Just like always and only because of the good graces of Katie did I get my order in for the most recent twice- yearly Wholy Living co-op order. I got the order form in the mail two weeks ago, and finally took time over breakfast last Saturday to carefully read through the chatty newsletter and fill out the detailed form. I’m used to shopping in bulk for weeks at a time since we buy almost all of our other dry goods in Anchorage, but when I place my Wholy Living order, I have to think even longer range – six months. It’s fun, but challenging and I always wait until the last minute to submit my form.
Wholy Living is a religious based back-to-earth sort of co-op. On the website, the founder advocates for reading the King James Version of the Bible and the right to bear arms. About whole grains, she writes “God created whole grains for us with all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to nourish our bodies. Satan stepped in through man to make it ‘better’ by removing all the vital, living components and tempted us with ‘dead bread’ which kills the body prematurely.” I’m not entirely sure I agree that Satan was the impetus behind the degradation of our food, but I’m in complete agreement that Wonder bread is, indeed, dead.
The foods that Wholy Living offers are hearty, nutritious, and high quality. The founder takes great care in sourcing her grains, beans, nuts, dried fruits, and other products and successfully puts together a list of staples that provide the basis for a family to eat a balanced and varied diet. Quantities are reasonable for even a small family (of two) like mine or for a large family. Grains in particular are offered in very large quantities specifically for folks who grind their own flours for bread. For example, you can purchase 50 pound increments of Bronze Chief wheat, 25 pound increments of kamut, and 50 pounds increments of rolled oats. Many of the supplies are organic.
I typically shop for ingredients that go into my one-pot meals, home-made granola, and Matt’s trail mix: black beans, quinoa, millet, whole almonds, walnuts, pecans, and cranberries. Other items available through Wholy Living are maple syrup (1 gallon for $85), organic coconut oil (1 or 5 gallons), organic dark chocolate chips (5 pounds), and pumpkin seeds (5 pounds for $25).
My Wholy Living distributor, Katie, is based in Copper Center. She receives co-op shipments into her large basement and then, with the help of volunteers, separates and re-packs food for customers around this region of the state. Other distribution centers are in Fairbanks, Palmer, Delta, Homer, and Seward. If you live in or near one of these locations, check the website for dealer contact information and a copy of the latest order form.
Highly Recommended: Wholy Living dried cranberries – sweetened with apple juice. Sweet, plump, and chewy. 5 pounds for $35.
