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On the Cover
Holiday 2009
Meet Angela Letdke and Elizabeth King. Friends, business partners, and now, eco-localizers. About a year ago, Angela and Elizabeth decided to open a new store in Clifton Park, off exit 8 of the Northway. Now that in and of itself is no big deal – stores open in Clifton Park all the time. But this store is different than any other, in that it is a co-op of locally made goods. It’s a place you can go and buy a nice gift, some tasty cheese, or home accessory and know that everything you’ve purchased is locally made. So you’re not only supporting a couple of store owners, you are supporting a community of passionate creators who are driven to making excellent things. Each booth is the store has a story. Each item for sale is made for a special reason. And Angela and Elizabeth have brought them all together under one roof for your shopping pleasure. It’s called Artique, as in art and boutique, all wrapped up into one. And yet it’s so much more. It’s a card shop and a jewelry store. It’s a gourmet food place and a furniture store. It’s a place where you can meet the maker of the products on the shelves. And it’s all for local!
Recently, there has been a lot of attention given to the importance of doing business with local merchants. And rightly so. What used to be provided by independent merchants has now been replaced by the corporate big box super-center. Globalization has brought us the world’s labor and resources, to our doorstep, but in the process, we’ve lost the personal service and hometown feel that only a locally owned enterprise can deliver. We have sacrificed relationship for a homogenized shopping experience. That dehumanizing battle for cheap between the big box giants leaves us feeling like nothing more than cheap commodities, not much different than the sterile merchandise offered to us on their color coordinated shelf display. Now, with another Christmas Season upon us, must be continue this insanity by faithfully responding to the marketing messages to buy more meaningless stuff?
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Of course, giving nice stuff as a gift to a special someone is still much appreciated. If you feel compelled to buy something this Christmas, consider purchasing a gift that is made locally, right here in the Upper Hudson Valley Region. We are fortunate to have many artisans, craftspeople, and creative entrepreneurs in our midst (they walk among us!), whose creations are available at the many locally owned shops in the region. Get off the highway and go down any one of the main streets in our area, park the car, and pay a visit to any of the shops that you see. You’ll not only find the perfect gift for the ones you love, your purchase affects that business owner directly, and your time and money are the gifts they need this year. Isn’t that great? You can touch the hearts of two people with one action. In fact, if the item you purchase is locally made, you’ve now touched three people. Now if you did all you Christmas shopping at local independent merchants, seeking out original, locally made, gifts, imagine the impact you could have! Your simple act of shopping intentionally, with locally made and locally owned, can change the world. And that’s the change we all need. Merry Christmas, and all the best for 2010!
GREEN TEEN It's the Thought that Counts…………………………Page 6 FLU FRENZY…………………………………………Page 7 FOR EVER GREEN BUILDING…………………….….…Page 8 HOLIDAY ECO-LOCALIZER Artique Co-op – All for Local………………………Page 10 ARTISAN BREAD The Mr. Behind Mrs. Londons………………………Page 14 DOG-GONE SMART……………………….…………Page 17 IT’S A PARTY - NOT A PROTEST!……………………Page 24 ECO-HARMONY……………………………………Page 27 SLOW MONEY………………………………………Page 30 ENGAGING A MORE INTIMATE ECONOMY………………………………Page 33 THE BEST BUY IN BALLSTON SPA……………………Page 35 SOLAR POWER OPTIONS……………………………Page 37
Wisdom can come from unexpected places. Our Green Teen, Vanessa Baird, suggests that Christmas is all about relationship. It’s about time spent with the people we love. It’s about appreciating the people who have made a difference in our lives. The greatest gift we can give, then, is our time and appreciation of others. When I started this magazine, I simply wanted to share with others the stories of the people in our community that are leading the new sustainability paradigm by their example. In the process, I have met the most amazing people. They have been kind enough to share their time and life with me. The relationships we have developed have become life changing gifts to each other. You, the reader are also a developing relationship that is greatly appreciated. By taking interest in this publication, and supporting the advertisers herein, we are becoming a community. And this community will be the driving force of a sustainable future for the Upper Hudson Valley.
- David DeLozier Publisher
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OUR MISSION To gather and share reliable resources and information which will assist this and future generations to make conscious choices that will lead to healthful, sustainable lifestyles. To provide benefit to all those who seek a vibrant, living local economy by promoting our neighborhood businesses that are committed to whole ecology thinking and practices, and the healthy food options available by supporting our local farming community Holiday 2009 • Issue 11 PUBLISHER / SALES / MARKETING David Delozier 518-858-6866 advertise@ecolocalliving.com DESIGN / PRODUCTION Centerline Design 518-883-3872 PHOTOGRAPHY Heather Bohm-Tallman, David De Lozier CONTRIBUTORS Tracy Frisch, Pam Gibbs, Dave Verner, Vanessa Baird, Richard Morell, Mary Beth Mc Cue, Rachel Ginther, Roger Fulton ARTICLE / EVENT SUBMISSION advertise@ecolocalliving.com ADDRESSES 38 Tamarack Trail Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 ecolocalliving.com By reading and supporting Ecolocal you become part of our team - and help the greater community of the Upper Hudson Valley become a healthier place to live, work and play. Please tell our advertisers you saw them here. We use recycled-content paper and water-based ink.
PLEASE RECYCLE! Ecolocal Living is published bi-monthly & distributed free of charge to over 300 locations within a 50 mile radius of Saratoga Springs, NY. Ecolocal Living does not guarantee nor warranty any products, services, of any advertisers nor will we be party to any legal or civil proceedings to do with any advertisers. We expect advertisers to honor any advertised claims or promises. Ecolocal Living will not knowingly accept any advertisement that is deemed misleading or fraudulent. We reserve the right to revise, edit and/or reject any and all advertising with or without issuing a reason or cause. We will not publish any article or advertisement that is contrary to the best interest of this publication. We reserve the right to edit articles if needed for content, clarity and relevance.
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GREEN TEEN It's the thought that counts I read a story a while back during Christmas from a book of short stories called Chicken Soup for the Soul : A Christmas Treasury for Kids. The short story was titled “I'm not Scrooge… Just Broke.” It's a story about a kid who has 3 dollars left and five people to still get gifts for. So he goes to his family and friends and they put a 30 cent maximum on the Christmas gifts for each other. The end results were sweet. He put time and thought into the gifts. His mother got a candle with a tag on it saying,”You're the brightest light in my life.”Another gift was a bag of sugar with the words “you're sweet.” A gift to his brother was a ruler and on the back it said “No brother in the world could measure up to you.” What's so nice about these gifts is that the giver took the time to think about the person and what they liked about them. They did not cost a lot of money, and they were not big items that came with a lot of packaging. Instead they were items that could be found locallyno shipping required! These 30 cent gifts came from the heart, like true holiday spirit. I think this year I will try it on my friends and family. Happy Holidays everyone! VANESSA BAIRD is a local teen living green. She thinks that's just great as long as having a green life doesn't mean giving up 'having a life.' She'd love to hear what other teens are doing to be green. You can email her at 1greenteen@gmail.com.
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fight the flu and improve your health regardless of H1N1. I want to go back to basics. When dealing with sickness and disease, two things need to be considered. What things help your immune system and overall body function better? What things hinder the function of your immune system and overall body function? If you can keep these two questions in mind at all times, your chances of getting the flu will be reduced, and if you do get the flu your chances of recovering quickly will be enhanced.
By Dr. Michael M. Quartararo, Wellness Chiropractic Doctor The flu seems to be on everyone's minds lately. As a wellness doctor, I get riddled with questions everyday about the flu and the flu shot. “Should I get it?”, “What if I don't?”, “What else can I do? “, “Is the vaccine safe?” There is so much information out there on the flu and H1N1 that it gets quite confusing and scary. The most important thing I tell my patients is be sure to make an informed decision. Educate yourself, go online, get both sides of the story. Don't let fear decide your decision, get the facts and then make an informed choice. Some great websites to check out are www.nvic.org www.mercola.com. These are packed full of the latest information available on vaccines, flu, health and wellness. There's an old quote I've learned to live by, “confusion paralyzes, clarity empowers.” Get clear on H1N1 and the vaccines and then make a decision. It's your body, you are in charge. The purpose of this article is not to give you a list of reasons why you shouldn't get the flu shot and how dangerous it is. I want to empower you with knowledge that will help you
1 - Being a wellness chiropractor I have to start with overall nervous system health. Your nervous system controls EVERY function in your body, including your immune system. Without proper nerve function your body cannot function at its highest level. Get your nerve system tested, technology allows us to accurately measure nerve function at a spinal cord level to determine interference. If nerve interference is present immune function is directly affected. In fact, science tells us that following a chiropractic adjustment your immune system cells are 200% more active in your blood stream. Proper spinal alignment and function promotes optimal health and wellness. 2 - Turns out Grandma was right, rest. Your body needs proper rest to heal itself from what you put it thru today, and to prepare for what it faces tomorrow. Warding off illness and infection is a full time job, your body gets tired and needs to sleep. 3 - Eat better! Without proper nutrition your body will not have what it needs to fight this battle. It's not difficult to decide what's good or bad either. Real food is better, fake food is bad. What's real food? It comes out of the earth, organic fruits and vegetables. Fish, organic grass fed beef, and range free chicken. You get the point. Food that the good lord put here for us for our consumption.
