spring 2011 - New Pioneer Food Co-op
Transcription
spring 2011 - New Pioneer Food Co-op
spring 2011 focus on cooperation We’re a business owned and controlled by our members—a co-op! in this issue Organic Greens What's for Dinner? New Bakehouse Favorites Tierra Farm Cooking Classes Earth Source Garden Guide for Beginning Gardeners p. 8 p. 12 p. 14 p. 16 p. 25 p. 28 p. 30 on the cover: Red cabbage sprouts growing at Organic Greens in Kalona. mission statement product policy New Pioneer is a cooperatively owned business, fully serving the needs of the natural products consumer. We emphasize high quality, fair prices, and product information. We are an environmentally and socially responsible member of the community we serve. New Pioneer’s mission is to serve the needs of its members and to stimulate the local agricultural production of natural and organic foods by providing a market for such foods. The Cooperative fully recognizes the value and dignity of work and shall place a high priority on the health, welfare, and happiness of all its employees. The Cooperative shall strive to set a community standard for the best possible working conditions, training, wages, benefits, and opportunities for advancement for its employees. New Pioneer’s goal is to offer the best in organic, natural, and local food and products to support our community’s health and well-being. To that end, New Pioneer has adopted the following standards: . We feature and prepare foods that are free of artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and trans fats. 2. We actively seek out and support sources of certified organically grown foods, locally grown whenever possible. 3. We feature seafood, poultry, meat, and dairy that are free of added growth hormones, antibiotics, nitrates, or other chemical additives. 4. We highlight household and personal care products that have been proven safe through nonanimal testing methods. 5. We feature grains and grain products that have not been bleached or bromated. 6. We do not knowingly sell meat or dairy products from cloned animals or food that has been irradiated. 7. We respect our members' desire to know what is in their foods. If you wish to choose nonGM foods, we recommend choosing certified organic foods and locally grown foods from suppliers we know. Until the government changes the law to require the disclosure of GM components in foods, it is impossible for New Pioneer to know whether or not the commercially produced foods on our shelves contain them. member share payments If you are making installment payments on your member share, please be sure you are paid in full within six months of your sign-up date. Payments can be made at the store or by mail. We accept all major credit cards. Thank you for your participation! New Pioneer Administrative Office (39) 248-6400. 2 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter published by: NEW PIONEER FOOD CO-OP 22 S. Van Buren St. • Iowa City, IA 52240 • (319) 338-9441 open daily 7am–11pm 1101 2ⁿd Street • Coralville, IA 52241 • (319) 358-5513 open daily 7am–10pm ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 22 S. Linn St., Unit 2A • Iowa City, IA 52240 • (319) 248-6400 open Mon. – Fri. 8am–5pm EDITOR Allison Gnade MANAGING EDITOR Jenifer Angerer CATALYST DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY Mara Cole CATALYST PHOTOGRAPHY Peter Eko-Acquah PRINTER Royle Printing Contact Allison Gnade at (319) 248-6407 or agnade@newpi.coop to place your display ad. www.newpi.coop BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS All members are welcome! March 16, May 18, & July 20, 2011 Board meetings are held at 6:30pm at the Co-op Administrative Office, 22 S. Linn St., Iowa City (3rd floor, west end of Tower Place). Location subject to change. Members are welcome to share their views with the BOARD OF DIRECTORS (year indicates when term expires) SARAH WALZ (2012) President 466-0908, walz.sarah@gmail.com RICHARD GRIMLUND (2011) Vice President 337-6495, richard-grimlund@msn.com CAROLINE DIETERLE (2013) Secretary 338-8674, caroline-dieterle@uiowa.edu HENRY T. MADDEN (2012) Treasurer 338-5689, h-mamadden@mchsi.com RAMJI BALAKRISHNAN (2013) 466-0261, ramji.balakrishnan@gmail.com JEN KNIGHTS (2013) 331-6631, knightswhowrites@gmail.com ROBYNN SHRADER (2011) 466-9006, robynn@ncga.coop member open forum Thank You From Local Foods Connection The staff and volunteers of Local Foods Connection would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the members of the New Pioneer Co-op for their generous donations of their yearly dividend checks. Local Foods Connection (LFC) is a small non-profit, run primarily by volunteers, which enrolls local low-income families and the agencies that serve them in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Through our programming, families who may not otherwise be able to afford such fresh and nutritious food receive locally-grown and -made food, including produce, bread, and eggs every week for about 20 weeks. Participants receive information on eating healthfully, as well as education on how to prepare the fresh produce they receive. In addition, clients are invited to take part in fun activities such as taking a cooking class at New Pioneer, or visiting the farm where their food is grown. In 200, Local Foods Connection has been serving 36 households, which include 57 adults, and 56 children, as well as 3 social service and child care agencies, such as the Free Medical Clinic and the Domestic Violence Intervention Program. The food from LFC is reaching almost ,000 people! We would not have been able to provide so many families with fresh and nutritious food without the $3,706.75 in dividend check donations from 2009. Catalyst Member Open Forum is an opportunity for members to express their views about the Co-op experience. Submit comments to Allison Gnade at the Iowa City store or email agnade@newpi.coop. No more than 500 words. Deadline for the Summer 2011 issue of Catalyst is Tuesday, April 26, 2011 by 5pm. We are still tallying up the total dividend donations from 200, but currently we have received $2,825.59 which will be enough to pay for approximately 20 large CSA shares next year! Thank you for your generosity and for joining us in our cause of protecting our community members’ access to fresh and nutritious locally grown food. For more information about Local Foods Connection and how you can further get involved, check out our website at www.localfoodsconnection.org. I am writing to thank Frontier Natural Products Co-op, Bulk Herb Division, of Norway, Iowa and New Pioneer Co-op for their generous support of the research that I am doing. My research project,“Nutrition, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS)” is testing my interventions in others with SPMS. My intervention includes intensive nutrition, stressing green leafy vegetables, sulfur-rich vegetables, and bright colors, seaweed, and foods rich in omega-3. In addition we ask people to use kelp, algae, clay, dried beets, milk thistle, and seaweed to support their body’s ability to remove toxins, and to switch to organic foods as much as possible. I very much appreciate Frontier and New Pioneer’s generous gifts, providing several “starter kits” of sample herbs to our study subjects. This has facilitated teaching our subjects how to use these products more effectively as they embark on the study. I also want to thank you for having so many useful, organic herbs that help support better functioning in our cells as they remove the toxins from our bodies. It is good that both the study participants and the public can access these helpful products. We are also grateful to New Pioneer for supporting the study by providing samples and a convenient place to purchase locally grown organic vegetables and fruits, which are an important cornerstone to our intervention. I am pleased to tell you that we have successfully enrolled seven people into the study and plan to have ten active study participants in total. So far it has been a joy to watch the changes in our study subjects as they adopt the study diet. We are quite hopeful that the study will demonstrate that good wholesome food, fewer toxins, more exercise, and meditation will be associated with improvements in thinking abilities, mood, walking ability, and overall energy for our participants. Sincerely, Terry Wahls, MD, MBA Assistant Chief of Staff Iowa City VA Medical Center Clinical Professor of Medicine continued on page 4 spring 2011 3 member open forum Dear Theresa & Staff, Members & Board: To the members of New Pioneer: Thank you for helping the Crisis Center of Johnson County answer the call of our neighbors in need. With the New Pioneer Cooperative Society’s most recent contribution, our Food Bank has received a total of $0,299.50 in financial support from your “Buy a Bag” program. I wanted to mark this occasion with a special note of thanks to you, your staff, and the New Pioneer Board of Directors for your ongoing commitment. Since the floods of June 2008, the Crisis Center’s supplemental food program has seen a 30 increase in the number of families seeking assistance. Currently we are distributing nearly 3,000 bags of food each month. Our cost for an average size bag is $6.26. This means the Buy a Bag program has enabled the Food Bank program to assist more than ,600 families since May 2009! New Pioneer has been an important partner to the Crisis Center for many years, given your sponsorship of our annual Thanksgiving in July communitywide food drive and other events. On behalf of the Food Bank staff and more than 50 volunteers who commit their time on a weekly basis, thank you. Together we are making an enormous impact on the Johnson County community. I want to express my heartfelt thanks for all of you who supported me in the Board of Directors election. I would also like to wish the incumbents who were reelected the best of health and fortune in the coming year. Sincerely, Becci Reedus Executive Director 4 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter Michael Dooley Working Member New Pioneer Iowa City Store Dear Members: I am writing to inform members about homeopathic products, which are sold in the wellness section of New Pi. An article featured in the September/October 2007 Catalyst entitled “Understanding Homeopathic Healing” described information about what homeopathy is and how homeopathic treatments work. Homeopathic treatments have also been personally recommended by New Pi employees in subsequent eCatalyst issues. Despite the information presented in New Pi literature, there are several aspects of homeopathy that were not provided that I want to submit to members: . Homeopathy was invented by the 8th century German physician Samuel Hahnemann, who postulated the “law of similars,” which states that in order to treat a particular ailment, symptoms must actually be induced by the introduction of a substance known to cause them, in order to stimulate the body’s natural healing process. In other words, if you have a bee sting, relieve it by taking bee venom. If you are sleepless, take some caffeine pills. This “law” is based on Hahnemann’s own conjecture, and is not based on any scientific evidence known at the time nor found since. 