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Simple Gifts ∙ Fall 2025
By Rebecca Angel
By Rebecca Angel
Deanna Beyer
Natalie Criscione remembers shopping at the Quail St. Honest Weight location. She wears many hats: educator, writer, artist, musician, property manager, advocate, volunteer. She loves being part of the Coop Scoop team!
Pat Ellis has been a shopper at HWFC for years and became a member a year ago. She enjoys participating in the creative energy of the Scoop’s editorial team and is excited about contributing more in the future.
Lucia Hulsether is a teacher and writer currently based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her first book, Capitalist Humanitarianism, is available from Duke University Press. www.dukeupress.edu/capitalist-humanitarianism
Palmer,
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is a therapist
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and beagle-mix pup She joined her first co-op at sixteen (The Outpost, Milwaukee). When not tending the HW Blog, she can be found weeding her garden.
Letter from an Editor
By Natalie Criscione
“
FPause. Breathe. Look around. Really look—be present. The leaves are letting go. Do you see them? They are falling now, having given us a season of shade, beautiful canopies, and soft, breezy tunes. They are soon to become part of another sort of giving that involves the soil’s ecosystem. Their time of rest is their final gift
to the earth and is reflected in the harvest’s abundance the following year. It’s one of those “most generous acts,” says Richard Daley,“ quiet giving” that requires from us only “attention and restraint.”
There are lessons for us in the leaves whose time of giving and rest has come. As the nights grow long and we bundle up, perhaps we will find time to reimagine who we are to each other and how we can continue to nourish others and ourselves in meaningful ways. How can we, like the leaves, become vessels of simple, quiet giving?
Many such examples can be found in this issue of the Coop Scoop including tangible, practical gift-giving ideas like homemade tea blends, hand soaps, bulk item suggestions, catered meals, pet supplies, recycled items, and more. Dr. Madeline provides ideas for how to find, within life’s messiness, rest—needed respite we might give to ourselves. As you turn the pages, you may also get ideas for other sorts of gifts. I’m reminded here of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s quote: “What is essential is invisible to the eye.” These are gifts of time, hope, patience, love, joy, and volunteerism. Laura McCarthy’s story about two caterpillars her daughter nurtures seems a fitting embodiment of these qualities and the need to be present— to care for the small, vulnerable, and ephemeral things around us.
Ultimately, they are not small things, are they? Look at those leaves!
Anastasia Rodgers is our Education and Engagement Specialist at HWFC. They love learning, creating and having as much fun as possible along the way! They can be reached at: education@honestweight.coop
The Gift and the Giving
By Ruth Ann Smalley
Food is the foundation, the world essence pulsing through all beings.
Food is the lattice of life, connecting us all.
An alchemy arising from the soil’s share, seeds stirred by sun and air, rain and care.
Ruth Ann Smalley PhD, is our Content Editor. An educator and writer, with a 4-digit Co-op member number from the early 90s, Ruth Ann offers wellness, writing, and creativity coaching through her practice at www.vibrant-energies.com or www.ruthannsmalley.com.
Mathew Bradley is an Art Director for a record label based out of Troy, NY. At HWFC, he severs as the Coop Scoop’s Layout Editor. When not at the computer, he sets aside time to make music with his two bands, lounges on his couch with his cat (Alene Lee), walks Peebles Island with his dog (Cricket), or tries out a recipe from one of his many cookbooks.
At its most basic, food is sustenance, survival. At its most beautiful, food is nurturance, love.
Sharing food is the primal act of kindness. Food is the giving. Food is the gift.
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By Lucia Hulsether
T Gift Cards lOl
he holidays are upon us. That means more folks coming to the Co-op for sweet treats, warm mulling spices, and – every year – the perfect gift. If you find yourself browsing the aisles looking for a meaningful present for someone in your life, consider a solution that is as universal as it is impactful: an Honest Weight gift card.
You already know the typical advantages of gift cards. They can be tailored to the budget of the giver, while empowering the receiver to make a final decision on what to purchase. From organic chocolate and fair-trade coffee, from locally-made crafts to soothing beauty products, from children’s toys to good old-fashioned organic produce, the recipient can choose exactly what they want or need.
Maybe you’re looking for a consumable treat for a coworker, but you’re not sure about their dietary restrictions. A gift card lets them choose. Or, maybe you’re headed to a white elephant party, but you are struggling to think of a fun present on a budget. Be the most popular person at the party by bringing a gift card.
No doubt, gift cards have sometimes gotten a bad rap. People worry that they will feel too generic or indecisive. But, at
the Co-op, those accusations don’t hold up. Honest Weight isn’t just any store; it’s a rooted local establishment with a time-tested social and environmental impact that goes far beyond the products on the shelves.
When you buy a gift card to Honest Weight, you’re not just putting the power in the hands of the recipient. You’re also supporting the local farms whose products we source. You are sustaining the full roster of arts and education programming offered in our community room to the public at no cost. You’re boosting the local nonprofits funded by our “Be the Change” program. You’re strengthening an organization that continues to insist on cooperative ownership and democratic governance—values that are more important now than ever. You’re spreading the word about all of this, so that more people find the Co-op and learn from its model of mission-driven business.
You’ve got this in the bag: a gift card to Honest Weight is a gift that keeps multiplying.
By Pat Ellis
HWFC Gift Selections
By Pat Ellis
In keeping with the theme of “simple gifts”, we set out to help simplify your search or your own wishlist! There are so many little treasures stashed all around Honest Weight that you might not have noticed while picking up groceries. We took a little walk around the store to help you locate some areas of interest while you are shopping.
