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A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Take a stroll down
CHARLTON BEER ALLEY with a wide variety of over a 100 imported and domestic beers...
the best selection in Saratoga County!
OVER 40 FLAVORS of Gourmet Teas
Fresh baked turnovers, cream puffs, mini-cheesecakes, carrot cakes and chocolate chip cookies from locally owned and operated bakeries Handmade Chocolates, over a dozen varieties of peanut butter, variety of local honey, specialty sauces, buffalo jerky and sausage, gourmet popcorn Oversized sandwiches & homemade soups Ethanol-Free Gas! We’ve got MPG - More Power per Gallon! Yes, we have free Wi-Fi
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS BEER TASTINGS March 24th 7-9pm- Equine Event Guest Speaker: Carol Visher-Sarfan, DVM, “Conformation and How it Relates to the Performance Horse” Check out our website for upcoming events like beer tastings, car clinics, and future equine events!
WORTH THE TRIP FROM ANYWHERE… WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VISIT! ROUTE 67 COUNTRY STORE & CAFÉ
518-882-7347
1958 Amsterdam Rd. (Rt. 67) Charlton 4 miles west of Ballston Spa
www.rt67cafe.com 4 ecolocalliving.com
On the Cover
Being a dairy farmer is tough business. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure. But when you have three generations before you that did the same thing, it’s kind of a genetic mutation that compels those that follow to continue the farming tradition. Talk to a generational farmer and he’ll tell you, “it’s in our blood.” On the cover, meet Jan and Jeff King of the new King Brothers Dairy. These brothers are the latest in the King family with the blood affliction to run the iconic farm up on Bacon Hill, in the town of Northumberland, Saratoga County. With a family farming tradition going back 115 years, there was no other option for these two, which is fine with them. They are now taking a page from their past legacy and like their grandpa and great uncles before them, they are now milkmen. With the modern dairy business going through convulsions, it was the sensible thing to do…bring back the service that made the King family literally a household name. But these two are not just delivering milk, they are delivering local food products that represent the best of the region. They are connecting producers to consumers with old fashioned service that has never gone out of style. It’s re-localizing your pantry, and it’s supporting local small businesses. Something we all can do more of. Thanks, guys! We’re proud to call you the ecolocalizers for this Spring 2011 edition!
DEPARTMENTS
7
News and Views
8
The Wellness Doc
9
Money Matters
10 Ask the Energy Expert 12 Joy(s) of Functional Living 30 EcoLocal People
FEATURES
14
Toad Hill Farm Sweet Sustainability
16
King Bros Dairy The Milkman Delivers, Again
22
Eco-Local Relationships
24
Scotty Kellogg Radix Ecological Sustainability Center ecolocalliving.com 5
Letter from the Publisher The idea of this eco-local living magazine was hatched about this time three years ago, and it’s been quite a journey since then. The national economy was still riding high on the housing bubble, and globalism was bringing us cheap goods from places on the other side of the planet, feeding the gluttony of rampant consumerism. Locally, the open spaces of former farms were transformed into pop-up mcmansions neighborhoods. Our food came from grocery stores, and that’s about all we knew about it. This kind of behavior, this kind of economic strip mining of people and planet, I thought, must be corrected, or we’ll have nothing left for the future. Now I knew that our extraction economy was unsustainable, and foresaw that a collapse was inevitable; I just didn’t think it would be a few months later. The summer of 2008 began the unraveling of the global money casino, and the fake economy of lies with it. Around the same time, the food recalls began to make the news, and continued to make the news. The giant corporate food machine was failing, and suddenly food from the grocery couldn’t be trusted. The good news in all this was that the localism movement came into it’s own at about the same time. Local farmers markets gained in popularity as people began get food closer to the source. The buy local movement, spurred on by many Local First movements throughout the country (including our own Capital District Local First), gained significant momentum, and local entrepreneurs seized upon the opportunity by opening shops and making their presence known. And along the way, people discovered that local is about establishing and nurturing relationships…relationship to your food, to your farmer, to you community - the people who make it unique, original, and funky. In this, the Spring of 2011, we are celebrating the local relationships that make the Capital/Saratoga and Upper Hudson Valley region our vibrant local-living scene. We go north into the Adirondacks to learn of a barn raising of a different sort, actually the new maple sugarhouse at the Toad Hill Farm in Thurman. In Thurman, local relationships are the ties that bind the rural community together. It seems everybody in town pitched in to help build this modern showcase to that ages-old ritual of the north woods – making maple syrup. Traveling to the south of the region, we take a look at the funky side of sustainable living with Skotty Kellogg and his Radix Center. Skotty is what you might call a gonzo guerilla gardener…he sees an opportunity to grow some food in an abandoned property, and he takes it. Skotty is really a radical educator, teaching by example that anyone can live sustainable in an urban environment. He’s the one guy you want in your corner before the s**t hits the fan! And our cover story features the brothers King, who are celebrating there first year as milkmen, renewing a tradition carried on by the forefathers. In the process, they have added a modern twist, by adding other local food products to the delivery service. The brothers actually deliver a relationship to your door, one that is rich in farming tradition and local food crafting. And finally, we share a bit of our own relationship building that this very magazine has fostered…building a community of local sustainable businesses. That’s where you come in, dear reader, because you are where the sustainable relationship begins and where it grows. See for yourself by contacting any advertiser in this issue, and ask them for help with their particular expertise. You will soon experience what others have found – passionate, caring, professional people who want to know you and care about you. Because, you are the reason they do what they do. And, they can’t do it without you. So, don’t fret about the global meltdown or the race to acquire more cheap stuff…you’ve got local right here in your hands, and ultimately, that’s all you really need! Keepin’ it local, David DeLozier, Publisher
The next time you come in, tell us how much you just LOVE the days weather and enjoy a bakery item on us!
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eco LOCAL PUBLISHER / EDITOR / SALES David Delozier 518-858-6866 ecolocalliving.com DESIGN / PRODUCTION Centerline Design 518-883-3872 PHOTOGRAPHY Tom Stock of Stock Studios Photography, Persis Granger, Tracy Frisch CONTRIBUTORS Tracy Frisch, Persis Granger, Kathleen Quartararo, Dr, Michael Quartararo, Scott Rakowski, Mary Beth McCue, Harry Moran SUBSCRIBE Eco-LOCAL Living is the free bi-monthly magazine for people choosing to lead sustainable, intentional lifestyles in New York's Upper Hudson Valley. It can be found throughout the region at independent retailers, shops, restaurants and other high traffic locales Visit www.ecolocalliving.com to find a location near you. If you would like to receive a subscription, send $24 along with your name and address to: Eco-LOCAL Media 38 Tamarack Trail Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. If you would like updates and information by email, please sign up at our website. SUPPORT We seek to transform this special region of upstate New York into a local living economy of vibrant towns, productive farmlands and healthy open space. By reading eco-LOCAL, you become part of our cause. But more is needed - we need you to take an active role, by engaging in the commerce that will create the living economy of our future. This magazine is brought to you solely by the advertisers found within. Please tell them you appreciate their support of eco-LOCAL Living. We are all in this together, and we must support each other. Thank you! Every effort has been made to avoid errors and misspellings; however, if you see an error, please accept our apologies. We welcome your ideas, articles, and feedback so that we can give you the best service possible. Eco-LOCAL Living does not guarantee nor warrantee any products, services of any advertisers, nor will we be party to any legal or civil claims or promises. We expect advertisers to honor any claims or promises. We reserve the right to revise, edit and/or reject any and all advertising with or without cause. Liability is limited to the cost of the ad space in which it first appeared for printing errors of the publisher's responsibility or if the publisher fails to print an ad or article for any reason. We reserve the right to edit articles if needed for content, clarity and relevance. Unless otherwise noted, we use the Creative Commons License (in place of standard copyright), which allows anyone to freely copy, distribute, and transmit all content, although it must be attributed in the manner specified by the author or licensor, and no one may use it for commercial purposes, or alter, transform, or build upon it.