4 - Lower or eliminate sugar. Bacteria and viruses love sugar. In fact in college when we viewed these little guys under microscopes we would place them on sugar plates to keep them alive so we could analyze them. Starve them out. Drink water, limit juice (lots of sugar in most juices) and avoid milk (it's for baby cows). 5 - Supplement your diet with vitamins, minerals, fish oil, and probiotics. No of us eat enough or often enough to get what we need each day. There are also great immune system support formulas that can help activate your immune system cells so your body's natural defenses can be prepared. If I had to recommend one supplement to add during this cold and flu season it would be Vitamin D. The scientific evidence is overwhelming that Vitamin D kills the H1N1 virus. Run out and get it today. 6 - Avoid things that lower and suppress your immune system. For instance we all know that drinking alcohol, smoking, stressful situations, and harmful toxins lowers immune function. Avoid these things at all costs! Each time you partake in any situation that impairs immune function you are making yourself susceptible to get sick or get the flu. My final words in regards to the H1N1/ flu shot. I've done the research and the evidence is overwhelming, this shot is extremely toxic and harmful to the body. As mentioned above anything toxic to your body suppresses your immune system. Thimerosal(mercury), formaldehyde, squalene, potassium chloride just to mention a few are all extremely toxic and harmful to your body. When you get a vaccine you are only guaranteed one thing, that these harmful chemicals will be in your system, some forever (we don't process them). You are not guaranteed to that you will not get the flu, in fact many get the flu following vaccination. Rather why not spend the time, energy, and effort, in keeping our bodies strong and avoiding things that decrease overall health and well-being. This will always help you stay healthy and combat the flu season. For more information on the flu, the flu shot or any health related issue visit our website at www.aacfamilywellness.com
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FOR EVER GREEN BUILDING Offers Daily Rent Option for Health Practitioners Dr. Richard Aulicino, Holistic Dentist and owner of the Forever Green Building on the French Mountain corridor of State Route.9, was presented with a dilemma that many property owners face – the loss of a good tenant. An empty space is a costly space, and the typical answer is to replace the tenant you had with a new one. But with the current economic malaise afflicting the economy, that solution is not often readily at hand. Sweeta Aulicino, the good doctor’s wife, was not about to let a functional office space sit idle, particularly with the costly winter months approaching. Sweeta has been and advocate and user of holistic health treatments, such as massage, yoga, and reiki. Many practitioners of these arts work out of their home, which is impractical, or share a collaborative space
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that often takes a percentage of their fees, which cuts into profitability. “Many of these people can’t afford the monthly rent in an office suite, as they only need to see patient 2 or 3 times a week,” Sweeta explained. “So I thought, why not rent my space to them on a daily basis? No long term commitments, just schedule your patients in one day, pay for the use and walk away!” Sweeta contacted a few friends in the business and they were thrilled with the idea. William Bassett, a bone therapist, comes all the way up from Troy to see his north country patients. “There’s beautiful energy in the building. It helps me focus on my patients’ needs,” he said. Annette Naveau, who does massage therapy comes up from Stillwater once a
messages on the walls. Two private rooms allow a practitioner to maximize their days scheduling of patients. Upstairs, there are two open spaces that allow freedom to hold classed and workshops. It gives the practitioner the opportunity to build a I’ve Feng Sui’d the whole practice without the place, says Sweeta, “to give overhead of a location. the place balance and For more information accentuate the healing power within it walls.” The main about the Tranquility Space at floor has a waiting room, the For Ever Green Building, which has comfortable contact Sweeta Aulicino at furniture and inspirational 791-7838. week. “I am so please that Sweeta have provided such a great space for me. The location is great for both me and my patients. I can see everyone in one day, and there are no worries after I leave,” she said.
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Holiday Eco-Localizer
Artique Co-op – All for Local By David Delozier
The new localism trend is gaining momentum as a reaction to the globalist extraction economy that has surrounded us. Shopping local keeps money circulating between neighbors, building value along the way. While shopping local is a great idea, most merchants offer few things that are actually locally sourced. There might be some local soaps, or a hand knit hat made by a local crafter offered amongst the array of imported goods. But what if there were a place you could go that would offer a great selection of unique, one of a kind merchandise, all of it produced and sourced from local entrepreneurs? Fortunately, such a place exits, and it is called Artique Co-op, just off exit 8 of the Northway. Elizabeth King and Angela Ledtke birthed Artique Co-op in January 2009, as an inspired idea between two friends. When Angela was going to school out in Rochester, she was a member of a co-op store that offered locally crafted goods and antiques, all under one roof. She loved the store and its eclectic mix of products and the personalities behind them. After completing college, Angela returned home to the Capital District. She and Elizabeth connected while working together in a wedding photography and videography business. After several years in the wedding business, the two women reached a point where they wanted to move on to something new. The co-op in Rochester was continually in Angela’s mind,
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so she proposed the idea of creating something similar here in the Capital Region. “Get in the car, we’re going to Rochester,” Angela told Elizabeth.
Artique Shopping has something for everyone. The categories of things for sale are: arts, antiques, collectibles, crafts and gifts. There are household goods, furniture, lamps and lighting, bath and body care items, jewelry, greeting cards, and so much more. Vendors are selected for their quality and uniqueness. “We don’t want to have a competitive environment,” say Angela. “We have four potters, but each one is so different than the other. They actually complement each other.” There are already 71 vendors set up at the store, so the selection and variety is amazing.
When Elizabeth saw the co-op first hand, she, too, was inspired, and the business was born. The women chose the Plaza 8 Shopping Center, in southern Clifton Park for their new venture. Close to neighborhoods, and being centrally located to the greater Capital Region made the Plaza perfect. Plus, there were no other retail offerings in the plaza, so they were adding a noncompeting component to the neighborhood mix. Many of the crafters are creating things that have personal meaning that they want to Once they had the space, now who share with the world. Among her would come and join this new "ReFocused" and recycled wares, Elizabeth concept in retail? “We put ads on carries Maggie Bag's, a bag maker that uses Craig’s List, and that got us a few excess webbing from seat belt vendors,” said Angela. “We’d manufacturing. It is woven into unique go to craft fairs, and asked the handbags, clutches and purses that are ones we liked if they would amazingly durable and fashionable. It’s a join us, and we got a novel approach to re-using and re-cycling few that way too.” what would normally be garbage for the “Word of mouth landfill. Another unique vendor is actually a has been huge,” couple of sisters, 14 and 16 years old, calling said Elizabeth. themselves “Organic Girls.” Their mom is “A lot of teaching them the skills of running a these business, and they’ve develop a cosmetic line based on organic ingredients. Their mission is to “provide organic, vegan, cruelty-free products at prices we can all afford.” These girls are learning what it takes to run a business,” said Elizabeth. “I wish my mom did that for me when I was 14!” Another vendor, Floyd Warriors, is a While in people breast cancer survivor. knew other chemotherapy, she would listen to the music people who are of Pink Floyd, and began writing some of her doing stuff, and thoughts about the pain she was going suddenly the space was through. Emotions of angst, humor and nearly filled!” Angela strange wit came to her, which she added, “We feel privileged developed into a line of “gift” cards for to offer a place for these friends and family of cancer patients. Her people to sell their wares. messages of strength and perseverance can We’ve got some amazing bring hope to those who are going through similar experiences. “We’re blessed to have talent in here.”
Being a co-op, the vendors also share in the task of running the checkout. The friendly face behind the counter is actually one of the co-op members. “We don’t have employees,” said Angela. “We have owners. Everybody who works here is also a vendor and they take pride in our store.” The shopping experience at Artique is unlike any other. It’s an amazing showcase of talent and creativity. Every turn reveals a new wonder. “We want the customer's to get lost in here, enjoying all that we have to offer” said Angela. Angela and Elizabeth have worked hard to make for an excellent customer experience. There are always food samples to taste at the checkout counter. Each vendor uses their own flair and creativity when designing their booth. “Our goal is to have satisfied vendors and these amazing people sharing themeselves satisfied customers. The vendors appreciate with us and with the community,” said all the opportunity this place gives them, Angela. “We're a family.”
December. Plus, they have started a wishlist campaign so that any customer can come in, create and leave their wish-list at the register for their loved ones who may need some extra help. "We are thrilled to offer some real personal shopping help to all of our customers this holiday season. Chances are, if you are looking for a unique and special gift," Angela says, "we will help you find it here!" Plus, the store is offering extended hours for those holiday shoppers: 10am until 8pm from December 1st through the 23rd, and Christmas Eve from 10am-5pm. It’s obvious that there is a craving in our community for things real and authentic. People are starting to get the message that supporting local matters. Fortunately, thanks to Elizabeth King and Angela Ledtke, we now have the Artique Co-op, where it really is, all for local.
The vendors love the concept because it gives them a place to sell their items without having burdensome overhead of a store for themselves. They rent only the space that they need, and there’s no commission on sales. As a result, for the quality offered, the prices are very affordable. There’s a common marketing budget for the store, which also helps keeps cost down. “We all chip in and work together; we’re a team here,” says Angela. “It’s a huge risk opening a business today, and by helping each other, we are minimizing that risk.”
and we respect that by making the customer feel welcome and happy. We’re not just selling stuff, we are building a community,” said Angela. “It’s been great,” says Elizabeth. “In just less than a year, we’ve got all these great people together bringing together all this great stuff, and the customers just love it, too. They are so delighted that this store is here!” If the value in supporting your local businesses is not enough, Artique is also offering free gift wrapping for the month of
Artique Shopping is located at Plaza 8 Shopping Center, 1536 Crescent Road in Clifiton Park. Regular store hours are Saturday-Wednesday: 10am-5pm, Thursday and Friday: 10am-8pm. Call 724-0750; online at www.artiqueshopping.com
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ARTISAN BREAD
The Mr. Behind Mrs. Londons By Tracy Frisch • Photos by David DeLozier
Michael and Wendy London own Mrs. London's, the much loved, groundbreaking Saratoga pastry shop where everything has always been made from scratch with real food ingredients. Through my reading and conversations on artisan bread making, I had been tipped off to Michael's wide-reaching influence on the course of artisan bread baking. I would chuckle, for the couple resides less than 3 miles from my Washington County home. Baking has been the ongoing quest and journey in Michael's life. While he learned the art of pastry making by working with masters, he considers bread making his inner path. "Most of my breads have come to me through dreams," he explained.
