A steering committee has formed to work toward opening a food co-op, beginning with a buying club and possibly a community garden, in the City of Clearlake.
“The desire to work together and bring this co-op into being was amazing!” reported co-op wiki space organizer Allen Markowski in a message to registered members. “In a matter of hours everything on the agenda had been covered with assignments on who would do what — a done deal. I witnessed an enthusiasm I”ve not seen in quite awhile and something I think we could benefit and learn from.”
Approximately 50 people attended a meeting, held Saturday, Jan. 12, at Wild About Books. The purpose, outlined by organizer JoAnn Saccato, was to determine what the community wants and needs and what the community can sustain.
Talking about a man in Middletown who was organizing another co-op, based around fresh fish and poultry, “He said the most important thing he did was listen to what the community wanted and needed,” Saccato related to the group.
After an hour of brainstorming, the group consolidated and prioritized goals. Top priority by group consensus is locally-produced, organic, healthy food at an affordable price, a market for local producers, a local community garden that includes a “how-to” educational component and a commitment toward organic products.
A buying club, said Saccato, would be a step on the road toward opening an actual co-op. “That would be the initial thing we would do. Start the buying club and move in the direction of a co-op.”
Saccato originally envisioned opening a community co-op where the Jules golf resort now stands. She circulated a statement of vision among members of the local community and it was additionally posted on the group”s wiki site. She acknowledged, however, at the meeting, that the collective community vision does not have to include Jules. “Does it have to be Jules?” asked a member in the audience, and Saccato answered, “No, it doesn”t.”
Information about the co-op is posted at https://clearlakecommunityco-operative.wikispaces.com/. You will be directed to either log in or send a request to site administrators asking to be added to the group. Once a registered member of the co-op”s wiki site, you will be granted a member”s privilege to make edits to the site.
The next co-op meeting will be scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 27. Markowski said he”ll go over some ways that the group can use its wiki space “so bring your laptops if you have one.”
Contact Cynthia Parkhill at cparkhill@clearlakeobserver.com.
