April-May 2012 by Mississippi Market Co-op

Mississippi Market Member Newsletter

May - June 2012 Vol. 36 No. 2

How does your urban garden grow? West 7th Plant Sale Thursday, May 3rd -Monday, June 4th Plant sale hours: Weekdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Co-op’s tradition of offering a large selection of Minnesota native plants, hardy perennials, specialty annuals, and heirloom veggies continues this year as we add a line of certified organic veggies. The plant sale will have a strong focus on sustainable urban gardening, offering supplies and support for city gardeners. In keeping with the Co-op’s values, we feature three local growers who have demonstrated a strong commitment to earth friendly and sustainable cultivation practices. Glacial Ridge Growers has a motto of “Restoring the prairie one backyard at a time”. Green Earth Growers specializes in growing plants that are well suited and adapted to our northern climate and day length. Gardens of Eagan, known for their amazing local organic produce, will be supplying the core of our organic veggie starters. The sale will open on Thursday, May 3rd with cool-hardy potting annuals and hanging baskets. Over the first couple weeks we will be staging the arrival of the hardy and tender plants. We have found that this is the best way to maintain high quality of the plants while protecting them from the extremes of early May. During the second week of the sale the Minnesota natives will arrive along with perennials, tomatoes, peppers, tender veggies, herbs, and annuals! Our sale boasts over 65 varieties of heirloom tomatoes. We are featuring a number of cool weather /short season heirloom tomatoes such as Black Krim, Moskvich, and Blondkopfchen. Returning in plentiful supply are canning favorites like Amish Paste and San Marzano. The Selby and the West 7th Markets will both stock potting soil as well as organic soil amendments and worm castings to beef up your garden beds. Don’t forget to look indoors for a great selection of gardening essentials such as High Mowing and Seed Savers Exchange seeds, gardening books, pots of all sizes, tools, gloves, and composting buckets. Keep an eye out for new gift items for that gardener in your life. Whether you are a sage gardener or digging up ground for the first time, you’re sure to find something at the Mississippi Market Plant Sale.

Patio Party–Save the Date May 19th, the West 7th Store 11:00 am-3:00 pm Join us as we celebrate the return of the gardening and grilling season! Thousand Hills Cattle Company will be sampling grilled grass-fed burgers. We’ll have outdoor party ideas in time for graduation, too! Grab a bag of popcorn and peruse the plant sale and try other local treats throughout the store.

General Manager’s Report

Earth Day is perfect for celebrating our recently completed remodel at Selby Gail Graham, General Manager

“It has been most gratifying to enjoy the positive comments about the new look. If you don’t regularly shop at Selby, I invite you to stop in and see for yourself.”

We have much to celebrate on Earth Day this year. We are fond of saying “Every day is Earth Day at the Co-op” because we routinely consider the environmental impact of how we run the business. We brought these environmental values to our recently completed remodel of the Selby store. Brightly colored lowVOC paints have livened up the walls; the diamond ground ﬁnish on the floor is so shiny it would make Fred Astaire want to dance and it requires no waxing and no harmful cleaning agents; the bright new cases glow with their energy efﬁcient LED lighting. The greatly expanded green space—part of the autumn parking lot expansion which was interrupted by

winter, includes a rain garden for storm water treatment. Now that spring is here we will complete the garden and our members and neighbors will have a lovely outdoor area to enjoy. Most of the remodeling work took place overnight, thanks to the flexibility of our contractors and the dedication of the staff members who were often on hand at odd hours to empty cases or move shelves. This allowed us to keep disruptions to a minimum—though for a few days we had puzzled shoppers trying to ﬁgure out where a product has moved. “I can smell the coffee” one member commented, staring at the spot it used to be, “but I can’t ﬁnd it. Where did it move to?” It has been most gratifying to enjoy the positive comments about the new look. If you don’t regularly shop at Selby, I invite you to stop in and see for yourself—and while you are there, grab a salad from the new salad bar!

congratulations!

new & improved!