To move beyond the limitations at Ananda East, Michael also sought out positions with more traditional bakers. He'd need to join the International Confectioners Union, but he wouldn't be able to get in unless he found a bakery that wanted to hire him.
His vision inspired a generation of bakers. He tells me that he's one of less than a handful of gurus who pioneered crusty bread, and names just two others on the east coast, Dan Lider of Bread Alone in Ulster County and Noel Labat-Comess of Tom Cat Bakery in Long Island City.
But Michael's favorite bakeries kept on rejecting him. The gracious owner of Patisserie Bonté said no, pleading an overly cramped workspace. At William Greenberg Jr. Desserts, the proprietor told Michael, that he was "out of his gourd." Months later, Mr. Greenberg did hire him as a union apprentice for the holiday season. Here was his lucky break, but Michael had to get out of jury duty to report for work on his first day. By coincidence, one of the many scattered along his baking journey, the Master of Jurors had previously been bakery manager at Sutter's, and he released him.
Like many bakers, Michael had a woman in his family who was a wonderful baker. In Brooklyn, his nana was famous for her baked goods and gefilte fish. When he was away at school, she used to send him huge care packages with her prune and nut roll and other favorite creations. Michael dates his own experiments with baking (he recalls making a white onion bread) to 1968. Michael remembers that year, for Martin Luther King's assassination and a during which he was a national teaching friend's birthday present to him of a Forschner fellow at a small black college in Little Rock, bread knife.
After the holidays ended, Michael moved on to Éclair Pastries, a Viennese bakery with a shop on West 72nd Street. He spent about six months as a union apprentice, while still baking at Ananda East, which was growing After one more stop in academia at Skidmore, fast. where he taught literature and poetry for 2 The natural foods bakery had opened another years, he waited tables at a Mexican retail shop in the East Village and taken over restaurant in Greenwich Village and baked a former Italian bakery in Astoria Queens, bread at home. Michael’s boss liked his wheat where they baked some of the first croissants soy loaf so much that he asked Michael to Balducci's ever sold. They were sweetened make it for the restaurant. with honey, as Ananda East didn't use white Michael went on to develop subscriptions for sugar. his bread. "Unbeknownst to me, Wendy [his To lighten his load, Bonnie wanted to hire future wife] was also biking her own bread Wendy to be Michael's apprentice, but around the Village." Michael felt, "Her arms were too skinny. I One of the few places Michael could turn with couldn't imagine her lifting a rolling pin, let his baking questions – like where to buy alone a bag of flour." Bonnie had the final whole grains -- was Ananda East, the city's say, and Michael and Wendy ended up largest natural foods bakery, inspired by the working side by side. The two ended up Sufi movement. After several months of falling in love, and they tied the knot between inquiry, a baking job opened up there for batches of cake. But with their busy schedule, they had to delay their honeymoon four years. Michael.
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A few years later, the original Rock Hill Bakehouse was born, taking the historic name of the London's stony rural property. "That fall I baked bread every day and Wendy critiqued it." Soon they had hooked up with a smokehouse in nearby Salem that made weekly deliveries to New York City. The Londons sent down bread samples to gourmet stores like Dean and DeLuca, and Balducci's, and "103 percent of the time, we’d get a call the next day, wanting our bread eight days a week," Michael said. With demand building, Michael's oldest son Josh; Adam Witt, Josh's childhood friend; and Josh's half brother Matt Funiciello, a.k.a. "JAM," joined the business and eventually took over baking. They started a bread route in Vermont and later got a booth at Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan (where Rock Hill still sells today).
The couple chose April Fools Day, 1977, for their big move to Saratoga Springs. Ignoring warnings that they would starve in the long off-season, they invested their meager life savings plus money borrowed from their families to start the first Mrs. London's, then located on Phila Street.
In 1983 his mother, who was living in Monterey, California, suggested her son try her favorite local sourdough bread. Michael made the acquaintance of the Italian baker who made it and then traded instruction on making brioche and croissants for his secrets of sourdough.
With the addition of JAM, Rock Hill grew production to 8,000 pounds of bread a week and baking six days out of seven (up from two) -- all within a 500 square foot kitchen! "It was all choreographed. Balanchine would have been proud of our bread dance!" Meanwhile, Michael launched Rock Hill Consulting. Through the business, he, later with Wendy, and finally Adam Witt, trained bakers around the country and licensed the
After days of baking, they opened on July 4th, and were "wiped out to the last crumb." After the second day, they had to close to catch up. They had stayed in the bakery for 54 hours straight. "When we got down to a 24 hour shift, we were on holiday," Michael recounts. About seven years later the city closed their street on and off for five months to put in a storm sewer and prevent flooding. Mrs. London's lost $300,000 in sales, and went out of business. The Londons had fled Manhattan dreaming of life in the country. In 1983, a week before their daughter Sophie was born, they moved to an old farmhouse in Greenwich. At Mrs. London's, Michael and Wendy had become "like two ships passing in the night," working different shifts. Now they contemplated a slower life centered in their new home.Wendy told Michael it was his turn to decide their next move. He chose his first love – bread.
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breads Michael had developed to their Market, where Mrs. London's will be selling But there are some downsides. Baking in this oven requires someone make a fire in it every bakeries. At the high point, thirteen licensees for the first time. day, although baking is only done three times around the country were using Rock Hill a week. Recently Michael London purchased recipes and methods. (Among them -a state of the art propane-burning bread oven Zingerman's in Ann Arbor and Whole Foods.)
FIRE BREAD
With a commercial bakery in their kitchen, Wendy had moved cooking to an extension of a windowsill off their bathroom, where she heroically prepared meals from scratch with only a two-burner hot plate, a small toaster oven, and a little espresso machine. Dishes drained in the bathtub. After seven and a half years, she kicked the bakery out with four or five months notice. Rock Hill Bakehouse moved to Gansevoort, and Matt Funiciello ended up buying out the others. Although consulting was stimulating, the Londons missed the satisfaction of serving their own community. They would re-open Mrs. London's, but first Michael insisted he needed to spend time in France to deepen his knowledge. Adam Witt, at Rock Hill Bake House On a trip to Paris, he fell in love with a new pastry shop run by a Monsieur Mulot. n an age where people are endlessly Through four years of visits, Michael hopes of exchanging interests like fashions, Adam getting an opportunity to work there were Witt has not tired of bread baking. He consistently turned down. Then, on a day that started baking as a child with his mother and both men had their daughters with them, his grandmother. He considers Michael London to persistence paid off. be like an uncle. In 1989 he joined the early A half-year later, when Michael began his Rock Hill Bakehouse, back when it was in the coveted position, a French book on bread was Londons' kitchen. released. It didn't hurt that Rock Hill was one Later Adam sold his share in the business and of the only three American bakeries included. moved to Germany to pursue music. In During his two months with M. Mulot, Munich he became smitten with a sourdough Michael was able to take 1,000 photos. Then farm bread called bauenbrot. Since his return he was able to do a stint at Fauchon, another to the states, he's been teaching African renowned bakery, thanks to an introduction drumming. by a friend, the food writer at Vogue. Almost two years ago Adam Witt returned to These experiences, plus the purchase of take over baking breads for Mrs. London's. In $17,000 worth of small wares at a Parisian a little cottage at the London home in pastry supply store, enabled the couple to re- Greenwich, he bakes a signature sourdough create many of their old recipes, and thus take called "Fire Bread," as well as yeasted Italian the new Mrs. London's to a higher level. breads and ciabatta. Fire bread is made with organic whole wheat from Lindley Mills and After over 35 years as a baker, Michael's King Arthur Artisan Select, an unbleached primary role today is running the two family white flour. businesses, the bakery and his younger son Max's restaurant. He also serves as Mrs. Adam loves "the simplicity and quietness" of London's holiday baker, specializing in baking in a wood-fired oven. When he began seasonal delicacies like Stollen, Panatone, and baking again for the Londons, he used the Columba Pasquale. massive, wood-burning brick bread oven Michael had had installed in the rustic bake While contemplating his next step in his house for making fire bread. He described the lifelong pursuit of perfect bread, Michael art of baking with a wood fire as matching plans to introduce more locals to his breads the falling temperature of the oven with the and pastries at the Saratoga Winter Farmers rising of the dough.