Our first discovery was a rack of items with a cat theme. Puzzles, cutting boards, cups—even a cat nap sleeping mask or a cozy cat hot water bottle—all available to delight that feline-minded person on your gift list. Oh my, can’t seem to find an equal number of canine items? Where is that suggestion box?
Continuing to the endcap near the produce aisle, we found a collection of items ranging from books to butterfly notecards. Cookbooks, candles, and picture frames fill the shelves. There were some lovely serving pieces, as well as fun-themed linen towels and aprons to round out the selection.
Just turn the corner to your left and you’ll discover shelves full of potential for the gardener on your list. Here, we found
ceramic pots for planting, and books full of ideas for the garden, as well as one on making dyes from those flowers you grew. There were bird feeders and a plant pocket guide as well as kits for growing avocados and cactus.
Heading toward the back of the store we found items perfect for the serious hostess on your list. Our eye went immediately to some beautiful handcrafted cutting boards and rollers made by Biddeford Handworks. Right behind those we found some items for those who enjoy entertaining. The 12-piece charcuterie set would make a lovely hostess gift, but so would the marble cheese cutting set. Choices! A variety of linens, coasters and utensil rests, hot plate holders, and, yes, “mule mugs” too!
We recommend you continue to investigate, as you walk around the store. We found some wonderful items to brighten up a child’s lunch box and some unique gifts for children in school, so look for them and enjoy the search.
If none of the above strikes a cord, continue the search. There are several other areas with opportunities we haven’t touched on. Perhaps a Co-op gift card would give the recipient the second gift of making their own choices! Look at the “Easy Gifts” article in this edition for even more ideas.
Perfect for the:
PARTY PLANNER
By Natalie Criscione
Catering at Honest Weight exhibits its own style, look, and evolution. In the earliest years of the co-op, the 1977 Coop Scoop reported that “we carry baked goodies and tofu made by members.” Even then, members were creating their own “catering” niche. Think of those items as the early concept of grab-and-go selections to feed a single person or a small family. With the 90’s expansion, baked goods were produced daily in-house and the deli and takeout business grew in popularity. Those small measures, along with the dedicated teams that promoted them, surely seeded the now robust catering offerings at Honest Weight. (Hey, besides food, in November of 1990, you could even pre-order a Christmas tree!)
But, it was not until the new store opened up and Dan Hurlbut joined the team as Honest Weight’s Food Service Manager that catering became a broader endeavor. Hurlbut brought to the store his interest and expertise that had begun while he was a high schooler in Remsen, NY. As he worked for local restaurants during his teenage years, his passion for food service led him to a Bachelor’s degree in Food Service Management and Culinary Arts at Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks. From there, his path moved him from fine dining establishments in New York State to hotels in Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado. Hurlbut even explored the “corporate route” for a while with GE Research and Development. However, it was not until his wife encouraged him to apply to an open position at Honest Weight that he ventured into the world of grocery store management. “I never thought about a grocery store as a career path, but I love what we stand for and what we get to do,” says Hurlbut, “and this December, I’ll be here for 10 years. I’m loving life.”
What makes Hurlbut’s job especially wonderful is the team he works with and the personal qualities that imbue their work and rapport. What is the special ‘ingredient’ that unites and allows for such synergy, you may ask? Besides being “phenomenal people” who both bring their “great backgrounds” and do “amazing things,” Hurlbut sums up the key element by saying simply: “They care.” It’s a gift for any team in any industry and something that, he admits, cannot be taught. His team cares about the store, the quality of the products, each
other, and the broader vision that encompasses Honest Weight’s mission.
Like the store itself, the catering department adheres to the directives set forth in the purchasing guide handbook which includes such things as avoiding antibiotics and hormones and using local items whenever possible. (Check it out online if you haven’t already.)
So, what does a day in the life of Honest Weight catering look like? Well, simply put, each day is different than the one before; it’s a business with a rhythm of its own that ebbs and flows. Throughout the last decade, Hurlbut has caught onto that rhythm as he and his team design menus and develop detailed meal selections for special events and holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah. They have met challenges like the COVID pandemic with strategies that provide customers with full meals; and they’ve recently handled large orders for up to 300 people. Hurlbut and his team regularly meet to discuss and reevaluate or update the catering menu, try new things, and respond to customers’ requests. “We just had a meeting last week, in fact, to talk about the upcoming holiday menus,” says Hurlbut during our early August interview.
The catered Thanksgiving meal has become so popular that it is limited to a first-come, first-served basis and capped at 100 meals, something that is based primarily on available space. “Last year, we rented a refrigerated truck that we parked outside the teaching kitchen during the Thanksgiving holiday,” says Hurlbut. The truck held raw products such as vegetables and other items that could not be accommodated by the store’s interior walk-in. Perhaps you noticed it as you stopped in for some last minute shopping.
Perhaps, too, you’ve begun thinking about your upcoming holiday meals and wondering as you read this, how you might be able to order either a full meal or supplemental items to compliment your menu. Not to worry. Ordering is easy. The catering menu is available both online (https://www.honestweight.coop/page/catering-327.html) and in hard copy in the deli department and includes ordering instructions. Remember, orders must be placed at least 72 hours ahead of time. So, order early.
A (not so?) Simple Gift
By Laura McCarthy
terrarium inside for any torrential storms, and watching our buddies plump up, a la Eric Carle. What a gift!
