Group Buy for Grass Fed Butter Delayed

I just spoke with Suzy from Mountain Valley Farm and she has to delay our group buy for grass fed butter at least a week. I’ll keep you all updated. I’m anxious to get more of that yummy butter too!

Medicinal Herb Sale- All Herbs $10

I am sad to let you all know that Far East Herb Company has decided to close their business. They are offering all their medicinal herbs way below wholesale cost at $10 each. They want to thank those members that have supported them and that have seen the benefits from their products. They will be missed at our co-op market.

New Item: Espresso Blend from JavaGenesis

JavaGenesis Coffee Roasting has added their Espresso Blend to the market!

This blend of Indonesian, South American and African coffees brews a smooth, rich espresso with good body, a sweet finish and beautiful crema. It isn’t just for espresso machines! This blend is also great brewed in a French Press or a drip coffee maker.

Have you seen a coffee on their website at http://javagenesiscoffeeroasting.com/ that you’d like to see listed in the market? Send Juanice an email and she can add it to the market…whole bean, ground or 5# bulk bags.

Other NEW Items on the market:

Pancake Mixes- All Natural, NON-GMO Three varieties available – 100% Whole Wheat with Flax, 7-Grain with Flax, and Buttermilk! These mixes can also be used to make deliciously nutritious waffles.

Thick-Cut Rolled Oat cereal is when ‘old-fashioned’ is so perfect for today’s busy lifestyle. It’s all-whole grains, lots of protein and fiber – and it’s ready in just 5 minutes! Available in 1.6 LBS bags for just $5.00

From Sweet Pea Garden:
Baby Carrots (little) – Red Atomic
Lettuce – Mâche
Mushroom – Shitake Inoculated Log
Tomato Cage
Perennial Bulbs – Crocosmia (Bulbs)

We’re MOVING Soon!

Soon we’ll be moving 5 miles north of our current pick up location. Alan and Kristie O’Rouke from KCO Audio_ www.kcoav.com have graciously allowed us to use space in their warehouse for co-op pick up!

Our first pick up at the new location will be Tuesday, May 27th. The address is 4942 Austin Park Avenue, Buford 30518.

*This will be the last week we will have pick up at our current location in Suwanee. *

We are in need of a couple of volunteers for the move. We need a couple of strong backs and pick up trucks to help move the refrigerators out of my garage. If you can help please let me know! My husband thanks you in advance :-)

We also still need a couple refrigerators, so if you have one the co-op can use please contact me.

Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement as we make this endeavor!

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.

Mountain Valley Farm – Grass Fed Butter 5/23/14 – 5/25/14

Muddy Pond- Sorghum Syrups – TBD Spring 2014

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

New Grower: Sweet Pea Garden

I am very excited to welcome Mel Brannen of Sweet Pea Garden to our family of growers! Mel is a master gardener and her beautiful property is right here in Suwanee! She has an assortment of seasonal flowers, fruits, herbs and veggies that will be available on the market weekly. Below are the items that are on the market tomorrow. You will enjoy their beautiful, fresh local produce grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides!!

On the market:
Chives
Dill – Fernleaf
Flowers – Pansies Nosegay
Flowers – Roses Nosegay
Flowers – Spring Bouquet
Flowers – Spring Bouquet – Small
Herbs – Bay Leaves
Kale
Lettuce – Mesclun Mix
Lettuce – Radicchio
Lettuce – Salad Mix
Lettuce Bowl
Mushroom – Shitake Inoculated Log
Mushroom – Shitake Inoculated Log
Radish – Mixed Bunch
Swiss Chard – Bright Lights

New Grower: Burr Stone Milling Company

Please welcome Paul Foster of Burr Stone Milling Company to our family of growers and producers! Paul will be offering Certified Organic Corn Grits, Meal and Flour. Paul stone grounds the corn the old fashioned way on his antique vertical mill. The corn is from a trusted farmer in Illinois that grows clean, non-GMO corn raised without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. All of Burr Stone Milling Company’s products are certified organic and are naturally gluten free. He will be offering both white and yellow corn varieties.

How are these grits, corn meal and corn flour different that what I can get in the grocery store?

This is whole grain certified organic , non-gmo corn that is slowly ground in a traditional stone mill, so it retains all of the natural oils found in the germ (heart of the corn). Unfortunately most milled corn products in the grocery store are highly refined just like wheat products. When these stone ground grits are cooked they are smooth, creamy, delicious, and full of that rich natural flavor. There is no chemical processing, no fungicides, nothing added, nothing taken away. There’s nothing that compares to real stone stone ground grits. These products are made the old fashion way!

Here’s a link on how to soak corn meal for better digestion if you have problems digesting whole grains.
http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/how-to-soak-corn-meal-for-better-digestion

Whole Corn meal uses- The fine texture of the corn meal makes a great breader for seafood, chicken and vegetables. Also can be used to make corn pancakes and cornbreads.

Whole Grain Corn Flour is from whole yellow or white corn kernels with all the natural nutrients intact—the germ, bran and endosperm. It’s high in fiber and digests slowly, making you feel fuller longer and helping supply your body with a steady stream of energy. Can be used make tortillas and baked goods.

I have included some links to recipes using whole grain corn flour, corn meal and grits.