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to avoid the brick oven's labor and fuel demands. There are many other things that make baking bread enjoyable for Adam. "It's different every time," he explains. Changing conditions (think differences in humidity and flour) require him to constantly make adjustments. This striving to keep the bread consistent "keeps baking exciting and alive," he says. Adam finds magic in working with sourdough. He's enchanted that something unseen can give form to delicious bread. Sourdough culture consists of beneficial bacteria and wild yeast working together symbiotically. The yeast comes from capturing spores floating in the air. The craft of bread making aims to bring out the flavor of the grain through fermentation, according to Adam. Allowing a sourdough bread to rise slowly, "in its own time," allows its more complex flavors to develop unlike typical yeasted breads. When you eat a traditionally made loaf of bread, it should not have a yeasty flavor. Adam has begun offering occasional workshops to share his contagious fascination with bread making. Contact Adam at 698-3816 or wi5ad@aol.com to get on his mailing list.
Dog-Gone SMART
By Pamela A. Gibbs • Photos by Heather Bohm-Tallman Photography www.hbtphoto.com
The old adages are plentiful: "when life gives food section with the story of her 17-year you scraps, make quilts," or "when life hands journey with Toby by her side. you a lemon, make lemonade." Samantha’s Café and Catering is open Mon-Fri And while the economy has gone to the dogs from 8:30 am to 3pm. Their products are also in the last 18 months, some smart, local for sale at the Glens Falls Farmer’s Market, entrepreneurs have followed that exact trend, held Saturdays year-round. with a decidedly more rosy outcome. The pet supply industry has rocketed in sales from $17-billion in 1994 to over $40-billion in 2007, making it larger than even toy sales, according to statistics gathered by firstresearch.com, a manufacturing data compilation website. Carole Newell, owner of Samantha’s Café & Catering in Glens Falls, recognized the trend more than a decade ago, when she began making and selling "Toby Treats," a handcrafted dog biscuit named after her beloved pooch. "I made them, initially, just for him, and he loved them so much that I made a few extra and put them out for customers," recalled Newell, who has owned her business for 24 years. "They were snapped up in an instant, and I realized that pet owners wanted healthy, additive-free treats just like I did." This year, Newell published a book of her prized recipes in a unique format. Titled "The Caterer and the Canine," the book includes 60 of her most popular recipes, and begins each
The old adages are plentiful: "when life gives you scraps, make quilts," or "when life hands you a lemon, make lemonade."
product in every state and internationally." Two years ago, Keith quit his job in corporate sales for Heinz Ketchup, a position he’d held for more than 10 years, to concentrate on the business full time. "Our products are environmentally friendly and earth conscious, aside from being healthy," he said. "All our treats are completely vegetarian, and we make cookies like tart cherry, which provides hip and joint support, or blueberry, which offers antioxidant properties." A swing to the north takes you to Paw Lickers in Greenfield Center, a pet bakery and boutique owned by Marianne Gage and her son David. The pair, in business for the past eight years, specialize in non-meat, all fruit and vegetable treats, as well as "toys" and specialized equipment.
In Ballston Spa, Keith and Amy Augustine started The Lazy Dog Cookie Company, a "from the kitchen" business in 2001, as Amy, a microbiologist, created dog treats originally just for co-workers.
"We also manufacture our own walking harness and collars, sewn by a company in Amsterdam," said Marianne Gage. "The harness alleviates stress on the trachea because the breast piece stays down on the chest."
"Then she went on to sell them at farmers’ markets, pet stores and pet boutiques," said Keith Augustine. "One thing led to another, and now we have a 4,000 square-foot manufacturing facility, and are selling our
Paw Lickers also features the "mind games" created by Nina Ottosson of Sweden, which challenge dogs and cats to use their brain skills, and have taken the pet world by storm, as well as high-end dog and cat food. ecolocalliving.com 17
jeweler who makes dog tags and many beautiful people products for dog lovers, all in Sterling Silver or can be special ordered in gold. There’s also Hand-made sweaters, knitted by a local woman, as well as walking leashes, toys and novelties for the dog lover on anyone’s gift list, fill out the inventory.
The Bread Basket in Saratoga Springs. There’s even a treat making kit, made in Rutland, VT that comes complete with treat mix and two sizes of biscuit cookies cutters. They found a reusable stainless steel water bottle with a special roller ball top that releases water as the pet licks it.
"I think the nicest part of owning my store is finding so many local products, and becoming friends with the people who make them," she said. Dawgdom is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-6 and Sunday from 11-6. Across the street at 365 Broadway, Impressions of Saratoga has been heavily involved in the local community. Owners, Marianne and Dave Barker believe very strongly in taking advantage of what’s in their own backyard before going out on a search for employees, products to sell, supplies for their many businesses over the years, banking, insurance… just about everything they need to run the business. If they can’t find it in Saratoga County, they at least try to stay within the USA borders. "It can be a little expensive, but a lot of people The shop, which primarily focuses on Saratoga don’t realize just how important quality food souvenirs and anything to do with horses, also has a pretty extensive selection of pet related is for their pets," she added. gifts, treats and supplies. “Most horse people Open every day except Sunday, Paw Lickers have other pets as well so years ago we also encourages "friendly dogs on a leash," to started offering treats and water from a tall explore their store. dish outside the shop for those out strolling At 441A Broadway, in the heart of Saratoga with their dogs,” said Marianne. “Then we Springs, Sara Ellis celebrates everything began taking photo’s of their visiting dogs to "doggy" at her store, Dawgdom. Her journey post on our “Wall of Fame”. began as the result of a needy dog and her Gradually treats for sale were added, starting quest to help him. with Pawlickers, made in Greenfield Center, "All our dogs are rescue dogs," said Sara, who NY, Wagatha’s made in Manchester VT. My added that her "pack" usually consists of Kitty and My Doggy treats made in Phoenix, three to four dogs at a time. "We had Jack, NY and most recently they added biscuits from who was sick, and then had an amputation. We needed to find halters, harnesses, even maybe a dog wheelchair to help him, but there weren’t any resources in the community." Starting, and operating the store, has been a dream come true, she added, as she began to discover all the other local options in a loose network of dog-lovers. "We stock things like collars that are made, in the USA, out of all bamboo products," Sara said, "and sleeping beds, made out of memory foam from Vermont. We also have items from Lazy Dog Cookie company and Paw Lickers. We also have handmade scrapbooks made locally and specialty harnesses.” There’s even jewelry products for pets and their people form Sandy and Co. She is a local 18 ecolocalliving.com
When their dogs, Raleigh & Bailey (the dog for whom Bailey’s Café was named) needed new collars, they brought in a line from a “Yellow Snow” in New Hampshire and will soon be offering the exclusive “Saratoga” Leash and collar made especially for them in Virginia. Impressions started a Tote Bag Tuesday program last year when they celebrated their 30th anniversary by giving away 1500 Impressions tote bags and offering a 10% discount on your purchases every Tuesday, year round. They will be offering the 2nd edition of a reusable tote after the Thanksgiving holiday. Impressions of Saratoga is open daily.
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462 Rte 29 West, Saratoga Springs, NY. 518-584-9463 thesaratogawinery.com Gift Certificates, gift baskets, chocolates and cheese and who doesn’t love wine! At The Saratoga Winery our focus is local & all natural. We offer 11 of our own handcrafted wines including five all natural varieties with no added sulfites. We carry local specialty foods that are perfect for your holiday party. Two new holiday wines will be arriving soon along with a great selection of holiday themed wine accessories and ornaments. Stop in Tuesday – Sunday for wine tasting and holiday shopping!
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It’s a Party - Not a Protest!
The Transition Initiative By Richard Morell
“I’m so glad you asked about that. Let me tell you more!” I said to a fellow participant of the Transition Initiative Workshop held at Spirit Hollow in North Bennington, Vermont during Columbus Day weekend. I held a card depicting two charts that showcased projected economic growth and projected petroleum consumption based on the various regions of the world, with talking points upon which to build on the back. “If you look at these graphs and their rosy projections into 2030 – hey, what Kool-aid are they drinking? – you will be struck that both of them are rising. This is no accident, the economy depends upon the increased consumption of petroleum and just look at the projections for China and India! China’s slated to double, and India’s to jump by one and half times where it is now!” Thus began a conversation I have longed to have with many a person in my everyday life, but with whom, for the most part, I respectfully restrain my tongue. The other person revealed to me a set of different prognostications about when we would reach Peak Oil. Most predictions were that it had either already happened or we were there now. I gave the talk again, this time to someone who knew slightly more about this than I did, and he said that these projections were from 2004, and that China had in fact already doubled consumption, and were still craving more. Funny thing. Hmmm…. So to the question: What is a Transition Initiative and where did it come from? Several years ago, a British permaculturist by the name of Rob Hopkins decided to apply the principles of permaculture to social arrangements. Permaculturists utilize certain tools to establish and foster gardens that will eventually sustain 24 ecolocalliving.com
themselves on their own. Using these transferable tools together with principles taken from 12 Step Programs, Hopkins attempted the creation of more sustainable and resilient communities in advance of what many see as a “Great Turning” (or those more “doomy” refer to as the “Great Unraveling”). The experiment seems to have flourished in a place of 8,000 souls called Totnes in England, where they have a Transition Initiative in full gear and even sport an alternative currency – the Totnes Pound. Given my own interest in transition as a model for change that seems to value attraction over promotion, I was heartened to read that geologist turned sustainability campaigner Jeremy Leggett described Transition Towns as “scalable microcosms of hope.” Hopkins’ humble experiment has now gone viral, attracting interest in various and far-flung places, from Australia to Holland. It’s made a beachhead here in the U.S., first in Boulder County, Colorado then in Sandpoint, Idaho. Transition provides a general model, but the focus builds on the wisdom and understanding of a community’s geography and land-base, which these and other initiatives across the country seem to take to heart. Transition Initiatives have begun in very small hamlets as well as Los Angeles. (For a map of U.S. locations, check out transitionus.org to see where they’re popping up.) Alastair Lough works with the Transition Initiative in Portland, Maine. Together with Richard Kuhnel from Sandpoint’s Transition Initiative, they put together a hands-on and experiential workshop for likeminded people who hope they can carry the message into their communities and
begin the heavy work required to negotiate the impending changes. Both received training at Totnes to train others in various techniques of awareness raising, networking and inner work. We used the meet-andgreet with graphics and talking points vehicle twice more – with data sets for climate change as well as the socioeconomic inequity issues. It felt daunting to many of us, particularly for those more introverted. Alastair frequently would remind us that “lack of success is not failure.” While all this might sound a bit “doomer” (and a couple of the participants delighted in this term’s ironic usage, myself included), the weekend’s ultimate motive was to help move past gloom toward facing the triple crises of peak oil, climate change, and the economy that’s severed Wall Street from Main Street, and somehow find cornerstones of possibility. Those of us who have arrived at the awareness that our way of life is heading for a huge and necessary correction may have much cause for despair and horror. Transition offers one mode through which to watch, wait and prepare, but not in isolation, nor forgetting to celebrate our achievements and our desires for joyful release from the dying paradigm. “We are here as midwives in the birthing of the new,” Alastair told us, “but also we are hospice workers to the death of an old way of life.” In crafting modes of expression with various communities, Lough and Kuhnel referred to the work of Carlo DiClimente, a psychologist who worked with addicts in the throes of recovery. Transition groups have recognized that there are definite stages to making and maintaining a change, briefly Pre-
Contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation and Action/Maintenance. Using this model, Alastair and Richard led us through a very simple and eyeopening task – to create an event about a rather general area (Energy, Education, Housing, etc.) and targeting a certain population at a certain time of day, with certain characteristics and generally at one of these stages of change.
