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
October Change for Good Partner: AFC Gives Community Fund
October's Change for Good Partner is
September Change for Good Partner: Center for NonProfit Legal Services
September's Change for Good Partner is
Center for NonProfit Legal Services
The Center for NonProfit Legal Services has provided free/low-cost civil legal assistance to low-income persons and seniors residing in Jackson County since 1972.
August Change for Good Partner: Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center
August's Change for Good Partner is
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center
(KS Wild)
KS Wild's mission is to protect and restore wild nature in the Klamath-Siskiyou region of southwest Oregon and northwest California.
July Change for Good Partner: Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
July's Change for Good Partner is
Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
Protecting and enhancing precious land in the Rogue River region
to benefit our human and natural communities since 1978
Meet the 1st Street Beet
Welcome to the newly redesigned and reimagined newsletter from the Ashland Food Co-op: 1st Street Beet.
Think of this publication as a resource to know what’s going on in every level of the community: at the co-op, around town, in the region, and on Earth!
June Change for Good Recipient: Our Family Farms
June's Change for Good Recipient is
Our Family Farms, an Oregon 501(c)3 non profit organization, is hard at work educating and inspiring farmers, policy makers and the community at large to support regenerative agricultural practices.
Capiche Conversations: Interview with Tracy Kaiser, Marketing & Education Manager of Ashland Food Co-op
Our own marketing manager, Tracy Kaiser, was interviewed by Melissa L. Michaels for Capiche Conversations.
May Day Community Block Party
Photography by Chelsea Whitney Art
On May 1st, several Southern Oregon businesses came together for a block party to provide a space to gather as a community after a rough spell due to the pandemic and fires. The May Day Block Party was hosted on Main St in Phoenix, where the scent of food trucks mingled with artisan goods such as local cheeses, locally farmed flowers, and even fresh-baked pastries.
May Change for Good Recipient: Rogue Valley Farm to School
May's Change for Good Recipient is
Rogue Valley Farm to School educates children about our food system through hands-on farm and garden programs, and by increasing local foods in school meals.
"We inspire an appreciation of local agriculture that improves the economy and environment of our community and the health of its members."
April Change for Good Recipient: Pollinator Project Rogue Valley
April's Change for Good Recipient is
A Visit with Rolling Hills
Visit Rolling Hills Farm and learn more about owner Dave Belzberg, who the Ashland Food Co-op is so honored to partner with for more than thirty five years.
A Visit with Magnolia Farms
Visit Magnolia Farms and learn more about owner Elissa Thau, who the Ashland Food Co-op is so honored to partner with for more than twenty years.
A Visit with Emerald Hills
Visit the Emerald Hills Ranch and learn more about this fourth generation ranching family that the Ashland Food Co-op is so proud to partner with for more than twenty years.