Your co-op needs you! Board applications are due Friday, September 11th! 

The Co-op Board consists of seven members elected by the general Co-op membership. Board terms are three years. Responsibilities and expectations for those serving on Rooted Carrot’s Board of Directors are outlined in the Candidate Application Packet and Board Commitment

Check out the current Board members! 

Thank you for considering a Board position to help open a co-op grocery store in Cedar Falls! YOUR CO-OP NEEDS YOU! 

If you have questions, please email info@rootedcarrot.coop or contact a board member personally. We are happy to meet with you and answer any questions you may have. 

Board of Directors: Lisa Nelson, Dave Schachterle, Mallory DeVries, Mindy Doyle, Kathryn Gilbery, Rich Ross, and Marian Kuper

Important Dates to Remember: 

• Monday, August 31 – Board Applications Open
• Friday, September 11 – Board Applications Close at 11:59 pm
• Wednesday, September 16 – Board Approves Slate of Candidates
• Friday, September 18 – Slate of Candidates Announced
• Monday, September 21 – Friday, October 2 -Voting Period
• Monday, October 12 – Notification to Candidates
• Thursday, October 22 – Annual Meeting – Meet the new board members
• Wednesday, November 18 – First Board Meeting

Click Here to learn more! 

Attendees of the Black Hawk County Landfill tour got an inside look at local solid waste management. As one of Iowa’s top three facilities by volume across 36 landfills, the site handles an average of 700 tons of material daily from around 250 vehicles, servicing several surrounding counties. 

• Expert Guidance: The tour was led by John Foster, Solid Waste and Resource Recovery Administrator, who shared insights into industry innovations and daily operations. 
• Organic Waste Management: Organic waste from residences, commercial industries, and institutions makes up 25–30% of total volume, prompting strong interest in composting and alternative diversion strategies.
• Modern Environmental Control: Unlike traditional “town dumps,” the site relies on complex environmental science and continuous monitoring, keeping odors surprisingly minimal while protecting surrounding ecosystems.
• Methane Capture Initiative: Through a public-private partnership, the landfill captures and filters methane for energy use while safely flaring remaining gases, helping the facility meet strict air quality standards ahead of schedule.
• Community Resources: Interested educators and community members can access educational materials, disposal guides, and event updates on the BHCSWM website.

Greetings from the Rooted Carrot Co-op Board of Directors 

Lisa Nelson, Board President

One important role the board plays is to keep up to date on broader trends impacting the cooperative grocery industry, assessing the local retail grocery environment, and reflecting on how the RCCM vision aligns with current realities. 

Important trends impacting the co-op grocery industry include a 50-80% increase in the costs of construction and equipment since the COVID pandemic, and climbing interest rates that increase the cost of borrowing. Based on this reality, there is growing momentum towards building a smaller footprint which will reduce building and equipment expenses, and the amount of loans that may be needed to cover start-up costs. 

Locally, there remains a tight market for commercial real estate that will meet the co-op customers’ needs for parking and accessibility. The site committee is actively pursuing more than one site, and we are very optimistic. 

Another important trend is the increasing local and regional support for locally grown and produced goods. Throughout our state, food hubs are growing, partnerships and coalitions of farmers, health professionals, chefs, schools, and so many others are banding together to build the infrastructure needed so small farmers can thrive in our state. None of this existed meaningfully when the RCCM founders gathered to dream of what could be. The Rooted Carrot Co-op is part of this exciting local foods movement. 

The founders of the Rooted Carrot Co-op did not imagine the current reality that many recent startups have taken 12-14 years from conception to store opening. Many things have changed in that time that will have an impact on store planning moving forward. Just 5 years ago when I joined the board, co-op experts were sharing business plans for large, full-service stores. Co-ops that started small were not able to draw the customer base required to sell enough to pay the bills. This advice was based on successful co-ops, and it was the right advice at that time. Given current realities, other options may be more successful. The board of directors regularly reviews the business model in light of current trends in the cooperative grocery industry as well as local needs to optimize the success of our shared business moving forward. 

As some things change, the mission of the Rooted Carrot Co-op remains the same; to create a community-owned grocery store that seeks to enhance the health and well-being of the greater Cedar Valley. The values of local commitment, inclusivity, education, and sustainability still guide this mission. 

Attend a local farmers’ market and feel the energy there! That is what motivates co-op volunteers to keep working towards the goal of opening a community-owned grocery store. It is an exciting time to be part of the Rooted Carrot Co-op! 

We will be at the Cedar Falls Farmers Market on Saturday, September 5th from 8:30 am to noon.

Stop by the booth to say hello and pick up a yard sign!

By:

Recipe Information

Total Time: 55 minutes; 15 minutes active

Servings: 8

When the tomato harvest is in full swing, make these hearty, sweet roasted tomatoes. Serve as-is or on toasted, sliced Italian bread for bruschetta. These also freeze well, so preserve your summer tomatoes for wintry meals.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Roma tomatoes, or other ripe tomatoes
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 8 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/2 large lemon, zest pared off in a strip
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Wash and dry the tomatoes, then halve each vertically and remove the cores. Place in a large, deep roasting pan. Add onions, garlic cloves, lemon zest strip, thyme, salt and pepper. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss to coat.
3. Roast for 20 minutes, then shake the pan and roast for 20 minutes longer. The tomatoes should be collapsing and browned in spots.
4. Cool on a rack. Drizzle in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and toss to mix.
5. Transfer to a storage tub or jar and refrigerate until time to serve, up to 4 days.

