The Local Crowd Monadnock News

Celebrate Move Your Money Month: Invest in Your Home

Jen Risley — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:04:43 GMT

Although new to many, this is the fifth year our region will celebrate Move Your Money: Bank Local, Invest Local Month in April. We invite you to join The Local Crowd Monadnock and communities across the United States and discover new ways to move your money from Wall Street to Main Street.

If you’re a fan already—and have shifted some or all of your savings to a community bank or credit union—you might ask, now what? Please read on!

If you’re new to this movement, here’s a bit of background.

What’s Move Your Money Month?

Each April, we double down and serve up all the inspiration we can find to motivate more of us to move our money closer to home—by banking with a community bank or credit union and investing in locally owned businesses and community. When you bank locally, more of your dollars recirculate throughout our local economy—building more local jobs and prosperity.

“At local banks and credit unions, loan approvals and other key decisions are made locally by people who live in the community, have face-to-face relationships with their customers, and understand local needs,” said Stacy Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. “Because of this personal knowledge, local financial institutions are often able to approve small business and other loans that big banks would reject.”

Discover a local bank

You Already Bank Locally. What’s Next?

Here’s one innovative idea from author and local economist Michael Shuman: Move your money by investing in your home!

“Would you be willing to invest in a low-risk local option that delivers a 22% annual return over the next decade?” Michael asked. That’s exactly what he decided to do.

“My wife and I moved to Palm Springs, California,” he continued. “After tax credits, we invested $22,000 in a rooftop solar system (without batteries). We reckon that each year, we have avoided about $7,000 in utility bills. By the end of 2025, the system will have just about paid for itself. By the end of year ten, we will have saved $48,000 from our $22,000 initial investment, which works out to a 22% rate of return annually.”

Keep in mind that Michael lives in the desert, where his home cooling costs are much higher than ours here in New Hampshire. How does the return on investment translate here?

“Unlike traditional financial investments, a solar investment has many different returns,” said Thomas Tutor, Solar Design Specialist at Revision Energy. “For instance, a solar electric array will increase the value of your home and lower the cost of ownership. Additionally, the money you spend on a solar project flows back into your local economy, rather than going towards importing fossil fuel energy from out of state. The environmental return on investment is hard to quantify, but reducing air and carbon pollution helps your community immediately.”

Learn more

Homegrown Help is Here

Not sure how to best invest your dollars in your home? Or can’t come up with all the money needed to carry out a project? Great news! There’s help locally to make your solar and energy-efficiency dreams come true.

The Monadnock Sustainability Hub (The Hub) recently rolled out the Electrify Monadnock Fund, a homegrown rebate program that empowers low- to moderate-income Monadnock Region residents to make their homes cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient by supporting the transition away from fossil fuels. When you sign up for the program, one of the Hub’s Home Energy Coaches will reach out and help you get started.

“The Hub Coaching program is about more than just technical expertise,” said Rachel Ranelli, The Hub’s Program Manager. “Volunteer coaches act as mentors, guiding their neighbors through what can often be a confusing and costly process. Coaching is especially beneficial for those who may feel uncertain about where to start or how to manage the financial aspects of electrification. With guidance from local experts, homeowners can make informed, sustainable choices that enhance both their home’s efficiency and their overall quality of life.”

Thanks to the many coaches, volunteers, and donors who support the Electrify Monadnock Fund, you may be eligible to receive up to $7,000 in rebates for home energy-efficiency projects. You and your coach may decide that installing solar panels, heat pumps, and electric appliances may be in your future. Or perhaps a weatherization project, electrical panel upgrades, or an electric vehicle is a better fit.

Start the application process today

Also, if you’re interested in donating to the Electrify Monadnock Fund—and investing in the future of this program, donate today!

Connect with Coaches and Contractors

The Hub invites you to their Electrify Monadnock Fund Launch Event on Saturday, May 30, from 10 am to 12 pm at Keene Public Library’s Heberton Hall. Meet The Hub’s Home Energy Coaches, who can help with the application process and connect with local contractors offering energy-efficiency products and services. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited.

RSVP today

Get even more inspired to move your money in April (and beyond). Subscribe to The Main Street Journal, a free weekly online newsletter published by local economist Michael Shuman. The Main Street Journal aims to inspire more people to shift a portion of their savings and investments from Wall Street to Main Street.

Subscribe today

Invest more of your dollars in the banks and businesses you love in our community, and join a growing movement prioritizing people, planet, and profit.

Celebrating Independent Businesses That Support Our Neighbors, Neighborhoods, and Planet

Jen Risley — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:29:52 GMT

March is Choose Indie Sustainable Month

Locally owned businesses, especially ones working towards a more environmentally sustainable and socially just economy, help us keep “the green” in our communities.

The Local Crowd Monadnock invites you to celebrate these businesses during Choose Indie Sustainable Month in March. We’re teaming up with partners across North America to spotlight independent, locally owned businesses that support our neighbors, neighborhoods, and planet.

Please follow along!

Here are just a few examples of Monadnock Region businesses and organizations that inspire us.

Earthcraft Design

Owner Marty Castriotta shared the launch of Earthcraft Design LLC, the design and installation arm of Village Roots Permaculture in Alstead. Permaculture uses ecological principles to design and regenerate healthy, productive landscapes and communities.

Earthcraft specializes in edible landscapes, ecological restoration, agroforestry services, water solutions, and farm infrastructure. They cultivate food security in our region by increasing the production of perennial crops, regional food aggregation, and processing.

Earthcraft Design LLC in Alstead is one example of a Monadnock Region business that supports our neighbors, neighborhoods, and planet. In this photo, owner Marty Castriotta captures the bounty of locally grown Seaberry, a perennial crop with nutrient-dense berries that taste like orange, mango, and pineapple. (Photo by Marty Castriotta.)

Visit Earthcraft’s work in Keene, such as the outdoor edible cafe at Brewbakers, featuring gardens, water-catchment features, benches, planters, and an arbor made from local hemlock and white cedar. (Brewbakers’ kitchen regularly uses the fresh herbs and vegetables from their outdoor cafe.) While partially dismantled for the winter, the space will be back up by May 1.

Also, visit the growing forest garden at the Hundred Nights Shelter. This year, Earthcraft will work with the Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene and the Frost Free Library in Marlborough on projects. Stay tuned!

What comes next for Earthcraft? “We are in transition,” Marty shared. “But the goal is the same: to keep painting the picture of what change looks like and to help people see what is possible. The work is about connection—between people, systems, and generations. If we can keep that alive, the land will keep feeding us.”

Electrify Monadnock Fund

The Monadnock Sustainability Hub will soon launch the Electrify Monadnock Fund, an exciting new, homegrown rebate program that empowers low- to moderate-income Monadnock Region residents to make their homes cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient by supporting the transition away from fossil fuels. The Electrify Monadnock Fund helps make home electrification accessible to everyone, ensuring that our region leads the way in local climate solutions.

SAVE THE DATE: The Monadnock Sustainability Hub invites Monadnock Region homeowners to its Electrify Monadnock Fund Launch Event on Saturday, May 30.

Qualified homeowners can receive up to $7,000 in rebates for home energy-efficiency projects, including the installation of solar panels, heat pumps, and electric appliances, as well as weatherization, electrical panel upgrades, and electric vehicle upgrades.

"The Hub is excited to officially launch our Electrify Monadnock Fund, a privately funded rebate program —with over $400,000 in donations so far—to help our neighbors make a wide range of clean energy upgrades," said Program Manager, Rachel Ranelli. "This program is here to make the process of electrifying your home within reach."

More Than a Grocery Store

Over 5,000 community members own Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene—truly a locally owned business! While everyone can shop at Monadnock Food Co-op, Member-Owners receive additional benefits, including quarterly discounts, patronage refunds, and the ability to vote for members of the board of directors.

Each year, the Co-op measures the store’s fossil fuel use, waste-reduction efforts, community contributions, and more. Some highlights from last year: the Co-op supported 334 local farmers and producers with $8.7 million in local sales. Their solar panels generated over 58,000 kWh of energy, and their EV chargers powered the equivalent of 244,000 miles driven by an average gas-powered passenger vehicle. They composted 68,687 gallons of waste and gave 8,682 gallons to local farmers for animal feed.

“Our Co-op was formed by and is owned by our amazing community, who are dedicated to strengthening our local systems and supporting one another,” said General Manager Michael Faber. “We are so grateful for our Member-Owners, staff, and community partners for fostering sustainability at the heart of everything we do.”

Farm Future Fund

Created in 1945, the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) promotes the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources through technical, financial, and educational assistance: cheshireconservation.org. Most recently, they received funding to expand their Farm Future Fund that works directly with New Hampshire farms and land trusts to conserve more acres of active farmland and support farmers with technical assistance.

They also partner closely with the New Hampshire Food Bank on the Cheshire County Conservation District Granite State Market Match (GSMM). This program allows SNAP/EBT users to double the value of their benefits when shopping at participating farmers' markets, CSAs, and farm stands in New Hampshire. Since 2011, the program provided $294,679.26 to Cheshire County farms. GSMM increases access to affordable, local food for SNAP participants while delivering economic benefits to participating vendors, farmers, and host communities.

“Working for an organization that prioritizes understanding the intricacies of the natural world with economic and modern realities has been extremely informative and inspiring,” said Nina Branwen, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator. “As we adapt to the ever-changing realities of the world and conservation efforts, we plan to continue strengthening our relationships with our community and the land that sustains us all through our educational programming and grants, with a continued focus on soil, water, wildlife, and farm viability."

Conserving the Land

The Monadnock Conservancy works to protect the Monadnock Region’s working farms, forests, wetlands, and natural spaces. In the past six months, the organization has conserved roughly 200 acres in Westmoreland, Antrim, and West Swanzey, bringing the total to over 24,000 acres conserved since 1989.

The Conservancy also offers ways for you to engage with land conservation and the land more generally. In the Spring and Fall, they offer a walking group called the Cheshire Walkers for seniors or anyone who prefers a slower pace and plenty of socializing. The Conservancy recently hired Kate Witte as community engagement manager to deepen the local community’s connection to conserved land through impactful, educational workshops and events.

“The Monadnock Region remains resilient thanks to the individuals and communities who care to protect the landscapes that offer us all so much,” shared Amanda Littleton, executive director. “This foresight to prioritize conservation will ensure farmland continues to provide bounty, our water sources remain clean and plentiful, and our infrastructure is protected by intact wetlands and floodplains. We are committed to conserving the most vital resources that provide wildlife habitat as well as recreational landscapes that enrich our lives. We plan to continue to increase the pace of these conservation efforts to ensure future generations have the opportunity to share in the same love for the land.”

When we Choose Indie Sustainable, we do so much more than just shop — we bank, invest, create, and donate to amplify the ripple effect of the economic and community benefits we receive when we support our local economy. Together, we build strong local, equitable, and sustainable economies.

Move Your Money Month: Which Banks Help Us Keep Our Money Closer to Home?

Jen Risley — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:30:04 GMT

We're getting ready for Move Your Money: Bank Local, Invest Local Month that starts April 1.

One of our first steps: Identify banks that help us keep our money closer to home.

Our criteria:

Independent and privately held (not publicly traded).
Headquartered in New Hampshire (or within 20 miles of NH border).
Bank branch located in the Monadnock Region.

Here's who we found (listed alphabetically):

Bank of New Hampshire (view impact data)
Headquartered in: Laconia, NH
Ownership: Mutual
Branch in Antrim

GFA Federal Credit Union
Headquartered in: Gardner, MA
Ownership: Co-op
Branches in Keene, Peterborough, Rindge

Mascoma Bank (view impact data)
Headquartered in: White River Junction, VT
Ownership: Mutual
Certified B-Corp
Branches in Keene, Peterborough, Rindge

Precision Federal Credit Union
Headquartered in: Keene, NH
Ownership: Co-op
Member Eligibility

Savings Bank of Walpole (view impact data)
Part of: NHTrust Financial Advisors
Headquartered in: Walpole, NH
Ownership: Mutual
Branches in Keene, Walpole, Winchester

Service Credit Union
Headquartered in: Portsmouth, NH
Ownership: Co-op
Branches in Keene, Hinsdale

Walden Mutual Bank (view B Corp data)
Online Bank focused on building Local Food Systems
Headquartered in: Concord, NH
Ownership: Mutual
Certified B Corp

Did we miss any community banks or credit unions? Send us an email.

Black Farmer Fund: Fueling New England Food and Farm Businesses

Jen Risley — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:39:47 GMT

This February, celebrate Choose Black-Owned Month, an annual campaign hosted by the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA).

Choose Black-Owned Month hopes to inspire you to support independent Black-owned businesses and celebrate diversity. Since 2022, over 200 partners have joined this campaign—from California to New Hampshire, and from Canada to Texas. While the federal government condemns such efforts, we believe we can still build stronger, diverse, inclusive, and equitable local economies at the grassroots level.

While all entrepreneurs face significant challenges, building a business is even more difficult for Black business owners across the country. Black-owned businesses receive less financing than businesses owned by other races. In 2022, the Federal Reserve reported that 35% of white business owners received all the funding they requested from a bank, compared to 16% of Black business owners.

Learn More

Even when firms have good credit scores, studies show that Black business owners are less likely to receive full funding compared to white-owned firms. This lack of capital holds back revenue growth and employment for that individual business owner and, through the multiplier effect, community wealth building in the broader local economy. One report noted that closing the wealth gap could add $2–$3 trillion in annual growth to the US economy.

Supporting Black-owned businesses does not mean abandoning others; it means working to level the playing field for all. That’s why making a concerted effort to purchase from and invest in Black-owned businesses has such a profoundly positive impact on local communities.

Much of the work to cultivate Black-owned businesses in our region lies beneath the soil, invisible to most. Let’s bring some of this work to the surface by highlighting one organization working hard in New England, the Black Farmer Fund.

About the Black Farmer Fund

Since 2020, the Black Farmer Fund (BFF) has invested over $14 million in 14 Black-owned farm and food businesses in New England, intending to deploy $40 million across 75 investments within 10 years.

“When we initially started the organization, we looked at the USDA research,” said Olivia Watkins, Co-Founder and President of the Black Farmer Fund. “When you look at net cash, farm income, for example, in the 2017 numbers, Black farmers were making around negative $906, while other farmers were making $42,000. That was a really stark distance that we saw across the Northeast.”

The organization offers rapid response and capacity-building funds to build a brighter future for Black farmers. An integral part of BFF’s mission is to involve community members in the investment process. Local farmers and food business owners participate in the fund’s selection committees, helping decide who receives capital and other technical assistance.

One of the most exciting things about the Black Farmer Fund is that everyday investors, those shut out of accredited investor-only opportunities, can invest in this fund. That means I can invest $1,000 in BFF at a 3% interest rate for 5 years, putting my money to work for a mission I believe in.

Learn more about investing in the Black Farmer Fund

New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery in Winchester represents one of the beneficiaries of the Black Farmers Fund. This family-owned business offers locally made whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, moonshine, and ready-to-drink cocktails.

“Our spirits are cultivated from local products that spur local agriculture and sustainability,” states the distillery’s website. “We ferment and distill ‘on the grain,’ drawing out the subtle, unique flavor profiles of our locally grown ingredients. As a reflection of our dedication to creating superior spirits, our products are crafted in small-scale batches and manufactured using only high-quality food sources.”

Learn more about New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery

At AMIBA’s next virtual meeting on Thursday, February 12, at 1 pm, join Olivia Watkins and learn more about how the Black Farmer Fund cultivates a thriving and sustainable food system for people and the planet.

We hope to see you there!

Show Your Local Love This Valentine’s Day

Jen Risley — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:38:39 GMT

This Valentine’s Day show your “local love” — love for your sweetie and your whole community — by purchasing gifts (or gift-making supplies) and meals (or ingredients) at locally owned businesses. Last year, Americans spent $27.5 billion on Valentine’s Day. Imagine if we shifted some of that spending to locally owned businesses!

Locally owned businesses offer us much to love. They strengthen our local economy, culture and wellbeing. Independent businesses re-circulate four times more money in our community than chain stores. Moreover, studies show that most new jobs are created by small businesses — meaning today’s local Valentines are tomorrow’s jobs.

Here are some extra special ways to show your local love this Valentine’s Day:

Take your sweetie on a hike this month, a He(ART) Hike created by the Monadnock Conservancy on the Gramwick Trail, part of the Mountain Brook Reservoir property in Jaffrey. Each heart was commissioned by a local artist.
Valentine’s Day Cookie Decoration: Check out this V-Day themed cookie decorating class with Keene Cookie Company at Frogg Brewing in Swanzey on February 12, at 6 pm.
Experience a romantic dinner at The Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy on February 12 at 6 p.m. Reservations are required.
Monadnock Food Co-op invites you to their Local Love event on February 12, 3 - 6 p.m. Enjoy free samples and more.
Heat things up at the Flame Shop at Terrapin Glassblowing Studio for a special discounted community class on February 14.
Send a Singing Valentine from the Keene Cheshiremen Chorus. A 4-part a cappella will sing live (and by surprise) to your sweetie on February 14.

So, show lots of local love this Valentine’s Day, and the love will circle back to you, your loved ones and — best of all — your entire community.

A Bank for the Public’s Money: Help Cities and Towns Move Our Money

Jen Risley — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:04:45 GMT

While you and I can decide to move our money from a big bank to a community bank or credit union to support our local economy, it can be harder for local and state governments to do the same.

Smaller banks may lack the capacity to serve the needs of large government accounts, forcing governments to deposit public funds into larger private banks. These private banks, legally obligated to maximize profits for their shareholders, overwhelmingly invest in Wall Street over Main Street. Some states and regions are exploring an alternative—a model called a public bank—to offer local governments an alternative to private banks.

“Local public banks would enable local governments to divest public money from Wall Street and reinvest in community needs,” states Andy Morrison at the New Economy Project, which leads Public Bank NYC. “Each year, New York counties and municipalities collect many billions of dollars, including revenue from taxes and other sources, to fund public services. Most of this money currently is placed on deposit with private, commercial banks, including banks that systematically harm New Yorkers through redlining and predatory lending, and by financing fossil fuels, speculative real estate, and other destructive industries.”

Once established, a government deposits its funds into its public bank. It then earns interest on those funds until it is ready to reinvest them in the community. Public banks also lend their funds to community banks and credit unions for projects aligned with the government’s community economic development goals. Interest earned on these loans is reinvested in the community rather than being funneled out of the region. Public banks also match loans from smaller community banks or credit unions, boosting a community’s access to capital.

“Public banks partner—rather than compete—with local banks and credit unions to drive responsible lending and expand affordable financial services,” continued Andy. “Successful public banks exist around the world, and studies show they frequently outperform commercial banks in terms of safety, accountability, and profitability. In fact, countries with public banks have been shown to be more resilient than those without them.”

While public banks exist in countries around the world, there’s currently only one state in the United States with one. No, it’s not in Vermont—but North Dakota.

In 1919, the Bank of North Dakota (BND) was formed in response to its farmers facing foreclosure by out-of-state banks offering predatory loans. Throughout the years, BND has helped North Dakota weather economic storms—from the banking crisis of 2008 (North Dakota was the only state holding a significant budget surplus in 2009 and ranked number one for the lowest unemployment, foreclosure, and default rates) to the most recent federal government shutdown (North Dakota rolled out the Furloughed Federal Employee Relief Program, a food assistance package, and a debt refinancing program for farmers). The Public Banking Institute describes a public bank as a “First responder in a crisis, not a profiteer.”

Proponents of public banking note that BND has also cultivated a strong banking ecosystem, as evidenced by the state boasting the highest number of local banks and credit unions per capita in the US. BND keeps these community banks and credit unions lending even when larger private banks cut off lending. In 2024, BND earned $200.4 million in net income and held $10.8 billion in assets, reinvesting a majority of its funds in agriculture, education, and infrastructure.

Learn more about BND’s history.

The Public Banking Institute describes BND as a “bankers’ bank which means they partner with local North Dakota banks to help them with liquidity and capitalization, rather than providing checking accounts for individuals (although it does have a few private depositors). The focus is on making loans that serve state and community needs, such as building infrastructure and supporting local businesses.”

Our New Year’s Resolution includes learning more about public banks. Is this a model a good fit for New Hampshire?

Following are some questions we want to dive deeper into (And thank you to the community members who have shared their opposing perspectives on public banking so far—please keep them coming!):

How much of our state and municipal funds are deposited in big commercial banks?
Do the matching loans made to smaller community banks or credit unions actually increase the capital available to a community overall, or just move the sources of funding around?
How do public banks balance political pressure with long-term community economic development goals? What happens if a public bank fails?

Let the learning continue!

Aside from public banks, we look forward to learning more about how community banks and credit unions can help us re-circulate more of our money locally and incentivize investing in local businesses. Let us know your thoughts at jen@thelocalcrowd.com. Happy New Year!

The Gift of Giving

Jen Risley — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:02:24 GMT

This Thanksgiving, we thank our community for its continued support of the Choose Indie Local movement by choosing products and services from Indie Locals (independent and locally owned businesses), investing their dollars and time locally, and advocating for policies that level the playing field. These choices ripple out, creating more income, wealth, and jobs in our community long after we finish our Thanksgiving leftovers.

The Shop Indie Local Holiday Season, part of the Choose Indie Local movement, is here and calls for action that extends well beyond shopping locally. Our campaign also encourages you to give back to local nonprofits, neighbors, and the initiatives you care about. While every act of generosity counts, the generosity multiplies when we give where we live.

GivingTuesday

The generosity will overflow on GivingTuesday, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, on December 2.

“The idea behind GivingTuesday was to set aside a single day to counter consumerism by giving back,” shared organizers. “GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: A day that encourages people to do good. Over 13 years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of people to donate, volunteer, and spread awareness. Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.”

Not sure how to get involved? You could donate an hour of your skills to a local organization or a neighbor in need. Think about what you’re good at and offer a bit of your time. Or check out more inspiration.

One nonprofit, Lasagna Love, shared its recipe for cultivating kindness and community on GivingTuesday: Kindness is the base. Add a dash of simplicity and welcoming—mix in relationship-building, and a healthy dose of humor.

“Simple actions, like simple ingredients, can spark something brighter than you ever imagined,” Andria Larson, Executive Director of Lasagna Love. “Thank a local nonprofit with a quick note or social post (don’t forget to tag them!). Check in on someone you haven’t heard from and let them know you’re thinking of them. Look someone in the eyes and smile—a small gesture that says, I see you. Hold the door and say hello, compliment someone’s shoes, or leave a note admiring a neighbor’s decorations.”

Your generosity gives back to our community, but also to you! Research shows that the joy of giving remains bright, while the joy of getting fades quickly.

Leading the Way on GivingTuesday

Monadnock United Way will launch a $15,000 challenge grant from John and Jean Hoffman and Guyer & Son Roofing. For every dollar donated, the challenge grant will match it up to $30,000. Stay tuned!

“Behind every donation is a story—a child learning in a safe environment, a family rebuilding stability, a neighbor who knows they’re not alone,” shared Monadnock United Way staff. “Your gift isn’t just a donation. It’s dignity. It’s hope. It’s local impact that lasts. Join us on December 2 and be part of something meaningful.”

Learn more about GivingTuesday in the Monadnock Region at tlcmonadnock.com/givingtuesday.

Together, we're generating ripples that create new jobs, charitable contributions, and community prosperity—what a gift! Thank you again for supporting the Choose Indie Local movement.

Give a Gift to All of Us This Holiday Season and Shop Indie Local

Jen Risley — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:06:38 GMT

"Plaid Friday and Shop Indie Local events are wonderful reminders of how strong our community can be when we come together to support local businesses,” said Elizabeth Hamshaw, General Manager of The Cheshire Horse. “We believe that shopping local is more than finding unique products; it’s about investing in the people and places that make the Monadnock Region such a special place to live. These events give us a chance to connect with our customers, celebrate small businesses, and keep our local economy thriving."

As many of us share gifts and meals with friends, family, and coworkers this holiday season, we can also give a gift to our entire community and keep our local economy thriving.

From our Thanksgiving meal to our New Year's Eve celebration, let’s Shop Indie Local and purchase more of our holiday gifts and celebration needs from our friends and neighbors—locally owned business owners. Our purchases will keep on giving well into the New Year and beyond!

When we purchase gifts at a locally owned store, the store’s owner and employees are more likely to buy products and services from other locally owned businesses, circulating our dollars through our local economy. As our dollars pass between our neighbors’ hands, without leaving our region, the more income, wealth, and jobs grow in our community.

And, Monadnock Region independent retailers sure do pass those dollars! They recirculate, on average, $62 of every $100 spent at their businesses back into our local economy. National chain stores return $14 of every $100 spent, while Amazon returns nearly zero. If everyone shifted just 10% of their purchases from national chains to locally owned retailers, we would return $27 million to our regional economy annually. Now, that’s all I want for Christmas!

Give a Gift of Job Growth

Local, independent retail businesses help employ many more people than those on the sales floor. They’re more likely to bank with local banks and buy from other local businesses than chain stores. They’re also more likely to hire local service providers like accountants, graphic designers, and various skilled positions—jobs for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Give a Gift to the Nonprofit Community

Local nonprofit organizations depend on contributions from local businesses. This support extends to civic institutions like schools, churches, and fraternal leagues that aid economic prosperity, community cohesion, and trust.

“Our local businesses are the backbone of our community,” said TEAM Jaffrey Executive Director Tara Castiglioni. “They are the first ones to contribute to any events. They are families, so when you shop local, you’re directly supporting a family—who put their children in different activities, eat locally, and shop locally. It’s a cycle of reciprocity that keeps our town going.”

Give a Gift of Vibrant Main Streets

Get Ready for Shop Indie Local Week

The week after Thanksgiving is a super busy one for the Shop Indie Local movement as we celebrate Plaid Friday, Small Business Saturday, Artists Sunday, Cider Monday, and Giving Tuesday. Learn more!

Plaid Friday

For the sixteenth year, independent businesses and community members in the Monadnock Region will celebrate Plaid Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. This year's event falls on Friday, November 28, 2025. Wear plaid on Friday to show your support for our local economy and commitment to buying local this holiday season.

Learn More: Plaid Friday

Be sure to visit the locally owned businesses that have volunteered to serve as Plaid Friday Hubs this year. Hubs pledge to photograph you decked out in plaid and answer questions about Plaid Friday. TLC Monadnock will post all Plaid Friday photos throughout the day on our Facebook page.

Find a Hub Near You

"We love being a community hub for holiday spirit because it is so fun and rewarding—watching people share moments and enjoy themselves,” shared Deb Johnson, owner of The She Shed in Swanzey. “Shoppers and our friendly team come together as friends. We get to know them and share what brings them joy. Joy, for us, equals Your Happy Place for local shopping this holiday season."

Small Business Saturday

While Plaid Friday overshadows Small Business Saturday in our region, we encourage everyone to celebrate this event, too. No matter how you get involved, every little bit makes a big difference.

Artists Sunday

November 30 is Artists Sunday, an art shopping movement of over 4,500 artists and organizations coming together to encourage consumers to shop with their favorite local artists and makers during the holiday season. Think of it as Plaid Friday but for the arts. Learn more!

“Art brings a unique and personal touch to gift-giving, and with Artists Sunday, shoppers can truly feel connected to the work they purchase,” said Cynthia Freese, co-founder of Artists Sunday. “This event empowers local artists, fosters economic growth, and inspires people to value the beauty that comes from creativity and craftsmanship.”

Cider Monday

Instead of Cyber Monday, a day when online merchants offer special deals, we invite you to Cider Monday. On December 1, stop in for free cider from participating Cider Monday businesses. Also, if you choose to shop online, choose local too! Learn more!

Giving Tuesday

A global generosity movement, Giving Tuesday on December 2 encourages you to give any way you can. Organizers share, “Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.” Learn more!

Together, we're generating ripple effects that create new jobs, charitable contributions, and community prosperity -- what a gift! Thank you for supporting the Shop Indie Local movement.

Call for 2025 Plaid Friday Hubs

Jen Risley — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:20:59 GMT

We invite businesses and organizations to participate in the Monadnock Region's Plaid Friday event on Friday, November 28. Celebrate in creative ways that work best for you, your staff, and neighborhood.

Here's one great way to participate: Become a Plaid Friday Hub

As a Plaid Friday Hub, your business commits to:

Printing out and posting our Plaid Friday Poster before the event
Having you and your staff wear plaid on November 28
Photographing customers who visit your business wearing plaid (browse past year's photos for inspiration)
Sharing information about Plaid Friday with all your staff, clients, and customers

Other Ways to Participate in Plaid Friday

Here are some other ideas -- but get creative, too!

Encourage your staff (and your partner’s staff) to wear plaid (Not open on Plaid Friday? Check out what Badger Balm does the day before Thanksgiving)
If you offer any holiday specials/sales/event, please share them with us and we'll post them on our Plaid Friday Members Specials Page
Create a display featuring locally made items
Use plaid ribbon, tissue paper or buy local bags
Add #shopindielocal and #plaidfriday to your social media posts

If you'd like to serve as a Plaid Friday hub this year, please contact us today.

I want to be a Plaid Friday Hub

Choose Indie Art: This Fall, Choose Local and Handmade

Jen Risley — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 09:56:09 GMT

“Art is not only about what an artist creates,” said Sarah L. Stewart, N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Commissioner. “It’s also about how that art changes the lives of those who experience it.”

This October, embrace local art during Choose Indie Art Month hosted by the American Independent Business Alliance. Let’s celebrate all types of Monadnock Region artists: crafters, painters, musicians, actors, writers, and others. Also, let’s boast about artists' positive impacts on you, our community, and our local economy.

Celebrate all month long!

Five Ways to Celebrate

1. Commission Indie Art

Purchasing local and handmade gifts for loved ones is a fantastic way to celebrate. Have a favorite artist? Ask if they accept commissions. If so, commission them to create a one-of-a-kind piece of work using local materials.

“In this way, you can enjoy being a benefactor twice over: to the local economy—helping to strengthen it—and to the environment,” wrote the Artisans Cooperative, a co-op marketplace featuring handmade goods. “By sourcing local material, your local artisan is passing on your support to other local and regional businesses. What’s good for one is—in this case—good for many!”

2. Choose Indie Art Events

Choose Indie Markets: Seek out opportunities to purchase art and creative works from Monadnock Region artists. Here’s one option coming up soon: The fifty-second Annual Cheshire Craftsmen Fair, takes place on October 4 and 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Keene Recreation Center. Find unique holiday gifts, including home decor, quilted items, jewelry, soaps, woven items, pottery, fleece, felted crafts, and more.

Love films? Be sure to attend the annual Monadnock International Film Festival, October 3 – 5 in-person in Keene and October 7 - 16 online. See the full schedule.

Support young artists: Attend MoCo Arts’ annual signature fundraising event, Lights. Camera. Keene! All proceeds benefit tuition assistance and arts programming at MoCo Arts. Also, be sure to check out their online auction starting October 13.

Whether film, theatre, music, or visual arts events, discover them all at discovermonadnock.com/events.

3. Go On Tour

Here are two fantastic chances to meet local artists and see where they work. The Monadnock Art Tour and Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour. Both tours happen the weekend of October 11 – 13.

Take a walk around downtown Keene’s public art murals painted in 2019 by The Walldogs, a group of over 200 sign and mural artists from around the world.

If you prefer a guided tour, register with the Historical Society of Cheshire County.

4. Take a Class

Get your creative juices flowing by signing up for an art class or two. On October 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., stop by MAXT Makerspace in Peterborough for their Fall Open Day with tours, demonstrations, and more. Check out all the offerings happening at MAXT Makerspace.

“MAXT Makerspace is here for everyone,” shared Program Manager David Broughton in Monadnock Table Magazine. “From free and low-cost open studios to accessibly priced classes and memberships for makers.”

Jaffrey Civic Center will offer a “Pet Portraiture with Kris Stewart” series starting October 10. Learn more.

From dance classes to theatre coaching, find more educational opportunities.

5. Show Off Your (And Others) Art

Share your creative spirit with your friends, family, and coworkers. Ask others to show you their art. Give a social media shoutout to the local artists who inspire you. Tag your posts with #chooseindieart so we can share them with others.

Discover more local art at shop.tlcmonadnock.com/product-category/arts and monadnockartsalive.org/dma.

“There’s perhaps nothing more personal than a gift of the arts,” said Cynthia Freese, Artists Sunday Director. “Give something special, unique, and handcrafted this holiday season and support local artists and the local economy.”

Four Reasons to Celebrate

The arts mean business: In 2023, the art sector made up 4.2 percent of the US economy -- greater than education, transportation, or agriculture industries -- and supported 5.4 million jobs. The arts also mean revenue for other local businesses, as each arts event attendee spends an additional $38.46 at neighboring stores, restaurants, and hotels.

Art boosts our well-being: A national opinion poll from the Americans for the Arts found that 69 percent of us believe the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences,” and 81 percent shared that the arts are a “positive experience in a troubled world.” Recognizing the healing power of art, half of US hospitals offer arts programming.

Art brings us together: 72 percent of Americans believe “the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity,” and 63 percent agree that the arts “helps me understand other cultures better.”

Art inspires creativity: A Journal of Business Research study found that displaying art in the workplace boosted employees’ creative thinking.

Discover more reasons

“The arts are the lifeblood of our communities, raising morale, creating community cohesion, and providing comfort during dark times while also delivering a huge economic footprint,” said Nolen V. Bivens, former president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “And it is more important than ever that everyone take part to recognize the creative and cultural value of the arts and humanities in our communities.”

Stay tuned for more Choose Indie Arts news, events, and inspiration

Choose Indie Art is part of a larger Choose Indie Local year-round movement. Together, we inspire our communities to take positive action and boost the ripple effects our neighborhoods, towns, and cities receive when we spend and invest more of our dollars at locally owned, independent businesses.

Localism: Begin In Your Backyard

Jen Risley — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:43:29 GMT

The Main Street Journal, an online publication where I’m so honored to serve as editor, recently published an issue highlighting Localism. This issue quickly climbed the charts, becoming our most popular post since our start in 2021.

Here’s a summary of that issue and an invitation to learn more.

What Is Localism?

Michael Shuman, economist, author, and publisher of The Main Street Journal, shared four main principles of Localism: action, power, partnership, and respect. As you read this summary, please note any local people, places, and policies that come to mind—already supporting or carrying out this work.

Localism Means Taking Action Near Home

“Localism means that if we discover a problem in our backyard, we address it immediately and locally,” shared Michael. “The goal is not to go it alone, but to favor mindful action over inattention. Act, experiment, learn, try again. The operable phrase is not NIMBY (not in my backyard!), but BIMBY (begin in my backyard!).”

Localism Means Amplifying Local Power

“Localists insist that power be held primarily at the local level, with states holding less power, countries less still, and global institutions the least amount,” continued Michael. “By power, we mean the power collectively to tax, regulate, and administer projects.”

Localism Means Partnering Globally

“Localism does not necessarily mean going it alone,” adds Michael. “It can also mean finding partners to serve local needs. Sometimes that’s higher levels of government—the region or the state—but increasingly, it’s other communities around the world struggling with similar challenges. Responsible localists look everywhere for solutions and insights.”

Localism Means Respecting Differences

Michael stated, “Localists appreciate that every community is different, with different values, ideas, and traditions. When appropriately empowered, every community will make different choices.”

With these four principles in mind, what does Localism look like in the Monadnock Region? It’s much of what The Local Crowd Monadnock promotes year-round. It’s individuals, businesses, and municipalities spending and investing more of their dollars at locally owned and independent businesses instead of chain stores, online giants, or Wall Street corporations. It’s about supporting emerging entrepreneurs, seasoned business owners, and workers to ensure that all succeed. It looks like a community providing for everyone’s basic needs, even in times of crisis. It’s about celebrating and taking pride in where we live. It means taking care of the land, water, and other inhabitants in regenerative ways.

“Around the world are exciting examples of Localism’s success,” shared Michael. “Communities increasingly able to feed themselves through greenhouses, vertical growing, and food sovereignty programs; urban organizations solving homelessness through tiny houses and community land trusts; cooperatives, nonprofits, and B Corps removing the walls between managers and workers; neighborhoods using cutting-edge technologies to be self-reliant in energy and water.”

One local example of Localism that comes to mind is the Southwest Region Planning Commission’s (SWRPC) ADU Design Challenge. With an aging population, smaller family size, and high home prices, we need to pursue creative solutions to overcome our region's housing shortage.

Photo by Aysegul Yahsi on Unsplash

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), a home built on the lot of an existing home, offers one solution where a homeowner becomes a home creator. An ADU can look like an apartment over a garage, a tiny house in your backyard, or any small dwelling on the same land as your single-family house.

The Monadnock Region ADU Design Challenge brought together homeowners, architects, and other professionals to design ADUs and compete for a $5,000 cash prize. SWRPC received over 75 homeowner applications from our region, and 11 were selected to participate. The homeowners’ stories inspired 25 design submissions from students and professionals throughout the country. You can learn more about the challenge, participating homeowners, and the submitted designs at swrpc.org/adu.

Read more about Localism and subscribe to future posts at mainstreetjournal.substack.com. Also, let us know what you think by emailing me at jenrisley@amiba.net.

Act, experiment, learn, try again!

Celebrate Eat Indie Local Month in August

Jen Risley — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:02:47 GMT

A strong local food system keeps our communities vibrant, our economy growing, and our landscapes healthy. When we purchase local food, the benefits ripple throughout the community, helping local farms and other small businesses thrive.

For the thirteenth year, let’s shine a light on local food, farms, and our entire Monadnock Region food system during Eat Indie Local Month, a month-long nationwide celebration in August.

We hope to inspire you to eat more locally grown, raised, and made foods, meet the farmers, growers, and chefs behind your food, and learn new skills that keep you eating locally throughout the year.

What Do We Mean by a Food System?

Our food system is a complex network of people, resources, and processes that grow and deliver food from the farm to your plate. It includes the soil's fertility, the hard work of farm workers, the transportation networks, bustling markets, and much more.

Please enjoy this year’s bounty of Monadnock Region food system updates!

Deepening Roots

For 20 years, the Cornucopia Project, based in Peterborough, has deepened its roots through expanded education and community service. New offerings include their student farmers growing and donating produce to area food pantries and community suppers.

They also provide low-cost shares of locally grown food to community members with limited incomes through NOFA-NH's Farm Share Program.

Cornucopia Project's Young Farmers summer program allows middle school youth to experience everyday farm life, harvest fresh produce for their meals and snacks, and enjoy nature-based art projects.

Recently, the Cornucopia Project purchased a house next to their educational farm. This addition means more space for nutrition education, student-run CSA sales, and other fantastic programming. The organization also developed partnerships with early childhood programs, including an innovative cooking program with Robin's Nest Nature Preschool in Peterborough. They’re visiting Robin's Nest and Dublin Community Preschool to make salsa, bringing nutrition education directly to young learners.

Student farmer Cayden Park shared that strengthening the food system "helps to build relationships and strengthen community." His vision for the future reflects the organization's broader goals: "more community gatherings where everyone eats food and there is safe space for everyone."

As the organization grows, so does its need for volunteers. Learn more and get involved!

Funding Local Food

In December 2024, Walden Mutual Bank, based in Concord, launched its pilot Seedlings Loan Program, supporting a loan readiness program co-developed and offered by the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship in Keene. This program serves underserved, emerging food, agriculture, and related businesses to build their credit histories. Walden Mutual Bank hopes to replicate and scale up this model with the help of other nonprofits that support small farms and businesses.

“A key barrier for many farmers and food producers—especially first-time or underserved borrowers—is that they are not ready to take on loan capital,” said Sara Powell, Program Director for the Hannah Grimes Center. “Our loan readiness program was designed to address that gap.”

Six food and farm businesses have participated in the loan readiness program, and three have successfully applied for loans through Walden Mutual’s Seedlings Loan Program. One participant shared, “We have gained so much confidence in understanding the financials of our business. The program instructors provided thoughtful and expert insights and created a supportive yet challenging space for us to grow. Our business is in a great place to begin the season and keep growing for years to come!”

Cultivating Farmer Resilience

The New Hampshire Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant program works to support and empower local farmers in building climate resilience. Since 2022, this program has distributed $1 million to New Hampshire farms.

Two examples of farms that received 2025 funding in our region include Picadilly Farm, a vegetable farm, and Manning Hill Farm, a dairy farm, both located in Winchester. Owners Jenny and Bruce Wooster of Picadilly Farm will purchase a stone burrier, which will improve soil health on their farm. Sarah Costa and Sam Canonica of Manning Hill Farm will upgrade to a more energy-efficient milking system.

Learn more about this grant program!

Cultivating Community Resilience

Antioch University’s Community Garden Connections (CGC) in Keene builds our capacity to grow local food and enhances well-being among those most impacted by climate change and other social, economic, and ecological injustices. CGC's education and outreach activities include the installation and cooperative maintenance of over 70 raised garden beds alongside social service agencies and nonprofits. CGC offers safe places for community members to get outside, learn, and connect through gardening. Through CGC’s one-acre organic farm in Westmoreland, they have raised over 10,000 pounds of produce since their inception for The Community Kitchen in Keene.

Volunteer with CGC at the Westmoreland Garden Project at 193 River Road on Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 pm. Contact CGC to learn more at communitygardens@antioch.edu.

"A resilient local food system is the backbone of a healthy community,” said Ben Radcliffe from CGC. “I am honored to be the Westmoreland Garden Project Steward this season, where I tend to our high tunnel and raised beds, and all of the produce we harvest is donated to The Community Kitchen to help get quality, organic produce to food-insecure folks in our community. Every person deserves access to fresh, nutritious food grown with care for people and the land. I hope to see a future where local food is not a privilege, but a right—where collaboration, education, and equity ensure that everyone has a seat at the table."

Attend Eat Indie Local Events

Now, get out there and enjoy our local food and farms! Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition (MFCC) invites you to the 2025 Monadnock Farm Tour, celebrating local food and farms on Saturday, August 16, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Visit working farms, meet the people behind your food, and learn about the essential role agriculture plays in our local economy, environment, and quality of life. Tickets are $10 per car, providing access to all participating farms.

Learn more!

Discover more local food and farming events.

Thank you to all the individuals, programs, policies, and initiatives that continue to develop a stronger local and regional food system in our part of the state and throughout New England. Together, we’re fostering healthier citizens, communities, and economies.

This July: Celebrate Independents Month

Jen Risley — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:56:43 GMT

While Independence Day is a time to celebrate our freedom, Independents Month is a time to reflect on our interdependence: how locally owned businesses contribute to a healthy community and local economy, and how each of us contributes to the success of these businesses.

Celebrate Independents Month this July with The Local Crowd Monadnock. Let’s thank independent business owners for all the community values they embody and their spirit of entrepreneurship. Let’s also acknowledge all the ways these individuals give back to our community with their time, talents, goods, and services, making us healthier and wealthier. Let’s give thanks to independent business owners and their staff throughout July!

Let’s Make Ripples

Where you spend your dollars matters; your choices create a ripple effect that starts with you and extends to our entire community and local economy. Choose an Indie Local (independent and locally owned business), and the positive ripple effect reaches new heights!

When you spend your dollars at a locally owned and independent business (instead of a chain store or online giant), your dollars recirculate through our local economy two to four times more. As your dollars ripple through our community, your bills generate more local health and wealth.

Learn More

Independents Month reminds us to recognize our locally owned and independent businesses for the community values they embody and their spirit of entrepreneurship. Also, we acknowledge all the ways they give back to our community with their time, talents, goods, and services, making us healthier and wealthier. Thank an independent business owner and their staff today!

