From the Coordinator – June 2018

Save money today through store and other business discounts: Your $200 member-owner investment comes back to you and then some when you take advantage of our Business Partner Specials.

73.

This is the number of area businesses offering deals and discounts to Co-op member-owners, so don’t forget to carry your member-owner card. From New Dawn Yoga in Cedar Falls to the Shinehouse in Evansdale to Wild Carrot in Waverly to Jameson’s in Waterloo, businesses throughout the Cedar Valley partner with the Cedar Falls Food Co-op in this important way.

 

Member-owners who are already taking advantage of these business partner deals often marvel that they have gained back most of their member share cost with the money they’ve saved at these establishments. I’ve certainly done so via classes at Three Pines Farm, my free sheet set from Fosters Mattress, many trips to Cottonwood Canyon, Cup of Joe, and Sidecar for my coffee fix, dining out at various business partners including Ginger Thai and SingleSpeed, grabbing a brew with friends at Lark or Second State, getting running shoes at the Runner’s Flat, and purchasing gifts at Miss Wonderful, Mohair Pear and Purse-N-ality. My list of savings goes on, but you get the point.

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Member Spotlight: Andrew Stephenson

Andrew and Molly Stephenson met while in the same graduate program at Iowa State University. Andrew hails from Madison, while Molly grew up in Edina. Both completed their undergraduate degrees, and have also successfully completed a master degree program in Wildlife Ecology and Sustainable Agriculture. Andrew had previously completed his undergraduate degrees in French and Anthropology at Grinnell College, while Molly studied Animal Science at the University of Minnesota.Continue reading→

Broccoli Slaw and Top Sirloin Marinade Recipes

Easy, yummy side dish with a kick and an aromatic marinade…
It’s always nice to find new ways to incorporate more vegetables and fresh organic ingredients. It’s a bonus when people love new attempts. The new endeavor was a fresh broccoli slaw mix with a kick paired with an aromatic marinade for some top sirloin. Use the basic recipe on the back of the broccoli slaw mix package to start and then add a honey chipotle dressing for the added kick, and use two apples instead of one. This recipe went well with sloppy joes one night and some marinated thin top sirloins another night. The marinade had such a wonderful aroma so, give it a try. There is nothing like the smell and taste of fresh organic garlic! Is there? The ingredients blended so well together while the flavors danced on the tongue. A fabulous mingling of tasty goodness. Enjoy!

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Board Happenings: May 2018

Take a minute to see what your Board has been up to!
So far this year, our volunteer have contributed more than 1,200 to helping build our store! This amounts to over $30,500 is wages! This shows how our co-op is truly a community effort! Thanks for all your hard work, and we couldn’t be prouder to share this effort with our amazing community!
– Budgets and legal and consultants, oh my! With the end of the fiscal year upon us, and getting closer to launching our capital campaign, our meetings have been dominated by the development of next years budget. We’ve also been working on hiring legal, site selection, and design consultants to make sure that we’re making the absolute best decisions when creating your store!
– It’s almost time for Board elections! We’ll start accepting applications in July, so if you or someone you know is interested in serving on the Board keep an eye out for updates.

Win a Kayak and Help Your Co-op Reach 850 Member-Owners!

June is here and your Cedar Falls Food Co-op is doing another amazing membership campaign. Current and new members could walk…errr…paddle away in a kayak!

We are on our way to 850 member-owners, which will bring us get closer opening the area’s only community-owned grocery store. Thanks to Crawdaddy Outdoors in Waverly, we got a great deal on a Heron 9XT kayak that some lucky member-owner will win!

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Three Great Reasons to Host a House Party in June (Giveaway Alert!)

