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Changes Moving Faster and Faster
This week, the Creamery's new shed got a roof, siding, wiring, insulation, and wallboard. So this Sunday, May 12, at 2:00 p.m., we're looking for another human chain of volunteers to move all the stored goods back into this new space. Then, right away on Monday evening, May 13, we need volunteers to empty and help dismantle many of the remaining older shelves, starting at 6:00 p.m. On Tuesday morning, we will begin the installation of our new checkout counters.
The wonderful work parties that have stepped up so far are really making these changes happen. Please email volunteer@oldcreamery.coop if you can help out this coming Sunday afternoon and/or Monday evening. (It would be great to see a few new faces; come spend an hour, or two, or three, and pitch in to help your Co-op put on its shiny new face.)
At the end of the month, work will begin in preparation for the new deli and kitchen. There will be lots of plumbing and wiring to get ready, so on Tuesday, May 28, the store will close early (6:00 p.m.) for demolition and plumbing and appliance disconnects in the existing deli-kitchen area. On Wednesday, May 29, the store will be open but the kitchen and deli will be closed as our new equipment is installed. The staff is gearing up to ensure we have lots of pre-prepared, grab-and-go items for the day.
Thank you as always for your patience and support during these a-changin' times.
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Hadley Grass Is King! And It's at the Creamery!
Don't miss getting yourself or your mom a bunch of fresh Hadley asparagus at $4.99 a bunch! Were you wondering if Hadley is still the asparagus capital of the world? Click here to read a great article from Saveur magazine that tells all.
Capital or not, we know it's the best!
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Cheese of the Week!
This weekend's featured cheese is Rupert from Consider Bardwell Farm in West Pawlet, Vermont. Consider Stebbins Bardwell was a farmer who started Vermont's first cheese-making co-op in  1864. Like many dairies, the facility was ultimately abandoned until more than a century later when Russell Glover, Angela Miller, and Chris Gray revived the farm. But this time it was with a herd of Oberhasli goats grazing on 300 pesticide- and fertilizer-free acres that straddle the rolling hills between the Champlain Valley and easternmost New York. This past year well-known Vermont cheese-maker Peter Dixon joined the enterprise, and Consider Bardwell partnered with Lisa Kaimen's Jersey Girl Farm in Chester as a source for raw Jersey cow milk.
Rupert is an aged, raw Jersey Girl milk inspired by the great European Alpine cheeses. Reminiscent of Gruyère or Comté, this cheese is aged a minimum of six months, which contributes to a sharpness and complexity that increases with more age. It's named after the town of Rupert, Vermont, one the state's oldest towns, settled in 1761. The cheese was an American Cheese Society winner in 2010 and 2011 and a U.S. Cheese Championship winner in 2011.
The farm's cheeses are made by hand in small batches from whole, fresh milk that is antibiotic and hormone free. Only microbial (nonanimal) rennet is used, and all the cheeses are aged on the farm in its extensive system of caves.
Come in this Saturday and have taste. Remember, we'll take 10% off the regular price all day! Hope to see you this weekend!
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From the Sea to You
 Yes, you can live in the wonderland of the western Massachusetts hills and eat your fresh seafood too! That's because the Creamery Co-op obtains the choicest, freshest, most sustainably harvested seafood available and offers it to you, right here at the store in the Hilltowns. Peter diligently works with Black River Produce to offer featured seafood selections twice a week. And if you need something special, he can do his best to procure whatever fish or shellfish you might desire.
To see the latest featured offerings, and to learn more about the fresh seafood program, visit the Creamery's website (click here). The listing is updated twice a week, so be sure to bookmark the page.
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Sustainability Library Needs a Working Computer
The Hilltown Sustainability Group established and maintains a free lending library of donated books related to living sustainably. It's located in a room provided by the Old Creamery Cooperative above the store. The library has also been providing an Internet-connected computer for public use, but it's broken. So if anyone has an operating computer they'd like to donate to the Sustainability Library, please email Sheri at slrosenblum@yahoo.com . It can be a Mac or PC, preferably with Word, Excel, and a PDF reader such as Preview or Adobe Reader. PLEASE: Do not drop off a computer without first being in touch with Sheri.
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You Can Support National Legislation to Label GMOs!
What do 64 countries, including China, South Korea, Brazil, and the entire European Union, have in common? Unlike the United States, they all label genetically engineered foods!  Unfortunately, despite the fact that nearly 95 percent of Americans want labeling of genetically engineered food, the United States continues to lag behind the rest of the world. Fortunately, groundbreaking legislation to label genetically engineered food has just been introduced in Congress. Tell your representatives they need to do what so many other countries have already done-make labeling of genetically engineered foods mandatory! You can take action via the Internet (just click on the jar in the photo), or you can let your voice be heard--really heard--by calling your senators and representative in the US Congress: Senator Elizabeth Warren, 202-224-4543; Senator William Cowan, 202-224-2742; Rep. Richard Neal, 202-225-5601 (first district); and Rep. James McGovern, 202-225-5759 (second district).
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Amazing but True!
The Old Creamery's Community Calendar is your place to post, and check for, happenings in the Hilltowns. The Community Calendar can be found on the Old Creamery's website under "News & Events." You can click on any event in the calendar to pop up an expanded information box. For instance, click here to see the listing for an "Amazing Garden Tour" in Cummington this Saturday afternoon.
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Stay in Touch! We Love to Hear from You! For questions about Co-op membership, product requests, or suggestions or other feedback, please send a note to info@oldcreamery.coop. We'll make sure your note is sent to the appropriate person and that you get a prompt response. If you'd like to contact the Co-op's Board of Directors, simply send your email to board@oldcreamery.coop. Emails sent to this address are received only by the board. To reach Karen Doherty, the Co-op's general manager, send an email to gm@oldcreamery.coop. Emails sent to this address are received only by Karen. If you're thinking of becoming a valued volunteer of the Co-op, you can reach Shirley Todd, volunteer coordinator, at volunteer@oldcreamery.coop. There are many opportunities for volunteers. Emails sent to this address go directly to Shirley. |
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Help us spread the word! Consider encouraging your friends to sign on to receive the Creamery's weekly email newsletter. Better yet, encourage them to become member-owners of the Co-op. You can forward this email to your friends and relatives (for best results, use the "Forward email" link in the white space at the bottom of this page). Rest assured, we won't clog their inboxes and we will respect their privacy. We will not disclose your or their email addresses to anyone else. You can unsubscribe at any time. Thank you for your interest, commitment, and support.
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Many items are on sale every week at the Creamery. Look for the brightly colored shelf tags. These items are 15%-45% off regular prices. We work hard to find bargains on many different items, including staple groceries, treats like chocolate, juices, refrigerated items, personal care products, and supplements. The shelf tags indicate when the sale price expires. Some sale items are one-time opportunities that remain on sale until sold out. Many are purchasing opportunities that can be replenished over several weeks at great prices. Enjoy the savings!
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Your continued patronage supports the ongoing success of our community-owned, values-based cooperative. Thank you for supporting the Old Creamery Co-op as a member-owner, as a shopper, as a friend. We value every contribution to the success of the Old Creamery Co-op.
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