With more cold, rainy gray days, our kitchen manager Andy Catalano followed his cravings. He thought nourishing broths would be a welcome addition to our offering. Chef Andy says you can heat the broth and eat, versus stock, a “utility player” in the kitchen but not something you’d necessarily want to drink straight. The broth is also versatile to cook with.

Our cooks make these broths with various aromatics, simmer for a couple hours, then strain and chill. Some recent flavors: charred onion and fresh thyme; lemongrass and ginger; and kozhi rasam with Indian spices and ghee. We plan on rotating the flavor profiles, maintaining the concept of a clear broth, infused then strained, to be consumed as-is or used in cooking.

“I bought the Indian spiced one last week and used it one night for homemade hamburger helper (which was crazy delicious) and another night for a Moroccan chicken and apricot tagine. It was delicious and nourishing straight up,” Chef Andy said.

Our kitchen crew’s plan is to always have one type of broth available on the far left upper side of the soup shelf in the grab n’ go.

We will be closing the store early on Sunday, October 18 at 5:45pm for a filming. In order to be eligible for this opportunity, we are not at liberty to disclose any further details at this time. We anticipate you’ll be able to see how your co-op was featured this spring and hope you’ll be thrilled!

Please get your shopping done before we close Sunday evening. If this inconveniences you in any way, please accept our sincere apologies and know we don’t take closing the store lightly. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact General Manager Matt Stanley at matt@astoria.coop.

By Matt Stanley/Astoria Co+op General Manager

We’re getting solar! The project got delayed due to costs and the pandemic but it’s back on track, with the install of solar posts on the roof. The panels might not go up until spring, but this is an important step toward better environmental and financial sustainability!

This week, a crew has been installing the solar posts that will connect the panel mounting hardware to the structural elements of the building so the panels can withstand high winds.

We were on a path to opening the new store with functional solar, but construction expenses with the general build-out forced us hold off on installing panels. Fortunately though, during construction, we were able to prep the building to be solar-ready, structurally and electrically. Responding to the pandemic didn’t make things easier, and the project had to be moved to the back burner until now.

Timing is critical, as we have two outstanding grants, one from USDA and one from Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program that we do not want to lose. A collaboration with the solar company Elemental Energy is allowing us to complete the project financially; a great long-term investment for the co-op.

The system will be approximately 60 kW, resulting in an approximate savings of $500 monthly in the co-op’s electrical bills. This represents about a third of our total energy usage. As energy costs increase, the savings over the life of the project will be significant. One estimate shows the co-op will save nearly $1 million in electrical expenses over 25 years! I will be able to share more specifics as the project progresses.

The co-op’s rooftop solar project reflects our cooperative model’s emphasis on environmental stewardship and we will be proud to show that a coastal business can successfully take advantage of solar energy. Stay tuned for more information and some neat drone photography of our panel installation!

You may have noticed mountains of soil in our parking lot and extra hands hard at work around our landscaping. Gardener Becky Graham has defended our beautiful plants from being overtaken by hoards of invasive Horsetail that sprouted up from construction soil. She’s amending the soil naturally; a big step toward making an even bigger vision of hers a reality.

“I love creating sanctuary in the landscape: a relaxing, beautiful, inviting outdoor living space for all…humans, and wildlife. It all starts with healthy soil, and a healthy soil food web. Next, plants that thrive in our environment without the use of toxic pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers. I use a mixture of plants for pollinators, edibles, natives, and ornamentals with four seasons of interest,” Becky said.

Customers, neighbors and others strolling by often stop to admire the gardens and Becky loves all the positive feedback.

“I have enjoyed hearing from our customers over the years that tell me they appreciate what I do. It fuels my passion, and makes my job not seem like a job at all. It is a pleasure, and an honor to have the opportunity to share my love of plants, and nature in such a beautiful space in our community,” she said.

The co-op prioritizes creating a welcoming environment and showcasing nature is one way to do that.

“The landscaping at the co-op is the customer’s first impression of the shopping experience. Becky does an amazing job ensuring that the garden around the building reflects the high quality, healthy, and vibrant environment inside the store,” Co-op General Manager Matt Stanley said.

Becky started gardening for the co-op at our former location in the spring of 2014 when all we had was our small “parking lot garden”. Now landscaping surrounds every side of our new building and medians throughout the parking lot. You can also see her work inside the store next to the deli seating area and mural.

Here is a gallery of photos Becky took outside our store.

To help our fellow Oregonians impacted by wildfires, your co-op has donated $500 to the local chapter of the American Red Cross. The Red Cross is helping to shelter families, provide meals, support emergency responders, deliver relief supplies and a whole lot more.

We appreciate your support which allows us to give during this challenging time.