News and Views Senator Gillibrand Nominates Local Manufacturer for EPA Award Hoosick Falls, NY - Window insulation manufacturer Windo-therm, maker of “Advanced Energy Panels” has just been nominated by Senator Gillibrand for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 2 Environmental Quality Award. This award is given annually to individuals and organizations who are environmental leaders. Windo-therm makes a simple yet highly effective insulation panel that is placed inside a window frame greatly reducing heat loss without having to replace the windows. “Our insulation panels can play a big part in reducing energy consumption in any home or commercial building,” said owner, Jim Devine. “We are honored that Senator Gillibrand has recognized our tireless efforts to create a
product that, by saving energy, can have a big impact on reducing carbon emissions by reducing consumption.” Gillibrand said of Windo-therm, “Your efforts and advocacy are instrumental in helping our communities, our country, and our planet, move forward towards a clean, equitable and sustainable future. Final decisions and notification of this award will be made in April of 2011by the EPA”. If you have any questions about this award and the nominating process you can visit www.epa.gov/region2/eqa/ Windo-therm has offices in Hoosick Falls and manufacturing facilities in Albany. Call 518686-9581 for information or go online to www.advancedenergypanels.com
Weather or not... What if we adapted to the weather, and took advantage of whatever nature had to offer up each day? We certainly have enough choices in the northeast- at least that is word on the street! We always adapt, so why not do it cheerfully? What if we chose to enjoy the day, regardless of the temperature or precipitation? When you think about it, does it really make sense to be miserable because of weather?? I often hear the complaints about the snow, cold, wind and lately unpredictability of weather in the northeast. And people can be REALLY emotional about it! I think it is the topic discussed most that uses the word hate more than any other! Hating?? Really?? Does the weather really deserve such a strong negative emotion? I like to feel good, and I love the change of seasons. A long time ago I decided the weather would never dictate my mood. I tend to be a bit of a control freak, and giving up my feelings to mother nature did not workl. Every day, I look for something special, something fun, something enjoyable about the outdoors. I have boots, coats, clothes that I love to wear and you need the right conditions! (Though that probably applies mainly to women :) When the temperature is in the minus to single digit range I can honestly say I
By Kathleen Quartararo of Virgil’s House FREEZE outside!! But I breathe deeply and walk briskly and appreciate how clean everything feels and smells. AND BIG BONUS, it makes the 20's feel warm. At least for a little while... Winter storms are just little kid exciting to me, and I think I am happier than my children when school closes! YEAH! A free day!! And shoveling is shoveling.. It is like laundry - has to be done, so just do it and get on with the day. Come in, have a treat, take a bath, get warm and relax. The rain in the winter melts the snow, and in the summer, creates gorgeous lush greenery and saves me watering time.. To wind, I just say WOW. I am always fascinated by wind, I guess because I can't see it, and the power of something invisible is so freakin' cool! And the trees, they just go with the flow for the most part. Listening to the wind is one of my favorite things to do.. as much as listening to the rain. Thunder and lightening storms just rock the house! There is no better single LIVE form of entertainment available! The heat and the sun feel so good.. being warm all the time, even at night. Sitting with a fan - not the electric one, the paper one you unfold and wave. I love that one. And I love listening to the heat bugs. I am not really sure what they are, but that is what my grandmother called them. Every time it gets so
hot you can hardly breathe, it reminds me of my grandmother, and I can't help but be happy. We live in a wondrous place, with a wondrous climate. No hurricanes, no tornadoes, no tsunamis, no pollution index keeping us inside, no heat index keeping us off the streets, no insurmountable cold or snowfalls that force us inside. All things considered, we are in the most spectacular part of the country, with an opportunity to enjoy, appreciate, and take advantage of a wide variety of weather. We get to boat, swim, ski, hike, white water raft, camp, leaf peep, mountain climb, snow shoe, sled, snowboard, slalom, ice skate and curl up by a fire(well, not me, but I know people who do that!). We have downtown living without smog, we are close to 3 of the most enjoyable cites in the northeast (Boston, NYC, Montreal) We have the country and the mountains and lakes galore, including The Queen of American Lakes (Lake George) and a variety of fairly mild weather to help appreciate every single season. Whether or not it rains sleets, snows or suns, we have a lot to do, and much to love. It is so much more fun to just love the day for what it is, and take advantage, take our own personal advantage of the weather. Whether or not you choose to do it, is up to you. ecolocalliving.com 7
The Wellness Doc By Dr. Dermot Connole Jinks, DC of Adirondack Advanced Chiropractic
Are You Thriving or Surviving? professionals: health or sickness? Unfortunately, many of us would have to answer that we look for help only after we become sick. When we are motivated by sickness, we seek help only when we already are experiencing symptoms or health issues. In this circumstance, we are not really in control of the quality of our health because we are taking a reactive rather than proactive approach to healthcare. When we take a reactive approach we rely on pills to mask symptoms. Although this approach may make us feel better temporarily, it never really helps us achieve and maintain health. Reactive healthcare leaves us battling symptoms for most of our lives. Rather than living on the symptom see-saw, instead we need to act on a plan designed to achieve and maintain optimal health. Do you notice the hum in the air? Maybe you can't really hear it, but can you feel it? Can you feel the vibration? The “vibrations� around us are not mysterious at all; they are the result of life in motion. The only thing that is a constant in life is change. Change occurs faster and faster, and sometimes we can feel overwhelmed from the pace. A generation or two ago, grandparents used to complain about too much change. They do not complain about the changes themselves, they complain about the speed of the changes. Younger people and children are the ones who seem immune to the acceleration of change. Those who shop for groceries know that evidence of change can be seen at the supermarket. Try to find a cereal you purchased last week.
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Optimal health is one of our most valuable You probably won't find it because it has possessions. We should value ourselves already been replaced by a new low-carb, low enough to strive for the highest level of sugar version. health. When we take responsibility for the In spite of the rate of change in many areas of choices we make regarding health, we give the human experience, some things never ourselves the best opportunity to achieve all change. For example, we all want to succeed. of our health goals. Pro-active chiropractic We don't frequently change our life goals of wellness care can help give us the natural health, financial security and happiness, health we deserve when we commit to because none of us would choose to be sick, learning more about our body and take all of poor or sad. We know that motivation and the necessary steps to stay well. persistence are two key factors of success, no Dr. Michael Quartararo has been a chiropractic matter what our goals are. wellness practitioner for 17 years in Saratoga Springs. He We strive to become healthy and remain healthy. However, frequently our habits reveal that we have slipped into patterns of motivation that hurt us rather than help us What motivates us to seek the help of health
is the CEO and founder of AAC Family Wellness Centers, a Milton family and pediatric wellness center. He is a member of the New York State Chiropractic Council, International Chiropractic Council, International Pediatric Chiropractic Council and World Chiropractic Alliance. He can be reached at www.aacfamilywellness.com or aacdocs@adirondackchiropractic.com.
