Classes return to Seward Community Co-op on Sept. 4. Enjoy opportunities—some free—to learn a new skill or dig into an interesting topic with an instructor from the community.

Sign up now, as some classes are selling out fast. Click the links below to register.

Nourish 101: Cauliflower Curry Soup – SOLD OUT
Tuesday, Sep. 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Friendship store
Nourish 101 classes feature basic scratch-cooking techniques and recipes that feed a family of four for under $10.
Jessica Brown, Jess Delicious
FREE

Develop and Maintain a Levain Culture: Flour, Water and Time – SOLD OUT
Wednesday, Sep. 5, 6-7 p.m.
Franklin store
Learn how to develop and maintain a levain culture (a type of sourdough starter). Starter will be available for students to take home.
Steve Horton, Baker’s Field Flour & Bread Head Miller and Baker
$6/$5 co-op owners

Intro to Soap Making – SOLD OUT
Wednesday, Sep. 12, 6–8 p.m.
Franklin store
Learn soap making from one of Seward Co-op’s most popular soap vendors! Each student receives an instruction manual and takes home five bars of soap ($25 retail).
John Hanson, Seward Soap
$30/$25 co-op owners

Okonomiyaki: A Savory Japanese Pancake
Thursday Sep. 13, 6-8 p.m.
Franklin store
When life gives you cabbage, make Okonomiyaki— a delicious pancake filled with cabbage, meat and seafood.
Koshiki Yonemura and Benjamin Smith, Tanpopo Studio
$35/$30 co-op owners

Co-op Kids: Pizza Party! – SOLD OUT
Saturday, Sep. 15, 11 a.m.-noon
Friendship store
Kids will learn about the plants, flavors and uses of herbs and spices common in Minnesota. Ages 5-12.
Instructors from Midwest Food Connection
FREE

Ayurveda for Healthy Digestion
Thursday, Sep. 20, 6-7:30 p.m.
Friendship store
Many diseases originate from our gut. This class will focus on the concept of Agni, Ayurvedic diet and Ayurvedic home remedies for digestive issues and more.
Vanashree Belgamwar
$12/$10 co-op owners

The Skinny on Fat
Tuesday, Sep. 25, 6-8 p.m.
Friendship store
Confused about fat? Culinary nutritionists Jenny Breen and Jesse Haas are teaming up to tackle this controversial topic. We’ll also prepare and enjoy recipes featuring cooking oils, nuts, seeds and other fat-rich foods.
Jenny Breen and Jesse Haas
$30/$25 co-op owners

Honest In Trade: A Conversation about Supply Chain Sustainability
Wednesday, Oct. 3, 6-7:30 p.m.
Franklin store
Learn about Once Again Nut Butter’s social justice programs, employee ownership model, supply chain transparency and their dedication to the planet.
Gael B. Orr, Once Again Nut Butter
FREE

A Perfect Bowl of Autumn Soba Noodles
Thursday, Oct. 4, 6–8 p.m.
Franklin store
Have you made Japanese Dashi stock before? This tried and tested recipe is from Tanpopo Noodle Shop, a Japanese restaurant that was once located in Lowertown St. Paul.
Koshiki Yonemura and Benjamin Smith, Tanpopo Studio
$35/$30 co-op owners

Intro to Soap Making
Wednesday, Oct. 10, 6–8 p.m.
Franklin store
Learn to make soap from a Seward Co-op vendor. Each student receives an instruction manual and takes home five bars of soap ($25 retail).
John Hanson, Seward Soap
$30/$25 co-op owners

Nourish 101: Farro with Tomato and Feta
Tuesday, Oct. 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Friendship store
We’ll learn how to cook with farro, one of many delicious and affordable ingredients you can purchase at the bulk sale Oct. 25.
Jessica Brown, Jess Delicious
FREE

Nourish 101: Fermenting Veggies with Pickle Witch
Thursday, Oct. 25, 6–8 p.m.
Friendship store
Learn the basics of fermenting in a hands-on workshop that will teach you to turn almost any vegetable into a nutritious and delicious fermented pickle. Bring your own container to take your ferment home!
L. Kling, Pickle Witch
FREE

