LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With nearly five years in operation, the Lake County Community Co-op (Lake Co-op) celebrates its membership, local producers and community in general at the annual gratitude gathering on Saturday, Dec. 1.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the Clearlake Riviera Community Association, 9689 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road, across from the Riviera Market).

Earlier in the day, DancingTree People Farm in Upper Lake will host a hedgerow planting gathering at 9 a.m., rain or shine.
 
The potluck event will feature live music by local co-op farmer and fiddler, Teale Love, a free raffle, owner-worker and drop point host recognition, reflection of the co-op’s progress and visioning of the Co-op’s future.

“Our gratitude gatherings give us an opportunity to meet our fellow co-op owners and enthusiasts and to truly recognize and honor what cooperative effort can do for a community,” said outgoing Board Chair Janine Smith-Citron.
 
The co-op, which began in 2008, features an online ordering system for local, regional, and beyond grown and produced organic foods and other products.

One of the co-op’s goals is to bring affordable organic products to it’s member-owners and the public through online sales from its Web site at www.lake.coop . It now has 12 pickup (drop) points throughout the county as well as home/office delivery.
 
Its recent expansion that includes telephone ordering, subscription and wholesale sales, gift certificates and delivery has helped the co-op be considered one of the largest online ordering cooperatives in California.
 
Owners, customers and the general public are invited to attend the annual gratitude gathering. They are invited to bring a potluck dish to share, something to drink, plates and utensils. For more information, contact the co-op at 707-513-5226 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
 
Saturday morning Dancing TreePeople Farm (also a producer for the co-op) will be hosting a day long hedgerow installation gathering on their farm at 1445 Pitney Lane, Upper Lake, beginning at 9 a.m, rain or shine, and continuing until the installation is complete.
 
Hedgerows are an integral part of organic farming practices and are intended to help attract beneficial insects to the farm. These beneficial insects will help fend off damaging pests for the organic crops.
 
The rows usually consist of a mix of grasses and flowering plants and provide nurturing habitat. Dancing TreePeople farm is certified organic and embraces permaculture principles and practices.

Community members interested in attending the hedgerow installation should bring gloves, a shovel (if you have one) and a water container to the farm on Saturday morning. Lunch will be provided at this free event.

For more information on the event, contact Loretta McCarthy at 707-245-9076.

For more information on Dancing TreePeople farm, visit their Web site at www.dancingtreepeople.com .