Local Drive for Children's Books

Donations of new or gently used children's books will be collected at both Co-op locations from February 28 to March 18 for a Northwest Washington Reading Corp (NWWRC) book drive. Donated books will be distributed to high need students in Bellingham and nearby communities. Participating Bellingham schools are Cordata, Sunnyland, Roosevelt and Alderwood elementary schools. For more information, see the NWWRC website. 

Seed Starting Simplified 

If you're like many gardeners, you  never tried growing your own plants from seed. Or, if you have tried, maybe your seedlings didn't resemble those you see at the garden center each spring, and you're wondering how you can do better. See the full article on starting seeds at Rodale's Organic Gardening website.

While you're planning that spring garden, don't miss the amazing array of seeds and other gardening supplies in the garden section of our stores.

Local Publication Goes Monthly

You can help Grow Northwest magazine transition from bi-monthly to a monthly publication. The final day of their fundraiser to help get them started is March 9. For information on how you can support this campaign, see their fundraising site. 

This free magazine serves Whatcom and nearby counties in northwest Washington. They provide readers with content and resources focused on local foods and farms, agricultural news, practical and simpler living, do-it-yourself projects, cooking, gardening, crafts/handmade, adventures, events, profiles, features and more. For more information, see their website. 

Create Food Democracy, Occupy our Food Supply 

Vandana Shiva

"The biggest corporate takeover on the planet is the hijacking of the food system, the cost of which has had huge and irreversible consequences for the Earth and people everywhere."

Food activitst, author, and educator Vandana Shiva recently wrote about her efforts to promote diversity and use of native seeds. She founded a movement called Navdanya ("nine seeds") 25 years ago-a movement she describes, "to occupy the seed." They have created 66 community seed banks, saved 3000 rice varieties, stopped laws that would prevent us from seed saving, and fought against biopiracy.

Vandana writes, "Corporations like Monsanto have created a seed emergency. This is the reason I am starting a global citizen's campaign on seed sovereignty. I hope you will all join. The lawsuit that 84 organizations, including Navdanya, have filed against Monsanto in New York through the Public Patent Foundation is an important step in reclaiming seed sovereignty."

Read Vandana's full article at the Rain Forest Action Network's Understory site, followed by a lively exchange with a Cargill executive about their role in this.  

"Reel" Food Film Fest 

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