As weeks rolled by, we realized we couldn’t leave Laura and Luna alone. The oak leaves dried out quickly and they ate a lot. So, we took them with us to Central NY to see my parents, poor Adam crammed in the passenger seat with the terrarium taking valuable real estate at his feet. The few stops along the way we’d considered, were now abandoned, so we didn’t chance the car getting too hot. For a week, while Luna the human spent time with her grandparents, the caterpillars dined like royalty, enjoying surplus oak seedlings from acorns Grandma had collected during her previous year’s travels, for reforesting sections of their property.
Laura, the bigger of the two, was the first to retreat into a curled, dried leaf with a little webbing visible at each end, like a fuzzy cannoli. Polyphemus Moths are the largest native species in the silkworm family, and after about two weeks they’ll supposedly emerge as gorgeous brown moths with circular patterns on their 5-inch wingspan. The name Polyphemus comes from the Greek cyclops, thanks to these “eyes.”
We started counting down the days until we’d see Laura drying her wings upside down on the crisscrossed twigs. Eventually, Luna—our smaller, pickier eater (not unlike her namesake) —munched her last leaf, and hunkered down somewhere in the lower corner of the terrarium, too. And we waited.
Luna had already raised caterpillars in kindergarten last year. She informed us that in their cocoons, our friends weren’t just growing wings but had turned into a soupy liquid. As the days passed, I began to worry the timing of their emergence might overlap with our next summer trip. Every day, we’d check for
progress. Peering in one morning on our way out the door, “Still soup!” Luna announced, before running off to the car.
We feared they’d emerge while we were gone and we’d miss it, so Laura Adam and Luna Adam cocoon travelled shotgun with us once more. After a couple of nights on the porch of a Connecticut Airbnb, they took the ferry to Long Island to visit Luna’s other Grandma and Grampa. Still nothing.
By the time the nights cooled and we fished out the school supply list, we’d begun to wonder (a little late, I know) what exactly we’d signed up for. Did we do it wrong? Was it the traveling? Did the bumps do them in? We’ve since learned that Polyphemus moths can overwinter in cocoons, apparently taking cues from the waning daylight, maybe “deciding” there won’t be enough time to do the one thing they emerge as adults to do. A friend suggested we “just pop them in the freezer," which sounded a little, well, cold after how careful we’d tried to be with them all this time. I heard we can overwinter them in the
garage, but how do we know when they’re ready? How will they get enough light then, to know spring has sprung?
This was getting very complicated, though my biggest worry was how Luna would react. When she’d promised she’d protect them forever, I’m pretty sure she didn’t mean like this. But when I braced myself and told her it didn’t look like they’d be coming out this summer after all, she just shrugged. “Well, it’s not the end of the world, Mom.”
She’s right (a lot). We spent our summer caring for them, and in doing so, we slowed down a little and focused on what we could control. That was the simple gift. It was a beautiful process and we had fun, no matter how it goes now. But perhaps we should find that entomologist’s card and give him a call—I’m still hoping Laura Adam and Luna Adam can be more than soup.
By Clara Ann Thompson (1869-1949)
The saddest day will have an eve, The darkest night, a morn; Think not, when clouds are thick and dark, Thy way is too forlorn.
For ev’ry cloud that e’er did rise, To shade thy life’s bright way, And ev’ry restless night of pain, And ev’ry weary day,
Will bring thee gifts, thou’lt value more,
Because they cost so dear; The soul that faints not in the storm, Emerges bright and clear.
Quiet Giving in the Garden
By Richard Daley
There’s a hush that begins to settle over the garden in late summer, a quieting of the world’s urgency, beckoning fall to settle in. We have gathered the fruit, pulled the last sun-warmed carrots, watched the goldenrod bow to the bees. Yet even now, when the story seems to be approaching a pause, there are gifts exchanged in silence between people and place.
Autumn gently reminds us that giving need not be loud, that some of the most generous acts in the garden require no tools, no chores, no plans, only attention and restraint—a willingness to let things be.
The simple act of leaving the leaves, so often dismissed as the lazy gardener’s choice, is really a recognition of belonging. These leaves are not debris to be stuffed into bags and discarded; they are winter’s blanket, laid down to shelter insects, moth cocoons, beetles, pupae, and countless other living beings. Their destiny is to feed the soil food web and nourish the very trees that dropped them—an offering invested in their own future. To rake them all away is to interrupt a quiet promise between the soil and those who live within and close to it.
The stalks of sunflowers, goldenrod, and echinacea left standing through frost may make those obsessed with tidy aesthetics shake their heads, but to cavity-nesting bees and overwintering insects, they are essential habitat, nature’s finely tuned architecture. To the birds who cling and feast on their remaining seeds, they are a brimming pantry. What may appear spent or without utility to us is very much still alive—radiating purpose.
Children, too, can be part of this late-season reciprocity—what we
sometimes call “tucking in the garden.” They can walk the beds slowly, noticing what’s still flowering and which insects linger. They might scatter seeds that welcome winter’s cold to germinate, and trust that the frost will know what to do. Take a few moments to build loose bundles of sticks for wrens, sparrows, and all the birds of winter. Listen for the geese above, and reflect on how every creature prepares in its own way.
These gestures, they are not grand, they are humble, and they matter. The more-than-human world thrives not just on action, but on pauses; knowing when to leave things alone. This is a lesson our gardens can offer us again and again.
The Shakers sang, “’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free.” Perhaps one of the greatest freedoms is to see ourselves not above or apart from the land, but in relationship with it, as part of it. To recognize that giving and receiving are often the same act.
A gift can be a covering of leaves, or the flowers left standing long after showtime, or a patch of earth left wild around the edges. These small things say: I see you. We must remember that we are not the only ones preparing for winter.
