March Newsletter 2023 - Wild Onion Market

March 2023 Newsletter

Wild Onion Market is our market. We’ll keep dollars local, support local farmers and producers, and help build a sustainable food production and packaging system. Join here!

Spread the word! Share and comment @WildOnion Market on Facebook and Instagram

Help us reach 2000 Owners! Join our welcoming community. Tell a friend about Wild Onion Market!

7007 N. Clark Update

Phase 1 of construction is well underway! Over the last 3 weeks, significant progress has been made with the interior buildout of our store. Demo is complete and we have moved on to in-ground plumbing. The first step in this process is called scanning. This is like taking an ‘x-ray’ to see what is underneath the concrete before sawing into it. Pipes are mapped, cuts are marked, then sawing begins. Next, concrete gets broken up and trenches for the new plumbing lines are dug. The rubble is removed and pipes are installed — this is the part of the process where we are now. Next, we will receive a plumbing inspection from the City of Chicago. When that is complete, we will backfill the trenches with gravel and then fill in with concrete.

Stay tuned, we are hoping to invite you in for a sneak peek when this phase of construction is complete!

Board of Directors Election Results

Thank you to all Owners that participated in our cooperative democracy and voted for our new Directors. The voting period ended on March 15, the new Directors will begin their terms on April 1. The Board will self-select Officers at its first April Board meeting.Please join us in sincerely thanking Michelle Parker-Katz, My Nguyen, Cam Davis & David Mark for their Board service. All four will be rolling off at the end of March.

Please welcome and congratulate our new Board Members. Owners are encouraged to get to know your Board, attend open meetings, and participate in the work, as we all build this store together.

Events

Learn more about our events on Facebook and Instagram.

April 1 – Earth-a-Palooza: 10 AM – 1 PM, Linne Woods, W. Dempster St., east of Lehigh Ave., Morton Grove. Wild Onion Market will a have a table at this eco-friendly family fun fest that includes nature walks, native planting, animals from Brookfield Zoo, nature play, bird migration game, and more. For lunch, try an Asian carp burger and nuggets! Registration required. Hosted by Josina Morita, Cook County Commissioner and Wild Onion Market Owner #1476.

April 1 – Information/New Owner Orientation Session: 10 – 11 AM. Learn about the benefits of ownership in Wild Onion Market. Feel free to join for just a few minutes to say hi or ask any questions. Write michelle@wildonionmarket.com for Zoom link.

April 15 – Brunch and Information Sharing: 10 AM – 12 Noon, Northtown Public Library, 6800 N. Western, Chicago. Join us anytime to meet a community of people who share an interest in the local, healthy food we’ll have at Wild Onion Market. We’ll bring some of our favorite brunch goodies, and invite you to bring yours, along with a story about the food or recipe. We can sample, chat, and be curious together.

April 17 – Information/New Owner Orientation Session: 7 – 8 PM. Learn about the benefits of ownership in Wild Onion Market. Feel free to join for just a few minutes to say hi or ask any questions. Write michelle@wildonionmarket.com for Zoom link.

Wild Nights Out: Watch for places around north Chicago and Evanston to meet up for a casual chat and night out. Starting soon!

A year ago, we launched our Capital Campaign with a goal of raising $1,160,000 to fund opening the store. At the March 16 annual meeting, we launched the 3^rd phase of our Capital Campaign with a goal of raising the remaining $416,000 by May 19. In the last 2 weeks, we have raised $50,475, with just under $367,000 remaining. Our Capital Campaign runs until May 19.

Closing our funding gap will allow us to complete construction, install equipment, hire our staff, fill the shelves, and open our co-op. Let’s do this! Anyone can make a donation. We also have Owner-only investment options. Not an Owner? Join here: http://join.wildonionmarket.com/. Make a pledge today to invest or donate.

We’re happy to answer any questions about the Capital Campaign at invest@wildonionmarket.com.

Help the Wild Onion Market Community Grow

Join us as an Owner if you haven’t yet (scholarships are available).

Help spread the word about Wild Onion Market and our progress:

Talk to a couple of friends or co-workers about us.
Share and comment on a post @WildOnion Market on Facebook and Instagram
Help keep progress towards store opening on track! Support construction by making a further investment or donation, options are explained here.

It takes a strong community to open a co-op market. Contact hello@wildonionmarket.com if you’d like to volunteer in any way, there are lots of ways to help get the store open!

We are on the move – gaining Owners, fundraising, and getting our store ready to open!

Join the excitement!

Questions about  Wild Onion Market? Email Board@wildonionmarket.com

Wild Onion Market
http://join.wildonionmarket.com/