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Research Question Three

Sustainable packaging: Shampoo bars vs Bottles?

Sustainability is one of the core goals of the co-op. This can be achieved and encouraged in a variety of ways, many of which are displayed at Riverwest Co-op. There are the Boomerang Bags I have mentioned before, limited available paper bags (barely any plastic), and recyclable and compostable packaging wherever possible. One example of this is through the use of bar shampoo and conditioners. When I first encountered bar shampoo when I was younger, it seemed like more of a novelty than anything else. Now I can truly appreciate the reasoning behind this product, and why a place like the co-op would be promoting this over bottled products (Though they do have a couple options of that as well!)

The waste produced by plastic bottles is not limited to water bottles. It is hard to directly measure the sale, distribution, and use/discard of shampoo and conditioner bottles, but one can make an educated estimate. Johnson & Johnson released a video in which they say that around “552 million shampoo bottles could be ending up in landfills every year”. It’s true that the common plea to recycle plastic bottles usually doesn’t extend past drinking bottles, but household consumption of hair-care products are also a significant contributor. The carbon footprint of bar hair care is significantly lower as well due to the condensed and lightweight design, allowing the transport to be much more efficient. There is also an opportunity to customize your shampoo to your hair type, all while supporting small businesses or even etsy shops with creators who make products that apply to your skin/hair type. My hair is very loosely curly, but gets brittle very quickly, so I could go for a shea butter based conditioner and a more gentle shampoo from any number of creators who have put out versions of this product.

The number one ingredient in liquid hair care is water, meaning that it is very diluted and can lead to overuse, as well as being used up faster. Shampoo and conditioner bars are much more concentrated, making them last longer and allowing you to use less per application. The lather isn’t quite as dramatic and the conditioner may take a little effort to work into your hair consistently, but this all leads to less waste and a longer-lasting product. The most obvious selling point is the packaging, or lack thereof. Sellers tend to get the product in cardboard boxes containing batches which can be sold as individuals, usually on their own, in a small paper sleeve, or a small paper box. This SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the waste footprint for both the supplier and the consumer, and allows a guilt-free, sustainable, and waste-free approach to hair care. 

https://unwrappedlife.com/blogs/blog/top-eight-reasons-to-make-the-switch-to-solid-shampoo-bars-and-conditioner-bars-too

https://caretorecycle.com/

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Bandana design for the Riverwest Co-op!

This design utilizes the serviceberry, which is the unofficial symbol of the co-op. It is chosen for a pretty obvious reason- a dedication to service and community. We will hopefully be able to screen print this design and set up the sale of bandanas in the store!

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Research Question Two

Why Co-ops?

I spent the majority of my life not knowing or understanding what co-ops are and why they matter. I had heard the term thrown around occasionally, but it was never an active part of my life. When I was introduced to the Riverwest Co-op model, it surprised and inspired me. 

Start.coop puts it best by saying “By design, co-ops bring ownership and economic power to their shareholders whether that be through shared profits, higher wages or lower costs”. Co-ops are owned collectively by the community that uses them. Buying in is affordable ($20 a year at Riverwest) and permits Riverwest shareholders to a 5% discount. Volunteers (at least 12 hours a month) get an additional 10% discount on store items. The community is remarkable. Almost everyone is on a first name basis, and the coop spent its beginning years 100% volunteer run. 

There are committees that guarantee each member has a voice and the community at large is being well-represented. Co-ops have a lower failure rate than other kinds of businesses, largely because of the community investment. The riverwest co-op itself was created through a community longing for it, and its success is a reflection of that same communal care.

https://start.coop/why-the-co-op-model-matters-more-today/

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Research Question One

How does the use of plastic bags truly impact the environment?

It can be easy to become pessimistic when you see the thick stacks of plastic bags on the check-out racks in every grocery store and supermarket. When I forget to bring a few reusable bags, I usually end up using 6-12 bags depending on if I double-bag for heavy items. The co-op utilizes a boomerang bag system, and I am curious about how many plastic bags this actually saves.

Americans use 100 billion plastic bags every year, which takes 12 million barrels of oil to create. Worldwide, this number goes up to a trillion bags annually. That’s almost 2 million bags per minute, even though the use time for these bags from acquiring them to disposal is approximately 12 minutes. The  NRDC Urban Program co-director, Eric A. Goldstein, said, “The average American family takes home almost 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year, clogging our cabinets, kitchen drawers and landfills. They’re hanging from trees, and littering our beaches” (earthpolicy.org). If you assume an average American family to be a family of four, this is an estimated 375 bags per person annually. That is a lot, and only 1% of these bags end up getting recycled. Furthermore, the amount of oil it takes to create 15 bags is enough to fuel a car for a mile. Each year one person throws away 25 miles worth of gas like its nothing. 