And in return, the garden gives back quietly too. A last bloom for the late-season bees. The rustle of sparrows in the hedgerow. The scent of damp earth going to sleep. The quiet reassurance that life continues underground and in hidden corners, and at season’s edge, the garden is full of these simple exchanges. Even in its late season retreat, the garden whispers: nothing is ever truly gone, only waiting to return again.
Everyone Sang
By Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967)
Everyone suddenly burst out singing; And I was filled with such delight As prisoned birds must find in freedom Winging wildly across the white Orchards and dark green fields; on; on; and out of sight.
Everyone's voice was suddenly lifted, And beauty came like the setting sun. My heart was shaken with tears and horror Drifted away … O but every one Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.
Hope
By Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet never in extremity, It asked a crumb of me.
Haiku
By Natalie Criscione
A thousand paper cranes to pause beneath and ask, “What peace can I bring?”
The paper crane installation, imagined and brought to life by Diana Bangert-Drowns in the fall of 2021, at St. Vincent de Paul Church (900 Madison Ave, Albany), remains a visual reminder of what we can accomplish together. Diana passed from this life in September of ‘23, but her message of hope continues.
Giving Yourself the Gift of Rest
By Dr. Madeline
In college, I majored in biology. I also minored in music, education, and was one class short of a chemistry minor. Needless to say, those were busy years; plus, I commuted from Brooklyn to Queens every day, battled traffic, and allowed a good hour to park my car and even more time to walk from the street to campus. When I look back, one of the things I remember most is the music school’s piano practice rooms.
Playing the piano in solitude gave me a chance to unwind. I used Rachmaninoff chords to expel all the joys, anger, elation, and frustration that encompassed my exhausting college days. At the time, I thought that by taking the time to play, I was sort of cheating. My practical mind would say, “you really should be studying!” Yet somehow I knew I needed to play. When I read the book Sacred Rest by Saundra Dalton-Smith M.D., much of how I functioned during those busy days clicked into place. Piano playing was an essential time of my day, then and now; it provides rest and rejuvenation.
Dalton-Smith divides the rest we need to maintain health into seven different categories: physical, mental, sensory, creative, emotional, social, and spiritual. Each one is meant to be practiced daily. While you may be very good at one type of rest, upon self-examination, you may find that you are missing out on another. Dalton-Smith argues that if one does not get enough of a certain type of rest, it can negatively affect health. As you read through the seven types of rest below, examine your daily practices. Reflect and address whether you need to add more of a type of rest to enhance the health of your daily life.
Mental Rest
After a day packed with activities, it is not uncommon for many people to finally sit down, only to turn on a type of screen or begin scrolling on their phone. However, mental rest requires the quieting of thoughts; the brain must settle. Methods of mental rest like meditation, breathing exercises, petting your pet, prayer, or playing an instrument (where you know the song by heart and can lose yourself in the vibrations of sound you are creating) create a relaxed focus that helps to shut off other sections of your brain. If you don’t play an instrument, try sitting in your favorite place while singing a song that makes you happy. Maybe sing it a few times. Perhaps you can recall one that a loved one sang to you or that you learned in elementary school!
Sensory Rest
The five senses are sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Each sense organ contains specialized receptors that hook up to the brain so that it can constantly monitor the environment for you. Reducing any stimulation to these five senses rests the brain. Think about your home and work environment. Can you turn off extra lights, turn down or turn off anything that produces background noise (radio, tv, fans, electronics, WiFi). If you use artificial scents, like air fresheners, candles, or perfumes, consider alternatives like aromatic
plants or essential oils which are gentler on olfaction. Finish your final meal and don’t snack at night. A simple herbal, unsweetened tea or cup of golden milk can calm and soothe. As for touch, think about what fabric you wear. Invest in natural fiber linens and pajamas. As you quiet the stimulation to your senses, your brain can calm down and your body will more easily rest.
Creative Rest
If you are a human, you are a creative being. Students sometimes tell me that they “are not creative.” My response is that they haven’t yet explored the world long enough to discover the many ways they can be creative. Creative rest will vary for each individual, with our unique tastes and talents. One of the best ways to uncover these is to journal. Write what you love, or wish for. Many journals include excellent prompts to help you along. Creative time can also be spent contemplating the natural world around us. Go for a walk without your phone, let your mind wander, and take in all you see, smell, and hear. Creative rest can include making or being grateful for any type of art, including music, painting, sketching, photography, cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, etc. Allow time for your personal self-expression and you will flourish in it; establish creative rest in your day.
Emotional Rest
Is there a trusted person with whom you are free to be yourself? Someone who will not judge you for expressing unfiltered feelings, and can listen receptively to your questions and perspectives? If so, this special person gives you emotional rest and a time to release your troubles, joys, fears, anxieties, and hopes. If you are someone whose natural instinct is to be a selfless giver or please others before yourself, emotional rest is paramount. Supportive friends, counseling, and practice in maintaining boundaries can help to establish emotional rest.
Social Rest
As humans, we need to be around other humans, but taking a break from social interactions for reflection is important too. For those in overstimulating group settings, taking the alone time to recharge gives you much-needed social rest. Many people find that going for a daily run or walk is the best way to find social rest.
Another element of social rest is the ability to recognize people in our life who either drain our energy or boost our energy. If you are constantly with energy-drainers, you’ll need more time for yourself to reclaim that energy. It is my hope that you are lucky enough to spend your days with people who fuel your energy and make you feel whole and happy.
