Currents - BUSINESS - River Market Community Co-op
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Currents
MARCH| APRIL 2022
WHAT’S INSIDE.....
BUSINESS What’s Inside!
• PRE-ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY MEAL
• ROUND UP NON-PROFITS
ANNOUNCED
• 20-21 ANNUAL REPORT
• LOCAL SAVES THE DAY
• OWNER APPRECIATION DAYS
WHAT COMES NEXT? It’s spring, although the forecast seems to disagree and believe it or not, it’s time for River Market to make plans for next fiscal year already. It’s a challenging thing, prognostication. What will happen? How to account for items unknown? What happens now that COVID life is finally going away (hopefully for real this time) and with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine we’ve entered a new era in tense global politics? We start with what we know. Spring will arrive, so will St. Patrick’s Day, Ramadan, Passover and Easter. We know farmer’s fields will get planted and in unbelievably short order a bounty of local produce as well as CSA boxes will start arriving at River Market. We’ll celebrate Earth Day on April 22 and hope to do her justice for the gifts she gives us. Oh yeah, and we’ll have to turn our clocks forward. From what we know comes what we think we can accomplish. We know we are great at featuring local produce, so surely we can continue to increase and highlight our non-produce local offerings to ensure our local roasters, toasters, makers and producers receive the kudos they are due. Now that we can look forward to shaking off the cold and the big fat sweaters, we can re-evaluate how we use our space to make sure to provide room for all the goodies our local food shed produces. From what we think we can accomplish comes the metrics of success. Is it enough to say we commit? Is it enough to say ‘at least it’s better than it was’? Nope, too wishy washy. We will commit to new local items across the store each month in fiscal year 2023. We will commit to maintaining our current providers and to increasing our spending with local roasters, toasters, makers, producers and growers by 10% in fiscal year 2023. Because, for Pete’s sake, they feed us and participate in creating a vibrant economy right here at home. So, there’s a wee bit of a ‘coming out of winter’ challenge for you. River Market is a small store, and the space we have by necessity is devoted to the products that sell. We gauge our offerings on how well a given product sells and we simply don’t have the room to carry products that don’t sell. River Market can support roasters, toasters, makers, producers, and growers when River Market customers purchase what they roast, toast, make, produce and grow. We can only maintain our focus on local if you buy it. So, will you commit to a measurable percent increase in your local purchases from River Market in fiscal year 2023? Here’s to a delicious spring, filled with promise and some temperatures that don’t require socks. In Cooperation, Sara Morrison General Manager
A purpose of a cooperative is to
realize the economic, cultural,
and social needs of the
organization's members and its
surrounding community. Read on
to learn how cooperatives proved
to be a powerful tool against
discrimination by fullfilling that
purpose.
A Short History of
Black Cooperatives
in America
By: Lisa Barclay,
Board Secretary of The Food Co-op (Port Townsend, WA)
The long tradition of African American cooperation is not well known, and in her book Collective Courage: A History of
African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice, Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard sets out to remedy that gap
in our knowledge. From mutual aid societies to independent fugitive communities and from farmer cooperatives to
consumer co-ops, Professor Gordon Nembhard details how people work together in the face of racism and active sabotage
to improve each others’ lives in tangible ways. Cooperation has proved a powerful tool against discrimination. In honor of
the Black Lives Matter movement, we’ll survey a small part of the rich cooperative history that Gordon Nembhard
chronicles.
While African Americans have utilized cooperation since the first Africans arrived as indentured servants in the early 17th
century, the first recorded cooperative efforts were mutual aid societies in the late 18th century. Both free and enslaved
Black people pooled money to pay for things like burials, land, helping the sick and the orphaned, and even buying freedom
for one another. Early forms of cooperation ranged from mutual insurance companies to buying clubs to collective farming.
The Underground Railroad is a famous example of cooperative effort.
During the Civil War, the disruptions of war sometimes actually created new cooperative possibilities. For instance, the
Combahee River Colony in South Carolina was formed by African American women (the men had joined the Union Army)
who grew cotton on abandoned farms, remaining independent and eventually becoming a community of several hundred
women. Women often founded and ran African American cooperative efforts.
