Modern life is about managing a delicate balance in so many things—cost and convenience, quality and time, effort and reward. But some things are just a clear win: that’s how I’ve come to feel about making my own salad dressing. Recipe and image provided by Kyla Winchester I know, you’re thinking, “Salad dressing? Salad dressing of all things?” Yes, salad dressing. I eat salad greens a lot, as an easy side veg that doesn’t require a lot of prep. I used to dress the lettuce with a drizzle of b...

Recipe and image provided by Sarah Bradley Mid-winter brings a welcome introspective energy. I’ve been lucky to take part in yoga teacher training, which means my weekends are immersed in quiet reflection, movement, learning, and building community. Long days at the yoga studio are rich with learning and connection. But guess what: even yogis get hangry! This is why it’s crucial to prepare an array of snacks for a sustainable source of energy. If you are craving the perfect, filling winter sn...

As a zero-waster, glass containers are a must-have. I was surprised at how much I missed my containers upon moving to Toronto. In France, my journey as a zero-waster had been a long one, and I had built up my container stock steadily year after year so that it matched my needs one step at the time. Of course, before leaving, I had to donate them all. When I arrived in Toronto, I immediately looked for zero waste solutions, but I had no more containers! Before buying new ones, I wanted to look...

My name is Dihan Chandra. Karma Co-op was the first retail location to carry our products. Here’s my story. Like you, I need to do something more about the climate crisis. I feel I should be doing a lot more to have significant impact especially if there is less than twelve years before irreversible damage. As a social entrepreneur, I am seeking a way to create a new model of business where I could afford a living yet not at the cost of people and planet. According to Project Drawdown, ...

Ever heard of growing food without soil? That’s hydroponics: a method of growing crops entirely in water, without the use of soil. It’s a closed system where all environmental elements are fully controlled to produce an optimal growing environment. Roots are fed nutrient-rich water in an indoor space such as a greenhouse or even a shipping container where elements such as temperature, moisture and light are controlled to reduce the time it takes to grow crops and to enable a year-round ...

Dear Reece, Apparently, a lot of olive oil is adulterated. This is extremely alarming. Could you tell me if the bulk oil at Karma is guaranteed to be what it says it is? In this vein, I have regular lunches with a friend, where we take turns hosting. He prepares lovely meals, but often with inexpensive ingredients. I have seen a large, cheap canister of olive oil sitting on his counter. How do I let someone know I am not comfortable consuming any meals with potentially unknown substances in t...

Unlike rows of new bulk bins, or the recently installed kombucha bar, there are many other new arrivals at Karma that can easily escape our notice. One such product is silk dental floss. A brief mention of it in the Karma e-Chronicle a few months back caught my attention. Shortly thereafter, I bought a Flosspot and a tiny box containing two refills of woven silk threads. I’ve been hooked ever since. For those of us wanting to reduce single-use plastics, count silk dental floss as one sma...

Did you know that if you can’t find a product on our store shelves, you can try to “special order” it? This service is available to all members and means you can likely do more of your shopping at Karma. Here are some details to help you get started. What can I special order? Karma has a vast array of products you can purchase through special orders. Ask a staff member about a specific item. The items most commonly ordered are beauty products, bulk items, and groceries ordered by the case, su...

A Karma member recently approached the Food Issues Committee with a concern about the connection between the almond milk industry and bee decline. Since Karma carries two different brands of almond milk — Blue Diamond, which is conventional, and Pacific Foods, which is organic — it’s worthwhile to consider whether buying one over the other makes a difference. Both milks are sold at similar price points. Here’s a quick background on the almond industry. The vast majority of the world’s almonds...

What bulk item at Karma do you think triggers the most questions of James Byrne, Karma’s bulk, meat, and cheese purchaser? I’ll give you a hint: Read the title of this article. Members are more curious about those bright yellow nutritional yeast flakes than any of the other bins and tubs of bulk products. First of all, what is nutritional yeast? It is a single-celled microorganism called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which grows on and feeds from cane or beet molasses. The molasses provides a sou...