Spiritual Rest
Acknowledgment of a greater purpose in life, establishing a sense of belonging in our communities, and knowing that one’s personal life has meaning, all foster spiritual rest in our hearts and minds. Meditation and yoga are forms of spiritual rest for Hindus. Thich Nhat Hanh says, “Resting is the first part of Buddhist meditation.” In the Bible, God’s fourth commandment states, “But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work” (Exodus 20:10). Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest and prayer; Christians go to church on Sundays for worship; and on Fridays, Muslims gather for Jumma, a sacred time for prayer and community. Feeling a sense of purpose, belonging, and connection to something greater through faith practices gives one spiritual nourishment, rest, and peace.
Many activities can fulfill more than one type of rest at a time. St. Augustine is credited with saying, "To sing is to pray twice." I understand now that my piano playing fulfills at least five of the seven types of rest: mental, spiritual, emotional, creative, and social.
Rest is complex and encompasses turning off outside stimuli and focusing inward on our body, mind, and spirit. Dr. Dalton-Smith teaches that the seven types of rest are essential for our health. I hope you can let yourself explore how to include them all each day to improve your overall health and well-being!
Round up to the nearest dollar to support this quarter’s Be the Change Recipients.
October
Eagle Island Campership for Indigenous Girls (eagleisland.org) Girls, inc. (girlsinccapitalregion.org)
November
Vegetable Project (vegetableproject.org) Collar Works (collarworks.org)
December
Save the Pinebush (savethepinebush.org) Five Rivers Environmental Education Center ( dec.ny.gov/places/five-rivers-center)
By Natalie Criscione
This story begins in the fall of 2009 with a row of garlic.
Picture it, if you will: a simple row of garlic…planted in a small patch of schoolyard…on a cold and windy Veterans’ Day…at Myers Middle School in Albany. The garlic is planted by a few people who have the beginnings of an idea about the wonderful experiences that could be offered in a school garden. Although it was, and still is, about those wonderful experiences, it has also grown into an idea about meeting the needs of students who are neither thriving nor engaged in their school environment, students who so often are economically disadvantaged.
Bill Stoneman was one of the volunteers that day. He was working on a teaching degree at the time and had recently begun what became a 13-year stretch as a substitute in Albany classrooms. He was pretty sure that the prospects for connecting with kids who felt like they were endlessly admonished to sit still and be quiet would be better met in a garden than a typical classroom. Since then, he has been building on that thought, meeting and getting to know struggling students, reading research that supports his early notion, and finding data that capture the difficulty that many schools have with disadvantaged students.
Today, Stoneman says, many students have an outsized need for spending more time outside, close to some semblance of nature, and can benefit enormously from teaching and learning that’s built around doing and touching and tasting and experiencing. “A garden is just as perfect a vehicle as there is for bringing all of that to kids,” he says.
While well-wishers often thank Vegetable Project volunteers for teaching students about where their food comes from, Stoneman says it’s more about helping kids get their feet on the ground, build coping skills, and navigate life’s challenges.
Neither Stoneman nor the other volunteers knew at the outset exactly where their efforts would lead. However, over the years, the fledgling school gardening outfit attracted attention from many individuals and organizations who offered ideas, know-how, and elbow grease. One of the first was Susan Fowler, a teacher at the Delaware Community School, who had been gardening with students there at her Friendship Garden since 1999.
” ”While well-wishers often thank Vegetable Project volunteers for teaching students about where their food comes from, Stoneman says it’s more about helping kids get their feet on the ground, build coping skills, and navigate life’s challenges.
“Susan gave us some long-handled shovels,” says Stoneman, “and said ‘welcome to the fold. Good luck.’”
And, as they say, the rest is history….
The Vegetable Project grew to become a tax-exempt non-profit organization with gardens and a school day classroom presence at both Myers and Albany High School that ushers outside as many as a 1,000 students each school year to touch, taste, sow, harvest, handle compost, dig, follow a key to identifying trees, tap maple trees, and prepare simple dishes. It has brought garden-related programming to eight other Albany schools and offers support and advice for garden initiatives at several schools. Scores of volunteers have cared for the gardens over the years, worked with kids, raised funds, and opened doors where they have connections. With an eye toward sustainability, the organization is now slowly building a team of part-time employees who work alongside the volunteers.
Vegetable Project volunteers have stories to tell that support the research and their own experiences. “My favorite,” says Stoneman, “is one that happens over and over again. It’s when we are outside and the teacher nods toward a student and whispers to me, ‘I haven’t been able to connect with that student one iota, and look at her now—so engaged. Amazing!’” For Stoneman, such conversations confirm what he knows: children in urban communities, who may seem disaffected or tuned out
in the classroom, often respond differently and positively to nature. Getting kids outside amid greenery, where they feel wind on their faces and see bees buzzing around them, even for a brief 40-minute class period, benefits everyone. It is a field trip full of learning opportunities and positive experiences, without the need for parent permissions or expensive transportation.
As Vegetable Project team members maintain gardens and build pedagogy, they urge school and school district leaders and front-line educators to see outdoor opportunities for every classroom teacher, whether their students take direct advantage of the garden or just benefit from fresh air and a change of scenery.
Does this sound like something you would like to make part of your story, too? Volunteer opportunities abound. Contact The Vegetable Project through their website at https://vegetableproject.org/ for more information.
During the month of November, the Vegetable Project is one of the recipients for Honest Weight’s Be the Change Program. By rounding up to the nearest dollar every time you shop throughout the year, you become part of the change that makes the world better. And if you’re looking for amazing garlic (remember that row of garlic?), well, keep an eye out next September when Honest Weight stocks and sells the Vegetable Project’s annual harvest.
