The Weblog
This page contains news, event information, and other items added by the market managers, including the weekly availability email. Be sure to check back regularly!
Weblog Entry
This post expired on April 24, 2024.
Suwanee Whole Life Co-op
In this issue:
- Group Buy for Organically Produced Maple Syrup Extended 1 more week
- Group Buy for Fermented Cod Liver
- BeeBerry Farm Tour Details
Group Buy: Maple Syrup- Taking orders 1 more week!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! When I spoke to Joseph I was so excited that he was ready for our order that I didn’t even think about the holiday weekend. We had orders for almost 50 gallons! I received some emails and talked to a few of you at pick up asking to be included in our order since the holiday threw off their ordering. I’ve decided to extend the group buy for 1 more week. I do not normally extend our group buys but since we only order once a year I feel this is the right thing to do. So, if you did not order last weekend you still can. Orders must be in the system by Sunday at 5pm and I will not take late orders.
This weekend I will be taking orders for organically produced Maple Syrup – Grade B, Unfiltered Grade B Maple Syrup, Maple Sugar and other products from Old State Farms in Northern Pennsylvania.
After I place our order it will take several weeks to be delivered to us. I will email those that ordered when it arrives.
For more info about the maple syrup, please scroll to bottom of newsletter.
Group Buy: Green Pasture – Fermented Cod Liver Oil
This weekend we will have our monthly Group Buy for Green Pasture products (Fermented Cod Liver Oil, High Vitamin Butter Oil, Skate Liver Oil, etc. All currently available products (as of today) will be listed on the market site tomorrow for ordering.
The prices include our discounted group buy price, shipping, fees and taxes.
This will NOT be available for pick up this Tuesday. I will place our group order on Monday and expect it will be available for pick up within 2 weeks. This is a prepaid pre-order, so payment is expected this Tuesday. If you are only ordering Green Pasture products this week, please drop a check in the mail or online payment on the co-op market website.
If you are new to the co-op and/or Fermented Cod Liver Oil, I have a section at the bottom of this weblog that discusses the benefits of this amazing product.
I’ve also listed my recommendations and dosage for adults and kids.
BeeBerry Farm Tours
A mission of our co-op is to put a face to your food. This is a great opportunity to meet the farmer, see where your food is coming from and how it is raised.
Please join us on Sunday, 5/4/14, 1:30pm-5:00pm. (This is a open house type event and you can come and go as you please.)
BeeBerry Farm Tour & Pot Luck / Farm Day Open House
5595 Ranch Drive Cumming, GA 30041,
Guided farm tours on the hour from 2:00pm-4:00pm. Pot Luck begins at 4:00 pm.
Please bring a recipe card of your dish!
Also attending are farmers, vendors from Suwanee Whole Life Co-op & The Cumming Harvest. And, there will be face painting for the kids!
A Personal Invitation from Kevin Toth of BeeBerry Farms:
Beeberry Farms invites you to visit our family owned urban farm. The farm is not just a place to grow food. It is a place to relax, bring your family, have a picnic, and enjoy nature.
During your visit you will see blueberry, blackberry, raspberry and strawberries, grown in a totally organic environment. Each row separated by lush grass strips makes picking berries in your bare feet an enjoyable option.
While at the farm you are encouraged to visit our hen houses that support 110 layers. The hen houses are built to provide a protective, comfortable, clean, environment for the ladies. The hens are fed ORGANIC natural grains and allowed to spend the majority of their day outdoors free to scratch for bugs, graze weeds and grasses, preen and lie down in the warmth of the sun with plenty of room to spread their wings.
Our Certified Naturally Grown apiary supports 8 bee hives that provide pollination services and honey for the family and our customers.
Recently added is a 1000 sq. foot greenhouse where 3 different hydroponic systems are working. You will see a fully automated Vertical Tower system, Dutch bucket system, and Deep Water Culture system. The greenhouse also supports two 1000 plant seed germination stations, a plant nursery, and a plant propagation misting area.
Beeberry Farms was built from the beginning to support efficient and environmentally friendly farming practices that produce beautiful nutrient rich fruits, vegetables, eggs, and honey.
Looking forward to seeing you at the farm!
Fermented Cod Liver Oil Information
GREEN PASTURE INFO:
Here’s some information about Fermented Cod Liver Oil and its health benefits:
Why choose Green Pasture Products?
