It's a GREAT month to become a MEMBER-OWNER!

All new member-owners who join in April will be entered into a drawing for a summer share from Middle Branch Farm's CSA (community-supported agriculture)!   Interested in 16 weeks of local, organically grown produce?  Middle Branch Farm is located in New Boston, but you can pick up your weekly share in Manchester, Nashua or Londonderry. 

If you have been thinking of buying your equitable share of the coop ($100 per household) - do it by midnight on April 30th so you don't miss out on this opportunity!

Middle Branch Farm has continued the tradition of a diversified, sustainable family farm originally established by the Colburn family in the 1700s. All of their products are raised and grown utilizing sustainable organic farming practices. The rapidly vanishing rural landscapes of open fields and wooded tracts is best preserved through sustainable family farms. Middle Branch Farm members share their commitment to open space preservation and sustainable, organic farming practices. Learn more about Middle Branch Farm at http://middlebranchfarm.com.

Volunteers - our greatest asset

The Manchester Food Co-op has been volunteer run and operated since it's inception in Fall of 2009.  Our member owner base is well over 600 members, yet only about 20 people volunteer on a regular basis.  What can you do?  Here are a few ideas:

• Craft Manchester Food Co-op branded items for us to give away at events
• Bring food to our events for volunteer staff and guests
• Host a home cooking demo
• Staff one of our really fun events
• Get us speaking opportunities at clubs and businesses
• Write articles like blog posts, e-mails, and press releases
• Join one of our committees!  We are currently recruiting for people with marketing, legal, finance and development, community outreach and planning experience and/or interest

Please check our events page!

We are vamping up our e-mail communications, so be sure you sign up for our newsletter.  If you are already signed up please update your preferences.

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Food Day 2012, A Huge Success!

Thanks to all our volunteers and participants who made Food Day such a success!   We spread awareness about this important new national holiday, and had loads of fun while doing it....

 

 

 

YMCA Sampling and Educational Table

 

 

                            









Tasting and Film Screening at Royal Palace Ballroom Academy

Susan of Herb an Chicks Farm

      

 Diane of Craquelins

                                                       

                                                
Sue of Laurel Hill Jams & Jellies

Tina of Tomina's Cookie Dough

Max of Benedikt Dairy Farm

 

Claudia of CQ Coffee Roasters                        

 

Moonlight Meadery certificate winner!                                         

                                                

Without a photo, but simply unforgettable was Jeremy from Great Harvest, who provided samples of his delicious bread.  All sweetened varieties of bread made with honey, not refined sugar!  The line was always long and we neglected to break in to snap a pic....

 

Thanks again to all the local businesses who supported this event!!!  We plan to have more of these types of events, where we connect the community with local makers of all kinds....   If you attended please tell us your thoughts about this format!

Celebrate Food Day, Wed. October 24th



The second annual Food Day has been proclaimed a holiday in the city of Manchester by Mayor Gatsas!

The Manchester Food Co-op is happy to be the sponsor of Food Day, as this national initiative mirrors our local initiative.  Healthy, sustainable, fair, REAL food!

FOOD DAY Events:  Wednesday, October 24th

YMCA Manchester 6-10am
30 Mechanic Street
Healthy Food Tasting and Information Table.  Come by for a quick snack and learn more about Food Day.

UNH Brown Bag Lecture Series, 12-1pm
UNH Manchester, 400 Commercial Street, Manchester.  Room 358 on the third floor.
Steve Freeman and Heather Avella, Treasurer and Vice President of the MFC, will share the values and health benefits of buying local foods and the impact on our local economy. .

RESERVE YOUR SPOT:  http://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=4501056782


Open House and Film Screening, 6-8 p.m.
Royal Palace Ballroom Academy (in their new location), 373 South Willow Street, Suite D2 (in Shaw's Plaza above UPS), Manchester. 
Come sample local fare and talk with the hands that make it!   Participating businesses include Great Harvest Bread Company, Craquelins, Benedikt Farm, CQ Coffee Roasters, Herb an' Chick Farm, Stonyfield, Laurel Hill Jams & Jellies, Cabot Creamery, and Tomina's.

We'll also watch a series of short films from “Nourish," each followed with discussion.  Donations of non-perishables will be collected for the NH Food Bank. Refreshments and sampling of local fare will be offered when doors open at 6 p.m and throughout. The film screening and discussion will begin at 6:45 p.m.

Each guest will be eligible to win two drawings:
$100 Gift Certificate to Royal Palace Ballroom Academy
Romance Package to Moonlight Meadery (includes tasting, keepsake glasses and money back on purchase).

RESERVE YOUR SPOT:  http://manchesterfoodcoopfooddayfilmscreening.eventbrite.com

"Accidental Herbalist" Food Demo and Film Screening

We enjoyed fresh marinara, local breads and dipping oils as we learned a thing or two (or twenty...) about growing herbs!  Also watched select scenes from the documentaries "As We Sow" and "Farmlandia."

 

 A few of you have asked for Nancy's yummy marinara recipe:

 

Any and all tomatoes.

Blanch them, remove skins, squeeze out seeds.

Cut up and stew them in a pot.

Mash them up with a hand masher to the desired consistency.

Spices and herbs: I make a blend that I call Bohemian Blend (oregano, sage, parsley, basil), garlic

Optional: wine and/or parmesan or romano cheese. The cheese thickens the sauce with flavor

Simmer for hours till it gets thick.

If you are short on fresh tomatoes, then canned ones that are crushed or whole will work. Tomato paste can be used if it is just too watery.

Want to know how to grow and cook with this?

Manchester Food Co-op member Nancy Brome (aka the "Accidental Herbalist") will tell you how!  Join us for a herb discussion, where she'll share her marinara sauce recipe made with fresh herbs (and we'll eat it, of course!). 

Also to be revealed is the "compost sausage" method of homemade fertilizer.  Gardeners, great way to save some money next year...

Lastly we'll view a short film, the "As We Sow" documentary.



Accidental Herbalist Food Demo and "As We Sow" Film Screening

Tuesday, Sept. 25th, 6-8pm

Unitarian Universalist Church, 669 Union Street, Manchester NH 03104

Reserve your spot here!

Labor Day 500 Goal

Thank you to everyone who helped get us to 492 member-owners by Labor Day!  Although we did not hit our goal of 500 yet we are sure that those next 8 member-owners are right around the corner.

If you have not signed up to be a member-owner and paid your $100 membership fee now is the time!  Click here to join and you could be our 500th member-owner!