Thoughtful Foods

My strawberry-topped chocolate cake,

This week is in the running for longest of my life--in a good way.  The Obama win (here comes the American politics!) feels ages away, though it was only on Wednesday Sydney time.  The Slide Bar election party was truly amazing--it sparkled and spun and brought hundreds of strangers together to celebrate the birth of a moment in history.  We cheered, jeered a bit and, yes, even cried.  It was beautiful.  I even made a couple of new friends.

For many of us, hope is reborn; but it's only symbolic.  The real trick, the lasting light of hope, is dependent on the actions of regular people--in the US, Australia, everywhere. 

Politicians are politicians--they work within the context they're given; but citizens, we make that context.  We have the power to elevate expectations, to change the framework within which we function.  Oh, we'll have to work for it, sweat for it, fight for it--but it's ours.  Nothing is unachiveable if we each do our bit, utilizing our talents to make change in our lives and towns and nations. 

Gandhi said you must be the change, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show reminds us don't dream it, be it. 
Sounds like a pretty universal theme to me.

Here's the good word:



News

This is a reminder that the AGM is on Friday the 14th of November at 7pm. We need a critical mass of Thoughtful Foods members to attend the AGM in order to pass the books. I would kindly like to ask all members to put in an effort to come to the AGM and enjoy the festivities of the Performance Night. The performances are going to be great, so be there or be square…

There will be light refreshments before the AGM and after the performances. If you can, try to bring your own plates, utensils and cups to make logistics easier.

Venue: Studio One, is a small theatre on Kensington campus (map coordinates D10). To get there head straight ahead as you enter Gate 2, High St, next to the Io Myers Studio.
Entry: Non-performers entry is by donation (suggested $5) to cover the costs of the venue. Performers get in for free.
Food: Snacks will be provided.

To make the night fantastic we also need volunteers to help with decorating the studio, preparing and cooking the snacks and packing up at the end of the night. The studio is ours for the whole day so we can get creative with the space. Contact the following people to get involved in the behind the scenes action.

Decorations: Alice aliceblackwood@gmail.com
Food: Kerensa-- kerensaelise@hotmail.com
or Emma-- purple_tomatoes@hotmail.com
Pack-up: Angela angela.johnstone@gmail.com


Jars
The co-op is in need of jars. If the shop is not open just leave 'em outside.  No take-out containers, please--we can't sterilize them. 
Cheers!


Bulk orders
As Alice mentioned in the product update, she's about to place a Kurrajong native foods order.  If you want holiday goodies, now is the time!
Teas & spices also being ordered.  Drop Alice a line if there's something you're keen to get.


More product update snippets (I was bound to forget something)
from Alice
New- Wholewheat spaghetti- mmm finally, a wholemeal pasta.
Sushi fans will be pleased to hear that nori sheets are now about half the price they were before. Yay! nori rolls for all!


Bulletin
The bulletin has been awarded its very own email address!  So, if you have anything to submit for community or other news, please email it to: bulletin@thoughtfulfoods.org.au
YAY!



Eggs

Eggs are still available each week. Please send egg orders to this new address eggs@thoughtfulfoods.org.au by Monday of the week you wish to pick-up. Or place your order in the shop the previous Thursday.



Veggies

The boxes were, frankly, stunning last week.  Our crew did an amazing job ordering & dividing up the goods.  At present, I am very much in love with pumpkin and asparagus (though not together), and regularly invent excuses to roast pumpkin with friends. 
Also, try substituting barley (1 part barley : 3 parts water) for rice in your stir-fry this week--whatever is in our boxes.  You won't regret it.

As per usual, you need to have your veggie order under the door & paid in full by Wednesday 9:00am.  You also need to pick up your box or (at a minimum) call & let us know you're late by 5:00pm.  Please see the refresher & FAQ below.  Questions to: veggies@thoughtfulfoods.org.au


About veggie boxes
from Alice
I just wanted to stress once again how important it is for people to call if they are going to be picking up their box after 5pm.  Put the number in your phone, 9385 6097.  Believe me, giving away peoples' boxes is one of my least favourite things to do, but sometimes it is unavoidable. Remember that on your veggie form is an agreement that your box can be given away if not picked up.
Here's some FAQ on this:

Why can't you just leave it outside for me?
This has caused a problem in the past with boxes not being picked up and then the co-op gets charged with a rubbish cleanup fee. Ultimately we are held responsible for anything left around the co-op. Nor can we leave it in the co-op because this could attract pests.