Many have experienced the utter fruitlessness in speaking of our own awakening to these issues with those who would stick fingers in their ears and loudly sing “la-la-la” while they pass the graveyard. Yet counterintuitive as it might seem, there will be those with life experiences very different from our own who are more receptive than we may realize and with whom we can plant a seed.
In the first event-creation, my group designed a weekday evening event on the Energy topic for single mothers, multicultural backgrounds, and that the general stage of change was PreContemplation, which I interpret as, “I think I might be having a problem (but I’m not ready to really look at it or deal with it).” Our hypothetical event would be set for after-dinner on a weekday with a storyteller and some craft work for the children. The single-parent renters concerned with rising heating costs would hear on ways to reduce their costs, with Spanish translation available. We also tried our hands designing an event based on randomly selected elements, leading us to craft a presentation for elderly Caucasian women in the Preparation stage (“OK, I’m convinced — what do I do?”) on the topic of Education. Of all things! It was actually rather fun, which Richard applauded with the reminder, “It’s a Party, not a Protest!”
“There’s a perception in Sandpoint that this is a hippy thing,” Richard shared with the group, “that we’re always meeting at the crystal shop—and Sandpoint has two crystal shops! But for the most part there are only a couple of meetings at one of them. We’ve met in churches, businesses, the town theater. There are even rednecks who come to our groups!”
been coursing through my mind for awhile. Still, there’s a palpable “juice” in Troy. All sorts of people are working to forge community in the Collar City, starting farmer’s markets, attending sustainability conferences. Clearly something’s moving underfoot! Transition would afford us the opportunity to create a hub where these spokes can plug in with the other spokes and continue and amplify the conversation. To keep it real, I need to remember I’m an oil addicts amongst oil addicts, working my “Civilization Anonymous” program. Step one might read “We admitted we are powerless over our petroleum consumption and economic choices, and that our lives have become unmanageable.”
Yep. I I.D. on that all right. Doesn’t Among other techniques introduced, everyone? Alastair and Richard led us through exercises developed by Joanna Macy and others stressing the inner work as much as the outer. I found one particular exercise where I expounded to some future descendent as their ancestor from the present shift period, about various topics that they asked of us, and then as one of those self-same innocents of the future listened to my peers hold forth their own hopes and observations. I found this “heartblowing” (as opposed to mindblowing), expanding my emotional During the course of our discussions, consciousness one participant observed the outward in ripples importance of addressing the shadow. that still reverberate. All sorts of unpleasant dynamics can Before we left Spirit come up within any group, and the Hollow to return to training broached this necessary our everyday lives, subject toward the end of day one and we were asked to into day two. In 12 Step parlance, it’s consider actions we not uncommon to hear the addiction could take to begin recovery model as “It gets better, it gets the work of igniting worse, it gets different, it gets real.” interest in Transition While Alastair and Richard might not Initiatives in our own have said this in so many words, the communities. Having second day faced the “it gets worse.” just gone through the Inclusiveness acts as a hallmark of process of buying a Transition Initiatives. This upcoming house in Little Italy in Great Turning will need as many hands Troy with my partner, on deck as is possible. To be sure, there these thoughts have will be those from we must walk away. ecolocalliving.com 25
Winter squashes make a wonderful addition to a balanced diet especially when one is concentrating on eating locally. We are very fortunate in upstate New York to have so many varieties to choose from. Take your pick, from acorn to butternut, from blue hubbard to pumpkin. Winter squashes are low in calories and have plenty of fiber. They tend to be high in Vitamin C and A which being rich in beta-carotene. Some varieties even contain Calcium, Iron and Zinc. In regards to versatility, winter squashes rank high. Squash can be used to make soups, salads, breads, main entrees, side dishes, cookies, pies and much more. They can be boiled, roasted, bake, cubed, smashed, mashed and pureed. They are a vegetarian’s delight. Go to your local farmers’ market or stand and inquire about a variety you haven’t tried yet. Be creative. If kept in a cool place, winter squash can be stored for long periods of time. Enjoying winter squash will make you long for the cool days of fall. By Diane Conroy-LaCivita, Harmony House Marketplace 1 medium buttercup or butternut squash 2 apples 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground mace Arrange cubed squash in a 12”x8” baking pan. Top with apple wedges. Combine remaining ingredients; spoon over apples. Bake at 350o for 50-60 minutes or until tender.
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ECO-HARMONY
Finding Balance in the Synergistic Eco-System We Create with Nature THE ENERGY WITHIN Winter is the time to celebrate the harvest and take stock of our accomplishments. How did our year’s experiences impact our relationships with our Self, family, friends, community and environment; what worked and what needs changing? Nature has a built in reflection period. Trees and plants go dormant while animals and other creatures hibernate or are “recycled”. The things that didn’t work in Nature do not return, those parts of Nature’s existence that do work, continue. How do we get so out of touch with what works in our own lives? We are intrinsically tied to the natural world, our physical bodies are designed to be in harmony with the cycles of nature. Our challenge, as a society and culture, is our lost sense of that connection. We haven’t actually lost the connection, that’s an impossibility, but we have lost the sense or the feeling of being connected. Connection goes by many names, some call it community, some call it energy, some call it love, some God, Great Spirit, Everything, Nothing. The name itself matters not, it’s the feeling that compels us to search. What does Connection do for us? It allows us to know when to rest, when to move forward, when to eat, when to sleep, it puts us in touch with what we really need to be happy and healthy. Look at a infant or a child, they sleep when they’re tired, even if it means face down in the mashed potatoes. They want to eat when they’re hungry, never mind the clock. They will automatically
gravitate to what feels good to them and is best for their wellbeing. What does Connection feel like? It’s a belonging, it’s an alignment, it’s having a sense of place, it’s a feeling of peace. How do we create and then recreate that feeling of Connection? Reconnecting with Nature will bring us back to that feeling of connection and help us to understand our place in the world. Try this exercise: Focus on one aspect of nature, choose whatever appeals to you in this moment. If you are feeling quiet and contemplative you might focus on water; a lake, a stream, a droplet, a storm. Sit or stand and focus your attention on that water, take a few deep breaths and settle your body, your mind and emotions. If you are having trouble doing this, bring the things that are bothering you up in your mind and send them into the water, let them flow away if there’s a current, or let them dissolve and dissipate. Keep releasing the thoughts and emotions that are distracting you until they wind down, this may take you more than one session of quietness. Concentrate on the water and feel it. Imagine it’s coolness, smoothness, how you feel after you’ve been in the water, clean and clear. As you do this, you will relax more and more and begin to feel peaceful. Breathe in the peacefulness of the water, as you do, feel it clear you, clean you and balance your entire system. Feel the connection to the water and all of Nature. Bring this steady energy into your life.
feeling of connection by focusing on the element or elements any time you feel disconnected or out of balance. So take time over this period of quiet reflection to feel the Energy Within, find your connection with your Self, your people and your world. RACHEL GINTHER, ALCHEMIST, FSE Currently Rachel produces 500+ Vibrational/Flower Essences & Aromatherapy products for spiritual evolution and provides fertile ground and sanctuary for those seeking personal growth through her holistic retreat and learning center, The Garden at Thunder Hill ~ A Center for Spiritual Evolution. New for 2010 - Sustainability Retreats! www.gardenofone.com (518) 7973373 Eco Awareness Story
Maybe your connection with Nature is through a different aspect, perhaps the air, then connect with the wind or the coldness of the air. Try the earth, plants, flowers, solidness and strength or fire, the sun, flames, movement. Or perhaps you respond best to a combination of these elements, the crisp scent of a fall day, the crunch of leaves, a light breeze on your face while the sun warms your back Do whatever works for you. This exercise will give you a powerful connection to whatever aspect of Nature you feel aligned with and with a little practice you can call up that ecolocalliving.com 27
GAGE BROOK CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAILS LAKE GEORGE RECREATION PARK
NEAREST TOWN: Lake George, NY, Upwards of 8 miles of trails GENERAL DESCRIPTION: We can't tell you exactly how many miles of cross country skiing trails there are in this great little park. Depends on the routes you take on these daisy loop trails. But there are upwards of 8 _ miles of trails in this area and you can actually branch out from there we are told. ACTIVITIES: At this park there is cross country skiing and snowshoeing on the basic trail network. If there is no snow, you are free to hike or bike this same network of trails.