“I have seen the value and care that locally owned businesses bring to their communities,” shared Nathan B. from Harrisville. “Our local businesses support important work that needs doing and help to provide valuable services and opportunities for our young people!”

July Staycation Ideas

No need to travel far to take a break! Enjoy a staycation this July and travel to special events and destinations close to home. Here are just a few of the myriad events offered by locally owned businesses throughout the Monadnock Region.

Get ready! Waldo begins hiding in Downtown Keene from July 1 to July 31. Pick up a passport at Toadstool Bookshop in Keene and start your search at twenty-four participating stores. Find Waldo (a six-inch version of him, that is!) at ten stores and get a coupon and a sticker.

Discover him at twenty stores and enter a raffle for awesome prizes and other goodies supplied by participating local stores. Save the date for a party at Toadstool Bookshop in Keene on Sunday, August 2 at 3 pm. There will be something for everyone at the party: cake, fun, and more!

Learn More!

“It is probably my favorite event of the whole year for the store,” shared Toadstool Event Coordinator Elise St. Onge. The Find Waldo event holds, “a strong bit of nostalgia for me from when I was a kiddo, and we get to see a whole new generation get to enjoy the books and be excited.”

Each Tuesday in July, head up to Alstead for Orchard Hill Breadworks’ Pizza Night, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bring your own pizza toppings, drinks, picnic blanket, dinnerware, and $12 per crust. Orchard Hill Breadworks provides the pizza crusts (a gluten-free option is available for $14), cheese, and sauce, and will cook your pizza in their impressive outdoor oven. House-made salads, made with local farm ingredients, and freshly baked desserts are also available for purchase, along with a variety of drinks. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made in advance, with openings every Saturday at 9:00 a.m.

Stay Updated!

“Pizza night is a weekly celebration of food and friendship on our beautiful hilltop farm in Alstead,” shared Noah Elbers of Orchard Hill Breadworks. “Join us for an evening of live music, wood-fired pizza, and socializing, all while supporting worthy local causes.”

Enjoy some hometown fun with the Keene Swamp Bats. Their Thursday, July 3 game against the Sanford Mainers includes a fireworks spectacular. The game starts at 6:35 pm with a fireworks show to follow around 9:30 pm.

Race to the finish line on Friday, July 4, at the 4 on the 4th Road Race in Keene while supporting a great non-profit, Pathways for Keene -- promoting the development, maintenance, and use of bicycling and walking trails in our city.

Peterborough will host First Friday on July 4 and Art Walk in the Park on July 5. Stay tuned for details.

On Sundays from 6:30 – 8 pm, enjoy music at the Town Green Gazebo in Walpole, sponsored by the Savings Bank of Walpole. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. For the full schedule, click here.

Mondays mean contra dancing! Join the Monadnock Folklore Society for their Monday Night Contra Dance, starting at 7:30 pm at the Nelson Town Hall. New to contra dancing? That’s okay! Just let the caller know. Cost: $5.

Starting July 11, Music in Depot Park returns in Peterborough from 6 to 7:30 pm with Five O’Clock Shadow. Hailing from the Boston area, this dynamic a cappella group of six voices produces a full band sound that brings audiences to their feet! Think The Doobie Brothers meets Foo Fighters meets Paramore. Discover each Friday’s line-up.

Stroll around downtown Keene’s public art murals painted in 2019 by The Walldogs, a group of over 200 sign and mural artists from around the world. If you prefer a guided tour, register for the July 5 event at 10 am with the Historical Society of Cheshire County (tickets are $12.51 per person).

Paddle or meander with the Harris Center. Check out their events list and sign up for one (or more!) excursions this month: harriscenter.org/events.

Stay Tuned For More Events!

Support Local Wherever You Are

Traveling during Independents Month? Enjoy what locally owned businesses have to offer wherever you are. Ask locals where their favorite independents are and look for local economy networks at amiba.net/our-network.

Think independently and act locally this Independents Month and beyond. Together, we’ll boost the positive ripple effects our community receives when we spend more of our dollars at locally owned, independent businesses.

Going Local is a Global Movement: Celebrate World Localization Day

Jen Risley — Wed, 28 May 2025 11:45:07 GMT

Living a life grounded in the “localization” movement means supporting locally owned and independent businesses and initiatives whenever you can.

However, that doesn’t mean limiting your thinking to only local doings and beliefs. This movement also means bringing the best ideas and ideals from other parts of the world to your community and sharing your successes with others. As the adage goes, “Think Globally, Act Locally.”

Innovate Locally, Share Globally

Local Economist Michael Shuman revised this motto slightly. “The new mantra for localization should be ‘Innovate Locally, Share Globally,’” said Michael. “Every business design that helps a city become a little more self-reliant, whether in food, energy, or bicycles, should be shared and spread with every other community around the world. As this sharing network expands, communities will benefit from best practices across the world."

World Localization Day

One way to embrace both slogans is to celebrate World Localization Day on June 21 (and during the whole month of June), founded by Helena Norberg-Hodge, author, filmmaker, and director of Local Futures.

“Localization is a ‘movement of movements’ from farmers markets, local business alliances, community gardens, eco-villages, transition towns, farm to table initiatives, seed libraries, repair cafes, revival of indigenous and local knowledge systems, decentralized renewable energy projects, and more, is growing stronger,” said Helena. “World Localization Day offers us a wonderful opportunity to amplify the solutions and bring the economy home.”

Participation is easy! Host a potluck dinner or a film screening of one of Local Futures’ films. Head to a farmers’ market or your local grocers and enjoy the early-season harvest. Plant a fruit tree in your backyard. Throughout and beyond June, celebrate the global movement to go local every day.

Get inspired

“From farmers markets and consumer-producer cooperatives to local business alliances and community finance schemes, people are reweaving the fabric of local interdependence from the ground up,” said Helena. “Out of common sense and heartfelt intuition, they are finding innovative ways to step out of the consumer rat race to live local lives at a human pace and scale.”

Economic Nutrition

The American Independent Business Alliance invites you to another opportunity to learn how others are innovating locally and sharing globally. Register for our free virtual event called “Economic Nutrition” on Thursday, June 12, at 1 pm.

RSVP today!

Gwen Partrick of Shorefast, based on Fogo Island, Canada, will share about their Economic Nutrition Labeling program. Economic Nutrition is a new way to encourage us to make every purchase an investment in our local economy.

Think of the nutrition labels on the food you purchase. Imagine those labels capturing where your dollars go after you buy that product or service. Does it recirculate in the local economy? How much is shared with staff through wages?

Learn more

Let us know how you celebrate the localization movement in your community, and what inspires you to go deeper globally?

Email us!

Bicycling Means Business -- Plus So Much More

Jen Risley — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 10:58:14 GMT

STAYED TUNED FOR 2026 UPDATES!

“After 50 years of framing work around the automobile, retail analysts in both the private and public sectors are shifting to a new consensus: cars don’t spend money — people do.”

The quote above, taken from the report Protected Bike Lanes Mean Business, highlights a significant shift in thinking. People need access to our locally owned stores, whether getting there by foot, bicycle, wheelchair, bus, or personal vehicle. How can we balance each person’s transportation needs with municipal budgets and businesses’ bottom lines? Enter the bicycle.

There’s growing evidence that encouraging people to go by bicycle boosts the local economy. When done correctly, adding bicycle lanes and other cycling amenities can increase retail sales while decreasing parking pressures.

“Bicycling is more than a practical, cost-effective solution to many municipal challenges,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “When local communities invest in making bicycling safer and a real transportation option for more people, the return on investment is clear for individuals and society at large — from cost-savings on public health to small businesses’ growth and more.”

While bicyclists tend to buy smaller amounts when they shop, bicyclists visit each store more often and spend more money overall compared to those who commute by automobile. Also, providing space for bicycle parking costs municipalities less than vehicle parking. A dozen bicycles can fit into one parking space designed for a vehicle.

Celebrate Bicycling in May

May is National Bicycle Month, the perfect time to amplify the benefits of bicycling and take more bike rides. Whether you ride for fun, fitness, or take essential trips to work or shop, be part of the movement for safer streets, connected communities, a healthier planet, and happier people.

“Life is better for everyone when more people ride bikes,” said Bill Nesper. “We’re making biking an easier and safer option for more people, because when more people bike, people are happier and healthier, our communities are safer and friendlier, and our planet is greener. Together, we can help more people know the joy of bicycling.”

The American Independent Business Alliance and partners throughout North America will celebrate Bicycling Means Business Month in May, promoting the connections between bicycling and healthy local economies.

Kick off Bike Month at the Kiwanis Kool Wheels Event at the Keene Recreation Center on May 3, from 10 am to 12 pm. Kool Wheels is a free family event where kids of all ages can select a new bicycle helmet (while supplies last) and learn about bike safety.

Discover More!

Next, get ready to pedal during National Ride a Bike Day on Sunday, May 4. Go for a spin around your neighborhood or to your favorite destination. It’s also Star Wars “May the Fourth Be With You” Day, so here’s a fun idea: Ride to the Colonial Theatre in Keene for their Star Wars Fest. The film Star Wars starts at 11 am, followed by The Empire Strikes Back at 2 pm, and ends with Return of the Jedi at 5 pm. Day passes are available.

Wednesday, May 7, is Bike & Roll to School Day. Over 1,350 schools will participate, calling attention to making routes to schools safer and kids more active. Discover more about Bike & Roll to School Day.

Also, whether you’re a parent, teacher, or advocate, find out how to help grow bicycling education in schools.

Haven’t ridden in a while? Then, register for the Smart Cycling Class on May 10, 12 – 2 pm at the Keene Public Library. Learn and practice safe cycling techniques.

Challenge yourself on Bike to Work Day on May 16 or keep pedaling the whole week through from May 12 to May 18.

From May to October, community bike rides will occur on the third Friday of every month, starting at 5:30 p.m. from Railroad Square in Keene.

Finally, add this movie to your queue: The Street Project. Get inspired by efforts to keep walkers, riders, and drivers safer by redesigning streets. You’ll hear from author and city planner, Jeff Speck, who spoke in Keene in 2023, plus many others. You can watch the documentary for free here.

Learn more about the film.

Cycle Along All Summer Long

Enjoy a series of free guided bicycle tours along our state’s picturesque rail trails called Tour De New Hampshire. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or new to biking, organizers designed these weekly tours to celebrate the joy of cycling and showcase the natural beauty of New Hampshire’s incredible rail trail system.

Stay tuned for details.

On June 7, enjoy The Tour de Francestown, a beautiful 25- or 50-mile marked course through Francestown and neighboring towns presented by the Francestown Old Meeting House. Registration fees include on-course rest stops and food and drink at the finish line.

Make Every Ride Count

Make your bicycle rides count by logging your miles in the Love to Ride app. This new app will help communities make better bicycle infrastructure decisions using real-time, crowdsourced information. Rate your comfort level all along your route. You may even win a prize! Download the Love to Ride app at Love to Ride’s website.

Celebrate Bicycle Friendly Businesses, Colleges, and Municipalities

The Bike League’s Bicycle Friendly America program celebrates places that are more welcoming to people who bike. There are currently 480 Bicycle Friendly Communities, 1,480 Bicycle Friendly Businesses, and 220 Bicycle Friendly Universities. Locally, the City of Keene, Keene State College, Monadnock Food Co-op, and Keene Family YMCA received BFA designation. Congrats! View the complete database.

Let’s get rolling!

The Main Street Journal: Inspiration to Move Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street

Jen Risley — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 11:26:44 GMT

Thanks to my position as The Main Street Journal editor, my focus on the local economy movement has zoomed in on the local investment movement. The Main Street Journal, a weekly online newsletter published by local economist Michael Shuman, aims to inspire more people to shift a portion of their savings and investments from Wall Street to Main Street.

“We have published hundreds of stories and dozens of interviews capturing what is new in the local investment movement—not just in the United States but worldwide,” shared Michael. “There are dramatic developments in the types of funds being created, in the ways communities are using local investment tools, and in proposed new crowdfunding laws.”

Some of the diverse topics we’ve featured this year include pre-selling, public banking, and local milling. Read on to learn a bit more about each topic. Then, claim this offer for a free 90-day trial subscription to The Main Street Journal and join the movement.

When Purchasing Becomes Investing

At the start of this year, Michael Shuman interviewed Ross Chanowski, founder and CEO of NuMarket. This crowdfunding platform offers community members credits to use at participating businesses.

“I started NuMarket in 2021, mid-pandemic, to provide small businesses with a new way to access capital,” said Ross. “NuMarket is rooted in community-based funding, which means it’s open to anyone who wants to invest in their real community. Small businesses maintain control over their vision, supporters become part of the brand’s story, and communities flourish as local ventures succeed. Ultimately, our mission is to strengthen small businesses by giving them the tools to grow and thrive.”

The Sullivan Country Store recently completed a NuMarket crowdfunding campaign. Owners Megan Lafaso-Hercher and Will Hercher raised over $8K to help financially sustain their store through the winter and better position them for a future expansion. Fifty-five community members will receive 120% of their contributions back in the form of credits to make future purchases at the store.

“For many businesses looking for local capital, the fees, disclosures, and legal hassles of regulation crowdfunding are simply not worth it. But there’s another approach that tiptoes around securities laws, commonly called pre-selling,” said Michael. “NuMarket takes this simple idea and puts it on steroids. In my mind, one advantage of pre-selling is that businesses can test their customers’ willingness to support them.”

"Our NuMarket campaign provided crucial funding for our store, allowing us to make important improvements while strengthening our connection with the community,” said Megan. “Seeing our customers invest in our future and knowing they’d get more value in return created a cycle of support that helped us grow in a sustainable way. Thanks to NuMarket, we're building a better and more resilient store for everyone."

Public Banking Boosts Communities

Another theme covered this year in The Main Street Journal includes public banking. The Bank of North Dakota (BND) stands as the only US public bank and a model many communities aspire to create. North Dakota’s state government owns and deposits all its funds in BND, and then BND partners with local community banks and credit unions to boost local lending. In turn, the interest earned from these loans gets reinvested in local economic development efforts.

“In 2023, the Bank of North Dakota posted profits of nearly $200 million,” said Michael. “You would think that every other city, county, and state in the United States would be working assiduously to create their own version of the Bank of North Dakota and develop this huge, new financial resource to support priorities like affordable housing, net zero energy, or more BIPOC-led businesses.”

We interviewed Walt McRee, President and Chair of the Public Banking Institute, to learn more about public banks. “BND’s capital strength and independence from Wall Street helped keep the state out of the debilitating economic problems that resulted from the financial collapse of 2008,” said Walt. “While BND does not provide many consumer-directed lending services, leaving that business to local community banks and credit unions, several public banking initiatives elsewhere do focus on the need to help under-banked citizens acquire banking relationships.”

The Millers' Tale

Our third example of themes covered by The Main Street Journal is local milling.

“Milling is a tough business,” wrote Michael. “Today, three companies control 57% of wheat processing. It wasn’t always this way. Back in 1840, there were 28,000 gristmills in operation, all closely connected to their local farmers. Cheaper transportation, advanced milling technologies, and sleepy antitrust regulators resulted in the elimination of nearly all these mills.”

Luckily, groups like the Craft Millers Guild are working to reverse these trends. The guild’s members collaborate to finance, process, and market each other’s products. Together, they’re rebuilding regional grain economies.

“There’s a larger lesson here about economies of scale,” Michael added. “Local businesses can compete against corporate giants if they work together with other locals, here and abroad, and share what works. The millers’ model should be applied to every other concentrated industry, whether chicken processing, steel smelting, or auto manufacturing. Small businesses in small communities have a shot at success if they are willing to connect, share, and learn from their peers elsewhere.”

Join Michael Shuman for a free virtual event called “What’s New in the Local Investment Movement: An Annual Report” on Thursday, April 17, from 1 – 2 pm. Discover how you can be part of the movement!

RSVP Today

Let’s elevate local investment innovations during Move Your Money Month this April. Direct more of your dollars to the banks and businesses based where you live, and join a growing movement prioritizing people, planet, and profit.

Move Your Money: Bank Local

When you bank locally at a community bank or credit union in our region, more of your dollars recirculate throughout our local economy -- building more local jobs and prosperity.

Traditional banks, publicly traded and owned by stockholders, exist to provide a return on investment to their far-away owners. On the other hand, community banks are privately owned and not publicly traded. Credit unions are cooperatives, meaning the members own their banks.

“At local banks and credit unions, loan approvals and other key decisions are made locally by people who live in the community, have face-to-face relationships with their customers, and understand local needs,” said Stacy Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. “Because of this personal knowledge, local financial institutions are often able to approve small business and other loans that big banks would reject.”

Move your money closer to home and your heart by choosing a bank more aligned with your values. Who do you bank with now? Search for them here and find out what your bank does with your money. Discover how many dollars your bank invests in your community.

Want to Move Your Money closer to home? Find a new bank here.

Move Your Money: Invest Local

In addition to moving your money to a community bank or credit union, we encourage you to invest in locally owned businesses. Why? The Monadnock Region Indie Impact Study found that businesses rooted in our region recirculate up to four times more money in our local economy compared to national chain stores. If we invested more capital in locally owned businesses, we’d see a return on investment that included more community health and wealth.

We’ll share local investing opportunities on our website throughout Move Your Money Month.

Stay Tuned

Thanks for banking, investing, and choosing locally owned and independent businesses each and every day!

Keep the Green in Our Community: Choose Indie Sustainable

Jen Risley — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:37:50 GMT

This March, The Local Crowd Monadnock invites you to celebrate Choose Indie Sustainable Month.

We’re teaming up with the American Independent Business Alliance and partners throughout North America to spotlight businesses that benefit our local economy, environment, and community -- triple-bottom-line businesses such as B Corps, cooperatives, and other enterprises.

Locally owned businesses, especially ones working towards a more environmentally sustainable and socially just economy, help us keep “the green” in our communities. Independent and locally owned businesses in the Monadnock Region strengthen our local economy, culture, and overall well-being as they re-circulate more money in our community than chain stores and online giants.

We want to hear from you: How are your favorite locally owned businesses keeping the green in our community? Email us at jen@thelocalcrowd.com. We’ll also lift up inspiration beyond the Monadnock Region and identify businesses and organizations working hard to support sustainable locally owned businesses in their communities.

Choose Indie Sustainable Inspiration

One example is People First Economy, based in Grand Rapids, MI. Their Good For Michigan connects and celebrates businesses statewide, highlighting their positive impacts on their employees, community, and environment. The program also offers these businesses resources to boost their sustainable and social good.

“We leverage our network of statewide and national partners to provide businesses with globally recognized benchmarking tools,” said Alice Jasper, Good For Michigan Program Director. “These tools are used by thousands of companies worldwide and have been proven to help business leaders attract talent, build customer loyalty, and increase revenue growth. Good For Michigan works to train, facilitate, support, and educate businesses in our region to build a stronger People First Economy.”

A new organization we’re keeping an eye on, Purchasing with Purpose, works to create local economies that put people and planet first. They’re building a collective of social enterprises, cooperatives, nonprofits, fair trade enterprises, green businesses, benefit corporations, local independent businesses, and all initiatives that meet their five verification standards.

“It can be difficult to buy from businesses that put people and the planet first in the U.S. because the movement has emerged bottom-up, and different terminology is used in different networks, regions, and sectors. There can also be real issues with social washing and greenwashing,” said Rebecca Dray, executive director of Purchasing with Purpose. “By working together, we are able to increase the visibility of the broader movement and open opportunities that no single network or organization could open on its own.”

We’ll also highlight the Green Business Network at Green America, the country's first and most diverse network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses. Learn more about how businesses are coming together through the Green Business Network to boost their positive social and environmental impacts at American Independent Business Alliance’s next Local Leaders Roundtable on Thursday, March 13, at 1 pm.

Learn how the Green Business Network can help businesses and organizations positively impact their bottom line, community, and the planet. This event is free and online.

Closer to home, New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility brings together businesses in our state who strive to “do well and do good.” Members from the Monadnock Region include Badger, Electronic Imaging Materials, Filtrine Manufacturing Company, and more.

Cooperatives In Our Community

Cooperatives, companies owned by their members, follow seven guiding principles, including democratic member control and concern for the community. These businesses exist to serve their members instead of far-away stockholders.

Monadnock Food Co-op, a grocery store in downtown Keene owned by over 4,900 community members, uses a cooperative business model. Everyone can shop at Monadnock Food Co-op. However, members receive additional benefits such as quarterly discounts, patronage refunds, and vote on who serves on the board of directors.

Monadnock Food Co-op conducts an impact assessment annually, measuring its fossil fuel use, waste reduction efforts, community contributions, and more. We’ll share details from their latest assessment throughout March. Here is one update: “Recently, the store has been focusing on increasing the amount of organic waste we divert from landfills to be composted,” said sustainability coordinator Jane Clerkin. “This has led to the overflow of our compost dumpster, which is definitely better than having it go into the trash. As a solution, we have partnered with Elm City Compost to assist Casella Waste Systems in managing our organic waste.”

The Co-op’s roof hosts our region’s first locally owned community-supported solar project. The project is locally controlled, whereas most community solar projects are owned and managed by developers or utilities. The Monadnock Sustainability Hub developed the New Hampshire Community Supported Solar Guide from this project to help others replicate this project and bring more renewable energy to our region.

New in 2024, the Co-op installed two Electric Vehicle DC fast chargers and two level 2 electric vehicle chargers outside its building. Monadnock Food Co-op received a grant through the Volkswagen settlement funds to cover 80% of the project's costs. The remaining 20% was raised through The Local Crowd Monadnock and other fundraising efforts.

B Corps In Our Community

A certification process called B Corp helps a company “measure what matters” and better balance its purpose and profits. B Lab, the nonprofit that leads this movement, currently lists 9,328 certified businesses from 96 countries. B Corps based in our region include Badger in Gilsum and Frisky Cow Gelato in Keene.

“B Corp Certification is holistic, not exclusively focused on a single social or environmental issue,” reads B Lab’s website. “And the process to achieve and maintain certification is rigorous and requires engaging teams and departments across your company. Recertification confirms these standards continue to be met on an ongoing basis.”

Any business can fill out the B Impact Assessment online and see how they rank. For a business to become a Certified B Corp, it must earn at least 80 points in the B Impact Assessment and pay a certification fee. The certified company receives a full report with recommendations from B Lab on how to boosts its positive impacts.

Discover More

One well-known B Corp in our region, Badger in Gilsum, makes healing balms, lip balms, sunscreens, and other personal care products.

“At Badger, we’ve always held true to what we call our North Star -- our vision for a healthier world,” says our Co-CEO, Rebecca Hamilton. “In the beginning, at a time when most businesses were making decisions based on the bottom line, Badger was making decisions based on strong mission-driven principles and ethos. In our mission statement, we say that money is a fuel, not a goal—meaning that our true reason for being in business is to enact our mission-based work and help create the healthier world we imagine. This commitment to doing the right thing for people and the planet continues to shape the way Badger does business today.”

Badger has committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and installed a rooftop solar array in 2020. They strive to choose ingredients from suppliers that practice regenerative agriculture. The company works hard to reduce plastic packaging, as well.

Learn More

A new B Corp in our region, Frisky Cow Gelato in Keene, makes its decadent desserts from New Hampshire milk. Owner, Linda Rubin, has committed her businesses to sourcing at least half of all its supplies and ingredients locally and donating 2% of its annual revenue to nonprofits building our local food system and boosting food security.

“Why gelato? Back in 1983, I visited Florence, Italy and fell in love with gelato! The creamy texture and rich flavors totally won me over,” shared Linda. “Ten years later, I moved to New Hampshire and started working at Stonewall Farm, a nonprofit education center and dairy farm in Keene. I spent almost nine years working at Stonewall Farm, educating people about where their food comes from and the importance of local agriculture. I dreamed about making a value-added dairy product someday.”

Learn More

When we Choose Indie Sustainable, we do so much more than just shop – we bank, invest, create, and donate to boost the ripple effect of economic and community benefits we receive when we support our local economy. Together, we build strong local, equitable, and sustainable economies. Stay connected and learn more throughout March!

Celebrate Black-Owned Businesses, History, and Diversity in February

Jen Risley — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 13:34:16 GMT

This February, The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock invites you to celebrate Black-owned businesses, Black history, and diversity. We’re teaming up with the American Independent Business Alliance and partners throughout North America to promote Choose Black-Owned Month. Together, we can build stronger local economies that are diverse, inclusive, and equitable.

Why Celebrate Choose Black-Owned Month?

Many community members want to support diversity where they live. One study found that when Black-owned businesses were identified as “Black-owned,” those businesses saw increased customer visits. We want to help make it easier for our community to Choose Black-Owned in the Monadnock Region.

According to Pew Research, just 3% of U.S. businesses were identified as Black-owned in 2020. That’s even though Black adults comprise 12.4% of the overall population. Removing this disparity leads to increased employment and economic growth.

Black-owned business owners receive less financing than other races. In 2022, the Federal Reserve reported that 35% of white business owners received all the funding they requested from a bank, compared to 16% of BIPOC (Black, indigenous, or person of color) business owners. This lack of capital holds back business revenue growth and employment.

Building a more inclusive economy leads to more community wealth for all. One report from McKinsey & Company noted that closing the wealth gap could add $2 – $3 trillion of annual growth to our national economy.

Learn More

How Can You Celebrate Choose Black-Owned Month?

Choose Black-Owned Businesses

Support Black-owned businesses like New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery in Winchester. Tell us about other Black-owned businesses you’ve discovered in our region and throughout the state. Please email us!

The more dollars we spend at Black-owned businesses in our community, the more dollars recirculate in the local economy, boosting job growth, charitable giving, and overall prosperity.

Choose Black-Owned Business at Locally Owned Businesses

Ask your favorite locally owned businesses if they carry products made or grown by Black-owned businesses.

Support Diversity

On February 28, 2025, the Keene Family YMCA joined other YMCAs nationwide to promote their #WeWearBlack campaign. Staff, members, and guests are invited to wear black to symbolize hope, awareness, and togetherness.

“Our YMCA is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming community where people of all backgrounds and cultures feel valued and supported,” said Colleen Manzi, Director of Marketing at Keene Family YMCA. “Celebrating initiatives like Choose Black-Owned Month aligns with our mission to uplift diversity and build stronger, more connected communities."

The Keene Y continues this work year-round by hosting the Monadnock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coalition (MDEIB). MDEIB works to promote and develop our region as a welcoming and inclusive place for all — including BIPOC individuals who live, work, and visit our community. MDEIB was formed in 2021, guided by the City of Keene’s Racial Justice and Community Safety Report.

Learn More

Celebrate Black History Month

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire will host the Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks both in-person in Portsmouth and virtually each Sunday in February.

View the Full Series

Thank you to our 2025 local partners, Keene Family YMCA, Monadnock Food Co-op, and The Monadnocker. And thank you!

Stay tuned for Choose Black-Owned Month updates and how we’re collectively building stronger local economies that are diverse, inclusive, and equitable.

Warm Up to Winter with Placemaking

Jen Risley — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 19:06:59 GMT

Instead of hibernating each winter, imagine enthusiastically leaping outdoors each day — despite the weather. That’s one of the goals of winter placemaking. Communities reimagine how they design and use their public spaces to inspire more outdoor time, support locally owned businesses, and celebrate culture throughout winter.

Back Up! What’s Placemaking Again?

Think of all the public spaces where you live, work, or travel by every day — parks, streets, and other publicly owned spaces. Placemaking turns those public spaces into places that boost our health, happiness, and well-being. Using a community-based process, placemaking builds upon some of our greatest assets — places open to the public — using permanent or temporary elements such as seating, public art, gardens, and crosswalks. Now sprinkle this community-based process with blustery winds, darker days, and slicker surfaces and you have winter placemaking!

According to the 880 Cities Winter Placemaking Guide, “Winter placemaking is a means to re-envision the ways that public spaces are created and used in winter in order to foster social connection, physical activity, and the many benefits of a vibrant public realm all year round…[It’s] about giving communities the power, capacity, and resources to re-envision winter as a time of year where community connection is fostered, and age-inclusive activities are abundant.” Read the full guide.

Winter Placemaking Inspiration

To turn up the heat on winter placemaking, here is some inspiration from communities warming up to winter. Please read on!

Middleton, WI, asked its residents how its downtown plaza could build connections during winter and combat social isolation. The process led them to convert summer trails to winter skating tracks. They also added art installations, a fire pit, and an electric fireplace. The plaza now hosts a winter solstice celebration, including a musical crawl at neighboring downtown businesses. Learn more.

Edmonton, Alberta, piloted a warming hut project along its river valley. They designed passive solar huts to retain heat and give walkers a respite from the cold while visiting local businesses and other attractions.

There’s something very special about a whole community who embraces the unique natural winter season we all share. In Edmonton, we love being outside on bright snowy days and hearing the crunch of snow underfoot. We get excited about skating under the stars and sipping hot chocolates around an outdoor fireplace in the dark. There’s so much living to do outside–during winter. We live here on purpose and with purpose. – Winter City Edmonton

The Frostbite Festival takes place in Harrison, MI, each winter. The event transforms a frozen lake into a 9-hole golf course, using tennis balls and shallow holes in the ice. It also includes a sled-building contest, polar dip, and soup cook-off.

Grand Rapids, MI, boasts the largest winter festival in America, the World of Winter. From January to March, the city becomes a winter wonderland with light-based art installations, hands-on exhibits, and special outdoor events. Some highlights include a Disco on Ice party, a music performance using a piano crafted from ice, and a human “Hungry Hungry Hippo” Tournament. Last year’s event drew 4.8 million visitors.

Keene Ice and Snow Festival

Photo by Mark Rebillard

Luckily, we don’t have to travel far to see winter placemaking at work. The Keene Ice and Snow Festival in Keene turns our Main Street sidewalks into an ice sculpture gallery. Join us for the 22nd Annual Keene Ice and Snow Festival on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s festival features an ice carving competition between twelve professional ice carvers from the Monadnock Region and throughout New England.

“The festival is a day of free family fun that brings local ingenuity and creative vibrancy to downtown Keene during the peak of winter,” said Mark Rebillard, Deep Roots Massage & Bodywork owner and Keene Downtown Group chair. “Each ice sculpture is set on a pedestal and illuminated from underneath to shine long into the evening. A beautiful night to walk around before dinner at your favorite downtown restaurant!”

Be amazed by roaming circus acts with Wunderle’s Big Top Adventures, warm up with cartoons at the Colonial Theater, and giddy up with horse rides from Freedom Reins Therapeutic Riding Center. Also, don’t miss the children's train ride, face painting by Emily Sodders, balloon art from Doug The Devilstick Man Entertainment, campfire s'mores with graham crackers from Jack's Crackers, sugar on snow with help from Woodard's Sugar House and other local sugarhouses, an interactive art exhibit, a "find the yeti" scavenger hunt, free hot cocoa stations at over twelve local restaurants, shops and nonprofit booths, two activity centers with games and treats at UCC Keene and the Elm City Church, and more.

Stay updated!

“When people take an active role in shaping their community, they emerge with new social connections and a stronger sense of trust—in one another, and often in their government, too,” said Leah Karlberg, Urban Planner and Designer at Happy Cities.

We hope to see more placemaking in our members’ and partners’ communities next winter and throughout 2025. (Shoot us an email if you have examples to share!) Happy New Year!

Celebrate New Hampshire Eats Local Month in August

Jen Risley — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 12:24:42 GMT

For the twelfth year, let’s shine a light on local food, farms, and our entire Monadnock Region food system during New Hampshire Eats Local Month, a month-long celebration of our state’s harvest in August.

Discover More

What Do We Mean by a Food System?

Our food system is an intricate web of people, resources, and processes that grow and bring food from the farm to your plate. It includes the soil's fertility, the diligent labor of farm workers, the networks transporting goods, bustling markets, and beyond. Please enjoy Part One of this year’s bounty of Monadnock Region food system updates!

Start With the Land

Local farmers need local farmland. That’s why the Monadnock Conservancy works to protect farmland on some of our region’s most beloved farms. Using a tool called a conservation easement -- a permanent agreement that prohibits development of the land but permits forestry and farming -- the Conservancy keeps these highly productive pieces of land in the hands of farmers. Many farm conservation easements provide cash to farmers to expand their business, pay down debt, or help transfer the farm to the next generation. Monadnock Conservancy recently purchased conservation easements on two local farms, Picadilly Farm in Winchester and Pete’s Stand in Walpole. For more information, please visit monadnockconservancy.org.

“Local farms provide so much to this region, and I am always pleased when we can keep farmland in the hands of farmers,” said Ryan Owens, Executive Director of The Monadnock Conservancy. “Some of the best soils in the nation are found right here in this region, along the Connecticut River.”

Jonathan Hayden and Abigail Clarke from Winter Street Farm in Claremont received a New Hampshire Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant to grow their community composting program.

Cultivating Climate Resilience

With more farmers dealing with extreme weather events and increased pest pressures due to climate change, we must support and empower local farmers to build climate resilience. The New Hampshire Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant program aims to do just that.

Since 2022, this program has distributed 95 grant awards totaling $714,000 to New Hampshire farms. The Climate Resilience Grant Program funded projects at fifteen farms in our region. Two examples include Boggy Meadow Farm in Walpole, which will build a Johnson-Su compost bioreactor to create a fungal-rich compost and improve on-farm soil health, and Foggy Hill Farm in Jaffrey, which will install a passive solar greenhouse to improve their farm's energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint. Learn more about this program at cheshireconservation.org/climate.

Growing Community

It's been an exciting couple of years for the Monadnock View Community Garden (MVCG) in West Keene. Fully subscribed for the second consecutive year, MVCG received funding from the Cheshire County Conservation District to construct a tool shed (with design and labor contributed by Bensonwood), install five additional water spigots, purchase an array of shared tools, season extension, water conservation, pest control and soil building materials for gardeners, and add infrastructure to our Giving Garden. These additions, along with the efforts of volunteers, allowed gardeners to increase the amount of produce donated to The Community Kitchen from approximately 450 pounds in 2022 to just over 600 pounds in 2023.

"At MVCG, we like to think we're not only growing veggies but community," said volunteer garden manager Rowland Russell. "In the big picture, it's the connective tissue of community that gives our local food system its resilience."

Attend NH Eats Local Events

Now, get out there and enjoy our local food and farms! Here are a few (of the many) events happening in our region in August.

Co-produced by Monadnock Food Co-op and Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition (MFCC), the Monadnock Farm Tour and After Party at Granite Roots Brewing celebrates local food and farms on Saturday, August 17, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. From 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy farm activities such as sheepdog herding demonstrations, pudding production, free tractor and hayrides, pasture tours, and more. Tickets are $10 per car, providing access to all participating farms. Tickets can be purchased online or at each farm during tour hours. Learn more at mfcommunitycoalition.org/2024monadnockfarmtour.

Attendees can continue the fun at the After Party at Granite Roots Brewing in Troy from 5 - 8 p.m. The event will feature fresh brews, food trucks, and live music, all with no entry fee. Children and leashed, friendly dogs are welcome. Enter MFCC’s raffle, offering a first prize of $500, a second prize of a quarter CSA share from Dog Dogs Farm in Fitzwilliam valued at $250, and a third prize of locally sourced products worth $125. The raffle drawing will occur at this event, and ticket holders will not need to be present to win.

“David Kennard of Wellscroft Farm will show off the skills of his sheepherding Border Collies as they move the herd to his every command and will share a bit about raising sheep. Blackfire Farm is cooking up fresh vegetable pizzas and will enlighten folks on what sustainable farming is to them while on a hay wagon ride,” said Roe-Ann Tasoulas, director of MFCC. “This is a rare opportunity to experience our farmers’ day-to-day lives working a farm business. Our hope is that everyone will walk away feeling more connected with the land, the animals, and the farmers who thoughtfully care for it."

Also, on August 17, Stonewall Farm in Keene celebrates turning 30 with a Farm Fair from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Experience horse and farm equipment demonstrations, live music, contra dancing, games, contests, delicious food, a beer garden, and more. Tickets cost $10 per person (free admissions for kids three and under). Tickets to access the beer garden (with beer sampling) cost $40 per person. Learn more at stonewallfarm.org/events/stonewall-farm-fair.

Are you a teacher? Join the Monadnock Farm to School Network at the Cornucopia Project Educational Farm for a fun-filled day camp designed especially for you. Dive into classroom-ready activities through demonstrations, a farm tour, group activities, and games -- just like a real summer camp. This event includes a delicious lunch and a chance to win school supplies. Professional development credits are available, too. Learn more and register at eventbrite.com/e/farm-to-school-day-camp-for-teachers-tickets-945161642917.

Stay tuned for Part Two of this article in August, including local food and farm updates from Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship, Community Garden Connections, and more! Also, check out our local food and farming events list at tlcmonadnock.com/NHEatLocal.

Thank you to all the individuals, programs, policies, and initiatives that continue to build a more robust local and regional food system in our corner of the state and throughout New England. Together, we’re cultivating healthier citizens, communities, and economies.

Celebrate Independents Month in July

Jen Risley — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 10:41:17 GMT

Twenty years ago, locally owned businesses in Tampa, Florida, came together to celebrate the very first Independents Week. Soon after, American Independent Business Alliance helped bring Independents Week to independent business alliances throughout the United States. Now, twenty years later, American Independent Business Alliance invites communities to come together to celebrate Independents Month!

Independents Month

Independents Month is a time to recognize our locally owned and independent businesses and the community values they embody:

Their spirit of entrepreneurship, individuality, uniqueness, and character.
How they give back to our community with their time, talents, goods, and services.
How they fulfill community needs that make us healthier and wealthier.

Multiplier Effect

Independents Month, part of AMIBA’s Shop Indie Local Initiative, is the perfect time to shine a light on the Local Multiplier Effect and the Monadnock Indie Impact Study. Together, we’ll inspire our communities to take positive action and boost the positive ripple effects our neighborhoods, towns, and cities receive when we spend more of our dollars at locally owned, independent businesses.

It Starts With You

Independents Month is a time to reflect on your ability to think and act independently and embrace your part in shaping the future of your community. Choose Indie Local and boost the multiplier effect in your region. Also, take time to acknowledge the independent business owners you know.

Take the Independents Month Staycation Challenge

Another way to celebrate Independents Month is to take the Indie Month Staycation Challenge. Pledge to make all of your purchases at locally owned businesses for one day, one week, or the entire month. Sign on to the Indie Challenge today!

Traveling during Independents Month? Enjoy what locally owned, and independent businesses have to offer wherever you’re visiting. Ask locals where their favorites are and look for independent business alliances in the areas you’re visiting.

The History of Independents Week

Carla Jimenez, co-owner of Inkwood Books and co-founder of the Tampa Independent Business Alliance, created the first Independents Week in 2001. In 2005, AMIBA began promoting the campaign nationally, providing tools to help communities organize their own Independents Week celebrations.

This July, let’s celebrate our independence and our independents together.

Community Wealth Building: Transforming Local Economies

Jen Risley — Fri, 31 May 2024 10:39:45 GMT

“Amid the chaos and breakdown of our time, imagining such a thing as economic system change can seem daunting, overwhelming, impossible,” said Marjorie Kelly, a distinguished senior fellow at the Democracy Collaborative. “The truth is system change is already emerging all around us. It’s beginning in our own backyards, in the form of Community Wealth Building, a form of local economic development that transforms local economies through communities having direct ownership and control of their assets.”

Community Wealth Building has gained traction over the years, especially since Marjorie Kelly published her latest book Wealth Supremacy last September. Let’s take a closer look at this approach.

Image Credit: Democracy Collaborative

What is Community Wealth Building?

“When 50 percent of the population can’t put its hands on $1,000 in an emergency, and 50 percent of the private workforce has retirement assets of zero, wealth insecurity is a severe problem in this country, and we need a way to build wealth,” said Corey Rosen, founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership.

Community Wealth Building calls for a “great ownership transition” -- shifting ownership from the hands of a few to many. Who owns and controls a city or town's businesses, buildings, and other assets profoundly impacts community members’ health and wealth. So, Community Wealth Building calls for broadening ownership through diverse strategies like forming cooperatives, moving money to community banks, public banks, and credit unions, cultivating land trusts, and much more. This approach also reimagines how wealth is invested to serve community needs over building billionaires. With a shift in wealth comes a shift in power.

“[While] we’ve built superhighways for speculative investments, productive local investments travel dirt paths,” said Marjorie Kelly. “We need new infrastructure to make local and impact investing easy. Much of that innovation is coming at warp speed from the impact investing world, where countless funds are springing up to invest in marginalized communities, decarbonize buildings, and advance sustainable development goals.”

Rebalancing Wealth: Baby Bonds

Connecticut launched America’s first baby bond in 2023, depositing $3,200 in an account for each newborn enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program. Over time, each account will grow to as much as $24,000 per child. When these children reach 18, they can use this money for college, a downpayment on a home, to start a business, or to save for retirement. Baby bonds represent a long-term approach to reducing the wealth gap in future generations.

Learn more about Baby Bonds

The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute offers a compelling case in support of baby bonds, “Experts suggest that addressing equity and closing the racial wealth divide would add more than $2 trillion in GDP annually, increasing economic development and improving the health of the economy, which is an area of common ground for political parties. In general, making equitable adjustments to existing tax subsidies that disproportionately benefit the highest-income earners could generate enough savings to pay for baby bonds.”

Recirculating Wealth: Anchor Institutions

Another example of Community Wealth Building is Evergreen Cooperatives, which blends the economic power of anchor institutions with employee ownership. Anchor institutions are large nonprofits that, once established, usually stay in one place -- think of hospitals, universities, and government entities. By connecting the goods and services offered by locally owned businesses to the needs of anchor institutions, both the individual companies and the entire local economy benefit.

In 2008, The Cleveland Model in Ohio started Evergreen Cooperatives with an employee-owned green laundry service to meet the needs of local hospitals. Evergreen now includes four more cooperatives focusing on weatherization and manufacturing, plus an employee ownership investment fund. In our region, hospitals are coming together to explore Community Wealth Building through the Healthcare Anchor Network.

Learn more about Anchor Institutions

Spreading Wealth: Employee Ownership

Employee ownership, another Community Wealth Building strategy mentioned above, gives workers their own shares in the company they work for. There are multiple forms of employee ownership, from employee stock ownership plans to worker cooperatives.

What is Employee Ownership?

King Arthur Baking Company in Norwich, VT, became 100% employee-owned in 2004. Owners Frank and Brinna Sands wanted to retire, but without family members to take over the business, they turned to their employees to keep the company’s mission intact. Workers earn company stock, giving them a path toward a better retirement.

"These jobs are not going to be sent overseas when it's an employee-owned company," said King Arthur employee-owner Rosie Wawrzyniak. "That's why politicians, no matter what side of the aisle they're on, they always support employee-owned companies. You know, people really care about getting meat from happy cows or happy chickens; why would you not want products from happy people? Customers benefit when they're getting a better-quality product from happy people."

“If you have time for just one book this summer, please read Marjorie Kelly’s Wealth Supremacy,” shared local economist Michael Shuman. “She’s an astute critic of what we are getting wrong in our economy, but she also has lots of ideas about what we can get right.” Pick up your copy today at the Toadstool Bookshops in Keene or order it online at toadbooks.com. There’s so much more to learn about Community Wealth Building.

Learn along with us!

Before we wrap up this month’s article, we wanted to announce that we’re partnering with Monadnock Food Co-op to launch our third-annual Staycation Challenge!

What’s a Staycation?

Summer means vacation for many of us. However, taking a vacation doesn’t have to include traveling far from home to get away. Take a Staycation and experience all the Monadnock Region has to offer. You’ll save money at the gas pumps and make new connections to nurture throughout the year. The money you spend recirculates in our local economy, building more community health and wealth.