After the war, Black farmers started the Colored Farmers’ National Alliance and Co-operative Union when the Southern
Farmers’ Alliance would not admit Black farmers except in separate chapters, and by 1891 the cooperative had more than
a million members. The Union stressed mutual aid—sharing farming techniques and coordinating planting and
harvesting—as well as political participation. The members also started a lot of co-ops. The cooperatives siphoned off
trade from White-owned businesses, leading to various kinds of retaliation—sometimes slander, sometimes violence. By
1896 the Union was gone, but in 1922 the National Federation of Colored Farmers formed to increase Black farm
ownership and improve farm businesses though cooperative buying, production, and marketing. Tenant farmers and
sharecroppers joined the cooperative, and by the time it ended ten years later, most members had been able to buy their
own farms. Co-ops of all types are often short lived, but their rippling effects can be impressive, including training activists
and leaders, improving individual lives and leading to new ventures and co-ops.
African American activists were also inspired by the cooperative principles set out by The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, a co-op founded in 1844 in England (and often called the start of the modern cooperative movement). Many Black-owned consumer cooperatives were established at the end of the 19th Century and the first half of the 20th: grocery stores, gas stations, credit unions, insurance co-ops, and some housing co-ops. In 1907 W. E. B. Du Bois held a conference on cooperatives and listed 154 current African American co-ops. In Ruthville, Virginia, for example, the Mercantile Cooperative Company was established in 1901. This successful cooperative coexisted amicably with the White-owned store across the street. The community also raised money to build a new school—like the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers, African American cooperatives often stressed education, hosting study groups and evening classes. And interestingly, Black colleges were ahead of the curve on teaching cooperative economic theory; most had it as part of their curriculum by 1940, something large universities still do not usually offer even today. Another important cooperative was the Young Negro Cooperative League, founded in 1930 with a mission “to gain economic power through co-operation.” Although short-lived, this co-op inspired many other cooperative efforts and trained people who later became activists. For instance, Ella Baker was the League’s national director, and she went on to help found SNCC (the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), one of the seminal groups of the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-twentieth century. Through her work in the Young Negro Cooperative League, Baker learned, as Gordon Nembhard notes, to focus on “grassroots leadership, education, democratic decision making, and a step-by-step, transformative process of working toward long term goals.” While cooperatives were a training ground for activists and leaders of the civil rights era, the movement in turn led to more co-ops. A particular success was the Freedom Quilting Bee, founded in 1967. Women from southern sharecropping families joined to craft and sell quilts. With the money they earned, they bought land and built a sewing factory. They also sold some of the land to families who had been evicted for civil rights activities. The Freedom Quilting Bee was a founding member of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives (FSC), which still thrives today. The Federation was created to “promote cooperative economic development as a strategy (and philosophy), to support and sustain Black farmer ownership and control over land, to support the economic viability of family and independent farm businesses—especially small, sustainable, and organic farms.” Find out more or donate towards their work at https://www.federation.coop. Black cooperatives are still solving problems and creating opportunities today. For instance, the multi-ethnic youth group Toxic Soil Busters Cooperative in Massachusetts detoxified soil in their community during the eleven years of its existence. The Ujamaa Collective was founded in Pittsburgh by African American craftswomen to create a marketplace for their wares. Read about them online and shop at https://ujamaacollective.com. And the largest worker co-op in the United States today is comprised largely of Black and Latina women—the Cooperative Home Care Associates (CHCA) in the South Bronx. The cooperative provides benefits almost unheard of in the home-care industry, from small interest-free loans to free income tax preparation services to paid vacation and health insurance. Not to mention dividends! It also helps other co-ops get started, an example of co-ops helping co-ops, fulfilling Principle 6 of the International Cooperative Alliance. The immense success of the CHCA indicates the power of cooperation to improve lives. These are just a few examples of African American cooperation over the last several hundred years. Much of the history of this cooperation and its profound effects have been lost because it was not recorded, but Jessica Gordon Nembhard’s book thoroughly reviews the information available. At this time when we are all thinking about how we can work to finally fulfill the promise of our Declaration of Independence—that all people are equal—cooperation can be a powerful tool. We can support cooperative efforts that work to dismantle racism and we can continue to work to make sure everyone is welcome at our co-op. As a country we have a long way to go, but step by step, we can make the world a better place for all of us. Article republished with permission from The Food Co-op (Port Townsend, WA). Image sourced from Shareable.net.
