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| Ongoing Events at Harvest Moon |
Gluten Free Meet Up
(Thursday : )
Third Thursdays at 6:00 pm--
Location: Harvest Moon Deli Seating Area--
Free--
Join other Gluten Free eaters to discuss recipes and cooking ideas, receive or provide support, and maybe try some tasty new foods.
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Senior Discount Days
(Thursday : )
Age has its benefits. Shoppers age 62 and up are eligible for a 5% discount on their entire purchase every Thursday. Just ask, and you shall receive.
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Fiddles and Vittles
(Wednesday : 10-12)
Get your day going with live Old-Time fiddle, banjo, and guitar music while you shop or as you enjoy your coffee and scone in the deli seating area on Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
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Wellness Wednesdays
(Wednesday : )
Take 10 % off your products from the Wellness Department at Harvest Moon on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
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| Upcoming Scheduled Events at Harvest Moon |
Round-Up for the Orono Alliance--March 1-15
Round up your purchases from March 1-15, and 100 percent of your “round up” will go to the Orono Alliance for Education. The Alliance helps to preserve and enhance the quality of education by increasing the revenue and other resources available to Orono Public Schools.
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Natural Food: Myths and Mysteries
Kale, Kefir and Kombucha- are they more than just good scrabble words? Why is coconut oil better than canola? Is there such thing as good fat? How can I prepare kale so my family will eat it? Registered Nutrition Consultant, Beth Schupanitz (www.inspiringhealthsolutions.com), will share her wealth of knowledge about nutrition and meal planning techniques, show you how to choose and prepare new and different foods, and help you save time and money doing it.
Tuesday March 6th at 9:30 a.m. Register by Monday, March 5th AND
Thursday April 12th at 6:00 p.m. Register by Wednesday, April 11th
Location: Harvest Moon
Instructor: Beth Schupanitz
Cost: $10 members or $15 non-members
Pre-Registration Required. Everyone registering by noon on the register by date at Customer Service will receive a 5% off store coupon.
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Celebrate Earth Day--April 22nd
Spend $20 or more and receive a FREE re-useable co-op bag. Tout your pride in the environment and your co-op!
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Chitchat with the Coach: Living with Food Allergies
Whether you or your child has food allergies or intolerances, what to cook, how to socialize and staying safe can be a challenge. Come sightsee the store with Kristin Beltaos to find food alternatives based on your dietary needs. A Q & A follows the tour, so bring your challenges and get the answers on how to live life more fully. Kristin Beltaos, M.A. is life/business coach and owner of A Gift of Miles and creator of The Scrumptious Truth, a food allergy and intolerant education and support program. She provides national life coaching and support services to those dealing with Stress Management, Food Allergies and Reproductive Challenges.
Thursday, April 26th at 9:30 a.m.
Location: Harvest Moon
Instructor: Kristin Beltaos
Cost: $17
Register at the customer service counter or http://harvestmoonfoodallergies.eventbrite.com/
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| Harvest Moon weathers a tough business climate to stay true to its community mission. (from Patch.com) |
| Local residents looking for a dynamic selection of all-natural and organically grown foods need look no further than the intersection of Willow Drive and Wayzata Boulevard in Long Lake—home to Harvest Moon.
Harvest Moon became the only grocery store in Long Lake and Orono after opening its doors last June, filling a long-standing need within the community. Harvest Moon is a cooperative owned by about 1,100 members of the community who purchase shares in the store. Stake holders elect a board of directors that oversees the operation’s finances and administration. That includes the hiring and oversight of store manager David Giedd.
Giedd says Harvest Moon has sparked local interest in natural foods—along with the sales to back up the interest. Giedd estimates between 90 and 95 percent of the products carried by Harvest Moon are organic and all-natural. Still, he stressed that Harvest Moon is a full service grocery store carrying everything from pet supplies to toilet paper. Harvest Moon also features a full-service deli and dining area with free wi-fi Internet access.
“We try to touch all of the bases,” Giedd said. “Our customers can find just about anything they need here and that they would find at a traditional grocery store.”
One such repeat customer is a chiropractic student who, along with his two small children, drove the six miles from Maple Plain one afternoon last week solely to fill a cart at Harvest Moon. It's more than worth the trip, said the man, who only identified himself as Phil.
