Want to start a local food co-op or buying club? Look no further than John Moody! He’s the guy behind the innovative and helpful Whole Life Buying Club in Louisville, Kentucky and he’s the author of the Food Club and Co-op Handbook.
Today, the Whole Life Buying Club is a community of hundreds of people, with over two dozen local farmers helping feed both the members and the local community.
Members of the club have access to the best in local and regional foods, like raw milk cheeses, pastured meats and eggs from GMO-free animals, as well as honey and both local and organic produce. Members can access thousands of additional items through the club’s relationship with various distributors, covering a range of everyday items – cooking oils, laundry detergent, spices, nut butters, vinegars, and numerous other household and kitchen supplies.
Whole Life has helped so many people and enjoyed so much success (thanks to John’s “out-of-the-box” problem solving) that many began asking John to share how they could do the same for their local community. John’s book, the Food Club and Co-op Handbook, contains his answers.
All that and more on today’s podcast! Enjoy!
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Tip of the Week: How to Get the Most Out of a Small Garden
On the podcast, I shared tip #2 from this post:
“You can gain lots of garden space by training vine plants such as melons, cucumbers, and squash to grow up, instead of out. We are blessed with a fence at our house that does this job well, but building a simple trellis would also work. As your vine starts to grow, coax it up by gently wrapping it around the fence. Soon enough it will continue the path up on its own.”
Click here for 7 more tips to get the most out of a small garden!
About John Moody of Whole Life
As one of the most innovative and largest local food buying clubs in America, John Moody of Whole Life Buying Club is in a unique position to help others start, expand, transition, and grow access to local and nutrient dense foods in their cities and communities. Covering a wide range of basic issues, questions, and concerns, John’s book, the Food Club and Co-op Handbook, will start a club off on the right foot for long term growth and success.
Links Mentioned
- Food Club site
- Food Clubs & Coops site
- John’s Food Club and Co-op Handbook
- Whole Life Buying Club in Louisville, KY website
- How to Start a Food Co-op blog post at Traditional Cooking School
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This was great! I have been mulling over the idea of starting a food co-op and this answered a lot of questions. I will be heading over to John’s website to check out his book.