Why such a strict deadline? 
Remember that people closing the co-op are volunteers (and generally very tired volunteers at that).  They normally want to get out of the co-op at a reasonable time and need to have all veggie boxes gone by the time they lock up, and are generally too busy (sweeping, moping, wiping & tightening barrels, checking stock levels, bring in tables, closing the till etc etc) to chase people up. 
We realise this may be difficult for people who work; in fact that is why we are open to 6pm on a Thursday (rather than 4.30 like the other days), but we just don't have the capacity to stretch things more than that.

We're happy to answer any questions you're keen to put to us.  Just email veggies@thoughtfulfoods.org.au!



Community

Upcoming Workshops: The Watershed
Free (woohoo, free!) workshops in the Newtown area brought to you by The Watershed.
* No dig gardens : 15 November, 10 - noon :  Tom Foster Community Centre
* Natural personal care : 18 November, 6:30 - 8:30p : Newtown Library
* Natural cleaning & home detox: 22 November, 10 - noon : Newtown Library

Check out the website for more details, contact info, and a longterm schedule.


Garden Care
I ran across this organization at Newtown Festival.  They train people to assist the elderly & disabled in creating low-maintenance gardens.  They seemed pretty friendly & very flexible on degree of committment--you can lend as much or as little time as you've got.  Seems like a pretty cool idea. 

For more info: gardencare@4cs.org.au or 02.9750.9344


UNSW Public Lecture: Nuclear Energy
WARNING: Strong opinion follows
On Tuesday 18 November, our university will present a free public lecture on the necessity of choosing nuclear energy to 'rescue' us from the impacts of climate change. 
This flies in the face of everything we know about ecological degradation: waste & catastrophic potential aside, nuclear power plants are enormously carbon intensive to build, run and maintain (they're also water-intensive, my dehydrated darlings), don't have much of a shelf-life, and do not address the underlying consumption issues that are at the heart of climate change & most other ecological problems. 

Indirect greenhouse gas emissions are still emissions.  We need to use less energy & use it more effectively; technology isn't going to save us this time. 

I would encourage all of you to attend this lecture and engage the speaker in a polite, intelligent, well thought out dialogue during the question-and-answer session.
Leighton Hall, 6 - 8pm, 18 November



Recipe of the Week!

Buckwheat porridge (for 2)
from Alice
1 cup buckwheat
2.5 - 3 cups water
Flavours – dried fruit, spices (cinnamon is especially good), fresh fruit
1.  Toast the buckwheat by putting it dry into a saucepan over a low heat.  Stir regularly for about 5 minutes or more until it is a nice soft brown and smells toasty and good.  This is an important step, because untoasted buckwheat isn't very tasty.
2.  Add 2.5 cups of water, fruit and spices.  Bring to the boil, simmer for about 20 minutes.
3.  After about 15 minutes, check to see if it is drying out, if so, add more water.
4.  Serve with cows' or other milk, or cream, or yogurt.

Variations – for a creamier porridge, cook the buckwheat in milk, or half milk & half water – this will take longer than cooking it in straight water, and it will be more likely to stick to the pot. 
Also, try a combination of buckwheat and oats, rice flour, or semolina.  If using rice flour or semolina, mix them with water before adding to the pot, otherwise you'll have lumps.
Enjoy!



Well, I reckon it's bedtime

It's so easy to lose track of the night as it hurtles towards a morning of work and probably more work.  But hey, today was gorgeous & tomorrow could be much the same.  Let's just assume so.  I could check the weather, but I do so like surprises!

Thanks to everyone that congratulated me in the co-op Thursday last, after the election.  I got so many hugs that I felt as if I had done something fantastic!  Thanks also to the beautiful Spanish restuarant owners for that celabratory jug of sangria on Wednesday night.  Apparently Americans aren't the only ones thrilled about change in the USA.  Let's hope we can follow through. 

Okay, enough Americana.  Thanks for putting up with my excitement!

I'll see ya'll this Thursday at the co-op.

Love & rockin' out in the sunshine,
Meghan

p.s.
Happy birthday to beautiful vollie and all around angel, Tiffany.  We love ya!