Gifts You Aren’t Allowed to Buy
By Ruth Ann Smalley
Have you heard of “Buy Nothing” groups? Maybe even belong to one yourself? These groups are based on the desire to promote stronger community connections through a “gift economy.” No selling or bartering allowed; people may ask for/offer items, food, help, information, and other free services. Here’s how they describe it on the Buy Nothing website:
“We exist to renew the relational fabric of communities through abundance, trust, and genuine connection — by enabling neighbours and communities to give, receive, share, and express gratitude in a hyper-local gift economy where real wealth is found in human connection. In fewer words: Our mission is to change the way the world consumes.”
(https://buynothingproject.org/tpost/jyt9p36ln1-participating-in-the-buy-nothing-project)
The Buy Nothing Project has been on Facebook since 2013. Co-founders Rebecca Rockefeller and Leisl Clark have followed up with a 2020 book called the Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan, as well as an app for people who prefer to participate outside of Facebook.
upcycle. You can find offers of baby clothes and diapers, plants, furniture, books, extra meals, even an opened three-pound bag of Jolly Ranchers! It can be a place of surprises and of sadness, as people post from both their abundance and their desperate straits.
Yes, over the years, issues seem to have arisen around socioeconomic and other differences in Buy Nothing groups within some locales. Disagreements have erupted between users and moderators. As with most any large group of people interacting on social media, you will find interpersonal drama, kvetching, and complaints about interactions. With thousands of members, not everyone is going to be up on, or observant of their guidelines. But the organization offers plenty of group resources (including a self-paced Buy Nothing Academy course online), and their basic principles are solid. I especially like these two:
“We view all gifts as equal; the human connection is the value.
pollution comes in: back in 2010, they and their children began finding plastic detritus washed up on their local beach. Acting as citizen scientists to collect, catalogue, and analyze this waste became a homeschooling project for a group of families. They even turned it into art projects to call attention to the problem. The sheer quantity of plastic items they found coming from everyone’s household waste stream fueled their drive to promote changes in personal consumption. You can find out more and watch their short film about their Plastic Is Forever Project here: https://pioneeringthesimplelife.org/2011/04/15/plastic-is-forever/.
So, in addition to being about gifts, connections, and community, Buy Nothing is part of a larger, much-needed Zero Waste movement. Networks of gift-givers like this not only encourage people to think differently about what and how they consume, they can and do act to divert waste from landfills.
If you are looking for more ways to be involved specifically with zero-waste efforts, check out the website of Zero Waste Capital District at https://www.zerowastecd.org/
We believe every community has the same wealth of generosity and abundance.”
With 13 million members in 245,000 communities worldwide, Buy Nothing appears to be meeting a real need. There are at least two groups on Facebook serving Albany, one with 6,000 members, and the second with 1,000. People go there to ask for advice about local services such as medical providers, home repair, and childcare; seek help with transportation to events or even to urgent care; or search for everything from prom clothes on loan, to art supplies and materials to
Though I’ve been a member for a couple of years, it wasn’t until I dug into the Buy Nothing website that I discovered that their mission to “change the way the world consumes” has a direct connection to plastic waste. The co-founders have interesting backstories. Liesl brought her experiences working as a filmmaker looking at historic cultures with vastly different relationships to their materials of daily life. Rebecca brought her experience as a single mother who had needed government assistance. But here’s where plastic
As this view from their webpage shows, their resources and tips for reducing waste could come in very handy as you plan or participate in events during the holiday season. Parties and presents too often come with a high burden of “disposables.” With a little forethought, you could be giving a gift to our environment by avoiding common pitfalls.
Changing the way the world consumes may sound like an enormous goal. But we can each “be the change we wish to see” simply by taking small, intentional steps of care, attention, and sharing. The path is wide open.
Nutritional Nuggets:
M Joy
oments of joy may seem like small things, but through a combination of neurological and physiological responses, they work to produce a powerful, beneficial impact on our health. Let’s look at a few as outlined in the “Science of Joy” by South Tabor family Physicians:
Joy boosts antibody production and enhances the activity of the killer cells that fight off infections, thus strengthening our immune system.
Joy, along with its cousins laughter and optimism, help reverse the damaging effects of cortisol caused by chronic stress by triggering the release of neurochemicals like dopa mine and serotonin.
Cardiovascular benefits of joy include lowering blood pressure as well as promoting better circulation.
Happiness fosters a sense of optimism and a sense of purpose. Over time, this helps build our mental resilience and fights off depression.
Joy, along with other positive emotions, calms our minds and promotes better sleep, thus enhancing our overall health and energy.
Studies such as those conducted by Song and Tay of Singapore’s Institute of Technology and Harvard Health, repeatedly show that people who intentionally cultivate happiness and gratitude not only tend to live longer but they do so with fewer chronic illnesses. They experience less pain, and if they are injured, they recover faster. Are we getting the picture? Joy is good for us!
Now, you may be agreeing, but also thinking that joy is becoming harder to find and often overshadowed by its
By Pat Ellis
big bully neighbors, stress and worry. Well, here is the good news: with intention, we can increase the levels of joy we experience and create a foundation for better physical and emotional well- being.
Here are some suggestions from the Mayo Clinic to get us started.
Practice gratitude: Taking a moment each day to reflect on a few things that we are thankful for offers benefits that can be further intensified by writing those thoughts down. The combination of the physical and cognitive processes of journaling creates a deeper and more lasting effect on our brains.
Spend time in nature: If you don’t spend much time outside, start going for a short walk, sit on your porch or in your yard, look at the stars on a clear night. If you are outside often, start noticing the beauty nature surrounds us with.
Stay connected to people you care about: Write a note or make a call because connecting with others strengthens our sense of well-being.