2. Homeopathic remedies are manufactured by massively diluting the substances determined to be the causative agent of the symptoms. Each dilution corresponds to part in 00, or “C.” A typical homeopathic dilution of 6C, therefore, is actually a dilution of /00 repeated 6 times, for a final dilution of in one trillion. That’s /,000,000,000,000. The popular homeopathic flu remedy Oscillococcinum is sold at a 200C dilution, or 0-400, a dilution where it becomes chemically impossible to have ANY molecules of the original substance still left in the product. These dilutions make homeopathic medicines physiologically inert within the body, where chemical interactions are dependent on much higher concentrations. 3. One of the principles of homeopathy is that the more dilute the product is, the more potent it is. This simply defies all logic and everything we know about how chemicals interact in the natural world. Using this principle, one would simply have to throw everything we know about chemistry out the window. 4. Homeopathy has continually been shown to be ineffective when subjected to properly controlled, independently conducted clinical trials. It has never been shown to be more medically effective than taking a placebo. Anecdotal evidence, such as that homeopathy “has been practiced throughout the world and is over 200 years old,” or “even the Queen continued on page 5 Dividend Checks To Be Issued in March Board Encourages Donating Checks to Local Foods Connection New Pioneer Food Co-op Board of Directors A gain this year New Pioneer will pay a dividend to members who spent more than $500 during the prior fiscal year ending June 2010. Checks will be mailed to members in March. As we have in years past, the Board of Directors invites members to donate their checks to Local Foods Connection (LFC). A postage-paid envelope will be provided making it simple to sign your check over and mail it to LFC. Local Foods Connection is just what the name says: a unique and vital connection between people and the food they eat on a local and very personal level. LFC's support of local food producers and their effort to get locally grown, fresh foods into the kitchens and onto the plates of people who would otherwise have limited access to healthy foods is important. But the "connection" goes way beyond simply providing food to people who need "Member Open Forum" continued from page 4 of England uses it,” or “it worked for my cousin,” do not constitute valid scientific evidence of efficacy. It is not my goal in writing this to sway anyone who adamantly believes in using homeopathic remedies. If you don’t at least question the usefulness of homeopathy after reading the above, then you will probably never question it. My goal was simply to fully inform New Pi members about the science behind some of the products that are available at the Co-op. Nick Keiser New Pioneer Food Co-op member it. LFC is building a support system to reintroduce healthy, nutritious food to people who often lack access or opportunities to have it otherwise. By teaching people to incorporate fresh foods into their diets and literally providing them the tools and skills to prepare that food, LFC is supporting our local food system and the health of our community at its most fundamental level. Last year LFC provided healthy food to thirty-six families and thirteen agencies in the Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines areas. This includes the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Free Medical Clinic, Headstart, Ecumenical Towers, and 4C's Hometies Daycare in Iowa City. Over $24,000 in fresh food was purchased from ten local farms and from vendors at the Iowa City and North Liberty Farmers’ Markets. While many of the dividend checks may seem small on their own, together they make a difference for LFC. Last year thousands of donated divided checks from New Pi members added up to nearly $3,000 for LFC. This year, a two to one match from The Iowa Foundation for Education, the Environment, and the Arts will make those donated checks go even further toward supporting local farmers and bringing healthy food to people in our community who might otherwise go without. We encourage you to learn more about LFC by visiting their website at www.localfoodsconnection.org Have you moved? Do we know it? Update your mailing address with any cashier to ensure that you receive your dividend check! Dividends will be applied to any unpaid membership balance. For additional information, contact Sandy at sprovine@newpi.coop or (319) 248-6404. Echollective CSA Farm CSA memberships available now 20 weeks of the freshest, most nutrient rich produce. June-Oct delivered to a convenient local pick-up site. Check out our blog for past newsletters, farm updates, local food commentary, and more. http://echollectivecsa.blogspot.com/ (SPXJOHGPSUIF2VBE$JUJFT $FEBS3BQJET*PXB$JUZBSFB Echollective Farm is located 25 minutes from Iowa City. The Farm offers 14 acres with a wide array of Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers, and Hay; and stewardship of 20 forested acres including a creek. tFDIPDTB!HNBJMDPN spring 2011 5 Fictitious Questions, Real Answers Bob Wilson (932 - 2007) on Eric Creach Eric Creach, Coralville New Pi Manager... or as he'd humbly prefer to be known, eric creach L ongtime Co-op member Bob Wilson had the following interview with Eric Creach, who has recently become the Coralville New Pi Store Manager. He remembers Eric as a part-time grocery stocker and has continued to see him at New Pi in many different capacities. Bob: So, I remember summer of ‘89 you were attending the University, right? Eric: Yep, full-time student, part-time grocer, 00 crazy vegetarian. Bob: Was it your vegetarianism that brought you to the Co-op? Eric: Yes, my very first experience was seeking out tofu that wasn’t old, or soft, or dumb. And I found it. I didn’t know anything about “co-ops” so I remember being glad to have good tofu (that was produced in Fairfield I believe), but I was a little set back by being surcharged as a non-member. Eric and Cindy celebrate the birth of their oldest son, Gus, in New Pi in 1991. Gus, now 19, has taken up the family tradition and currently works in the Iowa City New Pi. Bob: Did anyone explain? Eric: It was summer and there was an ad in the Press Citizen. I grew up working in grocery stores and I liked the Co-op’s food and feel, and it was conveniently located. Eric: No, but the working-class post-punk chip on my shoulder wasn’t always conducive to accepting information. I learned [about it] later and thought it was cool, so I joined. Bob: What made you decide to work here? Bob: What do you remember about your first day? Eric: There was no forklift or loading dock, product was all marked by hand, and deliveries were, I think, only once or twice a week. This nice kid Joel and I would have races to see who could price the fastest using old-school pricing guns. The trick was to imitate the sound of fast, not the feeling or sight of speed… [just] the sound. Bob: Who was your boss? Eric in the Iowa City New Pi grocery department in 1989. 6 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter Eric: Jeff Patchell, whose first order of the day was to test my ability to lift fifty pounds repeatedly, which was a requirement put forth on the application, as it is today. Remember – no forklift, no loading dock, so what did we unload? It was two pallets of 40 grocery bags. That’s how we bought them back then – 240 sixty-pound bales off the truck, down the hall, and stacked six high – enough for six months or more. I guess I passed the test, but I’m glad for pallet jacks and forklifts today for sure. lessons we learned from that experience, though heart-wrenching, definitely made us stronger and wiser. And it cannot be disputed that it turned out MORE than okay. Our presence in Coralville is impressive and now we help carry the torch for wider service and greater inclusion in our membership. We are not a private club – we are an open society. Bob: What else do you find interesting about working at New Pioneer Co-op? Eric gathering local food by bike in 2008. Bob: Do you have other fond memories of the early days? Eric: Some of the best times were actually created by the inefficacies caused by lack of machinery. As sales grew, so did our early morning truck crew, in all kinds of weather, all kinds of pain. Charlie Pollack, Dave Pederson, and later Scott Koepke and I would spend our waking hours catching product tossed and counted by Ace or other drivers of the warehouse formerly called Blooming Prairie. Really working together like that created a strong bond with each other and with the Co-op in general. Just like dealing with floods, tornados, and cooler breakdowns, [challenges] increase our bonds as co-workers. Bob: What different hats or aprons have you worn? Eric: Grocery stocker, grocery department manager, merchandising manager, bakehouse retail manager, java/juice manager, store shift manager, and now, Coralville store manager. Eric: New Pioneer Co-op has a solid atmosphere of continuing education that is really inspiring. I have learned so much from everyone I’ve been around, whether it was supervisors, board members, those I have supervised, and honestly, the customers. Our customers have taught me so much about natural products, farming, the cooperative structure, and what it means to be a viable, meaningful servant to your community. Bob: Servant? That’s kind of feudal talk for a tweener (half hippie/half punk) like you, don’t you think? Eric: No – I am proud to serve; it is truly awesome and humbling. I love this community and all the sentient beings that inhabit our local environment and I am thankful the Co-op allows me to live a truly balanced life in which at least I can do less harm. I really have fun doing it with a wonderfully diverse group of brilliant folks. Bob: You really think New Pi serves that grand a function? Eric: Yes – we are here to help. Bob: Was there any particular event you found significant in your tenure? Eric: The 25th anniversary New Pi fest. We raised money for the Free Medical Clinic, which, like New Pi and Funkadelic’s first album, was released in 197. Yes, New Pioneer dropped the Mothership right down on the town of Coralville. George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars in almost full-force – Bootsy was hiding. Sure we just barely broke even, but we did raise a lot of money for the Free Medical Clinic and it was fantastically fun. In 996 P-Funk was just enjoying a resurgence caused mainly by being clearly the most sampled group in hip-hop. I still have tickets one through four and an autographed backstage pass. Bob: Were there any tough times? Eric: Yes, being part of a democratically controlled organization will bring conflict and we have had plenty [of conflict] within our membership. The opening of Coralville and the hard Eric Creach in the Coralville Co-op with his wife of 24 years, Cindy Baldwin, and their children—Gus, 19; Alice, 14; and Logan, 9. spring 2011 7 Organic Greens Grows “Healthy Food for a Healthy Community” Allison Gnade, Catalyst Editor R ight off the bat, James Nisly let me in on what he was getting at: “My goal is to have a facility that’s set up to feed the community,” he explained, which was quite refreshing to hear. James grew up near Kalona and has returned with a desire to produce – for the health of his community. At this turning point in agriculture, figures like Nisly are the ones to pay attention to. He’s clearly looking ahead, and his vision is good. Nisly’s business, Organic Greens, LLC, began as an interest in trying out sprouts: “I got started growing [sprouts and wheat grass] just for the health reasons… my church was focusing on healthy foods and good nutrition,” he explains. After growing on a small scale, then on a larger scale for local restaurants, his operation emerged as a