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Upcoming Members' Meeting

You are invited to a Members’ information / questions and answers forum on January 19th at 5 pm at Manson’s Hall to discuss the Co-op Board of Directors' proposal to purchase the land on which the Co-op operates.

The Board will present a business plan, go over the ins and outs of securing a mortgage, and open the floor to discuss financing options for the next phase of septic repairs. Please join us if you have any questions or concerns - we want everyone to feel comfortable and sufficiently informed when the time comes to vote for the Co-op to obtain a mortgage.

Voting to approve borrowing

In March, your Co-op will be asking for approval to borrow a fixed amount of money for the purpose of land purchase and / or cost of fixing the septic system. The exact fair-market purchase price will be determined by a commercial appraiser by the end of January, valid for the following six months.

In order to vote, you must be a member. You are a member if you own a $20 share in the Co-op, regardless of whether or not you have paid annual operating fees.

Voting will likely take place in three different ways:
1. By voting in person in a Members’Special Meeting
2. By voting in person at the Co-op within a one week period
3. Or by voting securely online at cortescoop.ca within the same one week period.

We hope to see you at Manson's Hall January 19^th at 5 pm. As usual, feel free to be in touch with Krista at ma.krista14@gmail.com or 0128 and stay tuned for updates.

Local Fresh Produce Available NOW!

From Blue Jay Lake:

Rutabaga
Leeks
Butternut Squash
Spaghetti Squash
Onions
Potatoes
Eggs

If you have any surplus produce, consider selling at the Co-op. Call Tanya at 935-8577 for info.

Congratulations Graham Mackenzie (Mook)!

Graham is the winner of our members-only draw and a gift basket valuing $100. You could win too! Every time you make a purchase over $25, place your name & phone number on the receipt and into the box and we'll draw a name at the end of each month. Thanks Cortes!

Member SPECIALS on now!

Amy's Pizzas -  Cheese, Spinach & Feta, Mushroom & Olive - 20% off - Now $6.80! 

Amy's Soups- 20% off - Now $2.50!   

Make it an easy night in the kitchen with these wholesome, all natural and mostly organic pizzas and soups.    Read more about Amy's company below.  

New Products - Synergy Kombucha & Amy's Potpies!

Synergy Kombucha - Raw & Organic.  This handmade Chinese tea is delicately cultured for 30 days.  During this time, essential nutrients are formed like:  Active Enzymes, Viable Probiotics, Amino Acids, Antioxidants, and Polyphenols.  All of these combine to create an elixir that immediately works with the body to restore balance and vitality.  Comes in a glass bottle, perfect for reusing.  

Amy's original pot pie with a tender flaky butter crusts contains organic carrots, peas, potatoes and tofu simmered in a creamy, well seasoned sauce.

Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Brownies

By Tanya Krahn

1/2 cup soaked dates - pits removed and chopped
1/2 cup dried currents
1/2 cup coconut butter
whip in processor till smooth

add 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1/2 cup hazelnut butter
1/2 cup ground pistachios and hemp seeds combined (a coffee grinder works well and this could be an option)

blend together and press into a pan

1/4 cup coconut oil
3 tbls maple syrup (i still use this for special occasions)
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
stir to a fudge and pour on top 

hide yourself into a closet to eat or if you are forced to share, take them up to Easter Bluff first!

Local Profile: Priti T-Shirts

Since 2007, Elinor & Thomas Bazar have been selling these organic cotton, fair-trade T's designed by women, for women.

Driven by the possibility of fashion that is friendly to people and the planet, Thomas & Elinor wanted to take it one step further... what if the imagery on the clothing was inspiring as well?  Thus was born, Priti (meaning Love in Sanskrit), a fashion label meant to inspire ecological awareness, compassion and evolution of consciousness.  They worked closely with Montreal designers to create 4 images - "Breathe", "Love Your Mother (Earth)", "One Love", & "Be the Change"- printed on Earthy colored organic cotton shirts sewn at a women's cooperative in Nicaragua.

Meant to be on the longer side and slim fitting, these shirts spruce up any spring time wardrobe and make excellent gifts. Thinner men can also wear them. Available now at the Co-op.  

New DVDs & Irene's Favorites!

New DVDs:
Mad Men Season 3, Flipped: family, The Quantum Activist: physics and philosophy

25 of Irene's Favourites (old & new): have you seen them all?
Antonia's Line, Away We Go, Before Tomorrow, Cherry Blossoms, Creation, An Education, Flow, Four Minutes, The Healer, I am Love, Kamataki, The Kids Are All Right, La Vie en Rose, Man Who Sued God, No. 1 Ladies', Detective Agency, Nowhere in Africa, Ondine, Opal Dream, Saint Jacques La Mecque (Start Walking), Taking Woodstock, Temple Grandin, Tetro, Va Vis Deviens (Live and Become), Winter's Bone

Amy's Kitchen: In their own words

We didn’t set out to become the nation’s leading natural frozen food brand. All we wanted to do was create a business that would allow us to earn a living by providing convenient and tasty natural vegetarian meals for people like ourselves, who appreciated good food, but were often too busy to cook "from scratch."

We started on a "shoestring," using our own house and barn as headquarters. The founding meetings were held in the same room where we were married and where our daughter Amy was born. This was in 1987, before the idea of "organic" food had become well known, and when there were very few frozen meals available for vegetarians to eat, either in health food stores or supermarkets. We were, however, very fortunate in being in the right place at the right time. The number of vegetarians had increased dramatically, as had consumer awareness of the harmful effects on their health and the environment of chemicals in the food supply.

Our first product, a vegetable pot pie, was an instant success. Other products followed in rapid succession, and we made the amazing discovery that they were being eaten not only by vegetarians and those interested in natural foods, but by millions of people looking for easy to prepare meals that really tasted good.  Read more >>>

Articles of Interest

2010 in Review: Here's what Happened in the World of Natural Health and Health Freedom
By NaturalNews.com
Throughout 2010, we learned about all sorts of interesting chemicals being used in the conventional food supply. We learned that window cleaning chemicals are injected into fast food hamburger meat, and we learned that soy protein is extracted using a highly explosive chemical called hexane.  Read More>>>

Raw-milk dairy rebrands products as cosmetics to stay in business
The Globe & Mail - Shannon Moneo
A Chilliwack raw-milk dairy has become a de facto cowsmetics counter as jars brimming with only unpasteurized milk are labelled Cleopatra’s enzymatic body lotion while raw cream alone is christened massage cream.   Read More>>>