Money Matters By Harry Moran, CFP® AIF®
What Does SRI Mean To You? There are many labels for socially responsible investing (SRI): green, sustainable, responsible, values-based, ethical, etc. The problem is that even when we can agree on a name, that name can mean very different things to different people. Most socially responsible investment companies have a baseline definition for SRI which includes avoidance screens for tobacco, alcohol, gambling, pornography, human rights abuses, nuclear power, and fire arms and weapons contractors. Beyond these fairly universal basics though, there are many important differences. It's critical for investors to understand this as they evaluate various options so they can see which companies are in the closest alignment with their personal values and beliefs. One key distinction among SRI funds is that some are faith-based and some are secular in their focus. A religious-oriented fund may have as part of its mandate a policy of avoiding companies involved with contraceptives or abortion as they would be in conflict with their “pro life” stance. A secular SRI fund will typically allow such businesses in their portfolios and will be more appealing to those investors with “pro choice” beliefs. The energy sector is another area where you see key differences. Some SRI mutual funds will invest in nuclear power companies if
those companies also have substantial renewable energy activities. Some funds will allow companies with older, “legacy” nuclear operations as long as there are no new nuclear facilities being brought online. Other funds will try to completely avoid all exposure to nuclear power. As there is continued debate on whether nuclear should be considered a clean energy source, SRI funds have continued to explore this issue and have reached different conclusions about investment in these companies.
environment, workplace and product safety, human rights and community relations. Other funds add more specialized screens on issues such as indigenous people's rights. Looking at a fund's positive screening criteria is essential since merely avoiding investing in certain things doesn't make for a robust and balanced investment strategy. Shareholder advocacy policies are another key differentiator among SRI funds. Some funds which tout themselves as SRI do little or nothing in terms of using shareholder action to help catalyze change at the companies they invest in. Others devote much time and energy to these activities and have dedicated staff overseeing sophisticated campaigns targeting specific companies or industries. Since major change on the corporate level is most likely to occur through dialogue and engagement with management, it's essential for SRI funds to dedicate substantial resources to these efforts.
The natural gas sector is another energyrelated area with a range of options and views. Some funds view natural gas as a cleaner alternative to oil and an important “bridge solution” to get us to the point where renewable energy has enough scale to supply most of our power needs. Others view natural gas as just another polluting fossil fuel which is a finite and rapidly dwindling resource and isn't a part of a clean energy future. This is another area where there isn't a right or The last major differentiator is in the area of wrong, only differing perspectives and community investing. Several SRI funds have different investment policies. specific minimum levels for investment in After these negative or avoidance screens are local community enterprises. This typically implemented, the next step is for companies supports women and minority-owned to employ positive screens which look for businesses, affordable housing and key noncompanies with certain desirable criteria. profit organizations operating in financially Most SRI funds look for companies with distressed areas, which are often underserved sound practices in governance and ethics, -Continued on Page 23
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Ask the Energy Expert By Scott Rakowski, for Adirondack Solar
2011, The Year Where Solar Electric for Commercial
Businesses Makes Sense‌ and Lots of Dollars
Commercial businesses have the unique opportunity to drastically reduce their costs as well as their carbon footprint by investing in solar electric systems this year. There are a multitude of reasons from doing the right thing for the environment to cutting costs for the business. Environmentally, businesses have the chance to lessen their impact on pollution and global warming, reduce their carbon footprint and help to diminish the addiction to foreign fossil fuels. Businesses that power themselves with renewable energy can also promote themselves as true, green companies, which is a proven positive attribute. While all the factors discussed above are important, anyone in business will also tell you that for any new project to be considered, it must also contribute to the bottom line. Well business owners, 2011 is the year where investing in solar electric systems makes sense (and lots of dollars).
installing solar electric systems. These include: 30% Federal Grant (only available in 2011) Bonus 100% Depreciation in the first year (reduces down to 50% in 2012) Approximately 30% New York State Grant
With the state and federal grants and tax incentives, commercial customers are left paying roughly 20-30% of the actual cost of installing a system. In most cases, these customers are cash flow positive in the first year. Second, solar electric systems also result in a reduction or elimination of monthly electric bills. This allows commercial consumers to hedge against inflation by locking in electric rates. The average annual price change for commercial electricity prices has increased 7.1% since 2002 (See chart). With the increase in oil, gas, and electricity There are two primary financial advantages rates expected this year, there is no doubt of investing in solar. The first is that until the that commercial prices will continue to end of this year, commercial businesses have escalate into 2012. access to attractive grants and incentives for
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Commercial businesses have high electrical usage because they need to power everything from heating and cooling systems for large spaces to hundreds or thousands of tools, computers, lights and equipment. This year, these businesses can take control of their energy usage and work to become independent. They have the opportunity to make their own clean energy and positively impact the planet. Finally and perhaps most important for a business owner, they can afford solar electric, save money, and contribute to the bottom line. The year 2011 is the best time for commercial businesses to reap the rewards of the solar electric investment. Grants and tax incentives will be reduced at the end of 2011 and electricity prices will continue to rise. This article hopes to influence commercial businesses to embrace springtime, start a new endeavor with a solar electric system and see the green in green. Scott Rakowski of Adirondack Solar can be reached at 866-452-7652 www.adksolar.com.
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The Joy(s) of Functional Living By Mary Beth McCue, RD, LDN, CDN
Not a Food Activist? You may be now... On January 27, the US Department of Agriculture reached a decision on the utilization of genetically engineered (GM or GMOs) Roundup Ready® alfalfa in the U.S. Out of the three possible options-regulation, partial deregulation, and complete deregulation-the USDA chose the worst possible option: full non-regulated status.
What does this mean ? Deregulation is dangerous. Without regulation, GM alfalfa will spread to non-GM alfalfa crops, irretrievably contaminating it. GM alfalfa cannot be contained in the immediate crop area where it is grown. There are records of over 200 episodes of transgenic contamination, costing farmers hundreds of millions of dollars in lost sales. The wind or birds can carry seeds and plant parts to other crops. If genetically engineered crops spread, the word “organic” will be virtually be meaningless, affecting crops, the cattle who eat the alfalfa, and consumers who eat both. Contamination of chemicals will eventually be wide-spread. Roundup Ready® alfalfa will substantially increase herbicide use. The USDA's own data shows that just 7% of alfalfa acres are currently treated with herbicides. USDA's projections show that substantial adoption of Roundup Ready® will increase herbicide use up to 23 million pounds per year. This herbicide will negatively impact the environment, animals, bodies of water,
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water supply (that we drink) in general, land ACTION STEPS and DIRT used to grow our food, and all of US. 1) The Center for Food Safety has announced it will file a lawsuit against the How does this relate to our Health ? There is an USDA over the decision, and The Alliance for overwhelming amount of evidence that most, if Natural Health (ANH-USA) will try to become not all chronic health conditions (including -the a co-plaintiff in that suit. high rates of- obesity and depression) are 2) We need to blanket Congress with related to 2 factors, stress and /or toxicity. This protests, asking senators, representatives and is part of the foundational work in Functional committees to review the deregulation Medicine and Nutrition. Processed foods, foods decision. A massive grassroots campaign will grown in soil contaminated with chemicals, show Congress that there is a steep political price here for supporting genetically “If people let the government engineered organisms. Sen. Patrick Leahy (DVT) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) have issued decide what foods they eat a statement condemning the USDA decision. and what medicines they take, For more: http://www.prnewswire.com/ and their bodies will soon be in as open news release link on the home page. 3) Put pressure on the USDA and the sorry a state as are the souls of Obama administration. They need to those who live under tyranny.” understand how concerned American citizens are, and why we feel betrayed. Please go to -Thomas Jefferson 1781 the link below to SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT,_CONGRESS, AND THE USDA: overuse of medications, impure water and air http://www.anh-usa.org, and click on this sources (to name a few), all add up to story which is under “Take Action” on the left overwhelming amounts of toxins for our bodies side of the home page. Once there, fill out to eliminate. Over a decade ago, this statement the form with your name and address, etc., would have sounded like it came from an and customize your letter. A suggested letter extremist. But now we know when we eat is already there, but feel free to add your own “cleaner foods”, when we assist the body to comments . detox, when we resolve health conditions and eliminate medication use - we shift the body Mary Beth McCue is a Registered Dietitian and a Certified and Licensed Nutritionist. You can reach her at back to health. 257.6530 or visit www.SaratogaNutrition.com.
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Toad Hill Farm
Sweet Sustainability Story by Persis Granger Photos supplied by the Galusha’s
became more and more involved in the maple sugaring, while his brother opted out. Randy and his high school sweetheart, Jill, married after their graduation from Clarkson University, and returned to Thurman to raise their family and pursue careers-Randy as an environmental engineer for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Jill as a physician assistant in Glens Falls. Most of their spare time, year-round, is spent working on their maple operation and now they stand at the helm of the business.
