Thoughtful Foods

My snow peas & starry nights,

I am in the northern hemisphere, enjoying the late-summer swelter, the remnants of hurricanes, and the family I'd left behind.  It's curious, the things we forget--the smog and the sunlight, miles of pavement, people filled with passion.  My mother country is, I think, a glorious experiment, same as yours.  It connects us, foreign & energy policy aside.  Maybe that's why I'm so at home in Sydney.  Having two beautiful families on opposite sides of the earth is about as good as it gets, I think.  Lucky me for knowing you!

From disarray & 14 hours away, here's the good word:


Co-op News
Weekly Update from Lovely Lah
Woohoo! The 2008 Environment Week was a hoot! Did you manage to get to a few of the forums or events? I think class and work were major factors limiting the number of people that could participate. I sadly waved good-bye to a bunch of people participating in the co-op crawl from Thoughtful Foods on Friday; I had to work. The weather was also very crappy so it was good to see a few enthusiastic people.

General meeting minutes attached. Next meeting is at 12-noon at the co-op on Tuesday 16th September. Please send agenda items to Angela.

Urgent call for volunteers for the following positions: Next Wednesday afternoon, 10th September, we need someone to help Gemma to do stock receive as Alice is away in Melbourne. Contact Gemma.

As Gemma will be away on Wednesday, 24th September, we are putting a call out to past coordinator or super-vollies to be a coordinator on this day. Please contact Gemma.

The co-op also requires someone to volunteer to be sign cheques, check finance account keeping and the annual audit process. Its not too much work, but it is preferred that you plan to be working/ studying on-campus for the next two years or so. Email Monika if you are interested.

Bulletin
As the co-op evolves, so does the bulletin.  I've mentioned that we're trying to increase involvement--please see the awesome news section below.  As such, the management committee & coordinating cooperative have expressed interest in featuring co-oper profiles--tell us how you came to the co-op, why you dig it, or a co-op related anecdote in 100 words & we'll share it via the bulletin.  I hope to feature one per week, if ya'll are up for it.  Please send your stories to Meghan.

Thanks!


Eco-News Editorial
Please see the attached editorial by the co-op's Melissa Hurt which engages with the topic of indigenous water rights!


Vegetable Boxes
from Andrew
Make sure you pick up your boxes on Thursday before 5pm.  If you have trouble making it to the shop in time, please call ahead (Insert phone number here!) to let coordinators know when you plan to be there.  The more unclaimed vegetable boxes we have at the end of the day, the more work volunteers have to do and the later they can leave to go home after an exhausting Thursday.


Volunteers
from Andrew
Thank you to everyone who has been helping out this semester.  You have really helped keep the co-op running smoothly.  But if anyone has some free time during Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, and would like to volunteer a few hours, we'd love to have you around - we still have many time slots available throughout the week.  Check the chalkboard roster at the shop and put your name down for a generous shop discount!


Eggs
The usual drill my lovelies: orders in by Tuesday 11am, which is when the order gets placed.  Please call the co-op Tuesday morning, slip your order under the door on a sheet of paper, or email Lah.


Community Events & Information (free)
Grassroots Sydney
From Louise
A few of us are planning on starting up a website which can be used as a networking and information space for conscious people in Sydney. It will also include a map of events. The aim of the site is to bring people together, and create a platform for sharing knowledge, inspiration, skills and experiences. Ted Trainer is also excited about contributing, so some of his ideas will be part of the site. We are looking for people who would like to be part of the project. We will get together soon to discuss things further. If you are interested please email louisekolff@yahoo.dk

True Food Networks: GE Crops
Good news in the mainstream!  Some of Australia's leading chefs are getting involved with Greenpeace & nutritionist Dr. Rosemary Stanton to demand full GE disclosure on Aussie food labels.  How cool is that?  Check out the details here.

Fun Food Workshops
From Emma & Suzie
As you may be aware from previous bulletins, we are runnning a series of Foodie Skillshare Workshops this semester. We are pleased to announce that our very first foodie workshop is officially underway. Due to a fantastic bake sale this week, we are able to offer the workshop for free but will have to limit numbers because the venue is a home kitchen.


Workshops & Events (not free)
"Food Facts" Raw Food Workshop
"Our food choices are one of the most important influences on our health, well being, and the environment. Nature made us according to her principles which are simple to follow and when they are obeyed it is possible to  feel on top of the world.  Unfortunately we have unlearned nature's simple principals through our modern way of life, often leading to illness and disease. If you would like to rediscover your natural dietary instincts, I invite you to join me as I explain the impacts certain foods can have on our bodies and which foods I believe we are designed to eat. Once we are done talking we will put it into practice though a preparation of some simple and delicious raw food recipes.

21 September, 1 pm
Woodcourt St., Marrickville

Sandra graduated with 1st class honours in Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the University of Sydney and went on to complete
a PhD in cell biology and detoxification at the University of New South Wales. She continued postdoctoral studies at Rutgers University (USA).  Her biggest passion is education, and she has several years of teaching experience at university level and a diploma in Professional Practice in Adult Learning and Teaching (UNSW). Sandra considers it her mission to bring awareness to consumers about the impact of foods on our health and the environment.


Oh beautiful for spacious skies
A month without the co-op is a challenge indeed.  How I long for red lentils, earth stars and the company of foodies!  But the bulletin keeps me connected, and I look forward to hearing from all of you.  But for now I have to dash.  Turns out life is very, very complicated, so I'm off to deal with that.

Much love & see you in Sydney soon!

Your east-coast American,

Meghan