Minnesota Cooperator Bill Gessner

The Selby store now welcomes shoppers with bright, cheery colors and a wider selection in the meat & seafood section and deli. New improvements include: • Easier access to the Customer Service desk • Expanded meat case to accommodate the fresh cuts and Mississippi Market Made items prepared by our butchers at the West 7th Street store. • A new sandwich bar for easier ordering and better customer service • A full sized salad bar

In May I will be attending the National Cooperative Business Associations Hall of Fame Banquet to join with my peers in celebrating Bill Gessner’s induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Bill has worked with the food co-op community for over 35 years and his work has helped create a strong, values-driven national network of consumer owned co-ops. He has assisted over 250 co-ops, including Mississippi Market, in their expansion planning, and along the way he has developed a systematic approach that has helped countless co-ops reach their goals. Bill is passionate about collaboration. He was a founding member of CDS Consulting Cooperative; helped establish Co-op Grocer’s Information Network as well as the Midwestern Co-op Grocer’s Association. It is a privilege to have had the opportunity to work closely with Bill over the years. 2

—Gail Graham

Board of Directors Report

Voluntary and open membership

with members in the store, at our annual meeting, or at a social or professional gathering where the coop becomes a point of conversation.

Jon Olson, Board Secretary

Participants in the Eat Local Farm Tour last July meet the Cedar Summit cows up close. Mississippi Market knows that our memberowners value the connection that the co-op provides to the local farmers that raise and grow their food. Planning for the 2012 Eat Local Farm Tour is now underway – keep July 21 open!

In keeping with the board’s commitment to use our column this year to reflect on each of the seven cooperative principles, I will address Principle #1. This ﬁrst principle states that cooperative societies must have a voluntary and open membership. The International Cooperative Alliance’s statement on cooperative identity states, “Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.” Therefore, a cooperative such as the Mississippi Market should not prevent any willing person from participating, on any of these grounds. As a member of a cooperative that abides by this principle, you can be assured our values and operations stand on and support non-discriminatory behaviors. However, Principle #1 doesn’t prohibit the cooperative from setting ground rules for membership — as an example, payment of our one-time stock purchase. All persons meeting this criterion are able to participate if they choose. Now let’s examine what I believe to be the real beauty of cooperative membership: Within that voluntary framework, people join the co-op for various reasons. These are are some of my favorites, collected over the past two years as I’ve talked

People tell me: • “The environmental impact of food is important to me; I know the (sustainably and organically produced) food I purchase supports a larger movement toward a clean environment…clean water, clean air, less use of carbonbased fuel”. • “I want to support local food producers. I want the distance between my pocketbook and the producer to be as short as possible”. • “ If the food does not fit ‘local’ criteria, I have confidence the co-op buys fair trade, organic and sustainably produced food”. • “T he connection between consumer and producer is important; my food co-op is that link”. • “ I want to see individuals benefit from the effort of food production and have a consistent market for their products”. • “I buy organic because the farming practices are designed to benefit the earth, and I consider any extra cost to be my donation in support of a clean environment”. And this is my all-time favorite: A woman told me, “I joined in order to support sustainable agriculture and local food producers. Then I became spoiled by food that tastes superior, in many cases, to food available elsewhere. So my Mississippi Market membership is a win-win for the environment and for my family!” Voluntary, open membership. Nondiscrimination. Environmental awareness. Happy taste buds. Our strong and diverse cooperative is full of people who support these values. Thanks for sharing your viewpoints with me, and for committing to our cooperative ideals. 3

We have lots of exciting things going on in our stores to

Celebrate Earth Day! Kick off Earth Week by taking recycling to the next level— with an in-store composting demonstration by Union Park Compost, www.unionparkdc.org. Monday, April 16, 3:00-6:00 pm at the West 7th store

Tuesday, April 17 3:00-6:00 pm at the Selby store

Meet our in-house green cleaning expert, Ricky Furlong, as he takes your questions and demonstrates how best to choose and use environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Thursday, April 19: 10:30 am-12:30 pm at the Selby store 1:30-3:30 pm at the West 7th store

bees and peruse the beautiful gifts their wax can create from Honeyglow Candles. Saturday, April 21 11:00 am-2:00 pm at the Selby store

Wood From The Hood collects trees that have fallen naturally, have been taken down because of disease, or have to be taken out for new construction and turns them into beautiful, lasting wood pieces ranging from picture frames, to cutting boards, to furniture. Saturday, April 21 11:00 am-1:00 pm at the West 7th store

Learn the green advantages to sustainable, grass-fed meats from local producers Thousand Hills Cattle Company. Saturday, April 21 11:00 am-3:00 pm at the Selby store

Honeybees, the makers of beeswax, take care of about 50% of the pollination responsible for the wonderful vegetables and fruits that we need and love. Learn about the importance of

