More About Us !
Article: Edible Aspen, October 2008
The Basalt Thrift Store, Inc. is now 3 months old. BTS is a self sustaining non-profit that pays its own business expenses and then donates to various schools, women's shelters and other non-profits with their primary distribution focused on agricultural learning centers in the Roaring Fork Valley. Initially BTS will be funding sustainable greenhouses (learning gardens) at several of the Valley schools. BTS is aligned with another non-profit, Fat City Farms, who are very involved in the development of local food resources. For the children, growing organic produce will be acredited work within their nutrional program. It's a way for the kids to learn respect for the planet as well as the understanding of real live nutrition in a hands on approach which will take their work from seed to table.
BTS's Executive Director, Jullia Pratt, realized the Thrift Store Model as an ideal vehicle in our present economic times to help faclitate their corporate mission statement. BTS has demonstrated in its first quarter of growth the ability to meet its fixed expenses and to proudly begin donating to various organizations. Both Jullia, and the BTS Board of Directors, feel strongly that the Community's need for sustainable education is very real and that the knowledge to be gained and implemented will be a pivotal factor in the Valley's near future. With the growing energy crisis and rising costs of fuel the ability to be sustainable will be a test that many areas of the country will have to pass in order to continue as a complete and healthy society.
BTS looks towards other agricultural pioneers in the valley such as Katie Leonaitis who has written school nutritional programs and is involved in both the greenhouse and the kid's menu at the Aspen Middle School. An amazing influence is Alice Waters, international governor of Slow Foods. Waters advocates eating locally produced foods that are in season, because she believes that the international shipment of mass-produced food is both harmful to the environment and produces an inferior product for the consumer. Her ideas for "Edible Education" and her "Edible Schoolyard" program have gained international attention and help to facilitate the mission and direction of the Basalt Thrift Store.
BTS puts emphasis on reclaiming items. Their motto "Reclaim ~ Restore ~ Resell" is well practiced. Although their 2000 sq. ft. showroom offers a variety of items a bit more select than the average thrift store their pricing is still very much in the industry's tradition. They also act as a distribution outlet. What they don't offer for sale they will donate out to other non-profits both local and out of the Valley. With regular donations to Meeker, Paonia, and the Navajo Nation in Utah, to name a few, the idea of recycle is very much alive. In their own words they are here for the community, its children and their nutritional needs, and their doors are open to everyone, no person or family in need will be turned away.
BTS takes donations on Tuesdays only from 11:30 - 6. Their hours of operation are Mon ~ Sat 11:30 - 6 Closed Sunday. A visit to the store will find daily specials and revolving merchandise from furniture and clothing to kitchenware, books and more. They are looking for additional volunteer staff members, if this evokes your interest and you would like to donate time in a stimulating and fun community environment, please call Jullia at 970-927-6488 or email: basaltthriftstore@live.com. Their websie: www.basaltthrift.com is an active work in progress and will soon detail all aspects of the ongoing specials, silent auction items as well as all areas of donation and support projects by BTS itself, please visit.
Steven Jundt
Board Chairman, BTS, Inc.