What’s the Staycation Challenge?

Enter TLC Monadnock’s Staycation Challenge by pledging to spend your dollars only at locally owned businesses for one day, one week, or the entire month of July.

Learn more!

Take our pre-survey now and then a post-survey coming in late July. Complete both surveys for your chance to win our Staycation package.

What’s this year’s Staycation Package?

This year’s winner of our Staycation Package will receive a two-night stay at the Bridges Inn Whitcomb House, a $25 West LA Brewery gift card (both in Swanzey), a gift basket of summer necessities (sunscreens and anti-bug products) from Badger Balm in Gilsum, and more treats from locally owned businesses. We’ll announce our winner in mid-August.

Happy staycationing!

The Keene Multicultural Center Project

Jen Risley — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:22:11 GMT

Building a More Welcoming Community

The world is an increasingly interconnected place. Families are relocating, immigrants are settling in, and communities are transformed and challenged by ongoing economic trends. The Keene Multicultural Center Project will help foster more resiliency and cultivate the social spirit of the community.

Learn more!

The Keene Multicultural Center Project recently launched a crowdfunding campaign through The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock. The funds raised will help create a unique community gathering space where individuals from different cultures and backgrounds can make new connections, celebrate, strive, and contribute towards building a more welcoming region.

"The Keene Community Cultural Center Project will bring together individuals from different cultural backgrounds with the common goal of addressing diverse needs to bring our community together," said Project Leader Gail Somers. "We hope to create a tangible physical space we can call home. Our community space will be a hub for cultivating and celebrating culture. It will provide a space to hold classes, exhibitions, performances, workshops, educational programs, a resource center, and cultural events, all of which will bring numerous opportunities for volunteerism and community connection."

Give Today!

Offline donations are also accepted through Monadnock Arts Alive, the project's fiscal sponsor. Checks can be made out to Arts Alive and mailed to Arts Alive, 15 Eagle Court, Keene, NH, 03431. Please add "Keene Multicultural Center" to the memo.

Virtual Screening of WORKS FOR ALL: Learning From Cincinnati's Co-op Economy

Jen Risley — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 10:01:24 GMT

Includes Post-Film Discussion with Worker-Owned Cooperative Advocates

Join us for a free virtual screening of the film WORKS FOR ALL, focusing on worker-owned cooperatives, from March 29 to March 31, 2024. This event also includes a virtual film discussion with worker-owned cooperative advocates.

Free tickets

This documentary highlights the work of Co-op Cincy. Since 2011, Co-op Cincy has inspired a network of worker-owned cooperatives in Cincinnati, Ohio, to create a regional economy that works for all.

This event is part of March's Choose Indie Sustainable Month, a nationwide celebration to amplify and support locally owned businesses that are B Corps, cooperatives, and other triple-bottom-line enterprises.

"People may be familiar with some types of co-ops -- like Monadnock Food Co-op, a consumer-owned cooperative -- but we want to shine a light on a different type of cooperative, a worker-owned co-op," said The Local Crowd Monadnock Program Manager Jen Risley. "Discover more about worker-owned cooperatives and how this type of co-op is growing in New England (and beyond)."

WORKS FOR ALL, co-directed by Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young, visits several of the diverse worker-owned cooperatives in Co-op Cincy's network, with many led by people traditionally marginalized in the U.S. economy. The film highlights Co-op Cincy's remarkable work in transforming and supporting these businesses. Particularly significant for the future is the effort to help convert existing businesses--whose owners are retiring--to cooperatives. The film also explores the influence of Spain's Mondragon Corporation, the world's most prominent worker cooperative federation, on Co-op Cincy's mission.

Film and discussion tickets are free and available at worksforall.eventive.org, thanks to event co-hosts, American Independent Business Alliance and Monadnock International Film Festival, and event sponsors Littleton Food Co-op, Monadnock Food Co-op, and The Local Crowd Monadnock.

The live virtual film discussion on March 29 at 7:00 p.m. includes Kristen Barker, co-director of Co-op Cincy, and Rob Brown, the director of Business Ownership Solutions at Cooperative Development Institute.

Reserve Free Film Discussion Tickets

Kristen Barker is a social entrepreneur, president, and Co-Founder of Co-op Cincy and 1worker1vote. She designs and leads participatory education events with co-op workers and helps worker-owners make their businesses more successful. Kristen also helps our design team determine the feasibility of potential co-op businesses, helps retiring business owners decide whether or not they can sell their business to their employees, and helps viable co-ops access the capital they need to leverage their ideas.

Rob Brown is a nationally recognized expert in employee ownership transitions and has assisted dozens of businesses in exploring, assessing, structuring, and executing transitions to worker-owned cooperatives. He has developed extensive education, training, coaching, and technical assistance programs for boards, management, and members of new worker-owned cooperatives. He leads local, regional, and national programs to educate and advise business owners on exit planning processes and options. Rob participates in several national networks promoting the strategy of employee ownership conversions and best practices in the field, including as a founding member of the Workers to Owners Collaborative.

Top Five Choose Indie Local Highlights of the Year

Jen Risley — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 12:18:17 GMT

As we wind down 2023, here’s The Local Crowd Monadnock’s top five Choose Indie Local highlights of the year -- events and promotions to inspire you to spend and invest your dollars at locally owned businesses to boost our community’s health and wealth all year long.

We loved seeing so many of you dressed in plaid the day after Thanksgiving to celebrate Plaid Friday. Heaven Hair Gallery Salon in Keene on Plaid Friday. From left to right: Victoria McIntosh, Torrie Rice, Brandon Norman, Anjalee Call, Alicia Berntsen, and Ashley Corrow.

Plaid Friday

Number one on our list, hands down, is Plaid Friday. We loved seeing so many of you dressed in plaid the day after Thanksgiving to celebrate Indie Locals (locally owned and independent businesses) and the Local Economy movement. The nation saw record sales from Thanksgiving to Cider Monday. Indie Locals in the Monadnock Region were busy, too!

“[Plaid Friday] was a crazy busy but awesome day! There was excitement in the air,” shared April Reynolds of Norm’s Ski & Bike Shop. “We served free hot cocoa, mulled cider, and Benjee's Cookies. Everyone loved the cookies! We had a great day -- and our customers were amazing!”

Twenty-nine locally owned businesses served as Plaid Friday Hubs this year in Harrisville, Jaffrey, Keene, Peterborough, Spofford, Swanzey, Walpole, and Westmoreland. View this year’s Plaid Friday Hub photos on our Facebook page.

Independents Month

July’s Independents Month is second on our list. It’s a time to recognize all types of independent businesses and celebrate their spirit of entrepreneurship, individuality, uniqueness, and character.

For the second year, we invited our community to take the Indie Challenge and pledge to buy only from locally owned businesses for a day, week, or more. Over 240 of you have taken the challenge so far! Our 2023 challenge-taker winner won a staycation to the Inn at East Hill Farm, plus other treats from Monadnock Region independents. Stay tuned for our next Indie Challenge in 2024.

“This was a practice in being present for sure,” said Indie Challenger Barbara Davis of Alstead. “I would have to remind myself each time I needed to purchase something. I put a sticker on my car dash to remind myself.”

Move Your Money

We highlight Move Your Money Month each April. This campaign urges you to support community banks and credit unions and move more of your money from Wall Street to Main Street. This is number three on our list! However, this is number one on my personal list since I was hired in July to become editor of The Main Street Journal, a hub for local investing published by economist and author Michael Shuman. Now I get to promote the Move Your Money message every week!

“After investing in Wall Street for thirty-four years, I am really enjoying the idea of supporting my local community and small businesses,” shared Ivy Hess, a subscriber of The Main Street Journal. “I have made seven investments in 2023 and am looking to do more. The Main Street Journal makes it easy to keep up with what is out there.”

Celebrating Diversity

Fourth on our list are two Choose Indie Local campaigns celebrating diversity: Shop Black-Owned Month in February and Choose Indie Pride in June. Both campaigns work to make our spending and investing more inclusive and uplift what makes our community welcoming and unique.

The Keene Family YMCA partnered with us during this year’s Shop Black-Owned Month. “We already know that shopping local has tangible benefits and helps to build a strong local economy,” the Keene Family YMCA’s website states. “By shopping Black-owned, you are voting with your dollar. You are voting for equity.”

Giving Tuesday

Last but certainly not least is GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement. Organizers share, “Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.”

“This was, by far, our most successful GivingTuesday event in our history,” said Sarah Harpster, Executive Director of The Community Kitchen in Keene. “And it’s really helping set us up for entering the new year strong.”

Entering the New Year Strong

Your support for the Choose Indie Local movement this year sets us all up for a strong 2024. Thank you, and Happy New Year, everyone!

Give a Gift to Our Community this Holiday Season

Jen Risley — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 13:24:40 GMT

In New Hampshire, we pride ourselves on our independent thinking, ingenuity, and self-reliance — qualities reflected in our entrepreneurial spirit. According to the Small Business Administration’s 2023 Small Business Profile, our state is home to 136,506 small businesses, comprising 98.9 percent of all New Hampshire businesses.

Our small businesses also provide the bulk of jobs across the state, employing 49.2 percent of all New Hampshire private-sector workers. Thank you for all you do, small business owners!

You play an essential role in supporting entrepreneurial success, whether you’re a small business owner, staff member, investor, or shopper. As many of us look to share gifts and meals with friends, family, and coworkers, we can also give a gift to our small business community. When making holiday purchases, Shop Indie Local and spend more of your budget at locally owned and independent businesses.

Purchasing gifts, meal ingredients, and gift-making supplies from locally owned and independent businesses impacts a community’s job growth, charitable giving, and land use patterns.

“Say you spend money at a local shoe store,” explains local economist and author Michael Shuman. “Its employees then go to the supermarket, which might buy from a local farmer. The more times and the faster a dollar passes between hands without leakage, the more income, wealth, and jobs in a community.”

Monadnock Region independent retailers sure do pass those dollars! They recirculate, on average, $62 of every $100 spent at their businesses back into our local economy. National chain stores return $14 of every $100 spent, while Amazon returns nearly zero.

Give a Gift of Job Growth

Give a Gift to the Nonprofit Community

Give a Gift of Vibrant Main Streets

The rise of online shopping, undercutting Main Street retailers, also changes land use patterns. Amazon doesn’t place its warehouses downtown but in remote industrial parks. As demand for Main Street storefronts declines, so will local governments’ tax revenue base.

You don’t have to swear off shopping with online giants or chain stores altogether. However, we encourage you to look for ways to shift even one or two purchases to independent, community-based businesses this season.

Need some inspiration? Check out our online marketplace called The Local Crowd Mercantile at shop.tlcmonadnock.com. Discover gift ideas from 200 Monadnock Region businesses. Thanks to Monadnock Food Co-op and Saving Bank of Walpole for allowing us to offer our online marketplace at no cost to participating businesses this year.

Shop Indie Local Online

Also, consider the many makers, artists, and manufacturers who produce their products in New Hampshire. The Monadnock Region includes many small businesses represented in the Monadnock Arts Alive’s Creative Community database.

Also, don’t miss events like the Holiday Fair at Granite Mill in Harrisville on December 2 & 3, Holiday Shopping Night at the American House Keene Senior Living Community on December 4, Artisan Market at 17 ROX in Keene on December 9, and Last Minute Larry Holiday Arts Market on December 10 at Brewbakers Café. Discover more events at discovermonadnock.com.

So, give yourself — and your community — a gift this year by shifting more of your spending to our local merchants, service providers, artisans, and other locally owned and independent businesses. Happy Holidays!

Ask A Local

Jen Risley — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 12:25:28 GMT

Ask a Local: A New Way to Support the Shop Indie Local Movement

The Local Crowd Monadnock Member Marketplace connects locally owned businesses with other locally owned businesses -- and businesses with community members like you. Marketplace members can showcase their best products and services to reach more local customers like you!

Learn More

Post a Request

Stay Tuned for More Answers

New Hampshire Eats Local Month: Cultivating Healthier Citizens, Communities, and Economies

Jen Risley — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 10:30:17 GMT

For the eleventh year, let’s shine a light on local food, farms, and our Monadnock Region food system during New Hampshire Eats Local Month, a month-long celebration of our state’s harvest in August.

Discover More

What do we mean by a food system? Our food system includes all the pieces needed to bring local food from the farm to our plates: the soil, farm workers, transportation networks, markets, and more -- everything needed to grow, harvest, and distribute these goods to us. These pieces come together to form our local food system.

Please dig in and enjoy part one of this year’s bounty of updates!

Banking on Local Food

Walden Mutual Bank, based in Concord, is a new online bank rooted in the regional food system. Individuals and businesses can open an account and the bank lends this money to local food and farm businesses throughout New England. Locally, Walden Mutual helped Oliver Levick purchase Monadnock Berries in Troy from his parents.

“The mutual part of our name means we are cooperative, which means we are owned by our community of account holders and allows us to build a bank for the next 100 years,” said Chloe Wingerter, Walden Mutual Business Development Officer. “We offer customizable loans across the entire value chain, which includes everything from production farms, distributors, processors, co-packers, and consumer trade brands, to even ag-adjacent businesses such as solar energy.”

Round It Up for Food Connects

This August, Round It Up (round up your purchases to donate your change) at Monadnock Food Co-op’s registers to benefit Food Connects, a food hub based in Brattleboro, VT. New this year: The Co-op will pilot an additional way to Round It Up in August, virtually through The Local Crowd Monadnock.

Round It Up

Funds raised will support the Food Connects Farm to School initiative in the Monadnock Region. Their program offers professional development and local food purchasing support to school professionals, grant support for schools, and printed materials, including Harvest of the Month calendars, posters, cookbooks, and other signage to bolster and promote Farm to School initiatives. In partnership with The Monadnock Regional School District and the Cornucopia Project, Food Connects will help the Monadnock Farm to School network thrive and create a new generation of mindful eaters.

“The Co-op’s Round It Up program has proven to be a powerful tool in rallying community support and making a tangible difference in the lives of children in our region,” said Richard Berkfield, Executive Director and Founder of Food Connects. “The support from the Monadnock Food Coop not only helps us foster a healthier and more sustainable food system but also enables us to educate and inspire the next generation about the importance of local agriculture and healthy eating.”

Visit a Monadnock Farm

Attend the fifth annual Monadnock Farm Tour and After Party on Saturday, August 19, from 12 – 8 pm. Participating Monadnock farms will open their barns, pastures, hoop houses, flower gardens, and production facilities. The event highlights how farms contribute to our local economy, their role in preserving open space, and how they contribute to our quality of life. The tour runs from 12 – 5 pm and costs $10 per car. The After Party happens at Outlaw Brewing in Winchester from 5 – 8 pm. This free, kid-friendly event offers delicious food from the Outlaw Food Truck, outstanding brews, and live music. A 50/50 raffle will take place to benefit Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition (MFCC) to keep our local food system robust.

Discover More

“After a wonderful afternoon of shopping at local farms, visiting the animals, walking the vegetable or flower fields, or learning a bit more about a bee farm, we’re very excited to offer folks a nice, family-friendly evening where you can sit back and eat great food, listen to great music, and imbibe delicious, on-tap brews at Outlaw Brewing,” shared Roe-Ann Tasoulas, MFCC Executive Director. “We are so lucky to be surrounded by such a wide variety of farm experiences, products, and farmers. We hope everyone can get out for a memorable afternoon and evening!"

Farm Camp for Teachers

Join the Monadnock Farm to School Network for a Farm to School Day Camp for Teachers at the Cornucopia Project Educational Farm in Peterborough on Monday, August 21, from 10 am – 3 pm. This free camp will provide teachers classroom-ready curriculum through demonstrations, a farm tour, group activities, and games -- just like a real camp. The event includes a delicious lunch and a chance to win a raised garden bed or compost bin. Professional development credits are available. The Monadnock Farm To School Network members include Cornucopia Project, Stonewall Farm, and Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition.

Stay tuned for part two of this article in August, including local food and farm updates from Acworth Village Store, Cheshire County Conservation District, Cornucopia Project, and more!

Thank you to all the individuals, programs, policies, and initiatives that continue to build a more robust local and regional food system in our corner of the state and throughout New England. Together, we’re cultivating healthier citizens, communities, and economies.

Shop Indie Local Planning Kick-Off

Jen Risley — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 12:16:08 GMT

It's time to start planning for this year's Plaid Friday, Cider Monday, and Shop Indie Local efforts!

We're kicking off our Shop Indie Local planning efforts with a crowdfunding campaign. The more funds we raise, the more we'll amplify our message.

Together, we will:

Leverage the importance of supporting locally owned businesses -- LIKE YOURS!
Inspire more of us to shift our holiday spending to independent businesses.
Affirm our dedication to the local economy movement.

Support Our Campaign Today!

Business Owners: Make the Pledge to Become a Shop Indie Local Sponsor

Show off your dedication to the local economy movement and support our Shop Indie Local efforts today!

Shop Indie Local includes supporting Plaid Friday, Cider Monday, Small Business Saturday, and other promotions happening November 1 - December 31, 2023.

With your support, we will continue to build traction -- inspiring more and more AND MORE community participation and media attention.

Please consider supporting this year’s Plaid Friday, Cider Monday, and Shop Indie Local campaign at one (or more!) of the levels below.

TLC Monadnock Mercantile Rock Star: $25

Your logo or product will appear prominently on our TLC Monadnock Mercantile for one week (you choose the week - first come, first served).

Cider Monday Rock Star: $50

Your logo will appear in our Cider Monday ad in the Monadnock Shopper News (~60,000 weekly readers).

Plaid Friday Rock Star: $75

Your logo will appear in our Plaid Friday ad in the Monadnock Shopper News (~60,000 weekly readers).

Plaid Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cider Monday Rock Star: $150

Your logo will appear in our Plaid Friday AND Cider Monday ad in the Monadnock Shopper News (~60,000 weekly readers) AND the Keene Sentinel (delivered to ~10,000 households).

Plaid Friday Launch Sponsor: $1,000

Sponsor a Plaid Friday launch in your town or at your business. Your name and logo will appear on our Launch Event marketing materials and press release. We'll plan this launch together.

All sponsorship pledges are due by October 31, 2023. Send us an email to pledge your sponsorship or click on the button below to purchase your sponsorship through our crowdfunding campaign.

Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for all you do to support our local economy each and every day.

Support Our Campaign Today!

Staycation Challenge Returns This Summer

Jen Risley — Tue, 30 May 2023 08:59:08 GMT

Last year, The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock launched our first-ever Staycation Challenge. It went so well that we’re bringing the challenge back for another year!

What’s a Staycation?

Summer means vacation for many of us. However, taking a vacation doesn’t have to include traveling far from home to get away. Take a Staycation and experience all the Monadnock Region has to offer.

You’ll save money at the gas pumps and make new connections to nurture throughout the year. The money you spend recirculates in our local economy, building more community health and wealth.

What's the Staycation Challenge?

Enter TLC Monadnock’s Staycation Challenge by pledging to spend your dollars only at locally owned businesses for one day, one week, or the entire month of July.

Learn More

Take our pre-survey now and then a post-survey coming in late July. Complete both surveys for your chance to win our Staycation package.

What’s this year’s Staycation Package?

This year’s winner of our Staycation Package will receive a two-night stay for two at the Inn at East Hill Farm, a farm stay in Troy (includes six delicious home-cooked meals, activities, and use of their facilities); two classes at Aloha Keene, a community center for healthy living in Keene with a regular schedule of yoga and more; one $50 gift card from The Toadstool Bookshops in Keene and Peterborough; One $20 gift certificate from Catbird Flower Farm in Keene (good for their roadside flower stand from May - September); and one $125 gift certificate from Healthy Home Habitats in Keene for a one-hour landscape & garden design consultation.

We’ll announce our winner in mid-August.

Start Your Staycation in June

Why not start Staycationing now? Here are a few events in June to add to your Staycation plans.

Downtown storefronts will transform into art galleries during Keene ArtWalk on June 2 – 11. Stroll up and down Main Street to view the works of local artists. The Art is Everywhere event will happen on Saturday, June 3 from 11 am – 4 pm, as the ArtWalk expands to Railroad Square with performances and interactive art activities. Also, watch artists paint at different downtown locations from 10 am – 1 pm. Check out all the details here.

On June 3, downtown Keene also comes alive with food! The Keene Young Professional Network will host the third annual Taste of Keene Food Festival at the top of Main Street from 11:30 am – 3:30 pm. Enjoy music at Central Square (from pop covers to classic rock) and street performers hosted by The Colonial Theatre.

Purchase small bites and mocktails from twenty-three local restaurants and food producers. New vendors include Prime Roast Coffee, Jenna’s Market, and Muse Tapas Bar & Lounge. Get your food tokens today and save: tasteofkeene.com.

Don’t forget to visit the Taste of Keene’s local craft biergarten to sip on a selection of our region's best brews and spirits (21 and over). Please bring your ID. Purchase beverage tickets at the event. Stay tuned for the Taste of Keene’s full schedule.

On June 22, from 1 – 3 pm, enjoy Pollinator Palooza -- an afternoon of learning and celebration of pollinators at Ashuelot River Park in Keene. This event coincides with National Pollinator Week. Activities include a pollinator scavenger hunt, creating your own bee box, painting your own pot for a native plant, and more.

Local plant and compost vendors will sell a variety of products, with 20% of sales supporting Cheshire County Conservation District’s programs. Vendors include Fassett Farm Nursery, Thistle Dew Farm, Julie's Garden, Phylicia Roberts, Cook Hill Farm, and Echo Farm Puddings. Learn more.

Gilsum will ROCK the weekend of June 24 – 25 during the Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show at the Gilsum Elementary School and Community Center. Browse tables, tables, and tables of gems, jewelry, and minerals for sale or swap. Grab a meal and pan for minerals. At 1 pm on Saturday, New Hampshire mineral expert Tom Mortimer will present. View the full schedule.

Celebrate Pride Month This June

TLC Monadnock will join with the American Independent Business Alliance and partners throughout North America to celebrate LGBTQ+ owned businesses, diversity, and equity. Our regional partners include Keene Family YMCA, Keene Pride, Monadnock Food Co-op, and Prime Roast Coffee Co. Learn more.

Monadnock Food Co-op will launch weekly Round It Up Donation Drives for four organizations focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts this June. The Co-op's Round It Up donation program empowers us to positively impact our community by rounding up our change at the register to support local nonprofits.

June 3 – 9: American Independent Business Alliance
AMIBA provides DEI resources and training for campaigns run locally by The Local Crowd Monadnock. Campaigns include Choose Black-Owned Month, Pride Month, and seven other campaigns.

June 10 -16: The Daily Good
The Daily Good supports food security and diversity through food pantries on local college campuses and other centers.

June 17 – 23: Keene Pride
Keene Pride supports a coalition of services, organizations, and businesses that embrace and serve the LGBTQ+ population.

June 24 – 30: Monadnock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coalition
The MDEIB Coalition advocates for and develop DEI initiatives in the region.

We each play a critical role in creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive region. Our Co-op is proud to support these four organizations and the work they do collectively to make our community more welcoming.

Stay tuned for Staycation updates. Happy local adventures!

Round It Up for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: Weekly Donation Drives in June at Monadnock Food Co-op

Jen Risley — Sat, 27 May 2023 11:22:19 GMT

Monadnock Food Co-op is excited to launch weekly Round It Up Donation Drives for four organizations focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts this June.

The Co-op’s Round It Up donation program empowers you to positively impact your community by rounding up your change to support local nonprofits.

June 3 – 9: American Independent Business Alliance

Provides DEI resources and training for Choose Indie Local campaigns run locally by The Local Crowd Monadnock. Campaigns include Choose Black-Owned Month and eight other campaigns. The Local Crowd Monadnock’s June campaign is Pride Month.

LEARN MORE

June 10 -16: The Daily Good

Supports food security and diversity through food pantries on local college campuses and other centers.

June 17 – 23: Keene Pride

Supports a coalition of services, organizations, and businesses that embrace and serve the LGBTQ+ population.

June 24 – 30: Monadnock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coalition

Advocates for and develops DEI initiatives in the region.

“Each of us plays a critical role in creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive region,” said Jen Risley, Monadnock Food Co-op Community Coordinator. “Our Co-op is proud to support these four organizations and the work they do collaboratively to make our community more welcoming and strong.”

Building a More Walkable Keene

Jen Risley — Thu, 11 May 2023 13:56:59 GMT

The Keene Downtown Group recently launched the Building a More Walkable Keene crowdfunding campaign through The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock.

Support this campaign today!

The funds raised will support bringing Jeff Speck, author and urban designer who advocates internationally for more walkable cities, to Keene on June 12, 2023. Speck has literally written the book on the subject, the 2012 classic Walkable City, the best-selling city planning title of the past decade.

Speck has helped communities large and small understand how walkability supports common goals like increasing tourism, economic activity, public health, safety, and sustainability. His wealth of experience, knowledge, and vision allows him to serve as an invaluable resource to each community he works with, whether the discussion focuses on big-picture change or targeted incremental improvements.

"As our city grapples with major decisions about public space and infrastructure, there could not be a better time to welcome Jeff to our community and benefit from his perspective," said Todd Horner, Vice-Chair of the Keene Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathway Advisory Committee. "We owe it to ourselves and future generations to consider all our options, including ideas that a foremost expert like Jeff can bring to the table. When making tough choices about our world-class city, we should have world-class ideas at our fingertips."

Offline donations are also accepted. Checks can be made out to Keene Downtown Group, PO Box 80, Keene, NH, 03431. Please add "Jeff Speck" to the memo. This crowdfunding campaign continues through May.

Choose Indie Local and Move Your Money

Jen Risley — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 16:08:32 GMT

The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) recently changed their Shop Indie Local program to the name Choose Indie Local. While the name change seems subtle, this shift moves us closer to our vision: Community members at all levels participate as investors, creators, and Indie Local champions — inspired by independent businesses’ impact on community health and wealth.

When we Choose Indie Local, we do so much more than just shop – we bank, invest, create, and donate to boost the ripple effect of economic and community benefits we receive when we support our local economy. Together, we build strong local, equitable, and sustainable economies.

What’s Next for Choose Indie Local?

This April, celebrate Move Your Money Month with AMIBA and The Local Crowd Monadnock. What’s Move Your Money Month? It’s a time to look at where you deposit and invest your dollars and ask, can you move your money closer to home -- by banking with a community bank or credit union and investing in locally owned businesses in our region?

Move Your Money: Bank Local

“Thank you, Silicon Valley Bank, for going belly up just as we at AMIBA prepared for Move Your Money Month in April,” said Michael Shuman, local economist and AMIBA board member. “Seriously, we worried that this slogan, popularized during the 2008 financial meltdown by Occupy Wall Street, might have lost its relevance. But here we are, once again, reminded that the global financial system is too complex, too opaque, and too risky. The solution—as we learned fifteen years ago—is to embrace a localized financial system that is more simple, transparent, and safe.”

When you bank locally at a community bank or credit union in our region, more of your dollars recirculate throughout our local economy -- building more local jobs and prosperity.

Traditional banks, publicly traded and owned by stockholders, exist to provide a return on investment to its owners. Community banks, on the other hand, are privately owned and not publicly traded. While credit unions are cooperatives, meaning the members own it -- the people who use its services and live or work locally.

“Savings Bank of Walpole is a mutual bank [a type of community bank],” shared President Mark Bodin. “Which means we are free of the short-term earnings demands of shareholders, venture capitalists, and other groups of owners. We are owned by our depositors and our community -- and our earnings stay right here with our bank and our community.”

Move Your Money closer to home and closer to your heart by choosing a bank more in line with your values. Who do you bank with now? Search for them at mightydeposits.com and find out what your bank does with your money. Discover how many dollars your bank invests in your community. Want to Move Your Money closer to home?

Find a New Bank!

Move Your Money: Invest Local

“U.S. households and nonprofits held just over $18 trillion in banks in the form of deposits, checking accounts, savings accounts, and money market funds in 2022,” said Shuman. “But it’s nothing compared to the other securities we hold. Americans now have $71 trillion in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, pension funds, and insurance funds—nearly all of it invested in global corporations. If you and your neighbors could shift even a small amount of that capital from Wall Street to Main Street, your local economy could flourish.”

Ready to learn more? Sign up for The Main Street Journal, published by Michael Shuman, highlighting local investing news and events. Also, we’ll share local investing opportunities on our website throughout Move Your Money Month.

Stay tuned!

Invest in Our Planet

We’ll also celebrate Earth Day in April. “Invest in Our Planet,” this year’s theme, connects perfectly with Move Your Money Month. Find ways to share your time, talents, and treasures with our planet by investing in locally owned businesses, sustainable agriculture, alternative transportation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and equity.

Need some inspiration? Join us at Monadnock Earth Festival on Saturday, April 22 from 12 pm – 4 pm in downtown Keene. Learn about what others are doing and making to invest in our planet, enjoy performers, and participate in activities from Railroad Square Park to the Monadnock Food Co-op. Hope to see you there!

2022 TLC Monadnock Annual Report

Jen Risley — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 09:49:40 GMT

The Local Crowd Monadnock thanks you for another fantastic year!

Here's a summary of our major accomplishments for last year:

Collectively raised over $88K from 678 supporters for twelve crowdfunding campaigns in 2022.
Added four new campaigns to our Shop Indie Local program, including Shop Black-Owned, Move Your Money, Independents Month, and Shop Indie Art.
Launched our first-ever Staycation Promotion with over 100 participants -- one lucky winner won a two-night stay to the Inn at Valley Farms in Walpole plus six special items from other locally owned businesses.
Maintained our online marketplace for our region’s locally owned businesses, called TLC Monadnock Mercantile, compiling local products, gift cards, and takeout menus from 200 businesses all in one site.

TLC Monadnock can't do this work without your support, so again THANK YOU! We can't wait to see what we accomplish together in 2023.

Download Our Report

Move Your Money Closer to Home: Bank Local, Invest Local

Jen Risley — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 12:38:23 GMT

This April, celebrate Move Your Money Month with The Local Crowd Monadnock.

What’s Move Your Money Month? It’s a time to inspire you to move your money closer to home -- by banking with a community bank or credit union and investing in locally owned businesses in our region. Move Your Money Month is part of the Shop Indie Local movement, urging individuals to boost the ripple effect of economic and community benefits we receive when we spend and invest our dollars at locally owned businesses.

Move Your Money: Bank Local

When you move your money to a community bank or credit union in our region, more of your dollars recirculate throughout our local economy -- building more local jobs and prosperity.

To back up a bit, what’s the difference between traditional banks, community banks, and credit unions? Traditional banks, publicly owned by stockholders, exist to provide a return on investment to its owners. Typically, these owners do not live where the bank does business. Community banks are privately owned and not publicly traded. These banks usually serve a specific geographical region. A credit union is a cooperative, meaning its members own it -- the people who use its services and live or work locally.

“The fortunes of local banks and credit unions are intimately tied to the fortunes of their local communities. The more the community prospers, the more the local bank benefits,” said Stacy Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. “Big banks, in contrast, are not tethered to the places where they operate. Indeed, they often use a community’s deposits to make investments in other regions or on Wall Street.”

Banking with a community bank or credit union often means getting the same services at lower fees than larger banks. Yup, more value for you and your community. “Average fees at small banks and credit unions are substantially lower than at big banks,” added Stacy. “Studies show that small financial institutions also offer, on average, better interest rates on savings and better terms on credit cards and other loans.”

“The primary activity of almost all small banks and credit unions is to turn deposits into loans and other productive investments,” shared Stacy. “Meanwhile, big banks devote a sizeable share of their resources to speculative trading and other Wall Street bets that may generate big profits for the bank but provide little economic or social value for the rest of us and can put the entire financial system at risk if they go bad.”

Learn more about community banking at ilsr.org/banking.

Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Community Bank or Credit Union

Move Your Money: Invest Local

“Americans now have $56 trillion in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, pension funds, and insurance funds—nearly all of it invested in global corporations,” said Michael Shuman, author and local economist. “If you and your neighbors could shift even a small amount of that capital from Wall Street to Main Street, your local economy could flourish.”

Ready to learn more? Sign up for The Main Street Journal, published by Michael Shuman, highlighting local investing news and events. Also, we’ll share local investing opportunities on our website throughout Move Your Money Month.

Stay tuned!

Invest in Our Planet

Need some inspiration? Join us at Monadnock Earth Festival on April 22, from 12 pm – 4 pm in downtown Keene. Learn about what others are doing and making to invest in our planet, enjoy performers, and participate in activities from Railroad Square Park to the Monadnock Food Co-op. Hope to see you there!

A Valentine's That Keeps On Giving

Jen Risley — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 09:39:22 GMT

Show Your Local Love This Valentine’s Day

This Valentine’s Day, show your “local love” -- love for your sweetie and your whole community -- by purchasing gifts (or gift-making supplies) and meals (or ingredients) at locally owned businesses. Last year, Americans spent $23.9 billion on Valentine’s Day. Imagine if we shifted some of that spending to locally owned businesses!

Locally owned businesses offer us much to love. They strengthen our local economy, culture, and well-being. Independent businesses re-circulate more money in our community than chain stores. Moreover, studies show that small businesses create most new jobs, meaning today’s local Valentines are tomorrow’s jobs.

Valentine’s Plans

Last year’s National Retail Federation survey found that 53 percent of Americans planned to celebrate with candy, greeting cards, and flowers.

Small businesses made it to the top five Valentine’s shopping destinations in National Retail Federation’s survey. The local love spirit is growing! So, continue to show lots of local love this Valentine’s Day. That love will circle back to you, your loved ones, and — best of all — your entire community.

If you plan to shop for Valentine’s gifts online, please check if your favorite locally owned shop has an online store. Or browse our online collection of Valentine’s Day items from independent businesses at TLC Monadnock Mercantile.

Here are some extra special ways to show your local love this Valentine’s Day:

Purchase chocolates from Ava Marie Handmade Chocolates in Peterborough, Life is Sweet Candy Shop in Keene, Ye Goodie Shoppe in Keene, and L.A. Burdick Chocolates in Walpole. Have you seen Burdick’s seasonal Chocolate Rabbits to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit? Adorable and available to ship now through January 27.

Give a gift that keeps giving, select a weekly Flower CSA Share from Vera Flora Farm in Gilsum, Ripple Cut Flower Farm in Peterborough, or Catbird Flower Farm in Keene. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, meaning your purchase of a share now helps these farmers invest in the future growing season with confidence -- knowing that their bounty will go to a good home.

Send a greeting card from Tree-Free Greetings. They make their cards out of sustainable materials such as kenaf, hemp, wheat straw, and sugarcane waste -- right at their solar-powered facility here in Keene. Tree-Free donates 25% of their revenue (not just their profits) to nonprofits through their Cards for a Cause program. Pick up a card online or at Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene.

On February 10, join the Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene for their Local Love Sample Night from 4-6 p.m. Enjoy free samples of local and regional goodies perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift or to complement a Valentine’s Day meal.

Check out other local Valentine's events in 2023:

Local Love Grows

Looking for another way to show the local love and support local economies everywhere? Support our Shop Indie Local crowdfunding campaign on The Local Crowd Monadnock and fuel our year-round movement to grow more local, equitable, and inclusive economies.

With your help, we’ll strengthen campaigns like Plaid Friday and Eat Local Month in your community and throughout North America. Plus, we’ll add new efforts like Move Your Money and Shop Black-Owned Month.

Give Today

Offline donations are also accepted. Checks should be made out to AMIBA with “Shop Indie Local” in the memo and mailed to AMIBA, 524 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA, 01778. Thank you for fueling the Shop Indie Local Movement!

The Pop-Up Economy: What’s New and Popping?

Jen Risley — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 12:42:49 GMT

Whether a pop-up shop, pop-up event, or pop-up planning process – the Pop-Up Economy means that whatever pops up is temporary. This short-term status makes pop-ups less risky than setting up something permanent and typically requires less investment of time and money. It allows entrepreneurs to test a new product or business idea and see how the community responds.

Check out these upcoming pop-up events here in the Monadnock Region.

Winter Wine Pop-Up

Northeast Wine Company will offer Vintage: A Pop-Up Wine Experience on January 5 and February 2 from 2 – 7 p.m. at Brewtopia on Washington Street in Keene. Taste, learn about, and purchase hard-to-find wines at retail cost.

“The American Northeast is currently experiencing a renaissance of wine production, making high-quality and unique wines in every state,” said Sarah Trubnick, owner of Northeast Wine Company. “Northeast Wine Company is dedicated to showcasing sustainably and responsibly produced wines from small wineries throughout these emerging regions. We strive to make these wines available in restaurants and wine shops across New Hampshire and increase public awareness of the Northeast’s unique terroir.”

This event is free, but participants must be 21+ years old. Please register in advance. Learn more about Northeast Wine Company.

Spring Local Community Pop-Up

Save the date for this pop-up! The Monadnocker is thrilled to announce their Local Community Pop-Up on May 20 at His & Hers Farm in Alstead.

“Think fresh air, flowers, and sunshine! The farm’s vintage, lovingly restored barn will feature talented makers from the area with handcrafted goods, foodie flavors, and sweet surprises. Wander His & Hers Farm with its slopes, pergolas, terrace, and garden scapes, all thoughtfully created by kind and generous husband and wife owners, Dean & Wendy,” shared Caroline Tremblay from The Monadnocker. “Together, we’re planning an event filled with lives tunes, games on the grass, and crafting activities for all! If you heard the buzz about our Greenhouse Pop-Up in 2022, you know this is not a day you want to miss.”

TheMonadnocker.com is a digital, local magazine designed to spark, delight in, and celebrate the local experiences that make Southern New Hampshire so extraordinary.

Pop-Up Inspiration Outside Our Region

Here are two pop-up examples beyond our region to inspire the growth of our Pop-Up Economy: Holiday Pop-Up Shops in Oklahoma City and Replay Lincoln Park in Chicago.

Holiday Pop-Up Shops

Each December since 2012, an empty corner in Oklahoma City has transformed into an outdoor shopping destination called The Holiday Pop-Up Shops. This pop-up generated over $650,000 in sales for participating shops last year and raised significant funds for its organizer, the Independent Shopkeepers Association.

Imagine cozy igloo dome tents chocked full of unique products from locally owned businesses, a Christmas tree at the center of this festive scene (much like the one on Keene’s Central Square), plus other decorations and temporary structures to host shopkeepers and attract and delight residents and visitors alike.

“The Holiday Pop-Ups aren't just about supporting local shops; they're also about connecting our community through placemaking,” shared the Independent Shopkeepers Association. “We encourage customers to find new shops during the Pop-Ups and support those shops at their brick-and-mortar locations the rest of the year.”

New this year, The Holiday Pop-Up Shops offered a limited number of Top Shopper Happy Hour preview passes, giving true fans access to three preview shopping nights before the shops opened to the public. Happy Hour shoppers also received special goodies from partners and sponsors. Discover more!

Replay Lincoln Park

A vintage arcade bar in Chicago called Replay Lincoln Park offers unique experiences by launching pop-up themes. Currently, the arcade bar hosts A Very Harry Christmas Pop-Up, transforming the bar into a Harry Potter-themed winter experience with special cocktails, magical photo opportunities, and fun events throughout the month. Past pop-up themes included The Office, Shrek's Swamp, Moe's Tavern, and many more.

“These pop-up shops are a celebration of pop culture and complement our core mission, said Mark Kwia, the manager at Replay. “We’re a vintage arcade bar that celebrates an easier, more youthful time. Never grow up; it’s a trap!”

Have ideas to make our community pop with the Pop-Up Economy? Share your vision with us at jen@thelocalcrowd.com.

Gift Local and Give More: Shop Indie Local and Help Your Community Thrive

Jen Risley — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 12:19:11 GMT

You love the idea of buying local, but the next thing you know … click, you bought that gift online from a business based far from our community. It’s so easy! And your one purchase won’t really make a difference… or will it?

Shopping online impacts job growth, taxes, and land use patterns in our community. Why? One reason is the Local Multiplier.

The Local Multiplier occurs when you spend your dollars at a locally owned and independent business instead of a chain store or online giant. Spend your dollars at independent business and your dollars recirculate through our local economy four times more than if you spent that money at a chain store or online giant. As your dollars move through our community, the money generates more local wealth, charitable contributions, and jobs.

While the image above reflects national data, Monadnock Region independent retailers return, on average, $62 of every $100 spent at their businesses back into our local economy. National chain stores return $14 of every $100 spent, while Amazon returns close to zero.

What causes the Local Multiplier to happen?

We can thank the actions of independent business owners for the Local Multiplier since they spend more of their revenue locally than chain stores and online giants. “Say you spend money at a local pharmacy,” explains local economist and author Michael Shuman. “Its employees then go to the supermarket, which might buy from a local farmer. The more times and the faster a dollar passes between hands without leakage, the more income, wealth, and jobs in a community.”

Job Growth

To get more specific about jobs, one study found that independent retailers employ 57 people for every $10 million in sales, while Amazon employs only 14 people per $10 million in revenue. In 2021, Amazon sales in New Hampshire displaced 8,199 retail jobs, while Amazon employed just 1,000 workers in our state.

These statistics come from a Civic Economics study called “Unfulfilled.” The report found that Amazon’s sales displaced 1,014,163 retail jobs and 621.8 million square feet of commercial space nationally in 2021.

In some communities, the cost to taxpayers is even higher when economic developers offer tax rebates and subsidies to attract Amazon to base some of its operations in their region. As of November 17, Amazon and its subsidiaries received over $5.1 billion in public subsidies. Learn more at goodjobsfirst.org/amazon-tracker.

The rise of online shopping, undercutting Main Street retailers, also changes land use patterns. Amazon doesn’t place its warehouses downtown but in remote industrial parks. Civic Economics concluded that as demand for Main Street storefronts declines, so will local governments’ tax revenue base.

“Amazon provides a valuable convenience, one that tens of millions of households (ours included) are willing to pay $99 a year to maximize,” said Matt Cunningham from Civic Economics. “We do not believe, though, that Americans yet comprehend the nature of the tradeoffs to come. They may be asked to accept an increase of hundreds of dollars in annual household tax burden to pick up the slack from the stores they visit less often. They may be required to fund redevelopment efforts around struggling commercial districts and failed shopping centers, or to live with the boarded up storefronts.”

"This unprecedented study makes abundantly clear the deleterious effects on the American economy resulting from Amazon's strategy of retail dominance," said Oren Teicher, CEO of the American Booksellers Association. "It's our hope that the facts included in this report will help policymakers and the public better understand the need for more diversity in the marketplace and recognize the potential long‐term costs of the loss of healthy local economies."

Do you just love the ease of shopping online? You can still shop online and shop at locally owned businesses. Check out our online marketplace called The Local Crowd Mercantile. Discover gift ideas from 200 Monadnock region businesses. Thanks to Monadnock Food Co-op and Saving Bank of Walpole for allowing us to offer our online marketplace at no cost to participating businesses this year.

Remember, every purchase -- and click -- counts. Please Shop Indie Local this holiday season: Gift Local and Give More!

New Hampshire Eats Local Month: A Decade of Shining a Light on Local Food, Farms, and our Food System

Jen Risley — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 12:23:41 GMT

For the tenth year, let’s shine a light on local food, farms, and our Monadnock Region food system during New Hampshire Eats Local Month, a month-long celebration of our state’s harvest in August.

Discover more!

What do we mean by a food system?

Our food system includes all the pieces needed to bring local food from the farm to our plates: the soil, farm workers, transportation networks, markets, and more -- everything needed to grow, harvest, and distribute these goods to us. These pieces come together to form our local food system.

Please dig in and enjoy part one of this year’s bounty of updates!