full-fledged business supplying restaurants and co-ops. “There was a learning curve,” James acknowledges. Back in March of ’98, Nisly took some of his products to Steve Moen in the Co-op’s produce department, and we’ve been with him ever since. In addition to selling sprouts, micro 8 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter greens, and wheatgrass (both fresh and juiced, frozen in individual portions) at the Co-op, Nisly sells to local restaurants around Iowa City – including 26, Atlas, Devotay, The Motley Cow, and The Red Avocado – as well as other regional coops. Since (regrettably) our area doesn’t currently have the infrastructure to provide much local produce to Iowans in the frozen season, it’s a breath of fresh air to see sprouts and hear from Alicia Diehl, Organic Greens Marketing Manager: “You can still get your greens despite the fact that it [might be] snowing in Iowa!” In the sprout business, timing is key – in order to provide very fresh and highly nutritious produce, Nisly’s team seeds sprouting trays every day and treats each crop carefully, as each one is a little bit different, and each has its own schedule. Most importantly, these crops have a very short window – maybe twelve to twentyfour hours – when they’re at their peak continued on page 10 ALICIA’S SUNFLOWER SPROUT SALAD NINA’S WHEAT GRASS SMOOTHIE CARROTGINGERWHEAT GRASS “COCKTAIL” Alicia Diehl, Organic Greens Marketing Manager and New Pi Member Nina Ko, via Barb Bradac, New Pi Members Alicia Diehl, Organic Greens Marketing Manager and New Pi Member sweet potatoes, cubed and roasted sunflower sprouts mixed sprout greens (combination bag of radish, red cabbage, snow pea & sunflower sprouts) red onion, thinly sliced Maytag Blue Cheese, crumbled Maple-balsamic dressing: clove garlic, minced ½ c. olive oil ¼ c. balsamic vinegar (preferably aged) 3 - 4 T. maple syrup (depending on how sweet you like it, Alicia usually adds 4) sea salt freshly ground pepper to taste To taste, blend: oz. (a single serving) wheat grass juice ½ c. blueberries 2 T. golden flax 2 T. raw oatmeal (regular or quick) juice of ½ lemon ½ - c. pomegranate juice (to desired consistency) kiwi (optional) Barb points out that she sometimes includes mixed fruit, or raw spinach, and that measuring isn’t really necessary – it’s made to taste. “The color turns really bizarre but there’s not a bad thing in there – and you’ll have gotten all your fruits and vegetables for the week! I won't go a day without wheat grass,” Barb explains. oz. (a single serving) wheat grass juice, thawed for a minute or two if frozen carrot apple, cored ¼-inch fresh ginger root a squeeze of lime sparkling water (optional, for a bubbly “cocktail”) Juice the carrot, apple, and ginger root together. Alternatively, whizz up in a highpowered blender, which will include the pulp. Mix in wheat grass juice, lime, and optional sparkling water. Grief Counseling for Loss & Life Transition or Basic Mindfulness Instruction Chris Klug, M.A., C.T. cklug.7384@yahoo.com 319.471.0832 Sliding Fee Scale feeling deeply Ý seeing clearly responding wisely On the corner of Gilbert Court & Kirkwood Ave. Iowa City’s Newest Home Décor Consignment Store! Now accepting & selling quality items for the home Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Call (319) 338-7513 with consignment questions Or visit us online at hollyhockiowacity.com spring 2011 9 "Organic Greens" continued from page 8 Fearless l F Food dP Policy li From the Organic Consumers Association, Fearless Campaign Launched Ensuring our children have healthy food options is critical to our nation’s success. Wellness lowers health care costs, improves education and economic productivity, and is vital to our planet. Our society depends on involvement in food policy and making good choices as conscientious consumers. The fox is guarding the henhouse with regard to food policy. The food industry and Big Ag are all too effective at influencing our nation’s food choices. Big Agriculture writes the food policy in this country not to benefit the consumer or the health of the planet, but solely to benefit their bottom line. Federal subsidies for non-nutritious junk food are merely corporate welfare. We cannot continue to let corporate food production create a food system that values quantity over quality and refuses to study the true cost of production. We must consider the environmental and health problems, foodborne illnesses, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and polluted drinking water. Big Ag effectively plays the insider game, constantly lobbying Congress and federal agencies. As Congress prepares the 2012 farm bill, it is imperative that Fearless Leaders speak up for the people. The farm bill defines the government’s role in the agricultural market, and we must fight to see that it supports sustainable family farms that promote healthy foods. We need to take back food production – we are what we eat. Visit www.fearlesscampaign.com. 10 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter for harvesting. There’s no dragging your feet in this business. “Baby plants,” Alicia, explains, “are more nutrient and flavor dense than full grown plants.” James also points out that they’re easier to digest, and sprouts – sunflower, for example – have a “good omega-3 fatty acid profile… and more enzyme proteins” than more mature plants. They recommend adding sprouts to salads, sandwiches, wraps, and they’re also good in stir frys and beautiful as garnishes. “I don’t think it’s right that junk food should taste better than healthy food,” James proclaims. He’s glad to be “able to produce healthy food and have it taste delicious.” Alicia shared a beautiful sunflower sprout salad with us – it was nutritious, and certainly delicious. Some people aren’t familiar with sprouts, James tells me, but once they’re introduced, “People really like them – the flavor, and the nutritional value.” Organic Greens is a soil-grown sprout facility. When I inquired about alfalfa sprouts, the most familiar kind of sprout to Americans, he explained that they’re grown hydroponically, which has a separate set of regulations and setup, of course. Additionally, and for him this was an aside, “Hydroponic scientists would disagree [with me], but my taste buds don’t lie.” Due to the high quality of their potting soil (which they make themselves, reusing their crop residues in a static composting process) and their close attention to moisture levels and the peculiarities of each crop, chemicals are unnecessary in their operation. Nisly also focuses on the quality of his sprouting seed: “Finding good quality seed is challenging – [there’s no] substitute for good quality seed. We can do everything else exactly right, but if the seed quality isn’t right… it can’t be messed with.” Paying attention to the health of the environment, the seeds, and the soil creates healthy roots, which produce healthy shoots – organic works. James intends to support his new operation with eco-friendly energy sources, though this isn’t a new interest for him. Luckily, companies that make wind turbines are catching up to consumer interest – just recently, he explains, at a Practical Farmers of Iowa conference, eight-kilowatt turbines (which carry price tags far lower than the skyscraper turbines) intended for farm operations were introduced. “It looks like it would make sense economically,” he was happy to share. “I’m looking at wind or solar or a combination of the two.” Nisly's been participating in Alliant Energy's “Second Nature program, where they buy renewable energy – primarily wind – equal to the energy we use,” he explains. Additionally, he's built energy economization into his building layout, planning his walk-in refrigerators to be able to funnel cold air in dur- your body, your health your choice ing cool seasons, providing refrigeration by nature when our environment’s suited for the job. Their new facility is impressive. In addition to a spacious insulated and temperature-controlled growing and packing room, the building Nisly designed integrates space for a greenhouse, several coolers, a vegetable curing area, and four drive-in root cellars which provide 3,000 square feet of storage which could house 250 tons of produce. Organic Greens is clearly gearing up for distributing not only delicate greens, but a potential vegetable cooperative. Almost bashfully, he explains, “I wanted to leave myself a lot of options.” We should all learn to think ahead like organic farmers. “The encouraging thing is I’m getting to do what I’ve been wanting to do for a long time – grow food for the community,” James explains. At New Pioneer, we’re glad to be a member of his community. For more information on Organic Greens and the health benefits of wheat grass, see Organic Greens on our “Local Suppliers” list at www.newpi.coop. We don’t commit vinylcide. Roger Gwinnup CONSTRUCTION old houses & barns revived s general remodeling sold house parts available 319-325-1627 319-628-4930 rdgwin@hughes.net We did several remodels for New Pi through the early 80s, including the big expansion in ‘87. spring 2011 11 what’s for dinner? Ready for something fresh-tasting to heighten that spring feeling? Pungent Mexican cuisine mingles comfort food with green refreshment, perfect for the windy season of revival. All these recipes can be made in advance (and inexpensive cuts of meat turn unctuous with slow cooking), so do just that. Chop up cool garnishes and fry up some tostadas at the last minute. SHREDDED PORK TOSTADAS TINGA GREEN RICE WITH POBLANOS ARROZ VERDE AL POBLANO Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen Serves 6 ½ - 2 lbs. boneless pork shoulder or butt cut into -inch pieces (or country-style ribs – remove bones after first step) 2 medium onions, quartered and finely chopped 5 medium garlic cloves, 3 peeled and smashed and 2 minced 4 sprigs fresh thyme salt 2 T. olive oil ½ t. dried oregano (5-oz.) can tomato sauce T. ground chipotle powder or can chipotle chiles without sauce, minced (to taste) 2 bay leaves ¾ c. vegetable oil 2 (6-inch) corn tortillas queso fresco or feta cheese, fresh cilantro, sour cream, diced avocado, and lime wedges to garnish Bring pork, quartered onion, 3 smashed garlic cloves, thyme, t. salt, and 6 c. water to simmer in large saucepan over medium-high heat, skimming off any foam that rises to surface. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover, and cook until pork is very tender, 75 - 90 minutes. Drain pork, reserving c. cooking liquid. Discard onion, garlic, and thyme. Return pork to saucepan and, using potato 12 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter Adapted from Rick Bayless's Mexican Kitchen masher, pastry blender, or forks, shred into small bits; set aside. Heat olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chopped onion, shredded pork, and oregano; cook until pork is well browned and crisp, 7 - 0 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato sauce, chipotle powder or chilies, reserved pork cooking liquid, and bay leaves; simmer until most liquid has evaporated, 5 - 7 minutes. Discard bay leaves and salt to taste. Fry tostadas (or bake, brushing both sides with vegetable oil): heat vegetable oil in skillet over medium heat. Poke center of each tortilla with a fork 3 or 4 times (to prevent puffing and allow for even cooking). Fry one at a time, holding metal potato masher in upright position on top of tortilla to keep it submerged, until crisp and lightly browned, 45 to 60 seconds (no flipping is necessary). Drain on paper towel-lined plate and season with salt. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Spoon a small amount of shredded pork onto each tostada and serve with desired garnishes. ⅔ c. chicken broth or water 2 fresh poblano chiles, stems and seeds removed, roughly chopped 2 sprigs cilantro, plus a chopped handful of leaves, and extra for garnish salt, about ½ t. if using salted broth, t. if unsalted or water T. vegetable or olive oil c. rice, preferably medium grain small white onion, cut into ¼-inch dice 5 garlic cloves, peeled and minced In a medium saucepan, combine the broth and poblanos, bring to a boil, then partially cover and simmer gently over medium to medium-low heat for about 0 minutes, until the chiles are very soft. Pour the mixture into a food processor or blender, add the cilantro (stems and all), and process to a smooth puree. Press through a medium-mesh strainer into a bowl and stir in the salt. Wipe the pan clean, add the oil, and heat over medium. Add the rice and onion, cook, stirring regularly, until the rice is chalky-looking and the onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook a minute longer. Add the warm (or reheated) chile liquid to the hot rice pan, stir once, scrape down any rice clinging to the side of the pan, cover, and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. If the rice is just about ready, turn off the heat, re-cover, and let stand for 5 to 0 minutes longer to complete the cooking. If the rice seems far from done, continue cooking for 5 minutes or so, retest, then turn off the heat and let stand a few minutes. Fluff with a fork, mix in a handful of chopped cilantro leaves, scoop into a warm serving dish, and garnish with more cilantro. The rice can be made several days ahead: turn out the fluffed rice onto a baking sheet to cool, transfer to a storage container, then cover and refrigerate. Reheat the rice in a steamer basket set over boiling water. Variations: Use 3 or 4 long green Anaheim chiles, or mix poblanos and Anaheims with hotter chiles like jalapeño, or habañero. Grilled corn cut from cob or large grilled zucchini (cubed), or about c. coarsely shredded cooked pork or smoked salmon, mixed in toward the end of cooking, will make green rice a full meal. REFRIED BEANS 2 t. vegetable oil or lard medium onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced ½ t. cumin ½ t. coriander (9-oz.) can black or pinto beans, including liquid ½ - c. water ¼ c. chopped fresh cilantro lime to taste Heat oil over medium heat in a skillet and cook onions until soft, add garlic, cumin, and coriander, stirring, until fragrant, about minute. Add beans with their liquid and mash with a potato masher or the back of a large spoon to make a coarse purée. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot. Stir in enough water to give it a creamy consistency, and season to taste. Serve warm, sprinkled with cilantro. Kitchen Basics: Chopping an Onion One of the most important things to know, in case you don’t have a method, is how to chop an onion. Diced onion is the base of many dishes, and it’s certainly important in Mexican fare. . Slice onion in half (from root to sprout end) so it has a flat surface. 2. Peel outer layer away, place flat side down, chop off sprout end. 3. Make vertical cuts with the knife pointing toward the root, ¾ of the way through, ¼ inch apart. 4. Make vertical cuts the other direction, all the way through, ¼ inch apart. 5. Most of the onion will be diced now (the layers will come apart as they cook). Chop the remainder to the same size, and discard the root end. PISTACHIO & CHERRY MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIES Adapted from Bon Appétit, December 2006 2 c. (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature c. powdered sugar, plus more for coating 2 T. vanilla extract t. salt c. (about 4 oz.) shelled unsalted pistachios (or almonds or pecans), toasted in a skillet or oven and chopped c. dried tart cherries or cranberries 3 ⅓ c. cake flour, sifted ⅔ c. all-purpose flour, sifted Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 2 or 3 baking sheets. Beat butter and powdered sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and salt, then nuts and dried fruit. Carefully stir in the flours. Shape dough into T.-sized balls or football-shaped ovals. Place on buttered sheets, inch apart. Bake about 6 minutes, until bottoms just begin to color. Cool 0 minutes on sheets. Roll warm cookies in a bowl of powdered sugar. Transfer to waxed paper. Repeat to fully coat; cool completely. Store at room temperature in an airtight container; up to 4 days ahead. spring 2011 13 New Pi’s Artisans Introduce ntroduce New Bakehouse Favorites Josh Nichols, New Pi Baker F lour, water, salt, yeast: bread in its most basic incarnation. In the New Pi Bakehouse, this is a sort of mantra, unspoken, and enduring. Every morning we see the process through to pull crusty golden baguettes and mahogany rounds of all sorts from the hearth. It’s a full circle each day… flour, water, salt, yeast… bread. If you’ve browsed the bread cases in the last few months you’ve probably noticed a few new items that seem a bit more indulgent than this modest formula. We bakers crave a change of pace sometimes, and we certainly love good food in many forms. This drive led to our Artisan Series of specialty breads launched back in September with the wildly popular Millstream Oktoberfest Bread. The Artisan Series is a rotating selection of fresh ideas and innovations that allow us to experiment and expand our repertoire. Look for seasonal ingredients and flavor profiles to shift as the year’s bounty changes. Thus far we’ve run the Artisan Series breads for two months at a time to provide a broad opportunity to try our new varieties, but in the future we may run some for only a month depending on the availability of ingredients and their seasonal appeal. We began this September with spent (also known as brewer’s) grain bread, using Millstream’s Oktoberfest malts, and were thrilled both with the end product and with the customer response to the flavor produced from its earthy local roots. In November and December, we featured New York Rye in both hearth loaves and sandwich-style loaves. This hearty, dense rye was studded with caraway seeds and made a mean corned beef or pastrami sandwich. 14 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter As the New Year rolled in we unleashed something we have toyed with for years, Loaded Baked Potato Bread. We took our Italian Potato Bread and incorporated Beeler’s bacon, thickly shredded cheddar cheese, and chives. A mouthful to be sure, but we’re game for any opportunity to put bacon into something. The result is a much lighter, softer crumb than one would imagine and a smoky, rich, bacon flavor rounded out with cheesy goodness and lifted by the light herbal nuance of chives. If you missed this beauty, don’t worry, it will definitely be back again. In March, we figure, what better way to transition from winter into those brisk spring mornings than with spent grain bread and stout malts from Millstream? The stout grains add a complex, roasty blend of chocolate and coffee. We’ll play off that to create the newest in our ongoing adventure with the beloved sprouted barley from our good neighbors in the Amanas. Keep your eyes open for the next innovations in our Artisan Series as we unveil them throughout the year. In addition to the Artisan Series, we’ve been sneaking a few other varieties of bread onto the shelves. Lately we’ve been upcycling carrot pulp from New Pi’s fresh carrot juice into our Multigrain Carrot Bread, which gives it a beautiful orange hue and a sweet earthy flavor, distinguishing it from other multigrain breads. On Fridays we John Macatee, D.O. Osteopathic Manual Treatment (OMT) Gentle, effective hands-on care for musculoskeletal pain including: Neck and back pain, headaches Overuse strains and sports injuries Prolotherapy Dr. John Macatee Non-surgical repair and strengthening of damaged ligaments and tendons by injecting a non-steroid solution that stimulates a healing response to eliminate pain and ease movement 1136 Foster Rd., Iowa City)!s www.johnmacateedo.com s Most insurance accepted Want to know what’s happening at the Co-op a little more often? Get our monthly eCatalyst with local events and Co-op updates by signing up at newpi.coop under “Newsletter.” If you’d prefer to receive this publication in email as a pdf to save paper, please switch your preference at newpi.coop under “Newsletter.” bake our beloved Brioche, which takes three days to make. If you were lucky enough around Valentine’s Day, you may have even seen our Chocolate Brioche, a dark and brooding delight the likes of which we have never seen before. It very well may be one of the few renditions of this French specialty ever created. These creations aren’t simply the staff of life – they go beyond sustenance, giving character to the age-old tradition we preserve and perfect day in and day out in New Pi’s venerable Bakehouse. Remember to check in regularly to see the latest creations born out of both too early mornings with too little sleep, and a great love for bread. We’ll help you celebrate in style. Call the New Pioneer Pastry Department at 358-553 to order your wedding or graduation cake. Our order capacity fills fast so order early! Brand New Beginners Series Adult & Prenatal classes Monthly Special Workshops 2 weeks $20 for new students UI Students: $10 every class Above Hotel Vetro, Off p ed mall www.icheartlandyoga.com spring 2011 15 Tierra Farm Roasts Delicious Snacks with Sustainable Energy Allison Gnade, Catalyst Editor I n the Northern part of the United States, farmers often come upon the challenge of seasonality – there’s a growing season and, thankfully, a relaxing season, but resources don’t necessarily, well, come up so well when it’s five below outside. Gunther Fishgold, Tierra Farm’s founder, started an organic vegetable farm in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, which included a café. After trying their hand at baking bread, the farm started making granola, a less perishable product. They then tried roasting some nuts, dried fruits, and – maybe you see where we’re going –eventually they started covering those nuts and dried fruits with chocolate. What could be better? They had a beautiful roasting company, 00 organic, in the palms of their hands. Tierra Farm aims for freshness and A+ quality, dry roasting all their nuts at 16 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter “The more you know about the types of things you should be doing to be green, the more you realize [what] you’re not doing… I always feel like there is more we can do." Be Well Chiro Dan Wickenkamp, D.C. 706 11th Ave. Coralville • 319-594-9244 Applied Kinesiology Gentle low-force • Holistic • Non-traditional • Chiropractic care low temperatures in small batches. Since they roast without oils, their nuts are healthier and taste better than most bigname brands. They use natural sweeteners like organic apple juice to sweeten their dried cranberries (I really can taste the difference) and agave syrup to sweeten their granola. These foodies use very simple recipes, utilizing whole ingredients and no preservatives – every ingredient on their label will be a familiar one. They’re proud to only sell directly to co-ops and health food stores, rather than through distributors, so they can know their customers (us!) better. Their company is 00 organic – no exceptions. They’ve opted for organic to take care of the soil because, as Daniel Laiosa, who handles sales for