•Whole Food Form
•Wild, as Provided by Nature
•Natural fatty acid complex, nothing removed or changed
•Full, deep range of Vitamins A, D, E, K; CoQ enzymes; and other Quinones
•Non-industrialized & Historical Processing Methods
•Clean, Pure, and Extensive Third Party Tested (NO PCBs, Lead, Mercury, Arsenic or other Heavy Metals)
•Family owned business
Why is FCLO better than regular fish oil? •Green Pasture uses wild caught cod in and around the Arctic region (A substantial amount of today’s cod liver oil is produced from farmed fish)
•FCLO higher in nutrients than regular fish oil
•Double the amounts of vitamin A and D as regular cod liver oil
•Goes rancid less quickly
•No synthetic vitamins added
•Most salmon oil has one-fifth the potency of cod liver oil
•1/2 TBS of FCLO provides the amount of elongated omega-3 fatty acids found in twelve 1,000 mg fish oil capsules
What are the benefits of Fermented Cod Liver Oil?
•Rich in Vitamins A & D which are crucial nutrients that are lacking in most modern diets
•Vitamin A- vital for a healthy immune system and healthy vision and is important for proper development in children
•Vitamin D- improves insulin function, protective effect against multiple sclerosis,
•May help prevent flu (lack of vitamin D synthesis during the winter as one explanation for high rates of influenza infection during cold season)
•In women, higher levels of vitamin D from cod liver oil improve bone mineral density
•EPA- Eicosapentaenoic acid (Omega 3 Fatty Acid) anti-inflammatory and necessary for prostaglandin production
•DHA -docasahexaenoic acid, a nutrient absolutely vital for a healthy brain and nervous system
•Fights inflammation associated with heart disease and heals the lining of the arteries
•Reduces the size of atheromas clogging arteries and improves blood vessel function
•Studies have shown cod liver oil can protect against diseases like cancer and leukemia
•Effective in treating arthritis
•Helps maintain soft skin and minimize wrinkles
How does it benefit my child’s health?
From conception through adolescence, cod liver oil can provide developing children with what they need to thrive. Mothers who take cod liver oil during pregnancy and nursing protect their children from disease while providing them with important nutrients and fatty acids. For growing children, cod liver oil is important for healthy bones and teeth, as well as preventing common problems like ADHD. It’s also an excellent treatment for diaper rash and other skin conditions if used topically.
Synergy of Butter Oil and Cod Liver Oil
Research shows that butter oil and cod liver oil, taken together, provide complementary factors leading to proper essential fatty acid balance. High-vitamin butter oil contains arachidonic acid (AA), an omega-6 fatty acid, while cod liver oil is rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3. Moreover, the saturated fatty acids in the butter oil promote efficient utilization of the unsaturated fatty acids in the cod liver oil. Finally, butter oil contains a broad and deep range of important quinones including Vitamin K, E and CoQ enzymes while cod liver oil is rich in Vitamin A and D.
Green Pasture’s High-Vitamin Butter Oil is extracted from dairy milk produced by Guernsey and Devon cows (high butterfat producers) that graze exclusively on irrigated grass in the northern Great Plains. This specific combination of climate and irrigation produces a rapidly growing specialized forage, ensuring optimal levels of Activator X as discovered by Dr. Price. Activator X and other nutrients are then further concentrated by putting the butterfat through a specialized low-temperature centrifuge process
Here is a link to an article about the benefit of cod liver oil and why it’s best taken with a high vitamin butter oil http://www.westonaprice.org/cod-liver-oil .
I’ve been taking FLCO since October 2011 and I can honestly say that I have seen an improvement in my own health. My hair and nails are stronger than they’ve ever been. My hair hasn’t been this thick since my last pregnancy 6 years ago. My skin feels and looks better. I usually have small bumps on my upper arms and they have virtually disappeared. My hormone level seems more even and no mood swings. One member told me her vision has improved since taking FCLO. My son thinks it’s helped him learn how to read! He loves it and actually requests it. My daughter, on the other hand, takes it only because she knows it’s good for her.
I have heard and seen several testimonies about FCLO increasing HDL (the good cholesterol) and have experienced it myself. My doctor has been tracking my HDL (and LDL) for the past 5 years and noticed that my HDL has been going up since 2011. The only significant dietary change I have made is adding FCLO to my diet. One of my closest friends has been taking the infused coconut oil that includes fclo and skate oils. Her HDL skyrocketed almost 50 points and her LDL lowered. Ironically we have the same doctor and she is now very interested in Fermented Cod Liver Oil.
Last year, my dentist told me I had a small “soft spot” on one of my molars that he wanted to keep an eye on. I doubled up on my fish oil and at my next visit he said it was no longer there! I have been told by others that using this product can help re-mineralize your teeth and reverse tooth decay and now I believe it.
