Upcoming Mustard Seed Events

InterviewingWe are so thankful for all the hard work our volunteers have put into the development of the Co-op over the past few months. This grassroots energy has made us over 540 members strong, even without a store location. So much has been happening behind the scenes. This week our HR team interviewed candidates for the General Manager role. Our finance team is preparing to pitch to a group of investors in early June at The SVX (formerly the social venture exchange at MaRS Centre for Impact Investing) to help capitalize our Co-op.

We are working on a short promo video about The Mustard Seed, and our sourcing team continues to connect with local producers through a questionnaire that looks not only at what they make or grow, but how their values align with those of The Mustard Seed. The Location Team has tirelessly searched every lead from members, whispers on the street, MLX listings, and leads from our realtors as we try to find the right home for the Co-op…we’ll keep you posted when we find a space!

One thing we know is that our co-op is resilient, this has been proven over and over again by our volunteers and members through this time of joy and heartache. This is in part due to our shared values, trust, co-operation, and our strong Hamilton community. Thank you!

We have organized a couple great events, and they are coming up fast. Please come to one if you are able and bring a friend!

Ramping Up! Potluck & Garden Party

RampFiddle

Monday, May 20  6pm – 9pm  (Victoria Day) @ the Hill Street Community Garden | We’re going to mix this month’s All Action Team meeting up with a celebration of all of our wonderful volunteers!! Come for a potluck at 6pm followed by a brief update from our action teams starting around 7pm. After that we will watch a few short films about local food pioneers in Ontario. Please RSVP on Facebook or email. We will have tasty things for the BBQ sourced from our future suppliers. Please bring a side dish to share along with a plate & cutlery.

Coffee Tasting Party

Saturday, May 25 10am – noon | We need to figure out what coffee roasters & blends to sell at the Co-op. In the name of “research,” the sourcing team is planning a coffee-tasting event. The event is open to all members (or nearly-members) and will be held at Hamilton Central Library in the Wentworth Room. Come and taste blends from different local roasters before heading over to the Farmer’s Market!  The cost for the coffee tasting is $3, which will allow you to sample a spectrum of coffees and vote for your favourites. Homemade goodies will also be available after you are done tasting – this is a good opportunity for you to connect with other Mustard Seedlings as well.  Please rsvp by May 23rd (either via Facebook or email) so we know how many pots of coffee to brew!

CoffeeTasting

Volunteer profile – Jim Ruxton

jimFrida1We are sharing a series of profiles to introduce some of the volunteers who have put their time and energy into The Mustard Seed Cooperative Grocery. Enjoy this glimpse into our Co-op community!

Name: Jim Ruxton

Action Team: Membership Team

What roles have you had in the development of The Mustard Seed? I have been helping when possible to promote The Mustard Seed at various events. I am very enthusiastic about having a food Co-op in Hamilton so I do my best to spread the word as to why people should join.

What drew to The Mustard Seed, and why do you volunteer?  I have been a member of Karma Food Co-op in Toronto for over 20 years and know first hand about the many benefits to shopping at a Co-op. I know that it takes a lot of work by volunteers to have a successful Co-op so wanted to give a bit of my time to ensure that The Mustard Seed is successful.

Day Job:  I am an electronics engineer and artist. I enjoy using technology to create art whether it be theatre, dance, installation or film. I am also the inventor of ColorWave lights and Director of Programs for a festival called Subtle Technologies in Toronto that brings together artists and scientists.

What element of The Mustard Seed are you most excited about? I am looking forward to being able to buy fresh local food and to be assured that local farmers are being compensated for the hard work they put into growing food for us. I’m looking forward to meeting more like minded folk through the Co-op. I’m also looking forward to educating our new daughter Frida to the philosophies behind co-operatives and sustainable living via The Mustard Seed.

What is your favourite local food?  I love anything veggie. Root vegetables and fresh greens like kales are my faves. Ok, I like local beer too but I guess we won’t be selling that. (editor’s note: we’ll see what we can do Jim!)