“I come here because I like the organic food,” the customer said as he browsed a large selection of organic nuts. “I’m into the natural thing, and they have a great selection of natural foods.”
He and his young family are a growing part of Harvest Moon's customer base.
“I think in the natural foods section you see a lot of customers with young children,” Giedd said. “It becomes more important as priorities shift.”
Board members are elected by stake holders and the store has no corporate offices, giving Giedd and Harvest Moon the flexibility to tweak operating procedures and adjust to customer needs.
“Our board members all live in Long Lake, Orono or one of the surrounding communities, and I live here in Long Lake,” Giedd said. “Ultimately, we’re the decision makers. There is nobody in New York or L.A. or something saying ‘you have to do it this way.’ It’s our game.”
For $175, anyone can become a stake holder in Harvest Moon and have a say in the store's affairs. There’s no criteria for membership, Giedd said, other than a willingness to invest in a local business.
“In my mind, it’s an investment in the community,” he said. “It’s saying ‘I live in Long Lake or Orono, and I want there to be a grocery store like this here,’”
While Harvest Moon has seen sales grow and stabilize over the last few months, Giedd said, the store isn't immune to the broader economic challenges facing startup businesses.
“It’s been difficult, and we’ve had some underperforming sales months, to be honest,” he said. “But we’ve been working really hard on the customer service aspect of things and improving consistency and quality across all departments. We’ve been really concentrating on the perishable departments recently.”
Those efforts, Giedd said, have begun to bear fruit, and customers have offered positive feedback on changes in both product quality and presentation. Such momentum, Giedd said, will have to continue as Harvest Moon goes toe-to-toe with more traditional supermarkets. That includes a planned Whole Foods scheduled to open later this year in the Lake Minnetonka area.
“We want to keep people here in the community,” Giedd said. “We don't want them to drive to one of the big grocery stores. If they don't find what they're looking for, we are usually able to get it for them.”
Harvest Moon is staking its claim in the $25 billion organic foods market. Most of Harvest Moon’s organic products come from California or Mexico during winter, Giedd stressed that Harvest Moon seeks local and regional producers of everything from cheese and chicken to lettuce and salad dressing.
“We approach people when we’re aware of them, and we invite any local producer or farmer to come talk with us to see what we can do with their products,” Giedd said. “We carry as many local products as possible. It’s a big part of our co-operative. We’re about the community first.” |
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| Local Grocery Store Harvest Moon Supports Local Authors and Local Backpack Buddies |
Harvest Moon Natural Foods has gone beyond supporting local farmers, growers, artisans and businesses… they are now supporting our local authors and local hunger awareness programs.
"We are much more than just a grocery store, we are a community-owned business that supports many aspects of our community," says Michele Krolzcyk, Harvest Moon Board President.
Harvest Moon, located in Long Lake, MN, is supporting local authors by selling their books, and these local authors are also supporting Harvest Moon by giving back a percentage of all book sales to the store.
The books featured range from children's stories about laundry monsters, sick bugs, a boy who doesn't feel he fits into his new community, the MN governor's mansion, and families dealing with cancer. There are also adult-related topics about Lake Minnetonka and women in the Bible. One of the most unique authors is Ady Bendickson, a local Orono student, who wrote her chapter book about a ranch dog in Montana, when she was just nine years old. The authors are from Independence, Medina, Minneapolis, Orono, Long Lake, Wayzata and Minnetonka Beach. For a complete description of books and a listing of the authors, visit www.harvestmoon.coop.
Besides featuring these books all month, Harvest Moon will also hosting a local author book signing event on Saturday, March 12, from 9:00 AM-11:00 AM. The authors will be on hand to read and sign their books. Harvest Moon will be supplying free coffee and juice during this event. A percentage of the book sales during the book-signing event will be donated to the local Junior League initiative called "Backpack Buddies."
Backpack Buddies’ mission is to reduce the effects of childhood hunger by providing nutritious, easy-to-prepare food over the weekend to kids in food insecure homes in the greater Twin Cities area. The objective is to bridge the gap between Friday and Monday when food may not be available, and thereby provide a bit of security for the participating children and their families. This program, is run by the volunteers of the Junior League of Minneapolis, currently serving first and second grade students at Andersen Open Elementary School in Minneapolis.
