April 2022 Newsletter
The Children's Fair is a fun and FREE event where kids can have fun while parents, grandparents and caregivers can explore services and business in the county. This year's theme is "Get Moving!". The fair is on Saturday April 30th from 9:00am-1:00pm at the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids.
FRFC is partnering with Get Fit Itasca and their gardening program, "One Vegetable, One Community" to promote their veggie of the year: CUCUMBERS! We'll be assembling 500 planting kits including seed packets, soil and pots ready to distribute at the Children's Fair.
We almost have enough volunteers but are still looking for:
2 more owners to help with assembly: 3 hours commitment. Sunday, April 24th from 1:00-4:00pm in the classrooms at the YMCA.
2 more owners to help set up our booth and hand out planting kits during the event. 3 hours commitment. April 30th from 8:00-11:00am at the IRA Civic Center.
Email Shara if you are excited to volunteer & help FRFC encourage kids to get moving in the garden and grow some cucumbers!
Two exciting opportunities available!
It's an especially thrilling time to join the board as we ramp up towards:
Finding our site
Securing funds
Hiring a general manager
Planning store layout & products
A board term lasts for 3 years (or less if you are filling a vacancy) and provides opportunities to:
Represent and engage with other co-op owners
Grow your existing skills and cultivate new ones
Expand personal and professional networks through co-op development
Directors take their responsibility to represent our owners seriously… and they also enjoy the rewards of serving, including having an inside scoop about the co-op’s development! As active volunteer owners, directors are ambassadors for the co-op who are fully engaged in the work needed to build our store. It's so fulfilling to play a key role in creating this hub for fresh local food and ideas!
Raising the funds to open our store from our owners with a Capital Campaign is a tried and true practice in the cooperative industry. In fact, our friends at Oshkosh Food Co-op recently opened their gorgeous new store in downtown Oshkosh, Wisconsin by exceeding their $1.5 million fundraising goal and raising over $1.6 million from their owners and community members during their Community Investment Campaign!
Oshkosh Food Co-op began their campaign in the fall of 2019 and raised nearly $900,000 out of the gate. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the Oshkosh community pulled together to fund their store. Despite the impact of the pandemic, over 600 owners (nearly HALF of their 1200 owners!!) and community members invested $1.6 million in the Oshkosh Food Co-op.
Imagine what we can do here in Itasca County if half of our over 929 owners (to date) invest in our upcoming Community Investment Campaign! We’re so excited to fill you in on the campaign details...stay tuned for more info in the coming months!
Book Club chat - April 7th at 6:00pm!
(Send us an email for the details!)
"Why We Sleep"
by Matthew Walker, PhD
Neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker provides a revolutionary exploration of sleep, examining how it affects every aspect of our physical and mental well-being. He also provides actionable steps towards getting a better night’s sleep every night.
Pick up this great book and join our book club! Anyone is welcome to our quarterly discussions regardless of how far you got through the book.
Check out the flier for the Garden Social hosted by our friends at Get Fit Itasca, One Vegetable One Community, and Itasca Community Gardens!
Owners are encouraged to join Work Sessions & Board Meetings!
Email us if you are interested in joining one of our teams.
GM Search Team
Sunday, April 3rd, 6:30-7:30pm
Planning strategies to find the best future store General Manager.
Capital Campaign Planning Team
Monday, April 4th, 6:30-7:30pm
Planning & implementing the capital campaign.
Work Session
Tuesday, April 5th, 6:00-7:30pm.
Open to all owners!Click to join via Zoom
Marketing Team
Wednesday, April 6th, 6:00-7:00pm
Marketing, graphics, & social media.
COMMUNITY EVENT - Garden Social
Thursday, April 7th, 5:00-7:00pm at the YMCA
Celebrate the gardeningseason with other gardeners, get info on local community gardens, and free cucumber seeds from One Vegetable One Community. Light snacks and refreshments provided. All are welcome!
CO-OP EVENT - Book Club
Thursday, April 7th, 6:00-8:00pm
Lively discussions around a variety of topics!
Site Selection Team
Tuesday, April 12th, 7:00-8:00pm
Locating, researching, & comparing possible store sites.