It is important that everyone join now because the success of the Co-op is enhanced by the inertia of having  as many members as possible.

Why should people join the Co-op today?  I think people will really enjoy the community aspect of being a member. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you walk into a store and know you are part-owner. It is very empowering to help make the decisions in how a store is run and what it sells. To go into a store and say “do we carry this product?” as opposed to “do you carry this product?”. It is important that everyone join now because the success of the Co-op is enhanced by the inertia of having as many members as possible. Years down the road you will be proud to say you were a founding member before the Co-op even opened it’s doors.

We Still Haven’t Found What We’re Looking For

The mural at the new Citizens Co-op in Gainsville, FL is an inspiration in terms of store design as we look for a site.

The mural at the new Citizens Co-op in Gainsville, FL is an inspiration in store design.

We launched the Co-op’s membership drive less than five months ago, and since then we’ve made incredible progress! We already have over 500 Members and over $200,000 raised in capital.  Our Location Team has been working hard to find the right home for The Mustard Seed.  Unfortunately, this has been a much more difficult process than we had anticipated. After negotiating for an ideal site since February, the landlord returned our deposit this week and said that the space will not be available.  The Team has once again regrouped and is now exploring two other options in order to find a home for the Co-op.  To our growing Founding Membership, thank you for your patience and confidence through this search! We want to keep you in the loop about what has been happening, and why it’s taking so long.

What we’re looking for

Our goal is to find a 3,000-5,000sf ground floor retail location with an accessible entrance and sufficient loading space. The storefront also needs to be convenient for cyclists and pedestrians while having 10-15 vehicle parking spaces.  Proximity to Members is weighted heavily in our decision-making matrix. Appropriate zoning is also essential so we don’t get slowed down with approvals. We anticipate leasing a space, but we are open to friendly investors who want to help buy a building for The Mustard Seed.

Our goal is to create a coherent design aesthetic that is aligned with our underlying values.  The store will be “warm”, “inviting”, and “ecological” – check out our Pinterest site for some ideas that members have shared. We are also considering each location’s potential for future growth. While not immediately necessary, other co-ops have advised that this is an important factor.

Mustard Seed Members at 516

Mustard Seed Members at 516

 

The challenges

Hamilton is experiencing renewal.  We are thrilled to be part of this, but it has meant we have found it much more difficult than anticipated to find a space that suits our needs. So far the Location Team and Board have toured over a dozen potential properties. We thought we were very close with two locations. The biggest challenge we have faced is finding accessibility, a large enough space, parking, affordability, and actual availability all in one location!

The good news

This setback has caused us to re-assess our timelines for opening the Co-op. This may not be a bad thing (although we are all eagerly awaiting the day that we can start stocking our shelves with wholesome local goodness!). This means that we have a little more time to get our financing in order (we still need $300,000 in capitalization, so please invest today), to hire our general manager and other staff, to research better options for the store’s equipment, and for our Sourcing Team to connect with potential local suppliers. While the location roller coaster has been happening, our Membership Team has continued to promote the Co-op at events as we push toward our 800 member target.  Here in the Ambitious City, committed people are putting their energy and support behind opening the Co-op within a year, a process which many food co-ops report can take 3-5 years.

Onward

The Location Team has already toured new locations since last week’s disappointment. Our goal is still to open the Co-op within three months of securing a site.  Our location team welcomes any tips you might have about potential downtown buildings – please email operations@mustardseed.coop if you have suggestions.  Thanks for your patience, and we will keep you updated with any news in the weeks ahead!

EmmaSticker

Volunteer profile – Donna Weldon

DonnaBWWe are sharing a series of profiles to introduce some of the volunteers who have put their time and energy into The Mustard Seed Cooperative Grocery. Enjoy this glimpse into our Co-op community!