"It is wonderful that these local authors and Harvest Moon are reaching out into the community and supporting important programs like "Backpack Buddies," says Junior League President, Sarah Borchers. "The more awareness we can create, the less hunger there will be for children in our area."
Local Orono kids Megan and Leo, with their Mom, enjoy having a snack in the deli café and reading the new book they purchased at Harvest Moon's "Local Author Bookstore." Seven authors are featured at the store and they will be hosting a book signing event on Saturday, March 12, 9:00 AM-11:00 AM, at Harvest Moon, to benefit the Minneapolis Junior League's youth hunger program called "Backpack Buddies."
THE LAUNDRY MONSTER
by Jeanne Morrison Cook (Independence, MN)
$17.95 - 32 pages - Children's picture book
Everyone becomes overwhelmed with laundry! Join an adorable family as they learn and grow together in the hilarious yet educational I Can Help! Series. In this first book, The Laundry Monster teaches kids how to help with the laundry. www.thelaundrymonster.com
THE GOVERNOR'S MOUSE
by Kristin Parrish (Medina, MN)
$20.00 - 32 pages - Children's picture book
The Governor's Mouse gives young people a whimsical tour of the Minnesota Governor's Residence led by an adorable (and artistic!) mouse named Herb. All proceeds from the sale of this book are donated directly to the historical preservation of the Minnesota Governor's Residence.
THE SICK BUG &
THE SICK BUG GOES TO SCHOOL
by Susie Bazil (Wayzata, MN)
$16.95 - 32 pages - Children's picture book
In the first book, little Tess wonders what happens when you catch a "bug?" Tess's imagination runs wild after her Mom tells her she is sick with "a bug." In the charming follow-up the Sick Bug has his sights set on an elementary school. Can a student and his teacher foil the sick bug's plans to spread? www.thesickbug.com
THE SURVIVORSHIP NET
by Jim Owens (Minneapolis, MN)
$14.95 - 40 pages - Children's picture book
In this beautifully illustrated book, Jim Owen uses a parable of circus life to underscore the importance of family, friends and caregivers in the life of every cancer patient. The Survivorship Net delivers a powerful and inspiring message to one and all.
THE SILVER LAKE CRONICLES: YEAR ONE
by Pat Bacon (Independence, MN)
$10.00 - 224 pages - Youth chapter book
When his parents move the family from the town he loves, Russ vows to never speak with them again. After forcing himself to make the best of the situation, Russ finds new friends and learns that life in an small town might not be as boring as he had assumed.
THE ADVENTURES OF SABER THE RANCH DOG
by Adie Bendickson (Orono Student, written in 4th grade at the age of 9)
$16.95 - 82 pages - Youth chapter book
When Saber the ranch dog and his friend head through the Montana mountains on a search for their lost friend, their journey takes them farther than they ever imagined. Filled with suspense and humor and lessons of friendship.
THE SCARLET CORD
by Lindsay Hardin Freeman (Long Lake, MN)
$24.95 - 194 pages - Adult general interest book
The Scarlet Cord tells the story of biblical women in a new way, drawing the reader further down the spiritual path and closer to Christ. This is an important book on women and the Bible for general and devotional readers as well as serious biblical students and scholars.
www.scarletcordbook.com
HISTORIC LAKE MINNETONKA
by Stephanie Larsen (Orono, MN)
& Nancy Steinke (Minnetonka Beach, MN)
$29.95 - 72 pages - Adult general interest book
You are invited to explore the lake's rich history. This book provides a detailed overview of how the lake was discovered, settled, and developed. Revisit the days when there were over 60 hotels and 90 steamboats on Lake Minnetonka. www.historiclakeminnetonka.com
SURPISE ME & BE THE SURPRISE
by Terry Esau (Long Lake, MN)
The Two-Part Faith Experiment for Churches
Part 1-Surprise Me
The Experiment: Simple. 4 weeks. You wake up every morning and pray a three-word prayer: "Surprise Me, God"-without expectations, qualifiers, or strings attached. Not asking for your wishes, but God's. Then you keep a journal of what that looks like.
Part 2-Be the Surprise>
This is an experiment in finding creative ways to become a bite-sized philanthropist. It is pulling on the pants of generosity and love and taking them for a walk-proactively becoming the church not because we're supposed to, but because we get to.
www.surprisemegod.com
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