Old Creamery Co-op News | November 11th, 2022 | |
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Cooperatively Owned, Everyone Welcome!
Open 8am-7pm, Seven Days A Week
Feel free to call ahead - (413) 634-5560
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In this Newsletter you will find:
- A Quick Word from our General Manager
- A Heartfelt Thank You, check out our list of donors and their linked causes
- A Highlight on: Bob's Christmas Tree Farm
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Pie Time! Pre-Oder Classic Creamery Crumb-top Pies!
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A Word From Our
General Manager
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Well, there’s no getting around it.
It was one heck of a show, but those beautiful golden leaves have taken their final bow. And while we’ve gotten a bit of a temperate reprieve on what probably should have been the frosty lead-in to our wintering season, you can’t stop those daylight hours from slipping, slipping away.
Even as the mad rush of summer grows smaller and smaller in our rearview mirror, it feels like we haven’t slowed a tick! Down at The Creamery, October chased us around like crazy people. One by one, pretty well every department in the store lost a member or two to various viruses, colds, and seasonal happenstance. And one by one, each and every member of our world-class staff stepped up to the plate, gave a little more, and made it all work as a team.
Happily, business has carried on apace! Our Holiday Pie Pre-order us up and running. (Pre-order Here) Thanksgiving’s just around the corner, and once again, we’ve scheduled Member Appreciation Weekend accordingly. November 19 and 20 will be a great time to make your way down to the Co-op for that good 10% discount on all those holiday fixin’s*.
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And if that’s not enough, we’re pushing like crazy behind the scenes, working on fun little projects to try to keep things fresh and new around the store. We’re in talks with some fine local folks regarding the creation of custom tabletops to bring back a bit of our indoor seating. And of course, with that will come a fresh reshuffling of our Grab’n’Go zone. Bit by bit, we’re looking for interesting bits of homewares to offer in the nooks below our Little Gallery. Keep an eye out for candles & soaps, holiday ornaments, fancy tea sets, and other captivating bits of tchotchke and/or bric-a-brac! Alpaca knit hats and gloves from the New England Alpaca Fiber Pool will be arriving any day now. And recently, we used a close-up photograph of Camille to design a new little logo celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a co-op! Look for that, as well as our classic logo, on a variety of mugs, hats, and new t-shirts - all coming soon. | |
And while we’re on the topic of that upcoming gift-giving season? Following our recent advertising partnership with WRSI (93.9 The River), The Old Creamery Cooperative has happily agreed to partner with those good folks once again as a drop-off location for their annual “The River Cares for Kids” toy and gift drive. In coordination with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, The River creates a portal on their website where listeners can register to purchase requested gift items for children in need of a brighter Christmas. And we couldn’t be more excited to be one of their official drop-off locations! | |
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So, yes. We’re keeping busy. And we know you are, too. But isn’t this the best kind of busy? Planning and prepping, working and building, baking and plating and rushing to the finish line - the one where we collapse in a heap of friends and family, with a deep and soul-felt commitment to accomplishing as little as possible over the course of a four day weekend. Or maybe that’s just me…
Yours in eternal optimism,
~Lloyd
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*Member-Owner discounts do not apply to: alcohol, tobacco, newspapers, or thanksgiving turkeys. | |
To Our Capital
Campaign Donors:
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Thank you all, so much.
Our Capital Campaign was a huge success! It's because of engaged community members, like all of you, that we are able to reach our goal.
Following are the names of those wonderful folks who donated at our Newsletter shout-out tier or above:
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Sarah Buie & Walter Wright, Gus Perkins, Ilse & Robert Godfrey, Eli Martin Schotz, Marisa & Martin, Richard Goodibg, Elaine & Conrad, David B Jones, Andrew Watt, Kristin Wingard, Jane K Crosby, Michael Crotty & Rob Goff, Bonnie & Jerry, Poirier DiLeo Family, Steven Schiff, Darlene Graham & Tim Walter, Anna Hanchett, Lyle Hazel, Jeffrey & Donna Vanasse, Brenda Arbib, Emmett Leader, John Jones, Rebecca Coletta, Sheila Kinney, Christine Brandon, Joan Wattman, Peter Feitner, Gregory Hayes, Raphael Wolfe, Benjamin B Bederson, Anonymous, Margaret Dondiego, Stacy & Rick, Homestead Inc., Charles Carden, Philip Allessio, Bobbin Young, Alexandra Nelson, Jeanne Johns, Ann Kohn, James Martin, Andrea & Brian, L D Pulgram Arthen, Augustus Perkins, Leslie A Ferrin, Claire Mcdonnell, Patricia J Corley, Pauline Combe-Clark, Eric Leventhal Arthen, John Maruskin, Darlene Graham, Peter Feitner, Sarah J Prince, Susan Wachtel, Donald R Miller, Sherrill Redmon, Laurie Israel, Deb Balmuth & Colin Harrington
If you don’t see your name here it’s because you didn’t include it in our correspondence and we assume you’d prefer to remain anonymous.
