Friday, January 27, 2012

Week of January 27...News Flash!!!

thOur Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op roaming reporter bringing us news from sunny Deltona, FL....highs 80 lows 56....the trees are dropping their leaves and the grass is brown....be on the lookout for sudden drops in temperature when you least expect it!!!

Snowflake: Welcome readers to this weeks news flash from our roaming reporter Sunshine! What do you have for us this week Sunshine?

Sunshine: Howdy Folks! I'd like to introduce you to this weeks featured co-op team member: Janna of Sunshine Sister's Let's give her a warm farm girl welcome!

Janna has a lovely shop filled with custom housewares and gifts made with precision. I can boast of the many items she has made for me and that I've given to family and friends that have the mark of a very dedicated seamstress! All of her items come labeled and wrapped in a very professional manner. She always sends a note thanking you for your order and how to reorder with her web address on very attractive matching business cards.

You can visit Janna''s shop at: www.sunshinesisters.etsy.com and on our website at:
http://www.sunshinefarmgirlcoop.com/SunshineSisters.html

Snowflake: Anymore great news for us Sunshine?

Sunshine: Why of course! Be sure to check out our calendar of events for this week's fun online craft show event taking place tomorrow on Etsyland! Plus, I have our wonderful scripture of the week to share with our members.


"Remember, now, your Grand Creator in the days of your young manhood (womanhood)".—Eccl. 12:1.

This is a great reminder to teach our children from an early age about our great God and all his wonderful works. 

Snowflake: Yeehaw!!! That was some great news Sunshine! Do you have a recipe for us?

Sunshine: Sure do! How about a great pie recipe to celebrate pie month in February!
Fruit Custard Pie-Gluten Free

Ingredients: 2 cups organic fruit (fresh or frozen)
1 9 inch gluten free pie crust
1 tbsp. gluten free flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup xylitol, agave or fructose
1 cup organic coconut milk, unsweetened
3 large organic eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, gluten free

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place fruit in pie crust. In a medium bowl mix flour with baking soda and sweetener, gradually add milk, stirring until smooth.
Whisk in the eggs and vanilla until blended; pour mixture over fruit.
Bake for 15 minutes on 400. Then bake on 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Cool and serve!

Snowflake: Be sure to tune in later this week for our eco-friendly craft tips and projects Sunshine will have for us!Same co-op time! Same co-op blog!




Thursday, January 19, 2012

A great eco-friendly craft project

Latest News Bulletin from our roaming reporter: Sunshine!

Snowflake: What do you have for our crafters today Sunshine?


Sunshine: Glad you asked Snowflake:
Here is a great eco-friendly craft project for those who like to go green.
Use this same method to make your own reusable sandwich bags/food bags using organic cotton fabric and organic beeswax! Check out this and more great eco-friendly craft ideas on this site:

http://craftingagreenworld.com/2011/10/16/how-to-make-beeswax-coated-paper/3/

Be sure to check back soon. I'll be sharing more Eco-friendly craft projects with you our readers/members weekly.

Snowflake: Tune in next week for more fun news from our roaming reporter, Sunshine. 
Same co-op time! Same co-op blog!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sunshine and Snowflake talk about Co-op News!

Sunshine roaming reporter from the farm girl co-op with news just in from sunny Deltona, FL.....high today 76 low tonight 52!
Snowflake: What do you have for us today Sunshine?
Sunshine: I'm so glad you asked Snowflake!
 Let's get started with the blog news bulletin:
 Roll up your sleeves and get ready to do some team promoting for our featured member of the week.   Let's give a big welcome to Kayla, from Reflections of Kayla!  Hip, hip horray!  Congrats!  www.reflectionsofkayla.etsy.com
 Let's promote her shop all over the web, via your blogs, twitter, facebook and forums you belong to.  Include a picture of one of her items in her shop that you like when you feature her on your site.
 This will be a regular feature each week and you will get to "share the love" by getting the word out about our great team members! 
Snowflake: Who will be next?
Sunshine: Check in next week and find out! Same co-op time!  Same co-op blog!
Snowflake: What other news to you have for us?
Sunshine: Our scripture of the week section found on our website!
Snowflake:  Well tune in next week to find out more exciting news from our roaming reporter "Sunshine"!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Did you know about our Etsy Team??

That's right, we also have an Etsy Team!  You are invited to stop by and check it out and while there, why not visit our BNS taking place Tuesday.  Lots of wonderful items available for sale. We have a wonderful time chatting with each other throughout the day, while greeting our visitors.  So please plan on stopping by, be sure to say Hello and click on the heart to favorite our BNS for us.

If you are interested in joining the Etsy team, just follow the instructions on the Etsy Team page.

If you are interested in joining our co-op, simply visit our website .

See you at the BNS!!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

It's finally here, the moment we've all been waiting for.