Festive Fermented Beverages
Thursday, Nov. 1, 6–8 p.m.
Franklin store
Learn the basics of making live, fermented beverages. By capturing and propagating the ginger bug, participants can make fizzy juice, soda, alcohol and vinegar.
Monarda Thrasher, Tea for the People, LLC
$15/$12 co-op owners

Intro to Soap Making
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 6–8 p.m.
Franklin store
Learn soap making using the cold process method. Each student receives an instruction manual and takes home five bars of soap ($25 retail).
John Hanson, Seward Soap
$30/$25 co-op owners

Nourish 101: Thanksgiving Sides
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Friendship store
Nourish 101 classes feature basic scratch-cooking techniques and recipes that feed a family of four for under $10 ($15 with meat). Learn how to feed your family economically and still have leftovers!
Jessica Brown, Jess Delicious
FREE

Important Class Information
Walk-ins are welcome as space allows, but Seward Co-op may cancel classes if there are fewer than three preregistered attendees. In this case, participants will be notified and given a full refund. Payment must be made at time of registration. To ensure a refund, cancellations must be made 48 hours before the class date.

Stop by the Franklin store during the Nordic Naturals Pop-up event on Sunday, Sept. 30, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., to talk to Nordic representatives about the best Omega-3s for you and your family and try free samples!

Plus: Save 30% on Nordic Naturals products, including fish oil and Nordic Berries multivitamin gummies for the kiddos.

CAPI’s Asian food shelf provides nearly 400 immigrant and refugee families with access to nutritious food every month.

Round up at the register throughout the month. All funds raised go to CAPI as part of our SEED program.

Seward Co-op’s SEED program is a simple yet powerful community giving opportunity that allows customers to round up their grocery bill at the co-op or check at Seward Co-op Creamery Café for recipient organizations that share our commitment to a healthy community. All funds donated at the register are given directly to the recipient organization at the end of each month, often totaling over $20,000 per month.

CAPI USA is an immigrant-led, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping Minnesota’s newest refugees and immigrants gain access to jobs, housing, food, health education, youth and senior social services in order to promote economic independence, self-determination and social equality.

Visit their website to learn more. Follow CAPI on Facebook and Twitter.

Why did the board vote to remove one of its members?

The board voted to remove director Filiberto Nolasco Gomez for cause, under Section 5(b) of the co-op’s bylaws. Filiberto received the 10-day notice of the proposed removal and had the opportunity to be heard at the August 28, 2018 board meeting, pursuant to the bylaws. We do not undertake director removal lightly. We tried over several months to raise the board’s concerns with Filiberto, with a goal of addressing them informally and finding a way to repair the relationship through mediation. Filiberto has not been willing to take part in these efforts.

The board has been concerned about ongoing false and misleading information. Some of this information is being spread by the board member in question. As a board, we believe this director has a conflict of interest and has repeatedly violated his fiduciary responsibility to the co-op. We have tried to have a dialogue with this director and he has refused to engage. The word fiduciary means: legal responsibility to act solely in the interest of all co-op owners.

Our board policies identify a code of conduct that requires a director to report conflicted loyalties that could interfere with their role as a director of the co-op. Removal is being considered because this director has taken actions and engaged in behaviors that are a violation of board policy. Our bylaws provide a process for removal.

• This director has engaged in actions the board has found are contrary to a director’s fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest of the co-op. In particular, without the board’s knowledge or approval, the director attended and filmed a workplace grievance brought by employees to management objecting to the termination of a co-worker for cause and requesting more latitude on tardiness for employees. On August 3, he published the footage, through Workday MN, replacing audio with his own commentary and failing to disclose his status as a member of the BOD. After this event the board began contemplating removing the director from the board.
• We have found this director has violated the board’s Code of Conduct.
• This director did not disclose his conflict of interest to the board until June 19, 2018, despite a board process to disclose potential conflicts in November, 2017, and the ongoing obligation to disclose potential conflicts.
• This director has inserted himself into a role inconsistent with board policy.

The board certainly acknowledges and supports the rights of Seward staff to organize, and for journalists and other members of the community to discuss, debate, express, and publish opinions about the unionizing effort and the co-op.

The fiduciary duty of a board director, however, dictates that you wear one hat or the other – but not both simultaneously, except when explicitly authorized by a board decision.

The board unanimously decided to remove Filiberto Nolasco Gomez.