1. Hosting a House Party is a great way to connect with your friends and community AND one of the most effective ways for the co-op to gain member-owners. Previous house parties have ranged from pie and wine to soup suppers to pizza on the patio. You decide what, who, and when, and the CFFC membership team will help you inform your friends and neighbors about the co-op. This is a low-pressure, short-term commitment–that truly is a lot of fun!
2. Any hosts of house parties booked in June will receive your choice of a pound of coffee or a growler of beer from one of our business partners for you and your guests to enjoy.
3. Hosts of house parties booked in June will be entered into a drawing for a pair of pillows generously donated by our business parter, Fosters Mattress. Rest easy knowing you’re doing your part to grow our co-op community.
For more information about house parties or to get your date on the calendar, email outreach@cedarfallsfood.coop.

May Events

Co-op Connections
Thursday, May 10; 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Single Speed Brewing in Cedar Falls

Gather, meet, connect. This is a casual event where you can drop in or stay the whole time. All are welcome! Single Speed offers 10% off of a meal of $20 or more to Co-op member-owners, so don’t forget your card.

 

Cedar Falls Food Co-op Potluck

Tuesday, May 15 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Second State Brewing in Cedar Falls

Bring a dish to share and, if possible your own table ware to reduce garbage waste. Bring the family, bring a friend. Everyone is welcome. If you are a member-owner, bring your card to receive a discount on beer draws.

 

Cedar Falls Food Co-op Book Club

Tuesday, May 29 at 4:45 p.m. in Overman Park (weather permitting)
The book to be discussed is The Necklace by Cheryl Jarvis. Get a copy, get reading, and join the lively discussion, plus meet new people or reconnect with friends. All are welcome! If weather is such that this must be moved to indoors, we’ll provide notice on our Facebook page that day.

 

Have you ordered your Proud Owner yard sign?

There are many perks to being a member-owner of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op; One of them is that member-owners have the opportunity to sport a Proud Owner yard sign from late May through July. If you are a member-owner living in Cedar Falls or Waterloo, you may sign up for a Cedar Falls Food Co-op yard sign….so what are you waiting for? If you haven’t reserved yours yet, send an email to outreach@cedarfallsfood.coop. Please provide your current address (if it’s changed recently), and we’ll be happy to have one of our volunteers deliver and place the sign.

Would you be interested in helping with delivery and placement or pick up later in the summer? Let our outreach coordinator know when you email requesting your yard sign. We still have room for a few more volunteers.

All Are Welcome – Co-op Community Events for Everyone

When I’m out and about telling others about our amazing Co-op events, I sometimes encounter people who mistakenly believe that they cannot attend because they are not yet member-owners. Cooperative Principle 7, “Concern for Community” is something we embody each time we host an event. Whether monthly activities such as potlucks, Co-op Connections, and our book club or more infrequent events such as our recent trivia night, we welcome everyone! And if you haven’t yet been to a Co-op event, you have been missing out.

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New Business Partners

Good Food Vibes, of Cedar Falls, is a business operated by Caitlin Argotsinger, offering both private and group health coaching sessions, as well as a variety of classes ranging from specific health classes to cooking classes. She is offering co-op members $100 off a private health coaching program. Kickstart a healthier new you!

https://www.facebook.com/CaitlinArgotsinger/

http://GoodFoodVibes.com

 

Backyard Living, located in Cedar Falls, constructs furniture manufactured locally in the USA from recycled materials. The poly wood construction provides all-weather furniture that comes with a lifetime warranty. This company is offering 10% off recycled poly lumbar furniture to co-op members. Looking for stylish, sustainable, functional furniture? Check out Backyard Living!

https://www.facebook.com/YourBackyardLiving/

http://www.yourbackyardliving.com/

 

Maxx Rentals, based in Cedar Falls, strives to bring outdoor recreation and outdoor adventures to the Cedar Valley, in an accessible and affordable manor. They offer kayaks, paddle boards, canoes, and more, along with paddle board yoga classes, and shuttle services. They are giving 15% off rental over $20 to all co-op members. For an amazing outdoor experience, go see the experts at Maxx Rentals!

https://www.facebook.com/MaxxRentals/

https://www.maxxrentals.com/