2008 Spring Membership Information

Local Food Club will run a spring membership during the months of March, April, and May 2008. Farm runs will include:

* Landis Gourmet Mushrooms (oyster mushrooms)
* Wild Turkey Farms (eggs, pork)
* Hoffner Dairy (mixed salad greens, pecans)
* Bird Brain Ranch (ostrich)
* Grateful Growers (pork, shitake mushrooms, preorder chicken)
* Apple Orchard (beef, eggs, pork)
* Glencoras (asparagus, preorder duck, preorder turkey)

* Goat Lady Dairy (goat cheese)
* Homeland Creamery / Bowman Dairy (milk, butter)

In addition, we will offer produce as we find it. Produce is somewhat difficult to procure for groups our size outside the farmers' market season. However, we continue to seek out suppliers of fresh produce along the route that takes us to the farms noted above.

Membership dues are $60 for the three-month period. This is in addition to the cost of the food ordered. The money goes to cover the time and expenses incurred in placing, collecting, and distributing the food orders. It also covers the cost of educational events and capital expenses (such as coolers and the future online ordering system).

We will expand the number of memberships from 20 to 50 and increase the frequency of farm runs to twice monthly. We will involve a team of compensated volunteers to handle this growth. But expect the growth to be a bit rocky nonetheless.

The social committee will put on three events, one each month. Although these events will each have an educational element, the most important aspect of them is to build community among club members. Several of you have expressed a desire for forming a support network as you try to eat a locally produced diet. We want the social interactions of the group to facilitate your endeavors.

How to Join
If you are already a member, and want to join again, first, consider whether you can serve as a volunteer (see earlier post). If so, be sure to let Christy know as soon as possible. If you don't want to volunteer but you still want to re-up, you need to notify Christy by noon, Friday, February 22. You can pay your dues at the next pick-up.

If you are a member and have friends who want to join, please have them contact Christy by email before noon, Friday, February 22. They need to note who referred them in their email. I will give them instructions for sending their payment.

If you are not affiliated with current members of the club but are interested in joining this spring, please post a comment here. You need to include your email address so that I can get back to you if there are any open slots. I will start working through this list on February 23. I will go through this list in the order in which the posts are made, but will notify everyone who posts an email address one way or the other.