5 Edible Plants to Start in Your Garden Now
Spring is most definitely upon us, and we are lucky enough to live in Southern Oregon where the weather during this time is usually (ahem) co-operative enough to let us get some plants in the ground in between the hail storms and rainbows. There are actually many plants that do quite well in this time of transition, as they prefer the cooler temperatures that we get here this time of year, before the real heat sets in. Here are a few that we have right now at the Co-op, direct from local, organic farms. Plant these in your garden now for best results!
Lettuce Mixes
Grow your own salad with all kinds of different lettuce mixes! These plants are super easy to grow, and it’s so rewarding to go out to the garden and harvest your very own salad right before dinner. The Co-op has all different varieties of lettuce starts, from romaine to spinach to salad blends.
Kale and Other Dark Greens
Kale is probably one of the most popular vegetables at the co-op, and for good reason. It is full of many healthy vitamins and minerals, just like most dark leafy greens are. They are also super easy to grow and should do really well in an early spring garden. We have several different varieties of kale, as well as collard greens, swiss chard, and mustard greens for sale as starts. Come and get them!
Peas
Peas are the quintessential spring vegetable, and they are really easy to grow. They do usually need something to climb on, but other than that their requirements are pretty minimal. At the Co-op we carry a variety called Oregon Sugar Pod, which are totally adapted for our region. How cool is that?
Beets
Beets are two vegetables in one, as both the root and the greens are not only edible, but totally delicious. They are also very easy to grow, and they especially like these cool temperatures that we have during springtime. Pulling root vegetables out of the ground, once they are ready to eat, is probably one of the coolest feelings that one can have. I suggest that you give it a try this year with beets!
Fresh Herbs
Many fresh herbs like to get their start in early spring. What a treat it is to go out to your herb garden to snip a little here and there for your next meal. We have several different herb starts at the Co-op, including chives, mint, dill, fennel, cilantro and parsley. All of these do well in early spring, and most will persist throughout the summer.
Growing your own food is one of the most rewarding things that you can do, and this is the time to get started! The Co-op has you covered with many different veggie starts, and the varieties will change as the seasons change. Soon we will have tomatoes and peppers and squash, but for right now, get your spring planting on!
Colleen Codekas, AFC Cashier and Blogger at Grow Forage Cook Ferment
Besides being a cashier at the Co-op, Colleen lives a double life as a blogger at Grow Forage Cook Ferment. She loves all kinds of real food endeavors, including fermenting, homebrewing, wildcrafting, mushroom hunting, cooking from scratch, and growing her own food in an urban permaculture garden. She is also a self taught herbalist, and makes her own handmade herbal products that she sells in her Etsy shop, Coco’s Herbals.
More Co-op News
Ashland Food Co-op's December Change for Good Partner: Rogue Action Center
This December, Ashland Food Co-op is proud to partner with Rogue Action Center (RAC) as part of their Change for Good initiative. RAC is dedicated to cultivating organizing power and leadership to create a more just and thriving Southern Oregon. Their mission focuses on building community power for Housing Justice, Racial Justice, and Queer & Trans Liberation. They achieve this through a combination of base building, youth-centered leadership development, coalition building, and advocacy campaigns aimed at transforming societal rules.
Our November Change for Good Partner: SOESD Indian Education Fund
Each month, the Ashland Food Co-op partners with a local nonprofit through our Change for Good program. This November, we are proud to feature the important work of the Southern Oregon Indian Education Department (SOESD) Indian Education Fund.
The Change for Good program allows our shoppers to round up their total at the register, with the extra change going to support a different local nonprofit each month. The funds collected make a meaningful difference for these organizations and the communities they serve.
Save on Field Day Items and Support Native Foodways
This November, get ready for gatherings with friends and family with big savings on all Field Day products at your co-op. Save on more than 270 Field Day items — from maple syrup to wild-caught tuna to paper towels — from Oct. 30 through Dec. 3. Field Day is our value brand that offers high-quality, delicious food and household products at more affordable prices every day through Co+op Basics, making this savings event even more spectacular. Our lowest prices will be even lower!
Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Honoring Native Heritage
Indigenous Peoples' Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. It's observed on the second Monday in October, coinciding with the federal holiday of Columbus Day in the United States.
Celebrating Hispanic and Latinx Heritage
September 15th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions, diverse cultures, and rich histories of Americans with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
September Change for Good Partner: Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
At Ashland Food Co-op, our commitment to community and sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. This September, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on our Change for Good partner, Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (Friends of CSNM). This dedicated organization works tirelessly to protect, restore, and conserve the natural beauty of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument through service, advocacy, and education.
Stewardship in Action: Restoring Riparian Areas
August Change for Good Partner: Rogue River Watershed Council
At Ashland Food Co-op, we are dedicated to fostering a vibrant and sustainable community. Each month, our Change for Good program partners with a local organization to support their mission and amplify their impact. For August, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Rogue River Watershed Council (RRWC).
Who is the Rogue River Watershed Council?
Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month, first celebrated in 1990, commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This landmark legislation prohibits discrimination based on disability and ensures equal opportunities in all areas of public life. Disability Pride Month promotes visibility and mainstream awareness of the positive pride felt by people with disabilities.
July Change for Good Partner: Peace House
Meet our July Change for Good partner - Peace House! This incredible organization has been a cornerstone of our community, dedicated to building a culture of peace through compassionate actions that support human rights and justice for all.
About Peace House
Peace House has a broad and impactful mission. Their work spans several critical areas, including:
Supporting Stream Smart: Our June Change for Good Partner
We are delighted to announce our June Change for Good partner, Stream Smart, a remarkable local organization dedicated to improving the health of our streams and rivers.
What is Stream Smart?
2024 Owner Coupon Schedule
Here's the schedule for the 2024 Owner Coupons. Not an Owner? Find out all about the benefits of Ownership!
Co-op, Community and Coffee
We are thrilled to announce that the Ashland Food Co-op has purchased the Rogue Valley Roasting Company (RoCo) from longtime owner, Dustin Way.
May Change for Good: Our Family Farms
This month, the Ashland Food Co-op is proud to annouce our Change for Good partner, Our Family Farms, an organization dedicated to safeguarding our agricultural heritage and promoting regenerative organic practices.
A Closer Look at Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo has become synonymous with festivities and delicious Mexican cuisine (and who doesn’t love both of those things?). At the Ashland Food Co-op, it's important for us to approach this celebration mindfully and with a cultural understanding.