Intentionally engage in activities you enjoy: Hobbies like cooking, gardening, reading, listening to music, painting, or whatever interests you can create a focused joy that improves your overall well being.
Introduce joy: We all have opportunities to interact with strangers as we shop or bank or are served in a restaurant. Noting a person’s name, thanking them for service, or giving a sincere compliment can bring a bit of joy to them. These random acts of kindness are returned to us through a sense of well-being. The best way to feel good is to make others feel good.
Easy Gifts
By The Coop Scoop Editors
The Co-op abounds with possibilities for gift giving that offer opportunities to think both outside the box and earth-friendly. For example, a jar filled with unpopped corn or dehydrated soup mix from the bulk aisle and tied with a bow and simple instructions makes a lovely gift. It’s that simple.
If you need jars, you can bring some from home, buy new ones at the co-op, or choose from the rack in the bulk section where donations of clean, used jars are available. (If you have some to donate, give them to the bulk department’s staff.)
Below are more suggestions for items found throughout the store to make your gift giving journey easy.
Non-Perishable:
Looking for something especially exotic? The specialty food aisles near the cheese department offer jellies, chocolates, drink mixes, and so much more.
Perishable:
Pick out a lovely pot–usually on the end caps by the produce, across from bulk—and pair it with an indoor plant from the front of the store.
For Children:
There is a wonderful selection of children’s toys, books, and crafts located in aisle #5, across from the baby foods.
For the Pets in Your Life:
Besides the pet food and toys in aisle #4, there are also canned fish selections in aisle #1 or fresh meats in the meat department, which will certainly appeal to even the most discerning fur baby. Always choose no-salt when it comes to human-grade canned meats. And, don’t forget fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits!
Gift Basket Ideas:
New Mother/Parent
Chocolate bars/hot chocolate mix
Massage/body oil
Epsom salts for bath or salt scrub for shower
Bath tea herbal blend: lavender, calendula, comfrey, rose petals
Collagen packets by shelf-stable alternative milks
Bone broths by the soup section
Candle or essential oils for diffuser: lavender, geranium, rose, ylang ylang, rosemary, jasmine
Teas for lactation, women’s health (raspberry leaf or nettle if breastfeed ing) or relaxation (careful of ingredi ents if breastfeeding).
Relaxation/home spa treatment
Sleepytime/stress relief teas
Chocolate bars/hot chocolate mix, or golden mix
Herbal blend for foot bath: Epsom salts with arnica or sea buckthorn oil with lavender for soothing, or mint and tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar for health
Facial masks
Candle from gift section or essential oils for diffuser: lavender, cedar, rose, rosemary
Cook or Host with the Most
Always a great selection of potholders, measuring cups and spoons, aprons, tools and accessories, cutting boards, napkin rings, kitchen towels, cocktail supplies, and more located in 3 main areas: the end cap just past the tinned fish; the end cap between Wellness and the Frozen Foods; the end cap opposite at the end Frozen Foods; and the shelves between specialty foods and frozen fish.
Eco Wrapping:
If you have scraps of fabric around, opt for that rather than wrapping paper. People tend to reuse fabric wrappings over and over. Make your own gift tags by cutting up last year’s holiday cards, junk mail, packaging material, etc…You can get super creative with this one.
ENJOY!!
Say Cheese!
By Pat Ellis
Simple, Elegant, and Gourmet—three words to consider when entertaining. Can a cheese board meet this criteria? To find out, I visited the Cheese and Specialty Foods Department at Honest Weight, managed by Shelby Taylor.
A mild Brie, a soft, cow’s milk cheese, appeals to a large audience. Four Fat Fowl’s St. Stephen Triple Cream; Chaseholm Farm’s Nimbus; and Le Fromager (imported) are a couple of options.
Gouda, a semi-hard cheese that is made from either cow’s or goat’s milk, can be combined with a cheddar or offered on its own. Jake’s Aged Gouda is a traditional style Dutch cheese (made locally in Deansboro, NY) that pairs well with both a sweet or savory theme. Beemster makes a goat’s milk Gouda that is aged 4 months, developing a wonderfully clean, sweet taste and smooth texture.
Some other options to choose from are goat’s milk cheeses like Two Choice, The Drunken Goat, and Vermont Creamery Chèvre. There are also a range of cheeses made from nut or coconut oil bases that are suitable for vegan guests.
First, said Shelby, “know your audience.” Are there any food restrictions or allergies? Will any of the guests be vegan? Thinking about this ahead of time will simplify your shopping.
Then, select the cheeses— choose a variety of textures and flavors. Shelby recommends choosing four cheeses: two made with cow’s milk, and one each from sheep’s and goat’s milk. Her recommendations include local, as well as imported options, both comparable in quality. Following are some of Shelby’s ideas to get you started.
Blue cheese, though not everyone’s favorite, is an option to consider. Withersbrook Blue is immersed in Vermont ice cider during its production. Cambozola’s Black Label Blue (lactose free) combines the richness of a Camembert with the tangy flavor inspired by Gorgonzola.
Manchego cheese is a buttery and slightly tangy sheep’s milk cheese. Both El Trigal’s Manchego DOP and Plaza de Espana’s Queso Castellano come from Spain. The latter, though Manchego-like, is made from the milk of a different sheep breed and cannot carry the Manchego name.
Finally, once you have selected your cheeses, it is time to move to accoutrements. Consider adding fresh seasonal or dried off-season fruits. During the fall months apples, pomegranates, or grapes pair well. Add some texture in the form of crunchy foods: plain crackers, pretzels, almonds, or cashews. Pickled vegetables, pickles, and olives add flavor and variety. Something sweet, like dark chocolate or a fruit spread, pair well with most cheeses. Divina makes a selection of fruit spreads in small sizes. Time to be adventurous!