Fill er’ up Annual Plant Sale COMING MID-MAY!
celebrating SUPERMARKET EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY On a very snowy February 22, 2022, we had the opportunity to celebrate part of what makes your co-op so unique, our amazing employees who keep it running smoothly. We certainly are grateful for a special day to recognize how amazing and important the 58 individuals that ensure our community has access to food and our local bakers, makers, and growers have a place to thrive, and we definitely took advantage of it by purchasing lunch for our staff. We went beyond the walls of our space to recognize others choosing to feed our community by delivering baked goods to Len’s, Marine General Store, Brine’s Market and Hagberg’s Meats. The recipients were pleasantly surprised, not only for the genuine gesture of appreciation, but also for the delivery in the snow. Appreciation goes a long way, especially in our current climate. Our goal is to make sure you feel appreciated from the time you enter the co-op, every time.
News from the board By: Scott Vrchota, Board of Director Let me introduce myself. My name is Scott Vrchota and I am a new member of the River Market Co-op board of directors. I was voted on the board last October of 2021 and have been busy learning and catching up on all the activities associated with the co-op. The current River Market board, I believe, selected me due to my skills in planning and managing business development for major healthcare organizations as well as owning and selling a couple of independent businesses in the past. Your current River Market Co-op management and newly assembled board, puts you in a solid position now, as well as looking at planning for the future. My personal connection to Stillwater goes way back to my early days of boating up and down the river with my parents as a child. We would run our little 16ft runabout up and down the river, pack a lunch, swim, sun and occasionally fish. Now as an adult, I keep a current dock & boat at Mulberry Point Yacht Harbor and still enjoy those sunny, peaceful days going up & down the river, but now I usually pack a delicious lunch purchased from the River Market introducing family and friends to the great deli & food options available right in downtown Stillwater. The fact that the co-op works with local farmers and producers in the area is also important for sustainability and helping the community to thrive and stay alive, especially in these trying Covid times. I believe any time we can support our local community and in essence “give back” to people and businesses working in the area is positive for all of us. My role with the board of directors will be to work with the general manager and other directors to guide the business toward sustainability and ongoing improvement for co-op owners. Running a food co-operative is a challenging business, trying to serve what customers want and at a fair price and at the same time dealing with the pressures of supply and our rising inflation. I will be helping with the Strategic Planning Committee as part of my focus in 2022. This project will help the board focus on better serving co-op owners, trying to match your expectations with resources available. Looking toward the future and finding ways to expand or improve the co-op resources, will be a large part of this planning process. All the owners at River Market, including it’s managers and board of directors work for you and always look for your ideas and suggestions in improving the store and what it does. I personally look forward to meeting more of you in the next year, talking with you directly and working to bring all owners a unique and wonderful food shopping experience.
SHE’S
BACK!
Trista Boe returns as Produce
Manager with a renewed
focus on local.
I am grateful and overwhelmed by the positive feedback I have
received since returning to the River Market community in
December of 2021! I have not gotten this many hugs since
before Covid came to town. I want to thank you all for the
support and gratitude you have shown me, it reiterates what
makes “Our” co-op the best co-op in the Twin Cities. Many of
you have asked where I went, what I have been doing, and what
brought me back.
For those who are newer to the River Market community, I am
Trista, originally hired in 2005 and Produce Manager from
2006-2018. I then left to work in a wholesale situation, there
was a merger, and as a result my position was terminated. So, I
went back to school at 50! You are never too old right? I finished
a degree in accounting while working for a group of Amish
farmers. I did procure a job in my field, and loved it, but it just
lacked something. When I was told the Produce Managers
position was open, I jumped at the chance to “return home.” I
did not realize how much I genuinely loved being here until I was
away.
My husband Steve is an Organic Valley Dairy farmer. My son,
who grew up in the co-op, is now 13 and is the farm egg
collector, lamb and calf tender, and hay tender. In my free time I
joined the RM board briefly so that we as a community had
enough representation. I have also been growing my sheep flock,
and hen house and when I am not working produce in the
summer you will find me at the Bayport and Lake Elmo Farmers
markets selling meat, eggs, and wool products.
