Organic Produce Shares
Hello everyone,
I order organic produce and split it up several times each month. I saw other postings about sharing organic produce, so I thought I'd add mine. I am attaching my list below and there is more detail on my website. (http://drkarenerickson.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=86&p=166#p166)
The prices listed are wholesale costs. Additionally I pay a gas surcharge and a few other small fees. My mark up to cover these expenses is 10% and I charge sales tax. If anyone is interested, e-mail me at keinfo@mac.com. My deadline for this order is tonight (see web link for details).
Additionally we are giving away 5 free organic gardens to needy recipients with the goal of making gardening a successful experience and introducing the benefits of organic growing. We will vote at the end of February and need more people on our list of recipients. We will take any inexperienced or struggling backyard gardener or want-to-be gardener in the area! If you can think of any worthy people you want to turn on to organic gardening, please pass along their names and a short blurb about them. There is more info on my blog about this. Everyone is welcome at our Garden Party/Seed Swap where we will vote and volunteer for putting in the gardens. Here is the link: http://www.drkarenerickson.com/?p=27
Thanks,
Karen
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Produce 2:4 splits.xls | 37 KB |
Boise Sustainable Living Community
Want to join this group?
To get started, you'll need to create an account - or, if you already have an account on this website, login.
User login
Who's online
January 31st, 2008
Food Miles
Organic food is great, but if it comes from far away it becomes less sustainable. We chose Idaho's Bounty as it supports the local organic farming community. Thanks for posting!
January 31st, 2008
Miles to go
I agree with you. Local is better for so many reasons and I expect that increasing petroleum prices will make the return to local produce inevitable... I struggle with this concept in so many ways: medicines from the Rain Forests; Rice from sustainable third world co-operatives; the desire to see organic food 'mainstream'....I don't know the answer, but I feel like I pick and choose based on many issues. I want to grow my own food, build my strawbale house in the country, and still be part of the global network that stimulates me....
One thing that frustrates me about organic food is the idea that it is so much more 'expensive'. I think creative co-operation keeps the price of organic food competitive. Pound for pound the nutritional value of organic over supermarket food makes organic an obvious choice. But getting organic food into the hands of common people, particularly lower income people who are more limited in their food choices, is a challenge because the perception is that it is so much more expensive. Organic food needs to be priced for consumption by the average person. The only way I see to accomplish this is to promote food for people and not profit. Not that I begrudge the farmer fair compensation for the effort and uncertainty of agriculture, but I think co-operatives and collectives to move food and distribute it without undue additional costs are essential. Mark up is brutal! I find that I can get organic produce at prices that rivals Winco and get it into the hands of people who previously though organic food out of their reach.... I really want to change people's mind about organic, and help them see it as essential to health, environment and planet like I do. I know, I know...preaching to the choir, right?
K
January 31st, 2008
Hi Karen! So nice to have
Hi Karen! So nice to have you as part of our group. It is wonderful to see your website! It looks like you are very active in the community for change and I really appreciate that! Please share with us more about where your organic food comes from, which farmers ect. I would be interested in placing an order sometime. Right now, I think our group is focused on our first purchase with Idaho's Bounty and deciding how that is going to work for us. When is your next order? Pleas keep us informed so we can order with you too! Thanks! Amy
January 31st, 2008
Thanks Amy
We order every week or two...mostly from UNFI (who used to be Mountain People's Warehouse) and supplies the Boise Co-op, Whole Foods, etc. I supply a few small local co-ops and have a long standing group...we have been doing this in Boise for 14 years and before that in Seattle and Olympia. Produce comes from all over...we have been looking at local resources for organic produce including the one you are ordering from now. Most people who order from us have significant dietary restrictions (food allergies, etc.) or are lower income and have come to us by way of the work we do in the community. We post our order dates and times on our site. We also have classes on Gardening, Nutrition and Healthcare...all designed to promote self reliance.
I joined this group because I am trying to build a strawbale home that is completely off the grid and self sufficient. I have been working on this for several years now, but most of my resources and contacts live in other areas... I have worked with a few intentional communities and spent time in co-operatives and collectives. I feel like the time I can stand living on pavement is just about over and I am looking for land to start building on. In the past 3 years we have found many great locations, but none have panned out...
Together my husband and I have 6 children. I homeschool those that live here (ages 7, 10, 13) and spend my spare time gardening (I am almost a 4 season gardener...picked the last of my kale about a month ago!), running our store, and I have a small medical practice - mostly lower income or rural folks...been trying to retire these past 7 years. I am a great advocate of healthcare accessibility and have worked in many rural settings.
I believe Boise is changing quickly and although personally I'd rather watch from the woods, I feel like the time to impact the direction of this city is NOW. Suddenly 'Green' is in...it's a fad! That's a bit of a turn off in some ways, but a great opportunity in others. People are suddenly interested in organic food, green building materials, and energy conservation. That makes fringe people like me...well, not exactly mainstream...but a little more like everyone else! So thanks for the welcome and thanks for checking out my site.
Karen