Northeast Permaculture in Action

Marty Castriotta of Village Roots Permaculture in Alstead recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to help him write a book called Emerging Patterns of Resilience. The book will explore some of the best examples of permaculture design in the Northeast, including farms and backyard gardens.

Permaculture uses ecological principles -- inspiration from nature -- to design and regenerate healthy, productive landscapes and communities. Marty aims to inspire the next generation, the climate generation, to co-create a future of abundance.

Support Village Roots Today!

Growing Together

Exciting news for local food producers in our region! Monadnock Food Co-op purchased a food production facility on the other side of their parking lot. Ten years ago, the building housed a shared-use space called Neighbor Made to support local producers.

While Neighbor Made closed, a plant-based meal producer, MamaSezz, currently utilizes the space. MamaSezz plans to outgrow the space within the next three years.

What’s next for the space? The Co-op hopes to establish a place that supports its own growth while providing production space for local food producers. Have ideas or questions? Please contact General Manager Michael Faber at gm@monadnockfood.coop.

Round It Up for Food Connects

This August, round up your purchases at Monadnock Food Co-op and donate your change to Food Connects, a food hub based in Brattleboro, VT. Food Connects proudly serves New England farmers and food producers and recognizes that local shopping strengthens our local economy.

In 2021, Food Connects broke all previous records and returned over $1,240,000 in sales to its farmers and food producers, demonstrating its commitment to New England food systems. New Hampshire food producers generated about 38% of these sales. Food Connects also joined the New Hampshire Food Hub Network, made up of six food hubs working collaboratively to strengthen our state’s local food economy.

“We’re thrilled to formally partner with the NH Food Hub Network to strengthen our hub’s connection to others across the state,” said Alex McCullough, Food Hub Co-Director, “Regional partnerships like this provide Food Connects with the ability to connect New Hampshire producers to new markets to the west and south.”

Fresh Local Food Offerings

Cornucopia Project works to plant the seeds for a lifetime of healthy eating. This year’s fresh new offering includes a traveling hydroponic tower for growing food in our region’s schools, libraries, and institutions. They piloted the hydroponic tower in an eighth-grade science classroom and it quickly engaged the students.

Students helped establish the “baby” plants grown on Cornucopia Project’s educational farm in Peterborough and learned how to keep the plants nourished throughout the spring. Lettuce, spinach, pea, tomato, sage, basil, and Swiss chard (a favorite!) provided snacks every week, along with water chemistry and biology lessons.

“We are seeing the impact of firsthand experience on our participants’ learning, joy, curiosity, and engagement with the local food system,” shared Jess Gerrior, Cornucopia Project Program Specialist. “We celebrate our local farmers, restaurants, gardeners, seed savers, and others who are making those lifelong connections.”

Protecting Land for Local Farmers

One thing for sure, food can only be grown locally if there is local land on which to grow it. That’s why the Monadnock Conservancy is working to protect some of the most beloved farms in our region. Using a tool called a conservation easement – a permanent agreement that prohibits development but permits forestry and farming – the Conservancy ensures local farms stay farms in perpetuity while remaining more affordable for future farmers. What’s more, when established, many farm conservation easements provide cash to farmers to expand their business, pay down debt, or plan to transfer the farm to the next generation.

This summer, the Conservancy partnered with Kroka Expeditions to protect 15.5 acres of farmland in Alstead, where the wilderness school grows much of the food consumed by their students and livestock. The soil on the property is considered “prime” by the US Department of Agriculture, meaning it is among the country’s most fertile and productive farmland.

Monadnock Conservancy will work this summer to conserve seven acres of prime land owned and farmed by Pete’s Stand, a third generation farmstand, along the Connecticut River in Walpole. Looking ahead, Picadilly Farm in Winchester will conserve the last 25 unprotected acres of their 71-acre property, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm that feeds 1,000 households in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

“We are honored to partner with local farmers to ensure that their land remains available to farm forever and that their businesses thrive,” said Monadnock Conservancy Executive Director Ryan Owens. “The Monadnock Region’s farms are the cornerstones of our communities.”

Visit a Monadnock Farm

Now, get out there and enjoy our farms! Attend the fourth annual Monadnock Farm Tour on Saturday, August 20, from 12 – 5 pm. Twelve vibrant Monadnock farms will open their barns, fields, hen houses, kitchens, and a pudding plant. The event highlights the impact farms have on our local economy, their role in preserving open space, and how they contribute to our quality of life. The tour costs $10 per car or $5 per person. This Monadnock Farm Tour is produced by the Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition and Monadnock Food Co-op.

Discover more!

Stay tuned for part two of this article in August, including local food and farm updates from Cheshire County Conservation District, The Community Kitchen’s Mobile Food Pantry, and more!

Thank you to all the individuals, programs, policies, and initiatives that continue to build a more robust local and regional food system in our corner of the state and throughout New England. Together, we’re cultivating healthier citizens, communities, and economies.

PART TWO

Celebrating Local Food, Farms, and our Food System

We’re wrapping up NH Eats Local Month -- a month-long celebration of local food, farmers, producers, and our local food system. A strong local food system keeps communities vibrant, economies growing, and landscapes healthy. When you eat local food, the benefits ripple out through our community, helping small businesses thrive.

Here’s part two of our article highlighting updates in our local food system.

Boosting Healthy Food Access

The Local Crowd Monadnock and The Local Crowd Upper Valley launched a crowdfunding campaign to support Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire and Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont Farm Share Programs. These two programs support organic farmers while making high-quality local food more accessible to community members in need.

Funds raised from this crowdfunding campaign will allow more children, families, seniors, and other low-income individuals to receive a season’s worth of farm-fresh, organic produce at a reduced cost. Learn more and support this campaign today.

Support This Campaign

The State of Local Producers

The Monadnock Food Co-op conducted its inaugural Producer Survey this year in partnership with the Cheshire Country Conservation District. The survey collected baseline data from 110 locally owned businesses growing or making products in our region.

These businesses’ most significant challenges include hiring labor, generating a profit, and developing marketing options. In terms of opportunities, survey respondents shared that they’d like to see local food system builders support Eat Local/Shop Local education, boost grant programs, and invest in labor resources. Learn more about the survey at monadnockfood.coop/vendors.

Cultivating Vibrant Farm Businesses

In 2022, Cheshire Country Conservation District partnered with the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship and National Center for Appropriate Technology to host a free business planning course for local food producers. Participating farmers learned how to enhance the competitiveness of their business, created a business plan, and received a $2,000 stipend. Stay tuned for another course this fall at cheshireconservation.org/businessplanning.

Mobile Food Pantry

The Community Kitchen hosted its first Monadnock Mobile Food Pantry pop-up event at the Senior Living Center in Winchester this summer. In addition to pantry staples, the pantry offered locally grown produce from Picadilly Farm in Winchester. Southwestern Community Services provided information about food and heating assistance, and the Monadnock Humane Society offered pet food and information on animal care.
Help bring more local food to the Mobile Food Pantry by contributing to the Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition Locals’ Local Fund at bit.ly/localsfund. This fund will support local farmers who sell fresh, local food at a negotiated price to the mobile pantry. Interested in future mobile pop-up events or volunteering? Please call Kate at 603-352-3200.

Monadnock Grown

Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition will launch a new marketing campaign to help you more easily identify products made or grown in the Monadnock Region. The “Monadnock Grown” designation will inspire us to choose local and boost our local economy by purchasing Monadnock made and grown products at grocery outlets and farm stands. Stay tuned at mfcommunitycoalition.org.

Gardening Together

Some thirty gardeners are growing produce on more than sixty plots at Monadnock View Community Garden (MVCG) in West Keene this season. MVCG also includes a pollinator garden and a communal raspberry patch. Subsidized plots are available for community members who may need assistance, courtesy of Antioch University’s Community Garden Connections.

Gardeners donated seedlings and purchased plants to six dedicated 'Giving Garden' plots to grow vegetables for The Community Kitchen and Hundred Nights Shelter. Volunteer garden angels share in the watering, weeding, and harvesting.

"Impacts from food insecurity, supply chain issues, and climate change mean providing healthy local food to those who need it is more important than ever," shared Rowland Russell, who co-coordinates the Giving Garden with Toni Spring-Baker.

If you are interested in securing a plot at the garden next year, contact Kristy Morrison with the City of Keene at kmorrison@ci.keene.nh.us. Contact Rowland to learn more about becoming a garden angel at rrussell@antioch.edu.

Thank you to all the individuals, programs, policies, and initiatives that continue to build more robust local and regional food systems in our corner of the state and throughout New England. Together, we’re cultivating healthier citizens, communities, and economies.

City of Keene Mayor Proclaims July as Independents Month

Jen Risley — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 11:19:10 GMT

Keene Mayor George Hansel proclaimed July as Independents Month at the July 7, 2022, City Council Meeting.

"Keene's local independent businesses help preserve the uniqueness of the community and give us a sense of place," said Mayor Hansel. "As we celebrate Independents Month 2022, we acknowledge that the ability to choose the direction of Keene lies within each of us."

Independents Month, led locally by The Local Crowd Monadnock and nationally by American Independent Business Alliance, is a time to recognize locally owned businesses and how they make their community healthier and wealthier.

Learn More

Are You Up for the Indie Challenge? Celebrate Independents Month in July

Jen Risley — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 13:03:09 GMT

This July, celebrate Independents Month with The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock. Independents Month is a time to think and act locally to shape our region’s future. One perfect way to celebrate is to take our Indie Challenge. Pledge to make all your purchases at locally owned businesses -- for one day, one week, or the entire month. You choose!

Sign on to the Indie Challenge today!

“I want to help create a robust local economy,” said Indie Challenge-taker Laura Carbonneau from Food Connects. “Business owners can't do it on their own -- they need community buy-in and investment!”

Independents Month Staycation Giveaway

Here’s an extra incentive to take the Indie Challenge: One lucky participant will win our Independents Month Staycation Giveaway. Our Staycation Giveaway includes a two-night Stay at the Inn at Valley Farms in Walpole, a gift card to The Hungry Diner in Walpole, a gift certificate to the Farm Store at Walpole Valley Farms in Walpole, a gift certificate for two 5 x 7 photo prints from Peterborough Camera, Copies & More in Peterborough, two tubes of sunscreen from Badger in Gilsum, one yoga class from Aloha Keene, and two keychains from GeoGraphic Gems. WOW! Now, that’s some staycation inspiration.

Also, all Indie Challenge participants can enter to win the Upper Valley of NH/VT Staycation Giveaway. We’ll announce the winners in early August.

See all the details here

“I believe in buying local -- I did even before it was so popular!” shared Indie Challenge participant Sue Ells from Monadnock Food Co-op. “And I need a staycation!”

Independents Month is an ideal time to recognize our locally owned and independent businesses for the community values they embody and their spirit of entrepreneurship. Also, how they give back to our community with their time, talents, goods, and services, making us healthier and wealthier. Thank an independent business owner and their staff today!

“I love having local businesses nearby because it’s convenient. I can see what I’m buying and how the businesses contribute to our economic community,” said Paula F. of Stoddard. “And I can get the advice and guidance needed for my purchases. We all win!”

Healthier and Wealthier

How do locally owned businesses keep us healthier and wealthier? It’s thanks to the local multiplier effect. When you spend your dollars at independent businesses, those businesses also spend more of their dollars locally, creating a ripple effect in our community that boosts job growth, charitable giving, and overall prosperity. The Monadnock Indie Impact Study found that our region’s local retailers return 62.4% of their revenue to our local economy, while chain stores return just 13.6%.

Learn more

“Our community is the foundation for everything that is good in our world,” shared Michelle D. of Spofford.

Support Local Wherever You Are

Traveling during Independents Week? Enjoy what locally owned businesses have to offer wherever you are. Ask locals where their favorite independents are and look for networks at amiba.net/our-network.

Think independently and act locally this Independents Month and beyond. Together, we’ll boost the positive ripple effects our community receives when we spend more of our dollars at locally owned, independent businesses.

Why Leave? Get Away with a Staycation

Jen Risley — Tue, 24 May 2022 13:14:45 GMT

Summer means vacation for many of us. However, taking a vacation doesn’t have to include traveling far to get away. Take a staycation this year! Stay close to home and experience all the Monadnock Region has to offer. You’ll save money at the gas pumps. Plus, any money you do spend will recirculate in our local economy, building more community health and wealth.

Here are just a few events to add to your staycation plans this June. Also, keep reading to the end of this article to find out how to enter our Staycation Giveaway!

Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show

Gilsum will ROCK the weekend of June 25 – 26 during the Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show at the Gilsum Elementary School and Community Center. Browse tables, tables, and tables of gems, jewelry, and minerals for sale or swap. Grab a meal and pan for minerals. At 1 p.m. on Saturday, Paul Brandes, the “Indiana Jones of Geology,” will share a history of mining starting 60,000 years ago.

View the full schedule

Enter Our Staycation Promotion

Finally, check out our Independents Month Staycation Promotion coming this summer. Enter our giveaway by signing on to our Indie Month Challenge.

Take our pre-survey now and then a post-survey (coming in late July). Complete both surveys for your chance to win our Staycation package.

The winner of our Staycation Package will receive a two-Night Stay at the Inn at Valley Farms in Walpole, a gift card to The Hungry Diner in Walpole, a gift certificate to the Farm Store at Walpole Valley Farms in Walpole, a gift certificate for two 5 x 7 photo prints from Peterborough Camera, Copies & More in Peterborough, two tubes of sunscreen from Badger in Gilsum, one yoga class from Aloha Keene, and two keychains from GeoGraphic Gems. Best of all, you can enter to win an Upper Valley of NH/VT staycation package, too. We’ll announce winners in early August.

Take the Indie Challenge!

We hope summer means staycation for you this year. Happy local travels!

PAST EVENTS

Taste of Keene Food Festival

Also on June 4, downtown Keene comes alive with food, too! The Keene Young Professionals Network will host the second annual Taste of Keene Food Festival at the top of Main Street from 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Central Square, the upper section of Main Street, and part of Roxbury Street will be closed to traffic, allowing for a fantastic pedestrian-only event.

Enjoy small bites from twenty-five local restaurants and food producers. Purchase your food tokens today and save. Watch cooking demos from local and regional chefs throughout the day.

As an added treat, The Colonial Theatre will host two live performances during the festival, the Real McCoy Show International Stunt Comedy in a Hard Hat.

Brent McCoy is the Real McCoy. “His acclaimed show features breathtaking stunts, natural charisma, and a lightning-fast wit. It’s a rocking circus and comedy experience, appropriate for all ages. This ain’t no imitation… it’s the Real McCoy,” shared The Colonial Theatre. “The show features audience participation, original comedy, diabolo, juggling (fire is optional), breakdancing, and his signature finale, ‘a boy on a board on a ball on a bench.’ Brent will meet members of the audience in The Colonial tent between performances. And it's customary to tip street performers!”

Don’t forget to visit the Taste of Keene’s local craft biergarten to sip on a selection of our region's best brews and spirits (21 and over). Please bring your ID. Beverage tokens available for sale at the event. Enjoy live music while you sip from three bands: The Evocatives, Modern Fools, and Mojohand.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! This just in from KeeneYPN: We're looking for ten brave souls who are looking to terrify their taste buds in a scorching hot wing eating contest at the Taste of Keene Food Festival. Contestants will be expected to eat four rounds of increasingly hot chicken wings, with short breaks between each round to let the heat...well...burn. If more than one person survives the wings, we will offer a devilish dessert as a tie-breaker. The winner will be the last one sweati--uh, standing.

Each contestant will get a limited edition Taste of Keene Hot Wing t-shirt, flame sweatband, pint of Frisky Cow Gelato and pint of milk. The top three winners receive grand prizes. Please note that contestants will be required to sign a waiver prior to participating.

Enter by purchasing your ticket here ($30 entry fee). The The Few, the Brave, the SPICY!! contest will run from 3:30 to about 4:15.

Stay tuned for the Taste of Keene’s full schedule

Keene ArtWalk

Downtown storefronts will transform into art galleries during Keene ArtWalk on June 3 – 12. Stroll up and down Main Street to view the works of over sixty New Hampshire artists.

Learn More: Keene ArtWalk

On Saturday, June 4, the ArtWalk expands to Railroad Square with a day of performances and demonstrations, including ballroom dance, glass blowing, and more.

Bike Tour: Backroads and Rail Trail

For a more nature-based staycation plan, join Monadnock Conservancy for a 20-mile mountain bike tour in Fitzwilliam on Saturday, June 18, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn about plans to improve this section of the Cheshire Rail Trail, plus efforts to protect the Chamberlain Conservation Area and Sip Pond. Registration is required.

Register today!

NH Gives: June 7 - June 8

Jen Risley — Mon, 23 May 2022 12:13:05 GMT

NH Gives, an initiative of the NH Center for Nonprofits, is the Granite State's largest day-of-giving - bringing together hundreds of nonprofits and tens of thousands of donors to raise as much money and awareness as possible for the causes they care about.

TLC Monadnock Participating Nonprofits

Is your favorite nonprofit participating?

NH Gives has raised more than $8 million dollars for more than 900 nonprofits since 2016.

A Note From Luca: Support Local Events

Jen Risley — Fri, 20 May 2022 09:50:06 GMT

By Luca Paris

We've tried some new things since I joined as CEO of the Greater Keene & Peterborough Chamber of Commerce (GKPC):

Four sessions of our Regional Issues Series, where we've focused on stabilizing our workforce.
Networking opportunities, from our Chamber Night Out series to our Business After Hours events.
Our Peterborough office grand opening, with an overflow crowd that brimmed with energy and enthusiasm.
Our “Promote the Region” initiative, which is soon to launch a new website, marketing plan, and regional brand.

Thank you for all you’ve helped us achieve.

Now please support our latest effort!

The GKPC continues to collaborate with the community, and our latest endeavor is sponsoring The Thing in the Spring, a four-day music festival happening this week right in downtown Keene at Brewbakers/Nova Arts!

To multiply our impact and support events that benefit our businesses, residents, and increase tourism, we’re giving you an opportunity to help us meet our vision. Even a $5 donation supports our mission to ensure our businesses continue to grow and our region thrives for generations to come.

Support Our Campaign Today!

The Thing in the Spring has already been shared with more than 100,000 social media followers via the artists performing. It’s generating the exact buzz we hoped it would. Equally important, this festival is for all ages, so our high school students can come together to celebrate at a time when they’ve never needed it more.

I am grateful for all you’ve helped us achieve and the difference you’ve made in our local economy. Let’s keep the celebrations going and please donate today!

Monadnock Farm Share Applications Due May 30

Jen Risley — Thu, 12 May 2022 10:22:10 GMT

The Monadnock Farm Share program makes farm shares more accessible to limited-income community members who otherwise would not be able to participate in a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

CSA programs are an opportunity for community members to enjoy farm-fresh produce while supporting local agriculture.

Community members pay 50% of the total farm share cost through the program. View program eligibility here.

This year's applications are due by May 30, 2022, and Cheshire County Conservation District will review applications on a rolling basis (first come, first served).

Community members choose from a listing of participating farms throughout the region.

Access this year's program information & eligibility, application, and participating farm list below:

2022 Application

2022 Participating Farm List

Program Information and Eligibility

What is a CSA?

Farmers face many costs in the operation of their farms. Community Supported Agriculture programs alleviate the financial burdens of farmers before the season begins. CSA customers provide an upfront payment to reserve a share of the season's harvest.

The cost of the CSA serves as a deposit for the season! This upfront cost allows farmers to purchase needed seeds, materials, or equipment for the upcoming season. At the same time, customers can reap this investment by taking home delicious produce once the farm season begins!

Many farms offer half share or full share CSA options. These options vary from farm to farm, but half shares are smaller to feed smaller households, while full shares can feed a larger household or households that eat a lot of vegetables.

Some farms offer on-farm pick-up days, while others provide delivery! Some farms pre-package their CSA shares for a quick pick up, while others allow customers to pick-your-own (PYO!). Pick-up days offer a unique experience to see where your food is grown and interact with other community members! While delivery offers a convenient way to bring fresh produce to your household!

By purchasing a CSA, you support local agriculture while also eating delicious, nutritious, and locally grown produce!

For additional information, questions, or assistance in completing your application, contact Benée Hershon at benee@cheshireconservation.org or 603-756-2988 x 3011.

Get Your Bicycle Ready: May 1 is National Ride a Bike Day

Jen Risley — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 10:31:28 GMT

What better way to kick off this year’s Bike Month than by participating in the second annual National Ride a Bike Day on Sunday, May 1. It’s THE day to celebrate the joys of bicycling! Wondering how to celebrate? Go for a ride.

“We firmly believe that life is better for everyone when more people ride bikes,” shared the League of American Bicyclists. “On National Ride A Bike Day, let’s all ride bikes together, wherever we are and at our own pace, to take part in a collective action and kick start making life better for everyone.”

Why bike? Bicycling offers a fun and healthy way to get around. Studies show cycling elevates mood, memory, and metabolism. Cycling also reduces our carbon emissions and overall environmental impacts. All great reasons to get rolling!

“When all of us who ride bikes ride together on National Ride A Bike Day,” continued the League of American Bicyclists. “We can show our neighbors and our leaders why making it easier, safer, and more accessible to ride a bike is so important to so many people.”

Please join us on Sunday, May 1, for National Ride A Bike Day and then keep celebrating Bike Month all month long.

More Ways to Celebrate Bike Month

Following Bike Day, schools across the country will celebrate Bike & Roll to School Day on May 4. Over 800 schools will participate to call attention to making routes to schools safer and kids more active.

Learn more about Bike & Roll to School Day

The Kiwanis Kool Wheels Event will happen on May 7, from 10 am to 12 pm, at the Keene Recreation Center. Kool Wheels is a free family event where kids ages 4-12 may select a new bicycle helmet and learn about bike safety. Kids can bring their bicycles to the event for a tune-up.

Learn more

Put these dates on your calendar: Bike to Work Week is May 16-22, with Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 20.

Discover more about Bike Month

Track all your bicycling miles on Love to Ride's website. Once you're registered, you can also sign up for their National Bike Challenge. Create your own goals, connect with other bicyclists, and perhaps even win a prize.

What’s New Locally in Bicycling?

Keene’s Transportation Heritage Trail project will connect the rail trail from Eastern Avenue to the Swanzey town line. While we can’t enjoy this project until 2027, we can help fundraise for the trail by participating in Pathways for Keene’s 4 on the 4th Road Race.

Learn more

This summer, the City of Keene begins work on the Ammi Brown Trail and sections of the rail trail between the intersection of Hurricane and Aldrich roads to Summit Ridge Drive. Once completed by July 31, we’ll have a new bicycle and pedestrian loop that runs along West Street, Park Avenue, Summit Road, and Summit Ridge Drive, linking to the Cheshire Rail Trail.

Another important development in bicycling this year, UNH Cooperative Extension recently wrapped up a report called “Strengthening Connections: Downtowns & Trails,” highlighting how we can better connect Keene’s rail trails to downtown businesses. Assessors walked the trails and interviewed trail users to discover ways people do (and could) connect with our downtown assets.

“For a small city, Keene seems to offer a wide variety of businesses with numerous restaurants and a variety of retail as well as office space,” cited the report. “Assessors, by and large, found the business amenities available in Keene to be great assets. From a variety of restaurants, sporting opportunities, to general shopping, there were a number of places a trail user and any visitor or resident for that matter, might frequent.”

The report recommends adding more wayfinding signs to direct people towards these attractions.

“One main feature that will help with this connection is the inclusion of information about businesses and services on signage about trails,” stated the report. “Simple statements such as ‘downtown businesses are x miles from this point and include food, retail, and services.’ There is a great display in Railroad Square that could be further enhanced with information about general downtown amenities.”

The report also calls for amplifying the amazing community art near the trails, plus adding more art along the trails.

“Community art can be a powerful value-add to a user’s or resident’s overall experience in a community. Keene is fortunate to have a strong commitment to community art,” shared the report. “The Walldog Murals are the most vivid display of this effort and are visible from the trails. In addition to this clear asset, assessors noted a potential opportunity to enhance the community art space behind the Monadnock Food Co-op and right on the Cheshire rail trail. Others also noted that there were places along the trails that could be enhanced by the addition of some community art-such as sculptures.”

Read the full report

Happy bicycling!

Economy State House Fiscal Committee approves $100 million housing grant program; plan moves to Executive Council

Jen Risley — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 15:05:33 GMT

by Ethan DeWitt,

New Hampshire Bulletin

April 15, 2022

The New Hampshire Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee approved a $100 million, federally funded housing investment plan Friday, a critical step for a proposal touted by Gov. Chris Sununu as a means to increase rental capacity and workforce housing.

Voting 8-2, the committee signed off on a program to devote $60 million to matching grants for housing developments in the state and $40 million to grants to incentivize towns to speed up permitting processes and overhaul zoning laws. The initiative still requires approval from the state’s Executive Council, which meets April 20.

The new program would allow developers or housing organizations to apply for up to $3 million in matched funding for projects, provided those projects would be used for rental housing and include at least five units.

If the program is approved next week, the application period will begin in June, said Department of Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell, whose department designed the program and would be tasked with distributing the money. Developers will have until June 2023 to apply.

Meanwhile, towns will be eligible for $10,000 per unit of new housing they approve within six months, and will have access to funding to help demolish dilapidated properties or to hire consultants to help overhaul their zoning ordinances.

Addressing the committee Friday, Caswell said he expected many of the early grants to go toward developments driven by housing nonprofits.

“I’m anticipating that the first several rounds of this program would be held exclusively for our nonprofit developers who are developing exclusively those types of affordable units,” he said. “And for smaller developments.”

But some Democrats have continued to express concern that the initiative does not include income requirements, and urged Caswell to prioritize affordable housing projects when approving applications.

During Friday’s Fiscal Committee meeting, Sen. Cindy Rosenwald, a Nashua Democrat, asked Caswell why the department had opted to categorize the funds as “revenue replacement,” a designation that exempts the state from certain income limits. Approving the funds under the standard process would have required that the state target them to families making 300 percent of the federal poverty level or below.

“There’s no requirement for affordability standards,” Rosenwald said. “So I’m wondering why we chose not to build affordable housing with these public funds?”

Caswell said the state had used the revenue replacement approach in order to maximize flexibility for the projects and avoid limitations. But he said he expected many of the housing developments that apply for the funding to already have income targets because they are receiving external grants that require that.

Still, he said, the department anticipated a mix.

“They will be projects that have a zoning requirement that might be forced by locality, like an inclusionary zoning requirement,” he said. “They might be projects that have mixed income within them, so there’s a component that has an affordability piece to it, but then there’s a market rate component to that. And they might be in a rural town where you have an old Victorian house that somebody’s converting into five, six, seven units.”

Caswell said the department would publish lists of which projects get approved and how much each receives. And he said guidance for how developments could apply would be published ahead of June.

Rep. Susan Almy, a Lebanon Democrat, noted issues Lebanon has had with building affordable housing; housing developments that have been approved recently have tended to benefit residents making above the median income, she said, and not those who need it most. Still, Almy said she would support the funding due to the extreme need in the Upper Valley.

Senate President Chuck Morse, a Salem Republican and a candidate for U.S. Senate, said he supported the intention to make the program as flexible as possible.

First announced during Sununu’s State of the State address in February, the $100 million plan has received varying reactions from advocacy groups. ABLE NH, a disability rights group, has opposed the structure of the program, contending that it should be targeted to low-income residents and include guarantees for independent living projects, noting that people with disabilities have been burdened by the pandemic.

But one leading affordable housing organization, Housing Action New Hampshire, is supportive of the move.

“There are certainly a lot of projects from the nonprofit developer community that are focused on delivering affordable units to New Hampshire’s workforce, that are in the pipeline and honestly have competed for very limited resources,” said Elissa Margolin, the organization’s director. “And so now we have an opportunity to move a lot of those ahead and then partner with municipalities at the same time.”

The next step, Margolin continued, is to organize applications so that the affordable housing projects are given priority.

New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Hampshire Bulletin maintains editorial independence.

Contact Editor Dana Wormald for questions: info@newhampshirebulletin.com. Follow New Hampshire Bulletin on Facebook and Twitter.

Keep the Green in Our Community

Jen Risley — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 10:31:00 GMT

This St. Patrick's Day, keep the green in your community and choose local first.

Deposit your money at community banks and credit unions
Invest in locally owned businesses
Shop and celebrate at independent businesses

If you plan to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at home this year, order take-out at an independent restaurant or purchase meals ingredients at locally owned market. This year, despite the pandemic, Americans plan to spend $5.87 billion to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Let's shift some of that spending to locally owned businesses!

Locally owned businesses help us keep the green in our communities. They strengthen our local economy, culture, and well-being. Independent businesses re-circulate more money in our community than chain stores. Moreover, studies show that small businesses create most new jobs.

Want to do more? Move Your Money

Learn more about our Move Your Money campaign starting April 1.
RSVP for our ABCs of Local Investing Webinar on March 23 at 4 p.m. ET.

Round It Up at Monadnock Food Co-op to Grow Shop Indie Local

Jen Risley — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 10:03:32 GMT

We’re very excited to share that Monadnock Food Co-op selected Shop Indie Local as a Round It Up Donation Drive partner for March. Starting March 1, donate your change to us at the Monadnock Food Co-op to help expand Shop Indie Local into a year-round movement in the Monadnock Region.

Shop Indie Local celebrates locally owned businesses and works to increase spending at and investment in these businesses through events like Plaid Friday and Cider Monday. Supporting independent businesses is the key to building stronger local, equitable, and inclusive economies.

"The Monadnock Region continues to serve as a model for how communities can implement a strong Shop Indie Local holiday campaign," said Michael Faber, Monadnock Food Co-op General Manager. "We're excited to see this movement expand to include campaigns to boost local investing and eating more locally grown and raised foods."

Attention Nonprofits: Register for NH Gives

Jen Risley — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 15:21:58 GMT

Register for NH Gives Today!

Any 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization headquartered in or providing services in NH can sign up to participate in the 24-hour giving day that has raised more than $8 million dollars for more than 900 nonprofits since 2016. Is your favorite nonprofit participating?

NH Gives, an initiative of the NH Center for Nonprofits, is the Granite State's largest day-of-giving - bringing together hundreds of nonprofits and tens of thousands of donors to raise as much money and awareness as possible for the causes they care about. Make sure your favorite charitable nonprofit knows about NH Gives. Registration is now open.

Find out more or register today and be a part of NH Gives 2022 at https://www.nhgives.org/info/application-preparation or visit https://www.nhgives.org/info/faq to learn more about it.

2021 TLC Monadnock Annual Report

Jen Risley — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 12:32:40 GMT

Thanks to all of your support, The Local Crowd Monadnock met our crowdfunding goal of raising at least $100K for local businesses and initiatives in 2021.

Here's a summary of our major accomplishments for last year:

Launched the Monadnock Restaurant Project, a homegrown stimulus effort that raised close to $30K to purchase gift cards from locally owned restaurants. We strategically dispersed these gift cards to community members through partnering businesses. Then, we asked participants to spend these cards quickly and above what the card is worth, providing an immediate shot in the arm to Keene’s local economy.
Grew our online marketplace for our region’s locally owned businesses, called TLC Monadnock Mercantile, compiling local products, gift cards, and takeout menus from 203 businesses all in one site.
Collectively raised over $103K from 745 supporters for 8 crowdfunding campaigns in 2021. See all our campaigns here!
Served as program manager for Shop Indie Local, a program of the American Independent Business Alliance, that boosted the success of Plaid Friday and Cider Monday in our region and throughout the nation.

TLC Monadnock can't do this work without your support, so again THANK YOU! We can't wait to see what we accomplish together in 2022.

Download Our Report

AMIBA Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Grow Shop Indie Local Movement

Jen Risley — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 13:56:22 GMT

The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) partnered with The Local Crowd Monadnock to launch a crowdfunding campaign. This campaign will raise funds to grow AMIBA’s Shop Indie Local program, a year-round movement to grow more local, equitable, and inclusive economies.

“For the past decade, our Shop Indie Local partners have pulled together to support locally owned businesses during the holiday season,” said Jen Risley, AMIBA’s Shop Indie Local Coordinator. “Now, we invite you to fuel our year-round movement!”

Our crowdfunding campaign will offer a limited number of rewards to individuals who give at certain financial levels. For example, for $25, a campaign supporter can opt to receive a signed copy of local economist Michael Shuman‘s latest book, Put Your Money Where Your Life Is.

Offline donations are also accepted. Checks should be made out to AMIBA with “Shop Indie Local” in the memo and mailed to AMIBA, PO Box 6601, Cincinnati, OH, 45206-9998.

Support Our Campaign Today!

Keene Ice and Snow Festival

Jen Risley — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 17:09:01 GMT

19th Annual Keene Ice and Snow Festival

Saturday, February 5, 10am - 4pm

In Downtown Keene, NH

Come to Downtown Keene for a day of free winter fun for everyone!

Ice Carvers, Snow Sculptures, Children's Train Ride, Snow Slide, Circus Arts, Campfire Smores, Sugar on Snow, Sidewalk Sales, Find the Yetis Scavenger Hunt & Free Signature Hot Chocolate Stations, Face Painting & More.

Stay Updated

This New Year, Stand Up for Small Businesses

Jen Risley — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 10:26:10 GMT

A big thank you to everyone who gave a gift to our community -- by shopping at locally owned businesses this holiday season. Now, here’s your chance to stand up for our independent businesses this New Year.

Congress is debating six historic anti-monopoly bills aimed primarily at Big Tech corporations. These bills can help level the playing field for small businesses and curb some of the negative impacts these corporations have on our local economy. Keep reading to learn more and then contact your representatives today.

Online sales affect jobs, taxes, and land-use patterns in local communities. In terms of jobs, one study found that independent retailers employ 57 people for every $10 million in sales, while Amazon employs only 14 people per $10 million in revenue. In 2018, Amazon sales in New Hampshire resulted in a net loss of 4,287 retail jobs.

The latter statistic came from a study by Civic Economics called Prime Numbers: Amazon and American Communities. The study found that Amazon’s sales in 2018 resulted in the loss of over $5.5 billion in tax revenues, 900,000 retail jobs, and 540 million square feet of commercial space nationally. In New Hampshire, the study calculated that Amazon’s sales displaced 296 retail storefronts in our state.

Another way Amazon impacts small businesses is through third-party sales. Here’s an excerpt from a new report called Amazon’s Toll Road by Stacy Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance:

One of the most striking measures of Amazon’s monopoly power is the extraordinary amount of money that it’s able to extract from the independent businesses that rely on its site to reach customers. In this report, we find that, over the last two years, Amazon’s revenue from the fees it levies on third-party sellers has more than doubled. In 2019, Amazon pocketed $60 billion in seller fees. This year, its take will soar to $121 billion, our analysis finds.

Amazon’s dominance of online retail means that small businesses have little choice but to rely on its site to reach consumers. This report finds that Amazon is exploiting its gatekeeper power to pocket a growing cut of the revenue earned by these independent sellers. It’s doing this by imposing ever-larger fees on them. These exorbitant fees make it nearly impossible for sellers to sustain a viable business online. Most fail.

Operating an unregulated, monopoly tollbooth that sits between businesses and consumers is wildly lucrative. Amazon’s revenue from the tolls it imposes on sellers has soared, growing much faster than every other major revenue stream, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), its vast cloud division. These fees generate huge profits for Amazon, a fact that the tech giant conceals in its financial reports.

Amazon’s ability to extract such steep tolls from businesses selling online is a striking illustration of its monopoly power. These fees also play a crucial role in how Amazon maintains that power. As this report details, Amazon depends on profits from seller fees to fund massive losses in other areas of its operations — losses that serve to entrench and expand its dominance.

Policymakers must act to end Amazon’s exploitation and create an open, dynamic, and competitive online market. Read the full report and please stand up for small businesses today!

How Homeowners Can Become Home Creators

Jen Risley — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 10:14:01 GMT

With an aging population, smaller family size, and stagnant wages, we need to pursue creative solutions to overcome our region's housing shortage. An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) -- a home built on the lot of an existing home -- offers one underutilized solution where a homeowner becomes a home creator.

Learn more about ADUs at a free, virtual discussion called "ADUs: How Homeowners Can Become Home Creators" on Wednesday, November 3, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Panelists will share the positive impacts of ADUs, what's preventing us from building more ADUs, and how we can overcome these barriers. We'll hear from Christopher Lee from Backyard ADUs, RJ Adler from Wheel Pad, Tyler Maas from Vermont State Housing Authority, and Barbara Conrey from Sustainable Montpelier Coalition.

James Vayo of Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission will moderate the discussion. Event partners include Southwest Region Planning Commission, Vital Communities, and The Local Crowd Monadnock.

Other TLC Monadnock News: Shop Early, Shop Local

Why Shop Indie Local early this holiday season? Supply and staffing shortages mean locally owned businesses face even more challenges this year. Let's ensure that independent businesses have strong end-of-the-year sales by supporting them now: Pre-order gifts and supplies today, buy a gift card, support our crowdfunding campaign, and share on social media how much you love locally owned businesses (tag your post with #shopindielocal).

Save the Date: Plaid Friday is November 26

Wear plaid on Plaid Friday to show your support for our local economy and commitment to buying local this holiday season. The day to wear plaid this year is Friday, November 26!

Some independent businesses will serve as Plaid Friday Hubs. Hubs will photograph customers decked out in plaid and answer questions about Plaid Friday and Monadnock Buy Local. In addition to hubs, some members will offer special events to thank you for stopping in. Stay tuned!

We will add all the photos taken to our annual collage, celebrating everyone who wore plaid to honor the day. Check out our gallery of 500 pictures from past Plaid Fridays.

RSVP: Plaid Friday

Also, don't forget that our Shop Indie Local crowdfunding campaign ends October 31. We're at 75% of our goal -- so close! With your support now, we will inspire more and more AND MORE community participation in Plaid Friday this year. Together, we will leverage the importance of supporting locally owned businesses, encourage more of us to shift our holiday spending to independent businesses, and affirm your dedication to the local economy movement.

Contribute to our success and support us today!

Scroll down our page and claim a reward from Cheshire Garden, Life Is Sweet, or Monadnock Food Co-op (while supplies last). If you prefer to send a check, please make one out to Monadnock Food Co-op with Shop Indie Local in the memo. Please mail it to Monadnock Food Co-op, c/o Jen Risley, 34 Cypress Street, Keene, NH, 03431. Thank you!

Don't Forget: TLC Monadnock Proposals Due October 31

Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen -- one that would strengthen your business, our community, and the local economy -- if only you had the funds to make it happen? Will your project support community goals while keeping to a budget of $15,000 or less?
If you said yes to these questions, please consider applying to launch a crowdfunding campaign with The Local Crowd.

TLC Monadnock will select up to six teams to participate in its next crowdfunding cohort, based on each project's potential to positively impact their local economy and community. Accepted proposals will launch their campaigns in winter or early spring 2022.

Additionally, TLC Monadnock will award one proposal a free video produced by 710 Main Films to support their crowdfunding campaign. Studies show that crowdfunding campaigns with videos raise four times more funds than campaigns without videos.

While we welcome all for-profits, nonprofits, and community initiatives to apply, we'll give preference to projects that address affordable housing, local food and farms, and equity.

All proposals are due before 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2021.

View all the details.

ADUs: How Homeowners Can Become Home Creators

Jen Risley — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 09:00:07 GMT

What are “accessory dwelling units” (ADUs), and how can they help address our regional housing shortage? Find out in this free, virtual discussion, ADUs: How Homeowners Can Become Home Creators, on Wednesday, November 3, 5:30-7 pm.

New Hampshire and Vermont, like much of the nation, are struggling to create housing options that meet the needs of a changing population and a shifting economy. Our population is aging, with many older adults wanting to remain in their communities but who cannot find appropriately scaled, universally accessible homes nearby. Households are becoming smaller, with families choosing to have fewer children and consequently looking for housing that’s smaller than the conventional single-family home. Wages have remained flat while housing costs have soared, straining household budgets and putting much of the housing market out of reach for working and middle-class families.

Addressing these challenges will require pursuing a variety of strategies and creating a range of housing types. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)—a home built on a lot of an existing home—offer one approach that communities and ordinary homeowners can use to create much-needed housing that fits within the context of a surrounding neighborhood.

Join us for a virtual discussion about:

How ADUs have positively impacted the lives of their inhabitants
What’s preventing more widespread construction of ADUs
What are some strategies for addressing barriers.

Our panelists will include:

Christopher Lee, Backyard ADUs
RJ Adler, Wheel Pad
Tyler Maas, Vermont State Housing Authority
Barbara Conrey, Sustainable Montpelier Coalition

This virtual discussion will be moderated by James Vayo of Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission and is brought to you by Southwest Region Planning Commission, Vital Communities, and The Local Crowd Monadnock.

The Local Crowd Monadnock Updates

Jen Risley — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 12:23:46 GMT

Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen -- one that would strengthen your business, our community, and the local economy -- if only you had the funds to make it happen? Will your project support community goals while keeping to a budget of $15,000 or less?

If you said yes to these questions, please consider applying to launch a crowdfunding campaign with The Local Crowd.

While we welcome all for-profits, nonprofits, and community initiatives to apply, we’ll give preference to projects that address affordable housing, local food and farms, and equity.

All proposals are due before 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2021.

Apply Today!

New Crowdfunding Campaign: Shop Indie Local

For a decade, our community has come together to support our locally owned businesses and the Shop Indie Local movement. This year's Shop Indie Local efforts (including our community's signature Plaid Friday and Cider Monday events) will provide critical relief to local business owners -- our friends and neighbors.

With your support now, we will inspire more and more AND MORE community participation. This is THE year to support this movement. Together, we will leverage the importance of supporting locally owned businesses, inspire more of us to shift our holiday spending to independent businesses, and affirm your dedication to the local economy movement.

Contribute to our success and support us today!

If you prefer to send a check, please make one out to Monadnock Food Co-op with Shop Indie Local in the memo. Please mail it to Monadnock Food Co-op, c/o Jen Risley, 34 Cypress Street, Keene, NH, 03431. Thank you!

The Farm Café: Outdoor Patio Campaign

Congratulations to The Farm Café in Keene. They surpassed their crowdfunding campaign goal! They raised $3,593 to purchase new outdoor tables, chairs, and umbrellas to create a welcoming and safe outdoor dining patio area in front of their business.

More about TLC Monadnock

TLC Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations, and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity. Our goal is to raise at least $100K for ten campaign teams in 2021. We’re thrilled to share that, as of today, we’ve supported eight campaign teams who have raised over $90K. We’re so close to reaching our goal with just two months to go!

TLC Monadnock is currently hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by the Greater Keene and Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation. Have questions? Please contact me at jen@thelocalcrowd.com or 603-400-9157.

A Mural for the Barn at Britton Farm

Jen Risley — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 12:17:41 GMT

Harvey Edwards shared a local food and farm update with us. In turn, we wanted to share it with all of you! Josie Britton painted as mural on the barn of her family’s farm, The Britton Farm in Walpole.

“We can always use a smile, especially when feeling stressed,” shared Harvey. “And this mural that Josie Britton created certainly makes one stop and smile. Even more so when one of the cows or bulls at their farm is also looking out the real window and admiring this work of art.”

Josie's father, Larry Britton, recently finished renovating this barn -- built in the 1700s by his Great-Great-Grandfather. Josie worked with her sister, Emily, to add a colorful mural to the barn this August.

We hope you’ll check out Josie’s mural the next time you travel down Watkins Hill Road. Thank you, Harvey, for sharing this story with us!

October is the New December

Jen Risley — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 11:38:10 GMT

Shop Early, Shop Local: October is the New December

Why Shop Indie Local early this holiday season?