Serving Suggestion

Once refrigerated, you can toss these tomatoes with pasta, use them to top pizzas or simply stuff them in a sandwich with mozzarella and basil for a caprese.

Nutritional Information

100 calories, 7 g. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 160 mg. sodium, 10 g. carbohydrate, 2 g. fiber, 2 g. protein

Link to this and more recipes from Grocery.coop: https://www.grocery.coop/recipes/

Calling all past, present, and future Co-op Volunteers – join your Rooted Carrot Co-op for a volunteer appreciation celebration!

Volunteers ARE the Rooted Carrot Co-op!! 

Everyone who has invested time to bring the Rooted Carrot Co-op closer to opening is invited to a Volunteer Appreciation picnic at Washington Park in Cedar Falls. If you worked on a grant, helped set up the tent at a farmer’s market, dressed a Rooty, donated a door prize for the Fall Food Festival last fall, or any of the other many tasks that add up to this amazing cooperative, collective effort, YOU ARE APPRECIATED! Please come so we can all show it! 

When: Wednesday, August 12th, starting at 5:30 pm

Where: Washington Park Shelter, Cedar Falls (East end of 9th St, by the playground)

Who: Family and friends are welcome!

RSVP: Please RSVP by 5:00 pm Monday, August 10th using the link below

Dinner will be provided by the board, with vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Feel free to bring a special dish to share, if you wish, as well as a lawn chair.

Please RSVP at:  https://bit.ly/RCCMVolunteerAppreciation2026

Come join your co-op friends, including board members, to enjoy a cup of coffee, share ideas, and ask any questions you have about your co-op. 

We’ll gather at Jessie’s Java on August 15th at 9:00 am.

Hope to see you there!

What happens to the trash after it is picked up? How is Black Hawk County managing the waste that is collected at the county landfill? 

Many people attended the informational recycling event we hosted at UNI in 2024. There were many thoughtful questions, and John Foster, the Solid Waste & Resource Recovery Administrator at the Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission, shared some important information. 

Join John on Saturday, August 22, from 10:00-11:00 am for a tour of the landfill to take the next step in learning about waste management in Black Hawk County! To plan for the size of our group, please RSVP HERE before Tuesday, August 18th. You will receive an email with specific information about the meeting place as the date approaches. 

7 Things I Learned Working on Local Farms

Richard Ross, Board Member and Community Partner Coordinator

When I first started working on local farms, I thought I was signing up to help with a few chores, spend time outdoors, learn how local food is made, and where it comes from. What I didn’t expect was how much the farms would teach me about life. Here are seven lessons I took away from my time working on local farms:

1. Things Change

When I first arrived, there was a lush orchard, bordering on overgrown. Fruit trees stretched into one another, brambles crowded the edges, and everything seemed full of possibility. By winter, the same landscape appeared empty and dormant. Leaves fall. Branches break. Working there taught me that change isn’t an interruption to the process. Change is the process.

2. Old Growth Must Be Shed Before New Growth Can Happen

Pruning always felt wrong at first. Why cut back healthy branches? But trees need light, airflow, and space to thrive. The healthiest thing for future growth is often removing what no longer serves a purpose. Renewal almost always begins with removal.

3. Death Is Part of Life

The first time I found a diseased chicken in a hen house, I panicked. After hours of Googling and phone calls, the owners got in touch and said, “Leave it be. It will either get better or it won’t.” Two days later, it hadn’t. 

More Googling. How do you ethically dispose of a dead chicken?

The owners called again and said, “Pick it up with a shovel and throw it in the field.” They said nature would take care of the rest. And it did. It felt harsh, but it was honest. Growth, decay, and renewal are all part of the same cycle.

4. Hard Work Pays Off

There is no substitute for hard work. A good harvest starts months before the crop is picked. The work done in spring and summer shows up in the fall, if you’re lucky. Sometimes frost, drought, or hungry deer undo your efforts.

What I learned is that hard work must become an end in itself. If you only work when success is guaranteed, you’ll never begin. The value comes from showing up consistently, even when the outcome is uncertain.  

The habit of hard work changes you long before it changes your circumstances.

5. Stuff Breaks

A surprising amount of farming involves fixing things. Fences lean, water lines leak, tires go flat, and equipment breaks at the worst possible moment. Maintenance is never finished. The work taught me that success often comes from addressing small problems before they become big ones.

6. Solutions Don’t Have to Be Perfect, They Just Have to Work

Farms run on ingenuity. Broken gates get patched with baling twine. Missing parts are replaced with whatever is on hand. Perfect solutions are rare; workable solutions are everywhere. Progress usually comes from action, not perfection.

7. The Universe Doesn’t Care About Your Plans

You can do everything right and still lose a crop to a storm, a drought, or a pest outbreak. Nature follows its own rules. At first, that can feel frustrating. Eventually, it becomes liberating. You learn to focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t. You do the work. You make the plan. Then you adapt.

Working on local farms taught me practical skills, but the bigger lessons had little to do with growing food. Change is constant, hard work matters, nothing lasts forever, and nature always gets the final say.

National Farmers Market Week 2026 takes place from

Help us celebrate our Cedar Valley local farmers, producers, and artisans!