Recipe using whole grain corn flour:
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/26/recipe-easy-whole-grain-corn-tortillas/

Recipes using whole grain corn meal:
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/11/15/recipe-whole-grain-cornbread/
http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/cornmeal-pancakes-recipe-zmrz13djzmat.aspx#axzz319Mqk9DP

Recipes using whole grain corn grits:
http://www.realfoodgirlunmodified.com/real-easy-shrimp-n-grits/
http://naturalchow.com/2013/12/prepare-stone-ground-yellow-grits-recipe/

Group Buy This Weekend: Great Lakes Collagen & Gelatin

This weekend we will be taking orders for Great Lakes Gelatin (the Green can) Collagen Hydrolysate (beef kosher) Unflavored

I have been so happy to hear that many of you have seen the benefits of this product! My own husband swears by it! He’s suffered from joint pain in his shoulders and knees for several years. He started taking collagen daily and has no more pain or inflammation.

Here’s more info on these amazing products:

Gelatin (also known as cooked collagen) has wonderful anti-inflammatory and anti-aging qualities, as it helps to fill in the missing amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) in the standard American diet. This is a completely different from the jiggly gelatin product most of us grew up eating as kids.

Homemade bone broth is chock full of gelatin and very nutrient dense but Great Lakes Gelatin- Collagen is a convenient way to get gelatin consistently into your diet.

What is Collagen Hydrolysate?

Hydrolyzed Collagen is the unique combination of amino acids in concentrated levels that promotes rapid re-production of blood cells for healing and conditioning over other proteins especially for bone and joint health care. This low molecular weight protein is easily digested for healthy enrichment in minutes after ingestion. It will not congeal because it has been hydrolyzed for quick assimilation and improved hydration to the connective tissue. Collagen is important to nitrogen balance, now considered an anti-aging product as it supports age related cartilage damage, and collagen loss. source: http://greatlakesgelatin.com/)

How do I use this product?
You can mix it in drinks, shakes, smoothies, or add a tablespoon to your favorite recipe to give it an anti-inflammatory protein boost. It will dissolve in cold liquids very easily.

How Much Do You Need?
According to Catherine Crow, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner at Butter Nutrition, individual needs will vary, but most people can start off with about ½ -1 tablespoon per day of collagen hydrolysate, and increase by 1 tablespoon every two weeks or so as tolerated.

Important Note: Remember not to get too carried away with gelatin. Adding too much too quickly can cause digestive issues: bloating, loss of appetite, stomach ache are just a few side effects.

It’s important to remember that more gelatin is not always better, especially if you are adding it to your diet for the first time.

Gelatin should be used in addition to a nutrient dense diet and not to replace real food like homemade bone broths and grass fed meats.
-

Additional links and sources:
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/gelatin-and-collagen-hydrolysate-whats-the-difference/#sthash.lGTNErFi.dpuf

http://butternutrition.com/what-you-dont-know-about-gelatin-may-hurt-you-5-things-you-need-to-know/

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/gelatin-and-collagen-hydrolysate-whats-the-difference/

http://paleoparents.com/2014/gelatin-why-we-love-it-and-60-delicious-family-friendly-recipes-using-it/

We’re MOVING Soon!

Soon we’ll be moving 5 miles north of our current pick up location. Alan and Kristie O’Rouke from KCO Audio_ www.kcoav.com have graciously allowed us to use space in their warehouse for co-op pick up!

Our first pick up at the new location will be Tuesday, May 27th. The address is 4942 Austin Park Avenue, Buford 30518.

For the next 2 weeks we will continue to have pick up at our current location in Suwanee.

We are in need of a couple of volunteers for the move. We need a couple of strong backs and pick up trucks to help move the refrigerators out of my garage. If you can help please let me know! My husband thanks you in advance :-)

We also still need a couple refrigerators, so if you have one the co-op can use please contact me.

Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement as we make this endeavor!

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.

Great Lakes Gelatin – Grass fed collagen and gelatin – 5/9/14 – 5/11/14

Mountain Valley Farm – Grass Fed Butter 5/9/14 – 5/11/14

Muddy Pond- Sorghum Syrups – TBD Spring 2014

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

BeeBerry Farm Tour is this Sunday!

Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day at the farm! Looking forward to seeing you there!

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.

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.

New Items

New Item(s) this week:
Onion – Sweet Red Spanish-
Certified Naturally Grown Table Ready Onions. Sweet Taste, ready to eat Top to Bottom. Perfect in salads or sauteed with other veggies. Look for this in the veggie section on the market website.

New Pick Up Location Coming Soon!

I am very excited to announce that Alan and Kristie O’Rouke from KCO Audio www.kcoav.com has offered to allow us to use space in their warehouse for co-op pick up!

More details to come soon as we get closer to the move. Right now, I’m shooting for our first pick up at the new location to be either May 27th or June 3rd. Until then pick up will be at my home in Suwanee.

I will send out reminders as we get closer to the move date. The new location is 5 miles from our current location at 4942 Austin Park Avenue, Buford, 30518.

Refrigerators Needed

Now that we’re going to have a larger space I finally have room for more refrigerators!! If you are planning to remodel your kitchen and need to get rid of your old fridge or if you just have an extra fridge you’re not using, please consider donating it to the co-op. Please contact me and we will come and take it away for you!

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.

Great Lakes Gelatin – Grass fed collagen and gelatin – 5/9/14 – 5/11/14

Mountain Valley Farm – Grass Fed Butter 5/9/14 – 5/11/14

Muddy Pond- Sorghum Syrups – TBD Spring 2014

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

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