NiceRide Minnesota works to enhance the quality of urban life by providing a convenient, easy-to-use bike sharing program that give residents and visitors to the Twin Cities a healthy, fun, different way to get around. Mississippi Market is proud to be a sponsor of this dynamic organization. Stop by their table for more information—the ﬁrst 100 people will receive a free bike helmet. Saturday, April 28 11:00 am-2:00 pm at the Selby store

Green Spotlight

Worker B Worker B is a three-person Minneapolis company with a combined seven years in and around the bee business. They currently help support several local beekeepers—now ages 17 through 70! Some are large producers, some are small-time, one is a Minnesota State Fair honeycomb finalist. Plus, Worker B uses only edible ingredients with no fillers of any kind—food safe, people safe and pet safe! We now carry their lip balm, Rescue Putty and unscented lotion. 4

Seventh Generation Natural 4x Laundry Detergent

Artists to Watch gift cards

A powerful, technologically-advanced formula uses multiple enzyme systems to fight the toughest stains. Natural 4x laundry detergent is uniquely packaged in an innovative recyclable or compostable bottle, made from 100% recycled fiber. The system (fiber bottle, pouch, spout, cap) uses 66% less plastic than a typical 100 oz. 2x laundry bottle—while washing the same number of loads! Look for both the Free & Clear and Geranium Blossom & Vanilla varieties on our shelves.

This small greeting card company works hard to craft environmentally-friendly stationery for all occasions. They print all of their cards on 100% recycled paper with only vegetable-based inks. All of their cards are completely crafted, produced and printed in the USA. Many local artists are featured on their cards including Nick Wroblewski (shown here), Amy Rice and Jim Brandenburg.

Wood From the Hood Reclaiming wood from all over the Twin Cities By Kari Binning, Marketing and Media Manager

Rick Siewert, Cindy Siewert and Jonathan Buck of Wood From The Hood reclaim fallen trees in the Twin Cities. Reclaiming these urban trees provides a source of local, sustainable lumber and helps prevent our forests from being cut down.

indy and Rick Siewert have been working with wood for over twentyfive years in the commercial cabinetry business. Walking into the offices of Wood from the Hood in South Minneapolis, their love for trees is immediately apparent. Showcases displaying over fifty different types of wood, from light elm to dark walnut, line the walls and their beautifully crafted picture frames, cribbage boards and growth charts welcome you as you walk in the door. Wood From the Hood was born when Cindy had to watch her old ash tree come down in the yard. She knew that it was bound for a landfill or incinerator as metro area trees are when they’re taken down, and it broke her heart. Cindy and Rick started brainstorming about what they could do to save the tree. “People fall in love with their trees,” says Cindy. “Wood From the Hood’s mission is to extend the life of the tree by reclaiming it to make a sustainable, high quality product.” The first project they used reclaimed wood for was flooring—it helps builders reach LEED certification— but one thing led to another and they’ve made custom-built tables, benches, head

boards and end tables. Now they have a retail line of products, many of which we sell at Mississippi Market, including cutting boards, cribbage boards, picture frames and bottle openers. Wood From the Hood has valuable working relationships with the City of Minneapolis and local tree services. They are now called when the city or services take down trees that they believe Wood From the Hood can use. Wood From the Hood notes on each of their products the zip code from which the tree came. In St. Paul, Wood From the Hood has worked with Macalester College and Hamline University to ﬁnd good uses for the trees the institutions have had to take down during expansions. “We’re eager to work with the City and tree services in St. Paul,” Cindy exclaims. “The potential of reclaimed wood is immense—and the trees are able to live on in the form of sustainable, handcrafted wood products.” To learn more about Wood From the Hood or to have them assess your tree for reclamation visit: www.woodfromthehood.com

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Celebrate Mom (and Spring)!

ake Mother’s Day brighter by making her a memorable meal. Add a glass of crisp, white wine, and enjoy! Or pick up breakfast and treats at the co-op. Our deli will be making special Mother’s Day strata and quiche. Plus, we’ll have an assortment of chocolates and gifts to show your mom your love—look for chocolate mini cakes and brie and cracker plates in the deli. Hanging baskets, cut flowers, books, natural body care, gardening accessories and greeting cards, too!