Board Development Team
Tuesday, April 12th, 6:00-7:00pm
Strengthening our board through education & policy creation.
Board Meeting
Tuesday, April 19th, listening session 5:30-6:00pm
Open to all owners!Click to join via Zoom
Board meeting follows listening session 6:00-7:30pm
Open to all owners!Click to join via Zoom
CO-OP EVENT - Children's Fair Kit Assembly
Sunday, April 24th, 1:00-4:00pm at the YMCA
Assembling planting kits to distribute at Children's Fair.
COMMUNITY EVENT - Children's Fair!
Saturday, April 30th, 9:00am-1:00pm at the IRA Civic Center
Fun & education for the whole family! FRFC will be there, too.Learn more here.
Grand Rapids Farmer's Market
Online ordering for in-person pick up is available for the winter season! Visit their website for more details and to place an order:
http://www.grfarmersmarket.org/
Thank you for keeping in touch with Free Range Food Co-op!
Know somebody who should be a Free Range owner? Forward this email and ask them to click the link below to visit our website and sign up.
February 2022 Newsletter
Your co-op board and volunteers have been busy chipping away at these goals and need your help with #3, filling our board with qualified engaged community members! Our bylaws specify a 9 member board, and we currently have 7 active board members.
This means we have two exciting opportunities available! It's an especially thrilling time to join the board as tasks and decisions are ramping up towards:
Finding our site
Securing funds
Hiring a general manager
Planning our store layout and products
Growing our ownership!
Directors take their responsibility to represent our owners seriously… and they also enjoy the rewards of serving, including having an inside scoop about the co-op’s development! It's so fulfilling to play a key role in a goal you're passionate about while working to create this hub for fresh local food and ideas!
A strong local economy and fair wages are the backbone to a strong community. Our business model of paying farmers and employees a fair wage while keeping dollars circulating in our community is a win-win. The employees win, the farmers win, the economy wins and we win as shoppers because we’ll have access to the freshest, healthiest food possible. In the coming months we'll share more about ways YOU can invest in a healthy local economy!
Venture into the world of homemade, alternative, zero cholesterol, easily made-at-home "cheese"!
Taste the palate pleasing samples and take home knowledge and motivation along with 5 printed recipes.
Date: March 14
Time: 6-8pm
Cost: $20
REGISTER HERE!
Newest Book Club Selection!
"Why We Sleep"
by Matthew Walker, PhD
Do your New Year's resolutions include "Read More Books" or "Get Better Sleep"? Then this is the book for you!
Neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker provides a revolutionary exploration of sleep, examining how it affects every aspect of our physical and mental well-being. He also provides actionable steps towards getting a better night’s sleep every night.
Pick up this great book today and join our book club! Anyone is welcome to our quarterly discussions regardless of how far you got through the book. Next meeting in April, date TBD.Send us an email to get on the book club list!
December 2021 Newsletter
From the Board:
We hired our Capital Campaign Consultant!
Yes! The cooperative is making progress towards opening a store location by preparing for the Capital Campaign and beginning work with consultant Katie Novak. While we continue the search for a suitable site for our store, we can learn from an experienced professional about how to fund building or renovating. We look forward to working with Katie to build the systems and framework for the capital campaign; but most of all, we look forward to working with our fellow owners to implement it! If you are interested in learning how to help with this critical part of the store opening process, reach out to any of us and we would be happy to explain the opportunities in more detail.
FRFC has partnered with the Cooperative Development Fund of CDS, which allows us to accept tax-deductible donations! These donations will help fund start-up costs including building renovations, staff hiring, and consultant fees. Click the link below to visit GiveMN.org to donate online (find FRFC in the list, we'll be listed soon!). Or, send us an email to ask about how to make a donation by check.
