Manly Food Co-op Blog and News

 

All of the content on our website is created by our community. If you love to write, are interested in healthy living, the health of the planet and would like to contribute, please send an email to: marketing@manlyfoodcoop.org. Energy points are available for your time spent contributing and preference is given to our members when choosing contributors.

 

Plastic Free Plan-it Week 6: The wrap-up

It’s a simple challenge this week. All you have to do is, have a look inside your bins and compare them to the photos you took back at the beginning of the program. How did you do? What was easy for you and what was hard? Share your wins and your disappointments in...

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The impact of plastic in our kitchens

Plastic is all around us and there’s no escaping it. It’s a lightweight and durable material, so there’s no wonder it’s popular. But there is growing concern about the health impacts of such widespread use. We all know the impact of plastic pollution in our ocean...

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Plastic Free Plan-it Week 4: What’s possible?

What if you could avoid all the plastic waste from your food and drink? Is it possible in today’s world? This week’s challenge is to create a meal plan that avoids all plastic. We know that it would be a big ask for a lot of people to follow through and make all the...

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How to safely freeze food in glass containers

When it comes to food preservation, freezing is one of the most effective methods to maintain freshness and extend shelf life. While plastic containers and zip-loc bags are commonly used for freezing, glass jars offer a safer and more eco-friendly alternative....

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Plastic Free Plan-it Week 3: Help future you

Have you met future you? They are run off their feet, they are tired and they cannot be bothered cooking tonight. They would normally reach for the phone to organise UberEats, or maybe stop at the supermarket at the way home to grab a ready-made meal. But wait, those...

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Plastic Free Plan-it Week 2: Set yourself up for success

Last week, we set our goals. This week, our challenge to work out how to achieve those! A goal without a plan is just a wish, so let’s make that plan. We need to work out how we are going to do it, what we need to do it, and when we’ll do it. This planning exercise...

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Plastic Free Plan-it Week 1: Set your intentions

It’s week 1 of Plastic Free Plan-it and we’re excited! We hope you are ready to wage war against the single-use plastics in your life! Our six-week program is all about making plans and being prepared so that we don’t fall into the trap of having to buy things in...

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What is Plastic Free July all about?

Are you looking for a way to reduce your environmental impact and help end plastic pollution? Do you want to join millions of people around the world who are taking action to protect our planet? Then join the Plastic Free July movement! Plastic Free July is a global...

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Let’s remove the plastic from our food system

Let’s remove the plastic from our food system

by Bonnie Serov June 5th is World Environment Day and here at Manly Food Co-op, we're celebrating by offering a reward to our members that get involved! Details at the bottom of the blog. As you might have heard, plastic pollution is a big problem for our planet. But...

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What is a Circular Economy?

What is a Circular Economy?

You may have heard the term circular economy used a lot recently, but what does it mean? And how does it help us tackle climate change? A circular economy, in a nutshell A circular economy is an alternative to the traditional linear "take-make-dispose" model of...

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Donate your 10c containers to the Co-op

Donate your 10c containers to the Co-op

We've partnered with ReCollect to raise funds by collecting 10c containers! If your family buys drinks in 10c containers and they usually go into your yellow bin, please consider signing up for the collection service by ReCollect and donating the proceeds to the...

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Plastic waste – why’s it hard to recycle?

Plastic waste – why’s it hard to recycle?

Recently the Australian packaging industry admitted that it cannot meet the 2025 target to recycle 70% of plastic waste. The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation has estimated that in 2021 only 16% of plastic waste was recycled and forecasts that the shortfall...

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Falafel Rice Bowl with Tahini Sauce

Falafel Rice Bowl with Tahini Sauce

This is a quick and easy dinner that tastes really good. It's similar to a poke bowl in presentation, but instead of raw fish we are using falafel and we're including some baked veggies as well as raw. It takes only as long to prepare as the rice takes to cook - you...

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Baked Risotto with Herb Salsa

Baked Risotto with Herb Salsa

What better way to celebrate tomato season than a risotto recipe that uses a lot of them! This risotto is delicious, vegetarian, can be made vegan and will even please the meat-eaters due to the rich flavours. The citrus edge to the green herb salsa is a wonderful...

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3 waste-free party kit options

Have you ever stared at the bags of waste at the end of a party and thought “there must be a better way”? But it’s hard enough to plan a party without being overwhelmed by trying to make it sustainable as well. Luckily some wonderful people on the Northern Beaches...

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RedCycle is dead – what now?

RedCycle is dead – what now?

You might have seen in the news that RedCycle is now in liquidation and that Coles and Woolworths have offered to store the stockpiled soft plastics backlog that RedCycle has been unable to process. But is this just greenwashing? Are the big supermarkets even pushing...

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How to recycle 5 difficult things locally

Despite our best intentions to buy items for life and avoid packaging, sometimes we have things that need to be thrown out or recycled. But unfortunately only a few types of waste are welcome in our recycling bins. However, it is possible to recycle a lot more things...

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Meet the Team: Tracey

Tracey What do you do when you are concerned about all the unnecessary packaging in the world and want to get back in touch with food and community - you volunteer at the Co-op! We talked to Tracey to share her volunteering story. Tracey moved back to Manly late last...

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Make a Splash with Olive Oil

Make a Splash with Olive Oil

Have you ever wondered why Italian cooking is so good? Well, there’s probably lots of reasons, but high up on the list is the abundant use of olive oil as a key ingredient in just about everything. A good olive oil, combined with the very best of seasonal produce, is...

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Honey for your Honey

The Manly Food Co-op stocks gorgeous NSW honey in bulk so it's too easy to fill up a jar or two especially with this upcoming Valentine's Day - the perfect honey for your honey! So delicious, pure and sweet! Let's talk about our Honeys - Mid Coast Honey and Castlecrag...

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Christmas Gifts at the Manly Food Co-op

Christmas Gifts at the Manly Food Co-op

Stock up at the Manly Food Co-op on Christmas presents for teachers, loved ones and those hard to buy people in your life! We are now stocking a range of different candles from CandleXchange. Relax, Refill and Reuse with this range of great hand poured natural...

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Keelah Lam – Our Founder at Manly Food Co-op

Keelah Lam – Our Founder at Manly Food Co-op

Keelah Lam A little while ago, Business Australia interviewed Manly Food Co-op Founder - Keelah Lam, here's what she had to say. Can you tell us how your passion for the environment started? I grew up in an idyllic neighborhood with bush all around so I’ve always had...

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The Country Valley Story

The Country Valley Story

Country Valley processes milk, yoghurt and cream on the Fairley family farm in Picton, 90 kms from Manly. In 2018 the Manly Food Co-op introduced Country Valley bulk milk into the store. The milk arrives into the Co-op in re-usable metal churns and is available for...

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We heart hemp seeds

We heart hemp seeds

Do you know much about hemp seeds? You’ve probably heard of the environmental benefits of hemp when used for clothing and textiles, and maybe even the concrete replacement hempcrete, but did you also know that hemp seeds are a nutritional powerhouse?  Long...

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We Are Hiring

We are hiring a new Shop Manager! If you've shopped at the Co-op you'll have an idea of what we're looking for but the detailed job description is below. This role can be offered part or full time, depending on the applicant. The role would be ideal for a someone who...

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Re-usable Coffee Cups and Covid

Re-usable Coffee Cups and Covid

Re-usable coffee cups were an unforeseen Covid casualty with many cafés not accepting their use. Initial concerns over sanitisation safety were the main reason, and this is understandable. As we've all made our way through this new normal, many cafés have reconsidered...

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