This makes me feel like the boomarang bags that people utilize at the co-op are really meaningful, as well as the way that people consistently bring in their own bags. I have handed out one bag since working there, and even it was paper.

http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/press_room/Plastic_Bags.pdf

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic_bag_facts.html

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I like that you included what the other volunteer said- the library really is an amazing resource that all sorts of people come in to utilize. Whenever I go I like seeing what kind of people are there. I see a lot of students, homeless people using computers, older people reading, families with kids, and so on. It’s really sweet that a man gave you a cactus! That is a lovely little symbol of community that you got to receive.

Weekend with the Books!

This weekend I went in on Friday and Saturday to volunteer at the bookseller.  On Friday I was there from 12 to 4. I was with Linda again and I was tasked with the job of stocking the fiction, mystery, science fiction, and biographies in the back room.  I believe that I stocked about 50 books. Then on Saturday, it was the big sale day! We had the community room across the hall for it.  I was working in the bookseller room from 9:00 am till 12:00. Then helping out in the saleroom till 2 pm.  I got to meet even more volunteers and help out people find certain books.  One of the other volunteers said I love being here because you get to see all other people and all different walks of life. 

A highlight of my weekend was a man came in and asked us to help him out by finding a new home for the cactus plant he had.  I told him that I have many plants and would gladly take care of him. 

Total hours this weekend: 9 

Hours left: 18 hours and 15 minutes!

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I love the way you talk about the cats that you work with. It’s obvious that you really care about the animals and them going to good homes! Is there a limited amount of time you can play with the cats each shift?

March 16, 2020 from 8:27 to 10:32. I did my first cat socializing by myself without a trainer. It was nerve-whacking at first. I started socializing a cat name sylivia. She was mostly white fur with a few spot fur on her back. All she wanted to be was mosey. Wanted to watch everything what’s going on in the lobby. She didn’t want to play and she had the most beautiful meows ever. I think she waiting for her new owner to come. Since she is going home today! The second cat that I took out was Mia. A tabby like cat. She was nice. Got to play with her but our time was limited since I had Sylivia out longer than 30min. The first thing I got the Humane Shelter was sign in onto the iPad. When I was training we had to signed in on paper. The one thing that I was kind of worried about or was wondering about was the drive there. I hadn’t really been outside since the beginning of spring break beside to get the mail and walk the dog. It was weird to see a good amount of cars, the usual, but knowing that it wasn’t that regular chunk of traffic. It good knowing that the animals won’t be able to get sick from this virus, as we know right now. It’s a time like this that we should make sure that our animals would be well feed and taken care of when their owner might be able to. I’m glad that the hours from 35hr has been taken down to 20hrs since wouldn’t be able to get all 35 hrs before the end of the semester, and with this virus going on. Who knows what’s going to happen. Stay safe and stay healthy.

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This is incredibly inspirational- the stuff homesteading dreams are made of. I love the history you have with the process of sap collection. There is something uniquely beautiful about crafting something from scratch, and with only the tree as raw material you manage to process it into syrup. The way that you talk about it also has a respectful gentleness that I really admire. I wish I was there with you learning to tap and prune trees!

Collecting sap!

3/7/20 5-7pm, Collecting sap from maple trees to make syrup 

Syrup making has been apart of my family for generations on my dad’s side. I have distinct memories as a kid, of going up to the cabin each year to do a few rounds of sap collecting from the old metal pales hanging from the trees. Then magically one day the bottle of syrup would appear to complete a yummy pancake breakfast!

This year, my parents have moved the syrup operation from our cabin up north to our home (just 20 minutes north of Green Bay). This means we now have a giant sap cooker at the end of our driveway next to the shed. Also along the driveway is maple trees, where you can see spouts and buckets currently actively collecting sap right at this moment! With this, we also have several maple trees throughout the woods just behind the house. We also utilize trees from a farm near for our sap collecting as well.

So, how do you go about collecting the sap? First, you nail a small spout into what you have identified as a maple tree. (This does not hurt the tree). Then you hang from the spout an array of options from buckets to bags. My family so happens to use both bags and buckets, we have very old school small metal pails with holes in the side to attach to the spout. Along with this, we also use your classic painters pail that you’ll see at Home Depot, and hang it on the spout by the handle. Lastly, you have your more “modern” ways of collecting, which is where the bags come in. (You’ll see examples of all of these in the photos included in the post). After you’ve attached several spouts/pails/bags, you then wait for sap to build up, which typically takes a week. The result can be heaping amounts to very little, it depends on the many environmental factors. Nonetheless, detach the collection of sap in the pail/bag from the tree and pour it into a larger pail. You’ll be able to do this 2-3 times until your pail is full, you then dump your collection into an even bigger contraption.

On this day, the only part of the process of making syrup I took part in was the collecting of sap from the trees. In later posts, I will show and explain the process of cooking the sap down into syrup and then eventually bottling it!

However, I am including here pictures of all 3 stages as it is an ongoing repeated process, even if I’m not fully taking part in each step yet. I will also get more into detail on other elements included in this process.

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February 21st, 8-11am

I was able to get more experience with the register today! It is an old monitor with a completely manual system to ring up the items, and a separate manual credit card reader that needs to be set up for the price of each purchase. There are also a lot of codes and processes for ringing up, marking out, and discounting items. Produce and bulk items can’t be scanned, so you have to refer to a sheet of codes and punch in the code and number/weight of the items(s). It is really complicated and got a bit overwhelming my first few shifts. 

