Newsletter News

The newsletter is a little different these days: we’ve moved our schedules up to be able to make important announcements about Co-op meetings, and our team is in transition.

We’d like to thank member Debbie Grossman, who has been working as the Style and Art editor of the Newsletter since March 2013! Stepping into this role is new team member Gitta Zomorodi, who began working with us from Kampala, Uganda! Welcome, Gitta, and way to take the Co-op global (literally)!!

You should know we are working on special interest pieces about food justice, food, Co-op life, and getting to know the folks who help make the Co-op the special place that it is. Do you have an idea for an article about food equity or a human interest piece? Do you have suggestions for things we should cover or do? Please get in touch with our Food Justice Reporter Roxanne Earley or our Human Interest Reporter Aly Miller.

Park Slope Members Invited to Shop

As a thank you for all the support over the years, Greene Hill Food Co-op is opening its doors to Park Slope Members. No work commitment, no membership needed. Just show your fob at the door!

Inactive Members, It’s so easy to come back!

Behind in your hours? Don’t fret! We have an ongoing courtesy for members who have fallen behind: they only need to sign up for two shifts to get caught up, no matter how many shifts were missed. So easy! Just contact membership@greenehillfood.coop to reactivate your account and sign up now.

We’ve Got Bread Alone

The Co-op has recently started carrying Bread Alone bread. We have French and whole wheat sourdough, baguettes, ciabatta rolls, cranberry pecan loaf, nine-grain sandwich bread, and more. We're getting full and half loaves, some already pre-sliced. We're excited to stock such a quality, well-known bread product and we hope people will check out the new offerings!

Upcoming Wellness Workshop

Sweet Lies: 5 Secrets to Banishing Your Sugar Cravings that Food Companies Don't Want You to Know About.

When: Wednesday, March 4th, at 7 pm

Where: Greene Hill Food Co-op, 18 Putnam Avenue

Join Jill Hoffman as she outlines simple steps that you can take to lose weight and get healthy by reducing or eliminating sugar from your diet.

Jill Hoffman is a Certified Holistic Health and Lifestyle Coach. She teaches busy women how to get off sugar so that they can feel less stressed, have more energy, and be more present and productive in their lives.

After the disaster of Superstorm Sandy, the Rockaways were in chaos. Out of the debris grew Worker-Owned Rockaways Cooperatives (WORC). Its goal is to equip Far Rockaway residents with the skills and financing to launch small, worker-owned businesses that address the needs in their community. One of the two worker-owned coops that WORC has helped create is La Mies Bakery. La Mies (“the harvest” in Spanish) is owned and operated entirely by immigrants from Guatemala and Honduras who have brought Central American traditions and flavors to this new business. And their baked goods are delicious! Every weekend, we’ll be offering a variety of La Mies items including muffins, danishes, empanadas, and cookies. Try them all!

Recipe by Molly Neuman

This classic Middle Eastern dish is a staple in our house because it's so hearty, flavorful and comforting. The simple addition of caramelized onions is the perfect complement to the seemingly basic combination of rice and lentils. Take note: the rice should be well rinsed and drained before cooking, and the water added should be boiling to encourage separation and fluffiness of the grains.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups long-grain basmati rice, well rinsed
• 3.5 cups boiling water (or more if needed)
• 2 cups cooked green lentils
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Yields 4-6 servings of ¾ to 1.5 cups each. Total cost of ingredients:$3.09 ($0.51 to $0.77 per serving).

Directions:

In a skillet with tall sides, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onions and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 20 minutes (stirring every 5 minutes or so) or until the onions are well-caramelized. Once cooked, remove from the heat and set aside.

While the onions caramelize, make the rice and lentils. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until translucent, about 1 minute. Add the rice and sauté until well coated by the garlic and oil. Add the boiling water, cooked lentils, and cumin and season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and let cook until rice is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Add a bit more water if the rice does not feel tender. Remove from heat, transfer to a serving dish and top with caramelized onions.

This month we spoke with Russ Ross, our enthusiastic new Marketing Committee Coordinator. He’s new to the Co-op and clearly with us for the long haul!

Q: Where are you from?

A: I’m a native to NYC. I grew up in Queens and moved up to Westchester County for my teens/early adulthood.

Q: What neighborhood do you live in and why do you like living there?

A: I live in Bed-Stuy. I moved into my place four years ago because it was affordable. I’ve since fallen in so much love with my neighbors and the vibe of the ‘hood that I simply can’t imagine living anywhere else!

Q: How did you find the Greene Hill Food Coop and what were some of your reasons for joining?

A: I was so disappointed in the organic selection at my local grocery store that I finally decided to search the web for alternatives. That’s how I came here. I haven’t looked back since.

Q: What is your job/position here at the Coop?

A: I’m the Marketing Committee Coordinator. I also am a shift leader.

Q: What do you like to do for fun? What do you do for work?

A: A little over a year ago I left my corporate job and started my own photography business. On the side I teach tarot card classes at Brooklyn Brainery. For fun, I enjoy biking, and I love my dogs and cat. I need little else to make me happy.

Q: Is there any special Co-op product/food that you're fond of that you'd like to talk about?

