“Herbs are great for immune health, but they build on the foundation of self-care. Washing your hands often is a good place to start. Eating soups from local meat broths and root vegetables nourishes us deeply this time of year. Rest. Lots of rest. Yoga and meditation are great tools for good health all year long but committing to a practice could be a great New Year’s resolution. If everyone around you is sick, take elderberry syrup. Then give it to all the sick people around you! Elderberry is great for warding off colds and flus, but also helps sick people get well faster. ” Read the rest of our interview with Samhain Herbs owner Jill Fink.

Anyone who has lived in or visited Vermont during winter may be familiar with just how beautiful but unforgiving a season it can be. The sometimes biting, bone-chilling cold is undeniable and it can be a challenge for some residents to find an escape from it. Helping Vermonters find food, shelter, and warmth is just one of the many important priorities of our Featured Community Partner, Capstone Community Action.

While shopping at Hunger Mountain Co-op now through February 1, you have the opportunity to round up your purchase at the register and Give Change to support Capstone and their Fuel Your Neighbors program, which provides emergency food and heating assistance to our community members in need. Use the form here to opt into being asked if you’d like to round up every time you make a purchase. Read more about Capstone Community Action and the Fuel Your Neighbor program.

Help support the Montpelier Food Pantry every time you shop at Hunger Mountain Co-op just by remembering your reusable bags! For each bag, basket, or box that you use at the register, we will donate five cents to the Food Pantry. Last month, this totaled $973.30 and saved 19,466 paper bags. Since July of 2019, we have donated $5,058.45 to the food pantry and replaced 101,169 paper bags. Since the Bag That Bag program launched, Hunger Mountain Co-op shoppers have collectively raised $37,989.85 for the food pantry and have saved 759,797 bags! Read more about the work of Just Basics, Inc and the Food Pantry.

“I have been making art and creating all of my life. My Grandmother, Ruth was an oil painter and she taught me many things in the realm of art. She is the reason I continued to make art after her death and into adulthood. She believed in me and supported me in my creative life more than anyone.” Read more about Jennifer Palkowski-Jacques and her artwork.

The Co-op’s bylaws have not been updated in many years. A Bylaw Committee made up of council members and member-owners has been working on possible bylaw changes for over a year. After a series of forums with members and staff last summer, the Committee has a new draft. Please join us to review and discuss the potential changes that are being considered. In the forums, they will share their work, listen to your feedback, and answer any questions you might have. The final bylaw update forum is on Wednesday, January 22 at 5:30 pm. Learn more about the forums and coming bylaw updates.

We host a variety of events, including product demos led by our demo coordinator and many of our local vendors, tabling with area nonprofits, Co-op council meetings, and more. Check out what’s going on in January.