Name: Donna Weldon

Action Team: Sourcing Team

What roles have you had in the development of The Mustard Seed?  I first heard of the Mustard Seed when the survey was circulated getting people’s input into whether there should be a co-op.  I was in from the get-go!  I helped to get people signed up during the Super Crawl, and then joined the Sourcing Team.  I became a Co-op member on the night of the launch and am very proud to say I have personally invested some of my savings into the Mustard Seed.

What drew to The Mustard Seed, and why do you volunteer?:  I believe in it.  This is the way to “Beet the System”: I am one who believes that our current food system is broken and we need to develop strategies that re-think how food is dealt with–from how we support our local farmers and processors, to how we distribute food and how we dispose of the residues from processing etc.

What element of The Mustard Seed are you most excited about?  The chance to support sustainable farming practices, support local farmers, and know exactly where my food is grown are the things that excite me.  Plus the concept of personal ownership of our grocery store.  It all makes so much sense to me!  I think I started to get really mad when I found our freezers in large grocery stores packed with frozen fruit form China.  Why?  Had we forgotten how to freeze produce?  I know we will never be selling frozen produce from China in our grocery store.

What is your favourite local food?  Strawberries.  Ontario has the best strawberries in the world.

Why should people join the Co-op today?  The Co-op is such an exciting concept that has come to life in Hamilton!  The founders, Board, and volunteers have spent endless hours making this work, but they can’t do it alone!  They need the community behind them.  So if you want to see a food system that is in the service of people, step right up and join!

Volunteer profile – Clare Wagner

ClareBWWe are sharing a series of profiles to introduce some of the volunteers who have put their time and energy into The Mustard Seed Cooperative Grocery. Enjoy this glimpse into our Co-op community!

Name: Clare Wagner

Action Team: Human Resources

What roles have you had in the development of The Mustard Seed?  I worked with the Mustard Seed to host the Food and Urban Agriculture Round Table event in November of 2012 with support from City of Hamilton Public Health Services and Neighbour to Neighbour Centre. With the HR Team, I have helped to guide development of HR policy, advise on job postings, and apply for supporting funds.

What drew you to The Mustard Seed, and why do you volunteer? After attending the Guelph Organics Conference in early 2012 and learning about nearby food cooperatives, I started dreaming about a food cooperative in Hamilton. I take pride in being a conscientious consumer and find it can be a challenge in Hamilton, especially in the winter. I loved the idea of being able to guide the development of a community-focused grocery store with values similar to my own but I had no idea where to start. When Graham and Emma began talking about taking their similar dreams to the next level by creating the Mustard Seed, I was eager to help in any way I could. Although I can’t give a lot of time, volunteering is a great way to help grow the Mustard Seed and take some of the pressure off of the core group who are putting so much into making the store a reality.

Day job: Garden Program Coordinator at Green Venture

What element of The Mustard Seed are you most excited about? Having a one-stop source for local, ethical, healthy grocery products driven and sustained by my own community.

What is your favourite local food? Blueberries

Why should people join the Co-op today? The personal and financial investments made today will define what the store can offer from the start. The more people who commit today, the more the Board, volunteer action teams, and (soon) employees, will be able accomplish. With enough support now, instead of a small boutique store, we can truly be a full-service grocery store and community hub accessible to all Hamiltonians.

Springing into Spring

Our membership continues to grow with over 450 Mustard Seed founding members supporting Hamilton’s first non-profit co-operative grocery store! Everything is ramping up to our opening this summer. Below is an update of what we have been up to, where we’re going and how you can be involved.membergrowthMar18

DSC_1976Member Packages

All members will be receiving a membership package some info on the Co-op and a window sticker for the outside of your car, house, or business. The membership team will be hand-delivering packages in the next couple weeks to members who haven’t picked up the package at an event. Please put your stickers somewhere very visible and show your support for The Mustard Seed!

Casting Call for Members

We are looking for a diverse selection of Mustard Seed members – from kids to grandparents, farmers to eaters – to represent The Mustard Seed Co-op in our promo video and photo signage. Read more here and please send in your responses by Friday, March 29, 2013.

