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'Tis a Gift to Be Simple

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'Tis a Gift to Be Simple December 2011 Volume 22: Issue 12 a monthly newsletter of the East End Food Co-op Pittsburgh, PA STORE NEWS ‘Tis a Gift to be Simple Co-op News Service Voluntary simplicity is not a new concept asking yourself if you really need something MEMBER BONUS! — the term was coined by Richard Gregg in before buying it. Think about alternatives Get 10% off the order of your choice, his 1936 book The Value of Voluntary Simplicity that are less costly and more eco-friendly now until December 31, 2011. and popularized again by Duane Elgin in his (such as making a slipcover for an old couch The next quarter goes from January 1, 2012 1981 book Voluntary Simplicity. But it’s enjoying instead of buying a new one or hanging out through March 31, 2012. renewed interest, as people look for alterna- your laundry instead of running the dryer). tives to consumption-driven lifestyles. Some When you do purchase items, look for items are motivated by economic reasons, others that are beautiful and have long-lasting value BOARD OF DIRECTORS by spiritual, social, and/or political concerns. (quality vs. quantity) — handcrafted, rather MONTHLY MEETING Voluntary simplicity means doing more than mass-produced, for example. ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME. with less, but it doesn’t mean effortless or Doing with less can help de-clutter your life, too (if you haven’t jumped on the Check meeting times in store idle living. It is more self-sufficient living. It’s a different lifestyle that requires a different de-clutter bandwagon, now’s as good a entrance for next meeting. kind of effort. time as ever). There are many possible ways in which X Eat more healthily. For some people, liv- Check out the weekly deals for voluntary simplicity could be integrated into ing more simply means choosing more whole our everyday lives. It might mean prioritizing foods and fewer processed foods. Your local MEADE STREET MADNESS family, friends, and community; living more co-op and farmers market are good resourc- on our website: frugally; respecting the environment; eating es for finding food that’s fresh, whole, local, more healthily; and/or learning new ‘do-it- and organic — food that’s healthful and that www.eastendfood.coop yourself’ skills. It’s a purposeful approach to helps support sustainable food producers as living that is founded on the belief that less well as the local economy. X Radical Homemakers Website external consumption can lead to a happier You don’t have to cook every morsel from CO-OP ORIENTATION life. “The essence of voluntary simplicity is Shannon Hayes, author of the book scratch, either. Picking up a loaf of freshly Radical Homemakers (Left to Write Join us for an orientation and learn the living in a way that is outwardly simple and baked whole grain bread at the bakery inwardly rich,” explains Elgin. Press, 2010), fuels a quiet revolution, secrets every member wants to know counter is a tasty alternative to factory changing the world by “reclaiming control — Tuesdays at 7pm. Voluntary simplicity needn’t be an all- produced bread, for example. of home and hearth.” Find her collection or-nothing proposition and the journey to Call 412.242.3598 ext. 103 to register. X Cut your debts. Living debt-free is a goal of articles, news, and resources at: http:// greater simplicity can be as rewarding as the of many people, whether they are thinking radicalhomemakers.com/ ends—even when that journey is imperfect, about it as voluntary simplicity or not. Not X Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska according to ‘radical homemaker’ Shannon only will living within, or better yet, under INSIDE THIS ISSUE Hayes. In her online article, “Moving from your means increase your financial secu- Host of the PBS series on simple living, Envy to Inspiration,” Hayes reflects on her rity; it can also decrease stress. This doesn’t Urbanska offers a “Simple Living” newsletter CO-OP NEWS . 2 family’s successes and failures as well as their mean living a Spartan life. Driving an older as well as books with related themes. Visit: MEMBERS SPEAK OUT . 3 lack of having “mastered the lifestyle.” Yet but functional car rather than the latest http://www.simplelivingtv.net/ that doesn’t dissuade Hayes and other volun- model (or walking, bicycling, and using public X Simple Mom Website NEW IN THE AISLES -GIFTS . 3 tary simplicity advocates from their pursuit. transportation) is one example of a lifestyle And it needn’t dissuade others from exploring Tsh Oxenreider, author of the book THE FOOD YOU EAT . 4 change that might contribute to greater Organized Simplicity (Betterway Home, it either, whether it be delving into it full-on financial freedom. Another would be down- IN YOUR COMMUNITY, or testing it out through baby steps. 