There it is: simple, elegant, and gourmet.
One last consideration is time. Keep in mind that catering is always an option. If you have any questions or need advice, the folks in the cheese department are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to creating the perfect cheese board.
Corner
Simple Healthful Gift Ideas Using Products in the Co-op’s Wellness Department
By Melanie Pores
The Honest Weight Food Co-op has so many great items in its Wellness department that reflect this month’s Coop Scoop "Simple Gifts" theme.
For example, in the Co-op’s Wellness department, you will find a wide variety of essential oils and specialized containers to prepare, package and create a variety of healthful gifts. I like to make foaming hand soaps, essential oil blend roller bottles, and healthy cleaning products.
Here is a basic recipe to make a foaming hand soap:
In 16 oz container, combine:
1 part Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Hemp Baby Unscented Pure-Soap
3 parts water
10 drops essential oils
Here is a helpful link to variations on this theme: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0424/3475/6772/files/GG-Dilutions_Cheat_Sheet-Liquid_Soap_Carton--8.28.24.jpg?v=1730133076
Roller bottles are great for creating perfumes or healing blends that can be applied for a variety of uses.
The basic process for filling a roller bottle is:
Add the drops of essential oil to an empty, dark glass roller.
Fill the roller the rest of the way with a carrier oil.
Secure the roller to the bottle.
Tightly secure the lid.
Gently shake and roll the bottle to combine. Many DIY recipes can be found on the One Essential Community website: https://oneessentialcommunity.com
Another simple, healthful, and easy gift to make is my Favorite All-Purpose Cleanser recipe:
To a 12-ounce or larger spray bottle add:
1 cup distilled water
⅛ cup hydrogen peroxide
⅛ cup rubbing alcohol
½ teaspoon Dr. Bronner’s Siberian Fir and a spruce Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner
1 teaspoon white vinegar
12 drops orange essential oil
12 drops lemon essential oil
You can also purchase a Cleaning Essentials Spray bottle and some essential oils to gift a friend or loved one. They can follow the directions on the bottle to make a variety of cleaning products.
I hope you enjoy my ideas for simple wellness gifts!
The Gift of Tea Blends
By Rebecca Angel Maxwell
Tea is one of my family’s favorite gifts to give and receive, but it’s even more special when we make it ourselves. Making different-flavor blended tea is easy and fun. Even if you don’t have a garden of your own to get ingredients, the co-op bulk department has you covered! With pretty packaging, you can give gifts of taste and health while staying within your budget.
Buying Bulk
First, you need to choose your base tea. Caffeine or no caffeine? That is truly the question. If your recipients drink caffeine, then you can choose from the black or green tea varieties in bulk as your base. Be sure to choose a plain green or black, and not an already blended tea.
Black and green tea are made from the same plant, native to China and India, but processed differently. Black tea has a stronger flavor and pairs well with stronger spices. Green tea is best with gentle scents and herbs. Avoid any smoky teas, as they are too strong to pair with other flavors.
Rooibos is a perfect base for a non-caffeinated tea blend as it is mild and has a pretty red color. This is native to South Africa. Nettle and mint are native to America and good for non-caffeinated medicinal blends.
Blending Tips
Wash your hands thoroughly before you blend. Use a big enough bowl that you can really sift and blend everything. Be aware that some spices can make you sneeze, which you do NOT want to do for gifts! Blend gently and slowly to avoid spices getting into the air. This can be a meditative practice, and your state of mind matters. Please think of the people you love while blending.
Labeling and Steeping Instructions
Be sure to list all the ingredients as well as instructions. I recommend typing this and printing it out. You can choose a pretty font and even make up a name for your personal tea company! (I have “Angel Apothecary” on all of mine.)
Packaging Fun
It’s best to store tea in a container that blocks the light. Another option is to buy disposable tea bags from the bulk department and individually fill them to give away. I have found this to be the most effective way to give out tea gifts. I buy the medium or large size and put in 4-5 tsp of the blend. My label says it's good for a pot of tea or multiple steepings in a mug. I staple it closed. Then I can put this and the printed instruction in a pretty cloth, tied up with a ribbon.
Tea Recipes
(15-20 servings each at 1 tsp per cup)
Spiced Chai
½ cup black tea or ¾ cup rooibos
1 cup of your choice of mixed spices (Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice cloves, star anise, or black pepper)
To Prepare: Combine preferred tea and spices. Add 1-2 tsp per cup of boiling water. Steep 3-5 minutes. Add creamer and sweetener to taste.
Fresh Citrus Green
1 cup green tea
¾ cup dried citrus peels, chopped (Lemon or orange are easiest to find, but lime or bergamot are also lovely if in stock.)
¼ cup mint leaves (optional)
To Prepare: Combine preferred tea and spices. Add 1-2 tsp per cup of lightly boiling water. Steep 1-3 minutes.
Healthy Cycles
1 cup nettles
¼ cup raspberry leaf
¼ cup lavender flowers
¼ cup lemon balm or tulsi
To Prepare: Combine preferred tea and spices. Add 1-2 tsp per cup of boiling water. Steep 10-15 minutes. Add sweetener if desired.
Dark Mint Evening
1 cup peppermint or mint blend
¾ cup licorice root, chopped
5 pieces of star anise
To Prepare: Combine preferred tea and spices. Add 1-2 tsp per cup of boiling water. Steep 5-7 minutes. Add creamer if desired.
NOTE: If your recipient has heartburn, mint tea is not recommended.