General Manager Posting

Our GM position was posted on our website in early March as well as in Cooperative Grocer, Sustain Ontario, goodworkcanada.ca, and on various local food, cooperative, and food policy listserves. So far we have had several candidates respond. Please help get the word out so that we can find the right person to run our co-op!

Stay tuned for postings of other store positions in the coming weeks. The Mustard Seed is committed to being a living wage employer and will be a great place to work!

Location Update

We are very close to finalizing a lease for the store’s location in downtown Hamilton; stay tuned for an announcement soon! In the mean time, our Operations team has been busy purchasing various equipment.

Looking for Producers & Suppliers

We have created a supplier form that can be filled out by potential farmers/suppliers or members to ensure we have the best local products on our shelves. Our sourcing team is attending a producer & distributor panel discussion this week and we are beginning to contact producers to build relationships & learn how their farming practices align with our sourcing priorities.

Not yet a Founding Member? – Learn More!

Thinking about becoming a member?  Members are part owners of the business, they represent the collective power of working together to achieve lasting change. The Mustard Seed Co-op needs 800 members in order to open our doors – so join now.  We’re only 350 members away from our goal!

Finance Update & Investing

We have capitalized the Co-op with over $200,000 from our membership already.  But we need another $250,000 to open our doors.  This will go towards equipment (coolers, shelving, commercial kitchen, signage) and inventory – the delicious goodness we’re all waiting to buy! If you have a tax return coming in, a car payment that’s finished, or some savings you want to invest, put that money to work in shaping your community!

You can read more about our direct loan program  at mustardseed.coop/investingfaq. Earn 3.5% interest annually over 4 years while making a positive change in our local economy.

Upcoming Events

We are at a number of upcoming events – check out our Events Calendar for a full listing.

  • Monday, April 1, 10:00am – 3:00pm – booth at Mohawk College’s 2nd Annual Sustainability Fair
  • Sunday, April 7, 10:30am – 12:00pm – Motivations behind The Mustard Seed presentation, Grace Lutheran Church, 1107 Main St. West
  • Friday, April 12, 7:00-9:00pm – booth at James St. North Art Crawl
  • Sunday, April 14, 1:30-4:00pm – booth at the Nourishing Hamilton Fair, Southgate Presbyterian Church, 120 Clarendon Ave.
  • Monday, April 15, 7:00-9:00pm – All Action Team gathering at Mulberry Coffee House - 193 James St N

Come grow with us and help us open our doors!

WestEnd_cannery

Photo credit: West End Food Co-op Community Cannery

Volunteer profile – Jackie Williams

JackieBWWe are sharing a series of profiles to introduce some of the volunteers who have put their time and energy into The Mustard Seed Cooperative Grocery. Enjoy this glimpse into our Co-op community!

Name: Jackie Williams

Action Teams: Sourcing, Event Planning, and General Administration

What roles have you had in the development of The Mustard Seed?  I have been helping the Co-op with administration by responding to membership@mustardseed.coop emails and Facebook messages. On the sourcing & membership teams I have been finding local/organic suppliers, helping organize the halfway membership party, handing out postcards, & referring as many people as I possibly can!

What drew you to The Mustard Seed, and why do you volunteer? It reminds me of my time living in British Columbia and the Kootenay Co-op. I was very happy when I heard a co-op was opening here. I volunteer because I want to be part of a community of like-minded people.

What element of The Mustard Seed are you most excited about? Seeing and meeting all the different people that The Mustard Seed is attracting, both now and once we open.

What is your favourite local food? Camino chocolate – a Canadian brand of fair trade and organic products from the La Siembra Co-operative. And wonderful local honey & maple syrup – yum!

Why should people join the Co-op today? Join the Co-op today because you will help us open our store.  Your investment is more than your money, it’s your voice in how The Mustard Seed develops. Now is such an important time to join!