A: I’ve been rather obsessed with the baby bok choy lately, though if I’m known for buying the Co-op out of anything, it’s the Ball jars. I’ve recently become obsessed with fermenting and canning. It’s perhaps a little unhealthy. The obsession, that is. Not the fermenting.

Q: Where would you like to see The Coop in five years? Twenty?

A: This isn’t what I’d like to see, it’s what I KNOW I’ll see--in five years we’ll be as strong and successful as any chain grocery store you find in Brooklyn. In twenty years we’re going to be bigger than Trader Joe’s!

BECOME A SHIFT LEADER TODAY! Many shifts available -- particularly weekends!

Next Shift Leader meeting is Wednesday, February 18th, at 7 pm in the Fulton Grand Bar's back room (at 1011 Fulton Street).

Are you working your shift in the store and there isn't a shift leader? Do you look in the mirror and ask, "Do I have what it takes to be THAT SHIFT LEADER?" Well, of course you do! So step up and take the bull by the horns! There are no qualifications necessary to be a shift leader. We'll get you formally trained so you have the tools to lead with confidence! You'll be invited to our monthly meeting where you can meet the other leaders and contribute your ideas and opinions. Make a difference in how our store runs! Concerns or questions? Contact Matthew Talmage, Shift Leader Coordinator, at matthewtalmage@hotmail.com.

FLOATER’S LIST

Need to do a make up shift? Have an inconsistent schedule and need flexibility with your work shifts? Like to work on a variety of projects? Then the the floater's list is for you!!! Every week, an email listing open store shifts and special projects is sent out to the “floaters list". It’s a great way to get caught up if you’ve fallen behind on your shifts and/or if you can’t commit to a regular store schedule. To get on the floater's email list, just send a request to Lauryl at store.coordinator@greenehillfood.coop.

Job listings in alphabetic order:

Design Buildout Coordinator Needed

Design Buildout recently shifted to the Operations committee and will now work closely with Operations as well as Shift Leaders to ensure that any design and build needs are met in a timely manner. We need a coordinator to help facilitate communication across all parties. You don’t need to be an architect or a builder to take on this role! You should be familiar with, or have at least have an interest in, architectural terms, construction elements and processes. Please email DesignBuildout@greenehillfood.coop with your interest.

Seeking Finance Team Coordinator

The number of members doing Co-op finance work has doubled over the past year which means we need a member to help us keep organized, coordinate the teams doing different financial tasks, schedule meetings, keep track of progress on projects, and respond to/redirect Finance e-mail messages. If you'd like to learn more about the financial side of Greene Hill, and relish the challenge of coordinating the work of a couple dozen members, then this job's for you!! No prior financial experience is needed. And except for Finance meetings, you can do all your work from home. Please e-mail finance@greenehillfood.coop if you're interested.

Seeking IT Committee Members

The IT Committee is looking for new members for both in- and out-of-store tasks. We are looking for IT individuals who are willing to work in the store to troubleshoot new and existing challenges with the POS machines and network. Individuals who have experience with LAMP (Linux/Apache/MySql/PHP) applications, Drupal, CiviCRM, Wordpress, Linux server administration, or network setup and administration would also be an asset to the Committee. If you are interested or have questions please send them to IT@greenehillfood.coop.

Membership Committee Seeks Co-chair and Coordinator

Membership is looking for people interested in joining the committee. Working on committees is an amazing way to keep your hours current and get to know parts of the Co-op you never knew existed. Never mind the incredible people you get to hang with—you also get to set your own hours! It doesn't get any better than that. Here's a quick overview of who we’re looking for:

Co-chair - someone who's interested in helping lead Membership initiatives and campaigns.

Coordinator - someone who's great at communicating with the team and across committees. Please email membership@greenehilllfood.coop with your interest.

Merchandise Committee Looking for New Members

Would you like more say in what the Co-op stocks and sells? The Merchandise committee is looking for new members to work on the exciting task of selecting and ordering everything that goes on the Co-op's shelves. Experience in grocery or restaurant work is a plus, but not at all necessary. If you're interested, contact merchandise@greenehillfood.coop.

Newsletter Seeks Writers

Want a great regular way to fulfill your hours from home each month? This newsletter is looking for writers who can help share the Co-op’s latest news with our members and friends. You can come up with story or interview ideas and co-ordinate or write them. Write us at newsletter@greenehillfood.coop.

Ops Committee Needs a Co-chair

We’re seeking someone to work with the new Shift Leaders Committee and help oversee the Design Buildout Committee, as well as ensure operations at the store run smoothly. The ideal candidate is someone who is super-organized, communicates effectively and clearly, and most importantly, has a great interest in helping improve and oversee the store functions and operations. Please email ops@greenehillfood.coop ­with your interest

Photo credit: Molly Neuman (mujdarra).

The Greene Hill Food Co-op Newsletter is edited and published by (in alphabetical order) Carola Burroughs, Roxanne Earley, Sonia Garbesputzel, Alexandra Miller, Amy Nazer, and Gitta Zomorodi. Contact us with any feedback, suggestions, or requests at newsletter@greenehillfood.coop.

Join or follow the Greene Hill Food Co-op!

Interested in joining the Greene Hill Food Co-op? Check out our website to learn about membership, like us on Facebook, or stop by our store at 18 Putnam Ave. (off Grand Ave.) with any questions!