Scripture of the Day! "Always rejoice in the Lord" - Philippians 4:4

Today I am grinning from ear to ear!! It's finally here, the moment we've all been waiting for. The unveiling of the greatest sampler box program on the web!!! It will contain samples from a variety of talented women all over the U.S.A.

Here's the Story...........

It all started over a year ago. My little grey cells were over-active as usual and I was thinking of how to get the word out about my co-op. I started talking to my dear friend Joanna, my website designer and host, about my idea and she said: "We could do a sampler box!! Folks just love to get a great deal for their money and this would be a fun way to bring our products to them".

At that moment history was made for the Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op! The co-op membership was growing by leaps and bounds, and we have been up against some stiff competition. Nevertheless, we held our heads up high and kept to our goals and are  now on the front page of google search engines and other top sites!!!

Coming Up With Themes..........

This was the fun part. Now that we had the perfect way to advertise set in our minds and on paper we could move on to the next step, themes. Each sampler box will have a theme for the season. We want to be different, so you won't find your boring follow the pack themes, oh no! You'll find fun themes that everyone will enjoy!

Setting up the ground rules.....

This was a very long process. We wanted to be sure that our customer's are going to get the best we have to offer. So, in order to do that we had to make the rules easy to follow for those sending in samples. And, at the same time, reward them for doing so.

If you make handmade items that you think are just great, then we'd love to have you join us. You will be joining a new mission that is going to take the pain out of advertising your products.

The Rewards............
Joanna and I have spent over a year scouring the internet to find the perfect places to market our idea. So the reward to us is seeing all of you begin to earn an income that will keep you from going belly-up!  We've come up with some awesome rewards for those that send in samples.   Read all about it on the application page.


My work is never done....

It will mean turning my living room into a shipping department! With the aid of my loyal and supportive family as my unpaid staff!


We will be packaging these samples as the home base for our sampler box program. Each sample will be wrapped in clear celo bags that will be tied with a ribbon and have the co-op logo sticker on the bag. This way you'll know where to go buy more sampler boxes for the next season.


Who can buy them.....

The sampler boxes will be for sale on my website starting in April just in time for spring!!! You will be buying a box full of goodies that will be sold at a price way below retail prices. There will be full size items and 1/2 size samples too.


Each sampler box will have a list of the shops who have samples in the box and where you can go to see their shops on Our Market Page, Etsy, or blog and get an idea of what they have to offer. The boxes will be a surprise sampler box. So, you'll have the fun and excitement of opening the package and taking out all the goodies!!!

These will make the perfect gift for any one on your list. You will be able to buy more than one box. One for you and one for a friend. These would make great secret sister gifts or farm friend gifts!!!

Are you excited????.............If you want to get your products in the sampler box program here is where you can sign-up: Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op!

Have questions...............Just use the contact tab on my website and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Be sure to join the co-op while you are there taking a look at the sampler box program!

Many Thanks,

Marsha 

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Welcome to the new look of the Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op!

I'd like to give a big "Thank You" from Joanna and myself for all our dear members that have supported us from day one and to those who have joined us since. You make it joy to keep this alive and filled with activities for you.

There are some exciting changes to the co-op so be sure to go page by page and find out what is new! You'll be able to give your support in so many great and fun new ways. If you want to join in any of the new activities but need some help or have questions, please feel free to contact me and I'll lend a helping hand.

One of the great new changes is that you will be able to take part in some great community charities. Want to save money? Why not find a local farmer that raises organic vegetables or has a hen house full of fat and happy chickens providing eggs free of antibiotics and hormones. And, that's just the beginning of some of the great additions you'll find here.

I'll still share great and fun recipes, craft projects and more in our newsletter each month. But, you'll have the opportunity to purchase our annual membership kit and get even more great co-op perks!

I hope you will sign our guest book and leave a sweet comment about how you like all the new changes. We really look forward to your thoughts and it just puts such a big smile on our face and brings so much joy to our hearts! So don't be shy add your two cents about your great co-op community!

Here is a fun recipe for your next brunch or tea party! Enjoy!

Many Warm Wishes,

Marsha & Joanna



Flavored Sugar Cubes

Ingredients:
2 cups fructose or xylitol
1 1/2 tablespoons water
1/2 tablespoon flavored extract (vanilla, almond etc)

Supplies:
small ice cube mold
decorative shapes small mold
12x12 sheet of wax paper or freezer paper

In a glass bowl add your fructose or xylitol. Spoon in the 1 1/2 tablespoon water, mix well. Now add your flavored extract. It should be like wet sand, not soupy.
Spoon into the mold and press with the back of the spoon. Do not use your hands.

Now pop out onto the wax paper or freezer paper. Let dry 1 hour. Place in glass jar or plastic bag. You can use at your next brunch, tea party or give as a gift!!