TOADHILL@HUGHES.NET 2/19/11- We started tapping today. Snow conditions are brutal. Wouldn't have gotten much done if it wasn't for some friends that pitched in. We spent about 2 hours in the woods and got about 500 taps in. It was pretty cold and the wind was blowing. Last night we had 50+ mph gusts. Jill and I will chip away at some tomorrow and then I will try to get the rest done this week. Should also finish hooking up the new equipment this week. Stay warm; the weather isn't much fun up here. Randy I closed the email from Randy Galusha and shivered in sympathy. Other neighbors from up home already had told me of limb-littered lawns, power outages and cut-to-the-bone winds in Thurman. Poor Randy and Jill! I 14 ecolocalliving.com
The average ratio of sap to syrup is 40:1, and, even under the best of conditions, affordably collecting the sap and reducing it to the final product is a challenge. At Toad Hill Maple Farm efficiency has always been a priority and Randy's goal consistently has been to make the best syrup possible as efficiently as possible. The Galushas brought in a professional forester develop a management plan to keep their trees healthy and producing at optimum levels. With hard work and careful planning, Toad Hill Maple farm has evolved from a three-coffee-can syrup experiment to the largest maple operation in Warren County. In recent years Randy and Jill began to discuss enlarging their sugarhouse again. “The more we talked about adding on, the more we realized what we really needed to accomplish our goals was a whole new sugarhouse,” Randy said. “I drew about seventy floor plans. We figured we'd have to reminded myself that they have been wait until we retire, about five years down snowshoeing through winter's bluster and the road.” scrambling up icy slopes for decades. They are maple producers, and in February, that's what But that was before their REAP grant. they do. Last year they learned they might be eligible Randy became intrigued with sugaring at age ten, and he and his younger brother convinced their dad to help them put three taps in maples in their back yard and hang coffee cans under them. Jim and Norma Galusha, with the boys and friends helping, were initiated into sugaring, and “got hooked,” as Jim called it. Toad Hill Maple Farm was born. Since that first tapping in 1971, the Galushas acquired equipment, built facilities, and bought and leased more woodlands. As the boys grew up, Randy
for a USDA grant offered by the Rural Energy for America Program, known as “REAP”. Several months and about ninety application pages later, Randy and Jill were notified that their project was one of fewer than fifty maple projects in New York State to be selected for funding. Their dream of a new energy-efficient facility, nearly four times the area of their old one, would become a realitynot after retirement, but right away. The grant, combined with a substantial investment of their own funds and a lot of
have the gift shop.” I watched his face. It was as though he could see it already-the shelves all lined with jugs of syrup, tubs of maple cream, boxes of those little maple-leaf candies. Of course he could see it. He had been dreaming it and sketching it for months, if not years. More hard work lay ahead before those dreams could become a reality. TOADHILL@HUGHES.NET 11/27/10 - Over the next 2-3 weeks the building construction will be complete. Our equipment arrives Monday, including evaporator, RO and SteamAway. We will be picking up two new 2000 gallon tanks in the next week or two. We still have a couple of weeks' worth of work to do in the woods. We are changing all of our taps and droplines to the new stubby spouts so that we can use Leader's new check valve adapter. They will increase production by keeping the tapholes open longer. Randy
bartering, enabled them to begin construction last summer. While local builder Lewis Gallup poured the foundation, the Galushas harvested eastern white pine from their Certified Tree Farm. They hauled some to JC Lumber to be milled into framing lumber, paneling and roof decking, some to Northern Hardwoods that would become siding, and some to Blue Line Barn to be tailored into massive timbers to frame the center section of the structure. Blue Line workers laid out sections of the frame, called bents, on the floor like so many pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, fabricating the whole with mortise and tenon joinery held together with oak pegs. Local craftsmen were engaged to turn all of these materials from Toad Hill's trees into a sugarhouse that would house a state-of-the-art maple sugaring operation. Randy and local contractor Tom Muratori oversaw and coordinated the construction efforts while Randy's father, Jim, helped with the construction and kept the materials flowing. When I visited Toad Hill's sugarhouse in late September, the framing had just been completed, and I had the sense of standing in a gothic cathedral, dwarfed beneath mammoth timbers that supported a cloud-splotched postcard sky above. Randy and Jill were staining boards that were to become the roof decking, but Randy took time out to show me around. We began smack in the middle of the mammoth building. “The new wood-fired evaporator will be right here, under the cupola. We're converting from oil back to wood, cutting trees culled from our own property for firewood. This evaporator, working in conjunction with the reverse osmosis, is supposed to be able to produce-I'll have to see it to believe it-three hundred gallons of syrup from one full cord of wood, compared to the traditional yield of twenty-five to thirty gallons per cord.”
New photographs came in-one of the sugarhouse with the completed porch on the front, and another showing the truck from Leader backed up to the sugarhouse, ready to unload the shiny new equipment. Tasks in the sugarhouse and in the sugarbush filled most weekends and evenings of the fall and winter. As February wore on and sugaring season drew nearer, the pressure mounted. TOADHILL@HUGHES.NET 2/25/11 - We have most of our taps in. We will have 1,650 of our own taps and 2,100 that we buy the sap from for a total of 3,750. Just one mainline left to do. Fortunately the crust is holding a little better and we can walk on snowshoes easier. Right now priority is getting the rest of the plumbing connections and electrical controls wired up for the reverse osmosis and the evaporator. Today I'm finishing a winch lift system to raise the SteamAway up off the flue pan for cleaning and maintenance. Yesterday Jill and I walked the lines in 3/4 of the sugarbush to make repairs. They are predicting 9"-13" of wet heavy snow. That has the potential to bring limbs down on the lines and do some damage. Scurrying around trying to get things ready for sugaring season and balancing that with work is always stressful. This year, with all new equipment and a new sugarhouse, is 100 times worse. You just keep going and hope things work the way you planned them to. Randy -Continued on Page 28
Randy gestured off to one side. “Over here is where the reverse osmosis machine will be. It will be partitioned off, with an observation window so visitors can watch it. It's basically a high-tech filter that removes about seventy-five per cent of the water content from the sap before it's boiled. And over here, behind another window,” he said indicating a framed section adjacent to the “R.O.” room, “is where the candy, sugar and maple cream will be made and the packaging done.” He pointed across the building. “Over there we'll ecolocalliving.com 15
King Brothers Dairy find success in old-fashioned service
The milkman delivers, again! By David Delozier
Photos Šstockstudiosphotography.com
A long, long time ago, before the grocery stores became super and the farms became cul-de-sacs, there was the milkman. Actually, it was not that long ago, but it has been at least a generation since there was a box by the front door that receives fresh milk every couple of days. Older folks wax poetically about the milkman. Many a joke was made about the sibling who didn't quite look like the others perhaps it was the milkman? For those who are younger than 50, there has never been a milkman in their life. For those who had the milkman, and then lost him, the world has change irreversibly for the worse. Milk no longer came in glass jugs, but in plastic. It had to be retrieved from the back corner of the ever-expanding grocery store, from under the din of alien fluorescent lights in the cooler section. Something went terribly wrong. Self-service gas came next, and it's been downhill ever since. Some would even say that when the milkman was gone, polite service went with it. We've got every convenience to make our lives easier today,
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but we seemed to have lost that personal connection to our place we call community that once was commonplace “in the old days.� We've got ipads and Facebook updates, but there's no longer fresh milk at the door. Have we really advanced as a society? Well, for those of you who long for the good old days, they have returned! Well, at least the part where you can find fresh milk and more at the front door, thanks to the good folks at King Brothers Dairy in Northumberland, Saratoga County. Fourth generation farm owners Jan and Jeff King are celebrating their first year as milkmen, bringing back a tradition started with their grandfather and his brothers.