SEASON-HOURS-FEES-PARKING: Open year round for a variety of activities, but only during daylight hours. There are no fees and there is plenty of parking.
DIFFICULTY: The trails are generally marked as easy, more difficult and most difficult. Use caution and don't exceed your own capabilities.
FACILITIES: You MAY find rest rooms open in the building across from the trailhead. We never have. So you may very well be on your own for any “facilities.”
SURFACE: These are generally wide and open trails, but may or may not be groomed. All the trails are also open to snowshoers. Underneath that snow may be loose gravel, rocks and other obstacles. Expect some washout areas during thawing periods.
WHAT WE FOUND: This is a great resource and recreational park for year round use. It is pretty, generally quiet and we found many friendly people along the trails all willing to discuss snowshoeing and skiing, as well as what a beautiful day it was to be out there. There is a map of the trail system on the kiosk at the trailhead, but we found no other maps to carry along. So study the kiosk map before you leave so you can get the lay of the land. Then, just enjoy the day as much as we have.
RENTALS: None WHAT YOU MAY SEE: This is a very nice recreational area. You will travel along wooded trails, often with pine trees on either side of you. There is a picturesque babbling brook running adjacent to many of the trails. HOW TO GET THERE: From I-87 take Exit 21 and turn south onto Rte. 9N for about .8 miles. Turn right at the Lake George Recreation Center sign and follow the access road in for about .5 miles until you see the kiosk and trail entrance. Sign in at the trailhead. GPS READING: Parking lot: N 43° 24.079' W 073° 43.956' 28 ecolocalliving.com
CAUTIONS: Know your own limitations. Some of these trails can be difficult and can have exposed rocks and washouts at times. Sign in and out at the trailhead. We have been temporarily lost in this trail system and we have received feedback that others have been as well. So take a compass reading and a GPS reading at the trailhead before you leave. In this series of loop trails it is easy to get disoriented.When you come to a sign that says, “This is the end of the Xcountry trails,” turn back. Trust us on this one!
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Mike Carpenter and Roger Fulton consider themselves ordinary guys who enjoy getting “Up and Out” and exploring all there is to do in our great region. “Outdoor books for ordinary people” is the theme for several of their regional books on casual hiking, biking, kayaking and other topics. You can access all of their titles at www.RogerFulton.com or www.commonmanbooks.com or ask about their Common Man Books at your local bookstore or other selected area retailers.
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Slow Money:
A Model for a Sustainable Economy
just had the great pleasure of attending the 20th Anniversary SRI in the Rockies Conference. This year's gathering of the sustainable and responsible investing community, titled “From Crisis to Opportunity: Investing in a Sustainable World”, was held in Tucson from October 25-28. As always, the event was energizing and inspirational as the world's leading thinkers and practitioners shared ideas and strategies for using money as a transformational tool for positive social and environmental change. The recent financial crisis offered fertile ground for probing discussions about the root causes of the problems and the opportunity we now have to use the crisis as a launching point for meaningful change in the financial system. A common theme in several of the sessions was the loss of “connectedness” between people and their money. Money now moves around
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the world at lightening speed, often so detached from the activities it is financing that not even the “experts” fully understand all of the implications. In a world dominated by huge global financial institutions, money has lost its personal connection to our communities and individual lives.
on Petrini's vision of food's powerful ability to restore, heal and connect people and place and his argument for an agricultural system which produces nutritious, satisfying, healthy and affordable food from sustainable local farms. This visions stands in sharp contrast to the agribusiness model which has contributed to '…chemically-laden food supplies, depleted aquifers, millions of acres of GMO corn, trillions of food miles, widespread deregulation of soil fertility, a dead zone the size of Rhode Island in the Gulf of Mexico created by topsoil runoff full of pesticides and fertilizer residues, and obesity epidemics side by side with persistent hunger'.
Woody Tasch, President of the Slow Money Alliance, remarked during a panel discussion that financial transactions are now 'complex, opaque, anonymous and based on short-term outcomes' while we would be much better served by transactions that are 'direct, transparent, personal and based on long-term relationships'. In his 2008 book “Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money”, Mr. Tasch draws on the principles of the Tasch points to the broader International Slow Food Movement, importance of restoring the connection founded by Carlo Petrini. Tasch builds between our money and our
communities. We need to support enterprises that pay attention to the “triple bottom line”- people, planet and profit, as we transition from a model dominated by “efficient” financial markets to one that is more grounded and place-based. I believe this vision offers real hope during this difficult period as we attempt to move from the consumer-driven, maximum growth at all costs model based on extraction and consumption, to one in which we may have less “stuff” but far more substance, meaning and connection. We need to work together to bring forth this new economy which seeks preservation and restoration and is focused on quality and our relationships to one another and to the land. Your support of local farms and businesses puts you on the leading edge of this economic transformation.
A 22-year veteran of the financial services profession, Mr. Moran has held the Certified Financial Planner ® designation since 1991. He is a network 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@corners tonefinancialny.com or 518-877-8800.
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.
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 HARRY MORAN helps socially investment strategy can assure conscious investors define and achieve success. The opinions expressed are their highest goals by aligning their those of the author and may change without notice. money with their values.
462 Route 29 West, Saratoga, NY 12866 • 518-584-WINE (9463) www.thesaratogawinery.com
Grand Opening November 21st & 22nd 11 Handcrafted Wines including All Natural Melomel - Wine Tastings Daily- Gifts for the Wine Lover - Wine Accessories - Gift Certificates! Along with our wines... We offer a growing selection of local specialty and gourmet foods: Cheese & Cheese Spreads, Crackers, Horseradish products, cured sausage, Chocolates, Maple Syrup, Honey, Hot Fudge, Pies, Home Roasted Specialty Coffee… and the list goes on. Call or stop in for tickets to Saturday Evenings “Jazz & Food“portion of the grand opening. Offering Wine & food pairing with Chef Joe Lanzi, Music by Le Rubb, and live painting with Frankie Flores. CHARDONNAY, RIESLING, WHITNEY'S WHITE, MERLOT, CABERNET FRANC, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, ROBERTS RUN, SARATOGA SUMMERTIME, BLOOD ROOT, SARATOGA SPIT FIRE, HILLBILLY MOUNTAIN MASH ecolocalliving.com 31
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Engaging a More Intimate Economy In its highest expression and use, money is a tool of connection, and its exchange generates relationship the invisible infrastructure of culture. By Crystal Arnold
The design of money and the concept of time are primary organizing principles of society. Individual understanding and collective agreements regarding these methods of coordination are the material of social order. Indeed, human energy is harnessed and directed through the circulation of money and the synchronization of time. Swimming in this proverbial sea of money and time, many people are experiencing difficulty in becoming aware of the consequences of the “contaminated water,” even when saturated by the effects. The modern perception of time and money is that they are separate from the natural cycles. In this reductionistic view, the world is a machine, with time measured and divided by minutes and hours, dollars and cents. This arbitrary delineation of money and time reduces them to a commodity that we either do or don’t have. This predominant relationship with money and time reinforces and perpetuates a fundamental disconnection from our felt value. Consequently, much of society experiences fear and related emotions such as anxiety, shame, anger, and grief. The fear and secrecy surrounding money enables a culture of control. While a dominant few control the majority of global resources, and the monetary system is designed to continue this accumulation of wealth, could money be one of the many ways in which the value we claim within is reflected and attracted to us? I believe a radically different economy is currently emerging, one informed by indigenous cultures’ concepts of time and money, woven on the loom of a more intimate society. This transformation includes healing the suffering that has come from identifying with a painful separation, the mythical fall from Eden. Author Charles Eisenstein also believes a more beautiful world is possible, and he paints an eloquent portrait of civilization through a unique lens—the evolution of the sense of self—in his book The Ascent of Humanity: The Age of
Separation, the Age of Reunion, and the Convergence of Crises That Is Birthing the Transition (the full text is available online at www.ascentofhumanity.com). Eisenstein’s work explores separation, “its origins, its evolution, its ideology, its effects, its consummation and resolution, and its cosmic purpose.” He provides many perspectives from which to view this profound evolution, including science, language, philosophy, and economics. Eisenstein, a Yale graduate who has taught at Penn State, says “In a gift community, everyone is fully capable of giving and receiving. We orient toward ‘What can I give’ in any situation, even as we open to fully and fearlessly receive. Then, a miracle happens: something greater than any of us creates itself through our community, drawing on our gifts and gifting, and expanding us in return. We easily and naturally ‘live the give-away’ because that is who we have become.” As a control tactic, both time and money in their modern invention are abstracted from nature, forging a wedge of separation. Native cultures, on the other hand, have lived in the circularity of both money and time. Across the globe these cultures lived in cyclical and nonlinear time, like moving in natural rhythms of 13 moon cycles for every rotation around the sun (after the introduction of the Gregorian calendar and the mechanical clock, society became radically altered). Indigenous cultures also understood that true wealth comes from circulation—not accumulation. The natives of the Pacific Northwest lived a gift economy, as illustrated by their potlatch ceremony. The word “potlatch” means “to give away” or “a gift,” and the primary purpose of a potlatch is redistribution and reciprocity of wealth. Family status increases not by who has the most resources, but by who distributes the most resources. In their society, giving generously to the entire village was valued more than hoarding things for a discrete and separate self.