Tierra, pointed out,“Too many conventional farms grow products that just pull nutrients from the soil and force the use of chemical fertilizers.” Tierra (meaning “earth,” which was also the name of the founder’s dog) wants to encourage responsible stewardship of the land. The founder and now president, Gunther, had experience working as a lobbyist in the organic soil industry, so “Tierra Farm was founded with environmental consciousness from the onset.” Given this knowledge and background, Dan explained, the main goal in “selling only organic products is to promote a supply chain that is equally as good for the environment as it is for our bodies.” We’re all about that at the Co-op, and it’s wonderful to have partners that invest so fully. Tierra Farm deserves accolades for their impressive sustainability efforts, though as Dan points out, “The more you know about the types of things you should be doing to be green, the Daniel Laiosa of Tierra Farm visits New Pi. If you have a peanut-allergy take note: Tierra Farm’s facility is peanut-free! Look for these enticing new items from Tierra Farm on our shelves: Maple Cashew Butter • Maple Almond Butter Almond Butter • Coconut Flakes • Cocoa-Covered Almonds Blueberries • Raw Mixed Nuts • Onion Cashews As well as many delectable chocolate-covered items: Almonds • Espresso Beans Ginger • Coconut • Cherries more you realize [what] you’re not doing… I always feel like there is more we can do.” They’re quite humble – their sustainability actions are leagues beyond most businesses: in their infancy, Tierra Farm “Recycled, began using biodiesel, and promoted a 'green' type product line” (they promote buying in bulk because it calls for less packaging and requires less fuel to ship). Since then, they’ve matured as a company, and “In 2009 we installed our first set of solar panels, with a second set installed in 200. Now our products [both] promote a very important supply chain and are manufactured with the use of solar power.” Companies like these provide a great example to follow into a more sustainable future. Dan feels that it’s the responsibility of businesses to lead the way on sustainable practices: “It is very important that busicontinued on page 18 spring 2011 17 The Harvard School of Public Health recommends including nuts in your diet for their health benefits, including lowering LDL or “bad” cholesterol. Studies have shown a “30 percent to 50 percent lower risk of myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, or cardiovascular disease associated with eating nuts several times a week.” They recommend substituting nuts for less healthful snacks (like chips), adding them to salads, or even substituting protein-dense nuts for meat in main courses. Solar panels at Tierra Farm. "Tierra Farm" continued from page 17 nesses and communities come together to promote these types of activities. The more larger entities do, the more people can do on the individual level.” Citizens can follow the lead of businesses through small but important ways that can be integrated into everyday life: “If recycling, buying in bulk, and eating organic are the first steps an individual can take, then businesses need to support clean energy and eco-friendly building materials.” Their state’s been a partner in green entrepreneurship as well. Thanks to New York’s law that allows them to sell excess energy from their solar panels back to the grid, their energy bills are now $0.00. Their state’s been additionally supportive by offering tax write-offs and even grants to help jumpstart cleaner energy. Hopefully green and clean energy will soon be commonplace, but currently we need to show our support for businesses that are taking the necessary steps. Speaking of clean, at Tierra Farm they have a couple pet goats and a potbellied pig that happily clean up any leftovers. What lucky creatures! Look for new offerings from Tierra Farm on our shelves, and reacquaint yourself with area favorites, ranging from the fresh taste of their dried cranberries and pistachios, to perfect snacks like curried or agave-ginger cashews. They’re delicious, and sustainably-produced – what a perfect partnership. For more information, see: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/nutsfor-the-heart/ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ nuts/HB00085 Classic & Contemporary Furniture Lighting Housewares & Gifts Registry Corner of Dodge & Davenport Street Iowa City, Iowa 319-354-2623 info@designranch.com www.designranch.com TREEBROOK 35(6&+22/ Half-Day or Full-Day Preschool Program 2, 3 or 5 days per week Registering for summer and fall Carol Spangler ,RZD&LW\ www.treebrook.com 18 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter Is your Body Care Product Really Organic? Check the label – it’s accurate! Sue Andrews, Wellness Department Manager The BTC Campaign L ast fall I wrote about New Pioneer joining the “Coming Clean Campaign” through the Organic Consumers Association. I am happy to report that almost all of our vendors complied! We’ve asked that companies use the term “organic” on their label only when they’re actually certified with the USDA, which is not legally required as it is with food. Some companies have already changed their packaging, and by June we will have full compliance from all our manufacturers. This means you will be able to shop for your body care needs with full confidence that if it says “organic,” it is. Truth in labeling has always been a major issue and we want our members to know that we are fighting for you. We won this battle (for now)! As an additional benefit, truthful labeling will also encourage more companies to use organic ingredients in their products. When consumers vote for organics with their dollars, it has a profound ripple effect on farmers, our soil health, and our water supply. With baby steps like these, we can change the impact on our world. Information courtesy of the OCA OCA's Breaking the Chains Campaign focuses on how each purchasing decision can lead to a safer, greener, and more equitable society. Consumers around the world can break the chains of corporate control by supporting organic, fair made, and local production. Why Break the Chains? • A powerful network of brand names and chains are degrading the quality and range of America's daily essentials. By “outsourcing” to sweatshops, cutting corners on public health and the environment, and sucking up taxpayer subsidies, business behemoths have constructed a vast global shopping mall of cheap goods. Why Organic? • The criteria for sustainable agriculture can be summed up in one word – permanence, which means adopting techniques that maintain soil fertility indefinitely, utilize renewable resources, don’t pollute, and foster biological activity. Why Buy Local or Regional? • Much of our food travels thousands of miles from farm to fork. Along the way, food loses nutritional value, burns fossil fuels, and contributes to global warming. Local foods provide exceptional taste and freshness, strengthen our local economy, and support endangered family farms. Why Fair Made? • Family farmers and farmworkers continue to struggle to make a living. Please join us as we re-localize and green our global economy. Consumers of the world unite! spring 2011 19 Spring is for lovers! Miss Nik, Mistress of Cheese T wo of the most famous contemporary lovers, Prince William and Kate Middleton, will wed the 29th of April. Whether you look forward to this most regal and romantic occasion (a wedding and the making of a princess), or don’t give a crap, it’s a great excuse to draw inspiration from a much maligned yet surprisingly diverse cuisine – English cookery! France, Italy, and Spain are always in fashion. Japanese restaurants exploded in popularity in the last decade, and the many colorful dishes of China and Mexico have been near and dear to our hearts for a while. But you never hear anyone talk about British food or restaurants. That’s a shame – England offers an incredible variety of flavors, traditions, and some of the funniest food names you’ll ever hear! A luxurious and hearty way to start your Sunday would be to plunge into a very Full English Breakfast. It’s a fivecourse extravaganza that could begin with a glass of orange juice, followed by corn flakes or porridge (oatmeal). Third would be a “fry-up,” an indulgent plateful of bacon, fried eggs, fried or grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and sausage (which may be considered a Full English Breakfast on its own). Bubble and Squeak (leftover pot roast veggies mixed with mashed potatoes and cabbage and pan-seared ‘till brown and crispy) or baked beans can be added to this already over-the-top plate. The fourth course could be fish or meat, most likely kippers and kidneys, or kedgeree – fish cooked in curried rice. The finale: toast with marmalade and jam. Plenty of coffee and tea should be on hand as well. Kedgeree is just one of many Indian-influenced dishes beloved by Brits. Chicken Tikka Masala (a heady union 20 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter of tender chicken dressed in a tangerine-hued sauce of tomatoes, cream, yogurt, onion, and curry spices) has become known as a true “British National Dish.” Mulligatawny soup (literally,“pepper water” in Tamil) can be made many different ways. My favorite is richly endowed with chicken, lentils, rice, coconut milk, onions, and garam masala. Try your hand cooking up a batch of this famous Anglo/Indian treat. But beware – the exotic scent will drive you nuts. Serve it with a snappy pint of India Pale Ale. IPAs originated in the mid-8th century when English brewmasters found that beer brewed with extra hops made the journey to India exceptionally well. It went on to become wildly popular. Ales and cheddar are snacking soul mates, and they’re also an integral part of the Ploughman’s Lunch. Usual elements include pickles, crusty bread and butter, salad, and a thick slice of cheddar or stilton, and maybe half an apple. This pub-staple might traditionally include offerings like meat pie, ham or paté that make it substantial enough to satiate even the hardest working ploughman. British Cheddars are world-famous for their crumbly texture and tangy, savory qualities. Varieties like Collier’s Powerful Cheddar (from Wales), Dub- liner (we’ll count Ireland), and Dairy Vale (a slightly more mild British-style Cheddar from Australia, part of the Commonwealth) as well as Sage Derby, Red Leicester, and Charlie Cheese (these last three are available at the Coralville Co-op) are delicious paired with smooth, golden, frothy pints of British ale. There are so many British dishes that deserve respect. Who doesn’t love fish and chips (and particularly that gorgeous crisp golden crust protecting the moist interior) or Cornish pasties (pronounced pas-tees) – tender flaky hand pies bursting with savory goodness. Other British dishes deserving attention include spicy veggie and paneer wraps, roasts with Yorkshire pudding, sherry-laced fruit and cream trifles, and then there are those dishes that are just so fun for us to talk about! Spotted dick (bread pudding with raisins), bangers and mash (sausage and mashed potatoes), neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes in Scotland), flaming chicken (seasoned with chili powder and mustard), singin’ hinnies (currant muffins), and inky pinky (Scottish roast beef and gravy) are some of the more quaintlytitled gems from across the pond. In spite of its reputation, the modern dining scene in England has bloomed in Mary Adams, RN, LMT, ABT Adams Health Advocacy