2010) and contributing bloggers provide sizing your housing or even your wardrobe tips for homemaking, parenting, cooking, ON YOUR PLANET . 5 Interested in trying out voluntary simplic- (small changes add up!). working from home, and more. See: EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH . 7 ity? Here are just a handful of possibilities to X Join a network or interest group. Some http://simplemom.net/ consider: communities have regular meetings to dis- CO-OP BULLETIN BOARD . 8 X Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of X Increase your self-sufficiency. This might cuss the topic and explore ways to live a Life that is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly life of voluntary simplicity. You may want SPECIAL INSERTS: be anything from putting up tomatoes or Rich by Duane Elgin (Quill, 1998). making curtains to beekeeping or install- to start your own group, in fact, if none 11/30 - 12/15 CO-OP DEALS ing your own solar panels. It often involves exists in your area. Your local co-op might This classic provides a solid base for 12/16 - 1/3 CO-OP DEALS learning some new skills (like sewing, cook- be a good place to meet people who may be understanding and appreciating the ing or carpentry) that will enable you to do interested. concepts behind the movement. Elgin also more for yourself and rely less on mass pro- has a website: http://www.duaneelgin. duced products or services. Becoming more com. EAST END FOOD CO-OP self-sufficient can also reduce your carbon X Other titles of interest from the Co- 7516 MEADE STREET footprint and provide a sense of accomplish- op’s shelves: PITTSBURGH, PA 15208 ment and satisfaction. Made From Scratch by Jenna Woginrich X Make do or do without. Limit your mate- To learn more about voluntary simplicity, 412-242-3598 The Value of Nothing by Raj Patel www.eastendfood.coop rial possessions and use of resources by check out: ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE CO-OP BOARD MEETINGS. Check the bulletin board in the front vestibule for dates, times and agenda items. Check meeting times in store entrance for next meeting. Dated Materials — DO NOT DELAY NOT DO — Materials Dated Pittsburgh, PA 15208 PA Pittsburgh, 7516 Meade Street Meade 7516 East End Food Co-operative Food End East PERMIT NO. 1800 NO. PERMIT PITTSBURGH, PA PITTSBURGH, PAID P S U OSTAGE NONPROFIT ORG. NONPROFIT rob’s corner member services message Winterfest 2011 SSRob Baran, General Manager Saturday, December 17 6:30-8:30pm Hello folks in member land. I’ve got a And let’s be honest, the old store needs Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill couple of things for you to know. Let’s start spruced up a bit before we begin serious Levinson Hall of the Irene Kaufmann Building with the upcoming remodel. work on a 2nd location. I can’t wait to see Use Darlington Road Entrance. Many of you may remember we planned what it looks like! Parking at 5738 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 out a perimeter store remodel late last year Next is a review of the Member Bonus — that would have improved and grown the key Discount benefit. As you know, June was our Live , traditional Irish music by Bury the Cabbage (www.burythecabbage.com) categories where our core values live the last Member Extra Discount Day (MEDD). Vegan and Vegetarian food, Beer from East End Brewing most. These are the values that you said you Changing MEDD was not an easy decision, wanted us to focus on from our long-term and one I had avoided for years in the face of and Local Apple Cider strategic planning process last year; healthy, numerous member complaints. The decision Sweet treats for all (even gluten-free) local, sustainable, and organic. Those core was driven by some very specific things: falling Live music and Door prizes— values live the most in perishables, bulks, pro- participation levels, persistent member com- including a backyard rain barrel courtesy of Stormworks, duce, meat, and Café/Deli. Those have also plaints over a half decade that this benefit did gift certificates to Garden Dreams Urban Farm and Nursery been the departments growing the fastest in not work for many of you and was undemo- recent years. Because we only plan to be in cratic, and the difficulty we as an organization — our present location another 5 or 6 years, the and staff had serving your needs during a day Learn more about the 2012 Year of Cooperatives and Participate in our Co-op remodel has to be able to pay for itself from we would try to be 3 times bigger than we “Video Booth”—and let us know how you belong at your Co-op! increased sales in the next 2 or 3 years for it were.
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