The Itasca County YMCA "Jeans & Jewels" live auction
Online bidding is closed for this event, BUT the live auction has been rescheduled for Thursday January 13th, at 5:30pm at the Timberlake Lodge! If you don't have tickets yet, they can be purchased at the counter at the YMCA. If you already have tickets, get ready to bid on Free Range Food Co-op's basket containing a pile of amazing foods and goods from local producers who support the co-op, including:
Apothecary Chocolates
Augustyn Artworks: pair of ceramic mugs
Boondock Enterprises: English Lavender Bath and Body Box
Bryndlewood Gardens: two $25 gift certificates
Fideldy's: Honey and Maple Syrup
Hannah Harling: homemade dog treats
Merhar Maple Syrup and Wild Rice
Willow Sedge Farms: 1/4 of Beef
Check out the Visit Grand Rapids website for a downloadable PDF of the Northern Minnesota Sustainability Shopping Map. Created by Girl Scout Sarah Kessler, the map features businesses that support sustainability and feature sustainable brands. Nice work, Sarah!
FRFC Book Club
We're very excited for the latest book selection, which comes highly recommended by many:
"Braiding Sweetgrass:
Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants"
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Book club is open to everyone! Meeting date TBD. Email Kari for more information: jkritter@paulbunyan.net
Grand Rapids Farmer's Market
Online ordering for in-person pick up is available for the winter season! Visit their website for more details and to place an order:
http://www.grfarmersmarket.org/
November 2021 Newsletter
The Votes are In! Congratulations to Lois Bendix and Laine Yandell on their re-election to the board of directors! Click the link to learn more about them and the rest of your board.
Did you miss the annual meeting?
Get the details in the annual report, available on our website:
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we invite you to read this 2016 article from MPR News for an introduction to the history of Ojibwe treaties in northern Minnesota:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/02/01/explaining-minnesota-ojibwe-treaties
FRFC Book Club
We're very excited for the latest book selection, which comes highly recommended by many:
"Braiding Sweetgrass:
Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants"
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Book club is open to everyone! Meeting date TBD. Email Kari for more information: jkritter@paulbunyan.net
Listening Sessions:
Join on Zoom during the half hour before all board meetings to chat with directors, learn more about the cooperative, and share your thoughts. (Listening sessions prior to board meetings only. All owners are encouraged to join any board meeting or work session.)
This month's work session is on Tuesday, November 2nd, 6:00-7:30pm. Open to everyone! Click to join via Zoom: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8307628400?pwd=QldXWnJzcG12Y0F5R1dld1E0N0pkZz09
This month's board meeting is on Tuesday, November 16th, 6:00-7:30pm with listening session at 5:30pm. Open to everyone! Click to join via Zoom:https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8307628400?pwd=QldXWnJzcG12Y0F5R1dld1E0N0pkZz09
Grand Rapids Farmer's Market
Online ordering for in-person pick up is available for the winter season! Visit their website for more details and to place an order:
http://www.grfarmersmarket.org/
Thank you for keeping in touch with Free Range Food Co-op!
Know somebody who should be a Free Range owner? Forward this email and ask them to click the link below to visit our website and sign up.
October 2021 Newsletter
Welcome new owners in the last month:
Angela and Eric Yeschick
Sandy and Dave Clark
Mary and Thomas Jones
Jodel and Jim Crecelius
Adam Richmond and Elizabeth Schultz
Diane and Bob Davis
Rebecca and Eric Spawn
Cindy Brummer
plus 5 more!
All Free Range Food Co-op owners are welcome to join the board of directors at our Annual Meeting of Owners! This year's virtual meeting will be held via Zoom and is a great opportunity for you to get updates on your board's work, news on our progress towards opening a store, and ask your co-op related questions. Click here to join via Zoom on Tuesday, October 12th
Voting is open to all Free Range Food Co-op owners.
With autumn here and winter near,
we ask for you to volunteer -
to step outside your comfort zone,
and help the co-op from your home!
Maybe staffing a booth at a public event isn't quite your 'thing', and that's OK! We welcome all owners to volunteer as they are able, and will work with you to find tasks you can be excited about. As cold weather approaches we pivot towards more tasks we can do from home. This winter we are in need of owners able to help with projects such as:
Writing or proofreading co-op documents to get them up-to-date
Creating fun & informative social media posts
Drafting an inclusion and equity policy
Organizing a General Manager hiring team
And so much more!
Listening Sessions:
Join on Zoom during the half hour before all board meetings to chat with directors, learn more about the cooperative, and share your thoughts. (Listening sessions prior to board meetings only. All owners are encouraged to join any board meeting or work session.)
