Vegan Diet Tips
Rss Feeds

Diary of a Vegan Part 3: Health Junk in the Trunk
January 11, 2012

Welcome to Diary of a Vegan, where Jeff and I open our journals from days gone by to share our journey to vegan so you can learn from our successes -- and mistakes! Hindsight is everything! :)

3/3/94 - "To Co-op for Jeff's health junk."

If you have been shopping for groceries in your local (usually large) supermarket your whole life, as many of us have, it can be strange the first time you walk into a small, locally owned food cooperative, otherwise known as a co-op.

Jeff was the first to latch onto the idea of visiting (and joining) a co-op. Of course, I went along for the ride. I'll never forget that first experience. Unlike most grocery stores, which look quite stark and smell like a strange mixture between meat, fish, and cleaning supplies, a co-op usually smells more like healthy greens, grains, and...well, earth! It can really throw you because it's just SO different from what you're used to.

As we know, change can be difficult. And while Jeff embraced our local (at-the-time) co-op (Visit the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op), I wasn't so sure. Each week we would make two shopping trips, one to "my" store, and one to "his" store.

But over time, I began to see the wisdom in shopping in a co-op, and month by month my co-op grocery list grew longer as my supermarket list grew shorter, until one day we were doing all of our shopping in the co-op.

What exactly is a co-op? A co-op usually has very humble beginnings and is member supported, much like public radio. The cost to be a member is usually very low (for example, $15 per year). They usually start out renting a small space, and as the membership grows, the co-op usually does too. It's QUITE an organic process, and it's really exciting to watch your little co-op grow and grow.

When we moved to San Diego, the co-op we joined (visit the Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market) was SO cute and little, with an itty bitty kitchen where soups, sandwiches, snacks, and desserts were made (Miss Kitty!). But when you go in today (12 years later!), the co-op has grown to be a huge 2-level store, with a beautiful deli and big kitchen where they make their yummy (mostly vegan) vittles.

Here in Reno, Jeff and I volunteered at our co-op when it was JUUUUST getting going. They rented a space in the back of a record shop! It was quite small and squishy. But membership grew, and they moved to a slightly larger location. And now we are all excitedly waiting for them to move to a huuuuuge spot where they can offer even more to our community. (Visit the Great Basin Community Co-op.)

So why join a co-op? Here are just a few reasons:

• Support local agriculture - co-ops carry foods grown by local farmers so the produce (especially) is as fresh as can be which means MORE nutrients for you!
• Support local businesses - such as those who make their own jelly, cookies, grow their own flowers and herbs, etc.;
• Co-ops usually carry cookbooks and other helpful items that will inspire you to follow a healthy diet;
• Co-ops sometimes have classes that teach you everything from sprouting to canning to gardening, and more!
• Co-ops usually have a large bulk section, so you only buy as much as you need, which saves you money AND saves excess packaging from entering our landfills

As you can see, joining a co-op is a very good idea for so many reasons.

Click here to learn of any co-ops near you. And if there are none (yet!), then there just might be a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or Buying Club (a group of people who buy food together from a Coop Distributor). And if all else fails, get some friends together and start your own! :)

Until next time... xo

xoxo

December 2011 «  » April 2012

 
RSS Feed For This News

Follow us on Twitter!

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: Blink Del.icio.us Digg
Furl Google Simpy Spurl Technorati Y! MyWeb