The King Farm has been running for so long in Northumberland, it's got the county road that bisects it named after it. For about 115 years the King family has worked the fields and provided farm products to the communities of the Upper Hudson Valley. Jan and Jeff's grandfather and his brothers ran a dairy farm and creamery up until 1961. They would to pick up milk from other local farms in addition to their own, and process it at the on-farm creamery, then deliver it to homes in and around Saratoga Springs. In the late 50's and early 60's, Jan recalled his father, Edgar, talking about the doctors promoting homogenized milk to young mothers. They'd tell them to go buy homogenized milk because their babies could
digest it better. That was the big selling point to get people to buy the 'new and improved” milk. Previous to that time, milk was mostly sold as “cream-top” or un-homogenized. The King Brothers had older equipment, and a large investment was required for homogenization equipment. For this reason, on-farm processing was being phased out in favor of the new modern, centralized processing facilities. The invention of refrigerated bulk tankers meant that milk could be transported farther, and soon the economies of scale were against the farm based creamery. The King Brothers realized that the on-farm creamery was a thing of the past. They closed the creamery in 1963, just when Edgar was graduating from college at Cornell. Edgar, freshly schooled in the latest specialized dairy farming techniques, joined his father and uncles and set out to building a new barn that would enable the milking of a larger herd. Edgar was instrumental in transitioning the farm from Guernsey cows over to Holsteins, because of their higher volume milk production. More milk translated into more profit. More cows also meant more profit, and the King farm expanded with these goals in mind.
Dairy farming is unlike any other production based business, however. In manufacturing and even other types of farming, producing more of a product usually translates into increased revenue. If demand falls, you can always scale back production. With dairy, however, once a cow is producing, it cannot be turned off. If the price of milk falls, which it has often, a dairy farmer is stuck in a quandary of selling his milk for less, but not able reduce production. When this happens, the farmer is receiving less money than it costs to produce the milk. And to complicate things further, the price is set by the government at the Chicago Mercantile Board. The price fluctuations will have no bearing on local costs for feed, fuel and labor. If the wholesale price for milk is set below the cost to produce it, it doesn't take long for a farm to run into financial trouble. That is one of the reasons why dairy farms nationwide are failing. Those that don't, try to find the magic formula of herd size to feed and labor costs with the seemingly arbitrary and erratic price paid for milk.
challenges of the dairy industry and maintain profitability. But with the industry getting more chaotic in recent years, the brothers knew they had to do more than just wholesale out their milk. The legacy of the past has always been calling them - the stories of Grandpa's creamery and delivery service kept recurring in their heads. So last year, the pair decided it was the right time to resurrect the King Brothers Dairy home delivery service.
The King brothers wanted to do more than milk delivery, so they set out to find some other local food producers with whom they could team up with to create a more comprehensive service. Fortunately, they didn't have to go far. Saratoga and the surrounding counties have some of the best food products available anywhere. So now, the brothers have compiled a complete list of food staples that will please any palate. Oscar's Smokehouse bacon is legendary…it's now available through the King Brothers Dairy delivery service. Their own pasture raised beef can be ordered. Like peanut With the experience of their forefathers and butter and jelly? How about Saratoga Peanut their own Cornell education to support them, butter and Anna Mae's homemade jams Jan and Jeff have been able to navigate the -Continued on Page 21 ecolocalliving.com 17
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KING BROS - Continued from Page 17
they're on the list. Willow Marsh Farm Greek-style yogurt from Ballston Spa can be delivered to your door, as well as Thomas' eggs from Schuylerville. Like cheese? The world famous Cabot Cheddar from nearby Vermont is available, and the soon to be famous Camembert from the Amazing Live Food Company down in the mid-Hudson Valley. They've even got their own brand of coffee that is locally roasted. And of course, milk. While the King's do not have on-site processing, for the time being they have contracted with a family-owned facility in the Mohawk Valley to bottle their milk. Again, their whole mission with this value added service is to promote local. From this one service, you can feed your family locally. Jam maker Anna Mae Clark is thrilled to be a part of the King Brother's delivery service. She has had a strong relationship with the Kings, having worked with Edgar King at the Saratoga County 4H club together. She was more than happy to supply the Kings with her jams. Her main concern was that she could supply enough product to meet the new demand. So far, orders are coming in steady, and she has been able to keep up. “Direct marketing is where it's at,” quipped Anna Mae. “Anybody that is doing wholesale only is not making it, ” she added. “You have to do some retail with your products. It's that one-on-one relationship that makes the difference. You are able to tend to people's needs, and provide the customer service that keeps them happy. If there's a problem, then I can correct it. And people appreciate that!” The brothers King have been very pleased with the results so far. People are embracing the idea of home delivery, and it really helps with their busy lifestyles. “A lot of our customers remember the old delivery service that my grandfather and uncle's used to do,” said Jan. “A lot of them were kids back then, and they are happy to see it come back and be a part of it today!” In a world where personal service has all but disappeared from the landscape, something as simple as fresh milk delivered to your door helps to bring you back to what's important. It's really about a relationship with your food and with the people who labor to bring it to you. They care about you, and they want you to care about them. Because, someday, we are all going to need each other. The King's know that better than anybody. You may have heard about the collapse of one of their barns in mid February this year; the roof failing under the massive snow load. The tragedy mobilized the community - people from near and far rushed to the scene to help out. It was a huge undertaking, as the cows were caught up in the debris, many injured, some already dead. People showed up with power equipment, shovels and bare hands, doing everything they could to get the animals out, mended and moved to safety. The kitchen at the main home turned into a 24-hour feeding and warming station for the workers. “It was an emotional roller coaster,” recalled Jan. “It was heart-wrenching to see the cows suffering, but it was also heartwarming to see all the people who came to our aid. You truly don't know how many friends you have until you need help,” he said. Despite the barn collapse, the King brothers are optimistic and determined to continue on. To find the way forward, sometimes we must go back. The Kings have found renewed strength by becoming milkmen again. Their delivery service is gaining traction, and they are even taking about possibly bring back the creamery to the farm. Their customers are learning that supporting locally produced food is a way of supporting their community. We are all connected. What is old is new again. For more information call 518-695-MILK or www.kingbrothersdairy.com ecolocalliving.com 21
Eco-LOCAL Relationships
Eco-local living is a the way to go! Story and Photos by David Delozier
possibly be with the budget that we had set.” They set out with that goal from the inception. Kim and Nick were pleasantly surprised to find that Saratoga County had the contractors and suppliers that could not only meet but surpass their expectations. And, the most significant connections that Kim made were those she found through the eco-LOCAL Living magazine.