Individuals acted in service to the greater whole, because that was their source of survival and identity. The potlatch ceremony was viewed as wasteful and unproductive by the European colonizers and was outlawed in 1885 in the United States and Canada. In its highest expression and use, money is a tool of connection. Exchange generates relationship—the invisible infrastructure of culture. It is fascinating, then, that the current design of money has amplified humanity’s sense of separation. Clearly, the rules of the modern economic system were conceived by minds sourcing from this sense of, belief in, and experience of, separation. The pain of this separation can be felt in many ways, such as the gap between rich and poor, and the depletion of natural resources for financial gain. Feelings of shame, inadequacy, distrust and unworthiness enshroud our relationship with money in a veil of secrecy. This apparent separation—from Source, the Earth, and each other—is evident in the story of scarcity, the myth that there is never enough. So often we hear that there’s just not enough time or money. So many feel they can’t afford to enjoy life, to savor the pleasures of this garden called Earth. Hung over from a credit binge, humanity stumbles out of a slumber to find the world on fire and the house foreclosed. An addiction to cheap energy and debt has systematically dismantled the essence of wealth as expressed in an intimate economy. Marketeers have manufactured the desire to consume by convincing people that they are not enough, something is missing in their life. A focus on this lack and future obligations distract people from becoming the creative power in the here and now. Modern economic man is driven by efficiency and growth, with a neuroses resulting, in large part, from the compound interest charged on debt-based fiat currency. Today, all national currencies are fiat, which comes from the Latin term meaning “by decree.” The dollar’s ecolocalliving.com 33
usefulness results not from any intrinsic value or guarantee that it can be converted into gold, but from a government’s order (fiat) that it must be accepted as a means of payment. The relentless growth of compound interest on the debt that all national currency represents has serious consequences. Eisenstein writes, “Interest drives a relentless anxiety by demanding always more, propelling the endless conversion of all wealth into financial capital.” A modern quest for efficiency overshadows the joy of creating beauty through craftsmanship. Yet in the Pacific island nation of Bali, art flourishes as a way of life. The exchange of a local currency based on time allows for the practical valuing of creative expressions. Their coin has been used for most of the last 1100 years. After the Dutch conquest in the 1900s, the Balinese had a dual currency system that included the national Dutch guilder. Their culture was intimately connected with their coin, especially as used in spiritual rituals. Exchange weaves elements of their culture together, contributing to sustained vitality. In contrast, the commodification of nearly every aspect of life in this country, including time and relationships, results in a painful loneliness and a perceived lack of safety. Modern laws of property and ownership reinforce the misconception that money can buy security, but why then do so many people feel unsafe in a world of vast material wealth? Eisenstein writes, “Money, the great anonymyzing power, has even deeper roots in our sense of self. The long transition from gifts to money, from giving to keeping, is written into our very selfdefinition. Together, our self-definition and its monetary manifestation constitute a pattern that is rapidly propelling us toward social and environmental calamity.” Modern economics has emphasized efficiency and specialization for greater growth as the goals of activity. But what are the consequences of this narrow focus? Eisenstein writes, “When all functions are standardized and narrowly defined, it does not matter too much who fills them. We can always pay someone else to do it … We suffer an omnipresent anxiety and insecurity borne of the fact that the world can get along just fine without us. We are easily replaced … The monetized life is a lonely life because it reduces people in our lives to anonymous occupiers of roles.” In the face of great challenge, many humans are investing their incredible creativity and 34 ecolocalliving.com
ingenuity into a new economy of life. Unemployment seems an anomaly when so much meaningful work needs to be done. Nearly 10% of the American workforce is now unemployed, and in some states underemployment, which measures people who would like to be working more hours or who are overqualified for their position, is as high as 15%. These numbers are expected to grow, as many older people can’t afford to be retired. So, while at least 25% of this nation’s workforce is underutilized, there is an increasing need for quality health care, education, environmental restoration and housing. What’s missing? Oh … right … the money. The myth of scarcity has crippled our human capacity. Eisenstein compares this disconnection to being in an orchard with ripe apple trees, and yet you have a pile of apples in a basket that you are defending from others. Vast amounts of energy focus on defining ownership, and building legal and physical walls of separation to protect what is “mine.” This sense of separation creates an emphasis on “having.” In the English language, “have” is one of the most common verbs, with about 20 definitions in the dictionary. We “have” sex, financial security, time, a friend, or an experience. More than semantics, this sense of ownership is a fundamental construct. Notice all the ways you regularly use “have,” then see how you feel as you replace it with “share” or “give.” Indeed, one’s capacity to truly receive in a nourishing way is expressed in the ability to live generously. In this cycle, one is more intimately connected as a valuable part of a living, thriving field. Currency expert Bernard Lietaer believes there is a need for a currency that is both “yin” and “yang,” operating simultaneously yet fulfilling different purposes. National currency is yang, it encourages competition, rewards “having” and “doing,” is based on logic and linear thought, and relies on a central authority. Gifting and complementary currencies are yin, based on mutual trust, and are used within a community to encourage cooperation. There are many creative examples of the gift economy that can be found through an Internet search. One model in the health field can be found at www.karmaclinic.org/. When indigenous cultures lived in a gift economy they were intimately connected to the people and land on which they relied for material sustenance. This is in stark contrast to modern Western society, which creates a vast disparity between cost and price. Most
tend to be concerned with price, while oblivious to cost. Prices have not reflected the cost of perpetual growth on the earth and the entire biotic community. Fear of scarcity has resulted in a myopic obsession with the bank account, with each person an island unto themselves. A bold shift into honoring the sacred feminine may ignite a more intimate economy. The feminine way of fostering and giving, rather than prizing and taking, is rooted in trust, generosity and gratitude. Complementary currency systems, which are emerging around the world, encourage these qualities in their design. When individuals cultivate and share their unique gifts, the collective becomes stronger and healthier. From an authentic expression of vulnerability and passion individuals celebrate both their unity and their uniqueness. Human capacity is revealed in the exploration, awakening and expression of our lives. This is how we can begin to embrace an intimate economy.
CRYSTAL ARNOLD earned a BS in international economics from Southern Oregon University and is the creator of Money Metamorphosis. She offers workshops, telecourses and financial coaching for individuals and couples and is dedicated to creating a resilient local economy and a complementary currency. Contact her at (541) 227-3577 or crystalconsults@gmail.com. You may sign up for her blog at moneymetamorphosis.us.
CONSIGNMENT SHOPS By David De Lozier
The Best Buy in Ballston Spa decided to make that furniture and home accessories the main focus of the business.” Based on the inventory at hand, the couple has found some eager sellers. Michael pointed out that they have a pre-approval process. Items have to be in good shape, not needing any repair. “We’ve got an Ethan Allen armoire over there that sells on their website for $3300, and we’ve got it priced at around $1700” he said.
Several years ago, Ballston Spa had gained notoriety as the town that fought Walmart and won. The big box giant came up against an impassioned citizenry who love there independent small business environment. While Walmart moved on to easier pickings, Ballston Spa has thrived as an oasis for the entrepreneur. Nowhere is that more evident than in the consignment business, which now offers three diverse options for bargain seeking shoppers. Consignment shops are unique in that they are truly a local business. Not only are they owned by a local resident, all the items for sale are owned by local residents, who share in the proceeds of the sale. The owner provides the storefront and the management, you and other people in the community provide the inventory. Items are nearly new, but can be purchased at less than half the retail value and better. Think of consignment and most people think of a clothing store. But in the Old Chocolate Factory, there’s Saratoga Consignment Studio, run by Bonnie and Michael Grolley. The old factory suits them well. It’s the new use of an old building, and the Grolley’s are selling fine quality furniture and home accessories that are offered a new life to someone else. The idea for a furniture consignment shop came to the Grolley’s accidentally while antiquing in Massachusetts. They came upon a store selling top quality second hand furniture, and the proverbial light bulb turned on. “We did a lot of research when we got home, and found that none else was doing this sort of thing in this area,” said Michael. “Some stores were dabbling in furniture, but nothing really serious. So we
The nice thing about shopping consignment is that you’ll never know what you’ll find. At Saratoga Consignment Studio, they have contemporary items, as well as classic favorites. I found a Cushman dining set that looked as new as the day it was made! The inventory changes weekly, so it’s a reason to return frequently. Out on Milton Avenue, the main drag of Ballston Spa, drive slowly or you might miss the New 2 You Boutique, whose storefront is just a door, which leads to a basement shopping oasis. Owner Terry Bailo specializes in quality women’s’ clothing and accessories. Terry is very picky, and only accepts items in new condition, and preferably the high end brands. She’s got names like Seven for All Mankind, True Religion, Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, etc. Don’t expect to pay designer prices in this bargain basement; for instance, Terry prices her Abercrombie and Fitch jeans at just $14! Tell that to your teenage daughter. “I know my customer, and I know what they will pay,” said Terry. She loves to see her customer’s expressions when they find an item that they know would be big buck at the mall, and they’re giddy as a school girl at the unbelievable low price. Terry is quick to point out that everyone has stuff in their closet that they don't wear anymore. "I have a two year rule," she said. "If I haven't touched it in two years, it ends up here!" Customers can bring in their unwanted clothes, Terry sells them, and they pick up a check. Many customers are eage r to spend their earnings right back into the store, because the deals and the selection are too good to pass up. Got tots? Clothing your little bundle of joy can be an exercise in frustration, as babies grow out of things every other month, it seems. Buying new outfits every few months quickly becomes a budget buster, so
what can you do to save a few bucks? Head on out of the Village of Ballston Spa and heading towards Saratoga, Look for the small plaza just before the Fifty South Restaurant, and you’ll find Pixies Closet. Owner Kim Sorenson stocks clothing and accessories for newborns and toddlers, but at a fraction of the retail price you’d pay in the mall stores. Like Terry and Michael, Kim is a stickler for quality, and accepts only clean and nearly new items into her store. Kim stocks lots of formal wear – the stuff kids wear once and grow out of, but costs you lots. Here, it’s a fraction of what you’d pay elsewhere. Pixies Closet is not just for kid’s clothes, but all the accessories that young ones need, car seats, strollers – all the items that cost an arm and a leg, plus a growing selection of toys – perfect for the upcoming Christmas season. The toys, just like the clothing, are nearly new, many in original boxes. “I’m going to have a lot of brand new stuff, too,” said Kim. “A lot of people are hurting with this economy, but they don’t want their kids to miss out the joy of Christmas. The way I price stuff here, it’ll still be a merry Christmas.”