At present I am working to strengthen and
reinvent our local produce program. I have
always felt River Market was a wonderful
jumping off point for new farmers, a wonderful
place to gain education and experience to allow
farmers to outgrow us and move on to bigger
things. It is important to support the next
generation, to nurture and encourage them to
develop skills that will safeguard our food web. It
is also important to continue to grow
relationships so through that stability we have
good anchors we can depend on for years to
come. My goal has always been for our store to
depend on the warehouses as little as possible
during the growing season, I would like to be
able to push that farther and father into the
storage season if the quality is there to do so. So,
let’s get our veggies on together!
-Trista Boe, Produce Manager
“At present I am working to
strengthen and reinvent our
local produce program.”We are excited to announce the launch of our Business Partner Program,
collaborating with local businesses to strengthen our ties and support our local
economy. River Market owners receive discounts and savings at a variety of local
businesses, starting with these 6 great offers below. These offers are valid March to
August, 2022 by presenting your River Market owner card.
Minnesota Made | 220 Chestnut St. East, Stillwater, MN
Offer: $10 off purchase of $50 or more
Excludes sale items. Not to be combined with any other offer. In store only.
Website: www.minnesotamadeapparel.com
The Lumberjack | 123 2nd Street N. #102, Stillwater, MN
Offer: $5 off axe throwing
Excludes Saturdays.
Website: www.thelumberjackmn.com
Vally Bookseller | 217 Main Street N., Stillwater, MN
Receive $10 off the purchase of a lifetime membership
Receive $10 off the purchase of a lifetime membership in Valley Booksellers
Frequent Buyers Program. This does not apply to previously purchased
Frequent Buyers Program memberships.
Website: www.valleybookseller.com
Pedego Stillwater | 1650 Market Dr., Stillwater, MN
Offer: Rent One, Get One Free Rental
Limit one rental per owner. Cannot be combined with any other offers. No
cash value. Non-transferable. Call 651.342.0310 to make a reservation.
Website: www.pedegoelectricbikes.com
Mad Capper | 224 Main Street S., Stillwater, MN
Offer: $2 off any drink
Website: www.madcappermn.com
Victoriano’s | 402 Main Street N., Stillwater, MN
Offer: $5 off when you spend $25 (use online code "$5Off")
Website: www.victorianospizzamn.comSupporting your
LOCAL FARMERS
through a
CSA SUBSCRIPTION!
Throughout the St. Croix Valley and beyond, there are farmers who are just about ready to start their seeds
for the 2022 growing season. Anticipating warmer weather, they have their garden plans set and their gloves
on standby waiting for the perfect time to transfer those seedlings to the fields. If you are interested in being
a part of the process, these local CSA farms have availability for the upcoming season.
St. Croix Valley CSA is a cooperative of small family farms within a quiet
community near Baldwin, Wisconsin, an area of certified organic fields and small
lakes. We grow over 150 varieties of vegetables, fruit, and herbs-all grown
organically, and almost all certified organic.
More information: www.littleflowerfarmcsa.blogspot.com
Little Flower Farm is a "Beyond Organic" small family-powered CSA.
We offer farm shares of our chemical-free veggies, as well as goat cheese shares.
More information: www.stcroixvalleyproduce.com
Whetstone Farm CSA provides you with a weekly box of veggies, but it
goes far beyond that. It puts your dollars directly in the hands of a local farm
family, to be reinvested in our community. It allows you to eat only what is
freshest and exactly in season, changing the rhythm of your kitchen from the
monotony of the grocery store to vibrant pulse of the seasons. We feed
ourselves and our children on the same food, so you know it’s the safest,
healthiest, most flavorful we can grow.
More information: www.whetstonefarm.com | whetstonefarmers@gmail.com
Sweet Top Farm CSA- We take pride in providing our members with
beautiful, wholesome, and delicious produce grown using sustainable,
chemical-free practices on our farm in Deer Park, WI. We focus on growing
familiar vegetables and melons that everyone knows and loves, including carrots,
green beans, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, squash, potatoes, and more.
More information: www.sweettopfarm.com | sweettopfarm@gmail.com
Arcola Trail Flower Farm CSA- Our bouquets are made up of our
organically grown flowers and foliage harvested within 24 hours to provide you
the most stunning and long-lasting blooms available.Each bouquet will showcase
a different blend of seasonal varieties giving you the best of what’s growing in our
fields early, middle, and late summer.
More information: www.arcolatrailflowerfarm.comSpring Holiday Brunch Pre-orders coming soon! Homemade deliciousness from our delicatessen to your Holiday table. Look for the pre-order form in our weekly email* or Facebook. *Visit www.rivermarket.coop to join our email list.
