
Here is our initial schedule. More dates and other markets may be added, so stay tuned to social media for updates!!
The annual Farm Crawl, hosted by the Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network, UNI Local Food Program, We Arose, and Waterloo Bicycle Works, will be held August 11 from 1:00-5:00.
Take this opportunity to meet local producers and learn more about all they do to bring their goods to consumers.
Again this year, the Rooted Carrot Co-op is excited to support this effort by partnering to host an after party from 5:00-7:00 at the We Arose demonstration gardens. This year there will be vendors at the after party, and food will be available for purchase. Come share your love of local producers with others!!
NOTE: This year’s farm crawl will include tastings AND a guided route for both vehicles and bikes. Thus, registration will be required. Please visit https://ceee.uni.edu/farm-crawl for details!
The board of the Rooted Carrot Co-op takes the fiscal health of the co-op very seriously. Monthly financial reports allow the board to closely monitor the income and expenses, with the goal of opening a cooperative grocery always at the forefront. The May meeting of the board included work on the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget. Many thanks to Gina Brown, past treasurer, and our current treasurer Allie Hartz for their leadership on this!
The Grant Committee is exploring some exciting grant opportunities on the horizon. While we did receive word that the RCCM was not awarded the grant that was mentioned in the April Garlic Press, our application was so impressive to the committee that RCCM was one of the top 3 finalists! This affirms the mission and direction we are heading, and also is recognition for the Grant Committee’s efforts!
This is just a small sample of the many ways the Rooted Carrot Co-op board and committees continue the work of building support, creating important connections, and fulfilling the mission of the Rooted Carrot Co-op. As a board, we appreciate all who are along on the journey.
Lisa Nelson
RCCM Board Vice-president & Membership/Communications Chair
One of our Rooted Carrot values is Education: We encourage informed choices by educating ourselves and our community on issues of food, wellness, the environment, and human rights.
According to a new report by Feeding America, a nonprofit, nearly 11% of all Iowans and more than 15% of Iowa children are considered food insecure. The report is based on data from 2022, which is the most recent available. For details, here is the link to the report: ‘Map the Meal Gap’: Iowa’s hunger problem is worsening
This is sobering news.
How can you help? Volunteer and/or financially support Northeast Iowa Food Bank (neifb.org) and/or small pantries in your area and stay informed on policies that are affecting Iowans. Check out the Iowa Hunger Coalition and sign up for their monthly newsletter that guides you in taking action to help fight hunger and food insecurity.
SAVE THE DATE!! Preliminary planning for the annual Volunteer Appreciation event has begun! Volunteers, please save Sunday, August 25th and watch for further details!
As we welcome the opening of the Cedar Valley’s farmers market season and the eventual launch of The Rooted Carrot Co-op Market, we’re excited to share our vision for supporting local farms and strengthening our community through the availability of locally sourced vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, poultry, grocery, wellness products, and more.
At The Rooted Carrot Co-op Market, we’re deeply committed to the idea of “rooting” ourselves within our local community and fostering connections with nearby farmers. We understand that our neighboring farms are not just suppliers, but integral partners in our journey. By supporting them, we aim to enrich the local economy, reduce our environmental impact, and ensure that our future members have access to the freshest, highest quality ingredients possible.
While our nearest co-op may be 60 miles away at present, we’re determined to bridge this gap and bring the benefits of a cooperative market closer to home. We recognize that each co-op has its own set of standards, but one principle remains universal: a dedication to sourcing locally whenever feasible. By prioritizing local, regional, and statewide producers, we will ensure that our shelves are stocked with the freshest, most flavorful products available.Continue reading
April’s member meetup was a Recycling Education Event at the Center for Energy and Environmental Education with a variety of activities, snacks, and learning opportunities! About 25 people came to learn how to be more effective recyclers and learn about the recycling system.
John Foster, the director of Black Hawk County Solid Waste Commission gave a history of the landfill and recycling programs in the area and expertly fielded questions from the audience. John invited folks to reach out to him to schedule other education opportunities including touring the Black Hawk County landfill to see how they pack over 1,000 pounds of garbage into every square yard!
Green Iowa members also provided education on home composting and had a seed planting activity where recycled cans were used as the planting pots. Two attendees were lucky enough to go home with a new compost bin donated by Green Iowa!
Let the membership committee know what topics or activities you would like to see for future member meetups! Contact Us