On the Edge in the Co-op

Edginess, here meaning offbeat or fringe, is a trait I admire.  Without people who think differently or perceive things in a different way, or in a 21st Century term, "outside the box," innovation would die. Where would we be without those thinkers who were seen as "out of the mainstream", like Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin or Florence Nightingale and Susan B. Anthony?

Take the modern cooperative--started in the 1970s--as an example of an edgy idea. A cooperative

Co-op Ideals

initially organized to get better prices on bulk items (flour, oats, etc.) for its members, which could be anyone, and any surplus was turned back to the members. These still are part of the modern cooperative, but the 21st Century cooperative now goes well beyond the basic ideas of banding together for better prices to include supporting organic farmers, beef farmers who feed their herds grass, sustainable fisheries, local entrepreneurs, and more.

When I first joined the Lakewinds co-op in 1990, I was one of the first 1500 members. In an area of tens of thousands of people, only 1500 had chosen to support the future of food--'clean' food unrelated to the greater "food industry." I cut cheese, re-filled bulk containers, swept floors, washed containers, and watched as more and more people rejected the American food industry and embraced the co-cop ideal.  Now, there are tens of thousands of members in the co-op system and Lakewinds has three different stores.

The 'edge' is also an important concept when shopping. At the co-op the other day--a store that I visit all too frequently--I realized why I like its small size and compactness so much: it's mostly an "edge" store. 

Co-op Foods

What's that you ask.  If you think about the layout of the typical American grocery store, the edge consists of produce, meat, dairy, bakery, bulk area, and maybe a deli or frozen food area. That's really all you need.

What comes in between those edges are freezers and aisles of boxes, bags and cans of, mostly, things we don't need and could easily do without.  Okay, maybe some cleaning products are useful, or olive oil.  But you see what I mean.  The edge is essential.  The middle of the store is mostly superfluous.

So hence the word "edgy" takes on another meaning when it comes to food and shopping.  I like to eat "edgy", to coin a phrase.

Whether in ideas, shopping or people, the edge may be what we need the most.

The Gifts of the Cold

The winter cold surrounds us and leaks in through the key holes and cracks in the window frames. Embrace the cold and consider its many gifts. Cold has cleansing power and opportunities for renewal. You know the crispness of air so cold that it stings--it brings a sense of raw purity.  

Cold lets you be. When my international students ask me what to do in the winter, I quickly present a list of outdoor activities from skating to snow-shoeing. But in the blessed sub-zero cold, you have to stop much doing and focus on just being. Enjoy the gift of limited choices and quiet periods the cold presents you. 

Cold brings us clarity. We respect the cold. During long periods at home, matters are clearly defined.  Is there enough food for another day? Will the car start? Are the pipes frozen? Should I bring in more wood for the fire? Have I fed the birds and deer who gather around my bird feeder? Do I have a good book and my knitting? Am I wearing wool socks? Beyond these considerations, life waits for spring.

Cold encourages you to seek heat. Consider that deer sleep in the day in a sunny spot and move more at night. Their metabolism slows to maintain heat. So we gather around the fire or find a sun-filled corner to restfully soak in the heat of the sun.

Cold created introverts. The cold of winter requires you to retreat indoors, and the long nights of winter propel you further inward. These long periods with only a family member or two, a pet, or maybe no one for company create the perfect climate for losing yourself in yourself.  Those from northern climes guard their emotions and speech while those from warmer, southern climates effuse about life. The cold shaped those self-sufficient northern personalities who depend on the isolation of the winter to recharge. 

A Russian friend of mine told about her friend who walks no matter the cold temperatures or wind chill. To her, there is no such thing as cold weather—only bad clothes. Similarly, to me, cold brings no hardship--only gifts of peace, clarity and renewal. Embrace the opportunity to hug the fire and your loved ones. Let the rays of the winter sun lull you to sleep in quiet revelry.