Everyone is welcome! Learn something new from
the comfort of your home. Classes will be virtual
over zoom unless otherwise stated.
The Good, The Bad, and The Healthy Oils
Tue, Mar 1 at 6:00-8:00 PM
Confused about which oils are heart-healthy and which are not? While we have many options when it comes to selecting healthy fats and oils
for cooking, it is important to choose those that stay healthy after they have been cooked with. In this class, you will learn the difference
between different fatty acids, how to maintain the right omega 3/omega 6 balance, how to choose the right cooking oil, and how they affect
your body, especially your heart.
Instructor: Don Slinger
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners
Nature Heals
Thu, Mar 3 at 7:00-8:30 PM
Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it also contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart
rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. Learn the science of how time spent in nature helps to improve our physical and
mental well-being. U of M Extension Master Gardener volunteers are eager to share research-based gardening best practices that promote
healthy landscapes, healthy foods, and healthy lives with the people in their community.
Instructor: Ramsey County Master Gardener
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners
Essential Nutrients and Why We Need Them
Thu, Mar 10 at 6:00-8:00 PM
Some of the essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids must come from outside sources
because your body can't make these. Yet they are vital for our bodies and their deficiencies may play a part in many diseases, e.g. cancer,
diabetes, or heart disease. In this class, you will learn how they all work together and natural sources for these essentials.
Instructor: Don Slinger
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners
Advanced Vegetable Gardening
Mon, Mar 14 at 7:00-8:30 PM
This class is designed for gardeners who have experience growing vegetables. Learn some of the advanced techniques for improving your
vegetable garden harvest, like ways to extend the growing season, how to start seeds indoors, and suggestions for increasing your total
harvest..
Instructor: Ramsey County Master Gardener
Cost: $5/free for owners
REGISTER FOR ALL CLASSES AT: www.rivermarket.coop
All-in-One Meals in the Instant Pot
Tue, Mar 15 at 6:30-8:00 PM
Use the electric pressure cooker to prepare your entree and a side vegetable at the same time, freeing you up to enjoy a more hands off
kitchen experience. In this class join Kirsten in her kitchen via Zoom to discuss several methods of all in one cooking while she demonstrates
Turkey and Wild Rice Meatloaf with Sweet Potatoes and Instant Pot Spaghetti. Participants will receive an extensive handout along with the
link to join prior to class. There will be ample time for questions during the session, and participants will receive a link to the recording
afterwards.
Instructor: Kirsten Madaus
Cost: $5/free for owners
Embracing Spring with Essential Oils
Sat, Mar 19 at 1:00-2:00 PM
Join us for a class with Pranarōm's National Educator, Liza Docken to celebrate and invite Spring into your life. We will talk about the change
in season, the sun's change of celestial placement, and the energy carried by these shifts. Liza will share oils that meet these energetic shifts,
guide in a brief meditation to channel this seasonal moment, and leave you with some ideas to incorporate into your daily routine.
Instructor: Liza Docken, Pranarōm's National Educator
Cost: $5/free for owners
Stress Reduction Techniques: Yoga
Tue, Mar 22 at 7:00-7:30 PM
Have your feelings of stress and anxiety increased the past couple of years? If so, you’re not alone. We all experience anxiety differently but
some common symptoms are tight muscles, irritability, trouble sleeping, digestive issues, negative thought loops, and difficulty focusing.
Experiencing these symptoms day in and day out can wear you down, leaving you feeling exhausted. This workshop will give you a few new
tools for using yoga to help reduce your symptoms of anxiety.
All movements will be gentle, no yoga experience necessary.
Instructor: Jen Brandt, Certified Yoga Therapist
Cost: $5/free for owners
Soap Making Class with John “Bob Ross” Hanson
Sat, Mar 26 at 10:00 AM-12:30 PM
Join John Hanson, Owner/Maker of Longfellow Soap Company, to learn how to make soap using the cold process method that has existed
for thousands of years. Each student will receive a copy of his teaching manual that includes an ingredient list, equipment list, his recipe,
method for making soap, and sources for essential oil, ingredients, and equipment. You will also receive a silicone mold and will pour soap to
take home.
