The Latest News from Wheatsville

Local Vendor Focus: Thunderbird Energetica/EPIC

I recently interviewed Taylor Collins and Kate Forrest, founders of Thunderbird Energetica and EPIC.As well as producing healthy, nutritious foods, they are two of the nicest people you’ll ever meet!—Adrienne

Tell us about how Thunderbird Energetica got started.

The first Thunderbird Energetica bar was created to help Katie heal from a serious inflammatory injury of her knee. She was training for the Kona Ironman World Championship race and unable to run or bike due to pain. We took a step back and considered what types of food we were consuming and how this might contribute to inflammation. We ended up eliminating inflammatory foods from our diets and created the Cherry Walnut Crunch bar. We loaded it with natures most potent anti-inflammatory ingredients (Turmeric, Cherries, buckwheat) just for Katie. Within a few weeks her knee was significantly better and she was 100% back to training. We were so excited about this amazing creation that we decided to start selling the bar locally.

What is your favorite flavor?

Katie’s favorite flavor is Bison Bacon Cranberry. Taylor’s  favorite flavor is Almond Cookie Pow

How did Epic Bars get started?

The EPIC bar idea came to us during an extended camping trip in West Texas. After days of eating only sugar based, high carb camp food, we were craving something savory and high in protein and fat. We were frustrated that all the “protein” bars we carried were made of heavily processed isolates and syrups. We wanted to make a high quality, portable protein snack that was made of whole foods. We decided that the best way to do this was through grass fed animal protein (just like our ancestors ate). We started experimenting with making bacon jerky for 100 mile bike rides and we really liked the way our body felt. It was clear that we needed to invent this bar that could only be described as EPIC.

Opening Day

'Like rain after a long drought.....' is how some die-hard co-op shoppers described Wheatsville's store opening this morning at 4001 South Lamar. The morning started off with torrential downpours but warmed and cleared as our friends, neighbors and shoppers started to trickle in for the morning festivities. Our General Manager, Dan Gillotte, Store Manager, Bill Bickford  and Board President, Rose Marie Klee all welcomed the gathering crowd and reminded everyone about the reason we're in business.

We're in business, and we're expanding that business, so that we can make a difference on things that matter to us. Our BIG Direction Goals are to:

• Create More Local, Organic, Sustainable Food
• More Co-op Economy and
• More Happy People

As the co-op profits, so do the the things we stand for and support. We are here to support our local economy, to build community and to support more local, organic, sustainable food.

Our second store was opened by all in attendance pulling a streamer - a community-style ribbon cutting, put together by Rosie Weaver. Everyone has a hand in what we do here - so it seemed fitting that everyone had a hand in opening the new store.

Our store is successful because YOU. Over 13,000 owners, shoppers, neighbors, friends, community groups, fellow cooperators and staff - all working together to make this cooperative a very special place in Austin.

Our rainbow has officially reached the other side of the river!

More photos of our BIG Day can be found on FaceBook.

Farm Visit to Flower Farmer Scott!

Lila the Wonder Pup Supervises All Flower Picking

Wandering up to visit Flower Farmer Scott in Cedar Creek, it looks like any other small country house, with half-started and half-finished projects laying around, some resource pile here and there. If it weren't for the tibetan prayer flags on the porch, I might have driven right by! But as I wandered down the hill towards the back of the property, Scott's flower field came into view.... The area under cultivation isn't large, about a half an acre, but standing amongst the hip-high larkspur and snapdragons, there is an expansive feeling that encapsulates you in the majesty of these flowers as various pollinators flutter about.

Scott Harris has been farming off an on for the last twenty-five years, and for the past three he's been Flower Farmer Scott. It's easy to see why he choose flower farming. Most of the flower trade is filled with nasty chemicals, and involves shipping flowers hundreds of miles, but on a flood plane field in Central Texas, Scott can grow these beautiful flowers that look great for weeks without using chemical inputs. In fact, his soil building process isn't even labor intensive. Several of the varieties Scott grows are perennials that go dormant in the winter. Where he grows annuals, he simply tills them under in the fall and starts a cover crop to be tilled in again after the last frost.

The Dianthus has all been picked.

Flower Farmer Scott can be found Saturday mornings at the SFC Downtown Farmer's Market and Sundays at the Mueller Farmer's Market. And of course, you can find his lovely bouquets of dianthus, larkspur, and english status at Wheatsville everyday from 7:30 am to 11pm.

Before I left, Scott showed me his secret to long-lasting bouquets: put a tablespoon of white vinegar per gallon of water in the vase! It helps prevent bacteria and mold growth.

Just for fun, here's a photo of Scott's living room after a day of picking flowers:

From all of us at Wheatsville, and our friend Flower Farmer Scott, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!