Dear Owners,
We’re so excited to welcome our beloved student community back to Isla Vista for the year! In addition to this excitement, the Downtown Market is participating in the SB Independent’s Burrito Week through the 24th! Gabriel and team have created a yummy vegan burrito, available this week only for $9.
Students back in IV means our longer hours are also back. Starting Tuesday, Sept 23rd, the Isla Vista location will be open 9am – 9pm daily!
Read on for updates and ideas on how you can show up for your co-op this week:
Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendars
-
- Wednesday, September 24th – Work in Progress Wednesday @5pm IV Patio
- Saturday, September 27th – 4th Saturday Community Gathering, 2pm @ Downtown Market
- Saturday, October 4th – Ambassador Program Meeting.
- Wednesday, October 15th – Board of Directors Meeting @6:30pm on Zoom
- Saturday, October 25th – 4th Saturday Community Gathering, 2pm @ IV Patio
Subscribe to our NEW shared calendar (board events only).
Team Updates: What’s New This Week?
Here’s what’s happening across our co-op:
- Customer Satisfaction Team
-
-
- Director Bill has provided the following update: The painting of the IV store patio is in the finishing phase, just in time for the store hour change and student return.
-
- Fundraising Team
-
-
- The co-op continues to raise funds through small dollar donations on GoFundMe and networking larger dollar funders to gain tax-deductible donations through our charitable partner Isla Vista Community Development Corporation. If you would like to join this team or help us connect with supporters, please contact the Board.
-
- Owner Engagement Team
-
-
- Director Megan has provided the following update:The committee is working to grow Work in Progress Wednesday attendance with community crafters. A Magic the Gathering Group has been proposed to begin in October. The committee is preparing to call for applications to the Round-Up Program in mid-October.
- The next meeting is this Sunday, September 28th at 6:30pm. Review past meeting minutes here.
-
- Store Improvements and Fixes Team
-
- Director Eric has provided the following status update: Hello Owners, friends and customers, the Store Improvements and Fixes group has had several successful projects. We have a list of more projects and are open to new volunteers and projects.
Owner Info Series: Our Strategic Priorities
In conversation with our owners, these eight strategic priorities were created to align the mission of our cooperative with the needs of the community.
–
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Create opportunities for the greater community to participate in the cooperative, and for our co-op to participate in the greater community.
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY: Nourish and sustain a culture of inclusion for our diverse community.
LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM SUPPORT: Be a leading resource to support farmers and other producers in our local food shed.
ECONOMIC RESILIENCE: Strengthen our cooperative by ensuring fiscal security for the IVFC’s future.
FAIR & EQUITABLE WORK PLACE: Foster a culture of diversity and empowerment. Be a model of excellence in all employment practices.
HEALTHY FOOD FOR ALL: Increase the accessibility of nutritious, high-quality, affordable, and culturally inclusive food for our community.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: Model environmental sustainability in our products and practices.
GROW THE VISIBILITY OF OUR SOCIAL IMPACT & VALUES: Tell our story. Raise awareness of the value of cooperatives to build resilience in our community and local food system
Compost Corner
I am going to take a week off the soil biology (rhizophagy cycle is up next) and dive into the spaces, or lack of, between the particles that make up the soil. Healthy topsoil is, by volume measure, 50% pore space: air and water. Examine soil clods found while looking for undisturbed soils that have insect and worm tunnels piercing throughout. Roots need oxygen. All the other healthy soil life wants oxygen too. Roots only passively absorb the oxygen in the soil air. Imagine how slow it is for the oxygen to diffuse through the soil’s macro and micro pores? If the wind is blowing it might suck more CO2 out and blow O2 in. Still, much much slower than lungs or gills exchanging gasses.
Soil compacts when its microbiome, which builds the soil’s structure, is harmed or disabled. Fire, clearcut, pesticides, fertilizers, plow/disk/till/tamp all harm and kill the soil microbiome. Without a complete biome, the soil’s structure collapses and compacts. Water and air exchange decreases. Low/No oxygen soil conditions develop. Water infiltration rates drop from 8″-12″/hr. down to 1/2″-1″/hr or less with associated erosion and flooding during high rain events. Soil Compaction is the number one problem with agricultural soils. All industrial agriculture roads lead to soil compaction.
IVFC Ambassador Program: New Outline and Sign Up
The Ambassador Program meeting has been scheduled for Sat 10/4 at 6pm on the IV Patio. New and continuing volunteers are welcome to attend.
Learn more and sign up here: https://islavistafood.coop/ambassador-program/
Save the Date: September Community Gathering
Save the date for Saturday, September 27th at 2pm, we are hosting a casual potluck gathering at the Downtown Market with some board provided snacks. Board Directors will be in attendance to discuss your questions about the co-op, but hope that you come to socialize as a community member. Bring a dish to share or just yourself. We’ll be happy to have you.
Our August gathering allowed us to share a meal, conversation, and allowed the workshopping of ideas for the cooperative. In summation, it was absolutely lovely to meet with cooperators and rejoice in the restorative energy of the community.
Ways to Support Us:
Here’s how you can support the Co-op’s recovery and growth:
Shop the Co-op: Every purchase makes a difference. Each location is accessible by bike, bus, and car. Bring a friend to shop and help us widen the cooperative circle!
Make a Donation: The amount of your daily coffee can guide us towards stabilization.Donate via GoFundMe.
Give a Tax-Deductible Gift of $500+: For larger contributions, please contact board@islavistafood.coop for details on giving to the IVFC through a Donor Advised Fund contribution through our charitable partner Isla Vista Community Development Corporation.
Connect Us with Like-Minded Businesses: Help us grow partnerships that strengthen the local economy and community.
Join a Team: Lend your skills and energy to a focused, collaborative project team.
Notes from the Ground
Storefront Updates:
- Isla Vista Hours will be 9am – 9pm starting on Tuesday, 9/23.
- Blue customer feedback boxes have been installed and are available at both stores for your input & suggestions. We encourage all owners to use this dedicated channel to contact management and the Board.
- Special Orders now redirected to: volume@islavistafood.coop
Board Updates:
- July Board Meeting Minutes are available on the website.
Thank you for showing up.Your continued engagement makes the Co-op possible.
In cooperation,
Your Board of Directors