The common chord to all these shopping options in Ballston Spa is that they are keeping value flowing in our community. All three shops draw people from as far as 50 miles away, people looking for a way to get some money for their unwanted items, or to find great deals. The sellers earn a few bucks, the buyers save big, and the money generated is re-circulated back into the community. It’s a win-win for everybody. Consignment is the best value for your money, and best of all, it’s 100% local! ecolocalliving.com 35
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SOLAR POWER OPTIONS By David Verner
“You mean solar doesn't have to go on my roof?”
When most people think of solar panels, they think about those they've seen sitting on someone's roof. But there are times a roof may not be facing south enough or has too many obstacles in the way to install solar. In these situations we would install a pole-mounted system, a ground-mounted system or one of our new Adirondack Solar Power Systems®. A pole-mounted solar system is one where the photovoltaic (PV) modules are mounted on to a large steel pole that has been imbedded into the ground with concrete. Usually there are 8-12 panels per pole. So a 4kW solar system would consist of 2 poles sitting side-by-side. One great advantage of a pole-mounted solar system is that it has the ability to be adjusted to point itself toward the sun. This adjustment is called tracking and there are different types of tracking. Some systems not only will follow the sun seasonally (low on the horizon during the winter to high on the horizon during the summer), but also during the day as the sun moves from east to west. These systems produce the most amount of power. However, they are disproportionally higher in cost compared to the amount of gain, so we rarely install them. A ground-mounted solar system consists of an aluminum frame that sits on a concrete pad. The PV is then mounted to the frame. The frames are strung together creating a
single plane of solar panels. A groundmounted system is usually installed at a fixed angle. Most systems do not have the benefit of being able to be seasonally tilted. These systems are generally less expensive than a pole-mounted system so the loss of tilt capability is made up for in savings. A ground-mounted system does need more square footage of ground over a polemounted system, which sometimes factors in when decided which type to install. The Adirondack Solar Power System® is an architecturally designed shed-like structure with all the solar components already prewired and self-contained. This system is the most convenient install for a customer since it is trucked to the site and simply dropped into place. And since the Adirondack Solar Power System® is a free standing structure, the customer gets the added benefit of a clean, dry storage shed to keep garden supplies, firewood or anything that needs to be protected from the elements. In the next issue of Ecolocal Living, we will showcase all the benefits of this unique system. Of the three non-roof-mounted systems mentioned above, there are both advantages and disadvantages compared to a roof-mounted system. The greatest benefit is that these systems are oriented true south. Unless you live in a home designed for solar, called a passive solar home (I'll write about that in a future article) or by
shear luck your home faces true south, most likely your home faces some degree off true south. A solar system that faces true south gains the most amount of sun and thus produces the most amount of energy. One disadvantage of a roof-mounted system is that they cost more for the customer. The additional expense comes from having to dig a trench to the house, run additional wiring, pour concrete for footings or a poured pad, and the extra framing needed to support the solar modules. But whether a customer goes with a roofmounted system or a non-roof-mounted system, either way they are going green and securing their electricity needs with clean, fossil fuel-free energy for the next 25 years and beyond. So that's it for this issue's article on renewable energy. I would like to personally thank everyone who has contacted me in regard to these articles and wish all our readers a very healthy and happy holiday season. *You can read ecolocalliving.com
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David Verner is CEO of Adirondack Solar (ADKsolar.com), a solar installation company specializing in all aspects of solar technology including grid-tied battery backup systems and off-grid applications. He can be reached at 1.877.407.3356, dkvener@ADKsolar.com
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EAT LIKE A CAVE MAN Natures Diet for Optimum Health By Mary Beth Mc Cue
Eating in a way that best emulates what our Hunter/Gatherer ancestors ate has proven to be very effective in achieving ideal body weight, optimal health and overall peak performance. Other terms used are “Caveman” or “Paleo” Diet. The recommendations include foods provided by mother nature. In reference to the 3 macronutrients, the diet includes a healthy blend of whole, high fiber, (1) complex carbohydrates in the form of fresh local fruits and vegetables, (2) lean protein in the form of seafood and lean meats from more natural/wild raised methods that are free of pharmaceuticals and chemicals and (3) healthy fats that are from sources like nuts and seeds. These foods are basic to our biology and digestive system, promote positive health outcomes such as healthy body composition, increased energy and sex drive, healthy skin, stronger immune systems, lower total blood cholesterol and blood pressure, recovery from insulin sensitivity, a decrease in fracture rates & healthier bone mass. These are some comparative health markers that indicate our hunter-gatherer ancestors were lean, healthy, fit, and free of the signs and symptoms of most diseases seen in modern civilization. You and I are designed to eat and live off the land, which does include wild animals. Vegetarianism is a personal choice. My experience with it is that few people understand the importance of healthy and adequate amounts of protein as well as the healthy choices of carbohydrates, and fats. Every diet needs to be a thought out process to some degree. And one should do nutritional monitoring of their body to ensure they are getting what they need in order to avoid any illness. One food group not included in the Paleolithic diet plan is the grain group, which only a few years ago was recommended as the priority group to eat in the government designed Food Guide Pyramid. 38 ecolocalliving.com
The current USDA food pyramid promotes eating at least 3 ounces of whole grain versions of breads, cereals, rice and pasta per day. Still not the best recommendation for a culture that has high rates of many chronic conditions such as hypercholesterolemia, health disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer secondary to several factors, one significant one being processed foods, like these simple carbohydrate foods. Both the fossil record and ethnological studies of hunter-gatherers (the closest surrogates we have to stone age humans) indicate that humans rarely ate cereal grains nor did they eat diets high in carbohydrates. Because cereal grains are virtually indigestible by the human gastrointestinal tract without milling (grinding) and cooking, the appearance of grinding stones in the fossil record generally heralds the inclusion of grains in the diet. The first appearance of milling stones was in the Middle East roughly 10-15,000 years ago. It was likely used to grind wild wheat, which grew naturally in certain areas of the Middle East. Wheat was first domesticated in the Middle East about 10,000 years ago and spread to Europe by about 5,000 years ago. Rice was domesticated approximately 7,000 years ago in southeast Asia, India and China. Maize (corn) was domesticated in Mexico and Central America roughly 7,000 years ago. Diets high in carbohydrate derived from simple sugars and cereal grains were not part of the human evolutionary experience until recent times. Because the human genome has changed relatively little in the past 40,000 years since the appearance of behaviorally modern humans, our nutritional requirements remain almost identical to those requirements, which were originally selected for Stone Age humans living before the start of agriculture.
VEGETABLE CABBAGE SOUP soup bone 1/2 pound stewing beef 3 quarts water 1-2 bay leaves 1 small head of cabbage 4 med to lg carrots 4-6 stalks of celery 1 medium-large onion 1 can tomatoes, cut up 6 oz. tomato juice Put a soup bone and 1/2 lb. stewing beef in a large pot and fill with 3 quarts water. Add bay leaves. Simmer 2-3 hours, Skim top from time to time. Chop cabbage, carrots, celery and onion to a course texture. Remove bone from soup and add vegetables. Cook 30 minutes. Add tomatoes and tomato juice. Bring to a boil again and serve. MARY BETH MCCUE RD, LDN, CDN is an Integrative Dietitian recognized for her work in Holistic and Functional Nutrition. She is a certified and licensed Nutritionist in NY and MA., with more than 20 yrs experience in clinical, wellness and integrative/holistic nutrition. She offers Corporate, and Community programs, and consults with individuals at the Historic Roosevelt Baths and Spa in Saratoga Springs. Mary Beth is amongst a very small group of credentialed nutritionist whom are formally educated, trained and experienced in Integrative & Functional Nutrition. She has successfully assisted many peopleincluding herself - to health and recovery of many conditions associated with weight, digestion, fatigue and more. For more information: www.sipn.info/mccue.htm. To schedule a consultation 518.257.6530 or SaratogaNutrition@earthlink.net.
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