RE-GROOVING THE CO-OP
Interview by Suzy Williams with Morowa
Washington, Goddess and Manager of the Venice-Ocean Park Food
Co-op.
When I first met Morowa Washington across
the wooden counter of our lovable local co-op on Lincoln Boulevard and Brooks,
across from The 50’s Cafe, I was struck by her openness and kindness and
incredible knowlege of food and nutrition.
For instance, in two minutes, I had
learned that bananas and molasses, high in potassium, are good for those pesky
leg cramps one gets in the middle of the night, and that lung-shaped greens
(like parsely and kale) are good for your lungs, and the summer savory sprinkles
in your beans can stop flatulence!
She
delivered this information with such enthusiasm that I vowed to become a member
as soon as I could afford it. When I finally did, Morowa came out and blessed my
bike, Gladys. Now THERE’S a co-op manager for you! I found out that when
she recently went to Arcata at the Co-op manager conference, both the Eureka and
the Arcata co-ops had asked her to manage their stores. And I noticed that all
the staff are particularly friendly and helpful, as well.
Suzy: Welcome, Morowa! First of all,
how would you describe
yourself?
Morowa: I’m a Mother
and a Daughter, and a manager, and what happens with being a manager in my mind
is providing an environment that is healthy, that is safe, that gives people
what they need and want and are excited
about.
Suzy: How long have you been
managing the Venice Co-op?
Morowa: I
started as a trainee in February and began managing in
April.
Suzy: That was fast! Did you
have it in your mind that you wanted to be
manager?
Morowa: I always said that I
wanted to run a co-op. It’s been years and years. I live in Los Angeles
but I went to the Santa Monica Co-op. It was the nearest
one.
Suzy: How do you like the progress
you’re having with the Venice
co-op?
Morowa: Well, my first week
there, during the training we were audited by PCGA, which is Pacific Co-op
Grocers Association, where all the co-ops buy collectively with. They came into
the store and told us everything that was wrong and everything that they
liked.
Suzy: Were they
nice?
Morowa: Yes, I took it as Love.
They are managers, also, of co-ops and they’ve been in business for a long
time. They gave all their notes. I’m seeing more now the financial
position for the store, and the need for rebirth and
growth.
Suzy: Give me an example of
what has changed since you
started.
Morowa: Well, when we were
audited, there was this big pallet in the front of the door. It was full of
boxes. And when I moved the pallet, everyone said “Wow, it looks really
good in here.” I had the driver take it back, and put away the boxes right
away. Also, cleanliness. And I’m getting rid of a lot of stuff that was
just floating around in there. We’re actually about to get new shelves,
donated from another co-op, and do a complete re-vamping. The new shelves will
arrive 4th of July weekend. They’ll be off-white, and our shelves were a
battleship grey. Products look better on certain color shelves. It’ll give
the store a brighter look. And we’re getting some glass counters. And one
other thing I came up with... We have that little kitchen, it’s about
seven by seven feet, I went in there , looking back and forth at the walls,
and... I saw my Deli! So I’m gonna do a
deli.
Suzy: Yeah! So people can have a
sandwich, a nice organic, delicious
sandwich!
Morowa: Yes and juices, and a
soup pot, and hot tea ready. People can call in early or fax their order in and
can have their sandwich made to order, with their name on
it.
Suzy: That’s the new way to
do fast food! That’s
groovy!
Morowa: Once I was going to do
a catering truck, that’s what made me think of it. I just have to find out
what the Health Department requires. The co-op donated a hand sink, and I need
a mop sink, which I’m hoping to put outside. We’ve had a two
compartment sink.
Suzy: Who influenced
you in regard to nutrition?
Morowa: I
have two sisters, and one, back in the sixties was... a hippy. She was a
vegetarian, and everyone thought she was weird. She gave me a book: BACK TO
EDEN, a very detailed herb book. Then my other sister gave me HERBALLY YOURS:
you can look up a problem, and it will tell you what’s good for
that.
Suzy: Do you guys carry health
herbs?
Morowa: We do have some in that
corner, I want to broaden that area and carry some books.
Suzy: Maybe some recipe books?
Morowa: Yes. Oh, and in our
newsletter, I want to include at least one recipe. Yes, and an educational
crossword puzzle. And questions, like: what would you do if your trashman
didn’t come anymore, different ways to recycle, composting, etc.
And we will have a silent auction with
donated items, like a dinner for two, or a quilt, or a massage up for bidding in
the newsletter. It will come out every two months. And we’ll have the
items also posted on the co-op board. I’m working to revamp the co-op
board to make it exciting, so people will come to it wondering, ”OK,
what’s going on now?”
Suzy:
So many ideas!
Morowa: Oh, and
we’re doing a food fest in July, where people can come out and eat and
eat, and enjoy themselves. I want to make it more community oriented, because
they need to understand what a co-op is , and that it is people working together
collectively, and coming to the meetings, because they have a choice in what
happens in there.
Suzy: I remember one
time I came to a concert that was held in the co-op’s parking lot : Peter
Demian, the very Venice songman, with his guitar, put on a wonderful show, and
tho it wasn’t the most glamourous venue, it was very charming,
somehow.
Morowa: We need performers to
donate, too. Like The Boners!
(Laughs)
Suzy: Deal! Now, an interview
with Morowa Washington would not be complete without some of the helpful hints
that you have given me and other grateful customers. Tell tales of
garlic.
Morowa: Oh it’s good for
so many things. It lowers the blood pressure, if it’s up there. It’s
a natural antibiotic. You should eat it with some green
stuff, otherwise it comes through the
pores. If someone’s sick, you can rub garlic on your palms and then rub it
on their feet, and it helps to bring any parasites out of the areas that is
making them sick.
Suzy: You mean, even
if it’s rubbing their feet, you can help them with their earache.
Morowa: Yes, but if you’re
talking about earaches, try an enema. A catnip tea enema is great for children
who have earaches, much better than commercial antibiotics because that can
cause ADD. Also it’s good for fevers, and it
helps children relax.
Suzy: How about that! Catnip,
everybody! Now how about skin?
Morowa:
Flaxseed oil. It helps to prevent prostate and colon cancer, and balances your
hormones. You can put it in your oatmeal, your smoothies, salad dressings,
everything.
Suzy: Oh my Gawdess,
Morowa, there is so much much more to talk about, let’s make this a
habit.
Morowa: It’s been real.
(Laughs)
Suzy: With you it is!
(Laughs) Thank you so much, Morowa Washington.
The V-OP Food Co-op is
located at 839 Lincoln Blvd. (at Brooks Ave). Suzy Williams is a singer,
sometimes with The Boners.
Posted: Mon - July 1, 2002 at 06:03 PM