Supply and staffing shortages mean locally owned businesses face even more challenges this year.

Let’s ensure that independent businesses have strong end-of-the-year sales by supporting them now:

Pre-order gifts and supplies today
Buy a gift card
Support our crowdfunding campaign
Share on social media how much you love locally owned businesses (tag your post with #shopindielocal)
Share October is the December posts on social media

A huge thank you to the American Booksellers Association for creating the October is the New December campaign to boost the Shop Early, Shop Local message. Check out their campaign here.

“Bookstores Need Your Help. As booksellers are in the midst of the important fourth-quarter sales season, the American Booksellers Association encourages readers to shop local. Check with your local independent bookstore how you can shop with them — whether in-store, online, or both.”

Arts Alive! Mini-Grants: Artists and Creative Businesses

Jen Risley — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 10:12:37 GMT

Arts Alive! is offering mini-grants to artists and creative businesses in the Monadnock region. Applications are open from September 1 - October 31, 2021. Grants will be awarded to projects that further either the artist or creative business - expanding their professional abilities or increasing how many people artists or creative businesses can reach with creative arts experiences.

The money will be given to artists, writers, performers, and creative business entrepreneurs. Grant awards will be distributed via a check. Awardees will need to fill out a W9 form to receive their payment.

Arts Alive!’s mission is to support, grow, and connect a sustainable arts landscape in the Monadnock Region. “We want the Monadnock region to have a flourishing cultural community that values arts and culture and provides support to facilitate success.” The organization’s vision is that the greater community will take pride in the arts, which are seen as integral to a thriving society and economy.

Apply online!

Download the Application

Mail your completed application to Arts Alive! 15 Eagle Court, Keene NH 03431.

Community-Supported Local Food Fundraising

Jen Risley — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 18:43:45 GMT

This month, The Local Crowd Monadnock (TLC Monadnock), a community-based crowdfunding program, launched two local food-related campaigns. Perfect since August is NH Eats Local Month! One campaign for The Farm Café in Keene and the other for Food Connects in Brattleboro. Whether you give $5 or $500, it all comes together to strengthen our local food system.

The Farm Café: Outdoor Patio Campaign

With more of us looking to dine local and outdoors, The Farm Café in Keene wants to meet this community need. They recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to purchase new outdoor tables, chairs, and umbrellas to create a welcoming and safe outdoor dining patio area in front of their business.

“Here at The Farm Café, our mission is to support small farms, businesses, and a local economy in the most eco-friendly way that we can,” said Chef Skip, owner of The Farm Café. “We work hard to bring local, organic, real foods to you, our patrons, for your enjoyment.”

As I write this article, they have reached 40% of their $3,000 goal. Give at certain levels and claim a great reward (or two) while they last. Rewards include a Farm Café gift card, t-shirt, hoodie, the privilege of naming a new menu item, and a Chef’s VIP Night (a 3-course meal for two).

Give Today!

Food Connects: Farm to School in a Neighborhood Near You

Food Connects is an entrepreneurial non-profit on a mission to create healthy families, thriving farms, and connected communities. They partner with local schools throughout southeastern Vermont to support their Farm to School initiatives, and they want to bring this work to the Monadnock Region!

“We want to help Monadnock Region schools grow their Farm to School programming by collaborating with existing programs like the Cornucopia Project and Stonewall Farm,” said Laura Carbonneau, Food Connects Marketing Manager. “Our work will help ensure more kids have access to local food, integrate more Farm to School curriculum, and supply more school staff with the support they need. When schools embrace Farm to School programming, students spend more time outdoors—gardening, engaging in hands-on lessons, and exploring the natural world.”

After just one week, they have reached 40% of their $8,000 goal. Rewards include Food Connects swag, a charcuterie platter, and a private kids’ cooking class.

Give today!

More about TLC Monadnock

Watch for more crowdfunding campaigns launching this fall, including a campaign to support this year’s Plaid Friday and Cider Monday campaigns. Also, we plan to recruit more affordable housing, sustainable agriculture, and equity campaigns for a 2022 launch. Please stay tuned.

TLC Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations, and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity. Our goal is to raise at least $100K for ten campaign teams in 2021. We’re thrilled to share that, as of today, we’ve supported eight campaign teams who have raised over $80K. Our 2021 goal is in sight!

TLC Monadnock is currently hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by the Greater Keene and Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation. Have questions? Please contact me at jen@thelocalcrowd.com or 603-400-9157.

NH Eats Local Month: Shining a Light on Local Food, Farms, and our Food System

Jen Risley — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 08:45:35 GMT

For the ninth year, let’s shine a light on local food, farms, and our Monadnock Region food system during New Hampshire Eats Local Month, a month-long celebration of our state’s harvest in August.

Discover more

What do we mean by a food system?

Our food system includes all the pieces needed to bring local food from the farm to our plates: the soil, farm workers, transportation networks, markets, and more -- everything needed to grow, harvest, and distribute these goods to us. These pieces come together to form our local food system.

Please dig in and enjoy this year’s bounty of updates!

A Profession of Hope

Land access remains the top challenge for beginning farmers in New Hampshire. Land For Good, a leader in farmland access based right here in Keene, helps address this challenge. Their New England Farmland Finder helps connect transitioning farmers with farm seekers. Over 4,000 farm seekers have subscribed to this service, hoping to secure land.

“Farming is a profession of hope. Farmers of all types and scales anticipate every new growing season and production cycle with hope, now more than ever,” shared Lisa Luciani, Land For Good’s communications manager. “They move forward with hope about weather, market conditions, and sustaining their farms. We all remain hopeful for a more robust, equitable, and resilient post-COVID food system that strengthens our communities, economies, and ecosystems.”

Garden Angels

Thirty gardeners are growing produce on more than forty plots at Monadnock View Community Garden (MVCG) on Park Avenue in West Keene this season. MVCG also includes a pollinator garden and a communal raspberry patch. Subsidized plots are available for community members who may need assistance, courtesy of Antioch University’s Community Garden Connections.

Area businesses donated 250 plants and “garden angels” planted them in available plots to grow vegetables for The Community Kitchen and Hundred Nights Shelter. Garden angels share in the watering, weeding, and harvesting in these plots.

If you are interested in securing a plot at the garden, contact Kristy Morrison with the City of Keene at kmorrison@ci.keene.nh.us. Contact Rowland Russell to learn more about becoming a garden angel at rrussell@antioch.edu.

Food Hub Grows to Meet Demand

Food Connects, a food hub based in Brattleboro, VT, has leveraged its longstanding ties with community producers and wholesale customers to meet increased demand for local food. This year, they hired six new employees—doubling their staffing levels. They also built a second walk-in cooler and added a fourth refrigerated delivery vehicle.

"As we responded to the community’s need for fresh, regional foods, we saw our sales double in 2020, growing to over $1.1 million," said McKenna Hayes, Food Hub Co-Director, "The year 2020 shined a bright spotlight on regional foods. Our challenge going forward will be to keep that light focused and carry the momentum of 2020 forward."

From Farm to Fork

During its 15th anniversary, Cornucopia Project in Peterborough expanded school garden programming to thirteen classrooms. Garden Educators delivered in-person lessons and developed classroom-ready lesson kits to support outdoor learning during the pandemic. Culinary programs continued with meal kits designed for kids, bringing locally produced ingredients and fun lessons into families’ home kitchens.

Cornucopia Project also worked with twenty-five restaurants and the Town of Peterborough to sponsor Peterborough Community Meals To Go. This innovative project raised over $85,000 to pay local restaurants to prepare free, healthy meals for community distribution through May of this year.

Another new project, the Monadnock Farm to School Network (MF2S), is a partnership with the New Hampshire Farm To School Network and Stonewall Farm. The Network builds capacity for our region’s farm to school programs by collaborating on key issues like funding, finding resources and tools, sharing contacts, and brainstorming strategies.

“By introducing food systems programs to students from preschool onward, we prioritize education that is rooted in sustainability and nutrition,” said Executive Director Lauren Judd. “These experiences enhance personal connections to food and the environment. We are committed to strengthening our community with healthy food education from farm to fork.”

Local Food Stars

Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition (MFCC), Monadnock Food Co-op, and Food Connects plan to launch a new “Local Food STAR” campaign, highlighting restaurants that source from local farms. Stay tuned for more program details.

MFCC also invites you to this year’s Monadnock Farm Tour on Saturday, August 21, from 12 pm – 5 pm. Seven Monadnock farms are opening their barns, pastures, hoop houses, flower gardens, and pudding plant. Purchase tour wristbands at each farm for $5 per person ($10 per car).

"Our community looked to local farms and farm products for secure, accessible, and affordable food over the last year, and our local food system answered the call,” shared Roe-Ann Tasoulas of MFCC. “Farmers worked together to offer each other’s products at farm stands, CSA sales were at an all-time high, and new programs were developed to get local and charitable food onto the plates of all members of our community. We are grateful to be an integral part of our Monadnock Local Food System.”

Mobile Food Pantry

The Community Kitchen and MFCC collaborated with food systems consultant Russ Moore to complete the Monadnock Mobile Food Pantry feasibility study. The study found strong community support for enhancing food security services, emphasizing healthy, locally grown foods, by bringing a mobile pantry into communities across the Monadnock Region. Stay tuned for updates.

“As The Community Kitchen celebrates NH Eats Local Month with more than a year of the pandemic behind us, we find our strength lies more than ever in community partnerships,” said Sarah Harpster of The Community Kitchen. “There’s an incredible commitment within the community to close the loop between a strong local food system and people struggling to meet their nutritional needs.”

Ten Years Growing

Community Garden Connections celebrated its tenth year of educating gardeners and supporting garden programs throughout Keene. They assist social service agencies and community-based non-profits by providing funds for infrastructure, plants and seeds, and quality education and technical support.

During the pandemic, they distributed 150 free container gardens and hundreds of seed packets to individuals throughout Cheshire County, donated over 1,000 pounds of fresh produce to The Community Kitchen, and provided take-home soup kits to Antioch University students.

Join them at a volunteer garden work party at the Westmoreland Garden Project at 702 River Road on Wednesdays from 4:00-6:00 pm. Contact CGC at communitygardens@antioch.edu.

Thank you to all the individuals, programs, policies, and initiatives that continue to build more robust local and regional food systems in our corner of the state and throughout New England. Together, we’re cultivating healthier citizens, communities, and economies.

Small Solutions in Affordable Housing

Jen Risley — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 18:13:35 GMT

Photo by Aysegul Yahsi on Unsplash

Affordable housing solutions come in all shapes and sizes. Let’s focus on some small solutions: Home Sharing, Accessory Dwelling Units, and Tiny Houses.

Home Sharing

Home Sharing provides one quick way to boost affordable housing options. Instead of living alone, you can share your home with housemates. But how do you find the right housemate for you? Enter Sharing Housing, Inc., a nonprofit based in East Dummerston, VT, on a mission to elevate this affordable housing solution.

“Even before the pandemic, many people struggled with housing costs and social isolation,” said Annamarie Pluhar of Sharing Housing. “Shared housing is a viable solution many of us overlook when considering where and how to live, despite multiple advantages -- social, emotional, and financial.”

Last July, ninety community members supported Sharing Housing’s crowdfunding campaign on The Local Crowd Monadnock. Sharing Housing raised over $10K to create a self-paced online course called Discovering Shared Housing, to help individuals find and keep good housemates. Start with their free online course, 5 Key Benefits of Shared Housing.

Accessory Dwelling Units

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) includes an apartment over a garage, a tiny house in your backyard, or any small dwelling on the same land as your single-family house.

“As the ‘missing middle housing’ concept is popularized among planners and designers, ADUs are poised to present the most viable stepping-stone solution for cities that are experiencing a housing crisis,” said Kol Peterson, author of Backdoor Revolution - The Definitive Guide to ADU Development.

In 2017, New Hampshire laws changed to make it easier for homeowners to build ADUs, to boost the state’s affordable housing supply without developing more land. The City of Keene allows property owners to build attached ADUs in all residential districts and detached ADUs are allowed in the rural and agricultural districts without a conditional use permit. There are rules around size restrictions, parking needs, and other requirements.

“Not every state has made widespread access to ADUs official,” said Jess Kelley of Solid Roots Construction in Manchester. “It is an incredible step forward for New Hampshire, but, as we realized in the course of working with our customers who wanted to build one, many people still aren’t aware that they even have the option.”

Chris Lee of the company Backyard ADUs based in Brunswick, ME, guides people through the process of building an ADU, from design to permitting to move-in day. You can purchase a feasibility study of your land and local zoning rules from them for $450.

“When we started working on ADUs, we thought the mission was to help homeowners build rental units in their backyards,” shared Chris. “But, we quickly realized there was simply a huge gap in available housing -- there are not enough quality small [not tiny] homes to go around and most builders don’t want to build them.”

Tiny Houses

Like the name states, Tiny Houses are small homes usually under 600 square feet built on wheels or foundations. A Tiny House is considered a ADU if it’s on the same land as a single-family house but can also be located in a standalone property or clustered to form a neighborhood. In Keene, a tiny house is not permitted in most zoning districts since an ADU must be attached to the primary residence.

State and local regulations can present challenges to those who want to go tiny. Earlier this year, state representatives introduced House Bill 588, requiring that municipalities allow Tiny Houses anywhere any single-family homes are permitted. The bill, however, did not pass.

“We’ve had many people who really want to buy them but couldn’t find a place they were allowed,” said Anne Mellin, co-owner of Tiny Living Spaces. “Unless you own property that you already have a house on and put the tiny home in as a second dwelling, you can’t do it.”

Learn more about Affordable Housing legislation.

Small Change

How do we bring more of these small solutions to our region? While TLC Monadnock offers rewards-based crowdfunding, a platform called Small Change provides real estate investment crowdfunding.

Small Change allows everyday people to invest in real estate projects that “change cities and neighborhoods for the better.” They select projects that boost walkability and bike-ability, offer better access to healthy food and green spaces, and elevate other attributes that increase the quality of life for all.

I’d love to see a developer launch a Small Change campaign in our region. Please learn more and spread the word about Small Change.

Let’s elevate these small solutions together! We’re in the very early stages of organizing an event to amplify these small solutions in our region. Stay tuned here or contact me at jen@thelocalcrowd.com.

Farm Horses Love Local, Grassroots Investing

Jen Risley — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 10:26:36 GMT

First I watched the trailer. Then I read the book. Then I saw the movie. The super star: Michael Shuman. The hot plot: local investing.

The trailer was a talk on local and grassroots investing by Shuman last fall, hosted by The Local Crowd Monadnock. Inspired, I read Shuman's recent book Put Your Money Where Your Life Is.

This spring, I attended Shuman's first “movie,” a four-week workshop. My experience only got better and better, especially since I started out with a level of interest in investing comparable to, say, gathering information for my taxes. Necessary, but painful.

Then, as my level of knowledge about investing was even more pitiful than my level of interest, I braced myself for some good old patronizing disbelief from the experts: You don't understand how stocks and bonds work? You don't automatically compute rates of return? You've never heard of a solo 401K or a self-directed IRA? You don't even get the big deal about retirement funds? What planet do you live on?

I live on a farm planet. A small farm planet.

My fellow and I farm here in southwestern NH, growing three acres of vegetables biodynamically, working with draft horses, for our 60-member CSA garden. We also sell produce at a local farmers' market. We have been making our living as farmers for over twenty years, not an easy task, but one made possible in part by a thrifty budget and by friends, neighbors, and local vegetable- lovers.

Maybe someone loans us a truck, or barters plumbing or farrier work, or helps us set up our website. Someone helps us get the hay in before the rain, or helps us get our naughty horses back in the pasture after a jaunt around the neighborhood. Someone picks up our daughter after school, or makes us a surprise meal. Lots of someones sign up for shares of produce, or buy vegetables at our market stand. Both our farm economics and our quality of life depend on the community.

But now that we two farmers and our four workhorses are nearing our mid-fifties, we notice that a hard day in the field is a little more daunting than it used to be. How can we continue to live and work on a tight budget, on our farm, before and during retirement, and do it with care for our local community, which also cares for us?

Enter Michael Shuman. His dry wit and kind, down-to-earth manner, combined with his expertise in local investing, made for a pleasant surprise. (Turns out investing talk isn't nearly as painful as the taxes. It can actually be kind of interesting!)

Shuman gave an entirely digestible overview of investing in general, followed by a picture of the giant corporate investing world. Next was the welcome news of the range of possible local, grassroots investments: from paying off your credit cards to installing energy-saving devices in your home, from crowdfunding to municipal bonds, from helping friends or family expand a small business to investing in a company such as Equal Exchange, with its fair trade coffee and chocolate, which assists the small farmers who are our global neighbors.

My favorite part of the workshop was learning about people all over the country who are investing in their communities in all kinds of ways, from small farms and solar panels and affordable housing to co-ops and local restaurants and community loan funds.

In Port Townsend, Washington, there's the community-owned Quimper Mercantile, a department store started by community members because there was no place in town to shop.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, there's Zingerman's Deli, whose owners wanted to expand, but not become a chain. Instead of going wide, they went deep, by looking closely at what came into and out of the deli. Now there are around a dozen small businesses in Ann Arbor connected with the deli, including a bakehouse, a coffee roasting company, a creamery, a restaurant, and a fancy cake business.

In my own state of New Hampshire, there's the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund (homes, farms, food, small businesses!). People all over are investing in local economies, ecologies, and racial and social equity, all of which builds stronger, healthier, and more secure and vibrant communities.

Gee, it's enough to make a farmer want to save a little money and make a local, grassroots investment (even if it's at the hundred dollar level!). After all, we love community. We love small. We love local. We love sustainable. We love grass, and we love roots.

Our four work horses agree completely. In fact, they may be wondering right now why a farmer is writing about local investing this time of year. Shouldn't you be fixing the fence? So we can go out to pasture? And eat the local grass? Come on now, farmer.

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News, June 2 - June 8, 2021

Monadnock Restaurant Project Supports A Taste of Keene

Jen Risley — Sun, 23 May 2021 12:38:31 GMT

A Truly Homegrown Stimulus

Thanks to 132 supporters, we raised $30,121 through a TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaign. This community support empowered us to purchase 1,210 gift cards from 51 local restaurants. Thirteen business partners worked to quickly get these gift cards into the hands of their staff and community members, asking them to purchase double what each card was worth.

“These cards were not gifts, but a call to action,” said Luca Paris, owner of Luca's Mediterranean Café and founder of Culinary Journeys. “We anticipate that community members will spend at least twice the amount of what their gift card is worth, doubling the project’s impact by infusing $60,000 to these cash-strapped businesses. The more we spend locally, the more dollars we reinvest in our local economy.”

Our business partners included American House, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Cheshire Medical Center, Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services, Keene Fire Department, Mascoma Bank, The Keene Sentinel, Monadnock Broadcasting Group, Monadnock Shopper News, Nanotech, Savings Bank of Walpole, 17ROX, and The Peak.

The project also inspired others to pay it forward to support the local restaurant economy. Businesses such as Aloha Keene, Clark-Mortenson Insurance, Heaven Hair Gallery Salon, Historical Society of Cheshire County, The Insurance Source, Monadnock Food Co-op, Northern Lights Cheerleading, The Richards Group, and others launched their own efforts to support the Monadnock Restaurant Project movement.

A special thank you to 17ROX and Savings Bank of Walpole for providing matching challenges to motivate more people to give to our crowdfunding campaign. We also thank Alexis Chesney, Laura Carbonneau, and Monadnock Food Co-op for offering sponsored rewards during our campaign. These businesses and individuals donated $500 or more to our crowdfunding campaign: Eleanor Briggs, Electronic Imaging Materials, Inc., Patricia Kasal, The Keene Sentinel, Julie & Greg Tewksbury, Northeast Mountain Footwear/Fred's Shoes, Saving Bank of Walpole, Culinary Journeys, and 17ROX (plus other who chose to remain anonymous).

Stay tuned for Monadnock Restaurant Project updates at tlcmonadnock.com/stimulus.

A Taste of Keene Food Festival

To encourage participation in A Taste of Keene Food Festival on June 5, the Monadnock Restaurant Project will offer participating restaurants a stipend to ensure that these businesses can cover the costs associated with providing delicious offerings during this event. The Keene Young Professionals Network (KYPN) will host this event, with support from the City of Keene and community volunteers.

“What we really need is people coming out and feeling safe visiting these restaurants again,” said organizers from KYPN. “What we can do is provide an outdoor opportunity for the participating restaurants to showcase their dishes and make some money, abide by all local, state, and CDC guidelines, and schedule it when more people will either be vaccinated or feel comfortable attending. We hope to see you there!”

The event includes restaurant stations where local Keene restaurants will provide samples of their popular offerings (you purchase tokens to get the samples you wish to try), a local craft biergarten to sip on a selection of our region's best brews and spirits (21 and over; please bring your ID; you purchase tickets to get the beverages you wish to enjoy), a hot pepper eating contest with cash prizes ($30 to enter, but free to watch), and cooking demos from local and regional chefs in the gazebo throughout the day. Check out all the details, including lists of participating restaurants and breweries at keeneypn.com.

“Downtown merchants will be out on the sidewalks,” said event organizers. “And Keene's Art Walk will be kicking off with events the same day, so wander up and down Main Street between bites and see what's out there.”

Start Small, Think Big Campaign - Impact Monadnock

Jen Risley — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 12:11:39 GMT

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: The Local Crowd Monadnock and Monadnock United Way are teaming up to strengthen children and families in our community.

Join us for the Start Small, Think Big campaign from May 10 through June 11. All gifts given to this crowdfunding campaign will benefit Monadnock United Way’s signature impact program, Impact Monadnock (IM). IM seeks to improve outcomes for all children in the Monadnock Region, from birth to age eight, and their families.

Poverty, adverse experiences, and limited access to quality child-care negatively affect a child’s ability to grow to his or her fullest potential.

Unfortunately, children in the Monadnock Region are affected by these factors more than most children in the state:

Just under 15% of children in Cheshire County were living in poverty in 2016, the second highest level in the state
Cheshire County has the third highest rate of child abuse and neglect in NH
The Monadnock Region has funding for just 16% of children eligible for Head Start, which serves children living at or below the poverty line. Many working families who do not qualify for state assistance experience challenges paying for quality child-care.

You can make a difference.

The most important investment we can make—focusing on the welfare of children from birth to age eight creates a strong foundation for their future health and happiness. And this in turn, leads to more stability and prosperity for the communities where they live.

Please stay tuned for our campaign launch. For more information, visit muw.org/impact.

Get Your Bicycle Ready: May is National Bike Month

Jen Risley — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 11:20:28 GMT

What better time to get your bicycle out of storage and tuned up than National Bike Month starting May 1. Led by the League of American Bicyclists, Bike Month is a time to celebrate bicycling and encourage those who don't bike to give it a try.

NEW: May 2 is Ride A Bike Day!

Why Bike?

Bicycling offers a fun and healthy way to get around. Studies show cycling elevates mood, memory, and metabolism. Cycling also reduces our carbon emissions and overall environmental impacts. All great reasons to get rolling!

This year's Bike Month theme is "Bike There." Since forty percent of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, shifting some of those trips from automobiles to bicycles can have a significant impact. Whenever you're about to hop into your car to travel somewhere a mile or two from home, ask yourself, "Can I bike there instead?" If the answer's yes, we hope you'll go for it.

Love To Ride

In addition to shifting your trips, we hope you'll track your miles on Love to Ride's website. Once you're registered, you can also sign up for their National Bike Challenge. Create your own goals, connect with other bicyclists and perhaps even win a prize.

Get Started

I've tracked 508 miles over 139 trips on Love to Ride. The site motivates me to bike more by converting my miles into pounds of carbon dioxide reduced and calories consumed. It tells me I've burned off 18,811 calories and reduced my carbon footprint by 160 pounds. For a bit more fun, you can enter your goals not just in miles but chocolate bars, pints of beer, or slices of cake burned off.

Last May, Monadnock Food Co-op, Monadnock International Film Festival, and Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation hosted a virtual screening of the film, MOTHERLOAD, exploring cargo and electric bicycles. The film made such an impression that when my car died last summer, I decided to replace it with a cargo e-bike. It's a blast to ride with lots of room for groceries.

"If you're wondering how we can do more post-COVID-19 than just getting back to 'normal' but actually make a better world -- watch this movie," shared Ted White, Keene State College. "The film is about bicycling -- yes, but also visionary dreams, sensory joy, soul-health, our struggle to escape the entrapment of technology, a way out of a consumption-based existence, and more."

"An electric assist bike allows a non-biker the opportunity to get started with biking that they may otherwise would not have the capacity to do," said Mike Kowalczyk, Monadnock Region Rail Trail Collaborative. "It's a means for those that have been inactive to become active and enjoy the outdoors. It also benefits current bikers by giving them the ability to go farther."

Contact me at marketing@monadnockfood.coop if you'd like to see the film. If we get enough interest, we can schedule an encore screening.

While just past Bike Month, the Kiwanis Kool Wheels Event will happen on June 5, from 10 am to 1 pm at the Keene Recreation Center. Kool Wheels is a free family event where kids ages 4-12 may select a new bicycle helmet and learn about bike safety. Kids can bring their bicycles to the event for a tune-up.

Besides bicycling more this May (and hopefully watching the film MOTHERLOAD), take the time to connect with the groups building a more robust cycling culture in our region and beyond.

The Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation (MAST) is a coalition of businesses, organizations, and individuals forwarding sustainable transportation solutions in our region.
The City of Keene Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathway Advisory Committee (BPPAC) promotes communication and exchanging ideas and concerns between users of the City's bicycle and pedestrian facilities and local officials.
Pathways for Keene, Inc. (PFK) promotes the development, maintenance, and enhancement of active transportation.
Monadnock Cycling Club promotes safe and enjoyable bicycling in our region. They organize group rides and other events.
New England Mountain Bike Association, Brattleboro-Keene Chapter (BK NEMBA) advocates for improved access to trail networks in the region.
The Keene Bike Park is a fun, family-oriented park where people of all ages can learn, play and enjoy bike-related activities.
The Monadnock Region Rail Trail Collaborative works to restore and maintain the Cheshire, Ashuelot, and Fort Hill rail trails.
Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire advocates for bicyclists and pedestrians at the state level. They offer a clearinghouse of information on their website.

Hope to see you bicycling in May!

Success: Monadnock Restaurant Project Crowdfunding Campaign

Jen Risley — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 13:17:59 GMT

We have wonderful news to share! We successfully completed our crowdfunding campaign for the Monadnock Restaurant Project. We raised $30,121 from 132 donors. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

While our campaign ended, our work continues:

All 600 gift cards for Phase 2 of our work were delivered to our business partners: American House, Cheshire Medical Center, Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services, Keene Fire Department, Mascoma Bank, Monadnock Shopper News, Savings Bank of Walpole, 17ROX, and The Peak. Now our partners are working hard to get these gift cards in the hands of staff and community members.
We’re collecting the impacts of our work by reaching out to Phase 1 restaurants and business partners. Do you have a story/quote to share the reflects the impact of this project on you and our community? Please let us know!
To encourage participation in A Taste of Keene Food Festival on June 5, we’re providing local restaurants with a stipend to ensure that they can cover the costs associated with providing delicious offerings during the event.

Some special thank yous:

Matching Challenges - Thank you to 17ROX and Savings Bank of Walpole for providing matching challenges to inspire more people to give to our crowdfunding campaign.
Sponsored Rewards – We thank Alexis Chesney, Laura Carbonneau, and Monadnock Food Co-op for offering sponsored rewards during our campaign.
Homegrown Heroes – These businesses and individuals donated $500 or more to our campaign: Eleanor Briggs, Electronic Imaging Materials, Inc., Patricia Kasal, The Keene Sentinel, Julie & Greg Tewksbury, Northeast Mountain Footwear/Fred's Shoes, Saving Bank of Walpole, Culinary Journeys, and 17ROX (plus other who chose to remain anonymous).
Community Heroes – THANK YOU to our 132 supporters. You’re all heroes to us!

Please keep in touch with our project by signing up for updates through The Local Crowd Monadnock.

Yours locally,
Luca Paris, Jen Risley, Laura Carbonneau, and Monica Marshall

PS: Our Snacktime Selfie Contest continues! Help spread the word and get a change to WIN. (Thanks to Elm City Brewing for this image.)

Celebrate and Cultivate a More Resilient World: Monadnock Earth Day Festival

Jen Risley — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 10:25:24 GMT

Each year, Monadnock Food Co-op organizes the Monadnock Region Earth Festival. Since we can’t gather in-person this year, we’re thrilled to partner with Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF) and Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition (MFCC), producers of the Feast On This! Film Festival, to transform our celebration into a virtual film festival for 2021. We hope you’ll join us.

The Monadnock Earth Day Film Festival will take place from April 22 - April 24, 2021. This free online event will feature films and host panel discussions to celebrate and cultivate a more resilient world.

"Uniting our film festivals into one energizing and impactful event is such a win-win for MFCC and the region,” said Roe-Ann Tasoulas from MFCC. “We're able to offer our community incredibly moving, funny, and thought-provoking documentaries fresh from larger festivals thanks to this collaboration."Curious about our film line-up? Please read on.

Seeding Change Film | Long Trailer (2:45) from Seeding Change on Vimeo.

Seeding Change

This film features “triple bottom line” businesses that consider the social, environmental, and financial impacts of their companies addressing some of today’s most challenging issues. This award-winning documentary empowers viewers to be part of the solution by voting with their dollars and supporting the brands and products that align with their environmentally conscious values: seedingchangefilm.com.

First We Eat - Trailer from Suzanne Crocker on Vimeo.

First We Eat

What happens when an ordinary family living just south of the Arctic Circle bans all grocery store food from their house for one year? Add three skeptical teenagers, one reluctant husband, no salt, no caffeine, no sugar, and -40° temperatures. Ultimately the story becomes a celebration of community and the surprising bounty of food that even a tiny community in the far North can provide: firstweeat.ca.

Why we cycle from Nieuw & Verbeterd on Vimeo.

Why We Cycle

To the Dutch, cycling is as normal as breathing. Take a ride with ordinary cyclists and specialists from a variety of fields. These conversations uncover some obvious but even more hidden effects of cycling on people, societies, and the organization of cities: whywecycle.eu.

The Falconer Trailer from The Falconer on Vimeo.

The Falconer

Meet master falconer Rodney Stotts on a mission to build a bird sanctuary and provide access to nature for his stressed community. This film is a story of second chances: for injured birds of prey, for an abandoned plot of land, for a group of teenagers who have dropped out of high school, and for Rodney himself. The Falconer weaves Rodney's present-day mission with the story of his past, both of which are deeply rooted in issues of social and environmental injustice: thefalconerfilm.com.

Microplastic Madness

Meet 56 fifth graders from Public School 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn, living in the frontline of the climate crisis. Their actions on plastic pollution morph into extraordinary leadership and scalable victories. With stop-motion animation, heartfelt kid commentary, and interviews of experts and renowned scientists engaged in the most cutting-edge research on the harmful effects of microplastics, this alarming yet charming narrative conveys an urgent message in user-friendly terms: cafeteriaculture.org."MONIFF is thrilled to celebrate Earth Day by bringing the community together through diverse films and thoughtful discussions," said Dee Fitzgerald from MONIFF.

This event is free; however, registration is required.

We thank our event sponsors: Franklin Pierce University, Greater Keene and Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, League of Conservation Voters, Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition, Vital Communities, and W.S. Badger Co. Interested in sponsoring this event? Please contact dee@moniff.org.

In addition to our film festival, groups from around the region will offer other Earth Day events in April.

Stonewall Farm in Keene will host a virtual Earth Day 5K Walk/Run & Bike Tour from April 19 - April 24. The funds raised will Stonewall Farm’s mission of teaching and demonstrating regenerative farming to people of all ages to ensure food security, vibrant communities, and a healthy planet. Details at stonewallfarm.org/events/earth-day.

Join the Harris Center for Conservation Education for a Vernal Pool Hike at the Horatio Colony Preserve in Keene on April 21 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Every spring, small depressions in the forest floor come alive, filling with rain, melting snow, and, eventually, salamander and frog eggs. By summer’s end, many of these vernal pools will dry out, revealing little trace of the life they contained in April. Space is limited, so please register at harriscenter.org/events.

On April 21, the Franklin Pierce Institute for Climate Action will host a screening of Kiss the Ground, a movie that explores the possibilities of regenerative agriculture. Stay tuned for event details!

Discover More Earth Day Events

While our celebration is virtual, we hope our film festival will inspire you to “unplug” and venture more outdoors, from your backyard to Mount Monadnock and every bit of wonder in between. We also hope to connect you to causes that inspire you to build a more regenerative and inclusive world for all. Most of all, we hope to cultivate … hope.

Phase Two of the Monadnock Restaurant Project Launching Soon

Jen Risley — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 14:30:00 GMT

In early February, The Local Crowd Monadnock, Culinary Journeys, and Food Connects partnered to launch the Monadnock Restaurant Project, a homegrown stimulus program to help give the local restaurant economy the shot in the arm it needs to get through this winter.

According to the National Restaurant Association, more than 69,500 individuals worked in restaurant and foodservice jobs in New Hampshire before the pandemic—representing 10% of the state’s total employment. However, more than 200 NH restaurants have permanently closed since last March. The Monadnock Restaurant Project looks to inspire community support for local restaurant owners and their employees to keep these businesses open, and their staff retained.

In one month, the project dispersed over 600 gift cards from 25 local restaurants to employers, including C&S Wholesale Grocers, Nanotech, and Savings Bank of Walpole. These businesses shared these gift cards with their staff and asked them to spend the cards quickly, providing an immediate shot in the arm to Keene's local economy this winter. The Keene Sentinel and Monadnock Broadcasting Group also distributed gift cards to community members through contests and giveaways.

Organizers are fundraising for the project through The Local Crowd Monadnock's community-based crowdfunding program. Currently, they have raised 82% of their overall goal of $30,000. Culinary Journey's contributed $10,000 to start this project, and eighty-two community supporters have donated an additional $14,500. This crowdfunding campaign continues through March.

Support The Monadnock Restaurant Project

The funds raised will be used to purchase a second round of gift cards from local restaurants and food businesses in the Keene area, businesses not included in phase one of the project.

The project also aspires to inspire others to pay it forward to support the local restaurant economy. Businesses such as The Richards Group, Historical Society of Cheshire County, and Northern Lights Cheerleading have launched their own efforts to support the Monadnock Restaurant Project movement.

“These cards are not gifts but a call to action,” said Luca Paris, owner of Luca's Mediterranean Café. “We anticipate that community members will spend at least twice the amount of what their gift card is worth, doubling the project’s impact by infusing $60,000 to these cash-strapped businesses. The more we spend locally, the more dollars we reinvest in our local economy!”

Learn more about the Monadnock Restaurant Project

Historical Society Distributes Restaurant Gift Cards as an Incentive for Membership

Jen Risley — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:35:56 GMT

The Historical Society of Cheshire County is conducting a pop-up membership campaign inspired by the Monadnock Restaurant Project. The board and staff of the Historical Society have chipped in to purchase 25 gift cards for local restaurants. On March 19, the gift cards will be given to randomly selected members of the Historical Society.

The director of the Historical Society, Alan Rumrill said, “We thought the restaurant gift cards would be a good way to promote membership in the Society and pay it forward by supporting local restaurants who have been there for our organization over the years. We know our members will like to support those local businesses and their employees.”

The grand prize will consist of five $20 gift cards at establishments that have participated in the Wyman Tavern Brew Fest, one of the signature fundraising events for the Historical Society: Elm City Brewing Company, Luca’s Mediterranean Café, Machina Kitchen and Art Bar, Prime Roast Coffee Company, and The Stage Restaurant. Additional gift cards for a variety of local restaurants will be given out on March 19.

All members of the Historical Society of Cheshire County will be eligible to win. Moreover, members of the Historical Society are already winners by being part of an organization that helps people “find their place in history.”

The Historical Society of Cheshire County has been collecting, preserving, and communicating the history of the Monadnock Region for 94 years. In 2019, the Society’s staff of six employees and about 150 volunteers put on 174 programs that served 13,214 people, 29% of whom were youth and teens. During the pandemic, the Historical Society has continued to deliver local history stories via the internet.

Last year, despite the fact that the Society had to cancel 86 in-person programs due to the pandemic, they were able to offer 76 live programs onsite, offsite, or via Zoom, and they produced 47 additional pre-recorded programs for platforms such as Vimeo and You Tube. In addition, they reached an even larger audience with Monadnock Moments on Monadnock Broadcasting, stories in the Keene Sentinel and the Monadnock Shopper, and a popular series written by Alan F. Rumrill, Viral Stories: Tales for a Pandemic.

For more information, or to become a member of the Historical Society of Cheshire County, go to hsccnh.org.

Eat, Drink and Build Community: Homegrown Stimulus Efforts

Jen Risley — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 18:57:27 GMT

"It could be a really rough few months for our fellow restauranteurs and if we don't do something soon, we could lose some of the businesses on the edge," said Luca Paris, owner of Luca's Mediterranean Café. "We can’t wait for someone else to help us. Eat, drink and build community! Let's do this as a community—quickly and safely."

How has our community rallied around this concern? Learn more about three efforts happening in the Monadnock Region.

The Monadnock Restaurant Project

The Local Crowd Monadnock, Culinary Journeys, and Food Connects partnered to launch The Monadnock Restaurant Project, a homegrown stimulus effort. So far, we have purchased $10,000 in gift cards from various locally owned restaurants in Keene. We then dispersed these gift cards to community members through partnering businesses C&S Wholesale Grocers, Nanotech, and Savings Bank of Walpole. These businesses shared gift cards with their staff with the charge to spend these cards quickly, providing an immediate shot in the arm to Keene's local restaurant economy this winter.

“It’s not a gift but a call to action,” shared Luca. “We anticipate that community members will spend at least twice the amount of what their gift card is worth, doubling the project’s impact by infusing $20,000 to these cash-strapped businesses. The more we spend locally, the more dollars we reinvest in our local economy!”

Want to get in on the effort? Go out and purchase gift cards directly from your favorite locally owned restaurants -- and from some new restaurants you haven’t tried yet. Then, enter our Snacktime Selfie. Snap a photo of your break, lunch, dinner, or anything in between enjoying what you purchased from a local restaurant. Share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with #MonadnockRestaurantProject AND #SnacktimeSelfie hashtags. FIVE lucky winners will receive a $100 gift card to the restaurant of their choice. Entries are due before 11:59 p.m. on February 28. Eat local today and you could win big in March!

We want to hold this up as a creative way to respond to the pandemic and re-energize the local economy. We hope other communities in our region will bring the Monadnock Restaurant Project to their town.

To include more restaurants in this project, we’re raising funds to continue our efforts into March. Please support our crowdfunding campaign today.

Support Our Campaign Today!

Community Meals To Go

Paul Tuller of Dublin dreamed up Community Meals to Go, a community-funded program to feed community members and keep our restaurants strong. Participating restaurants prepare to-go meals that are distributed to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. Karen Hatcher, Peterborough Community and Economic Development Coordinator, helped launch the program by raising funds over $50,000 to pay restaurants $10 per meal.

Volunteers distribute meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (first come, first served) at South Meadow School in Peterborough. Community partners include the Town of Peterborough, Peterborough Fire and Rescue Association, Cornucopia Project, The River Center, Peterborough Food Pantry and Union Congregational Church.

“If you’ve been impacted and are struggling and need a meal, come get a meal,” Karen said. “This is really for the community and there’s no judgment. It comes from a place of caring.”

For more information and to donate, please visit donorbox.org/peterborough-community-meals-to-go. For questions, email community@peterboroughnh.gov.

Granite Roots Brewing

You may have seen the colorful domes outside of Granite Roots Brewing in Troy. These heated private domes offer contactless ordering and food delivery. Granite Roots is doing their part to help local food businesses by partnering with Black Fire Farm and Machina Kitchen & ArtBar to host dinners in the brewery’s private domes.

“100% of the food profits are kept by [the partnering businesses],” shared Chris LoDolce, Granite Roots Co-owner. “We don't charge them to be on-site and we have them bring their staff to provide additional work for their team. We have booked out all of our reservations and have a significant waiting list.” (Click here to join their waiting list.)

image credit: Granite Roots Brewery

Chris invites additional restaurants with excess capacity in their kitchens to partner with Granite Roots. Specifically, they’re in search of restaurants to serve Central/South American Fare on Thursdays, gourmet meals on Fridays and BBQ on Sundays. Contact Chris or explore more details here.

“Food is at the center of every culture and community throughout history,” said Chris. “We're here to help do all we can to enrich the Monadnock Region's culture and community.”

Let’s all do our part to help support locally owned restaurants and our local economy: Eat, drink and build community!

Still Time to Register: Local Investment 101 Workshop Series

This March, community economist Michael Shuman will return to our region to offer a Local Investment 101 Workshop Series that will teach, inspire and mobilize us to invest more of our dollars locally.

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock and Vital Communities will host this online four-session series each Thursday in March from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Registration for all four workshops is $100 (and partial scholarships are available). Learn more!

The series focuses on grassroots investors eager to invest locally, businesses looking for local capital, and policymakers committed to facilitating local investment.

“If we could shift even a small amount of that capital from Wall Street to Main Street, our local economies could flourish,” shared Michael. “This series is designed to help community leaders, personally and collectively, achieve this vision by developing practical local investment strategies.”

We hope you’ll join us!

Monadnock Restaurant Project Launches Snacktime Selfie Contest

Jen Risley — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 12:26:38 GMT

Snacktime Selfie Contest

From February 15 - APRIL 30

Announcing the Monadnock Restaurant Project Snacktime Selfie Contest. Snap a photo of your break, lunch, dinner, or anything in between that you purchased from a local restaurant, upload it to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with the #MonadnockRestaurantProject AND #SnacktimeSelfie hashtags. FIVE lucky winners will receive a $100 gift card to the restaurant of their choice! Entries are due by 4/30 at 11:59 pm. Eat local today and you could win big!

Learn more about the Monadnock Restaurant Project

Rules:

Participation is via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
To enter, participants must post a photo on one of these platforms using the #MonadnockRestaurantProject AND #SnacktimeSelfie hashtags and should tag the local restaurant (when applicable)
Acceptable photo options include:
- A photo of the food/beverages ordered from a local restaurant
- A photo of the participant/friend/family member etc. with or eating their meal
- A photo of the bill and a “pay it forward” call to action
- Other photos indicating the purchase of food from a local restaurant
Multiple entries are encouraged
Participants should ensure their posts are set to public viewing
On 5/3/2021 the Monadnock Restaurant Project task force will aggregate all the eligible entries and randomly select 3 winners
Winners will be notified on May 5 via either Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Have an Idea That Needs a Lift?

Jen Risley — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 12:08:04 GMT

Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen -- one that would strengthen your business, our community and the local economy -- if only you had the funds to make it happen?

Is your business a “social enterprise” that addresses social and/or environmental issues?

Will your project support community goals, while keeping to a budget of $15,000 or less?

If you said yes to these questions…THANK YOU! We invite you to submit a proposal to run a crowdfunding campaign with TLC Monadnock.

Learn more

We will accept proposals until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 12, 2021.

While we welcome all for-profits, non-profits and community initiatives to apply, preference will be given to projects that align with their city/town’s master plan and strengthen our Local Living Economy.

This year, we are especially interested in supporting projects that address affordable housing, local food and farms, and equity.

Out of all the applications submitted, we will select one to receive a free crowdfunding video produced by 710 Main Films.

Show the Local Love: Invest Local & Shop Local

Jen Risley — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 17:09:13 GMT

Local Investment 101

This March, community economist Michael Shuman will return to our region to offer a Local Investment 101 Workshop Series that will teach, inspire and mobilize us to invest more of our dollars locally. If you missed his introductory webinar from October, please feel free to view it on our website today.