Ingredients: 4 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil, divided ½ lb. fresh coho or sockeye salmon (two 4-oz. pieces), skin on 2 ½ tsp. kosher salt, divided 2-4 tsp. soy sauce 4 tsp. toasted sesame oil ½ lb. fresh shiitake caps, sliced thickly 1 lb. thin, fresh asparagus, cut into 3” cross-sections Water 1 tsp. Dijon mustard Juice from half a fresh lemon ½ tsp. honey (optional) Toasted sesame seeds

Pan-seared Salmon with Shiitake & Asparagus Nothing spells spring like fresh, knitting needle-thin asparagus and a seared piece of salmon. Add a little side of fresh shiitake, and enjoy a memorable salute to spring! You can prepare each element of this elegant little meal in a wok or cast-iron skillet. Once your ingredients are assembled, the entire meal takes fewer than 12 minutes to prepare.

Pan-sear the salmon: Heat a heavy skillet or wok on MEDIUM, then add 1 Tbs. olive oil and heat until it shimmers. Add salmon, skin-side down, and sprinkle a bit of salt on top of each piece. Cook for about 3 minutes; turn over; salt other side. In 2 minutes, add 1-2 tsp. soy sauce and ½ tsp. sesame oil to pan. Flip fish so both sides receive a light glaze. Remove fish from pan and allow it to finish cooking off the heat.

Pan-fry the shiitake: Reheat skillet or wok on MEDIUM, then add 2 Tbs. olive oil and heat until it shimmers. Add shiitake slices; stir to coat. Continue cooking until the white cross-sections turn a pale gold. Add 1-2 tsp. soy sauce and 1 tsp. sesame 6

oil; continue stirring until cross-sections turn a lovely brown. Scrape shiitake over the salmon.

Pan-fry/steam the asparagus: Return skillet or wok to heat on MEDIUM. Add 1 Tbs. olive oil, and when it shimmers, add asparagus slices. Stir until well coated, then sprinkle with a little kosher salt. When asparagus becomes a deeper green (about 90 seconds), add the merest sprinkle of water to aid cooking. (If you like your thin asparagus crunchy, total cooking time is about 2 ½ minutes; if you want it softer, cook longer.) Remove asparagus from pan, run under cold water to stop cooking, dry it off, and place in a shallow dish.

Prepare the vinaigrette: Put mustard in small bowl; add lemon juice, and beat with fork until mixture thickens. Add a pinch of salt, honey and 1 Tbs. toasted sesame oil; beat until almost as thick as mayonnaise. Pour over the asparagus, and gently rotate asparagus to coat with vinaigrette. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

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Where you’ll find us around town this spring EATING, READING & LIVING WELL Mississippi Market partners with The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library to bring you the Eating, Reading & Living Well Series.

Vanishing of the Bees

Linda Glaser

a documentary film

Not a Buzz to be Found: Insects in Winter

Tuesday, March 27 - 6:30 pm Highland Park Library/Hillcrest Recreation Center Auditorium 1974 Ford Parkway, Saint Paul 651-695-3700 In 2006, stories began circulating of honeybee colonies collapsing in staggering numbers. Responsible for one-third of our diet, bees and the ramifications of Colony Collapse Disorder are explored. Discussion will follow.

Tricia Cornell

Saturday, April 14 - 1:30 pm Highland Park Library, 1974 Ford Parkway, Saint Paul, 651-695-3700 If you were a little insect, what would you do to stay alive in winter? It’s spring—where are those bugs coming from? Ms. Glaser, author of many books for young readers and a frequent presenter in the Duluth school system,will lead us through this books for young naturalists! To be followed by:

Eat More Vegetables: Making the Most of Your Seasonal Produce

Garbage Helps Our Garden Grow: A Compost Story and beginning composting

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 7:00 pm Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Ave., Saint Paul, 651-642-0385 Tricia Cornell, a writer for the online food magazine The Heavy Table, will share her experience with home cooks seeking to wring all the pleasure, flavor, and nutrition they can from the bounty of Minnesota vegetables. Tricia will be bringing soup to demonstrate!

demonstration at 3:30 pm Mississippi Market, 1500 W. 7th Street, Saint Paul, 651-690-0507 Ms. Glaser will move the party to Mississippi Market’s classroom kitchen to talk about composting and do some hands-on activity with children. With her Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book, we’ll find out if you can you compost if you don’t have a big yard. Do you need worms? What do you do with compost when it’s “done”?

Kim Ode Rhubarb Renaissance Wednesday, April 11 - 7:00 pm Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Ave., Saint Paul, 651-642-0385 Kim Ode, is a feature writer for the Star Tribune Variety section and the author of Baking with the St. Paul Bread Club. In her second book, rhubarb sheds its image as a sugar-swathed pie plant to find its place in appetizers, salads, side dishes, entrées, and more—while also remaining one of the best desserts around.

