New publication: Cooperative Farming by Faith Gilbert, CDI contributing author

The Greenhorns, an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting young farmers, has published a guidebook for Cooperative Farming: Frameworks for Farming Together by Faith Gilbert. CDI's Lynda Brushett was a contributing author. "Compiled from 42 interviews with farmers and professionals, this is a how-to handbook on structuring and operating a group venture."

There is plenty of good information and insights here, so we're anticipating that it will be widely read. We were pleased to work on it and are happy that this resource will be available!

New Hampshire Community Seafood multi-stakeholder co-op featured in Rural Cooperatives Magazine, Sept/Oct issue

CDI's Lynda Brushett and Noemi Giszpenc teamed up to report on the new multi-stakeholder co-op in New Hampshire, NH Community Seafood, owned by fishermen and consumers. Using the community-supported agriculture marketing model, they are shoring up the basis for viable local fisheries. See http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Coop_RurCoopMag.html, Sept/Oct issue, pages 24-25.

photo Sarah VanHorn

Op-Ed: Cooperatives could benefit Maine residents

Our own Rob Brown has written a great Op-Ed for the Bangor Daily News for Co-op Month, highlighting the benefits that Resident Ownership through cooperatives could bring to people living in manufactured home parks in Maine.
Check it out:
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/10/11/opinion/how-trailer-park-cooperatives-could-benefit-maine/

2011 Year in Review

2011 was an exciting year for the Cooperative Development Institute, and 2012 is shaping up to be great as well. We're thrilled to be participating in celebrations of the International Year of the Cooperative. See our Year in Review:
http://www.cdi.coop/cdi-Year-in-Review-2011.pdf

Winter 2012 CooperationWorks! Newsletter

For news and information on co-op development centers throughout the U.S., see the Winter 2012 issue of NetWorks, the CooperationWorks! newsletter.

Pamphlet: Cooperative Business Solutions for the Northeast U.S.

Cooperative Development Institute, working with Jane Livingston of Indivisible, Inc. and David Gerratt of DG Communications, has produced a beautiful 4-page pamphlet describing the benefits of cooperatives in retail food, workplaces, housing, credit, agriculture, fisheries, and shared utilities, with examples from throughout the Northeast. The pamphlets were printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper by Boston worker co-op Red Sun Press (pictured on the front!). With the launch of the U.N.-declared International Year of Cooperatives 2012 today, we are making copies of the pamphlet available to the Northeast co-op community. Call for ordering information, 413-665-1271 or toll-free 877 NE COOPS.

"Don't Let 'Em Go! How co-ops can keep vital businesses, services in rural communities"

In the current (Sept/Oct) issue of USDA's Rural Cooperatives magazine, a salute to noteworthy co-ops in celebration of National (and International!) Cooperative Month includes an article by Noemi Giszpenc on converting existing businesses to co-op ownership in rural communities. The article features the Old Creamery Co-op, Crown O'Maine Organic Co-op, Turtle Ridge Cooperative, ROC USA, and Maine Organic Milling, all examples of people cooperating to keep needed institutions and make sure they are serving their communities. See page 30 for the article, and browse the other great stories in this special Co-op Month issue.