To make it even more complex, there are membership and volunteer codes which apply discounts. There is no mouse, so you need to tab and use the F1-F7 keys to navigate through the pages and items. I had to take a couple breaks to restock and take a couple breathers. 

I started to pay more attention to the ways that they encourage sustainability in the community. One huge thing I noticed was how the people who come in make an effort to bring their own reusable bags and containers. There is also a colorful little coat rack for “boomerang bags”. This is for reusable cloth bags that  people can borrow if they forget one of their own, as long as they “boomerang” it back (aka return it).

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February 7th, 8-11am

I was a little nervous for my first day, but everyone I met was really kind and welcoming! Paula was my unofficial leader, showing me where to put away produce and how to re-stock and mark out produce from the shelves. Onions which have sprouted or slightly bruised/imperfect but edible products were moved to the back shelf, applying a 25% discount. 

I was given an introduction to the cash register system, which to this day is a little hard to remember all the processes for. I will be able to expand upon this more in a future blog post!

Paula and the customers made this experience really positive and exciting for me. The co-op already felt like a second home. One thing that stood out to me was how kind and considerate most customers are at the co-op compared to my coffee shop day job. One man went out of his way to introduce himself and said “We love our volunteers here.” I felt so warmed and humbled.

One thing I want to learn more about is the mission of sustainability in the co-op. I want to be able to connect more to the tactile ways that they practice and encourage sustainability, and hopefully adopt more of it for myself!

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Painting at the Co-op (March 16th)

My last day at the co-op before shutdown was bittersweet. I had planned with Annica to come in and paint the windows in preparation for the “Re-Fresh” renovations that they had planned to undergo in the coming weeks, and I decided to come in and do it despite the chaos. I had given my word. 

When I arrived, none of the other volunteers knew where the painting supplies were. They were all stressed and talking among themselves about COVID-19. One of the volunteer’s husband and son are immunocompromised and she has been laid off from her job. You could feel the stress coming off of her in waves. She looked tired and worn thin. It broke my heart.

I decided not to trouble any of them further and took matters into my own hands, climbing up the steep stairs to the cluttered office. After about 15 minutes of confused searching, I found the plastic bag of acrylic paint, but... (Insert dramatic music here) no paintbrush!!! I seriously considered finger-painting the whole thing, but managed to find a teeny-tiny brush and one sponge brush, effectively saving my life. 

It was chilly out, but I cleaned the windows. There was no ruler or straight edge to be found, so I used the old broom as a measuring stick and guideline. This felt very in the spirit of the DIY, homespun co-op. I painted for a couple hours. I almost always wear headphones to listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts, but for once I had forgotten to bring them. This actually was a really nice change. I could hear people coming and going from the co-op, people walking their dogs and crunching the leaves, and the sound of my own brush on the glass. It was beautiful and meditative, and I felt sad in the pit of my stomach that I wouldn’t be able to return for a while, and I really hope I can come back and continue the painting soon.

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Personal Mission Statement

It is difficult to write about what my life’s purpose is when I know I am not currently achieving it or making progress in any tactile way. Nonetheless, I’ll work off of my ideals.

I am a person who values compassion. Humans are remarkably complex and multifaceted, and there is no true way to evaluate a person’s true self or intention. I am inclined, despite evidence to the contrary, to believe that human beings are born with a tendency towards goodness. I value the ability to hold oneself accountable, grow, and improve. I want to be able to function as a facilitator of growth for others, as well as a sounding board and contributor for the development of community and creative practices. 

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January 31st, 2020

Today was my orientation at the Co-op. 

I came for the orientation at 11am and met one of the managers, Annica, as well as another MIAD student who is going to be volunteering there. There was an option to work in the cafe portion or the store- she chose the cafe and I opted for the store. 

The store was small but well-organized with several wall dispensers for grains and nuts by weight. There was organic produce and vegan options, and I loved the home-y feel of the place. Everyone knew each other by name and seemed happy to be there, and the community spirit was beautiful. I am going to be working Fridays from 8am-11, and I am a looking forward to my first shift!

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Riverwest Co-op Mission Statement

OUR MISSION

The primary mission of the co-op is to operate a financially-sound grocery store and café in the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI. Cooperative philosophy and values are an essential part of our enterprise; therefore, the co-op will operate in a fully democratic manner.

Finally, we strive to follow the Seven Cooperative Principles:

Voluntary and Open Membership

Democratic Member Control

Members’ Economic Participation

Autonomy and Independence

Education, Training, and Information

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Concern for Community

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Introductory Post

My name is August-Lain! I am an NSP student at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. I am taking a required service learning class for which I do 35 hours of community service at a non-profit agency. I am thinking about being an escort at an abortion clinic for Planned Parenthood, ensuring that both passersby and clients are safe from aggressive protestors. This blog will discuss my experiences while doing service and highlight some of the questions which arise over the course of the semester.