As your advocate I can review you or your loved one’s overall health care plan, go with you to physician visits, review your medical records, research your diagnosis and treatment options and address your specific health or wellness concerns. call 351-1173 or visit adamshealthadvocacy.com Adams Therapeutic Bodywork Check out our new food blog! Visit us at the last few years. London boasts more Michelin stars than any other place outside of France. Some, like St. John and Butler’s Wharf Chophouse have taken those British classics to a new level – presenting them with great refinement. The countryside is dotted with fantastic eateries as well. With such a wealth of local flora and fauna, grown, raised, and gathered with the utmost respect, English markets and restaurants offer top-notch noshes. Many British producers follow principles of or are members of L.E.A.F. (Linking Environment and Farming), F.W.A.G. (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group), and R.S.P.C.A. (Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), which grants “Freedom Food” status to producers that follow their “Treat Well, Eat Well” standards. It doesn’t hurt that many products boast the Royal Warrant, an honor bestowed upon goods or services requested for at least five years by Her Majesty The Queen. Though we don’t all get to fulfill childhood dreams of being a prince or princess, love and renewal are in the air this time of year. So if you’re feeling festive this spring, throw yourself a UK party! Queue up your favorite Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, or Beatles tunes, pour a glass of Claret (Britain’s name for Bordeaux) or a cup of tea, toast the royal couple, and dive into the weirdly wonderful and diverse cuisine of Merry Old England. newpieats.newpi.coop for tasty dishes made from items you can find at New Pi. Our focus is on flavorful, seasonal, and affordable fare. FOOD PRODUCER GRANTS Education & Training Grant Program support in local sustainable food production 6XSSRUWLQFOXGHVXSWRLQUHLPEXUVHPHQWWR/LQQ-RKQVRQ,RZD %HQWRQ7DPD3RZHVKLHN:DVKLQJWRQ/RXLVD0XVFDWLQH&HGDU -RQHV'HODZDUH%XFKDQDQFRXQW\SURGXFHUVZKLOHDWWHQGLQJ HGXFDWLRQRUWUDLQLQJZRUNVKRSVRQORFDOVXVWDLQDEOHIRRGSURGXFWLRQ Possible education & training opportunities: *UDQW)XQGV3URYLGHG%\ 0LGZHVW2UJDQLF6XVWDLQDEOH(GXFDWLRQ6HUYLFH *URZLQJ3RZHU 6HHG6DYHUV([FKDQJH 0LFKDHO)LHOGV$JULFXOWXUDO,QVWLWXWH ,68([WHQVLRQ %DFN\DUG$GXQGDQFH *UDQWSURJUDPDGPLQLVWHUHGE\ -DVRQ*ULPP,RZD9DOOH\5&')RRG6\VWHP3ODQQHU MDVRQ#LYUFGRUJRU $33/<DW ZZZLDFRUULGRUORFDOIRRGRUJ under funding /RFDWLRQ 6'XEXTXH6W,RZD&LW\ 2QHEORFNVRXWKRIWKH 6KHUDWRQ +RWHO EHWZHHQ $SSOH7UHH DQG *UH\KRXQG +RXUV 0RQ)ULDPSP 6DWDPSP 6XQDPSP 3UHVVHGIRUWLPH"&DOOLQ\RXU2UGHU CPB REMODELING "excellence in painting" interior exterior decks christopher berg Iowa City, IA 52245 (319) 338-3453 cpbrem@gmail.com 2QOLQHPHQXVDYDLODEOHZZZIDLUJURXQGVFRIIHHKRXVHFRP )HDWXULQJ %UXQFK /XQFK 'HVVHUW &RIIHH /RFDO$UW )DLU7UDGH2UJDQLF&RIIHHV7HDV 9(*$1ZDIIOHV)UHQFK7RDVW *OXWHQ)UHH%DNHGJRRGVZDIIOHVZUDSV *ULOOHGVDQGZLFKHVZUDSVVRXSV 5HDO)UXLW6PRRWKLHV*UHHQ7HD/DWWHV 9HJDQ%DNHU\&DNHV0XIILQV&RRNLHVHWF 9(*$1&KHHVHV1DFKRV0DFDURQL spring 2011 21 New Pi Proudly Supports Local Producers New Pioneer Food Co-op proudly supports local farmers, producers, and artists. Our list of local vendors keeps growing, and we increased our purchases of local products by 11 in 2010. We encourage all of our shoppers to look for local products to help conserve energy used in shipping, to get fresher flavor and more nutrients from the food you buy, and to support the economy in our community! 4 C's Johnson County Cards, Iowa City Acoustic Farms, Springville Adelyn's Gardens, Tiffin Amana Meat Shop, Amana Anderson Erickson Dairy, Des Moines Anything But Green Gardens, Vinton Applecart Orchard, Vinton Aura Cacia, Urbana Basil’s Food, Cedar Rapids Beaverdale Confections, Des Moines Bee Plantation, Toledo Beeler’s Pure Pork, Lemars Black Family Farms, Crawfordsville Black Lab Crossing, Davenport Blooming Wooley Acres, Nashua Breads from Anna (Gluten Evolution), Iowa City Bud’s Custom Meats, Inc., Riverside Café del Sol, Iowa City Candles by Coffey, Tipton Capanna Coffee & Gelato, Iowa City Cedar Ridge Vineyards, Cedar Rapids Cerniglia Enterprises, West Des Moines Clear Creek Orchard, Collins Cleverley Farms, Mingo Clover Hill, Cedar Rapids Cocina del Mundo Herbs & Spices, North Liberty Peter Collette, Solon Denison Mustard Company, Manilla Dirty Face Creek Farm, Riverside Dutchland Frozen Foods, Lester Echo Dell Farms, Kalona Eco Lips, Cedar Rapids Echollective Farm, Derek Roller, Mechanicsville Fae Ridge Farm, Iowa City Farmers' Hen House, Kalona Fired Up Iowa City, Iowa City Flint Ridge Organic Produce, Kalona Friendly Farm, Iowa City Friends of Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City Frisian Farms Cheese, Oskaloosa Frontier Natural Products, Cedar Rapids Grass Run Farm, Dorchester 22 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter Green Castle Organics, Oxford Green Hills Harvest, Purdin, MO Grinnell Heritage Farm, Inc., Grinnell Habesha Foods, Coralville Happle Gourmet Foods, Williamsburg Harvest Farm & Preserve, Iowa City Hawkeye Foods, Coralville Heavenly Organics, Fairfield Hoard’s Apple Mountain Bakery, Hills Marvin & Carolyn Hotz, Iowa City Ice Cube Press, North Liberty Inter Source, Inc., Cedar Rapids Iowa Farm Families, Marshalltown Iowa Natural, Humboldt J & B’s Chestnut Farm, Winfield Just Chocolate, Iowa City Kalona Supernatural, Kalona Kanga Bag, Coralville Ken & Cheryl’s Fresh Foods, Wellman Kirkwood’s Suncountry, Hopkinton Kramer’s Specialty Foods, Camanche Jeffrey Kuehl, Elkader La Casa, Ltd., Iowa City La Reyna, Iowa City La Quercia, Norwalk Living Foods, Fairfield Local Harvest Supply, Coralville Locally Grown Clothing Company, Des Moines Madhouse Brewing Company, Newton Maharishi Vedic City Organic Farm, Maharishi Vedic City Mama Bosso Pizza, Rock Island, IL Mariposa Farms, Grinnell Maytag Dairy Farms, Newton David Meyer, Tipton Joni Miller, Kalona Millstream Brewery, Amana Milton Creamery, Milton Moon Valley Vineyards, Oskaloosa Mount Vernon Confections, Mount Vernon Jerry Murphy, Iowa City Marian Murphy, Iowa City Noble Bee Honey, South Amana Oak Hill Acres, Atalissa Oasis Falafel, Iowa City Organic Greens, LLC, Kalona Organic Valley, La Farge, WI Paws & Claws – Zholistics, Iowa City Peacetree Brewing Company, Knoxville Perfect Blend, Mount Vernon Pheasant Run Farm, Van Horne Prairie Edge Farm, Winfield Janice Quinn, Tiffin Rainbow Ridge Farm, Waverly The Red Avocado, Iowa City Reichert's Dairy Air, Knoxville Rushing Waters Trout Farm, Palmyra, WI Scattergood Farm, West Branch Seed Savers Exchange, Decorah Jeff Shinkle, Lake Park Shullsburg Creamery, Shullsburg, WI Sidwell’s Legendary Fudge Sauce, North Liberty Signshop, Coralville Sprouts Unlimited, Marion Stashu’s Foodservice, Inc., Moline, IL Larry Stewart, Danville Stone Creek Farm (Plantpeddler), Cresco Sunleaf Naturals, Waconia, MN Sunnyview Greenhouse, Kalona Sutliff Cider Company, Lisbon Sweet Lauretta’s Toffee, Iowa City Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery, Baldwin Thai Spice, Inc., Iowa City Timeless Prairie Orchard, Hoffman Estates, IL Tortilleria El Norte, West Liberty TZ Press, Iowa City Vegan Cow, Iowa City Wapsie Produce, Inc., Decorah Wasson Produce, Conesville Wide River Winery, Clinton Wilson’s Orchard, Iowa City Zanzibar’s, Des Moines Jerry Zimmerman, Oxford Patti Zwick, Iowa City grocery top picks Health Valley Organic No Salt Added Soups Finally, a soup for those of you who prefer to season your own. Try them all: Potato Leek, Minestrone, Vegetable, Lentil, Chicken Noodle, and Split Pea. 5 oz. $3.69 Newman's Own Organics Licorice Twists In original Black Licorice and Strawberry flavors, made with real licorice root and organic sugar. A classic low fat snack. 5 oz. $3.9 Zico Coconut Water Blending pure coconut water from coconuts hand-harvested at their peak, Zico’s created great flavors like Pomberry and Piña Tropicale. Contains five essential electrolytes, lots of potassium, and no added sugar in eco-friendly packaging. Refreshing! 4 oz. $3.49 La Reyna Tortilla Chips Our newest offering from one of our favorite local producers, with sea salt and a twist of lime. This is a great vehicle for your dipping into your favorites. 2 oz. $2.99 Bella Terra Organic Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes From the San Marzano region of Italy, generally regarded as the home of the best saucemaking tomatoes in the world. Can you say pizza?! 28 oz. $4.29 Kalona Supernatural Organic Whole Chocolate Milk We've probably featured this before, but it's just so dang good! Oh, and they've changed their name to "Supernatural"… because it definitely is. 32 oz. $2.49 the green Paper Nest clean C O N T AC T M E G A N 319 . 541 . 7974 greencleanic @ gmail.com all natural cleaning service for home and office be green. be clean. be happy. Jewelry Beads Instruction Repairs Custom Design Offering letterpressed wedding invitations, business cards, & custom stationery. 319.338.1566 www.beadologyiowa.com info@beadologyiowa.com 319.455.6378 liz@papernestpress.com www.papernestpress.com Sharing space at 220 E. Washington St. Across from the Englert Theatre. spring 2011 23 foophot re o c no d n s ip ve tific ew n s ec ts ati & Farmers’ Market Schedule Iowa City Farmers’ Market Saturdays from 7:30am - Noon Wednesdays from 5:00 - 7:00pm May 4 – October 29 Located in the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, ground level, kitty-corner from New Pi Iowa City. IOWA’S FINEST COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTHCARE PRACTICE ip e New Pioneer is now on , , Preserving our natural heritage for over 30 years. Eastwind Healing Center ••••••••••••••••••••••• -- Your treatment program is personalized to your particular needs and strengths, let us assist you in achieving true health at all levels of being -- Physical • Emotional • Mental • Spiritual ••••••••••••••••••••• On the Ped Mall in Plaza Towers, (above Hotel Vetro) 221 E. College St., Ste. 211 • IC, IA 52240 For a full list of services: www.eastwindhealing.com 337-3313 no on s tifi s c op ewpico d n .com/n cebook pioneercoop a p/ a .f w w coo Visit w r.com/new erfood to! e te n it io w p .t w ’re up or www m/photos/ne hat we ickr.co to see w www.fl www.JCHT.org 319 338 7030 Through member support, we: • • Protect and restore prairies, wetlands and woodlands for future generations, Maintain/preserve natural areas for the public’s enjoyment, Provide family/educational opportunties. Coralville Farmers’ Market Mondays and Thursdays from 5:00 - 8:00pm May 2 – October 6 Located in the Coralville Community Aquatic Center parking lot. Sycamore Mall Farmers’ Market Tuesdays from 3:00 - 6:00pm May 3 – October 25 Located in the Sycamore Mall parking lot. North Liberty Farmers’ Market Sundays from :00am - 2:00pm May 22 – October 9 Located in the north-side parking lot of the North Liberty Recreation Center. Crystalized Carbon: It doesn't get any more organic than this. Come visit our Robert Mondavi wine glasses by Waterford Crystal. 109 E.Washington • Downtown Iowa City • 319-351-0333 • 800-728-2888 • www.handsjewelers.com 24 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter what’s cooking at the co-op? Thanks for your interest in New Pioneer cooking classes and wine sampling events! Registration is required, so please visit “Classes” at www.newpi.coop to register online or contact Genie Maybanks at (319) 248-6408 if you need assistance. Classes are held at the Coralville store unless otherwise noted. All classes feature sample-size portions. Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon Best Wine Values from Around the World with Valerie Martin Tues., Mar. , & Thurs., Apr. 7 6:00–8:00pm with Jay Berry Tues., Mar. 8, 6:00–8:00pm $20/person $20/person Julia Childs fell in love with French cooking in the 50’s. She became a chef, author and television personality, bringing traditional French cooking to the American public. In her honor we’ll open with three cheeses and white wine: the rich and creamy Delice d’Bourgogne, the firm and nutty Compte, and the sheep’s milk Ossau Iraty, served with a big French Chardonnay. Join Valerie Martin as she demonstrates the preparation of Julia’s classic recipe Beef Bourguignon, also French Onion Soup, Green Salad with Vinaigrette, and Tarte Tatin (apple tart). Samples of suitable red wine will be offered, possibly Burgundy or Bordeaux. Sample size portions will be served. The chilly weather suggests red wine, but spring is just around the corner. So we will include both red and whites in this light-hearted sampling featuring the best wines under $20 from around the world. Local wine enthusiast Jay Berry will share his insights and enthusiasm as we sample excellent values in wines from France, Argentina, Australia, and Spain. Look for special prices on your class favorites this night only. Indian Butter Chicken Dinner with Pramod Sarin Thurs., Mar. 0, 6:00–8:00pm Pizza from Scratch $5/person with Chad Clark Thurs., Mar. 3, & Tues., Apr. 26 6:00–8:00pm Pramod Sarin comes from a family of excellent cooks. She learned to prepare dishes from her native region of Punjab, India. In this class, Pramod will demonstrate the use of traditional ingredients and contemporary cooking methods to prepare delicious and healthy Indian meals. Discover the appearance, scent, and flavor of spices favored in Indian cooking, as well as how to release the flavor of the spices to season food. Pramod will prepare several dishes, including Butter Chicken, Eggplant Bhurtha, Potato Raita, and Rice Pulao. Samples of chai and beer will accompany the meal. $5/person Join Chad Clark as he prepares pizza, beginning with the dough and ending with a dazzling array of possible toppings. Chad will use an electric mixer to prepare the yeast-leavened dough. He’ll share his opinions on the best mix of cheeses and discuss how to season the pizza sauce. Come learn how to make the best pizza ever at home, with the opportunity to use excellent ingredients and customize the pie to suit your crowd. spring 2011 25 Raising Urban Chickens Trouble in Our Guts with Misha Goodman Tues., Mar. 22, 6:00–7:30pm with Dr. Terry Wahls Tues., Apr. 2, 6:00–7:30pm $5/person $5/person Class to be held at the Iowa Memorial Union, Indiana Room Would it be fun to gather eggs from your own backyard chickens? Would it make sense financially? How much work is involved? What are the positives and negatives? Join Misha Goodman of Iowa City Animal Services as she outlines what is needed for a suitable chicken house, laying-nest boxes, and a backyard enclosure. Misha will offer helpful tips on chick sources, proper feeding, keeping the hens safe from predators, and what to do with chicken waste. Refreshments will be served. Hands-On: Vegetarian Sushi Roll With Various Fillings with David Burt Thurs., Mar. 24, 6:00–8:00pm More and more evidence suggests that the bacteria that live in our bowels have a huge effect on our health. For two million years, people ate green leaves, roots, fruit, and meat. When we added grains to our diet, we began a shift to new, sugar-loving bacteria in our bowels. Those new bacteria are often trouble-makers. Learn more about what can go wrong when these new critters set up shop and what you can do to get your “old friends” back. Eating Well, Gluten-Free with Rachel Morey Thurs., Apr. 4, 6:00–8:00pm $5/person $5/person Dazzle your guests with platters of homemade sushi! Sushi Roll, also called Nori Maki, features seasoned rice and various fillings rolled up in sheets of toasted nori, a sea vegetable formed into paper-like sheets. The roll is then sliced crosswise to reveal the filling. Students will have a chance to try their hand under the supervision of instructor David Burt, chef at The Red Avocado restaurant. Rachel Morey always loved bread and pasta, but she didn’t like her upset stomach. Going gluten-free relieved her symptoms, and soon this clever cook was finding new products and new recipes that pleased the entire family. Join Rachel as she demonstrates the preparation of Crazy Good Pizza, Mock Pita Chips, Dill Beer Bread, and Apple Crisp. Enjoy a taste-off of available gluten-free pasta and a discussion of common naturally gluten-free foods. The Charm of Pinot Noir Hands On: Japanese Sushi Rolls with Jay Berry Tues., Apr. 5, 6:00–8:00pm with Yume Hidaka Tues., Apr. 9, 6:00–8:00pm $20/person $5/person Pinot Noir became the “it” grape in the wake of the movie Sideways. Pinot's lineage leads back to Burgundy, where we find some of the world's most expensive and sought-after wines, but delicious, foodfriendly, and more affordable Pinot can be had from other parts of the world, too: elsewhere in France as well as in Oregon, California, and even Argentina. Join wine enthusiast and sommelier Jay Berry as he samples Pinot Noirs of different provenance and styles: from elegant, refined, and delicate to bigger, more fruit-driven wines. You'll be sure to find a Pinot to fit your preference and budget. Yume Hidaka learned to make sushi from her mother in her childhood home of Kagoshima, Japan. The city of Kagoshima is oceanside, so she grew up in a region where everyone eats lots of seafood. Join Yume as she demonstrates the preparation of several different sushi rolls, including vegetable, egg, sashimi grade yellow fin tuna, and surimi (imitation crab). Since each person can customize their roll to suit their taste, Yume tells us, making sushi is a fun family activity in Japan. 26 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter Classic French Dinner: Stuffed Trout Capture the Charm of Strawberries in Jam with Valerie Martin Thurs., Apr. 2, 6:00–8:00pm with Rod Zeitler Thurs., June 2, 6:00–8:00pm $20/person $5/person Valerie Martin loved spending holidays with her grandmother, who taught her the French approach to shopping and preparing meals. Cooking is a way to make people happy, Valerie suggests. Join Valerie as she demonstrates the preparation of Rustic Cheese Quiche, Medallion of Trout with Chive Sauce, and Crème Brûlée. We’ll enjoy fresh hearth bread and a suitable wine. Rod Zeitler wins prizes at the Iowa State Fair for his excellent jams and jellies. Join Rod as he prepares strawberry jam from fruit to jar, sharing tips on creating a safe, beautiful, and delicious end-product. Rod prefers the local strawberries fresh from the grower. He will offer insights into how to modify the basic fruit jam recipe to use a variety of fruits, including rhubarb, raspberries, and more. Are the USDA Dietary Guidelines Helpful? Soilmates: Create a Successful Garden with Scott Koepke Sat., Apr. 23, 2:00–3:30pm with Dr. Terry Wahls Tues., June 7, 6:00–7:30pm At the Coralville store Free and open to all, no registration necessary $5/person Class to be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society, Channing Hall 0 South Gilbert (SE corner of Iowa and Gilbert), Iowa City Local food doesn't get much more local than your own backyard (or frontyard!). Join Soilmates garden educator Scott Koepke as he walks you through the necessary steps to transform your space, large or small, into a source of food and flowers. He will emphasize key components such as soil conditioning, bio-diversity, balance, composting, rotations, no-till methods, and organic controls. Gardening isn't just about growing plants; it's also about growing healthy communities. Scott says, “Every day is Earth Day!” Did you ever wonder why, over the past twenty years, the US Dietary Guidelines have steadily increased the amount of grains, meat, and dairy that we are supposed to eat each day? Dr. Wahls will reveal how the agriculture and food industries have improperly influenced the US Dietary Guidelines advisory committee. Dr. Wahls will then compare the Wahls Diet to the usual diets that are often recommended for diabetes, heart disease, and reduction of cancer risk, and discuss why the Wahls Diet may be a more effective option. Facing GMOs How to Implement the Terry Wahls Diet with Dr. Terry Wahls Tues., May 3, 6:00–7:30pm $5/person Class to be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society, Channing Hall 0 South Gilbert (SE corner of Iowa and Gilbert), Iowa City You have heard Dr. Wahls speak. You know Dr. Wahls’s food goals: eating nine cups of vegetables and fruit (three green, three sulfur, and three of color) each day. But if what you would really like to know is how to get your whole family on board with eating so many vegetables, this class is for you. Dr. Wahls will talk about specific strategies to get more greens into your kids and your spouse—and even have them beg for more! She will also give us an example of what her day looks like in terms of the foods she eats, including the recipes. You will get a week’s worth of menu ideas and a chance to do a simple, quiet-time practice to help you implement the Wahls Way fully. with Dr. Terry Wahls Tues., June 4, 6:00–7:30pm $5/person Class to be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society, Channing Hall 0 South Gilbert (SE corner of Iowa and Gilbert), Iowa City Ninety percent of soy and eighty-five percent of corn now come from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Although the FDA ruled that these foods are equivalent to naturally occurring foods, the limited scientific data of the effect of GMOs on health paints a very different picture. Come hear Dr. Wahls review what is known about the health risk of GMOs in animals and humans. Her lecture is adapted, with permission, from the book Seeds of Deception, which reveals how industry manipulation and political collusion— not sound science—allow dangerous, genetically engineered food into your daily diet. Company research is rigged, alarming evidence of health dangers is covered up, and intense political pressure applied. Come learn more! spring 2011 27 Earth Source Rocks On in 2011! Theresa Carbrey, Education and Member Services, Earth Source Gardens Coordinator S eed catalogs seduce us with tempting vegetable glamour shots, and we begin to dream. We think ahead to melting snow and beyond, of those first green seedlings coming up and thriving in warm fertile soil. Ah, gardening! What should I grow in the Co-op “demo” plots this season? Artichokes? Sesame? Peanuts? I welcome your suggestions! I can even put you on a small plot to demonstrate new gardening ideas for our educational tours. This year I am interested in various garden designs, considering their productivity and ease – from straight, easy-to-hoe rows, to keyhole annual permaculture. We had both great successes and wipe-outs in 2009 and 2010. How will the weather behave in 2011? What will set our little gardening souls on fire? You are very welcome to come to the garden parties, try refreshments made from garden produce, and follow our thrills and spills via the eCatalyst (subscribe to the monthly emailed newsletter at newpi.coop under “Newsletter”) and on Facebook. If you wish to join us on your own plot at Earth Source, the amazing community garden hosted by New Pioneer and Harvest Farm and Preserve, see “Do you want an Earth Source Garden plot in 