From Planning To Practice!
June 12, 2023
It is always such a satisfying feeling when a plan begins to fall into place, and you start to see the amazing differences and positive changes that all of your co-operative efforts have made. This is how staff, volunteers and the interim Board members are feeling these days about the future of the Steep Hill Co-op. What started out as hope, belief and a “can do” attitude, has begun to shift the fortunes of Steep Hill from a co-operative that was slated for closure toward a strong, resilient and thriving enterprise, that we all know it can become once more. We couldn’t have accomplished so much in so little time without the determination, optimism and hard work of so many!
Point of Sale (POS) System
At the risk of sounding like new parents - we are excited and happy announce that the new Point of Sale (POS) system has arrived! We will be posting a video on social media of the new equipment. Stay tuned! The efficiencies and modern options that this system will offer the store and our customers will make a huge difference to our bottom line and to our ability to be responsive to changing needs and opportunities. Several of the interim Board members are working hard to ensure that all the store’s product, pricing and membership information is able to be accurately uploaded into the new system. Once that is complete, it will be ready for installation!
Product Survey Up And Running
Steep Hill is a little store with a big heart, and limited space. We want to use it wisely and efficiently, and are once again asking members and non-members alike, to take a few moments out of your busy day to complete the new Product Preferences survey. Your answers will let us know what gaps exist and help us provide more of the items that you need and want. There are only 13 quick questions, but the answers that we receive will go a long way to making grocery shopping at Steep Hill more satisfying and convenient for you.
Grassland Greens
The Jelsma family is doing something big with very small plants! Richard Jelsma, his partner and four children settled in Saskatoon 2.5 years ago after working in international development in Rwanda for 10 years. Transitioning from a warm climate, where crops grow year-round, to a cold climate where, for a good portion of the year, most green crops are imported, presented an opportunity for the growing of micro-greens. A 20-year-long background in horticulture had stoked Richard’s passion for working with plants and people, and the Jelsma family took up the challenge!
Did you know that…..
- Micro-greens contain 4-40 times more nutrients by weight than their fully grown counterpart;
- Studies have shown that micro-green consumption may reduce heart disease risk factors such as weight, bad LDL, cholesterol and triglycerides;
- Micro-greens contain a wider variety of polyphenols than their mature vegetable counterparts. Polyphenols prevent the build up of harmful free radicals associated with heart disease, cancer and Altzheimer’s Disease;
- Vegetable consumption is associated with a lower risk of certain cancers, inflammation, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
With nutritional health at the forefront of wise consumer’s minds, fresh micro-greens provide a nutrient and vitamin-rich punch to our diets. Produced right here in Saskatoon, you can’t get much more local! Richard is excited to be producing these lovely, fresh micro-greens for your eating pleasure, grown in an eco-friendly, chemical-free environment, and looks forward to expanding his line of offerings in the future.
Serving Tip - Use them as a topping, or a bed, or an accompaniment for just about anything…..!
GoGundMe Campaign
Steep Hill is almost over that steep hill. To date, we have received $42,350.00 in funds through both the “GoFundMe” campaign and other donations. It has truly been an underdog come-back story, but we are still just over $7,000 short of our $50,000 goal. Please help us get there! Even a few dollars will make a difference!
Remember …
100% of the funds will be used to support the development and implementation of a financial and operational plan to run Steep Hill more sustainably, effectively and efficiently. Already, donations have been carefully allocated to new, touchless dried goods dispensers, a new Point of Sale system, cooler upgrades, and new shelving and lighting installation. Every penny of your donated funds is carefully spent to ensure that Steep Hill will be sustainable – and responsive and accommodating to your shopping needs for many years to come.
Building community, encouraging sustainable and healthy living, and connecting local producers to consumers - this is at the heart of Steep Hill Food-Co-op. Please consider donating to Steep Hill Co-op if you believe in:
- Ethical and co-operative business practices
- Certified organic products local to our bioregion
- Nourishing food, fair trade, and non-GMO products
A BIG THANK YOU to all who have donated so far!
Good Things To Remember…
Steep Hill AGM is June 28, 2023 at Grace Westminster United Church from 7 til 9:30 PM. Save the date! The official notice with other details will arrive in your in-box and be posted in the store in the next few days. We are looking forward to seeing you there. We encourage members to consider running for the Board of Directors of the Steep Hill Co-op. It is an exciting and gratifying time to be involved in your co-operative. If you would like more information, please contact us at board@steephillfood.ca
Corner Store/Pantry Staple Items are coming! We have finalized a list of about 50 items that we will be stocking in the Steep Hill Market Corner Store. We’ve heard from many members that having a selection of lower-cost basics would be a great addition to the store, and would be another important way for Steep Hill to support healthy eating in Nutana. We will be getting the POS system up and running prior to stocking the pantry staple items, and some minor renovations will have to be completed to house these new products. But the plan for stocking them is solidified, and we are excited to be able to offer these items for your shopping convenience.
Tuesday Shopping Hours are now 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you this coming Tuesday after you drop off the kids at school! The feedback on these new Tuesday hours has been great. Shopping hours for the rest of the week remain Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We love welcoming you any time!
Memberships are Cheap! A Working Membership of $25.00/year gives you:
- A 6% discount on all purchases all the time including case-lot and special sale days!
- An option to place bulk and special orders
- An opportunity to vote at the AGM and run for the Steep Hill Board of Directors
All memberships purchased support local producers and farmers, and the longest-running local food co-operative in Canada!
AND FINALLY…
We depend so much on Scott and Sammy, our intrepid staff team. Please give them a big thank you when you are in the store. They are the constant faces of Steep Hill. Watch for their social media stories and photos on Facebook and Instagram. Like and share them!
We depend so much on our volunteers who have logged countless hours at Steep Hill doing absolutely everything that was asked of them and more! Every exciting change and improvement that you see in the store now, and will see in the future, would have been impossible without them.
We depend so much on you, our customer. We want to be the store that you need and are counting on you all to show us, and tell us, and help Steep Hill become what that is! Our plan is for the little store with the big heart to be a fixture in the Broadway District for many, many years to come.
Ann Smith,
Director
On behalf of the Steep Hill Interim Board