Atina Diffley Turn Here, Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works Sunday, April 22 - 4:00 pm Mississippi Market, 1500 W. 7th Street Saint Paul 651-690-0507 Wrap up your Earth Day with the owner of one of the first certified organic produce farms in the Midwest, Gardens of Eagan. Her memoir offers a master class in organic farming, a lesson in entrepreneurship, a love story, and a legal thriller. A page turner!

Wishes for the Sky Sunday, April 22 - 11:00 am-5:00 pm Harriet Island Pavilion, Rain or shine Make a wish, fly a kite, connect your heart to nature. This fresh and free public art event celebrates spring’s arrival! It’s a zero waste day with music, art, kite-flying, with food from Mississippi Market. For more information, visit www.wishesforthesky.org

The Saint Paul Saints Mississippi Market is proud to sponsor the hometown team again this year! We’ll be at the Friday night opener on May 18th when the Saints kick off the season. Stop by our table to pick up a 2012 game schedule! (All that fresh, healthy food we stocked their locker room with last year seemed to give the team a boost. Will this be another successful year? We think so!) More info at www.saintsbaseball.com

Living Green Expo Mississippi Market is proud to be a major sponsor of the Living Green Expo, a familyfriendly event that inspires people to lead healthier, more sustainable lives. With chef demos, live entertainment, great food and a bike fashion show, this event is a great resource for all who attend. May 5, 9:00 am-6:00 pm May 6, 10:00 am-4:00 pm MN State Fairgrounds, northeast corner Admission: $3 online or $5 at the door. Youth 18 and under FREE!

www.livinggreenexpo.mn

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April - May 2012 Registering for classes Registration is required for all classes. You may register online or at our customer service desks. Class fee(s) are due at time of registration. Visit www.msmarket.coop for full class descriptions and online registration. Organic Heirloom Tomatoes from Seed (L) Learn to grow tasty heirloom tomatoes using organic methods. Learn to select varieties of seed or seedlings for your needs, how to start your own seeds, prepare soil, plant, mulch, support, harvest and store your tomatoes. Sunday, April 1 - West 7th store 10:00 am-12:00 pm $18/$15 members Nilgun Tuna, Ramsey County Master Gardener

Nutrition for Young Adults (L) Learn the nutrition connection to balancing moods, increasing energy, improving memory and focus, maintaining a healthy weight, treating and preventing acne, and improving stamina for sports. For ages 17 and up and children ages 12 to 16, who must be accompanied by an adult. Tuesday, April 3 - West 7th store 5:30-7:30 pm Adults: $30/$27 members Children ages 17 and under $18/ $15 members Nutrition Educator from Nutritional Weight & Wellness

Calm Your Sugar Cravings (L) Learn which foods create sugar cravings, foods to add to reduce your cravings as well as valuable lifestyle tips to help you be successful. Wednesday, April 11 - West 7th store 6:00-7:00 pm $20/$15 members Maggie Christopher, CHNC

Baking with Duck Eggs: Sweet & Savory! (DT) Khaiti French of LTD Farm will prepare 3 Spring recipes: a Savory duck egg quiche, a rich maple duck egg custard, and duck egg

carrot cake. These local eggs are delicious and more nutritious than chicken eggs. Khaiti is passionate about her duck eggs! Saturday, April 14 - West 7th store 10:30 am-12:30 pm $20/$15 members Khaiti French, LTD Farm

Healthful, Easy Cooking for Your Dog (D) In no more than 15 minutes every 2-4 days, you can prepare meals for your dogs that will improve their coats, lessen thirst and scratching, and offer them a range of foods. Bring a container for your dog’s share. Sunday, April 15 - West 7th store 1:00-3:00 pm $20/$18 members Jan Grover

Cooking for the Spring Season (DT) Living and eating in harmony with nature is an important part of everyone’s daily health care. In this class you will learn the foods and cooking methods that are best used for the spring season and that support the liver/ gallbladder energy. Tuesday, April 17 - West 7th store 6:00-8:00 pm $24/$22 members Gabriele Kushi, BFA, MEA, CHC, AADP