This month's work session is on Tuesday, October 5th, 6:00-7:30pm. Open to everyone! Click to join via Zoom: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8307628400?pwd=QldXWnJzcG12Y0F5R1dld1E0N0pkZz09
ANNUAL MEETING: Tuesday, October 12th, 6:30-8:00pm. Open to all owners! Click to join via Zoom: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8307628400?pwd=QldXWnJzcG12Y0F5R1dld1E0N0pkZz09
This month's board meeting is on Tuesday, October 19th, 6:00-7:30pm with listening session at 5:30pm. Open to everyone! Click to join via Zoom:https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8307628400?pwd=QldXWnJzcG12Y0F5R1dld1E0N0pkZz09
Other meetings and events:
Highway Cleanup Day: Saturday, October 16th 9:00am-12:00pm. Pitch in to pick up trash on our Adopt-a-Highway segment on Trout Lake Road just outside of Grand Rapids. Contact Casey if you are interested: cdabrowski@gmail.com
Grand Rapids Farmer's Market
Wednesdays and Saturdays through October, from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Located at: 11 Golf Course Road, Grand Rapids, just off the corner of Hwy 169 and Golf Course Road next to the Grand Rapids State Bank branch.
http://www.grfarmersmarket.org/
September 2021 Newsletter
Accepting applications for the Board of Directors!
Free Range Food Co-op is governed by a democratically elected board of nine directors serving three-year terms. With three positions open each election cycle, the board is always seeking passionate owners who care about the Co-op and want to take a more active role in ensuring its continued success.
As an owner, Free Range Food Co-op is your co-op. The success of the co-op is your success. You have a voice in your co-op’s future through voting in elections, serving on committees and/or on the board as an elected director.
Serving on the Board of Directors is one of the most rewarding ways to become involved, to learn and practice good leadership and governance, serve your community, and help steer the future of our cooperative. Any co-op owner in good standing can become a candidate to serve on the Board of Directors, and the board is always striving to broaden its perspective and better represent the community it serves. Click the link below to learn more and apply now for elections happening in October!
WOW! We can't spotlight only 1 volunteer this month, because so many owners stepped up and truly exemplified the cooperative spirit!
Owner volunteers are vital to FRFC's success during development because the work being done right now is all on a volunteer basis (including the board of directors). If you have an interest in helping build your food co-op, we welcome you as part of the team! Click below to fill out our volunteer survey and let us know what team or project suits your interests and skills.
Owner & Community Listening Sessions:
Join on Zoom during the half hour before all board meetings to chat with directors, learn more about the cooperative, and share your thoughts. (Listening sessions prior to board meetings only. All owners are encouraged to join any board meeting or work session.)
This month's work session is on Tuesday, September 7th, 6:00-7:30pm. Open to everyone! Click to join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4508384438
This month's board meeting is on Tuesday, September 21st, 6:00-7:30pm with listening session at 5:30pm. Open to everyone! Click to join via Zoom:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4508384438
Other meetings and events:
Bovey Farmers Day: Monday, September 6th 9:00am-4:00pm. Visit our booth at the Bovey Farmers Day celebration on Monday! The celebration goes the whole weekend and you can find more details on their Facebook page.
Book Club: Thursday, September 16th 6:00-8:00pm. Join us for a fun, intriguing discussion about our latest reading: "Simple Food for the Good Life" by Helen Nearing. All community members welcome (even if you haven't finished the whole book!)
FRFC Book Club
"Simple Food for the Good Life: Random Acts of Cooking and Pithy Quotations"
by Helen Nearing
Book club is open to everyone! The next meeting date is Thursday, September 16th, 6:00pm. Email Kari for more information: jkritter@paulbunyan.net
Grand Rapids Farmer's Market
Wednesdays and Saturdays through the summer, from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Located at: 11 Golf Course Road, Grand Rapids, just off the corner of Hwy 169 and Golf Course Road next to the Grand Rapids State Bank branch.
http://www.grfarmersmarket.org/
Thank you for being an owner of Free Range Food Co-op!
Know somebody who should be a Free Range owner? Forward this email and ask them to click the link below to visit our website and sign up.