When I first started the eco-local living magazine, my goal was to create a platform to share the people and places of the new “local-living” economy (as defined by the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, aka BALLE), with everyone who would pick it up. BALLE believes that local, independent businesses are among our most potent change agents, uniquely prepared to take on the challenges of the twenty-first century with an agility, sense of place, and relationshipbased approach others lack. They are more than employers and profit-makers; they are neighbors, community builders and the starting point for social innovation, aligning commerce with the common good and bringing transparency, accountability, and a caring human face to the marketplace. That goal has become a reality, and it is wonderful to here the stories of the connections made and relationships fostered between readers and advertising supporters. One such story began about a year ago, when a family relocating to Saratoga County from New Jersey set out to build their dream home in Greenfield. Their dream was to have a truly green dwelling and to build it using local and sustainably sourced materials. 22 ecolocalliving.com
Kim and Nick Nachbur were new to the area, and their primary contact to the area was their builder, Allen DiAlberto of Sustainable Designs, LLC. Impressed with DiAlberto's specialization in green home design, the Nachburs chose him from a list of several others. And so the project began. The Nachburs did not realize it at the time, but this decision and the journey that followed would not only help them to achieve their dream, but like the BALLE statement above, the caring human face of the marketplace came alive for them, as they established relationships with local contractors and business people that have been life-changing for all involved. I recently discussed this experience with Kim Nachbur and Green Conscience Home and Garden owners Karen Totino and Sophie Castro at their location at 33 Church Street in Saratoga Springs. The two women at Green Conscience worked hand in hand with the Nachburs during the entire building process, and were instrumental in helping the Nachburs achieve there goals and then some. “We were very specific in that we wanted to build green but take it a step further and use all local materials and where possible, utilize products from local businesses,” recalled Kim. “We wanted to be as green as we could
Kim found a copy of eco-LOCAL Living magazine at a shop in downtown Saratoga Springs, and therein found an ad for Green Conscience Home and Garden. Green Conscience has been an advertiser with ecolocal from the very beginning. In fact, we both started in 2008, and have been supporting each other all along the way. That symbiotic relationship paid off in spades for the Nachburs. Kim found that owners Karen Totino ad Sophie Castro were able to provide them with products and services that went well beyond her expectations. “It became a one-stop shop for me,” explained Kim. “When I met Karen and Sophie, they had so much to offer that I realized I could do most of my shopping here!” And she did. Indeed, Green Conscience is much more that what it appears. It is a complete design center, and Totino is able to go beyond her existing inventory and special order pretty much anything that you may want for the home that is green and sustainable. Totino has a wealth of knowledge of the many products and suppliers, and has also created relationships with many local craftsmen. For Kim, this was the motherload of green that she needed to make her dream a reality. Sophie Castro then took the “hardware” of the materials and gave them a human, personal touch and application. Kim found an instant bond with the pair at Green Conscience - a kindred spirit type connection. “That's been one on the most wonderful things about this relationship, it's the like-mindedness with the people that I have met,” exclaimed Kim. “Karen and Sophie already have that mind of being green. They've obviously poured their heart into their store, and willingly share their depth of knowledge to everyone who walks through
their doors. So it was a great connection because we were absolutely Owners Joanne and Nikita Grigoriev explained the function and uses on the same page,” Kim said. of their unique “futons,” and how they were sustainably designed and manufactured. The Nachburs' home was to have a screened-in porch Kim could have gone to other home improvement stores and found 'a' and a multi-level deck. The NIKITA furniture was tailor made for these green product within the larger context of everything else they sell. applications. The Showcase of Homes date was soon, and could they But since it's only one product amongst many in their overall have some pieces to fill-out the decks and den? Of course, the inventory, they may not have the knowledge or care that much about Grigoriev's fulfilled the request. The NIKITA furniture became the the green product over any of the others. “We've had people come in perfect accent, so much so that the Nachburs decided to keep all five here that have found a cork flooring product elsewhere, and wanted pieces that were “on loan.” more specific details, but did not get the answers they were looking for,” said Karen. “So the expertise is really lacking when you go to a Joanne recalls the experience with the Nachburs: “Kim is an absolute store that does not specialize in green.” pleasure to be around. We enjoyed her company from the start and were delighted that she is so aware, so astute and so much fun! I think In Kims' case, she could go as far as she wanted into the green realm, that when like-minded people gather together there is no limit to the and Karen was able to guide and direct her. “And then in some ways possibilities. Kim's perception of ECO-CONSCIOUS and GREEN DESIGN that I didn't even know of,” said Kim. “I even found my new bed absolutely included BUYING LOCAL. Kim and her home building here!” she exclaimed. “I came in initially looking for flooring and project became the nub or the center of a community of builders, paint and things like that, but was pleased to find they have so much designers and crafts people dedicated to and practicing the ideals of more.. They have, literally everything you need to live in a green the new SUSTAINABLE AWARENESS. We met each other and then home!” “She did also get the composter,” piped in Karen. immediately resonated with each other. There are many clubs set up “When you are building a house, it's a long process,” explained Kim. for people of like mind to gather and meet... from Porsche fans to “There are lots of decisions to be made. So there is a relationship that hummingbird watchers to model airplane enthusiasts.... but it seems develops with the people that you are working with, and the case of the most natural when a community is born within the community by Karen and Sophie, it became e a friendship. It became much more doing business locally!” than this business relationship, they were looking out for my best The Nachburs finished the home just in time for the Showcases of interest…and I love them!” Homes date. The comments they received were all very favorable. “That's the best thing that someone could say about us,” added “The biggest compliment was when people looked through the whole Karen. “That's what we really want to do - it's what we love to do! house, then went to the deck and sat on the NIKITA sofas,” Kim said. That's why we are here…it's not just to sell things, it's the joy we get “A smile came to their faces and they would exclaim, 'this is real nice. doing what we are doing is building those relationships and having We could live here!'” the client being happy, not only with the product but the process as So it's really a lifestyle thing; making green, sustainable, local-living well; it's really both things that need to work together.” choices...where you are seeking new ideas and products that are As the project came together, word got out that their home was taking healthy, for you, for the community, and for the planet. By following green to it's highest level. The invitation to be in the 2010 Saratoga that quest, the added bonus is the human relationships that are Showcase of Homes Tour was extend to the Nachburs. Kim gladly gained, that you now cherish in your community. It is the true essence accepted, but the pressure to finish the job was intense. This is where of being ECO-LOCAL! the relationships really made a huge difference. Sophie Castro was Find out more: Green Conscience Home and Garden: www.green-conscience.com there to help every step of the way. Her expertise in Feng Shui made Nikita Convertible Furnishings: www.justleanback.com Sustainable Designs, LLC.: www.sustainabledesignsny.com the house a home. From color schemes to furniture layout, it all came BALLE: www.livingeconomies.org together with synergy and simplicity. “I'd never seen someone work as hard as Sophie!” exclaimed Kim. “Again, that whole goal of really caring about her client came through. She wanted to me to be happy with the result. The relationship between us really blossomed. Sophie put me at ease, and I knew the final look would be exactly what I wanted.” The process expanded. Karen referred painters that she works with regularly, William and Susan of Higher Standard. “Again, we got them in, and developed a relationship with them and got that same like mindedness and delivery of service,” explained Kim. “Their name truly is appropriate; they exceeded our expectations.” When it came time to choose the furniture. the eco-local living magazine again was the source for the local supplier. “I was downtown having lunch with my husband, and we found the copy of eco-local living, with NIKITA featured as the cover story,” Kim beamed. After reading that story and the accompanying ad, they both decided to walk directly up the street to their showroom to take a look. What they found would be the beginning of another dynamic relationship. ecolocalliving.com 23
Scotty Kellogg
Radix Ecological Sustainability Center Story and Photos by Tracy Frisch
"Being a good environmentalist is not about sacrifice!" says Scotty Kellogg, the co-founder of the Radix Ecological Sustainability Center in Albany's South End. 'It's about getting more of what you really want - good food, clean water, community."
With the threat of "the twin hydrocarbon evils of climate change and energy depletion" as well as "environmental degradation and economic uncertainty," he feels that our only reasonable option is making a rapid transition to a more sustainable society.
Why not harvest rainwater from your roof? This simple practice captures water that would otherwise be lost, often overwhelming the sewage system. Also unchlorinated water is better for plants and animals.
DELVING INTO SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CITY As you can see, Scotty and Stacy don't believe people need to live on a rural homestead in order to get in touch with natural processes and participate more actively in food, water, energy and waste cycles.
Scotty also teaches the Regenerative Urban Sustainability Training. The full weekend workshop parallels the book, presenting a bunch of "gee whiz" facts and "cool things" that one can easily implement in an urban setting.
In fact, their Albany location is central to their project. "Cities are resource vacuums," Scotty said. "We want to demonstrate how cities can operate as more of a closed loop." Food is a good example. And being in the state capital gives them "an opportunity to be influential on the policy level," Scotty noted."
"For a lot of people, RUST is a great gateway to other sustainable activities," he said. Over 550 adults have taken the class since 2006.
