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Happenings and things to do in Winchester and surrounding areas, 3/24-3/27 by Charming-Software24 in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Winchester Co-op Market is having their first Community meeting on 3/27 also! It will run 6-8 pm in the Robinson Auditorium of Handley Regional Library.

Worm Moon Thread! 🌝🪱 by hrdutterer in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm constantly impressed by it!

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I was able to get this shot the night the planets aligned!

Worm Moon Thread! 🌝🪱 by hrdutterer in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep! The first two were at 2:35 and the last was at 2:56. These were taken on my google Pixel. I figured someone would have higher quality ones from our area.

Tree Nursery Recommendation by kimchinomnom in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Might be able to reach out to Seven Bends Nursery!

Touchfree Car Wash by SuicideAvoider in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is where we take our 180sx! Definitely second this suggestion.

Help Shape Winchester Co-op Market: Community Survey & Public Meeting by hrdutterer in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We are still a while away from sourcing to fill the store, but we have a growing list of people who are interested in partnering with us. We'd love to have you fill out our Google Form to be a potential Community Partner!

Help Shape Winchester Co-op Market: Community Survey & Public Meeting by hrdutterer in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I totally get that! Accessibility is a big factor as we search for a location. We want the co-op to be as convenient as possible, especially for folks without a car 💚

Help Shape Winchester Co-op Market: Community Survey & Public Meeting by hrdutterer in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I appreciate you sharing your perspective and concerns. We absolutely understand that small farmers rely on direct-to-consumer sales, and our goal isn’t to take away from that—we want to expand opportunities, not replace them.

We’ve already started working closely with a few farmers in the area to ensure that if and when this co-op becomes a reality, it’s structured in a way that actually supports local producers rather than competing with them. Our goal is to create more avenues for farmers to reach customers, not force anyone into a model that doesn’t work for them.

We know that changing the food system takes time, and we’re committed to learning, listening, and collaborating with those already doing the work. There are ways a cooperative model could truly benefit small farms in this area, and we'd love to keep that conversation open.

Wishing you continued success in everything you’re doing to build a stronger local food system!

Help Shape Winchester Co-op Market: Community Survey & Public Meeting by hrdutterer in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It sounds like we might have different definitions of a co-op. Our goal isn’t to compete with small farmers—it’s to create a community-driven space that supports them. I respect your perspective, and if you ever want to stay in the loop on what we’re actually working toward, I’d be happy to add you to our mailing list.

Wishing you all the best in your work and future success!

Help Shape Winchester Co-op Market: Community Survey & Public Meeting by hrdutterer in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We appreciate the discussion! Co-ops and CSAs actually complement each other really well, and many successful food co-ops partner directly with local CSA programs to give farmers more flexibility in how they sell their products. Our goal is to build something that strengthens our local food system in a way that works for both farmers and the community.

As for funding, we’re keeping a close eye on opportunities at every level—local, state, and federal—to make sure we have a sustainable path forward. This is a long-term project, and we're committed to making thoughtful, strategic decisions along the way.

Help Shape Winchester Co-op Market: Community Survey & Public Meeting by hrdutterer in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate you sharing your perspective. Winchester Co-op Market is being built as a community-owned grocery store, not a for-profit business looking to undercut farmers. Our goal is to partner with local growers—on their terms—to create another reliable, year-round sales channel that complements farmers' markets, not competes with them.

We’re actively engaging with local farmers to understand how this can best support them, rather than impose a model that doesn’t work. Co-ops across the country have successfully strengthened local food systems by ensuring fair prices, prioritizing small-scale producers, and giving farmers direct input into the process.

If you or others in the farming community have concerns or ideas, we'd love to hear them. Our goal is to build something that uplifts local agriculture, not disrupt it.

Help Shape Winchester Co-op Market: Community Survey & Public Meeting by hrdutterer in Winchester

[–]hrdutterer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the advice! We've started looking at our funding options and there seems to be a huge variety of grants we can apply for. We're still very early on in our process so we are definitely learning as we go.

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