My neighbor just started taking FCLO recently. She is also a breast cancer survivor for almost 14 years but has suffered from lymphedema (swelling in arms and hands). She told me shortly after taking fermented cod liver oil blend gel she has seen a significant reduction in her swelling and sense of well being she hasn’t felt in years!
If you have a testimony you’d like to share, please email me. I’d love to know how others in our co-op have seen the benefits of taking this wonderful product!
Nora’s recommendations:
I have personally tried every flavor and type of FCLO that Green Pasture carries. There are 2 that my entire family takes and we switch it up for variety- FCLO/HVBO Blend Gel- Cinnamon Tingle Flavor and Infused Coconut Oil- Carob Banana flavor.
I recommend shaking up the FCLO Blend Gels then storing it in the fridge upside down. It’s easier to scoop out that way. None of the products need refrigeration but I do only for this product. The infused coconut oils tend to harden up in the fridge so I just keep it on the counter.
My family has “family fish oil time” right after dinner. We take it with a little orange juice or something acidic to cleanse our palate.
Suggested Dosage:
FCLO/HVBO Blend Gel- Adults 1 teaspoon, children 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon depending on age
Infused Coconut Oils- Adults 1 tablespoon, children 1/4 to 1/2 tablespoon depending on age.
For other FCLO products see sources below for recommended dosage.
Dosage sources:
http://holisticsquid.com/how-much-cod-liver-oil-do-i-need/
http://www.westonaprice.org/cod-liver-oil/cod-liver-oil-basics
Maple Syrup Information
This weekend I will be taking orders for organically produced Maple Syrup – Grade B, Unfiltered Grade B Maple Syrup, Maple Sugar and other products from Old State Farms in Northern Pennsylvania. I spoke with Joseph yesterday and he is finally ready for our order. It’s been an usually long winter for him. This is a seasonal product and we only order once a year!
My family easily goes through a gallon each year. This is a delicious nutrient dense traditional sweetener that has many uses besides a great pancake syrup. Use it in smoothies, glazes for salmon & chicken, marinades, yogurt & ice cream topping, maple butter, vinaigrettes, etc. and baking.
I also buy a gallon and put in pint and quart mason jars with a pretty ribbon to give as gifts. Add Lizzie’s whole grain pancake mix and you have a nutritious, non-GMO, pesticide free, healthy gift basket anyone would love to receive!
This maple syrup and other maple products are organically produced, no chemicals, formaldehyde-free, no sprays or fertilizers used on trees, evaporator is stainless steel (lead free) and they practice Low Impact Maple Production.
What is unfiltered maple syrup?
Maple Sap is tree’s the primary source for nutrients. When the tree’s root system begins pumping sap up the trunk to feed the tree in early spring it brings with it many nutrients and minerals (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese & Selenium). Old State Farms collect the sap and boils off water until the syrup reaches the proper density (66.7brix). During the boiling process only the water evaporates. Not only does the sugar concentration increase, so does the mineral concentration. These minerals begin to collect to one another and form small granules (known to syrup makers as “sugar sand” or niter). This “sugar sand”, given this name because of its light blond color and slightly gritty texture, is then filtered out of the maple syrup. Unless you have asked for it specifically from a producer, any syrup you will find will be the filtered variety and look very clear.
In a nutshell unfiltered syrup is pure maple syrup with all the minerals and nutrients that were present when the sap was collected from the tree. It tastes the same and looks the same but will have a cloudy rather than clear appearance.
Joseph Burkett and his family has been producing maple syrup on their farm since 2001.
This is a pre-order and payment will be due at next week’s pick up or you can mail your check. Our order will take several weeks since Joseph is still tapping the trees. I will contact you as we get closer to a delivery date.
Upcoming Group Buys
Below is a list of upcoming co-op group buys to help with planning and budgeting. All dates are subject to change.
Old State Farms- Unrefined Maple Syrup- THIS WEEKEND! 4/18/14 – 4/27/14
Green Pasture- Fermented Cod Liver Oil-4/25/14 – 4/27/14
Great Lakes Gelatin – Grass fed collagen and gelatin – 5/2/14 – 5/4/14
Muddy Pond- Sorghum Syrups – TBD Spring 2014
Mountain Valley Farm – Grass Fed Butter 5/9/14 – 5/11/14
Green Pasture- Fermented Cod Liver Oil- 5/30/14 – 6/1/14
Wilderness Family Naturals – Organic Coconut Oils and pantry items – 6/13/14 – 6/15/14
Nuts.com – Bulk Organic Raw Nuts – 6/13/14