Healing with Whole Foods: Green, Green, Green! (DT) This delicious raw, whole foods class focuses on green—green smoothies, green soup and green salad. The beneﬁt of a raw food lifestyle is healing, detoxifying and energizing. Enjoy these healing foods. Wednesday, April 18 - West 7th store 6:00-8:00 pm $30/$28 members Chef Cynthia Johnson

L = Lecture DT = Demo and Tasting D = Demo H = Hands On

Compost and Soil Preparation for Organic Gardening (L) This class will take you from simple basics to more sophisticated methods that will keep your waste stream local while adding quality fertilizer to your yard and garden. People in apartments can compost too. Sunday, April 22 - West 7th store 10:00-11:30 am $18/$15 members Nilgun Tuna, Ramsey County Master Gardener

Diet for a Small Planet Earth Day Celebration! (DT) Earth Day was ﬁrst celebrated on April 22, 1970. A year later, Frances Moore Lappé’s Diet for a Small Planet introduced people to low-impact, sustainable vegetarian cooking. Join us for 2 hours of cooking from Diet and reminisce about your journeys through food. All proceeds will beneﬁt the Land Stewardship Project. Sunday, April 22 - West 7th store 1:00-3:00 pm $10 suggested donation Jan Grover

Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Cleaning Kit (D) DIY household cleaners do a great job for less money and with fewer toxins. We’ll talk about the chemicals in household cleaners and their adverse effects. We’ll make all-purpose, glass cleaner, and “scrubbing” cleaners. Please bring 3 containers. Saturday, April 28 - West 7th store 1:00-3:00 pm $18/$15 members Mary Jo Rasmussen & Kelly Smeltzer

Gluten-Free Sweet Baking (DT) Identifying Migraine Trigger Foods (L) Food sensitivities could be playing a role in your migraines. Learn how to identify foods other than the caffeine, chocolate and wine that may trigger aggravating migraines and/ or headaches. Saturday, April 21 - West 7th store 2:00-4:00 pm $30/$27 members Carrie Reynoso, R.D. and Certified LEAP Therapist

No need for pricey mixes—we’ll use ingredients that have produced glorious cakes in Europe for centuries! Look forward to a dense, flavorful chocolate cake with ganache, a beautiful schaum torte, and meringue mushrooms. Extensive handouts and samples. Sunday, April 29 - West 7th store 1:00-4:00 pm $30/$28 members Jan Grover

Organic Lawn Care (L) Attractive lawncan be safe for pets, kids, and the environment, with less work and expense! Organic lawn care is sustainable and easier than you can imagine! Saturday, May 5 - West 7th store 10:00-12:00 pm $18/$15 members Nilgun Tuna, Ramsey County Master Gardener

Backyard Mushroom Basics (D) Growing mushrooms can be easy and nearly maintenance free—perfect for backyards and community garden plots. Learn how to start and care for garden mushrooms and large-diameter mushroom logs. Participants will inoculate their own oyster mushroom log to take home—which should fruit mushrooms in a matter of months! Sunday, May 6 - West 7th store 1:00-2:30 pm $30/$28 members, includes oyster mushroom log Jeremy McAdams, Cherry Tree House Mushrooms, LLC

Build Your Own Rain Barrel (H) This workshop gives an introduction to alternative storm water management and rain barrels. Learn how to install and maintain a rain barrel, and then construct your own with guided help. You will leave with a ready-to-install rain barrel. No tools or experience needed. Price includes cost of rain barrel, thanks to a grant from the Capitol Region Watershed District Saturday, May 12 - West 7th store 10:00 am-12:00 pm $36-$94, based on rain barrel selection Connie Taillon, P.E. Owner of Cedar Hill Natives

Mezze: Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Small Plates (DT) Similar to tapas, mezzes are small plates from around the Mediterranean and Middle East that make great appetizers on their own, or when combined make a wonderful meal of varying tastes and textures. We’ll highlight different dips, eggs and za’tar, baked feta, marinated olives, and tuna and white beans! Bring your appetite for delicious food and knowledge. Saturday, May 12 - West 7th store 2:00-3:30 pm $25/$23 members Mary Jo Rasmussen & Kelly Smeltzer

Kombucha 101: How to Make the Divine Tea (DT)

The Healing Power of Herbs in Cooking (DT)

Fermented foods have been used for thousands of years to bring good health to those that use them. This class offers tastes of many different variations of kombucha and instruction on how to make it. Class fee includes a starter culture. Wednesday, May 16 - West 7th 6:00-7:30 pm $34/$30 members Barb Bredesen

