PROPS FOR CROPS!
Hello Chimacum Corner Community!
Germination. That liminal state where life goes from a stored, inert state (seed) to a rapidly proliferating organism issuing from a wee set of cotyledons (plant). Truly magical and one of the more exciting phases of plant life. Who hasn’t freaked out with delight when a whole tray of seedlings emerges from one’s soil mix? It feels like many fun and exciting things are germinating at the Corner Store this late winter / early spring. From great sales to new products, we have direct-seeded many a shopping idea throughout the rows of our “garden of groceries.” As aging indie-rockers Bright Eyes once proclaimed in one of their album titles, “The Story is in the Soil, Keep your Ear to the Ground.” And so, we shall.
Pallets o’ Fun
While the Nursery is still very much under construction, the Nursery team has filled out the Greenhouse beautifully to start the year off. The name of the game this time of year is “Seed and Soil”. Whether you need some raw inputs, like compost, potting soil, manure, or sawdust, or some finished product, like OMRI-certified amendments from Down To Earth brand, we’ve got you covered. The seed bank is also quite extensive this year, with all the usual suspects on board, like (hometown favaorites) Saltwater Seed Company, Deep Harvest, High Mowing Seeds, and we are excited to be adding Adaptive Seeds to the Mix. The seeds racks are overflowing with all your cool weather crops the can be sown now: peas, lettuces, mustards, etc. We’ve selected a wide range of coveted varieties in both the vegetable and flower categories are sure to delight. It’s GO TIME for eager farmers and gardeners; let us be your jumping off point for getting the garden engines rollin’.
Seedy Snacks
There’s seeds for planting, and then there’s seeds for snacking. Our Grocery Department is chock full of the snacking variety. The nuts are grouped in two different locations in the store, one set is the raw nuts back in the Bulk area, and the other set are the roasted & salted varieties in the aisles nearer to the cashiers. The crispy sprouted Native Texas pecans are a particularly delightful handful, as are the Tamari Roasted almonds. The raw nuts have switched to being repacked in smaller container sizes to make it easy for folks to have access to healthy snacks on the go. Don’t sleep on all those seedy treats!
Bang for your Buckwheat
Did you know that buckwheat is actually a seed and not a grain? In keeping with the “seed” theme we thought it would be neat to highlight the Better With Buckwheat crackers as our INFRA deal for the week. Available in Cranberry Almond and/or Savory Fig & Thyme, these crackers are packed with the eponymous ingredient (buckwheat), which is a superfood that is also restorative to the earth, as buckwheat is able to thrive in low fertility soils and attract pollinators with its blooms. Buckwheat actually has more genetically in common with rhubarb and strawberries than wheat, if you can believe it. These crackers are over two dollars off per box during the deals cycle, so be sure to take advantage of the savings while you can.
Spring Dreams
While it certainly doesn’t feel like it, the prospect of spring is on the horizon. The days are lengthening perceptibly, and the most intrepid robins are already on the scene, scouring for early worms. We are wishing spring into existence on the Produce Porch with a line-up of “spring forward” veggies. Chief among them is organic Asparagus, which is a dollar off per pound for a limited time. We are also featuring the Pinto Potato, a red potato with yellow splotches on the skin. It has become a staff favorite this winter, revered for its creaminess and cooking appeal. A salmon side with lemon, asparagus, and Pinto Potatoes is awfully hard to argue with at the end of a long day. Anywho, here’s to eating your veggies all year round!
Snag A Sample
As flavor allows, we will be sampling California Blueberries and Raspberries out on the Produce Porch in the coming days. A rather swell treat to greet you at the door!
Sitework Continued
Serious headway has been made in the forward Parking Lot and Storefront areas thanks to the team at Franson Trucking & Excavating. Thursday morning the crew will turn its efforts and attention to the rear Parking Lot area and eradicate the potholes in that zone. We are really pleased with the way the store has been opened up now that the Front Tunnel (a covid-era vestigial structure) has been removed. You can even see the sweet old mural that Tassie painted on the front of the store again! Again, thanks for your patience and flexibility as we have navigated this major site improvement while remaining open as a business.
Now Hiring!
The Corner is already looking ahead to spring and the coming busy season. We have multiple positions open in multiple departments. We have space for a Kitchen Prep Cook, a Produce Opening Clerk, and Seasonal Nursery Assistants. Toss your hat into the ring at the rowdiest, most colorful grocery store in Jefferson County! We can’t wait to meet you.