The director’s term was up for election in 2018, and the new director will be decided at the annual meeting in October.

The statement read by board president Mary Alice Smalls on behalf of the board at the August 28, 2018 meeting and an FAQ are available here.

Califia Farms has issued a voluntary recall of a limited amount of 48-ounce Mocha Cold Brew Coffee due to a food safety issue. The root cause was resolved and has not been linked to illness.

Califia Farms 48 oz. Mocha Cold Brew Coffee
UPC 0085290900350
Lot #20221018444 (Expire Date: 11/9/18; shipped in the U.S.)
Lot #20221018445 (Expire Date: 11/9/18; shipped in the U.S.)

Seward Community Co-op does not currently have affected product on the shelf but could have sold affected product at both locations May 29-Aug. 29.

If you purchased the product at Seward Co-op during this time period, it will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desks.

Seward Community Co-op encourages shoppers to donate to MAD DADS, our August SEED recipient, by rounding up at the register at co-op stores and Seward Co-op Creamery Cafe throughout the month.

Co-op staff have selected SEED recipients from a group of applicants each year since the program began in 2011. All funds donated at the register are given directly to the recipient organization at the end of each month, often totaling over $20,000 per month.

What is MAD DADS?

MAD DADS is an acronym: Men Against Destruction, Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder.

MAD DADS combats social disorder, while restoring and stabilizing the family environment for children, adolescents and young adults, neighborhoods, communities and cities, with the task of addressing the issues of drugs, gangs and violence.

MAD DADS seeks to bring about positive change, and encourages, motivates and guides committed men and women in the struggle to save children, communities and themselves from the social ills that presently plague neighborhoods.

Activities are designed to promote and demonstrate positive images of fathers engaging and protecting community, youth and families.

History of MAD DADS

MAD DADS was founded in May 1989 by a group of concerned Omaha Nebraska African-American men and parents who were “fed up with gang violence and the unmolested flow of illegal drugs in their community.”

They presented themselves as positive role models and concerned loving parents who were a visible presence in communities.

The Minneapolis Chapter of MAD DADS was created in 1998. After its inception, the local chapter identified a consistent theme throughout neighborhoods and broadened membership to include individuals and families from all ethnic and racial backgrounds. In addition, MAD DADS has, at the request of law enforcement representative, expanded services to some suburban areas.

The program seeks to:

• Recruit, engage and activate adults in local communities.
• Serve as parental role models to children, adolescents and young adults.
• Guide, instruct and influence children, adolescents and young adults in a way that ensures the healthy development of each child’s emotional, spiritual and physical well-being
• To combat social disorder, while restoring and stabilizing the family environment for children, adolescents and young adults, neighborhoods, communities and cities, with the task of addressing the issues of drugs, gangs and violence.

To learn more, visit the local organization’s website: minneapolismaddads.org.

Come meet the farmers that grow our food! Farmers from Hare & Tortoise Farm, a member of the Heartbeet Farms Cooperative, will be in sampling Heartbeet’s Gold Beets on Saturday, Sept. 8, at both stores.

Stop in to chat and try a taste of this delicious fall entrée!

Saturday, Sept. 8
11a.m.-2 p.m., Franklin store
3-6 p.m., Friendship store

Owned by Joe and Rebecca Schwen, Heartbeet uses a combination of draft horses, small tractors and other technologies to grow a wide variety of vegetables. In coordination with Earthen Path, a farm long owned and managed by Steven Schwen (Joe’s father), they bring Seward Co-op green-top onions, Hakurei turnips, shiso and many other items throughout the growing season.

Save and pay it forward Aug. 15-Sept. 4. Buy Vita Coco 2/$6 and money will go to support students in the Philippines.

For every Vita Coco item purchased at Seward Co-op through Sept. 4, $1 will be designated to help build classrooms—up to $10,000!

Vita Coco’s mission is to lift 1 million people out of poverty through its Give, Grow, Guide program known as The Vita Coco Project.

Currently, Vita Coco is focused on Sri Lanka and the Philippines because they are two of the largest coconut producing regions in the world and where Vita Coco says it can make a bigger impact.

Through Vita Coco’s program partner HOPE, Vita Coco is building classrooms to provide students with a proper place to study and help encourage them to attend school more often.