Many varieties of fresh herbs become available to enhance flavor and assist the body in healing, balancing and cleansing. In this class we will prepare Spring recipes incorporating a variety of fresh herbs and learn about their healing properties. All recipes will be gluten, dairy and sugar free. We will prepare creamy asparagus coconut milk soup, herbed seed crackers, blueberry crisp with basil and lavender lemonade. To top it off some herbal teas will accompany the meal. Saturday, May 26 - West 7th store 2:00-4:00 pms $35/$30 members Miriam Katz, Holistic Nutritionist MA

Build Your Own Rain Barrel (H) This workshop gives an introduction to alternative storm water management and rain barrels. Learn how to install and maintain a rain barrel, and then construct your own with guided help. You will leave with a ready-to-install rain barrel. No tools or experience needed. Price includes cost of rain barrel, thanks to a grant from the Capitol Region Watershed District Sunday, May 20 - West 7th store 2:00-4:00 pm $36-$94, based on rain barrel selection Connie Taillon, P.E. Owner of Cedar Hill Natives

Maximize Nutrition with Raw Foods (DT) Whole raw foods are nutrient dense with a transferring life force that keeps you healthy and strong. Learn why you should be eating raw foods and how to prepare them. In this class we’ll be making vegan sushi and Asian salad, come taste what you’ve been missing! Thursday, May 24 - West 7th store 6:00-8:00 pm $30/$25 members Chef Cynthia Johnson

Further Adventures in Fearless Pressure Cooking (DT) We’ll explore some of the marvelous things a pressure cooker can do! Heavenly risotto, lovely summer salads, and a simple ﬁsh dish, including crisp vegetables, each in less than 10 minutes! Reﬁne your skills to cook a wider variety of foods in your pressure cooker—you’ll save time, energy, and heat up your house less in summertime when you cook. Bring your pressure cooker, an apron and closed container for taking home leftovers—and an appetite! Saturday, May 26 - West 7th store 10:30 am-1:00 pm $26/$24 members Jan Grover

Late Spring Soups & Stews (DT) There’s nothing like a light, vegetable-laden spring soup/stew to make one grateful for the arrival of warmer weather and greener produce! We’ll make two stocks to support our spring soups: one mushroom, the other golden chicken. These will provide the bases for our Asian-inflected noodle dishes. Celebrate the glories of spring vegetables combined memorably in a single bowl! Extensive handouts provided. Bring an apron and an appetite. Sunday, May 27 - West 7th store 2:00- 4:00 pm $26/$24 members Jan Grover

Balanced Foods for Balanced Moods (L) Reduce negative moods, increase energy, enhance positive thoughts, improve memory and manage stress through balanced eating and whole foods. This informative class explains the food-mood connection and empowers class participants to make permanent lifestyle changes. Learn the biochemical connection to cravings and how poor intestinal health creates low moods. Choose foods to optimize production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, and watch your cravings and mood swings disappear. Wednesday, May 30 - West 7th store 5:30-7:30 pm $30/$27 members Nutrition Educator from Nutritional Weight and Wellness

News and Announcements Holiday Hours: Easter Memorial Day

Regular hours Regular hours

Mississippi Market is proud to be a part of the Healthy West 7th project in St. Paul’s West End! We’ve been working with our neighbors to plan a new community garden near our West 7th store and an Urban Gardener Training Program for our classroom. Master Gardener volunteers will teach this comprehensive series covering soils, planning a garden, maintaining a garden, how to grow vegetables and planting techniques. Look for the series schedule at: www.msmarket.coop or email: HealthyWest7th@ unitedfamilymedicine.org

Want to use your own bag, but keep forgetting? Try these tips: Remembering to bring your own bags to the co-op helps lower your grocery shopping carbon footprint. While the bags we give out for hauling groceries home don’t use any new trees, it still takes a lot of energy and water to recycle paper into the 395,500 bags used each year. Here are some tips for how to remember to bring your own bags to the co-op (or anywhere!):

Spring celebrations Celebrate your spring holidays with the ﬁrst of fresh local produce—herbs, greens and horseradish! We’ll have asparagus, too, though probably not local just yet. For Passover, our deli will have latkes with applesauce, sweet potato tzimmes and matzo ball soup to go. For Easter, our West 7th store will have spring cookie cutters, soft baby blankets and wristlets adorned with bunnies, and Easter baskets.