“Small businesses throughout Vermont and New Hampshire have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related shutdowns, as have the local economies that depend on them,” said Michael. “One readily available solution—one that does not depend on government bureaucracies—is to mobilize grassroots investment. Recent changes in the law (around investment crowdfunding, for example) make it cheaper and easier for nonaccredited investors to put money into local businesses.”

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock and Vital Communities will host this online four-session series each Thursday in March from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Registration for all four workshops is $100 (and partial scholarships are available). A signed copy of Michael’s latest book “Put Your Money Where Your Life Is” and a workbook is included.

Learn more!

“Americans now have about $56 trillion in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, pension funds, and insurance funds—nearly all of it invested in global corporations,” stated Michael. “There are real alternatives [to Wall Street], but few know about or consider them. In fact, you can invest in everything that matters to you. You can put your money into that neighborhood grocery store you love, your little sister’s first house, or your nephew who needs to pay off high-interest student loans.”

Michael will offer us a way to make our community more resilient -- to prepare for future global crises -- and help us move more of our dollars into the businesses we don’t want to live without. The series focuses on grassroots investors eager to invest locally, businesses looking for local capital, and policymakers committed to facilitating local investment.

“If we could shift even a small amount of that capital from Wall Street to Main Street, our local economies could flourish,” shared Michael. “This series is designed to help community leaders, personally and collectively, achieve this vision by developing practical local investment strategies.”

Michael Shuman, a leading visionary on community economics, serves as Director of Local Economy Programs for Neighborhood Associates Corporation and Adjunct Professor at Bard Business School in New York City. He is also a Senior Researcher for Council Fire and Local Analytics, where he performed economic-development analyses for states, local governments, and businesses around North America. His most recent books include “Put Your Money Where Your Life Is: How to Invest Locally Using Solo 401ks and Self-Directed IRAs”; “The Local Economy Solution: How Innovative, Self-Financing Pollinator Enterprises Can Grow Jobs and Prosperity”; and “Local Dollars, Local Sense: How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street.” Learn more at michaelhshuman.com.

We hope you’ll join us!

Show the Local Love this Valentine’s Day

Switching gears now to February 14: This Valentine’s Day, show your “local love” -- love for your sweetie and your whole community -- by purchasing gifts (or gift-making supplies) and meals (or ingredients) at locally owned businesses. Check out TLC Monadnock Mercantile for ideas.

Local Love Ideas

“Talk about a sweetheart gift! If every family in the country shifted $100 of their Valentine’s Day shopping budget to locally owned, independent businesses over $7.8 billion would be directly returned to local communities,” shared our friends at Independent We Stand.

Locally owned businesses offer us much to love. They strengthen our local economy, culture and wellbeing. Independent businesses recirculate four times more money in our community than chain stores. Moreover, studies show that most new jobs are created by small businesses -- meaning today’s local Valentines are tomorrow’s jobs. So, show lots of local love this Valentine’s Day, and the love will circle back to you, your loved ones and -- best of all -- your entire community.

Downtown Keene retailers will offer a “Love is In the Air” event on Saturday, February 13. Enjoy special deals at participating businesses. Learn more at facebook.com/Keenedowntown/events.

Pay-It-Forward

We’ll end with a reminder about our Pay-It-Forward crowdfunding campaign that ends on January 31. Help us recruit and support more crowdfunding campaign teams working to grow affordable housing, farms & local food, and living wage jobs & equity in our region. Contribute $25 or more to our crowdfunding campaign at bit.ly/payitforwardmonadnock. A big thank you to those who have supported our campaign already!

Give Today!

Put Your Money Where Your Life Is: Reclaiming Our Local Economy

Jen Risley — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 10:57:53 GMT

Event series focuses on local investment as a tool for rebuilding our region’s economy

After a year of COVID-19 shutdowns, bankruptcies, deaths, and economic despair, how can we help rebuild our economy and community? By investing in our local economy, catalyzing innovation, and shifting capital to the local entrepreneurs, businesses, and projects, our communities become more sustainable, vibrant, and resilient.

How to invest locally is the focus of a series of online events and workshops called Put Your Money Where Your Life Is: Reclaiming Our Local Economy, hosted by Vital Communities and The Local Crowd Monadnock.

Local Investment: An Introduction

February 23, 2021, 5:30-7:30 pm: A free virtual conversation to learn more about local investing from the people already doing it.

Local Investment 101: How to Reboot the Region’s Economy After COVID-19

March 4, 11, 18, 25, 5:30-7:30 pm: A four-session virtual workshop on practical, local investment strategies led by Michael Shuman, community economist and author of "Put Your Money Where Your Life Is."

Learn more

Find series details at tlcmonadnock.com/investing. Additional sessions focusing on investments in housing, food production, and more are planned for late spring, as well as a session for entrepreneurs seeking local investment opportunities.

“When the pandemic recedes, we all will be called upon to take extraordinary steps to revive the local businesses that serve as the foundation of our communities," states Shuman. "One critically important step will be for you and other members of your community to move your investment capital from Wall Street to Main Street.”

This series is sponsored by Savings Bank of Walpole, Mascoma Bank, King Arthur Baking Company, Hanover Co-op Foods Stores, Green Energy Options, Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation, Monadnock Food Co-op, The Keene Sentinel, Valley News, Norwich Solar Technology, and LaValley Building Supply.

For more information about sponsoring this series, please contact Jen Risley at jen@thelocalcrowd.com or 603-283-5401.

2020 Annual Report: Keep Moving 4WARD

Jen Risley — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 12:18:23 GMT

Thank you to all of our supporters -- you kept The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock pedaling 4WARD & higher!

Leveraged our crowdfunding program to help local businesses respond to COVID-19 opportunities and challenges

Launched TLC 4WARD, a campaign that empowered 253 individuals to support six local businesses that they don’t want to live without. TLC 4WARD provided participating locally owned businesses with over $14K to weather the COVID-19 crisis, meet changes in community needs and seize new opportunities to forward a more local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock Region.
Jump-started an online marketplace for our region’s locally owned businesses, called TLC Monadnock Mercantile, compiling local products, gift cards and takeout menus all in one site.
Collectively raised over $110K from 950 supporters for seven crowdfunding campaigns in 2020.

Kept Shop Indie Local efforts alive locally and nationally

Served as program manager for Shop Indie Local, a program of the American Independent Business Alliance, that boosted the success of Plaid Friday and Cider Monday in our region and throughout the nation.

Pay-It-Forward and Fuel Our Local Living Economy

Jen Risley — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 10:37:59 GMT

As 2020 draws to a close, The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock invites you to Pay-It-Forward. Help us recruit and support more crowdfunding campaign teams working to grow affordable housing, farms & local food, and living wage jobs & equity in our region. Contribute $25 or more to our crowdfunding campaign online today!

Our Pay-It-Forward program empowers us to provide extra resources to campaigns aligned with our 2021 community priorities selected by our community. These priorities represent critical building blocks for our Local Living Economy, an economy that works for all of us. A Local Living Economy improves our quality of life, meets everyone’s basic needs and cultivates engaged citizens.

While TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaign teams may be rich in social capital, they may need access to additional resources such as business consultants, videographers and marketing tools to ensure their success. We identify each campaign team’s specific needs through a pre-assessment – and, with your support, we will provide extra resources to fill in each team’s most critical gaps. We will also use our Pay-It-Forward funds to match donations for crowdfunding campaigns aligned with our 2021 community priorities.

Since launching TLC Monadnock in 2017, we’ve raised over $230,000 from 2,000 supporters for twenty-six crowdfunding campaigns. Thank you, Monadnock Region! Next year’s goal is to raise at least $100,000 from 1,000 supporters for ten campaigns. You can help lay the groundwork for this future success by supporting our Pay-It-Forward program today.

What types of crowdfunding teams do we hope to recruit and support in 2021? Teams from this year provide inspiring examples for projects we hope to attract next year.

More Local Food

Food Connects raised $10,850 through their TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaign, Growing Local Food Markets in the Monadnock Region. They partner with local farmers and food producers throughout our region, like Frisky Cow Gelato, Echo Farm Puddings, and Picadilly Farm, and bring their products to schools, grocery stores, hospitals, restaurants and other businesses. The funds raised enabled Food Connects to become an approved vendor allowing them to bring more local food to larger wholesale markets.

“This is the start of something huge for our region,” said Laura Carbonneau, Food Connects Marketing Manager. “When we sell to wholesale customers in our community, more people have access to local food. Our work creates a vibrant food economy with a vision to make local food accessible to all community members.”

More Affordable Housing

Sharing Housing gathered $10,203 through their TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaign, Teaching Successful Home Sharing. These funds will help Sharing Housing develop an on-demand online course on how to create healthy, happy shared homes.

“Even before the pandemic, many people struggled with housing costs and social isolation,” said Annamarie Pluhar, Shared Housing Founder. “Shared housing is a viable solution many of us overlook when considering where and how to live, despite multiple advantages – social, emotional, and financial.”

More Equity

Keene Housing Kids Collaborative (KSKC) raised $2,230 during their TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaign, Helping Kids Access Success. KHKC helps give kids living in Keene Housing households the chance to participate in activities in our community that will help them succeed. They work to ensure that these children, the next generation of workers, parents and community leaders, have a better start in life despite their families’ financial struggles.

“We believe kids, wherever they live, should be part of the community, not apart from the community,” said Liz Chipman, KHKC Executive Director. “That’s why we don’t have centralized programming onsite at Keene Housing properties. Instead, we partner with community organizations that are already providing excellent programming for kids.”

Join our community of Pay-It-Forward supporters. Empower us to grow more affordable housing, farms & local food, and living wage jobs & equity in our region. Thank you so much for your continued support and Happy New Year!

Please support our crowdfunding campaign today!

Community Survey for Keene Community Power

Jen Risley — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 10:53:16 GMT

The City of Keene wants to hear from you! They are putting together a Community Power program, which will provide Keene with more local control of our electricity supply and more electricity choices. They’ve put together a survey which should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

Please go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/CommunityPower to complete the survey.

Feel free to also share this link through social media so that your neighbors in Keene can also add their voice.

City staff will share the results along with a draft Community Power plan at two (identical) sessions on Tuesday, January 26 at 12 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Visit www.keeneenergyplan.com/communitypower for links and to learn more.

Support More Affordable Housing, Local Food and Equity Work in the Monadnock Region

Jen Risley — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:26:13 GMT

We invite you to support our TLC Monadnock Pay-It-Forward Program by contributing $25 or more to our crowdfunding campaign.

Please give today!

Since launching our community-based crowdfunding program in 2017, we’ve raised over $230,000 from 2,000 supporters for twenty-six campaigns. We’re excited to leverage TLC Monadnock to grow more and stronger triple bottom line businesses.

The Pay-It-Forward program will allow us to provide extra support and resources to campaigns aligned with our 2021 community priorities. These priorities include recruiting campaigns connected to the top 3 results of our Local Living Economy Building Blocks poll:

While campaign teams may be rich in social capital, they may need access to additional resources such as business consultants, videographers and marketing tools to ensure their crowdfunding campaign's success.

TLC Monadnock identifies each campaign team’s specific needs through a pre-assessment survey and, with your support, we will provide extra resources to fill in the team’s most critical gaps. We will also use our Pay-It-Forward funds to match donations for crowdfunding campaigns aligned with our 2021 community priorities.

In 2021, our goal is to raise at least $100,000 from 1,000 supporters for ten campaigns. You can help make this happen by supporting our Pay-It-Forward program today.

Pay-It-Forward Today!

Shop Indie Local in Downtown Keene and WIN!

Jen Risley — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 14:49:04 GMT

Sponsored by the Keene Downtown Group

Shop in downtown Keene and enter to win some fantastic prizes. From now through December 24th, pick up a Keene Holiday Shopping card at the Monadnock Food Co-op (or any other participating businesses) and have it stamped when you make a purchase of $10 or more at any of the Keene businesses listed on the back of the card. When you have three stamps from three different businesses, leave the card at any participating businesses to enter the drawing (but be sure to complete the contact information box first).

All entries will be collected by 5 pm on December 24th and combined for a random drawing on December 26th. Winners will be notified by phone. Enter as many times as you wish!

GRAND PRIZE: $500

First Prize: $300
3 Second Prizes: $200 each
4 Third Prizes: $100 each
4 Fourth Prizes: $50 each

Prizes will be awarded in the form of gift cards to any of the 49 participating businesses.

Raise a Glass to Cider Monday: Message from The Toadstool Bookshops

Jen Risley — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 12:20:28 GMT

From The Toadstool Bookshops

For several years we have celebrated Cider Monday as the alternative to the much hyped Cyber Monday -- that day when so many have historically gone online to fill the coffers of the huge online behemoths.

Our tradition has been to offer a free cup of cider to those who stopped in to share and express support for shopping in their local "bricks and mortar" stores. We truly believe stores such as ours bring far more vitality to our communities than do huge distant warehouses.

This year, however, due to COVID-19 we can not offer the cider and we realize that many people may prefer to avoid the crowds found in stores and are turning to the web to order gifts. Our hope is that those doing so this year will find the websites of local stores many of whom, like us, have active sites where you can place your orders online.

So if it is to be a Cyber Monday hoist a glass of cider before you sit down and be reminded to keep it local.

Thank you!

And here's a link to TLC Monadnock Mercantile where you can find the products and websites of other local shops: https://shop.tlcmonadnock.com/products/

Shop Indie Local All Season Long

Jen Risley — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 11:41:48 GMT

From your Thanksgiving meal to your New Year's Eve celebration, Shop Indie Local by purchasing more of your holiday gifts and celebration needs from your friends and neighbors -- locally owned business owners.

This week is a super busy one for the Shop Indie Local movement as we celebrate Plaid Friday, Small Business Saturday, Artists Sunday, Cider Monday and Giving Tuesday. Due to COVID-19, our celebrations may be smaller in scale (or move online), but the spirit of Shop Indie Local remains strong -- thanks to all of you!

Shop Indie Local Online

We recently launched TLC Monadnock Mercantile, a regional online marketplace featuring a diversity of products and services from locally owned businesses. Our virtual store compiles gift ideas, gift cards and restaurant take-out options all in one place. Best of all, it is free for locally owned businesses to participate. Fifty-four businesses have added products and services to our mercantile, representing some fabulous gift ideas for your loved ones. Many thanks to Monadnock Food Co-op and Savings Bank of Walpole for sponsoring TLC Monadnock Mercantile.

Shop Safe, Shop Online and Shop Indie Local

Plaid Friday

Wear plaid on Friday, November 27, to show your support for our local economy and commitment to buying local this holiday season. Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of local and independent businesses. It’s a fun and enjoyable alternative to the big box store “Black Friday” consumer frenzy. So, plan to wear PLAID all day on November 27.

Twenty locally owned businesses will serve as Plaid Friday Hubs this year. They pledge to photograph you decked out in plaid and answer questions about Plaid Friday.

Find a Hub Near You!

Plaid Santa

Deep Roots Massage in Keene will host a video call with Santa Claus, live from his workshop! From 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. in Gallery Alley next to the Colonial Theatre on Main Street, kids of all ages can visit with the big man himself on the big screen.

If you can’t make it to a hub, be sure to take a selfie of yourself decked in plaid and share it with us on our Facebook Page and tag it with #plaidfriday. We will add photos from you and our hubs to our annual collage, celebrating all who wore plaid and showed their support for locally owned businesses and our local economy.

Some businesses will offer specials on Plaid Friday. Aloha Keene will offer 20% off gift certificates, General Store at Doodle Eats in Jaffrey will give you a free Doodle Pie with each order over $25, buy a Deep Roots Massage gift certificate for massage online and get 10% off, plus Deep Roots will donate 10% of all holiday sales to the Monadnock United Way and make a purchase at the Monadnock Food Co-op dressed in plaid and get a free $5 co-op gift card (one per customer; while supplies last).

View MORE Plaid Friday Specials

Small Business Saturday

While Plaid Friday overshadows Small Business Saturday in our region, we encourage everyone to celebrate this event, too. One way to participate is to play Shop Small Bingo. No matter how you get involved, every little bit makes a big difference.

Download Your Bingo Card

Artists Sunday

New this year! November 29 is Artists Sunday, an art shopping movement of more than 2,500 artists and organizations coming together to encourage consumers to shop with their favorite local artists and makers during the holiday season. Think of it as Plaid Friday but for the arts!

Find Local Artists

Cider Monday

Instead of Cyber Monday, a day when online merchants offer special deals, we invite you to Cider Monday. On November 30, stop in for free cider from participating Cider Monday businesses, including Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene. The co-op will offer free pints of Champlain Orchard Cider, one per person and while supplies last. Also, if you choose to shop online, choose local too!

Learn More About Cider Monday

Giving Tuesday

A global generosity movement, Giving Tuesday encourages you to give any way you can. Organizers share, “Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.”

Learn More About Giving Tuesday

Locally, Eyeworks in Keene will launch its 12 Days of Giving promotion on Giving Tuesday. From November 30 – December 15, 2020, EyeWorks will donate $25 to the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund with every pair of glasses sold.

“I can’t imagine more heroic work than raising good food for a community. It’s hard, and it’s uncertain, and all too often, it’s taken for granted. That’s why this year we’re so pleased to support the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund,” said Dr. Barton Higley of Eyeworks. “We know high-quality, nutrient-rich foods are key to good health — something that’s important to all of us. We’re honored to take part in cultivating a healthy local farming economy.”

The Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, created in partnership with the Cheshire Country Conservation District, supports local farmers by increasing sustainable food production and wholesale sales to contribute to a thriving local farm economy.

Learn More About EyeWorks 12 Days of Giving

Shop Indie Local Sponsors

A big THANK YOU to this year's Plaid Friday, Cider Monday and Shop Indie Local sponsors: Aloha Keene, Cheshire Horse, Deep Roots Massage, Food Connects, MoCo Arts, Mon Amie Fine Jewelry, Monadnock Balloon Store, Monadnock Food Co-op, One Stop Country Pet Supply, Owl & Pen, Phoenix Farm, Steele’s Stationers, Ted's Shoe & Sport, Toadstool Bookshops in Keene and Peterborough, and The Works Café.

Together, we're generating ripple effects that create new jobs, charitable contributions and community prosperity. Thank you for supporting the Shop Indie Local movement.

Breaking Bread: Orchard Hill Breadworks Virtual Tour

Jen Risley — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 15:28:24 GMT

From Orchard Hill Breadworks

Many of you contributed to last year’s community funded stone mill project here at the bakery, and it has been our pleasure to work with the Mill Hollow heritage association to put together a presentation about the bakery, the mill and our role in the wider community. Please join us on December 1st at 8 to see this presentation for yourself and participate in the live Q & A!

Wishing you all a good day.

Noah

Breaking Bread: Orchard Hill Breadworks Stone Mill

Tuesday, December 1, 2020
8:00 - 9:00 p.m. EDT
(via Zoom)

A Sense of Place continues to explore the stories, history, and qualities that make Chase's Mill and Mill Hollow unique. Join us for a filmed tour of Alstead's Orchard Hill Breadworks and interview with its founder, Noah Elbers. It will be followed by a live Q & A.

Noah’s presentation will feature the bakery’s new stone mill and highlight the growing nationwide movement of artisan bakers who’ve chosen to work directly with the farmers who grow their grain.

The event is free and is open to all, but you need to register to receive the link to the webinar.

Noah Elbers believes that good food and happy, healthy communities go hand in hand. Bread was first baked for sale at Orchard Hill in 1997, but the story of this place begins in 1972. Noah’s grandparents purchased the land and buildings that are now Orchard Hill Farm and Breadworks. In the early years, it was merely a late 1700s farm house and a dusty barn which sat at the center of thirty some acres of fields and forest. Since that time, three generations have planted orchards, tended gardens, built homes, launched a school and community center, and helped a bakery grow and flourish.

TLC Monadnock Joins Alliance to Support Local Artists on Artists Sunday

Jen Risley — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 12:55:10 GMT

Artist Sunday is November 29, the Sunday after Thanksgiving

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock will join with the Artists Sunday alliance to promote local artisans and craftspeople on Artists Sunday, a new celebration on November 29, 2020, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Shop Art at TLC Monadnock Mercantile

Shop Arts at Small Works Big Impact Show

Discover Art at New Leaf Gallery

Discover Artists & Creative Businesses at Monadnock Arts Alive

Artist Sunday, falling between Plaid Friday, Small Business Saturday® and Cider Monday, is a day dedicated to encouraging individuals to shop with artists and give something special, unique, and hand-crafted this holiday season. TLC Monadnock appreciates the culture artists create and the impact they have on their local community and economy.

"Spending your dollars with artists, makers, and other creatives supports our local economy," shared Jen Risley, TLC Monadnock Program Manager. "Give more this holiday season by making sure your purchases support artists and other locally owned business owners."

Artists and creative economy organizations from across the country are participating in Artists Sunday, representing a full range of art, hand-crafted items, and performances. The diversity of artisans allows consumers to ‘shop art’ this Artists Sunday and give something personal and meaningful this holiday season.

TLC Monadnock will celebrate Artists Sunday as part of the Shop Indie Local movement growing throughout North America. From November 1 to December 31, Shop Indie Local encourages residents to choose local and independent businesses for more of their holiday purchases.

Are you an artist interested in participating? Contact us today!

About Artists Sunday

Artists Sunday is the nationwide movement dedicated to supporting artists and recognizing the impact they have in enriching our lives, communities and the economy. The powerful new effort is designed to make the Sunday after Thanksgiving the most profitable day of the year for artists. Supporters include individual artists, economic development agencies and non-profit organizations across the country. To learn more about Artists Sunday artists, partners, sponsors or involvement in promoting commerce with artists, please visit artistssunday.com.

Call for Crowdfunding Proposals: Claremont, Newport and Kearsarge

Jen Risley — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 10:29:15 GMT

New Hampshire Businesses, Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Nonprofits, Community Initiatives:

Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen?
Want to grow your organization, our community, and the local economy, but don’t have access to capital?

The Local Crowd is a rewards-based crowdfunding program that helps communities invest in local businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and initiatives that are mission-driven social enterprises.

If your organization contributes to the community and could use a lift, apply to be part of a Route 11 Corridor cohort of campaigns.

Vital Communities is partnering with The Local Crowd Monadnock to bring local investment and capital access to the Route 11 Corridor of New Hampshire thanks to funding from USDA Rural Development.

Submit a proposal for 2021 crowdfunding campaigns if your business/organization:

Is based in Claremont, Newport or the Kearsarge Region
Has a project with a budget under $10,000
Has a simple, achievable project that will generate excitement in your community (Your proposal can be part of a bigger project, but it should have stand-alone value)
Has a project that will create an economic and/or social benefit to your business and the community
Is able to invest time to build a successful fundraising campaign

Sample project ideas: Farm infrastructure, renewable energy installation, community garden or art project, vehicle to expand nonprofit service, capital to launch a new rural enterprise, food business equipment

Submit your project proposal by December 1, 2020

The Local Crowd Upper Valley will select up to eight projects to participate in this crowdfunding cohort, based on the potential of each project to positively impact their local economy and community. Selected proposals will launch their campaigns in 2021, with support and guidance from The Local Crowd Advisors.

View Campaign Guidelines

Submit Your Proposal

The Local Crowd Details:
You (project/campaign creator) will need to:

Form a Campaign Team to actively promote your fundraising project
Work closely with the The Local Crowd team to leverage training, marketing, and community outreach tools
Adhere to the keys of success promoted by The Local Crowd platform: YOU share with your personal network. YOU make it happen.

You will receive:

Support from the The Local Crowd team to run a successful funding campaign
Access to business development support from project partners including NH SBDC and SBA
Marketing and outreach support to spread the word about your project
Free Crowdfunding Readiness Assessment ($85 value)
Funds raised via the crowdfunding campaign for the designated project (less platform and credit card fees)
Opportunity to reduce platform fees if you meet campaign milestones

Learn more at vitalcommunities.org/tlc or contact nancy@vitalcommunities.org.

Request For Proposals: Digital Marketing Assistance for New Hampshire Small Businesses

Jen Risley — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 12:36:05 GMT

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock is partnering with Vital Communities’ Local First initiative on Route 11 Corridor Businesses project. We're looking for proposals from experienced digital marketing firms/professionals. Please view the full RFP here.

Proposals are due by 5:00 pm on Monday, November 16, 2020.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Vital Communities’ Local First initiative is seeking proposals from experienced digital marketing firms/professionals to assist Local First members in the Route 11 corridor of New Hampshire. Small businesses suffering from the impacts of the pandemic require assistance with website, digital marketing, e-commerce, and/or social media services which will be accomplished through this program with one-on-one consulting and a virtual workshop.

GOAL OF PROGRAM

Many small businesses have had to shift business practices, sales channels, customer base, and marketing efforts in response to COVID-19. Our goal is to support small businesses with assistance to create, improve, or enhance their digital presence and build marketing skills so they can adapt to the changing economic landscape and increase business stability. This program is funded by a USDA Rural Development Rural Business Development Grant.

SCOPE OF WORK

Each small business is unique and requires marketing technical assistance that meets them where they are and provides help with their specific needs and challenges. The following represents the types of assistance businesses may require through this technical assistance program:

Marketing plan development
Website platforms, SEO, content strategy, etc.
E-commerce platform creation, integration, best practices
Social media training: best practices, content strategy, and digital marketing/advertising
E-Communications

This program will increase the digital marketing skills and capacity of six businesses through targeted technical assistance. Business owners and/or staff will gain marketing skills and capacity and report increased engagement and/or sales within three months according to their self-determined goals leading to business stability (jobs saved) or growth (jobs created).

This program will launch with a digital marketing workshop featuring the chosen firm/marketing specialist, open to any Route 11 corridor businesses. Workshop attendees can apply for 10 hours of cost-share one-on-one consulting time with the chosen marketing firm. Business will pay for 2 hours and Vital Communities will pay for 8 hours). Businesses may choose to procure additional services directly from the firm at its sole cost and discretion. Firms that respond to this RFP should demonstrate their ability to offer the marketing services listed above and their experience working with a variety of businesses and marketing competency levels.

Technical assistance must be completed by May 1, 2021.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Proposals must include the following items by the proposal due date. Please keep proposals as short as possible to allow for a quick evaluation process.

One page cover letter stating the proposer’s understanding of the work to be performed and why they believe they are well suited
Qualifications and related experience of staff assigned to project
Demonstrated experience and expertise in SEO, website platforms, developing marketing plans, working one-on-one with a variety of small businesses, understanding of available e-commerce platforms and e-commerce website integration, digital marketing and social media, including Instagram, Facebook, and Google Ads
A representative listing of current clients that we may use as references

PROGRAM BUDGET

The available funds for this contract is $4200. The scope of work that these funds cover: a single virtual digital marketing workshop open to an unlimited number of participants, 8 hours of one-on-one digital marketing technical assistance for 6 businesses.

EVALUATION

When evaluating the proposals, we will use the following factors (in no particular order):

Qualifications and experience of proposer working with small businesses
Demonstrated current capability and capacity to perform this assistance
References for the individuals who will be assigned to this project
Locally owned New Hampshire business

During the short evaluation process, Vital Communities may request additional information or clarifications from proposers. The most qualified proposer(s) may be interviewed by video conference. There is no expressed or implied obligation for Vital Communities to reimburse responding firms and individuals for any expenses incurred in preparing proposals in response to this request. Vital Communities, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to select one, several, or none, of the firms that respond to this RFP.

SUBMISSION

Proposals are due by 5:00 pm on Monday, November 16, 2020. Proposals should be submitted via email to nancy@vitalcommunities.org with the subject line “Local First RFP.”

Questions about this RFP should be directed to Nancy LaRowe, Local First/Food & Farm Coordinator, nancy@vitalcommunities.org.

Taste of Food Connects: Local Passport Program

Jen Risley — Sat, 31 Oct 2020 10:37:33 GMT

November 1-21

Supporting local, supports you!

Local businesses were hurt by the COVID-19 shutdown. Food Connects is working to strengthen our local economy and bolster economic and community resiliency. Shop locally this November!

Make a $10 purchase at any participating business and receive a sticker. Limit one sticker per business per passport. Once you have three (3) stickers, submit your card for a chance to win. Multiple passport entries are welcome!

Prizes

Grand Prize (1): $1,000 Cash
1st Place (1): $250 Cash
2nd Place (3): $100 Cash
3rd Place (4): Local Gift cards

Download the Local Passport

Launching Nov. 1: TLC Monadnock Mercantile

Jen Risley — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 09:40:50 GMT

Online Marketplace for Locally Owned Businesses

On November 1, TLC Monadnock Mercantile will launch -- a regional online marketplace featuring products and services from locally owned businesses. Our virtual store will compile gift ideas, gift cards and restaurant take-out options. It is free for locally owned businesses to participate! Please review our details for participating here.

Why now?

According to a survey run by Google this July, close to 75% of U.S. shoppers said they plan to shop and browse for gift ideas online this holiday season -- more than they did in previous years. Many also plan to shop more at locally owned businesses (66%), but finding those businesses online may prove difficult. An online marketplace that brings together multiple locally owned businesses in one place will meet shoppers' desires to shop safe, shop online and shop local.

Check out TLC Monadnock Mercantile!

Ready to Get Started?

TLC Monadnock Mercantile is made possible by Savings Bank of Walpole and Monadnock Food Co-op.

Give More: Shop Indie Local

Jen Risley — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 09:18:52 GMT

Even with a smaller budget, you can give more this holiday season. How? By joining the Shop Indie Local movement! We’re purchasing more of our holiday gifts and celebration needs from our friends and neighbors -- locally owned business owners. Please join us!

Why Shop Indie Local?

When you spend your dollars at locally owned retail businesses in the Monadnock Region, four times more money returns to our local economy than if you spend that same dollar at a chain store. Spend a dollar at an independent business and 62 cents return to our local economy. (Spend it at a chain store and only 13 cents return; spend it at an online giant and only a couple pennies return.)

Those 62 cents recirculate through our economy, generating ripple effects that strengthen jobs, charitable contributions and community prosperity. If everyone shifted just 10% of their purchases from national chains to locally owned retailers, we would return $27 million to our regional economy annually.

Shop Indie Local and Give More (Fill in the Blank)

Think about the people you love. Instead of stuff, what do you truly want to give them? Perhaps it’s more hope, inspiration or connection. Now, consider each person, place and thing that plays a part in growing, making and getting that gift to your loved one. When you Shop Indie Local, you give more to everyone.

For example, I want to give more hope to a dear friend. I find a one-of-a-kind handmade lamp, one that I know will make my friend’s day a bit brighter. The artist who made the lamp, closed out from their regular holiday events, feels a bit more hope that they’ll make it through 2020 and my friend feels more hope every time she clicks the lamp’s switch on. What do you want to give more of this year? For ideas, please check out our new online marketplace, called TLC Monadnock Mercantile, officially launching on November 1.

Give More Support: Monadnock United Way

The Local Crowd Monadnock and Monadnock United Way are teaming up to strengthen our community. Support Monadnock United Way’s Better Together: Building Equitable Communities in the Monadnock Region crowdfunding campaign on TLC Monadnock through November 13.

Give today!

Monadnock United Way and its partner agencies ﬁght for children, education, and ﬁnancial stability throughout our region. With your support, we will lift up our region and make it vibrant in the face of hardship.

Plaid Friday

Wear plaid on Plaid Friday to show your support for our local economy and commitment to buying local this holiday season. The day to wear plaid this year is Friday, November 27.

Some independent businesses will serve as Plaid Friday Hubs. Hubs photograph customers decked out in plaid and answer questions about Plaid Friday and Monadnock Buy Local. In addition to hubs, some members will offer special events to thank you for stopping in. Stay tuned for more specials.

We will add all the photos taken to our annual collage, celebrating everyone who wore plaid to honor the day. Check out our gallery of over 400 pictures from past Plaid Fridays.

Meet Chuck the Chinook

Here’s a gift that we received shortly after last year’s Plaid Friday. Chuck the Chinook and his owner, Dan Brown, volunteered to inspire more participation in this year’s Plaid Friday event.

Chuck’s interest in Plaid Friday peaked after seeing last year’s poster highlighting another Keene-based dog named Chloe, owned by Cheryl Belair from The Insurance Source. Chloe was stoically sitting outside of Prime Roast Coffee Roasters on Main Street, sporting a plaid coat complete with plaid ear coverings. Chuck was smitten.

So, he and Dan dreamed up an annual pet photo contest, a fun way to educate people about Plaid Friday. We made Chuck the inaugural winner to get things started. “He now thinks of himself as an Economic Stimulus Chuck,” joked Dan. “As a sort of an Ambassa-dog, Chuck hopes everyone will join the Monadnock Plaid Friday gala, with the tag line: Wearing plaid gets a discount, ties optional.” Stay tuned for more Plaid Friday pet photo contest details!

Chinooks, the official state dog of New Hampshire, were bred as sled dogs in Tamworth, NH, by Arthur Treadwell Walden in 1917. Walden was an arctic explorer and sled dog driver. As an official state dog, Chuck takes none of our New Hampshire businesses for granite. As big Buy Local fans, Chuck and Dan love Plaid Friday.

Why did Dan pick the name Chuck? “So, a person can enjoy chucking the chin of Chuck the Chinook,” answered Dan. “Chuck’s official AKC name is Forever Greene Moses Fisk. He was born to a mom from Vermont and a dad from here in Cheshire County.”

Plaid Friday Sponsors

A big THANK YOU to this year's Plaid Friday sponsors: Aloha Keene, Cheshire Horse, Deep Roots Massage, Food Connects, Monadnock Balloon Store, Monadnock Food Co-op, Ted's Shoe & Sport, The Toadstool Bookshops and The Works Café. Own an independent business? It’s not too late to jump in and participate. Contact us today at jen@thelocalcrowd.com. Also, please stay tuned for updates in our next Shopper News article.

11th Annual Plaid Friday Celebration in the Monadnock Region

Jen Risley — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 12:38:22 GMT

Shop Indie Local Kick-Off Event on November 27

For the eleventh year, independent businesses and community members in the Monadnock Region will celebrate Plaid Friday the day after Thanksgiving. This year's event falls on Friday, November 27, 2020.

Learn More: Plaid Friday 2020

Individuals will wear plaid on Plaid Friday to show support for the local economy and their commitment to spending more of their dollars at locally owned businesses this holiday season. Last year, nearly 500 community members pledged to participate in Plaid Friday.

"After a decade of urging people to get out on Plaid Friday and visit their favorite locally owned businesses, we need to proactively plan for whatever COVID-19 throws at our community next month," said Jen Risley, TLC Monadnock Program Manager. "We're planning for all our usual activities -- while adding new virtual ways to participate. (Stay tuned for details!) We want to keep our movement strong and our community safe."

About Plaid Friday

Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of local and independent businesses. It's a fun and festive alternative to the "Black Friday" consumer frenzy perpetuated by big box stores. This event originated in Oakland, CA to bring back the times when shopping for friends and family was a pleasurable and leisurely activity.

Many locally owned businesses will serve as Plaid Friday Hubs, photographing customers decked out in plaid and answering questions about this event.

View Plaid Friday Hubs

Some participating businesses will offer specials to honor the day and thank community members for their support. Specials will be posted at tlcmonadnock.com/specials.

About Shop Indie Local

Plaid Friday is part of the Shop Indie Local movement growing throughout North America. From November 1 to December 31, Shop Indie Local encourages residents to choose local and independent businesses for more of their holiday purchases.

Peterborough Restaurant BINGO

Jen Risley — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 09:10:15 GMT

Join the fun and support our local restaurants by playing Peterborough Restaurant BINGO! Starting this weekend (10/9), pick up your BINGO cards at participating restaurants and play to win some cool Peterborough swag. Every $10 purchase per visit earns a stamp on your card. Every completed card wins a prize and is entered for larger prizes.

Participating restaurants: Aesop's Tables & Events, Beepa and Lulu's Restaurant, Thai Cafe, De Olla Burritos, Harlow's Pub, Kogetsu at boiler house, Nature's Green Grocer, Nonie's Restaurant & Bakery, Pancho's Pizza, Post and Beam Brewing and Waterhouse Restaurant. Dine-in, take-out, gift cards and merchandise all qualify. Restaurant BINGO runs through the end of the year.

For more, email community@peterboroughnh.gov.

The Four-Legged Friend Behind this Year’s Plaid Friday Event: Chuck the Chinook

Jen Risley — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 09:54:22 GMT

Originally published in Four Legs & A Tail

This article highlights a different kind of four-legged friend, a wonderful one-year-old Chinook dog from Keene, NH named Chuck. Chuck and his owner, Dan Brown, volunteered to promote this year’s Plaid Friday event in the Monadnock Region and throughout the state. Photo to right: Chuck shown in comic relief wearing an Official State Tartan of NH (a.k.a. Plaid) tie. Please keep reading to learn more about Chuck and Plaid Friday.

Chinooks, the official state dog of New Hampshire, were bred as sled dogs in Tamworth, NH, by Arthur Treadwell Walden in 1917. Walden was an arctic explorer and sled dog driver. “Chinooks are smart, gentle, strong, and love New England winters,” Dan shared. To learn more about Chinooks, see the Winter 2018 Four Legs and a Tail issue.

“He and I routinely take a walk through the downtown and on most Saturdays through the Farmers’ Market.” Dan continued. “Chuck can also be found on the rail trail, at the Surry Dam, Stonewall Farm and sometimes chasing trout in the Ashuelot River. His favorite things are meeting people, educating them about his officialdom, and belly rubs. His least favorite thing, like most dogs, is being told to ‘leave it.’”

Chuck takes none of our New Hampshire businesses for granite. His LupinePet Eco collar and leash, made from recycled plastic bottles in Conway, NH, is the color granite, of course. As big buy local fans, Chuck and Dan love Plaid Friday.

Plaid Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, celebrates the diversity and creativity of local and independent businesses. It’s a fun and enjoyable alternative to the big box store “Black Friday” consumer frenzy. Also, it’s a way to show your support for our local economy. Please plan to wear PLAID all day on November 27.

Last year, Chuck’s interest in Plaid Friday sparked after seeing a poster highlighting another Keene-based dog named Chloe. She was sitting outside of Prime Roast Coffee Roasters on Main Street, sporting a plaid coat complete with plaid ear coverings. Chuck was smitten.

Why did Dan pick the name, Chuck? “So, a person can enjoy Chucking the chin of Chuck the Chinook,” answered Dan. “Chuck’s official AKC name is Forever Greene Moses Fisk. He was born to a mom from Vermont and a dad from here in Cheshire County. Chuck is a nephew by kennel to Charger the Chinook, a Vietnam veteran.”

Following in his Uncle’s paw prints, Chuck befriended members of the 238th Medevac Helicopter Co, NHANG. “He wants to give further howldies to Operational Support Airlift Detachment 18, The National Guard members helping with the COVID crisis, and all New Hampshire Servicemen and women away from home,” said Dan. “He thanks you for your dedication and awaits your safe return.”

We look forward to seeing you and your pets in plaid on Plaid Friday! Know of a working dog, cat, or another animal I should highlight in a future article? I’d love to hear from you! Please email me at marketing@monadnockfood.coop.

Better Together: Building Equitable Communities in the Monadnock Region

Jen Risley — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 11:03:19 GMT

Please Mark Your Calendar!

The Local Crowd Monadnock and Monadnock United Way are teaming up to strengthen our community

Join us for the Better Together: Building Equitable Communities in the Monadnock Region campaign from October 19 through November 13. All gifts given on TLC’s crowdfunding platform during this time will benefit Monadnock United Way’s (MUW) Better Together Annual Campaign.

The Better Together Campaign goal is $1,277,000 and it is crucial that we hit this target to help our neighbors in need. Too many people in our region are silently suffering. We may not see or experience the extent of their pain and stress. But it exists.

Consider this. Prior to COVID-19:

We had the third highest rate of child abuse and neglect in the state
Our children scored lower than the rest of the state in English and math
One quarter of our residents were low-income. In the rest of NH the rate is 1 in 5

These statistics are likely to get worse in the months to come.

Monadnock United Way and our partner agencies ﬁght for children, education, and ﬁnancial stability in every community throughout our region. With your support, we will eliminate fear and uncertainty. We will lift up our region. We will make it vibrant in the face of hardship.

For more information, please visit MUW.org.

GATHER: Revitalizing Native American Foodways

Jen Risley — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 09:37:22 GMT

“The food sovereignty movement has so many powerful stories that needed to be told from the community perspective,” said Michael E. Roberts, First Nations Development Institute President and CEO. “Hearing stories about Native people from Native people, along with experts in this type of storytelling, brings a tribal producer’s vision and First Nation’s work to the forefront.”

To mark Indigenous People’s Day on October 12 -- and hear Native stories from Native people -- we invite you to a free virtual screening of the film GATHER on October 6 at 6:30 p.m. GATHER features the work of Native communities building sustainable foodways to improve health and food security.

The film highlights Nephi Craig, a chef from the White Mountain Apache Nation in Arizona, establishing an indigenous café and recovery clinic; Elsie Dubray, a young scientist from the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation in South Dakota, conducting nutritional studies on bison; and the Ancestral Guard, environmental activists from the Yurok Nation in Northern California, working to save the Klamath River.

After the film, we will host a live discussion with Sanjay Rawal, Award-Winning Filmmaker and Director of Gather, and A-dae Romero-Briones, First Nations Development Institute Director of Programs – Native Agriculture and Food Systems. We thank our partners, Monadnock Food Co-op, Monadnock International Film Festival and Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition for co-hosting this event. This event is free, but registration is required. We hope you’ll join us!

More About Indigenous People’s Day

Indigenous Peoples' Day falls on the second Monday of October, offering an alternative to Columbus Day. This holiday honors and celebrates Native American people -- their history, culture and present-day experiences. While not an official holiday in New Hampshire, the City of Keene passed a resolution earlier this year to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day -- joining with three other New Hampshire towns: Dover, Durham and Hopkinton.

“This is an important transition we’re making -- a transition from being a European-centric community to a people-centric community for all people who have lived here and live here now,” said Keene Mayor Kendall Lane at last year’s Indigenous Peoples' Day event at Keene State College.

“Indigenous people were in the Americas by 1492, we were the first astronomers, geographers, physicists, doctors, botanists, on and on. We were the first on this land. Let’s acknowledge it and let’s teach it,” said Donna Moody, Franklin Pierce University Adjunct Professor and Tribal Elder in the Abenaki Nation. “We’re rooted here, our story is here, our language is here, our ancestors are buried here. Let’s acknowledge it and let’s teach it. Let’s address the underlying issues of bias and oppression.”

She continued, “When these issues are being addressed and progress made, then we really have begun to address the issues of the genocide of the land, the disappearance of language, the disappearance and erasure of our histories.”

New Resource: Indigenous New Hampshire Harvest Calendar

This year, New Hampshire Farm to School and the Indigenous NH Collaborative Collective introduced the Indigenous New Hampshire Harvest Calendar curriculum highlighting local, indigenous crops, recipes and activities. The curriculum is divided into four seasons and follows the Abenaki method of measuring time, the 13 Moon Calendar. Please check out this resource and don’t forget to get your free ticket to the film GATHER to learn more about indigenous foodways beyond New England.

Other TLC Monadnock News

Whether you're looking for a little plaid flair or aiming to don plaid from head-to-toe to celebrate this year's Plaid Friday, we want to help. Stay tuned for our Virtual Plaid Friday Pop-Up Shop in October.

Also in October, we’ll host an online introductory webinar with Michael Shuman called "Rebooting Your Community After COVID - How to Invest Locally Using Self-Directed IRAs and Solo 401ks" on October 15, 2020, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event is free, but registration is required.

