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Sister Coop Project Update

Dear friends

As many already know we started reaching out to this coop in Puerto Rico right after hurricane María. I knew this coop because friends had invited to speak about Buffalo Mountain to the Madre Tierra board in 2006. This was an informal talk facilitated by friends that thought it would be a good idea for the coop in PR to hear from a Puerto Rican woman living in VT and working at the coop. I was also already traveling in the summer to study in Puerto Rico and this helped.

Our friends Carlos Lago and Justina Diáz Bisbal from Finca Tintillo were the first ones to host our Vt. work brigade. They are still deeply thankful for the help they receive from the delegation.Justina has often shared and I believe will continue to share how the help came at a very crucial time when the devastation from the hurricane, the lack of electricity and basic needs where a big burden to their morale. Our work clearing the trees that had fallen on their fruit trees allowed them to nourish the remains back to life.

Yes, the fruit trees started to grow new shoots again and Justina reports a bumping crop of fruit which that are bringing to the market they have organized in the Salinas, near their home.

2018
2018

Continue reading “Sister Coop Project Update”

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Board Election Results Are In!

Thank you to all who participated in our board election. Over 240 people voted.

We are pleased to have Keith Bellairs, the current board Treasurer, continue in his role. We welcome Steve Gorelick’s return to the board and Heather Davis and Katrina Razionale’s joining the board. 
At the same time, we are sad to see David Ludt, the current board Vice President, leave. Thank you, David, for your dedication to the Co-op and the hard work you’ve put in. Thanks, too, for your willingness to continue to help the Co-op by working on special projects. Your perspective and input at meetings will be missed.
We look forward to utilizing Heather’s education and work experience in food security, agriculture, community development, and economic justice issues in the Co-op community. Katrina’s work in local agriculture and economic development will be an asset to the Co-op community.  We are hoping our ties to the Center for Agricultural Economy will grow stronger with her serving on the board.

Thank you for voting in this great team to lead the Co-op. 

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Buffalo Mountain Coop Welcomes New General Manager

The Buffalo Mountain Co-op is excited to announce Emily Hershberger as our first General Manager.  Emily is currently the Director of Human Resources at the New England Culinary Institute.  For over nine years she worked at Jasper Hill as they grew from 11 to more than 80 workers. As a Certified Senior Human Resources Professional with studies in management, she brings a strong background in business. Emily was a founding co-owner of the Langdon Street Café, a collectively run coffee shop and music venue and is currently consulting with Nutty Steph’s Chocolate and Granola to support them as they transition from a sole proprietorship to a collaboratively run organization. Some of the community may know her from the yoga classes she taught in the area. Her combination of business acumen, experience with collaborative work environments, knowledge of the food industry, and heart-centered leadership style are assets that will be beneficial for Buffalo Mountain.  

In her free time, Emily enjoys cross country skiing, paddling, biking, baking, meditation, gardening, writing, playing with her son and nourishing the friendships in her life. We welcome her as she starts her new role at the Co-op on March 25th.