Cinco de Mayo We’re celebrating the 5th of May by taking a $1 off burritos in the deli for the whole week—May 1-5! Queso Fresco and Queso Quesadilla will be on sale too. There’s no better time to try our Mississippi Market Made chorizo. Plus, we’ll have everything you need to make guacamole, including recipes!

World Fair Trade Day is May 12 During the month of May, in honor of World Fair Trade Day, we are partnering with Alaffia, Alter Eco, Dr. Bronner’s, Equal Exchange, Guayaki, and Maggie’s Organics. These companies have agreed to donate 1% of sales of their products at food co-ops (up to $5,500) to Root Capital, a nonprofit social investment fund that provides loans and financial training to small and growing rural businesses in Africa and Latin America.

You can learn more about Root Capital at www.rootcapital.org. Purchase items from these brands during 5/2-5/25 to have a portion of your purchase aid Root Capital. In addition, join us for Fair Friday on May 11, when we’ll have fair trade demos at both stores, including Kickapoo Coffee and Dr. Bronners!

Book signings by Atina Diffley for her new book—Turn Here, Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works Saturday, May 12th 11:00 am-2:00 pm at the West 7th store 3:00-6:00 pm at the Selby store Many of you have eaten sweet corn, melons, broccoli, or kale grown by Atina and her husband Martin who operated Gardens of Eagan from 1973 to 2008. In 2006, over 1,000 Mississippi Market customers wrote informed citizen input letters to Judge Heydinger when the Gardens of Eagan intervened in the Koch Industries owned MinnCan Pipeline legal proceeding. Atina’s memoir address this legal battle in her book, but the breadth of the book is about relationship—with the earth, plants and animals, families and communities. Books are on sale at Mississippi Market.

1 When you unload your groceries at home, hang the empty bags on the door handle to your home. Next time you leave, put the bags in your car, bicycle basket, etc. so that they’re ready for your next shopping trip.

2 Consider affixing a little message to your car’s dashboard reminding yourself to bring the bags into the store (This is surprisingly effective!).

3 Know that it’s okay to return to your car or bike to get your bags after you finish at the checkout lane. We’re happy to place your items off to the side and bag them for you when you return.

4 Count how much money you’ve been able to save or donate with your 5¢ Eco Stamp credits and challenge your whole household to increase that number by remembering to bring reusable bags!

Owner Coupon

Present this coupon to receive up to $5 off the shopping trip of your choice (10% off $50)

Owner number: Actual discount given:

Owner number:

VOI

Actual discount given:

For current member-owners only. You must present this coupon to receive a discount. Valid through May 31, 2012. Not valid for special orders.

VOI

For current member-owners only. You must present this coupon to receive a discount. Valid through May 31, 2012. Not valid for special orders.

Wellness Wednesdays Receive an additional 10% off all supplements on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. Upcoming dates: April 11 May 9

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RE/MAX Results 1071 Grand Ave. #102 St. Paul, MN 55105

651-251-4838

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6:30 am – 6:30 pm 6:30 am – 5:00 pm

On Facebook: Great Harvest Bread Company St Paul

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO. 32674

Board of Directors 651.310.9475 board@msmarket.coop Nabeel Ahmed Sara Kujawski Tracy Morgan Jon Olson Susan Peak Paquita Poindexter Mia Taney Barb Tretheway Nilgun Tuna, Board Chair Maureen DeCamp, Board Assistant

622 Selby Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104 651.310.9499 1500 West 7th Street, Saint Paul 651.690.0507 www.msmarket.coop

Market Medley General Manager Gail Graham Editor Kari Binning Assistant Editor Liz McMann Newsletter Design Triangle Park Creative Printing Greenhaven Printing Market Medley is published six times each year to provide information on Mississippi Market, the cooperative movement, food, nutrition and community issues. Member coupons will be published in each issue. Opinions expressed herein are of the authors and are not necessarily those of the newsletter or Mississippi Market. Nutritional and health information are provided for informational purposes only and are not meant as a substitute for consultation with a licensed health care provider. Comments on the content of this newsletter are heartily encouraged. Address your letters and ideas to: Market Medley 622 Selby Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55104 kbinning@msmarket.coop Mississippi Market is a certified organic retailer, certified by:

Board Meeting Dates

Moving soon?

• April 24, 6:30 pm Selby Store, Community Room • May 15, 6:30 p.m. Selby Store, Community Room

Please e-mail your name, member number and new address to: info@ msmarket.coop

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