2011?” on page 29. • The Turquoise Tree Reiki Energy Alignment Lynn Zimba Reiki III 319-331-7125 theturquoisetree@gmail.com Harmonizing the human essence 28 Earth Source Garden Tours NE corner of N. Scott Blvd. & Rochester Ave., Iowa City Tues., June 21, 6:00-8:00pm (Summer Solstice) Fri., July 22, 6:00-8:00pm Mon., Aug. 8, 6:00-8:00pm Thurs., Sept. 22, 5:00-7:00pm (Fall Equinox) Fun, refreshments, tours! The Conscious Living Center An Integrative Life Center for Mind, Body & Spirit Yoga, Healing Art Therapies, Workshops, Groups, Classes Looking for a space to share your passion & purpose? Visit us at www.theconsciouslivingcenter.com or contact us at ic@theconsciouslivingcenter.com 393 E. College St. Iowa City Grinnell Heritage Farm USDA Certified Organic Produce CSA Shares Available! Looking for local fresh organic veggies? Wanting to support local sustainable agriculture? Trying to expand your vegetable horizons? Register Online - www.GrinnellHeritageFarm.com Delivery to Grinnell, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha & Des Moines *Limited Number of Shares Available Questions About CSA? Call or Email Your Farmer Today: 641.236.4374 - GrinnellHeritageFarm@gmail.com new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter Spring 2011 Catalyst.indd 28 2/10/11 4:14 PM We welcome the donation of serviceable hand tools, wheelbarrows, and five gallon buckets! Please contact Theresa Carbrey at () - or tcarbrey@newpi.coop. Bike to Work Week May – New Pi Ride Wednesday May Bike from Old Pi to New Pi! For more information, check out www.newpi.coop in May! Do you want an Earth Source Garden Plot in ? Earth Source Garden's was a great deal of fun for the participants, who grew a remarkable amount of food. Thank you to all who have inquired about gardening at ESG in . We have sixty plots available in , each ten by fifty feet. The Co-op, in conjunction with valued garden partners Doug and Linda Paul of Harvest Farm and Preserve, will see that the plots are tilled, and the area is fenced. Cost will be per plot; one plot per family, please. The gardener must be a member of the Co-op, and able to receive and respond to information by email. Start date will depend on weather conditions. Successful gardeners (who complied with the garden agreement) from will have a plot reserved for them. Limited water, compost, and mulch will be available. Gardeners will be asked to garden using sustainable/organic methods, to stay out of one another’s beds, to garden only within their own plot, and to use resources moderately (as coached by the garden coordinator). Guidelines also suggest, among other things, that you be prepared to share gardening tools or bring your own, and to leave the pets at home. See newpi.coop for the complete list of “Earth Source Garden Guidelines.” It is possible that more than sixty member households will want a plot. To distribute the plots more fairly, we will ask all prospective gardeners, new and old, to express their interest March – by emailing agnade@newpi.coop. You may also call Allison at () -. We will conduct a drawing on March , and inform applicants of their status shortly thereafter. Selected applicants will be asked to show up in person at the end of March to complete paperwork, pay the , and have any questions answered. We look forward to another great season! Thank you to Harvest Farm and Preserve for their enthusiasm and support. Men, Women, & Children Studio #109, 420 1st Ave. Coralville (near Brueggers Bagel) Dr. Tanya English holistic & gentle Bio Energetic Synchronization Technique - Master Activator Methods Technique Nutrition Consultation where healthy hair is always in 319.325.HEAL (4325) Locally owned with over 25 years experience info@blest4today.com • www.blest4today.com 410 N. 4th St., West Branch No Ammonia. No Parabens. No Plastics. No SLS. Terri Wiebold Registered Nurse Certified Holistic Nurse 319.321.3362 Om • soy facial waxing • coloring & highlighting • KeraGreen smoother (non-toxic and formaldehyde free!) • ammonia-free perms Exotic India Men • Women • Children clothing, jewelry, yoga, music, singing bowls, gemstones, incense, books Authentic Indian Cuisine 102 B. 2nd Avenue, Coralville 319-354-4710 behind Taco Johns www.YourHealingInsights.com 105 S. Linn St. Iowa City 358-1282 www.omgiftsic.com Menu available at www.exoticindiarestaurant.com Need a balanced life? Higher energy, more focus? Balanced nutrition plan? Is your spiritual life void of human spirit? Expand your approach to health gifts for body and soul spring Spring 2011 Catalyst.indd 29 2/10/11 4:14 PM Guide for Beginning Farmer/Gardeners Skip the Gym! Garden for a Workout Allison Gnade, Catalyst Editor I n the winter I worry about a certain seasonal syndrome: office hands. But come spring, my personalized tools make a comeback, working the earth first protected with gloves, then working with tools, then as naturally armored, well-honed instruments. Their utility cannot be beat, their sensitivity almost without bounds, with a nod to callouses that enable them to be so useful. By mid-season, my hands don’t get scratched, they don’t get torn, and they don’t get paper cuts. Minor ailments off all sorts, kept at bay! It’s the small things we take pride in, isn’t it? So maybe you’ll be sore for a day, or a week, or maybe even a month while squat-gardening, but I promise you – your body will thank you. Flexibility, strength, and dexterity benefit the body that moves, and delicious, healthful food along with a sense of accomplishment nourishes the soul that gardens. Planning Ahead Regrettably, starting a garden is one of those things one must plan for lest it’s lost by the wayside only to be vaguely recalled come late July. If you aren’t on any seed catalog mailing lists, I’d recommend finding some for inspiration. They’re easy to request online, though seeds from my local favorite, Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, will be available at the best price I’ve seen in our own Co-op by the time this is in print. I find browsing their catalogue rather motivational, and it’s got that whiff of summer betwixt the pages that’s so welcome in the earliest days of spring. But watch out – over eagerness is a common gardener’s problem – if you’re new, start small. The Co-op will be here to fill in the gaps. Should your best planning intentions for an early start fall through, we’ll have you covered with plant transplants available at the Co-op, weather permitting, from the second half of April. Additional Tools If you’re going for more than ten feet square – and even if you aren’t – a few key tools will make gardening much more appealing. First off: A good hoe, or preferably two. I’d recommend a small one (such as an onion hoe) for weeding between plants, and if you’re feeling prosperous, a diamond or scuffle hoe. These come in several varieties, but the idea is to weed under the surface between rows (and in between plants, if you’re keen and can focus) by sliding just under the soil and slicing through weeds at the roots, or by popping weeds out of the soil to wither in the sun. Additionally, it would be really handy to have a tiller. Buy a small one (or a big one, say on Craiglist, at an auction house, or at one of our local hardware stores) or borrow one. However, the time-tested trusty shovel (or maybe a new one with a lifetime warranty) can provide a wholesome workout. For new gardens, some sources recommend “double-digging,” a trench-style aeration of the soil that involves just what it names. Whether with a mechanical tiller or a spade, you’ll need to loosen your future garden’s soil to allow you to plant in it. Mixing in compost, ash, or mulch is certainly a good idea if you have compacted or anemic-looking soil, and as insurance for any soil, particularly if it’s been planted in recently. Luckily, we reside in the breadbasket of America, where the soil tends to be on the rich and beautiful side, so consider yourself lucky. So, as they say, let’s put our backs into it! Check back with New Pi’s monthly eCatalyst emailed newsletter (check out www.newpi. coop and “Newsletter” if you’d like to receive it) and certainly with organic gardening magazines and books for tips on how to get the most out of your garden, for its prosperity, for your own mental and physical health, and for the refreshing flavor of the fruits of your own labor. Since 1975 Saab/Volvo/Subaru & other imports Repair: 319.337.4616 Sales: 319.337.5283 424 Highland Court, Iowa City www.whitedogauto.com 30 new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter Planting Schedule: If you’re new to gardening, don’t complicate it with starting transplants. Buy onion sets, tomato, pepper, herb transplants, and anything else you’re excited about from the Co-op or Farmers’ Market. As always, learn from your experience and that of your neighbors – use this knowledge to inform your schedule next year. You don’t need chemicals! Garden organically to avoid poisoning yourself, your pets, and our communal water If you’re starting your own transplants: sources. Chemical inputs carry a large carbon footprint too. Early March sow onion, celery, celeriac, and most herbs Mid-March sow eggplant, tomato, pepper, parsley, basil, beet, Start a compost pile! If you don’t have one already, compostcabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower ing is easy, assuming you have a little spot of yard available. Early May sow pumpkin, cucumber, squash, and melon Scott Koepke of the Co-op and Soilmates recommends piling 70 browns (carbon like leaves or shredded newspaper) with 30 greens (all kitchen refuse except meat and Planting schedule: dairy, which attract pests). Composting keeps biodegradAs soon as the direct-seed: pea, snow pea, fava bean, able waste out of landfills and nourishes new food sources. soil can be worked radish, beet, spinach, lettuce, arugula, carrot, and turnip Ideal weeding conditions include both sun and wind to dry also, if not from transplants, direct seed: out weed roots before they have a chance to re-root. Comcabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, mon practice is to collect and remove them, or simply toss kale, and swiss chard them onto the garden path to provide a small amount of April plant sprouted potatoes, onion sets, and mulch where, should they re-root, they’d do it where they’d perennial starts like asparagus, rhubarb, get tromped on anyway. raspberries, and strawberries May, once frost plant tomato transplants Garden for extra income – save grocery money and make has passed direct-seed beans and corn friends with your neighbors with garden-fresh gifts. Start (our average last frost also, if not from transplants, direct seed: your own neighborhood vegetable stand, join the farmdate is May 0) cucumber, melons, squash, basil, cilantro, ers market, or, heck, maybe you could even sell to New Pi and parsley sometime! Start small, dream big. Once the soil has plant everything: warmed plant pepper, g Low Force ivin ree L pumpkin, squash, t ar om-f t S Chiropractic cucumber, and pt AY! with Sym TOD melon transplants a Specialized Technique to Locate & Release Symptoms of L L ayers ife Annette Flora, DC Flexible Scheduling 8UI4U5JQUPO*"ß spring 2011 31 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Bolingbrook, Il. Permit 467 22 S. Van Buren St. Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 338-9441 open daily 7am–11 pm 1101 2ⁿd St. Coralville, IA 52241 (319) 358-5513 open daily 7am–10 pm www.newpi.coop Change Service Requested co coming in april, très beau au new ne pi private label red wine cuvée new pi private