Or you could make compost to create fertile Let's start now, he urges. "When we're not soil. You probably heard of using vegetable oil under stress, we make better decisions." to power vehicles, but are you aware of the possibilities for cleaning up contaminated soil He calls on us to embark on the process of with plants, fungi and bacteria? transition as a "joyful adventure," starting with whatever sparks our interest. Embracing And what about bringing food production to sustainable practices "will give you enormous where the majority of the population lives? qualitative improvements in your life," he said. Community gardens are a proven success, but there is so much more we can try. Besides raised This perspective reflects Scotty's own bed gardens, think fruit trees. experience. He gives his curiosity free rein and They believe that we must develop resilient he impresses me as a natural scavenger and We can also cultivate edible and medicinal local communities, where people have survival tinkerer, as well as a community builder and mushrooms in limited space; raise city chickens skills and social support systems to deal with an leader. Passionately involved with his mission, and other micro-livestock; and set up an unpredictable future. he's drawn to both the doing and the people aquaculture system to harvest fish. And did you part of the work. know that fast-growing duckweed in a kiddie pool yields nitrogen fertilizer! "It's the one thing I know how to do with myself. I love teaching and I love creating "The economy will shift in favor of local functioning sustainable systems and showing agriculture as fuel prices go up," Scotty people them," Scotty tells me. observes. What's more, some of these projects can develop into a source of income and even Scotty and Stacy believe that community-based create new jobs. initiatives need to be in the forefront. "I don't want to wait until the government" gets To further spread their message and know-how, involved, Scotty said. He concedes that the the husband-wife team co-authored Toolbox for government will have to play a role eventually. Sustainable City Living: A Do-It Ourselves Guide Codes will need to be rewritten and incentives (South End Press, 2008). The book empowers put in place for local initiatives to flourish and people to explore such low-tech approaches to really take hold. various everyday functions. Scotty and his wife and partner Stacy Pettigrew are creating the Radix Center in one of the city's most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. It will show people of all ages how to use a variety of appropriate technologies to replace petroleum use, gain more control of their food and water, and reduce pollution. The goal is ecological and social regeneration at a human scale.
THE BIOSHELTER EDUCATIONAL CENTER A couple years ago Scotty and Stacy, both northeast natives, moved to Albany. They purchased an empty half-acre lot in the In an urban (or suburban) environment there impoverished South End for their sustainability are countless ways to get started: project. Then after many months and with the support of neighborhood organizations and the 24 ecolocalliving.com
help of architects, they cleared all the hurdles and obtained official approval from the city boards to begin construction.
intention is to make the structure wheelchairaccessible, with wide aisles wide and some elevated garden beds.
They broke ground on their first building in December. The 20' x 60' bioshelter - a type of year-round greenhouse - will serve as their educational center. Stocked with organisms such as fish, rabbits, chickens, mushrooms, micro greens and other vegetable crops as well as worm beds and composting, it will demonstrate functional ecological systems to children as well as adults.
Their bioshelter is basically a modified pole barn with a single south-facing roof. The north and east walls will be closed in and insulated while the other two walls and the roof will be glazed with twin-walled polycarbonate. The roof will descend from a 20-foot-high back northern wall to the 5-foot knee wall on the south side.
The bioshelter concept comes from the New Alchemy Institute, a visionary research center on Cape Cod that closed in 1991 after two decades of cutting-edge work. So far a backhoe operator put in a foundation of pre-cast concrete piers. Three-inch thick pieces of polystyrene buried a couple feet beneath the surface provide insulation. In March the couple will resume construction, with the intention of completing it within a few months. Radix is already working with school groups. The bioshelter will allow children to learn about biological systems and alternative technologies during the entire school year, even when the ground is frozen and plants are dormant. The
Part of the building will be divided into two levels by a deck, with most of the planting beds on the second floor. The deck will also provide shade for organisms that require darkness (like mushrooms and worms) or animals that prefer indirect sunlight. In the aquaculture demonstration, edible fish will grow in tanks and a large bed of watercress will purify the water. Scotty has installed a small version of this closed-loop system in a neighbor's greenhouse. Since the temperature of ambient water in the bioshelter is "a big unknown" they will grow cold-water fish like catfish. According to Scotty, tilapia, a typical aquaculture fish, requires 85degree water.
Radix has several alternative strategies to warm the greenhouse without fossil fuel. Biological activity from composting and the body heat of chickens and rabbits will contribute calories for heating. The property has no city water hookup so Radix will store a large quantity of water for its plants and livestock. Gutters will collect rain from the roof and the water will be pumped into big black polyethylene tanks, where the sun's rays will heat it. The large mass of water (a projected 8,000 to 10,000 gallons) will provide thermal storage. A FITTING NEIGHBORHOOD BASE When I interviewed Scotty in late February, a chilly rain falling on the accumulated snow confined us in his second floor flat, where a wood stove blazed. Though I didn't get to visit the Radix site or see any the technologies in action, I did find some related sensory experiences in the apartment. I held one of the two heritage breed rabbits that live in a hutch on the balcony, and plunged my hands into her fur. And I couldn't help putting my fingers into the compost in the five or six level worm bin in the couple's kitchen. -Continued on Page 29
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MONEY MATTERS - Continued from Page 9
by traditional, large financial institutions. Since building strong local communities is essential for a strong and sustainable economy, these investments in community are another critical piece in the sustainability puzzle and another arena where there is a great disparity of investment practices. So, what does SRI mean to you? SRI funds are far from uniform in their interpretation of this term so it is imperative that investors define their priorities and then look for offerings which are the best fit. Of course, no fund will be a perfect fit for your values and beliefs but with a little work, or in consultation with your financial advisor, you should be able to find an appropriate option. Harry Moran helps socially conscious investors define and achieve their highest goals by aligning their money with their values.A 25-year veteran of the financial services profession, Mr. Moran has held the Certified Financial Planner速 designation since 1991. He is a member of First Affirmative Financial Network, a national professional organization dedicated to meeting the needs of the socially conscious investing community. Mr. Moran can be reached directly at Cornerstone Financial Advisors at hmoran@cornerstonefinancialny.com or 518877-8800. Mention of specific securities, funds, or companies should not be considered an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell the security, fund, or company. To determine the suitability of any particular investment, please consult with your investment adviser. Remember, past performance is no guarantee of future results and no investment strategycan assure success. The opinions expressed are those of the author and may change without notice. Harry Moran is a registered representative offering securities through Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc., member FINRA SIPC. Cadaret, Grant is not affiliated with Cornerstone or First Affirmative.
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TOAD HILL - Continued from Page 15
So Randy and Jill will “just keep going�, dependent, as always, upon the weather to cooperate with the all-important combination of warm days and freezing nights required to allow the sap to flow. They'll gather and boil, filter and bottle, make candy and cream and do the best they can with whatever comes along. And during the last three weekends in March during the Maple Weekends in Thurman, they will welcome you to visit their beautiful new facility and enjoy the old-fashioned products created by hard work and modern technology. And when this season is over, they'll begin preparing for next year. Groups wishing to tour Toad Hill Maple Farm at other times are asked to contact the Galushas in advance to arrange a visit. Visit www.ToadHillMaple.com to learn more about the Galushas' operation. Contact them from the site, or by calling 518-6234744. Persis Granger is a novelist and organizer of events for those interested in writing. Her first novel, Adirondack Gold, describes a 19th century boy's introduction to sugaring as he seeks to forge a bond with his embittered grandfather and learn more about his deceased father.