Instructor: John Hanson, Owner/Maker of Longfellow Soap Company
Cost: $35/includes mold
River Market Book Club
Mon, Mar 28 at 7:00-8:00 PM
Join us for the third River Market Book Club – this time we are reading “Farming While Black” by Leah Penniman. Leah Penniman is the
co-founder of Soul Fire Farm in New York and is committed to ending racism and injustice in the food system. Since 1920 black farmers
have lost 14 millions acres of land and have gone from 14% of growers to just 2% today. This book is part memoir, part history, part
beginning farming manual and part information on food system activism. Leah shares stories, cultures, chants, recipes, farming practices and
much more from her life’s work as a farmer.
Cost: Free
Facilitators: Karen Hulstrand and Victoria Bradford Styrbicki
REGISTER FOR ALL CLASSES AT: www.rivermarket.coop
Intro to Gardening
Thu, Mar 31 at 7:00-8:30 PM
Whether you have an acre of land or a few pots on a window sill, you can still enjoy the benefits of gardening so dig into the basics of growing
your first vegetable garden! Discover what you need to know about where to plant your vegetables, which plants to choose, and how to care
for your garden all season long. U of M Extension Master Gardener volunteers are eager to share research-based gardening best practices that
promote healthy landscapes, healthy foods, and healthy lives with the people in their community.
Instructor: Ramsey County Master Gardener
Cost: $5/free for owners
Stress Reduction Techniques: Breathing Exercises
Tue, Apr 5 at 7:00-7:30 PM
Have your feelings of stress and anxiety increased the past couple of years? If so, you’re not alone. We all experience anxiety differently but
some common symptoms are tight muscles, irritability, trouble sleeping, digestive issues, negative thought loops, and difficulty focusing.
Experiencing these symptoms day in and day out can wear you down, leaving you feeling exhausted. This workshop will give you a few new
tools for using breathing techniques to help reduce your symptoms of anxiety. All movements will be gentle, no yoga experience necessary.
Instructor: Jen Brandt, Certified Yoga Therapist
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners
Eating Vegan on a Budget
Thu, Apr 7 at 7:00-8:30 PM
Curious about eating plant-based, but think it’s too expensive? Or maybe you’re already vegan, but spending way too much money on food?
Join Kelsey, who is certified in Plant-Based Nutrition from T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, to squash the myth that the vegan
lifestyle is hard on your wallet. We’ll discuss why vegan food is expensive, what foods to shop for, where and how to find them, tips for meal
planning, and provide tons of resources. Come with questions and be prepared to take notes. All are welcome!
Instructor: Kelsey Hambor
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners
Happy Indoor Plants
Mon, Apr 11 at 7:00-8:00 PM
Caring for indoor plants is a little different than caring for outdoor plants. With a little special care and consideration, you can keep your
indoor plants healthy and avoid common problems. U of M Extension Master Gardener volunteers are eager to share research-based gardening
best practices that promote healthy landscapes, healthy foods, and healthy lives with the people in their community.
Instructor: Ramsey County Master Gardener
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners
REGISTER FOR ALL CLASSES AT: www.rivermarket.coop
Stress Reduction Techniques: Meditation
Tue, Apr 19 at 7:00-7:30 PM
Have your feelings of stress and anxiety increased the past couple of years? If so, you’re not alone. We all experience anxiety differently but
some common symptoms are tight muscles, irritability, trouble sleeping, digestive issues, negative thought loops, and difficulty focusing.
Experiencing these symptoms day in and day out can wear you down, leaving you feeling exhausted. This workshop will give you a few new
tools for using meditation to help reduce your symptoms of anxiety. No yoga or meditation experience necessary.
Instructor: Jen Brandt, Certified Yoga Therapist
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners
Spring into Summer
Thu, Apr 21 at 7:00-8:00 PM
Learn about how to wake up your garden in this class, which provides information about what to do for your garden and landscape between
March and August. U of M Extension Master Gardener volunteers are eager to share research-based gardening best practices that promote
healthy landscapes, healthy foods, and healthy lives with the people in their community.
Instructor: Ramsey County Master Gardener
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners
Physical & Energetic Spring Cleaning with Essential Oils
Sat, Apr 23 at 1:00-2:00 PM
Spring Cleaning is a common term but often only applied to the home or office. Join us for a class with Liza Docken, Pranarōm's National
Educator, to learn ways of applying this concept to the energetic body, as well. (A person's energetic body is often what you respond to first,
before you even get close to them, therefore energetic hygiene is just as important as physical hygiene.) Liza will highlight which essential oils
work best depending on intent. And of course, we will cover some fun ways to clean the house too!
