DNF Update 4/6

Hello,

I started my research on getting tax exempt status for this little project. This is something that will take a while. However, during my research I stumbled across this web site: www.foodclub.org. I have set up an account there. However, I am waiting for word on how to upload a product database. This website is free software that will allow DNF to make orders with different distributors with ease. It will, also, allow you to make orders in an easy way.

I have heard back from a few people about meetings for the buying club. I'm going to tentatively set the first meeting date for May 1st. That is a Friday, and  May Day. We can make it a celebration of labor and love. Let me know if this works for everyone.

During this meeting we will discuss the establishment of a food buying-club with ability to expand into a co-op grocery, different roles of members, an organizing committee, delivery schedules, and costs. 

Taking a break

Dear friends of DNF,

I am taking a break from DNF. In the down time I will be working on a business plan that will allow DNF to start as a buying club and evolve into a co-op. The latter process may take a while. In the meantime, I will be accepting orders for complete bags (25# or 50# sacks) of items. I know this is an inconvinence to many. However, I believe having 25# of staple goods on hand at all times in a good idea. Seeing as how it means less trips and more food directly on hand.

Having moved locations I have less storage space and I am further from the beaten path. 

With better planning and foresight I believe DNF can become a full-fledged co-op; an alternative Denver needs. I know there is a movement for a co-op already going. However, it seems to have stalled. This break will give me time to research and implement a working plan to get DNF out of the underground and available to more people. 

Thanks,

-Robbie

 

Denver Natural Foods... restructuring

Hello friends,

I've been mulling an idea to change the process at DNF. Let's get down to the discussion:

Will people be interested in placing a down payment, of any denomination, at the beginning of the month, or other reciprocal period, for any item that is offered?

The idea is this: by getting money up front I can order a wider variety of items and keep more common items in stock, while lessening the financial burden on myself. I will keep track of everyone's credit in a register book that can be looked at at any time. So, as a constituent you can come by and get as many or as few items as you like, the total being taken off your credit. If any credit is left over at the end of the period, it will carry over until the credit is exhausted.

The other option this idea presents is the ability to deliver items to people. I am drafting an order form that will allow me to keep track of orders. With this new system I'll receive orders via email, phone, or print an order form and hand it to me, weigh the orders and make deliveries on a day(s) to be determined.

Any feed back on this is welcomed. Thanks.

-Robbie

New Products!!!

Folks,

I am going to start carrying small quantities of high-gluten flour. This should please all you bakers. It is $.84 per pound. Also, tahini is now in stock. This coincides rather well with the sale on garbanzo beans we are having. Tahini is $3.22 per pound, garbanzos are $.61 per pound.

Thanks to Blacktail Permaculture Co-op for their continued support.

Words

A few things:

Please feel free to print copies of the product list and flier and pass them out to friends.

I am going to start Friday deliveries. Any order up to 50 pounds can be delivered. There will be 5$ (sliding scale) delivery donation. This donation is optional and a fundraiser for an xtracycle. This piece of equipment will allow DNF to lower its carbon footprint. The 250# capacity of the xtracycle will allow me to pick-up orders from the warehouse in Arvada; and, deliver large orders to friends all around the metro area.

Words from Wendell Berry:

"There is no question that you can cover a lot of ground with the big machines now on the market. A lot of people seem entranced by the power and speed of those machines, which the manufacturers love to refer to as 'monsters' and 'acre-eaters.' But the result is not farming; it is a process akin to mining."

Derrik Jensen:

"This way of living-industrial civilization-is based on, requires, and would collapse very quickly without persistent and widespread exploitation and degradation. This includes exploitation and degradation of the natural world-for what is unsustainability except a fancy word for exploitation and degradation of natural communities?-and it includes exploitation and degradation of those who do not want us to take their resources (or, to another way of thinking, to kill and sell their non-human neighbors). It also includes harming those humans and non-humans who will come later, and who will inherit a pauperized world."

Joel Salatin:

"Everything I want to do is illegal."

News:

I am going to make an order this week. If anyone looks at this thing and needs some bulk items let me know. I'll be picking up: peanut butter, french green lentils, short grain brown rice, maybe a few more things.

Who is looking at seed catalogs? Who would be interested in splitting an order? I found this distributor online: http://www.botanicalinterests.com/store/shop.php

Also, anyone interested in ordering from Abbondanza Farms?

My wish list so far is this:

Flowers; echinacea, feverfew, sunflowers, marigolds, yarrow, morning glory

Veggies: several varieties of bush and pole beans, carrots, corn, squash, kale, chard, daikon

Herbs; chives, corriander/cilantro, lovage, lemon balm, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme

Let me know soon so we can get orders up.

Lastly, I have been asked to help in installing a green house in my neighborhood. Does anyone want to volunteer time to help this become a reality?

Thanks.

Tricycle Grain Mill

It needs re-gearing. It will grind about 1 cup of flour per minute, or so.

Product list, Grain and Bean Cooking Chart

Denver Natual Foods Update 1/15

Hello,

I've decided to take this email list and turn it into a web-log. Here, I will be able to update more frequently and keep everyone posted on interesting things I come across. Please feel free to email me or leave comments here. I will have a price list, contact information, directions, etc. on here in the coming posts. Small steps then leaps and bounds. Thank you to everyone who has supported this idea. It is one thing to talk about community and another thing to act upon it.

-Robbie
dnf