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A hearty salad to celebrate the mid-summer bounty
Summer’s later-than-usual return brought a bounty of colourful produce overflowing from our beloved fruit stands, farmers’ markets, and of course Karma! From brilliant red peppers to sunshiney yellow summer squash to deep violet eggplants, vegetables beg to be sliced, tossed with olive oil and a simple shake of salt and pepper, and eaten fresh from…
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Getting to the Root of Hydroponic Farming: Vegetables Grown in Water?
Ever heard of growing food without soil? That’s hydroponics: a method of growing crops entirely in water, without the use of soil. It’s a closed system where all environmental elements are fully controlled to produce an optimal growing environment. Roots are fed nutrient-rich water in an indoor space such as a greenhouse or even a…
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Ask Reece
Dear Reece, Apparently, a lot of olive oil is adulterated. This is extremely alarming. Could you tell me if the bulk oil at Karma is guaranteed to be what it says it is? In this vein, I have regular lunches with a friend, where we take turns hosting. He prepares lovely meals, but often with…
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From the GM—May 2019
Dear Karma Members, Spring means new beginnings! At Karma, this has meant saying farewell to some familiar faces among the staff while saying hello to new ones. After over 6 years as Karma’s Member Records Secretary, Kirsten Heyerdahl will be leaving her post to move to Japan with her family. We’ll miss you so much…
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Intro to fermentation: How to make your own sauerkraut
In the six years I have been facilitating sauerkraut workshops, there has been a common thread among attendees: most arrive not knowing what to expect, and with a bit of fear about what will come of this experiment. Much of that fear, I believe, has to do with the reputation that accompanies all things fermentation.…
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Bulk dental floss at Karma
Unlike rows of new bulk bins, or the recently installed kombucha bar, there are many other new arrivals at Karma that can easily escape our notice. One such product is silk dental floss. A brief mention of it in the Karma e-Chronicle a few months back caught my attention. Shortly thereafter, I bought a Flosspot and…
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Karma bulking up on everything from kombucha to quinoa
Quick quiz: how many flavours of kombucha does Karma offer in bulk? “What, Karma has started selling bulk kombucha?!” many of you may ask, quizzically. Yes! Since the end of February, the very popular beverage has started flowing through taps installed in the side of one of the stand-up fridges into customers’ waiting jars. And it’s…
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Strategy and Planning Committee
This committee first came together as part of a Strategic Planning initiative. The work began over the summer of 2018 with analysis of a series of surveys and food industry reports. It is possible that since Karma’s Mission and Core Values are well established, a formal Strategic Plan process may not be necessary. This committee…
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2018 – 2019 Board of Directors
Kristy van Beek, President Kristy van Beek comes to Karma with 13 years of retail expertise, having worked with many professional retail skin care brands. Kristy is known professionally for having strong skills in sales, marketing, training, merchandising, and strategic business planning. In her spare time, Kristy dedicates her time to her two rescue dogs, and…
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Non-GMO certification, explained
Non-GMO certification and product labelling can be confusing. The leader in non-GMO certification is the Non-GMO Project. Developed by The Big Carrot in Toronto and The Natural Grocery Company in California, it has provided and continues to develop a standardized definition for non-GMO products in the North American and international food industry. The Non-GMO Project…