Instructor: Liza Docken, Pranarōm's National Educator
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners
Landscaping with Edible Native Plants
Tue, Apr 26 at 7:00-8:00 PM
This presentation will cover fundamental considerations to make when selecting the right edible and native plantings for your property, and
techniques to create low maintenance, productive gardens that fit your lifestyle while providing food for humans and wildlife.
Instructor: Pete Widin, MLA |
Cost: $5/free for owners
Herb Gardening
Thu, May 5 at 7:00-8:30 PM
Herbs, like parsley, oregano, or basil, are very easy to grow with a little sunshine, soil that drains well, some watering, and a little fertilizer or
compost. In this class you will get to know some of the herbs commonly used in cooking and learn how to harness those flavors year-round.
U of M Extension Master Gardener volunteers are eager to share research-based gardening best practices that promote healthy landscapes,
healthy foods, and healthy lives with the people in their community.
Instructor: Ramsey County Master Gardener
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners
Planting for Pollinators
Thu, May 12 at 7:00-8:30 PM
Pollinators are critical to a healthy environment and many native species of bees are in jeopardy. Birds, bats, butterflies, beetles, some small
mammals, and most importantly, bees pollinate plants and are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food. In this class you
will learn what you can do at home to create healthy pollinator habitats for native bees and butterflies in your own yard. U of M Extension
Master Gardener volunteers are eager to share research-based gardening best practices that promote healthy landscapes, healthy foods, and
healthy lives with the people in their community.
Instructor: Ramsey County Master Gardener
Cost: $5/free for co-op owners REGISTER FOR ALL CLASSES AT:
www.rivermarket.coopPlease say,
“Let’s Round UP!”
this March for:
Get Help
Valley Outreach welcomes anyone
who comes to us in need of food,
clothing and support navigating
resources.
Volunteer
We have a variety of opportunities for
individuals and groups to make a
difference in the lives of people we
help.
Donate
We can only help our neighbors with
the support of our neighbors. It’s so
easy to make a difference in
someone’s life.Please say,
“Let’s Round UP!”
this April for:
Inspiring connection and engagement with the
natural world. The wellbeing of each and every one
of us is tied to the health of our natural world. That’s
why we are happier and healthier when we spend
time in nature. It’s also why we need everyone to feel
passionate about protecting it. At Belwin, we spark
that passion every day through conservation,
education, and immersive experiences on 1,500 acres
in the Saint Croix Valley.
Learn more at: www.belwin.orgOUR ENDS STATEMENT: River Market Community Co-op cultivates a healthy community through its: • Equitable economic relationships; • Positive environmental impacts; and • Inclusive, socially responsible business practices. BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Mickelson (President) Victoria Bradford Styrbicki (Vice President) Mead Stone (Secretary/Treasurer) Christina Arndt Angela Hauge Karen Hulstrand Larry Martin Scott Vrchota MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS: When: The Second Tuesday of each Month at 6:00 pm Where: The Board of Directors will meet virtually via Zoom until further notice. If you would like to be a part of the Zoom meeting, please email board@rivermarket.coop, to receive the meeting invite. CONTACT: Interested in contacting someone on our Board of Directors? Email board@rivermarket.coop and someone will get back to you soon. GENERAL MANAGER: Sara Morrison gm@rivermarket.coop
1% back on all your River Market purchases,
every day of the week.
P R O G R A M
shop
Shop for your favorite products.
All River Market Owners are
automatically enrolled in the
program.
$ earn
pt For
Earn points for your purchases.
every $1 you spend you
will receive 1 point.
redeem
$ Redeem your points for $$ off your
purchases!
owner • Redeem 100 points and receive $1 off.
• Redeem 500 points and receive $5 off.
earn • Redeem 1,000 points and receive $15 off.
rewa s PR
100
rd
ask us.... everything!
OG
R AM
We would love to hear your questions about River Market, food, gardens,
cooperatives, cooking and anything else! We will tap into the minds of our
knowledgeable staff to answer your questions in this space in the future.
Email a question to info@rivermarket.coop, and
EARN 100 POINTS JUST FOR ASKING!You can also read