Thank you to all our anonymous donors!
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Local Highlight: Bob's Trees
A local cut-your-own tree farm
By Jesse Massaro
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Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of Plainfield, down on a dead end dirt road, live Bob & Susan Mellstrom. They run a small tree farm dedicated to keeping the holiday magic alive, this service is mostly a pet project for Bob. He sells “cut-your-own” trees at a price that can’t be matched. He opens his farm up to interested folks from Thanksgiving Weekend though till Christmas, but he’s working year round to make sure his trees are happy and taken care of.
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Bob started his tree farm 25-30 years ago, as a hobby. Looking at his lot he thought a nice little tree farm seemed like a good use of the space, he started off with 50 trees and has grown to keep around 500 total, then selling and replacing around 70 each season. All trees raised on the farm are Balsam Fir, selected both for their aesthetics but also the undeniable scent of the season. Anyone walking through the rows will find simply brushing up against the boughs releases that delightful aroma.
| Bob’s farm is relatively small, by comparison to more commercial offerings, and each year holds different challenges. This year we faced a drought for most of the summer, which can stunt the growth of the new saplings. Each tree takes about 8-15 years to fill out for eventual holiday use, with sheering and shaping each summer. All told these bumps are par for the course, with the long gap between planting and harvesting everything has a chance to smooth out over the course of a decade. | |
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While this hobby isn’t Bob’s day job it is important to him. Each season he looks forward to seeing local families, while the kids and dogs run around, there is time to say hello as the trees are being selected and harvested. Knowing households around the area are enhanced through his offerings is part of his return on investment. Bob’s Trees has a small but dedicated clientele, locals who like to know where their tree came from and that it fits their needs.
At just thirty dollars a tree it’s hard to beat his price, and if you’ve never had the experience of cutting your own tree that’s a memory you might want to make. Out of the kindness of his heart, Bob also offers up the cut boughs, perfect for wreaths or home decoration, for free to any who want some (while supplies last!).
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If you’d like to meet Bob and pick out one of his trees you can find them in Plainfield, or give them a call. The trees are ready to take home as soon as the weekend of November 26th & 27th and runs through till Christmas!
Don’t miss out on this opportunity for a bit of local magic and adventure.
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Bob's Trees
10 Maple St, Plainfield,
Ma, 01070
Open Weekends
Thanksgiving - Christmas
413 634 2182
| This year Bob has selected a cause to donate his proceeds to, recently a family member was diagnosed with autism and in their honor he will be donating to help with outreach and awareness for that issue. | |
Upcoming Seasonal Promotions | |
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Did you miss out on Pre-Ordering a
Diemand Farm Turkey this year?
We still have a few un-reserved! Currently there are three birds, at 10 lbs each, available for reservation.
Please email OldCreameryMarketing@gmail.com to ensure your name is on the list!
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Next Board Meeting - Tuesday, November 15th, 6:30pm, Via zoom.
Email board for more info: board@oldcreamery.coop
- This month's GM monitoring reports: Quarterly Financials (Third Quarter Report)
Member Owner Appreciation - Once every Quarter we offer a 10% discount though the weekend. Member discounts apply to all items besides Alcohol, Newspapers, and Tobacco.
- Our next Member Owner Appreciation Weekend is:
November 19th & 20th (One week from this Newsletter's post date)
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Last Call For Pie Pre-Orders!
Less than One Week Left
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We Love Pie! 🥧
And every year we make a LOT of pies. This year is no different. We're even adding a new flavor to the mix! Maple Cream Pies will now be available, along with the classics we've always offered.
Fill out our online pre-order form, call the store during business hours, or stop on by and put your name on the list. There's plenty of ways to ensure you get your slice this season.
Available Flavors:
- WIld Blueberry Pie
- Apple Pie
- Maple Pecan Pie
- Tart Cherry Pie
- Pumpkin Pie
- Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie (with an Almond-Oat crust)
- Maple Cream Pie
All Pies are 9 inches:
Fruit, Pecan Pies, and GF Pumpkin Pies at $18.99
Pumpkin and Maple Cream Pies at $17.99
Orders must be placed by Thursday, November 17th.
Pies will be ready for pickup on Wednesday, November 23th, after 12:00PM*
Please remember that the Creamery will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24th
Online Order form: Here
Or give us a call at: 413 634 5560
*if you need a pie sooner, please call in your order with the day you would like to pick it up, ask for Mel: (413) 634-5560.
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Orders from the Bulk & Case Club will receive a 5% discount from our newly lowered retail prices. In appreciation to the ongoing support of our Member-Owner community, Co-Op Creamery Members will receive an additional 5% discount, for a total of 10% off shelf pricing.
Order Bulk & Case Club Here!
Please direct any questions or concerns regarding the new system to Laura Anne Segatti at:
oldcreamerycenterstore@gmail.com
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Creamery Hours:
8am-7pm
Seven Days a Week!
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