AFC Celebrates 20 Years with Magnolia Farms
This year, the Ashland Food Co-op proudly celebrates their 20 year partnership with Magnolia Farms. Their pasture raised, no antibiotics, no hormones lamb is a staple in the Co-op Meat Department. Magnolia Farms is graciously donating the lamb for our August First Friday in celebration of our long standing partnership.
Magnolia Farms is located outside Roseburg, Oregon on Deer Creek, owned and operated by Elissa Thau. The flock is comprised of three different breeds, Suffolk, Coopworth and Montadale. These breeds are all noted for their lean, tender meat and ability to thrive on pasture. The mild climate in Douglas County enables them to produce quality pasture year round, so unless Mother Nature deals an unexpected week of snow, or a drought, Magnolia Farm’s lambs never require supplemental feeding.
In fall and winter the lambs graze primarily on ryegrass pastures. As spring arrives the pastures become a wonderful “salad bowl” mixture of grasses, clover, chicory, plantain, and dandelions. With the arrival of summer, she begins irrigating the pastures, which become predominantly white clover. At all times the lambs have access to plenty of clean, fresh water, a salt-mineral supplement and plenty of shade and shelter from the elements, from big maple, fir and myrtlewood trees.
Elissa wants her lambs to lead healthy, happy, stress-free lives. This was a driving factor to find stores who would be interested in selling Magnolia Farms. It was important to not subject the flock to the fear and stress that goes along with shipping in large numbers to feed lots, an environment that is completely different from what they are used to.
The goals of Magnolia Farms are to combine the quiet, humane husbandry of the flock with an ethical stewardship of the land and provide you, the consumer, with healthful and delicious lamb.
Join us at our August First Friday Party on August 2nd from 4-7 PM and meet Elissa Thau, owner of Magnolia Farms. We will be dishing up her delicious lamb in a wrap with Tzatziki sauce for the community meal.
More Co-op News
Empowering Our Community: AFC's Community Grants Now Accepting Applications
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the local community, AFC is thrilled to announce the that we are accepting applications for our Community Grants program.
Ashland Food Co-op's Community Grants program is designed to foster meaningful change in the Southern Oregon region. Through these grants, we seek to support projects that align with our mission of promoting local and sustainable food systems, addressing food insecurity, and promoting community engagement.
July's Change for Good Partner - Maslow Project
Ashland Food Co-op is thrilled to partner with Maslow Project for our Change for Good program! Maslow Project is an incredible organization that works tirelessly to support homeless youth and families in Southern Oregon. Their mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency, and they do this through a range of services including housing assistance, medical care, and educational support.
June 2023 Change for Good Partner: Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
The Ashland Food Co-op is teaming up with the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy (SOLC) as its Change for Good partner for this month. This collaboration aims to support SOLC's mission of conserving Southern Oregon's natural landscapes and habitats.
Bicycle Benefits
Here at the Co-op we are on a mission to promote healthy lifestyles and sustainable practices within our community.
May 2023 Change for Good Partner: Talent Maker City
Talent Maker City's mission is to build a more connected, prosperous, and resilient community through hands-on creativity and innovative STEAM-based learning. (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math.) They have a bustling Makerspace facility, brimming with creative energy in downtown Talent offering hands-on STEAM-based workshops and programming for curious minds of all ages!
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
We're always learning and growing here at the Co-op and with the approach of Cinco de Mayo we thought we would share a (very) brief history lesson and some thoughts on celebrating this holiday here in the United States.
April 2023 Change for Good Partner: Pollinator Project Rogue Valley
From Kristina Lefever, Pollinator Project Rogue Valley President
March 2023 Change for Good: Klamath Bird Observatory
From Klamath Bird Observatory, March 2023's Change for Good partner:
Frederick Douglass And Co-ops in 1846
When Douglass Came to Rochdale, England a Slave and Left a Free Man
By David J Thompson
February's Change for Good partner: OHRA
OHRA helps low-income people build better lives through access to social service resources. By helping
people move from crisis to stability, OHRA builds more capable individuals, stronger families, and a
better community. We have three core programs:
January Change for Good Partner: Ashland Food Angels
December Change for Good Partner: Rogue Action Center
December's Change for Good Partner is
Rogue Action Center
%20(1).png)
The Rogue Action Center (RAC) builds organizing infrastructure, leaders, and community power for a just, inclusive, and sustainable Southern Oregon for everyone.
November Change for Good Partner: Vesper Meadow Education Program
.png)
October Change for Good Partner: AFC Gives Community Fund
October's Change for Good Partner is
AFC Gives Community Fund