If there’s enough interest generated at our introductory workshop, we’ll work with Michael to offer a full workshop on this topic in our region (hopefully live!). The workshop would cover the twelve types of local investment opportunities available in almost everyone’s backyard (some that are likely to beat the returns from Wall Street). It would also highlight what next steps we can take to shift millions of dollars of capital into local businesses struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

We hope to see you virtually at our October offerings!

TLC 4WARD Raised $14K for Six Local Businesses

Jen Risley — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 14:07:17 GMT

A Community Response to COVID-19 Business Recovery

Our first TLC 4WARD crowdfunding campaign raised $14,028 for six locally owned businesses in the Monadnock Region, NH.

"This campaign empowered 253 individuals to support six local businesses that they don't want to live without," said Jen Risley, TLC Monadnock Program Manager. "Our goal was to leverage our technology to help locally owned businesses weather the COVID-19 crisis, meet shifts in community needs and rapidly seize emerging opportunities."

TLC 4WARD, designed to help rural communities recover more quickly from the COVID-19 crisis, enables residents to contribute to local businesses and organizations through online transactions.

Participating businesses included:

Archway Farm in Keene, NH added more offerings to their self-serve farm store in response to COVID-19, which required more storage space. Through TLC 4WARD, the farm raised the funds needed to upgrade their electric service to support this new storage equipment.

"A big thank you to everyone who has donated," shared Mark Florenz, owner of Archway Farm.

CC&D's Kitchen Market in Keene, NH met their campaign goal in less than 24 hours. They will purchase essential safety equipment and supplies for the catering arm of their business.

"There is great kindness in this world and AWESOMENESS in our community," said Denise Meadow, co-owner of CC&D's Kitchen Market. "We thank this amazing community for supporting our local small business, for sharing photos, stories and experiences, for referring us to your friends and families, for donating meals so we can together thank our essential workers and for buying meals for strangers, friends, volunteers and superheroes."

Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene, NH invested in a refrigerated trailer to expand its Curbside Pick-Up program, launched in response to COVID-19.

"We are extremely grateful for our community's support of our Curbside Pick-Up infrastructure," said Michael Faber, Monadnock Food Co-op General Manager. "Our expanded refrigerated storage space will help us serve more customers, helping us better serve our community in the months and years ahead."

Orchard Hill Breadworks in Alstead, NH will use funds to support small dairy farms and artisan cheesemakers hit hard by the pandemic. They will feature local dairy products on their pizzas, sold each Tuesday to raise funds for local non-profit organizations.

"A huge thank you to everyone who supported us in this campaign," said Cara Campbell of Orchard Hill Breadworks. "We are so grateful to be able to support small, local producers in this time of so much uncertainty."

Prime Roast Coffee Roasters in Keene, NH raised 170% of their goal to purchase a second battery to power their electric bicycle used in their new “BySpoke - Beans by Bike” program, a doorstep delivery service. They will donate access funds to Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation to support future bicycle programming.

"We want to share our community bounty so all funds over our goal will go to the Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation (MAST)," said Judy Rogers, owner of Prime Roast Coffee Roasters. "Support will help promote their next Bike to Work Week and Bicycle Month in 2021."

Village Roots Permaculture Farm in Alstead, NH will purchase and install a walk-in cooler with a cool bot unit boosting their ability to provide fresh, healthy and safe food to their community.

"Like many local farmers, COVID-19 boosted sales at our farm," said Marty Castriotta, owner of Village Roots Permaculture Farm. "This surge focused our efforts on upgrading our food handling and processing capacity. Thanks to everyone who chipped in, we reached our goal in four days!"

Visit this TLC 4WARD campaign

Rebooting Our Community After COVID

Jen Risley — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 10:23:53 GMT

This fall, we will welcome back community economist Michael Shuman for a virtual visit to our region. In 2016, Michael spoke about pollinator enterprises -- self-financing businesses committed to boosting other local businesses. This time, he’s back to help us invest more of our savings into locally owned businesses and community.

"When the pandemic recedes, we all will be called upon to take extraordinary steps to revive the local businesses that serve as the foundation of our communities," shared Michael. "One critically important step will be for you and other members of your community to move your investment capital from Wall Street to Main Street."

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock will host an online introductory webinar with Michael called "Rebooting Your Community After COVID - How to Invest Locally Using Self-Directed IRAs and Solo 401ks" on October 15, 2020, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event is free, but registration is required.

“There are real alternatives [to Wall Street], but few know about or consider them,” said Michael. “In fact, you can invest in everything that matters to you. You can put your money into that neighborhood grocery store you love, your little sister’s first house, or your nephew who needs to pay off high-interest student loans.”

Michael will offer us a way to make our community more resilient -- to prepare for future global crises -- and help us move more of our dollars into the businesses we don’t want to live without. While this workshop targets community members with tax-deferred retirement accounts (401k or IRA), we encourage others to attend such as local business owners looking for new sources of capital and individuals looking for new ways to solve our local economic challenges.

“If you’re smart about local investing, you can do this in a way that provides substantial, stable financial returns and lowers the risk of Wall Street investments,” continued Michael. “Plus, these commonsense local investments wind up strengthening your community, your local resilience, and your tax base.”

If there’s enough interest generated at our introductory workshop, we’ll work with Michael to offer a full workshop on this topic in our region (hopefully live!). The workshop would cover the twelve types of local investment opportunities available in almost everyone’s backyard (some that are likely to beat the returns from Wall Street). It would also highlight what next steps we can take to shift millions of dollars of capital into local businesses struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Workshop participants will learn a fundamentally new way of thinking about their world, their community, and their money,” stated Michael. “And a fundamentally new way of acting.”

Michael Shuman, a leading visionary on community economics, serves as Director of Local Economy Programs for Neighborhood Associates Corporation and Adjunct Professor at Bard Business School in New York City. He is also a Senior Researcher for Council Fire and Local Analytics, where he performed economic-development analyses for states, local governments, and businesses around North America. His three most recent books include “Put Your Money Where Your Life Is: How to Invest Locally Using Solo 401ks and Self-Directed IRAs”; “The Local Economy Solution: How Innovative, Self-Financing Pollinator Enterprises Can Grow Jobs and Prosperity”; and “Local Dollars, Local Sense: How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street.”

Thank you to our event partners: Green Energy Options, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Monadnock Food Co-op, The Local Crowd, Vital Communities and Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship. We hope you’ll join us!

Before we close, we wanted to share a few TLC Monadnock updates. First, a really big thank you to everyone who contributed to our TLC 4WARD crowdfunding campaign that wraps up on August 31. All six of our participating businesses surpassed their goals. Collectively, we raised over $14,000 from 253 supporters for Archway Farm, CC&D’s Kitchen Market, Monadnock Food Co-op, Orchard Hill Breadworks, Prime Roast Coffee Roasters and Village Roots Permaculture Farm: tlcmonadnock.com/4ward.

Two full crowdfunding campaigns ran on TLC Monadnock during the pandemic. The Keene Sentinel raised $46,986 to help local journalism thrive and Sharing Housing collected $10,203 to support the development of an online course that will teach people how to create healthy, happy shared homes (a great way to boost affordable housing options in our region). View all our past campaigns at tlcmonadnock.com/tlc.

Please check out our latest live TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaign from Friends of Public Art: http://c-fund.us/qb9. They’re working to transform a negative space at the Keene Airport into a welcoming sculpture park. They hope to raise enough funds to purchase their first sculpture, created by local artist Adam Schepker with reused materials from the airport. They will place this sculpture next to the newly formed Mt. Monadnock Labyrinth by Katie Schwerin.

Finally, thank you all again for your support for these campaign teams and TLC Monadnock as a whole. Together, we collected $212,584 for twenty-four crowdfunding campaigns -- campaigns that build a more local, green and fair Monadnock Region.

Keene Sustainable Energy Plan

Jen Risley — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 10:33:27 GMT

The City of Keene launched a new website on Keene’s Sustainable Energy Planning process. The website includes a roadmap of pathways, strategies, and tools to achieve Keene’s energy goals, and you can listen to stories to learn more about tools like Community Power.

The Keene Energy and Climate Committee and City staff are looking for your ideas and feedback. Please, take the survey on how Keene should define renewable energy as the City develops an energy plan, and tell them what you think of the draft vision statement for the planning process. You can visit KeeneEnergyPlan.com to learn more.

Year 8: Shining a Light on Local Food, Farms and our Food System

Jen Risley — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 09:44:00 GMT

For the eighth year, let’s shine a light on local food, farms and our Monadnock Region food system during New Hampshire Eats Local Month, a month-long celebration of our state’s harvest in August.

What do we mean by a food system?

Our food system includes all the pieces needed to bring local food from the farm to our plates: the soil, farmworkers, transportation networks, markets and more -- everything needed to grow, harvest and distribute these goods to us. These pieces come together to form our local food system.

Please dig in and enjoy this bounty of updates!

Fertilizing Edible Education

The Cornucopia Project, based in Peterborough, cultivates community health through edible education at nine elementary school gardens, learning kitchens, and a student-powered educational farm.

“Learning comes to life in the garden,” shared Lauren Hudd, Programs Director at The Cornucopia Project. “Students who work with [us] show increased interest in nutrition and agriculture, impacting their future choices and vegetable consumption at home.”

Despite COVID-19, The Cornucopia Project’s educational farm continues to sell organically grown produce to local restaurants, institutions and community members. This year, they have also donated produce to their local food pantry, provided remote lessons to 250 students and grew over 3,000 seedlings for home gardeners. And their best news of 2020, they just received a two-year Farm to School grant from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service to expand their programs to more schools in our region!

Connecting Markets and Farmers

This year Food Connects, a food hub based in Brattleboro, VT, built a 1,000 square foot cooler and freezer and completed a crowdfunding campaign for their “Growing Local Food Markets in the Monadnock Region” project. This campaign, run through The Local Crowd Monadnock, raised $10,000 to enhance food safety and expand farmers’ access to markets in the Monadnock Region.

Due to COVID-19, Food Connects experienced a 200% increase in sales year over year from March to June. “We are delivering food to local co-ops and markets, hospitals, school meal programs, and buying clubs in record numbers,” shared Alex McCullough, Food Hub Manager. “This diverse group of customers is allowing us to continue supporting farmers and finding outlets for their food.”

"We must continue to strengthen our local food system by building regional infrastructure for farmers and other food producers,” said Richard Berkfield, Food Connects Executive Director. “The more resilient our local food system is now, the more prepared we will be to weather future storms."

Food System Infrastructure

Stakeholders have come together to envision “The Food Collaborative,” an effort to create a Keene-based business featuring food preparation and storage space, processing equipment, and facilities for food business entrepreneurship and education. This collaborative seeks to enhance food security for all community members while providing opportunities for economic vitality.

These infrastructure needs were identified through a partnership project between Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition (MFCC) and The Community Kitchen, Inc. (TCK), funded by the You Have Our Trust Fund in 2017. This fund made a second investment in the group in 2020, supporting a collaborative proposal for infrastructure needs, including accessibility signage for the Walpole Farmer’s Market, bottling equipment for the Greater Falls Food Hub, dairy equipment installation and training for Stonewall Farm, and a 12-week farm-to-restaurant-to-pantry project. This last project involves the purchase of locally grown foods that Machina Arts Kitchen and ArtBar in Keene will prepare and freeze for pantry and hot meals guests at TCK.

Open meetings are held on Zoom on first Thursdays from noon to 1:30. Anyone interested in participating may contact Sarah Harpster at tckgleaner@gmail.com.

Growing Gardeners

Antioch University’s Community Garden Connections in Keene shifted its usual growing season outreach. Instead of supporting partner organizations’ gardening efforts in person, they provided gardening opportunities remotely. They offered container garden kits to their partners, including big buckets of soil (made from Antioch’s own compost), seeds of easy-to-grow plants like beans and step-by-step instructions. Just add water and sunshine. This way, instead of individuals gathering at community garden plots, they could maintain their distance and green thumbs at home.

Community Garden Connections continues to produce food for the Community Kitchen at various sites in Keene and their Westmoreland garden site. They also have an extensive collection of free seeds available by request. Just email communitygardens@antioch.edu with the quantity and variety or for more details.

Boosting Food Security

This June, the Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition (MFCC) launched, "Food & Gardens for a Resilient Monadnock" -- a new website providing gardening and food access resources: sites.google.com/prod/view/foodgardensmonadnock.

"We are experiencing an unprecedented moment with the COVID pandemic which has made us re-examine our supply chains and how we get our food,” said Roe-Ann Tasoulas, MFCC Director. “Many people in our region are feeling increased anxiety about how they are going to get food on their tables. Building resilience through gardening and better information on how to access food can help.”

What’s Your 2040?

On August 18, 2020, Monadnock Food Co-op and Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF) will co-host a virtual screening of the documentary film 2040. This film explores what 2040 could look like if we embraced solutions like regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and climate justice. The film asks viewers to explore "What's Your 2040?"

The film starts at 6:30 p.m. and a live post-film discussion will follow, with Monadnock Region community leaders in the areas of regenerative agriculture, food and farming, energy, transportation and housing, equity and social justice and cooperatives. This event is free, but registration is required.

“A dose of inspiration and optimism is just what we need right now, and 2040 offers plenty of both,” said MONIFF Board Chair, Deirdre Fitzgerald. “It’s the perfect film to celebrate NH Eats Local Month. Eating local strengthens our communities, nourishes our bodies, and sustains a healthy planet. This documentary shows how, through the power of community, we may already have what we need to tackle climate change head-on.”

Equipment Rentals for Farmers

Since 2012 the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) has offered low-cost farm equipment rentals to area farmers. They expanded their fleet by purchasing three new offerings (no-till drill, vegetable transplanter and 4-row corn planter), plus a walk-behind BCS Tractor to support local gardeners. Additionally, local dairy farmers will receive equipment rentals for no charge this growing season.

Dig Deeper

The Keene Public Library invites new and experienced gardeners to a series of free virtual garden talks hosted by UNH Extension Master Gardeners. “Gardening in a Time of Climate Change” presented by Sandra Pickering on August 6 at 11 a.m. and “Putting the Garden to Bed” presented by Joy Ackerman on August 20 at 11 a.m. Please register online.

Thank you to all the individuals, programs, policies and initiatives that continue to build more robust local and regional food systems in our corner of the state and throughout New England. Together, we’re cultivating healthier citizens, communities and economies.

Updates from Keene Housing Kids Collaborative: Kids Connectivity Project

Jen Risley — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 12:03:31 GMT

This March Keene Housing Kids Collaborative wrapped up a successful TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaign to help kids access opportunities in our community -- opportunities that cultivate a successful adulthood. We wanted to share these updates with you to inspire our community and cheer Kids Collaborative on!

We send gratitude and hope to all Keene Housing Kids Collaborative (KHKC) supporters.

Since mid-March, when the realities of Covid-19 forced community activities for kids to close indefinitely, and school switched to remote learning, KHKC worked to re-imagine our role as connector for kids living in Keene Housing.

We initiated the Kids Connectivity Project in April, to ensure that every student living in a Keene Housing household has a stable and reliable internet connection at home and a device they can use independently on which to connect to the internet and do their schoolwork.
We paid several past due internet bills for families so that they could re-connect their internet. We have so far brought several internet accounts current and purchased 8 Chromebooks ($300 each) and distributed them to families, allowing them to return devices on loan from the school district. Purchase of Chromebooks for students in Keene Housing households will allow distribution of school district Chromebooks to students living in struggling households who do not live in Keene Housing, broadening the availability of school Chromebooks to more students who need them.
Also this spring, we started a Zoom tutoring program, connecting Keene Housing students with community volunteers to help with schoolwork via Zoom. This program was very successful and provided a level of flexibility in scheduling for both volunteers and students that made it easy to connect volunteers and students without the need to travel or meet in a designated spot. Zoom tutoring program will continue through the 2020-21 school year.
We continue to connect kids with the limited community activities available this summer: MoCo day camp for kids under 9 years old, YMCA day camp, Stonewall Farm day camp, NHDI summer intensive, and True Hope horseback riding.
We are coordinating with Jen Dassau of Feeding Tiny Tummies to distribute weekly food boxes to Keene Housing families. Residents can pick up boxes at 3 property sites in Keene and 2 in Swanzey. So far, 53 families with 120 children have signed up to access the boxes. This is a huge increase over the # of kids who took advantage of the sit down, bagged meal USDA summer meals.

Be well and keep in touch.

Let's Move 4WARD Together

Jen Risley — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 10:25:51 GMT

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

This month, The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock launched a brand new crowdfunding initiative called TLC 4WARD. The goal: Empowering you to support the local businesses that you don't want to live without. TLC 4WARD provides participating locally owned businesses with the needed funds to weather the COVID-19 crisis, meet changes in community needs and seize new opportunities to forward a more local, green and fair economy in our region.

"This is an unprecedented time -- one we could not have imagined even six months ago," shared Diane Sontum, TLC co-founder. "Yet, what we imagine today gives us the power to change the world of tomorrow into one we want for ourselves, our children, our neighbors and the planet that sustains us."

We recently launched TLC 4WARD with four locally owned businesses. Each has a different story to tell.

Archway Farm

As demand for local products increased in response to COVID-19, Mark Florenz of Archway Farm in Keene added more offerings to his self-serve farm store, like Edgefield Farm lamb, Crooked Creek Farm eggs and Frisky Cow gelato. He’s also close to adding his pasture-raised chickens to the store’s inventory. These additional local products require more storage space, so he installed new display freezers and a refrigerator. Now, this new infrastructure requires an upgrade to the farm store’s electric service.

Help Archway Farm move 4WARD!

Monadnock Food Co-op

Due to COVID-19, demand for curbside pick-up soared at Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene. To quickly meet this need, the co-op launched a pilot curbside pick-up program for seniors and people at risk. And the orders came in! Now, their biggest obstacle is finding enough refrigerated space to store these orders until pick up. They’d like to invest in a refrigerated trailer to allow them to continue offering this vital service. This trailer will also help them out immensely during the Thanksgiving season and Truckload events. They turn to our community to help them cover a portion of the cost of this trailer. Your support will help them keep curbside pick-up available now and into the future.

Help Monadnock Food Co-op move 4WARD!

Orchard Hill Breadworks

Every Tuesday night in the summer, Noah Elbers and his team at Orchard Hill Breadworks in Alstead welcome a few hundred individuals to their place. They come for one thing: delicious, wood-fired pizza. You build your own pie and they bake it for you in their outdoor oven. Each week, 100% of the profits go to different local non-profit organizations. This year, however, Orchard Hill Breadworks must do things differently.

While they can't invite hundreds of people into their space to make their own pizzas, they can offer take-away pizzas, made by their hard-working team and baked in their wood-fired oven, available every Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., until August 25, 2020. Each night will still support a local non-profit, but they want their take-away pizzas to lend a hand in additional ways.

Small dairy farms and artisan cheesemakers have been hit hard by the pandemic. Orchard Hill would love to support these businesses by featuring their products on their pizzas this year -- without transferring this increased cost onto all customers or cutting into what they donate.

Help Orchard Hill Breadworks move 4WARD!

Prime Roast Coffee Roasters

When Prime Roast closed their Main Street coffee shop in Keene due to COVID-19, owner Judy Rogers shifted their business to delivering their freshly roasted beans exclusively by mail order. They experienced an overwhelming demand for local bean delivery. Instead of mailing these beans, they wanted to find a way to keep our community caffeinated through in-person roaster-to-home deliveries.

Thinking outside the box, they launched “BySpoke - Beans by Bike,” a doorstep delivery service. They now deliver their coffee beans with a new electric bike, named Iris, to customers who order online and live locally. Iris helps them connect with our amazing coffee community and allows for reduced packaging and a smaller environmental footprint.
As demand for BySpoke - Beans By Bike continued to grow, they needed a back-up battery for Iris. With your support, they can keep Iris rolling and our community caffeinated.

Help Prime Roast Coffee Roasters move 4WARD!

Help Businesses Move 4WARD

There are several ways to support these businesses through TLC 4WARD. One is to give a contribution -- click on the green button on our page to get started. Then, click on the businesses you'd like to support.

If you prefer to give "offline," please make your check out to Monadnock Food Co-op (with the business you're supporting in the memo line) and mail it to Jen Risley, Monadnock Food Co-op, TLC 4WARD, 34 Cypress St., Keene, NH 03431.

Another way to support our campaign is to claim a reward in exchange for your contribution. Rewards for our campaign include a $10 gift card from the Monadnock Food Co-op or CC&D's Kitchen Market, a $25 gift card from Cheshire Garden, and a 30-minute massage at Mudita Massage. For more information, visit this page and scroll down to Rewards. These rewards are limited, so be sure to check them out today.

While we launched TLC 4WARD with four locally owned businesses, we invite others to join. Please share this opportunity with others -- businesses that you don't want to live without.

Let’s move 4WARD together!

Local Business Update: 2020 Shop Indie Local Planning

Jen Risley — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 14:00:48 GMT

Now, more than ever, small businesses need to work together.

With so much uncertainty around the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on each of our businesses and what this year's holiday shopping season will look like, we will start planning now for this year's Shop Indie Local efforts (Plaid Friday, Cider Monday, Small Business Saturday and more).

Please reach out to us with new ideas for how we can better come together to support each other this holiday season.

Yours locally,
Jen

Program Manager

The Local Crowd Monadnock

Keene, NH 03431
603-400-9157

New this Year: Earn Sponsorship Credits

Instead of asking you for Shop Indie Local sponsorships in the form of just cash this year, we're pitching a different option -- one that we hope will be a win-win-win.

Here's how it will work:

Your business offers up rewards (products or services) that we will use to drive support for TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaigns this summer and fall.
As your rewards are claimed, you receive "credit" towards our sponsorship levels (see below).
You'll receive the retail value, in the form of sponsorship credits, for any of your rewards that are claimed.
If rewards aren't claimed by November 1, that's okay. These unclaimed products and services are returned to you.

We will highlight your rewards like this:

We will feature all rewards on an online marketplace like this:

Make the Pledge: Shop Indie Local Sponsor

YOU can help inspire more of our friends and neighbors to support locally owned businesses by shifting more of their holiday spending to independent businesses. Show off your dedication to the local economy movement and support our Shop Indie Local efforts today!

Shop Indie Local includes supporting Plaid Friday, Cider Monday, Small Business Saturday and other promotions happening November 1 - December 31, 2020.

With your support, we will continue to build traction -- inspiring more and more AND MORE community participation and media attention. We will really need to come together in unique ways this year.

With your support and participation, we will:

Leverage the importance of supporting locally owned businesses, like yours and your favorites.
Inspire more of us to shift our holiday spending to independent businesses.
Show off your dedication to the local economy movement.

Please consider supporting this year’s Plaid Friday, Cider Monday and Shop Indie Local campaign at one (or more!) of the levels below.

Have a different idea? We're wide open to additional ideas!

Plaid Friday Rock Star: $50

Your logo will appear in our Plaid Friday ad in the Monadnock Shopper News (~60,000 weekly readers).

Cider Monday Rock Star: $50

Your logo will appear in our Cider Monday ad in the Monadnock Shopper News (~60,000 weekly readers).

Plaid Friday/Cider Monday Rock Star: $150

Your logo will appear in our Plaid Friday AND Cider Monday ad in the Monadnock Shopper News (~60,000 weekly readers) AND the Keene Sentinel (delivered to ~10,000 households) AND Monadnock Ledger Transcript (delivered to ~8,000 households).

Plaid Friday Radio Rock Star: $250

Your business will be mentioned during one week of our Plaid Friday radio ads (2 sponsors highlighted in each ad).

Plaid Friday Launch Sponsor: $1,000

~~Sponsor a Plaid Friday launch in your town or at your business. Your name and logo will appear on our Launch Event marketing materials and press release. We'll plan this launch together.~~

All sponsorship pledges are due before October 31, 2020.

Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for all you do to support our local economy each and every day.

Help Us Move 4WARD

Jen Risley — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 12:35:01 GMT

We're proud to announce the launch of our TLC 4WARD campaign.

This crowdfunding campaign empowers you to support the local businesses you don't want to live without. TLC 4WARD provides participating locally owned businesses with funds to weather the COVID-19 crises, meet changes in community needs and/or seize new opportunities to forward a more local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock Region.

Let's Move 4WARD!

"This is an unprecedented time—one we could not have imagined even six months ago," shared Diane Sontum, co-founder of The Local Crowd. "Yet, what we imagine today gives us the power to change the world of tomorrow into one we want for ourselves, our children, our neighbors and the planet that sustains us."

Businesses interested in participating can submit their story online.

In response to the economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic, TLC developed 4WARD—a crowdfunding-based initiative that can be rapidly deployed in communities to support recovery. 4WARD enables residents to contribute to local businesses and organizations through online transactions.

The purpose of TLC 4WARD is to help rural communities recover more quickly and more completely from this crisis. Funded in part by the National Science Foundation, this initiative is based on TLC’s recent SBIR research project. The research concluded that the TLC crowdfunding platform is an effective tool for stimulating financial and social capital in the communities that use it.

Submit Your Business Story

Questions? Please contact Jen Risley, TLC Monadnock Program Manager, at jen@thelocalcrowd.com or (603) 283-5401.

Bikes Unite: Celebrate Bicycle Month

Jen Risley — Sun, 24 May 2020 10:42:57 GMT

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

Prime Roast Coffee Co. in Keene launched a new program called BySpoke: Beans By Bike. They now deliver their coffee beans by electric bike to customers who order online and live locally. (Left to right): Devany Pitsas, Valery Cavadini, Emily Lavigne, Judy Rogers and Nicole Melanson. Photo Credit: Beth Pelton.

May is National Bike Month, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Since 1956, National Bike Month boasts the benefits of bicycling to encourage more of us to go by bicycle.

In our region, we’ll gather virtually to mark Bike Month and watch the crowdsourced documentary film MOTHERLOAD on Thursday, May 28 starting at 6:30 p.m. MOTHERLOAD highlights the story of an overwhelmed mother and how a cargo bicycle brings her freedom and joy (see more about this film below). This event is free and co-hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op, Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF), and Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation (MAST).

A live post-film discussion will follow the film with MOTHERLOAD Director Liz Canning, VBike Director Dave Cohen, Prime Roast Coffee Company Founder Judy Rogers and Keene State College Film Professor Ted White. Event attendees will also have a chance to win one of our event prizes including a pair of VIP tickets to MONIFF, a $25 gift card to Monadnock Food Co-op, a bag of Prime Roast coffee beans delivered to your home by ebike (must live within 3 miles of Prime Roast and delivery date is subject to weather) and an e-bike/cargo-bike consultation from Dave Cohen at VBike. This event is free, but registration is required.

Why celebrate bicycling during the COVID-19 crises? “Because bicycling is more essential to our lives than ever,” shared Bike Month organizers from The League of American Bicyclists. “And because we could all use some bike joy to look forward to. Whether you’re riding for fun, fitness or with family, or taking essential trips to work or shop, you are part of a movement for safer streets, connected communities, a healthier planet and happier people.”

Prime Roast Coffee Company in Keene truly seized Bike Month this year. They launched their new BySpoke: Beans By Bike program. They deliver their coffee beans by an electric bike, named Iris, to customers who order online and live locally. “Are you wondering why we chose to name our new e-bike Iris?” asked Judy. “Iris was the goddess of rainbows and the messenger of the gods. It just seemed right.”

Last year, the Monadnock Food Co-op formed a team called the “Co-op Commuters” to participate in the National Bike Challenge. We kept this team going and have logged 928 miles so far! Anyone can join our team through at and log their own miles. New to bicycling? Watch the League of American Bicyclists’ videos and gain confidence in your riding skills.

You can also support bicycling beyond Bike Month. For example, Pathways for Keene opened up registration for their 19th annual Four on the 4th Road Race planned for July 4. This race will raise funds for the Cheshire Rail Trail, Phase 3 & the Park Avenue Loop project – projects that make our city more walkable and bikeable.

More About MOTHERLOAD

MOTHERLOAD follows director and new mother, Liz Canning, on her quest to understand the increasing tension between modern life and our hunter-gatherer DNA, and how cargo bikes offer a solution. As Liz meets the people behind this push to replace cars with purpose-built bikes, she learns about the history and potential future of the bicycle as the “ultimate social revolutionizer.”

Conflict arises when characters encounter cultural resistance, in particular bikelash, focused on women and mothers. MOTHERLOAD draws connections to the struggle of cyclist Suffragettes and women’s seemingly endless fight for bodily autonomy. Ultimately, Liz’s experiences as a cyclist, as a mother, and in discovering the cargo bike world, teach her that sustainability is not necessarily about compromise and sacrifice. Instead, there are few things more empowering in an age of consumption than the ability to create everything from what seems to be nothing.

“For seven years, MONIFF has been fortunate to share some of the best independent films with members of our community—during the festival and throughout the year,” said MONIFF Board Chair, Deirdre Fitzgerald. “COVID-19 has made a trip to the movies off-limits for now, so it’s wonderful to be able to bring people together with this free, virtual screening of MOTHERLOAD and help raise awareness about the benefits of bicycling.”

Now, let’s get rolling!

Campaign Update - A Stone Mill for Mill Hollow

Jen Risley — Fri, 15 May 2020 10:02:01 GMT

From Orchard Hill Breadworks

Hello all!

Our new mill has been delivered and installed and is running beautifully! Our team voted on a color for the metal framework, and we couldn’t be happier with this bright purple.

We have switched over to milling all of our rye and spelt flour in house, but we are still searching for a source of organic wheat berries that is able to supply us in quantity in the current climate. Small local mills and growers, as well as larger operations, are experiencing an increased demand for flour and grain due to the pandemic, and are operating either at or over capacity and are largely unable to take on new accounts at this time. We have been able to source small quantities of wheat berries, however, which has allowed us to provide fresh flour for sale in our farm stand and at farmer’s markets as well as at select local retail locations.

Pizza Night

In other news, we have made the very tough decision to cancel pizza night for the 2020 season. We feel unable to play host to such an event in a way that would be socially responsible and are unwilling to potentially put our community at risk. We are, however, planning to offer delicious take-away pies, made by our hard-working team and baked in our wood-fired oven, available every Tuesday evening from 5:30pm to 8:00pm, June 3 - August 25, 2020. We will offer 3 pizzas each night: a plain cheese, a vegetarian special and a meat special, which will feature as much local, seasonal produce, along with locally produced meats and cheeses, as we are able to procure.These pizzas will be priced at $16, $20 and $20 respectively. For those of you who have joined us for pizza nights in the past, you’ll notice an increase in price.

Allow us to explain: The main function of pizza night has always been to serve as both a community gathering space, as well as provide a source of fundraising for local non-profit organizations. In order to make sure these organizations received as large of a percentage of the proceeds as possible, the bakery has always kept its overhead costs very low — sauce, cheese, crusts, and an all-volunteer staff, provided by the benefiting organization of the evening, along with 1 bakery employee. This year’s pizza nights will require significantly more of the bakery terms of financial outlay, in both ingredient cost, as well as staffing.

For those of you who contributed to the fundraising campaign by purchasing a VIPizza Pass, we are able to offer you the full value of your pass ($125) in credit toward take-away pizza this summer. Stay tuned for details regarding ordering, pick-up and redeeming your credit for this summer’s pizza night. We are endlessly grateful for your support.

For those of you who contributed to the fundraising campaign by signing up for our Whole Grain of the Month Club, your first pick-up will be May 28 with our 100% freshly milled Whole Spelt bread. It’s become one of our new favorites, and we hope you’ll love it too!

Whew! That was a long one. If you made it this far, thank you for sticking with it! It has been a wild few months at the bakery, and in the world at large, and we are all feeling incredibly grateful to still be baking bread and pastry. We hope this update finds you safe and well, and we send you our warmest thoughts and wishes.

Sincerely,
The Orchard Hill Breadworks Team

MOTHERLOAD: Free Virtual Community Screening to Celebrate Bicycle Month in May

Jen Risley — Sun, 10 May 2020 10:50:59 GMT

The documentary film MOTHERLOAD is coming soon virtually to Keene, NH, on Thursday, May 28, 2020, thanks to co-hosts Monadnock Food Co-op, Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF), and Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation (MAST). MOTHERLOAD, a crowdsourced documentary, explores how the cargo bicycle becomes a vehicle for exploring motherhood in this digital age of climate change.

The film starts at 6:30 p.m. with a post-film discussion to follow with MOTHERLOAD Director Liz Canning, VBike Director Dave Cohen, and Keene State College Film Professor Ted White. This event is free, but registration is required.

Register today!

Watch the trailer

This community screening celebrates National Bike Month, a promotion each May that highlights the many benefits of bicycling and inspires individuals to bike more often. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Bike Month will continue as planned.

“The League is still celebrating National Bike Month,” shared Bike Month organizers from The League of American Bicyclists. “Because bicycling is more essential to our lives than ever—and because we could all use some bike joy to look forward to. We hope that the hundreds of thousands of you who participate in Bike Month events in typical years continue to do so through virtual, solo, or safely distanced events in May 2020, and beyond.”

“I’m excited for this opportunity to view MOTHERLOAD online as a community in these trying times,” said Will Schoefmann, MAST Steering Committee Chair. “Hopefully, this will help to inspire our region now and for the better

times ahead. I would encourage everyone to watch this excellent film and help transform our attitudes towards modern bicycling.”

About MOTHERLOAD

Weathering the Storm Together

Jen Risley — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 10:09:29 GMT

The Local Crowd Monadnock (TLC Monadnock), a community-based crowdfunding program, is getting closer to launching an initiative that will empower you to support the local businesses and organizations that you don’t want to live without.

While we work to lay the groundwork for this initiative, here are some ways you can help local businesses weather the COVID-19 storm now. Thank you to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance for providing the tips below. We also share updates from local businesses related to each tip. Their quotes show that many of you have already embraced the idea of weathering this storm together.

#1: BUY LOCAL

Lots of small businesses have online storefronts. Many offer home delivery too. You’ll not only get your products faster than if you order them from an online megastore, but you’ll also be helping the small businesses you love stay in business.

Some local business owners reported an uptick in business due to the coronavirus. “Our farm has seen an increase in the number of people joining our spring and main season CSAs for this time of year,” shared Gene Jonas of Hungry Bear Farm in Mason. “We sold out spring shares weeks ago and had to turn some people away even. Our main season CSA is about two-thirds full right now.”

In terms of our community taking advantage of online storefronts, here’s one report from a local business owner in Keene. “I have been overwhelmed by the love from our community and beyond,” said Brandie Wells from Soul Emporium. “My goal during this pandemic was to creatively keep inventory moving. I am selling Mystery Boxes (with crystals, herbs, teas, and other items) and the community is purchasing! Some are even buying them as pick-me-ups to ship to friends and family. This creative solution is helping my store thrive and bringing love and light to my community as well.”

Looking for businesses with an online storefront? View our searchable directory at tlcmonadnock.com/online.

#2: BE FLEXIBLE

Order online from your favorite local restaurants, then pick up curbside. Take your fitness classes by Zoom. No matter how your favorite businesses are offering goods and services now, keep supporting them with your purchases.

Restaurants and other businesses pivoted to curbside pick-up. Many yoga and wellness centers moved their services online. While you shift the ways you support your health, find ways to support the health of local businesses that provide so much to our community. What they provide ripples out way beyond the products and services they offer.

“When we opened Aloha Healthy Living just a year ago, we had a different vision than most new businesses. We wanted to give all our incoming money to our practitioners and the rest to nonprofits,” said Josephine Russell. “We are at the stage of life where we still have a lot of energy and we wanted to have somewhere to pour this energy into that gives us meaning and happiness.”

Josephine continued, “Our teachers have switched to online offerings. Some offer classes for free, some by donation, and some at a fee. Most importantly, we have many tools in our yoga toolbox for getting us through this time stress-free and happy.”

“The social capital and the community’s support of our shops and restaurants has been stupendous,” shared Ted McGreer of Ted’s Shoe & Sport in Keene. “I wanted to personally find a way to support our regions’ businesses, and with so many people trying to get outside and increase their level of activity, I decided to hold a Keene Community Virtual 5K.”

Instead of race participants receiving a t-shirt, they received a gift certificate from a local business of their choice. The result, just shy of $20,000 in gift certificates going to support area businesses.

#3: BE GENEROUS

Tip well. Spread the news (safely) about the great service you’re getting from your small businesses. Leave positive reviews online (small business owners could really use some love right now). Donate to your favorite businesses through crowdfunding.

There’s much generosity happening in our region. We’re thrilled to share that our community stepped up to support Food Connects crowdfunding campaign with TLC Monadnock. On April 18, they reached their campaign goal to raise $10,000 to increase market access for local farmers and food producers in our region.

Food Connects continues its local food delivery service to wholesale customers. “The last three weeks we’ve seen a 50-80% increase in our local food sales,” says Alex McCullough, Food Hub Manager. “We are delivering food to local co-ops and markets, hospitals, school meal programs, and buying clubs in record numbers. This diverse group of customers is allowing us to continue supporting farmers and finding outlets for their food.”

Please share more examples of how you and your community are weathering the storm together. Contact me at jen@thelocalcrowd.com. Be well!

Tell Congress What #SmallBizNeedsNow

Jen Risley — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 11:35:19 GMT

Right now, it isn't clear that Congressional leadership understands how dire the situation is for hundreds of thousands of small businesses across the country. We're hoping you will record videos, tweet, and post on Facebook at 9am EST this coming Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, using the hashtag #SmallBizNeedsNow.

At this key moment, Congress needs to hear your stories to understand the critical need for more federal funds and a more streamlined way to get them to small businesses.

Our friends at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance have created a social media toolkit with instructions, sample tweets, and more. The toolkit also includes instructions on recording and posting videos, should you need them. Those videos and posts will get maximum re-broadcast throughout the week.

View the Social Media Toolkit

COVID-19: How You Can Support Our Locally Owned Businesses

Jen Risley — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 12:13:22 GMT

Originally Posted at Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Most small businesses don’t have the credit and capital to weather the coronavirus pandemic. And the average small business has only enough cash in reserve to remain open for 27 days. For restaurants, it’s only 16 days; for retail shops, only 19. Being closed for weeks — or months — because of the COVID-19 pandemic will be devastating for hundreds of thousands of small businesses. Governments, foundations, and nonprofits everywhere are scrambling to help small businesses stay afloat during this crisis, but everyone can help. Here are some things you can do.

How You Can Support Our Locally Owned Businesses

Food Connects Closes in on $10,000

Jen Risley — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 10:58:08 GMT

By Food Connects

Food Connects is now over 75% of the way to its crowdfunding goal of $10,000 for our “Growing Local Food Markets in the Monadnock Region” campaign. This campaign, run through The Local Crowd Monadnock, aims to increase market access for local farmers and food producers.

Thanks to the generosity of over 50 donors, Food Connects raised $7,741 as of March 31. These funds will go towards implementing the first steps in Food Connects newly optimized food safety plan—covering the cost of the food safety certification and audit, the monthly fees for the Integrated Pest Management Program, staff training, and necessary cleaning and transportation supplies.

A large portion of these funds was raised through the Monadnock Food Co-op’s Round It Up program for March. Co-op customers had the opportunity to round up their change at the register for this campaign, resulting in $4,341.19. “We are so grateful for the incredible generosity of the community at the Monadnock Food Co-op,” says Richard Berkfield, Food Connects’ Executive Director. “These funds will help Food Connects develop the necessary infrastructure needed to sell to larger wholesale customers.”

The outbreak of COVID-19 has heightened the need for and awareness of supporting the local food economy. “Now, more than ever, it is important to strengthen our local food businesses,” says Berkfield. “Many food producers are seeing a loss of sales due to college and restaurant closures. Our campaign focuses on developing current and new markets to ensure that there is a broad and diverse set of customers always available to purchase local food. Resilient local food economies can weather the storm.”

Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, Food Connects is continuing on with its local food delivery. “The last three weeks we’ve seen a 50-80% increase in our local food sales,” says Alex McCullough, Food Hub Manager. “We are delivering food to local co-ops and markets, hospitals, school meal programs, and buying clubs in record numbers. This diverse group of customers is allowing us to continue supporting farmers and finding outlets for their food.”

A matching challenge is now in place. The Monadnock Food Co-op will match each donation to the Food Connects crowdfunding campaign dollar for dollar up to $500. Food Connects needs to raise $2,259 more by April 18.

Double Your Impact!

Crowdfunding for Community

Jen Risley — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 09:43:51 GMT

Despite these uncertain times, The Local Crowd Monadnock (TLC Monadnock), a community-based crowdfunding program, will continue its work to empower you to support the businesses, organizations, and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region. We’re also exploring innovative ways to best leverage our program to keep our community healthy and resilient.

“Crowdfunding is a great chance to keep forward momentum, to keep up the spirits of your community, and to make immediate positive economic impact locally,” said Emily Best of Seed & Spark Crowdfunding.

TLC Monadnock launched two campaigns this month. One campaign is for Food Connects, which distributes local food to wholesalers like the Monadnock Food Co-op. The other supports Keene Housing Kids Collaborative and helps mark their fifth year in our community. Learn more about these two campaigns and support them today. Whether you give $5 or $500, it all comes together to help make our community more local, green and fair!

Food Connects

Food Connects is an entrepreneurial non-profit on a mission to create healthy families, thriving farms and connected communities. They partner with local farmers and food producers like Frisky Cow Gelato, Echo Farm Puddings, and Picadilly Farm. In all, they source meat, dairy, produce and baked goods from over seventy producers throughout southern Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

With the help of Food Connects, these businesses share their bounty with schools, grocery stores, hospitals, restaurants and other businesses across our region. Overall, Food Connects wants to create a vibrant food economy and make local food accessible to all community members. To achieve this goal, local farmers and food producers need access to larger markets to scale up production and increase their revenue.

Expanding wholesale markets is challenging, especially when it comes to meeting the unique requirements of each wholesale customer. “Many large-scale, wholesale customers in the community can only purchase from a limited number of approved vendors,” says McKenna Hayes, Food Connects Food Hub Operations Manager. “It is difficult, if not impossible, for a small-scale, family-owned operation to become an approved vendor.”

Food Connects is working to solve this problem by becoming an approved vendor for larger customers, allowing schools, grocery stores, hospitals and restaurants to easily purchase from local farmers and producers who sell through Food Connects.

That’s where you come in! Campaign supporters will empower Food Connects to develop formal food safety procedures and purchase the supplies they need to obtain a third-party food safety certification. Join us and make it easier to buy and sell local food in our community. Food Connects “Growing Local Food Markets in the Monadnock Region” crowdfunding campaign is well on the way to meeting its fundraising goal of $10,000. As of today, their fundraising total surpassed $7,500!

Visit Food Connects’ crowdfunding page. Give at certain levels and claim a great reward (or two) while they last. Rewards include Brewbakers Café gift certificates, Frisky Cow gelato and more. This crowdfunding campaign ends on April 18. Or you can round up your change for this campaign at the Monadnock Food Co-op until March 31.

Keene Housing Kids Collaborative

The Local Crowd Monadnock’s second crowdfunding campaign supports Keene Housing Kids Collaborative. Keene Housing Kids Collaborative gives kids living in Keene Housing households the chance to participate in activities in our community that will help them succeed.

“The children in our community are the next generation of workers, parents and community leaders. But not all kids have an equal start in life because their families struggle financially to get by,” said Liz Chipman, executive director of Keene Housing Kids Collaborative. “Investing in children is investing in the future of our community.”

Our community benefits when all children have an equal chance to be an active part of that community. Help Keene Housing Kids Collaborative celebrate their fifth birthday by supporting them with a contribution of $5 or more. By giving a little, you can help out a lot.

