January 2013 Newsletter
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JANUARY 2013 NEWSLETTER
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Happy New Year, everyone. The Greene Hill Food Co-op has officially turned one and we’re celebrating with a Winter Party on January 27th. We have so many reasons to rejoice! We’re 1189 members strong, open three days a week, and we’ve finally hired our first employee (Allison Stewart! She’s interviewed below!). The party is a leave-your-shoes-at-the-door type of affair, generously hosted by Bija Kids Yoga on Fulton street, so be sure to read all about it in the newsletter. Next week’s General Meeting promises to be a real humdinger of a GM, full of 2013 optimism, and maybe even caramel samples. Earn work credit and get involved! The General Meeting is January 24th. |
| GENERAL MEETING: JANUARY 24THWHERE: 138 S. Oxford St Brooklyn NY (MAP ) WHEN: Thursday January 24th, 7-9PM
ON THE AGENDA
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WINTER PARTY: JANUARY 27TH Raise a glass, have a bite, do a little dancing, and mingle with your fellow Co-op members -- with prizes for new members who sign up that day.This kid-friendly event will take place at Bija Kids (900 Fulton St), just a few blocks from the store. Wear your favorite socks because there are no shoes allowed in the party space. It’s $10 for members, and $12 for non-members, while children under 10 are free. A delicious vegetarian dinner will be provided by Andriana Santiago of It’s Veggie Time, with homemade cookies by Co-op member Holly Coleman. Drink specials will be sold separately. Stop dreaming about the beach, it’s a winter party! There will be cooking demos by our own Education committee, music by ddotto, Bela Bossa and more... Let us know you’re coming by RSVP’ing on our Facebook event page! Need to make up some hours? We still need help for the day of the party, and what a better way to get work credit? If you’d like to volunteer, please contact: events@greenehillfood.coop |
MEET A FELLOW CO-OP MEMBER WHO ACTUALLY GETS PAID TO BE AT THE CO-OP: “ALLISON” Q: Welcome to the Greene Hill Food Co-op Allison. We're thrilled to have you as our first employee. Do you feel like Neil Armstrong did when he walked on the moon? The store is probably just as cold as the moon, so I guess I am a bit like Neil Armstrong. Q: Do you live in the neighborhood? How long have you lived in NYC? Yes, I currently live in Crown Heights. I have been in Brooklyn for 1.5 years, but I am originally from Rye, a suburb just north of the city, so I pretend that I am a real New Yorker. Q: If you had a huge garden in your backyard in Brooklyn, what would you grow in it? I think about this all the time.... I would have lots of nightshades: tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and ground cherries (my favorite from the midwest). I would also have brassicas: kale, brussel sprouts (if I knew how to grow them properly), and cauliflower. AND, I would have beehives. Q: What are some things you hope to accomplish right away for The Co-op? How about long term ideas? My short term goals are to organize the stockroom, and create job descriptions for the work shifts. My longer-term vision is to make the store as pretty as possible, to get to know as many members, to have a giant recipe share, and to obtain a store coffee pot, so I can keep my addiction going. Q: What do you think of the hot dog eating contest at Nathan's in Coney Island? Is a contest of this sort a good future project for the Greene Hill Food Co-op? I am not sure if a hot dog eating contest is our speed, but I think we could have our own alternatives: how long can you stand in the walk-in, how many items can you label in 60 seconds, how many products can you accurately name prices, etc. Q: What co-ops have you been involved with in the past? I went to college in MN, which is the land of co-ops. I belonged to 2 different co-ops, Mississippi Market, Hampden Park co-op (where I did do member shifts), and I was also a member of a vegetarian housing co-operative. Our dorm was underneath the stadium, and we coordinated everything by consensus. We bought all our food at nearby co-ops in bulk! Q: Why are co-ops important to you? When I lived in Minnesota, belonging to co-ops was just what people did; it was natural and easy. Now in New York, they are harder to come by, but I still think they are great idea. When people collaborate together, that is when the greatest, most creative ideas come about, and I think a co-op is just that. Q: Remember when it used to snow? Oh the days. After going to college in Minnesota, I laugh a little at NYC winters. Q: Is it true that all members can relax and work half as often now that we have a full time employee? No, but there are perks now to working your shift: you get to hang out with me! |
RECIPE: CHICK PEA CURRY IN A HURRY Here’s a winter recipe that’ll work well during the winter season when local fresh vegetables aren’t such an option. And it only takes 10 minutes!
Preparation: In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to boil and cook 5-10 minutes, until spinach is cooked. Add salt to taste, and a dollop of plain yogurt works well too. From Lorna Sass’ “Short-cut Vegan” |
| JOB LISTINGSOutreach and Food Justice Co-Chairs (2 separate positions) Are you interested in getting more involved with the Co-op? We need some more leaders to help develop and expand our Outreach and Food Justice Committee. The jobs entail attending 1-2 mtgs per month, help facilitate committee members with their projects, supervise and approve work credit entries and more. Most of the work is done from home, so great for parents. These positions do require some time additional time (4 hrs per month or more), so this is perfect for people wanting to bank hours for future time off (one year commitment is requested). Interested? Email either: outreach@greenehillfood.coop or FoodJustice@greenehillfood.coop. Special Events Tabling Coordinator We need someone to help recruit and schedule our special event tabling opportunities. This work is done primarily via email, so an ideal job for someone who wants to work from home and that is a clear and prompt communicator. As winter is our downtime, the position runs roughly April - Oct. with the shifts being roughly 4 hrs every 4 weeks (instead of the normal 2). This is perfect for someone that wants to bank hours during those heavy months for a more relaxed work shift in the slow months. Email: outreach@greenehillfood.coop. Join the Marketing Committee's Strategy Team We're looking for Co-op members interested in branding and design, strategy, writing and research. Our team created the Co-op's Brand Book and marketing plan, and we have some exciting projects in the works including community research, blog, and creative promotional campaign. We host fun meetings bi-monthly. Read more about what the Marketing Committee does here. Please email Marketing@greenehillfood.coop to join. |
 CHESTNUTS: IT’S WHAT’S FOR DINNEROkay it’s not exactly an entree, but chestnuts are a great winter food you can eat when seasonal vegetables aren’t an option. And we sell them at The Co-op, courtesy of Food Cycle Farm in Kent CT, which is just 100 miles away. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s laws for New York State, Chapter 3 -- Air Resources, Prohibition # 215.2 “no person shall burn, cause, suffer, allow or permit the burning of any materials in an open fire” in New York City. So roast them in your oven at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes after making a 1/8th inch deep incision around the circumference of the chestnut instead. If Bing Crosby wants to start a fire in his living room, let him. |
