Archives

Seven Principles of Cooperatives

Why a Co-op in Cummington? In the first few months of working as the Outreach Coordinator of the Old Creamery Co-op I’ve been asked many times, “Why a Co-op? Why not just keep the Old Creamery as a private business with new owners?” Well, good questions! And while we’re at it, “What is a Co-op?” There are many types and sizes of cooperative businesses and most are structured as for-profit businesses. Whether… Read More

Category: Cherylann Richards, Contributing Writer, Cummington, Hilltown Families, Old Creamery Tags: Berkshires, Co-Op, Cooperatives, Cummington, Hilltowns, Old Creamery, Pioneer Valley, western massachusetts

The Goings-On at the Old Creamery Co-Op: A History

Holy Cow! A Creamery Co-Op! The Old Creamery in Cummington began its long presence in the Hilltown community as The Cummington Cooperative Creamery in 1886. At that time, a co-op of dairy farmers brought fresh cream from their farms to be churned into butter. During the Co-op’s most active period, 145 dairies produced 20,000 pounds of butter per month. With the advent of widespread refrigeration and motor trucking in the 1940’s, the needs… Read More

Category: Cherylann Richards, Contributing Writer, Cummington, HF Contributing Writer, Old Creamery Tags: Berkshires, Co-Op, Cooperative, Cummington, Hilltowns, Old Creamery, Pioneer Valley, Western Massachuestts

Old Creamery Co-Op Welcomes Founding Member-Owners!

On behalf of the Old Creamery Co-op Steering Committee, Kimberly Longey of Plainfield, MA, writes: Greetings: Just 6 months ago we gathered in Cummington to launch the effort to transition the Old Creamery (Cummington, MA) into a community owned cooperative. Today we’ve reach a major milestone – we are now welcoming founding member-owners to join the Co-op! By joining now you will help us keep the momentum building and move us closer… Read More

Category: Cummington, Old Creamery Tags: Berkshires, Co-Op, Food, Hilltowns, Local Food, Massachusetts, New England, Old Creamery, Pioneer Valley, Sustainability

Guinea Pig Co-Op

Felice Wolfzahn of Shelburne Falls, MA writes: GUINEA PIG CO-OP!! We have two lovely female guinea pigs (mother and daughter): Peppermint and Sparkle. As with a lot of pets, the family members are excited and interested for a while, but often the interest fades and they become more of a chore than a fascination. BUT……….. there’s hope other than trying to get rid of these cute, cuddly creatures. Here’s the idea: We… Read More

Category: Animals, Family Tags: Co-Op, Guinea Pig, Pets

BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag!

CMYO: Come Make Your Own at the River Valley Market Bag “Sew-cial” Show the kids a way as a family we can be sensitive and proactive in the conservation of our resources! The next River Valley Market bag sew is scheduled for April 15 from 6-8:30 pm at the Rocky Hill Co-Housing Common Room in Florence. Come make a unique cloth shopping bag and sew on your very own River Valley Market… Read More

Category: Ecology, Florence, Take Action Tags: Co-Op, River Valley Market

Supporting Local Agriculture

River Valley Market Orientation on October 10th Come this March the doors are planned to open at the River Valley Market Co-Op (RVM) in Northampton, a consumer-owned cooperative whose key goal is “a thriving sustainable local food system …”! They broken ground last March and are working on their “green” building. Doors are scheduled to open in March 2008! Are you a member-owner? Want to become a member-owner? There will be an… Read More