MARCH MAPLE WEEKENDS IN THURMAN Just 6 miles from Adirondack Northway Exit 23 Via NYS routes 9 & 418 March 12th - Maple Sugar Party Town hall buffet with jack wax dessert and live entertainment to benefit American Cancer Society, 4pm till all are served. 311 Athol Road, Athol 623-9649 March 12th & 13th ~ Thurman Maple Weekend March 19th & 20th ~ NYS Maple Weekend March 26th & 27th ~ NYS Maple Weekend Four sites in town: free samples, tours & shopping at sugarhouses and at a local sawmill, 10am - 4pm each day Demonstrations of tapping, boiling, sawing, crafts. Pancake breakfast offered at one site 9 am. Follow signs, find a tour map in town or download printable one from web page. Questions? 623-9718. Details and event email at www.persisgranger.com/ThurmanMapleWeekends.htm 28 ecolocalliving.com
RADIX - Continued from Page 25
The family apartment and its environs were familiar to me, as I had resided on the next block for almost 16 years. For decades the former Italian immigrant neighborhood of brick and brownstone row houses has been drawing urban homesteaders. The site of the Radix Center is only a few blocks away, though in a more depressed neighborhood. What makes the neighborhood so special though is the Albany Free School, around which an intentional community of parents' and teachers' families has coalesced. Founded in 1969 on my old street, it holds the distinction of being the oldest inner city independent alternative school in the United States. The couple's older daughter goes to preschool there, and before long their other child, who's almost two, will join her. THE ROOTS OF SCOTTY AND STACY'S SUSTAINABILITY WORK Before Scotty and Stacy moved back east, they had done similar work in Austin, Texas. The two had met at a World Bank/International Monetary Fund protest in Washington, DC in 2000. Later that year, they formed the Rhizome Collective in Austin, where Scotty was already living, with other activists committed to global justice. The collective converted a derelict warehouse into a center with two powerful purposes -urban sustainability education and community organizing. There urban residents learned about tools and technologies that give people more control over essential resources. An independent media project, Bikes Across Borders, and other grassroots organizations also found a low-rent home in the former warehouse. The Rhizome Collective carried out its mission until 2009, when the city shut it down for code violations. Scotty and Stacy were leaders in the collective and stayed involved until it closed.
Scotty traces the roots of his sustainability work to his involvement in the anti-corporate globalization movement. At demonstrations and meetings, he was taken by the brilliant catchphrase, "Another world is possible." The hopeful slogan calls for change, but what exactly does it mean? In terms of providing for our fundamental needs, he found that his fellow activists didn't know where to begin either. "I wondered how do we feed ourselves and process our waste," he recalled. Around that time Scotty was introduced to permaculture design. It was an epiphany. Permaculture is a system of managing land for functions like agricultural production, waste cycling and forestry according to ecological principles. "Here was this set of solutions that we were looking for in the global justice movement!" Scotty said. Permaculture continues to inform his work, though he's just too practical and eclectic to be dogmatic. For him, the bottom line remains making things happen on the ground and removing barriers so that local solutions can become accessible to all. RADIX LAUNCHES A COMPOST SERVICE FOR ZERO WASTE In December Radix started a door-to-door food waste collection service. In place of putting food waste in the trash (where it goes to the city landfill that's polluting the Albany Pine Bush), the program diverts this organic waste for composting. That way, it goes full circle so "waste equals food." By recycling food waste with microorganisms or worms, Radix will be creating healthy soil for food production. And good soil is a scarce resource in the inner city. Compost service customers receive an attractive 2-1/2 gallon bucket with a built-in filter, and for a $15 monthly fee, a weekly pick
up and a new compostable bag (made of nonGMO corn starch) are provided. By February, the pilot program had 17 customers. "We are happy to let it grow slowly. We don't want to exceed our capacity," Scotty said. Long-term though, he envisions a program large enough to hire and train compost technicians. Radix accepts only fruit and vegetable waste, and limited amounts of eggshells and bread products from its compost customers. (Including meat and dairy could make the compost piles into magnets for rodents and other pests. Under ideal circumstances though, all foods, even bones, are compostable.) The collected food waste is mixed with plenty of straw, leaves, and woodchips for composting.After six to twelve months in static compost piles, the microorganisms will have worked their magic, and the compost will be ready for garden use. On Saturday April 9, Scotty Kellogg will be presenting at the ReSkilling Festival at the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy (www.MediaSanctuary.org) Go to www.radixcenter.org and sign up to receive an occasional e-blast (once a month at most) to find out about upcoming Radix Center activities and projects.
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Eco-LOCAL People
Mike Brown and Scott Swedish Meet Mike Brown and Scott Swedish of Saratoga Coffee Traders at 447 Broadway in Saratoga Springs Eco-LOCAL Living: How long have you been in business and what inspired you to get started? Mike and Scott: We have been in business since the end of August 2008. After working the traditional 9-5 for a few years, I did some serious thinking on a long drive and really pictured what I wanted my life to look like. Instead of letting that image go I decided to act on it. Once I got some resources together and had my values down I found a business that fell into line with them and went for it. Coffee has not always been my passion, but it is a new love for me and it continues to challenge me everyday. ELL: What's the best part about your job? Mike and Scott: Besides all the coffee I can drink? Probably meeting and conversing with everyone that comes into the store on a daily basis. For anyone who has ever been in Saratoga Coffee Traders I'm sure that the thing that stands out the most is how friendly and open the staff and our customers are. We have great people here and try to provide a stress free/fun environment for them and all our guests. Being a meeting place for the town is what we love and try our best to provide. ELL: Why do you choose to operate your business in Saratoga as opposed to somewhere else? Mike and Scott: Who doesn't love Saratoga? I can't think of another place in the area I would want to spend everyday. Lots of energy and excitement.
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ELL: Why do you think it’s important to keep it local? Mike and Scott: I believe that a strong local economy is vital for rich social community. I could easily buy all my paper supplies from Staples or Office Max. But I purchase most of my supplies next door, because I know that Vito from Suave Faire next door is going to use that money to pay his employees, whom are then going to possibly spend their wages at the Wheatfields across the street and then their waitress will get a haircut at The Broadway Salon next door and then I could possibly see that money again when one of the hair stylists need a coffee to start the day. All of our coffee is roasted whithin 100 miles of our store and we do our best to support the local farmers markets. There's some comfort in knowing that the places you spend your money are going to use it to better the community where you live. ELL: What locally owned business (other than your own) could you not live without? Mike and Scott: Ha ha this is a funny question because... well first here's the list. Suave Faire, Broadway Salon, El Ced, Wheatfields, Esparantos, Adirondack Trust, Saratoga Trunk, G. Wilikers, Dogdom, Divinal Revolution, Silverado, Putnam Den, Circus Cafe, Needleworks Tattoo shop, Cantina, Bailey's, Saratoga Guitar, the entire Downtown Market Place, and many many more shops I am not remembering right now. I love going and shopping at all these places and
without the employees and owners of these stores supporting me I could not be here. ELL: What are some of the things you do to help make the world a little bit better? Mike and Scott: We only serve Fair-Trade and Organic coffee, tea and cocoa. Fair-Trade is very important to us because we believe that if we take care of the people who provide us our products then they will take care of us and make sure we get the best of their selection, also we don't like to think we are taking advantage of anyone. Organic products are becoming easier and easier to obtain. We get what organic products we can because we believe in reducing the amount of chemicals we put in our body. Plus organic products just taste better and make me think clearer. ELL: What do you like to do in your free time? Mike and Scott: In the small amount of free time I have I play soccer, work out, read, sleep, and spend time with friends and family. Also we have an open Ping Pong night every Tuesday and Wednesday night starting at 6pm at the store which I attend. If anyone can beat me I'll buy them a cup of coffee. ELL: What's the best advice you've ever received? Mike and Scott: I'm not sure what the best advice I ever received was yet, but the most recent piece of good advice I recieved was to ask questions. Sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how effective this tool has become. ELL: Our Facebook fans want to know: What is it that sets you apart from the national chains and promotes loyal, repeat customers? Mike and Scott: I'm not sure I can describe the biggest asset that sets us apart from the national chains. It's more of a feeling and sense of community you get when you enter our store. In the national chain coffee shops and even in some local chain coffee shops when you enter you are just another customer and its down to business. Here you are a person first and we're just here to make your day a little easier. Also, our coffee is better. ELL: Our Twitter followers want to know: What drives you to keep doing what you do? Mike and Scott: I do what I do because I love it. I love just about every part of my job. Especially the people.
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