“We believe kids, wherever they live, should be part of the community, not apart from the community. That’s why we don’t have centralized programming on-site at Keene Housing properties,” shared Liz. “Instead, we partner with community organizations that are already providing excellent programming for kids.”

Visit the “Helping Kids Access Success” campaign page. This campaign also offers fantastic rewards for giving at certain levels like lessons from Kickboxing Keene and True Hope Therapeutic Horsemanship. This crowdfunding campaign ends on April 2.

Watch for more crowdfunding campaigns at tlcmonadnock.com. Be well, everyone!

TLC Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds from a large number of people to support a local project, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity.

TLC Monadnock is currently hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation. Have questions? Please contact TLC Monadnock at jen@thelocalcrowd.com or 603-283-5401.

Mobilizing Our Time, Talents and Treasures

Jen Risley — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 11:55:14 GMT

We're thinking a lot about how TLC Monadnock can mobilize our time and talents to keep our community and local economy as healthy as it can be. There are so many beautiful things that individuals, ad-hoc groups, businesses, organizations and YOU are doing to support this same mission.

And if you look outside our community, you see so many more fantastic ideas that we could implement here.

All of us face unique situations. While we're all with talents, some of us have more time and treasures than others.

So here's our current response:

We're working to mobilize TLC Monadnock's platform to help people share more of their time, talents and treasures with their community.
We're leveraging our existing technology to pull together all the fantastic lists of local resources: curbside restaurants, local online stores, online events and businesses that are still open to the public.
We're pulling together innovative ideas from our communities, both locally and globally.

All of these ideas take time to implement -- but know that they're in progress!

Be well and stay in touch.

Best,

Jen Risley
The Local Crowd Program Manager
jen@thelocalcrowd.com

Update from Food Connects

Jen Risley — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 09:48:17 GMT

We know that these are trying times for our community. Local businesses and food producers are struggling with the loss of sales. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we support and grow local food infrastructure. Resilient local food economies can weather the storm.

In light of the outbreak of COVID-19, we wanted to share with you what Food Connects continues to do to keep our communities safe, support local food producers, and feed our neighbors. Our Food Hub is working diligently to modify and reduce our direct contact with customers and producers, limiting the amount of exposure we have with individuals to ensure the safety of our staff, customers, producers, and the food we provide—while still getting food to grocery stores and school meal programs providing breakfast and lunch to hungry students. Our larger Food Connects team is telecommuting and working with local and statewide partners to respond to the needs of our community and provide vital resources and assistance.

We want to thank those who have supported our campaign to get us to over 40% of our goal. We ask that you continue to share and support this campaign to help us achieve our goals of healthy families, thriving farms, and connects communities.

In the meantime, we ask that you continue to be a champion for local food. Ordering takeout or delivery from local restaurants helps them stay in business. Purchasing locally-grown produce at your neighboring co-op ensures that farms in our region can still thrive. Donating to food banks, school meal programs, and other meal delivery service non-profits guarantees our neighbors are not hungry.

Let’s Keep the Forward Momentum

Jen Risley — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 09:21:17 GMT

We’re also exploring innovative ways to best leverage our program to keep our community healthy and resilient during the COVID-19 crises.

Please share your ideas with us -- here's what we've gathered so far:

Use the platform to make it easier to buy gift cards from our favorite local businesses.
Support existing and emerging home delivery services.
Raise money for a fund that provides support for rent, heating, food and childcare.
If our United Way is not creating an Emergent Needs Response Fund like they are doing in Nashua, maybe TLC could do it, or better yet, maybe TLC works with MUW to start the fund! (UPDATE: Monadnock United Way COVID-19 Relief Fund)

Share your ideas!

Also, please keep the forward momentum going!

Support our latest crowdfunding campaign from Food Connects on The Local Crowd Monadnock.

Eating Healthy, and Local, on a Budget

Jen Risley — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:07:00 GMT

Originally published in Monadnock Shopper News

Spring is an ideal time to begin to shift your family’s eating habits to more locally grown food. How do you make this shift without driving up your food expenses? Even before the bounty of the growing season begins to trickle in, you can take action now to save later. Here are seven tips to help you eat local on a budget. The benefits ripple out from you and your family to our whole local economy!

Make a Budget

This first tip may seem obvious, but establishing goals helps you empower yourself to make a change. Create an entire food budget for a week or a month. Then, set a goal for how much you plan to spend on locally grown and locally produced food. Start small. As you gain experience and success (and the season progresses), shift more of your spending to local food.

Pre-order Your Food

Community Supported Agriculture, better known as a CSA, works like this: an individual or family pre-orders a share of the harvest from a farmer before the growing season begins. This model provides farmers with cash upfront to help pay for seeds, compost, and other needed supplies for the coming growing season. As a CSA member, individuals receive more value for their dollar and cultivate a closer connection to a farm. Members also broaden their palette for local food, trying different types of produce in new ways thanks to recipe suggestions from the farmer and fellow CSA members. Find a CSA Farm near you.

Explore multiple CSAs at the upcoming Monadnock Region CSA Fair on Sunday, March 8, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Monadnock Food Co-op’s café in Keene.

Farmers Frank Hunter, Kim Peavey and their daughter Gwen at a past Monadnock Region CSA Fair. They own Hillside Springs Farm in Westmoreland. Meet Frank, Kim and more CSA farmers at the next Monadnock Region CSA Fair on March 8 from 2 – 5 p.m. at the Monadnock Food Co-op’s café in Keene.

Try What’s On Sale

Find out how your favorite grocery store or market labels locally grown and made food and then check to see which of these items are on sale. The Monadnock Food Co-op makes it easy to eat local on a budget by labeling local items on their “MFC Deals” Sales Flyer with a bright orange icon. See their latest sales flyer.

Eat in Season

Starting in April, visit your local farmers’ market and farm stands see what’s abundant. As specific fruits and vegetables become more plentiful, prices tend to go down for that type of produce. Talk to the farmers and local food vendors and ask them what’s the best value of the day. On days when there isn’t a market open, keep what’s in season in mind as you make your purchases at local grocery stores. Find a farmers’ market near you. Put the first Farmers’ Market Opening Day in our region on your calendar: The Peterborough Farmers Market at the Peterborough Community Center starts on April 1 from 3 – 6 p.m.

Grow Your Own

Have something that your family just can’t eat enough of? Your own yard may be a great place to grow something your family loves. Like with your budget, start small with a modest plot or container. Herbs and sprouts are great first options. Check out UNH Cooperative Extension for gardening resources at extension.unh.edu/gardening-resources Sign up a free Seed Starting workshop on Saturday, March 7 from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the Keene Public Library.

Cook More

Cooking in batches and freezing meals for later is a critical strategy to eat local on a budget. Find a cookbook or online recipe site that features seasonal fruits and vegetables. My favorite resource is Farmer John’s Cookbook by John Peterson and Angelica Organics. Recipes are grouped by season with storage tips and culinary uses for each type of produce. One of my favorites recipes, hands-down, is Spiced Parsnip Cake.

Reduce Food Waste

You’ve spent well-earned money on fruits and vegetables that are grown and processed with lots of love and care, now make sure this food lasts. Find out the best way to store and preserve your food.

A 50% Discount

Here’s a bonus tip: If you or someone you know receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, please be sure to check out the Granite State Market Match Program and the Monadnock Food Co-op’s Double Up Food Bucks Program. These programs double the purchasing power of participants’ SNAP benefits – providing fresh fruits and vegetables at a 50% discount! Learn more at granitestatemarketmatch.org and monadnockfood.coop/doubleup.

Here’s to your success – and the success of our local farmers, food producers, and local economy as we all shift to eating more locally grown and made food.

Community Supported Enterprises

Jen Risley — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 21:58:17 GMT

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

It’s been seven years since I first wrote about Community Supported Enterprises (CSE), where individuals contribute money to a business and receive products or services — for themselves or their community — sometime in the future. It’s time to dust off that article and highlight some new CSE examples both near and far. I’d love to see more entrepreneurs in our region explore the CSE model as a tool for financing their business while strengthening community.

You may be familiar with one type of CSE, Community Supported Agriculture, but there are also CSBs, CSFs, CSRs and more — a whole alphabet soup of community support.

Community Supported Agriculture

First, a refresher on the CSA model. Community Supported Agriculture works like this: an individual or family purchases a share from a farmer — before the growing season begins — in exchange for a portion of the harvest usually picked up weekly. This model provides farmers with cash upfront to help pay for seeds, compost and other needed supplies for the coming growing season.

As a CSA member, individuals cultivate a closer connection to a farmer and experience some of the realities of farming — how weather, disease and other variables affect crop quantities and quality, and how much work goes into bringing food from the farm to the plate. Members also broaden their palette for local food, trying different types of produce in new ways thanks to recipe suggestions from the farmer and fellow CSA members.

Community Supported Art

Another brand of CSA is Community Supported Art. Locally, the now-closed Sharon Arts Center offered CSA shares back in 2013. Beyond our state lines, ArtCrop in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, MN provides a unique CSA example. ArtCrop combines two types of CSAs (art and agriculture) into one by partnering with Hmong American Farmers Association farmers and local Hmong artists to offer shares of both art and food to its members.

From ArtCrop’s website (artcrop.co): “Traditionally, Hmong farmers turned to their artistry in the winter months. Farmers were artists. Artists were farmers. From handmade textile and crafts to hand-grown foods that create our own distinct flavors and recipes, Hmong people have always captured our journeys through art and farming. When you sign up to join the CSA, you’re not only lifting up over 130 Hmong farmers and artists; you’re also building up wealth, community and culture for future generations.”

Interested in exploring Community Support Art more? Download this toolkit.

Community Supported Brewery

Moving on now to a CSB or Community Supported Brewery, Mobcraft Beer in Milwaukee, WI asks individuals to submit their favorite beer ideas. The brewers figure out the recipes, post each idea on their website and then put it out for a vote. Individuals cast their votes by making a pre-order of their favorites. The recipe with the most pre-orders gets made and those that pre-ordered get a pack of that batch. Learn more.

Community Supported Fisheries

Here’s the next CSE model: Community Supported Fisheries. Instead of a share of produce, CSF members receive — you guessed it — fish! (And other seafood too.) In New Hampshire, 98% of fish caught along our 13 miles of seacoast leaves the state. A CSF in Portsmouth, called New Hampshire Community Seafood, is working to change this statistic by connecting fisheries directly to NH eaters. NH Community Seafood also tries to drive consumer demand towards more sustainable types of fish. They encourage CSF members to try dogfish — a fish popular in Britain as “Fish and Chips” — by adding it to members’ weekly share along with information and recipes about this fish species. Read more.

Community Supported Organizer

A CSO is a Community Supported Organizer. Back in 2015, Carlo Voli worked as a CSO to push back on fossil fuels and climate change. Twenty-six supporters contributed $10-$150 a month to back Carlo’s efforts. The funding empowered him to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. The Backbone Campaign, an organization that promotes CSOs, explains, “Being a CSO provides a way for a self-directed change agent to be innovative and responsive to emergent opportunities. They are not constrained by an organizational bureaucracy directed from afar. They are not locked into an inflexible plan or narrow mission. A CSO is accountable only to a diverse community of sustaining donors from whom they crowdsource recurring donations.” Discover more.

Community Supported Restaurants

Next up, Community Supported Restaurants. (It sure is hard to steer far from food when talking about Community Supported Enterprises!) The Gleanery in Putney, VT is one nearby example. Before opening, The Gleanery asked individuals to purchase CSR shares to provide start-up capital for this business. Members, in turn, received monthly food credits. View more.

Community Supported Retail

Finally, we turn to Community Supported Retail. In the Adirondacks of New York State there’s a department store called The Village Mercantile supported by 700+ individuals who bought shares in the company for $100 each. When the Ames Store in their town closed, community members came together to fill a void (the nearest department store was 50 miles away). “[We wanted to] take control of our future and help our community,” said Melinda Little, Founding Board Member of The Village Mercantile. “The idea was, this is an investment in the community as well as the store.” The community opened its 4,000 square foot store in 2011. Learn more.

Now we ask you: What needs could a Community Supported Enterprises meet in our community? Which existing CSEs could you support more? CSEs are really about community supporting community — and in the words of Wendell Berry, “A good community insures itself by trust, by good faith and good will, by mutual help. A good community, in other words, is a good local economy.” Let’s build that good local economy together.

Measuring Economic Growth: Are We There Yet?

Jen Risley — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 13:13:02 GMT

Is our community more prosperous now than it was before?

We’re not sure. We'd love to see our region develop a set of Community Economic Development indicators that measure how well our regional economy is working for all people and business types.

What are Community Economic Development Indicators?

From Economist Michael H. Shuman:

Generally speaking, Community Economic Development (CED) indicators are quantifiable metrics that provide useful information about whether that community is progressing toward a given goal. The best indicators should meet the following four criteria:

Robust, in providing useful information about a community’s progress;
Quantifiable, so that it is objectively clear whether progress according to given indicator is being made;
Affordable, in the sense that the data underlying the indicators can be collected inexpensively from readily available sources; and
Manageable, so that a relatively small number of indicators does not overwhelm those using the information.

In Fall 2017, Michael Shuman presented us with a set of indicators sorted into four categories:

Economic Strength – These are widely accepted indicators, such as per capita income, that communities use to measure their economic well-being.
Entrepreneurship Strength – These are indicators that suggest the propensity of the community to creating new jobs and businesses.
Business Strength – These are indicators that suggest the overall health of the business community.
Community Economic Development (CED) Strength – These are indicators that measure the most important features of local economic development, including the percentage of jobs in locally owned business and the degree of local self-reliance.

We then launched four surveys for different stakeholders (from entrepreneurs to service providers) to help us evaluate the impact of our CED initiatives.

The Results

While we need more participation to draw any statistically significant results, the answers we received pointed to some needed next steps:

Better promote our Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Plans

Only 52% of survey respondents agreed that our region had a compelling vision for Community Economic Development. This leads us to want to better promote the current Southwest Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and Monadnock Region Future Plan from Southwest Region Planning Commission (SWRPC).

A successful CED program must begin with a vision statement about its goals, one that is rooted in a serious community process. We want to support the work of SWRPC and the next strategy update to ensure that clearer indicators are identified and added to our plans.

Adopt a set of CEDS Indicators

Just 20% of survey respondents agree that our region has set clear indicators to measure whether we are reaching our CED goals.

A successful CED program will have empirical indicators, updated regularly, that provide understandable information about whether the vision is being realized.

Interested in moving this work forward? Please contact us today!

Free Crowdfunding Video Will Be Awarded to Top Campaign Proposal: Find Out More

Jen Risley — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 11:09:59 GMT

This month, TLC Monadnock will award one campaign team a free video, produced by 710 Main Films, to support their crowdfunding project.

Why do videos matter?

Studies show that crowdfunding campaigns with videos raise four times more funds than campaigns without videos.

710 Main Films partnered with TLC Monadnock to produce crowdfunding videos for a number of successful campaigns over the past years. Check them out here and learn more about our latest Request for Proposals!

Checking In and Catching Up With The Local Crowd Monadnock

Jen Risley — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 15:25:32 GMT

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

We’re wrapping up another inspiring year of supporting locally owned businesses and community groups through The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock. TLC Monadnock, a community-based crowdfunding program, helped four crowdfunding campaign teams raise $32,960 from 285 supporters in 2019, bringing our totals to eighteen teams raising over $126,000 since launching in 2017.

Always looking to reflect on our progress while planning for the future, we reached out to past crowdfunding campaign leaders to check in and catch up.

Cheshire Garden Solar-Powered Popsicles

Cheshire Garden, a small family farm in Winchester, grows heirloom fruits and herbs that they turn into amazing jams, mustards and other products. One of my favorites, Frosty Fruit Pops! Farmer Patti Powers brings her popsicles to events like the Farmers’ Market of Keene and Winchester Pickle Festival.

Before her crowdfunding campaign, Patti used a portable freezer that ran off her car battery to keep her pops cool. Or she had to hunt down an open electrical socket, something in short supply at many outdoor festivals. She wanted a more reliable and environmentally sustainable way to keep things chill. Enter TLC Monadnock! Patti raised over $2,000 from 41 supporters to buy a portable generator and the solar panels to charge it.

Patti found that the solar-powered generator could be used in other useful ways on her farm. “We don’t actually have a lawn, but we do mow between all the garden beds and bought a battery-powered lawnmower this summer,” Patti shared. “Now we can charge that battery with the solar generator and do all that mowing with no gasoline. And even in winter, the solar-powered generator helps us heat Tiny Pie House, our little farm store, by powering a small electric heater.”

Village Roots Barn Raising

Marty Castriotta of Village Roots Permaculture Farm raised over $11,000 from 104 supporters to raise a barn in June 2018. This month, he will finish preparing the barn’s siding with high school students from the LEAF Charter School in Alstead. They use a method of waterproofing the local pine siding by burning and oiling it, a practice inspired by Shou Sugi Ban from Japan. Keene State College interns will help install the siding. This spring, they will add a shed roof over the cow loafing area and construct a walk-in cooler.

“In permaculture design, the ethics of the design are considered, including that of Careful Process,” shared Marty. “We started our barn in 2013 and each step has been weighed and considered in relation to the overall benefit for the community, the environment, animal welfare and the local food network we serve.”

NH Bee Initiative

In 2018, The New Hampshire Bee Initiative was launched by Melissa Stephenson and Kin Schilling to raise awareness about the plight of all pollinators. Their first action was joining The Good of the Hive, a global initiative inspired by artist Matthew Willey’s commitment to hand paint 50,000 individual honey bees on murals and installations around the world. The Town of Peterborough offered up the Community Center’s wall for Matt to use.

Since establishing and celebrating the mural (see highlights!), Melissa and Kin continue their outreach. They made Mason bee houses with the kids at Camp Best two years in a row, gave a talk at Fitchburg State and took observation hives to farmers’ markets and schools.

Archway Farm

Archway Farm in Keene, one of the first campaigns to launch on TLC Monadnock, used crowdfunding to purchase a food truck. Farmer Mark Florenz travels to various community events with this truck, introducing his pasture-raised pork to new people throughout our region.

“We did three smaller events this year partnering with the Monadnock Food Co-op, Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition, and Picadilly Farm,” shared Mark. “We really enjoy the smaller events as they give us a good chance to get out and talk with a lot of our customers. We also were at the Dublin Gas Engine Meet for our one larger event. I anticipate a similar mix of events for 2020.”

2019 Campaigns

Fresh off the rush of running their crowdfunding campaigns this fall, the progress for these projects is still unfolding! But here are some quick updates -- more to come in 2020.

Orchard Hill Breadworks

Noah Elbers and Cara Campbell raised over $14,500 from 120 supporters to purchase a New American Stone Mill for Orchard Hill Breadworks in East Alstead. They expect their mill to arrive sometime this month.

“It will likely take us a few months of experimenting to figure out what changes we need to make to our process and formulas in order to accommodate milling and incorporate the new flours, as well as settle on consistent and good sources of grain,” said Cara. “So, it will likely be April or so before we are able to have it in our breads on a regular basis.”

Mudita Massage & Wellness

Kat Wood and Aaron Shields raised over $2,500 to support individuals in recovery by providing scholarships to attend regular yoga classes at Mudita Massage & Wellness based in Keene. If you know someone who might be interested in one of these scholarships, find details at mudita.live/yoga-for-recovery-scholarships.

“The whole experience from planning, to rolling out, to finishing successfully in meeting our goal was valuable for us and allowed for people in our community to contribute in a positive way that they believe in,” shared Kat. “Crowdfunding is the perfect example of the ‘do what you can, where you are, with what you have’ mentality to create change.”

Fast Charge Monadnock

Mary Ewell and John Kondos from Monadnock Sustainability Network raised over $10,800 to help bring an electric vehicle fast charger to the Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene. These funds will meet the Volkswagon Restitution grant match requirement when they apply in late January.

“By adding fast charging, we establish Keene as an oasis in the NH EV charging desert,” said John. “A fast charger can provide 80-100% charging for electric vehicles, while parked at the co-op, in under 30 minutes… These fast chargers will change the EV landscape in the Monadnock Region, and let visitors and residents alike know in Keene the future has arrived.”

Beyond 2019

In the new year, watch for crowdfunding campaigns from The Cornucopia Project, Food Connects, Keene Housing Kids Collaborative and maybe one from your favorite business? Our next Request for Proposals is open and we invite emerging and established businesses based in the Monadnock Region, state of New Hampshire or Vermont to submit project proposals. Learn more! All proposals are due before 5:00 p.m. on January 17, 2020.

Thanks to all our campaign teams and the community that supports them -- together, we’re The Local Crowd!

2020 Call for Social Enterprise Project Proposals

Jen Risley — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 10:14:52 GMT

Community-Based Crowdfunding Program Seeks Proposals From Social Enterprises

Top Proposal Will Receive Free Crowdfunding Campaign Video

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock, a community-based crowdfunding program serving the entire Monadnock Region and state of New Hampshire, invites emerging and established social enterprises to submit project proposals.

For this proposal cycle, TLC Monadnock seeks projects focusing on affordable housing, farms & food or living wage jobs & equity. While all for-profits, non-profits and community initiatives are welcome to apply, projects addressing these community needs will receive extra campaign support and resources -- beyond what is currently provided to all TLC Monadnock campaigns.

All crowdfunding campaign teams receive hands-on technical assistance to help them launch a successful crowdfunding campaign. Campaign teams also receive a free crowdfunding assessment to ensure that they receive the coaching and training that best fits each team's needs.

In addition, TLC Monadnock will award one proposal a free video, produced by 710 Main Films, to support their crowdfunding campaign. Studies show that crowdfunding campaigns with videos raise four times more funds than campaigns without videos.

TLC Monadnock will select up to six social enterprises to participate in this crowdfunding cohort, based on the potential of each project to positively impact their local economy and community. Accepted proposals will launch their campaigns in winter or early spring.

This request for proposals is available online at tlcmonadnock.com/rfp. All proposals are due before 5:00 p.m. on January 17, 2020.

Crowdfunding is the process in which an entrepreneur, business, or organization asks a large number of people (usually through the Internet) to contribute a certain amount of money for a specific project. By leveraging the power of crowdfunding, TLC Monadnock's fundraising platform offers an innovative way for community members to support the projects they care about.

For more information, visit tlcmonadnock.com or contact Jen Risley at 603-283-5401.

TLC Monadnock is one of five communities participating in a research project with the National Science Foundation and The Local Crowd designed to uncover the best ways to support social enterprises -- mission-driven organizations that use business principles to make the world a better place.

Locally, this program is hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op and managed by a team of volunteer community economic development leaders and business advisors. Program partners include New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

The Local Crowd Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding program helping start-up ventures, early-growth stage companies and community-focused projects find access to capital. Since TLC Monadnock launched in March 2017, eighteen crowdfunding campaigns have collectively raised over $120,000 from 900 supporters.

This Weekend: Plaid Friday, Cider Monday and MORE!

Jen Risley — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 11:45:00 GMT

This year’s Plaid Friday, Cider Monday and Shop Indie Local events are truly community-funded, thanks to a crowdfunding campaign on The Local Crowd Monadnock! Forty-five supporters contributed $5,039 to help us spread the word and inspire more people to join our movement. Together, we're generating ripple effects that create new jobs, charitable contributions and community prosperity.

Plaid Friday

Wear plaid on Plaid Friday to show your support for our local economy and commitment to buying local this holiday season. The day to wear plaid this year is Friday, November 29th.

Plaid Friday Hubs

Twenty-one locally owned businesses will serve as Plaid Friday Hubs this year. They pledge to photograph you decked out in plaid and answer questions about Plaid Friday. From Harrisville to Winchester, find a hub near you.

Manning Hill Farm in Winchester will offer a special photo-op: a photo of you in plaid with one of their cows also decked out in Plaid. Stop by the farm from Noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate made with their own chocolate milk and get 15% off purchases at their farm shop. View more Plaid Friday specials.

Plaid Friday Photo Booths

Wearing plaid in Keene on Plaid Friday? The Luxury Box Photo Booth will take photos at Ted's Shoe & Sport in Keene from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Elm City Brewing Company in Keene from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Plan on wearing plaid in Peterborough? Be sure to get your photo taken with local photographer Kim Peck in front of The Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

We will add these photos to our annual collage, celebrating all who wore plaid and showed their support for locally owned businesses and our local economy. Stay tuned for these photos on Facebook.

Cider Monday

Instead of Cyber Monday, a day when online merchants offer special deals, we invite you to Cider Monday. On December 2nd, stop in for a free cup of cider from participating Cider Monday businesses including The Toadstool Bookshops in Keene and Peterborough, Monadnock Food Co-op, Mon Amie Fine Jewelry, Savings Bank of Walpole and The Yoga Space. Learn more!

Ready to Shop Indie Local?

From your Thanksgiving meal to your New Year's Eve celebration, Shop Indie Local! On November 1, the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) launched its Shop Indie Local holiday campaign, encouraging all of us to shift more of our holiday shopping, entertaining and dining to locally owned and independent businesses.

This national movement empowers us all to support local job creation and economic growth through our holiday purchases at locally owned and independent businesses. Over 70 business organizations and networks throughout the United States support this campaign that continues through December.

Shop Indie Local Weekend

Savings Bank of Walpole will host a long weekend of Shop Indie Local celebrations from Friday, November 29 to Tuesday, December 3. The bank will set up information tables at each of their branches with Plaid Friday swag to inspire more people to participate in this year's event.
Community members are encouraged to wear plaid and stop by the bank's Marlboro Street branch to take a selfie in front of the bank's Plaid Friday backdrop. Savings Bank of Walpole will then share these photos on social media to further promote this event.

Friday, November 29th: Plaid Friday - Stop by for an opportunity to win a $25 Gift Card to Village Blooms in Walpole.
Saturday, November 30th: Shop LOCAL Saturday - An opportunity to win a $25 Gift Card to Ted Shoes & Sports in Keene.
Monday, December 2nd: Cider Monday - Enjoy apple cider and cider donuts. Also, get an opportunity to win a $25 Gift Card to Ideal Board in Walpole.
Tuesday, December 3rd: Giving Tuesday - An opportunity to win a $100 Gift Card to Hannah Grimes Marketplace in Keene.

Shop Indie Local Sponsors

A big THANK YOU to this year's Plaid Friday, Cider Monday and Shop Indie Local sponsors: Beeze Tees Screen Printing, CC&D's Kitchen, Cheshire Horse, Creative Encounters, Cultural Cocoon, The Dragonfly Shop, Elm City Brewing Company, The Farm Café, Food Connects, Frogg Brewing, Hannah Grimes Marketplace, Joseph's Coat, Korvin Appliance, LuvINK&Paper, The Luxury Box Photo Booth, Mayfair Farm, Monadnock Food Co-op, One Stop Country Pet Supply, Peterborough Art Academy, Prime Roast Coffee, Savings Bank of Walpole, Ted's Shoe & Sport, Toadstool Bookshops in Keene and Peterborough, Tribals, Rugs by Hand and The Works Café.

Thanks to all who contribute to the success of Plaid Friday, Cider Monday and Shop Indie Local. See you this weekend!

Shop Indie Local at a Winter Farmers' Market

Jen Risley — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 10:44:55 GMT

Farmers’ Market of Keene: Monadnock Waldorf School, 98 S. Lincoln St. Every Saturday, November through December; 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. SNAP/EBT accepted. keenefarmersmarket@gmail.com, http://www.keenefarmersmarket.com/.

Peterborough Farmers’ Market: Peterborough Community Center, 25 Elm St., Weds. Oct.-Dec 20, 3– 6 p.m. Vegetables, flowers/plants, dairy, maple, baked goods, meat, crafts. 396-9136, peterboroughfarmersmarketnh@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/PeterboroughNHFarmersMarket.

Winchester Farmers’ Market on Main: Town Hall, 1 Richmond Rd., Sat., Nov. – May, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Vegetables, maple, baked goods, meat, jams/jellies, eggs, Vegan foods, fudge, hand made soap, crafts. Live music, holiday card and cookie decorating, visits with Santa and more. SNAP/EBT accepted. 239-6361, winchesterfarmersmarket@gmail.com, www.winchesterfarmersmarketnh.com.

View New Hampshire Winter Farmers’ Markets (2019/2020 Season)

From the NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food

**Please contact market to verify products available**

Monadnock Music Kicks Off The Holidays With House Tours, Music And Cheer

Jen Risley — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 10:22:11 GMT

Here is a new must-do event for your holiday list! Monadnock Music has orchestrated a Holiday House Tour like no other. Visit beautifully decorated homes on Pine Street in Peterborough and enjoy Live Classical Music & Carolers, along with festive refreshments on Friday, December 6th From 5:30pm To 7:30pm. This event is a perfect way to kick off the Holiday Spirit and bring the whole family to partake the New England traditions.

Each home will be welcoming guests to view their traditional family holiday decorations, listen to live holiday classics played by the talented musicians of Monadnock Music and nibble on the festive hot drinks and cookies provided by each Host. Visitors can stroll to each house at their own pace, at their desired sequence, no need to follow a group!

Cost for the House Tour, Musical Entertainment and Refreshments is $15 per person or $40 for a family (children 10 and under $5), Free to all Vets. Take a peak at the locations of the homes and the lovely refreshments listed below. There is plenty of street parking. Please contact Laina Barakat, Executive Director of Monadnock Music if you require assistance for physical challenges at info@monadnockmusic.org. Make your new Holiday tradition and purchase your tickets online.

Greenwood Home — 34 Pine Street - Hot Mulled Wine, Punch & Shortbread
Koch Home — 29 Pine Street - Hot Cider & Oatmeal Cookies
Drogy Home — 27 Pine Street - Hot Coco & Chocolate Orange Cookies
Ruland Home — 38 Pine Street - Hot Cranberry Cider & Snickerdoodles

Monadnock Music is a Nonprofit Organization · Peterborough, New Hampshire. We are one of New England's most diverse and exciting summer classical music festivals, encompassing all sub-genres, styles, and periods. We provide quality, adventure, intimacy, and a welcoming atmosphere in beautiful settings.

You're Invited: Plaid Friday Celebration in the Monadnock Region

Jen Risley — Sun, 10 Nov 2019 13:57:41 GMT

You're invited! Independent businesses and community members in the Monadnock Region will celebrate Plaid Friday on the day after Thanksgiving. This year's event falls on Friday, November 29, 2019.

Individuals will wear plaid on Plaid Friday to show support for the local economy and their commitment to spending more of their dollars at locally owned businesses during the holiday season. Last year, nearly 400 community members pledged to participate in Plaid Friday.

RSVP today!

To amplify this year's event, Savings Bank of Walpole will host a Plaid Friday Week from Friday, November 29 to Tuesday, December 3. The bank will set up information tables at each of their branches with Plaid Friday swag to inspire more people to participate in this year's event. Community members are encouraged to wear plaid throughout this week and stop by the bank's Marlboro Street branch to take a selfie in front of the bank's Plaid Friday backdrop. Savings Bank of Walpole will then share these photos on social media to further promote this event.

"With Savings Bank of Walpole (SBW) being the community's local bank, we want to show our support for our local businesses," said Danielle Ruffo, Savings Bank of Walpole's new Community Engagement Coordinator. "SBW serves many customers in our community -- and keeping your money local is what we are all about. Supporting Plaid Friday and the 'Shop Indie Local' movement is all part of helping our local community thrive and grow."

Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of local and independent businesses. It's a fun and festive alternative to the "Black Friday" consumer frenzy perpetuated by big box stores. This event originated in Oakland, CA with the intent to bring back the times when shopping for friends and family was a pleasurable and leisurely activity.

A growing list of locally owned businesses will serve as Plaid Friday Hubs, photographing customers decked out in plaid and answering questions about this event. View a list of Plaid Friday Hubs.

Local photographer Kim Peck will host a Plaid Friday Photo Booth outside of The Toadstool Bookshop at 12 Depot Square in Peterborough (times TBD). In Keene, Ted's Shoe & Sport at 115 Main Street will host a Plaid Friday Photo Booth inside his store with Luxury Box Photo Booth, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The photo booth will then move to Elm City Brewery at 222 West Street (times TBD). Photos will be added to a Plaid Friday collage, celebrating all who wore plaid: bit.ly/MBLplaidfriday.

A number of participating businesses will offer specials to honor the day and thank community members for their support. View these specials.

Plaid Friday is part of the "Shop Indie Local" movement growing throughout North America. From November 1 to December 31, Shop Indie Local encourages residents to choose local and independent businesses for more of their holiday purchases.

The Monadnock Region's Plaid Friday event is sponsored by Beeze Tees Screen Printing, CC&D's Kitchen, Cheshire Horse, Creative Encounters, Cultural Cocoon, The Dragonfly Shop, Elm City Brewery, The Farm Cafe, Food Connects, Frogg Brewing, Hannah Grimes Marketplace, Joseph's Coat, Korvin Appliance, LuvINK&Paper, The Luxury Box Photo Booth, Marcia Kayser, Mayfair Farm, Monadnock Food Co-op, One Stop Country Pet Supply, Peterborough Art Academy, Prime Roast Coffee, Savings Bank of Walpole, Ted's Shoe & Sport, Toadstool Bookshops in Keene and Peterborough, Tribals - Rugs by Hand and The Works Cafe.

About Shop Indie Local

Shop Indie Local provides a gateway to resources from many community campaigns and includes easy-to-use graphics and activities that allow participating partners to spread the critical message easily where they live. Visit the site for information on the campaign, partnering organizations, special events, and stories from Granite State communities making the shift in 2019. Plaid Friday and Shift Your Shopping for the Holidays campaigns, in collaboration with national local economy leaders at The American Independent Business Alliance.

Ready to Shop Indie Local?

Jen Risley — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 10:03:04 GMT

Originally posted in the Monadnock Shopper News

From your Thanksgiving meal to your New Year’s Eve celebration, are you ready to Shop Indie Local? On November 1, the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) will launch its Shop Indie Local holiday campaign, encouraging all of us to shift more of our holiday shopping, entertaining and dining to locally owned and independent businesses. This national movement empowers us all to support local job creation and economic growth through our holiday purchases at locally owned and independent businesses. Over 50 business organizations and networks throughout the United States will kick off this collaborative campaign next week. The campaign continues through December.

When you spend your dollars at locally owned retail businesses in the Monadnock Region four times more money returns to our local economy compared to chain retailers. Spend a dollar at an independent business and 62 cents returns to our local economy, spend it at a chain store and only 13 cents returns.

The money that returns recirculates through our economy, generating ripple effects that create new jobs, charitable contributions and community prosperity. If everyone shifted just 10% of their purchases from national chains to locally owned retailers, we would return $27 million to our regional economy annually.

Here are five tips to boost your Shop Indie Local efforts:

For inspiration, browse this online directory of 377 locally owned businesses.

Ask for advice from 3,999 Monadnock Local fans on Facebook.

Discover holiday fairs and other special events on our online calendar.

Make your own gifts (whether art, food or other creation) and buy your raw materials at locally owned businesses.

To amplify your impact, buy New Hampshire made and grown gifts at locally owned businesses.

Participate in the events we have planned during the Shop Indie Local season: Plaid Friday and Cider Monday — friendly, community-centered alternatives to the consumer frenzy that descends upon the nation each November.

Plaid Friday

Wear plaid on Plaid Friday to show your support for our local economy and commitment to buying local this holiday season. The day to wear plaid this year is Friday, November 29th.

Wearing plaid in Keene on Plaid Friday? Hop on into the Luxury Box Photo Booth at Ted’s Shoe & Sport at 115 Main Street in Keene on November 29th. Kim Peck will also set up a booth in Peterborough – stay tuned for the location. We will add all the photos taken to our annual collage, celebrating everyone who wore plaid to honor the day. Check out our gallery of over 400 photos from past Plaid Fridays at bit.ly/MBLplaidfriday.

Also, to amplify this year’s event, Savings Bank of Walpole will host a Plaid Friday Launch Party. We’ll post more details in early November.

Cider Monday

That’s not a typo! Instead of Cyber Monday, a day when online merchants offer special deals, the Toadstool Bookshops invite you to a new tradition, CIDER Monday. On December 2nd, stop in for a free cup of cider and browse their amazing selection of books. In response to Cyber Monday, a day when online merchants offer deep discounts to divert your attention away from buying locally, Willard Williams of the Toadstool Bookshops dreamed up this new tradition.

“Customers are promised cider and smiling servers that will not crash,” said Willard. “As always, we’ll offer personal service, advice and the opportunity to touch and try items — with no logins or passwords necessary! Join us in taking a bite out of Cyber Monday.”

Discover more.

Shop Indie Local Sponsors

A big THANK YOU to this year’s Plaid Friday and Cider Monday sponsors: Cheshire Garden, The Cheshire Horse, The Dragonfly Shop, Frogg Brewing, Hannah Grimes Marketplace, LuvINK&Paper, Monadnock Food Co-op, Prime Roast Coffee, Savings Bank of Walpole, Ted’s Shoe & Sport, and The Yoga Space. Own an independent business? It’s not too late to jump in and participate. Contact us today at monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com.

Please join us and Shop Indie Local this holiday season. Together we’ll create a true holiday gift to our community — one that will keep on giving throughout the New Year.

Build the Movement: Plaid Friday, Cider Monday & More

Jen Risley — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 09:36:34 GMT

We have a lot to be proud of... Over the years, we’ve built a movement of local economy builders and made these individuals visible the Friday after Thanksgiving – by asking them to wear plaid on Plaid Friday. Plus, Cider Monday was created right here in the Monadnock Region by Willard Williams of Toadstool Bookshops.

We’ve built so much together, but there’s so much more to do to fan the positive ripple effect that happens when each of us shift our spending from big box stores and online giants to our friends and neighbors: independent business owners.

Please help us continue the traditions that you helped build: Support our Plaid Friday, Cider Monday and More crowdfunding campaign on The Local Crowd Monadnock today!

Support our campaign

Every donation helps us spread the word about Plaid Friday and Cider Monday in our region.

PLUS, we have some fabulous rewards to thank you for supporting our campaign:

A $25 gift card to the Monadnock Food Co-op
4 jars of Cheshire Garden Organic Farmstead Preserves
A Full Moon Moose T-Shirt and Hat Combo from Of Moose & Mountain
Two 1-Day Passes to the Cheshire Children’s Museum
Yoga from Aloha Keene
Plaid Friday Rock Star status
And more!

View more rewards on the right side of our campaign page.

Thanks so much for all you do to support our local economy – and please help spread the word about our campaign to your friends, family and neighbors.

Support our campaign

TLC Monadnock September Crowdfunding Campaigns

Jen Risley — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 10:13:02 GMT

The Local Crowd Monadnock (TLC Monadnock), a community-based crowdfunding program, launched two campaigns this month. One for Orchard Hill Breadworks in Alstead and the other for the Monadnock Energy Hub -- a regional network focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Learn more about these two campaigns and support them today. Whether you give $5 or $500, it all comes together to help make our community more local, green and fair!

Orchard Hill Breadworks: A Stone Mill for Mill Hollow

The Orchard Hill Breadworks campaign is well on its way to meeting its fundraising goal of $12,750 to purchase a hand-built stone mill from New American Stone Mills in Elmore, Vermont. This Vermont-quarried granite mill will allow Orchard Hill Breadworks to bake with freshly milled whole grain flour. Stone milling flour, rather than roller milling (a method used in many large-scale flour operations) better preserves key nutrients and results in a better-for-you bread.

The bakery launched its campaign on September 3 with a Pizza Night Fundraiser that brought in nearly $4,000 -- enough for Orchard Hill Breadworks to put a down payment on the stone mill. As I write this article, their fundraising total surpassed $10,000. Just 20% more to go!

“In communities all across America, bakeries are introducing their customers to the increased nutritional value and flavor of baked goods made with freshly milled flour,” said Noah Elbers, owner of Orchard Hill Breadworks. “We hope to provide our community with a better tasting, more nutritious loaf while also bridging the gap between farmers and consumers.”

Visit the Orchard Hill Breadworks campaign page at http://c-fund.us/mqq. Give at certain levels and claim a great reward (or two) while they last. Rewards include a Whole Grain Loaf of the Month Club, Bread Making Workshop, Pizza Party and more. This crowdfunding campaign ends on October 3.

Monadnock Energy Hub: Fast Charge Monadnock

Fast Charge Monadnock aims to lower greenhouse gases and increase regional sustainable living by investing in electric vehicle infrastructure -- like charging stations. Support their effort to bring the first EV Fast Charger to the region, located at the Monadnock Food Co-op.

An EV Fast Charger means a fully electric vehicle can recharge its batteries in 20-40 minutes (compared to 6+ hours on level 2 chargers available around Keene). This project will encourage more zero emission vehicles to use our roadways, reducing our regional greenhouse gas emissions and increasing our regional sustainability.

“Electric vehicles sales are rising with new car announcements coming almost monthly; drive ranges are lengthening as battery prices drop and technology improves,” said Mary Ewell, Coordinator of Monadnock Energy Hub. “These aren’t just luxury vehicles either -- many are priced in line with new gasoline vehicles and highly economical when the federal tax credit and minimal maintenance costs are entered into the equation.”

Visit the Fast Charge Monadnock campaign page at http://c-fund.us/mne. This campaign also offers rewards for giving at certain levels such as gift cards from The Works Café and Monadnock Food Co-op. Their crowdfunding campaign ends on October 14.

More about TLC Monadnock

Watch for more crowdfunding campaigns launching in October including a campaign from Mudita Massage & Wellness to support their Yoga for Addiction Recovery program and our own campaign to support this year’s Plaid Friday and Cider Monday campaigns. We’ll also announce projects coming later this fall focusing on affordable housing, sustainable agriculture and equity. Please stay tuned: tlcmonadnock.com.

TLC Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity.

TLC Monadnock is currently hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation. Have questions, please contact me at monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com or 603-499-7950.

Orchard Hill Breadworks Update: Pizza Night and the Mill

Jen Risley — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 10:22:56 GMT

Wow! We were so humbled by the incredible show of generosity that we witnessed this past week at Pizza Night. Our final pizza night of the year brought so many of our favorite people out, and we really felt the love. Thanks to all of your support, we raised nearly $4,000, enough to put the deposit down on our mill!

Here's a sketch-up of what it will look like:

Grain goes into the hopper at the top, is fed into the hole in the center of the stones, where it is ground into flour. So cool!

We've gotten a few questions about what the mill can do, and I'd like to take a minute to answer them here. We are purchasing a mill with 26″ diameter stones. The stones are made with Vermont-quarried granite, and can mill 60-80 pounds of grain an hour. We use about 1000 lbs of whole grain flour every week at the bakery, meaning that this mill will be in fairly consistent use.

The miller is able to control how closely the stones are set together, which affects the coarseness of the grain: close-set stones mean fine grain, stones set further apart equal a coarser mill. This means we can make cracked grain as well flour. We currently use cracked rye in all of our naturally leavened bread and cracked oats in many of our multi-grain loaves.

Because heritage whole grains are much easier to come by than heritage flours, we will be able to experiment with other flours, such as millet, buckwheat, oat and more! Thanks for supporting us on our journey, and we hope you'll continue to follow along and share our project with others.

Crowdfunding Campaign Launch Party - Monadnock Energy Hub: Fast Charge Monadnock

Jen Risley — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 09:59:14 GMT

Monadnock Energy Hub: Fast Charge Monadnock

Launches September 14, 12 - 3 p.m.
Drive Electric Event in Keene

Fast Charge Monadnock aims to lower greenhouse gases and increase regional sustainable living by investing in electric vehicle infrastructure. Support their effort to bring the first EV fast charger to the region, located at the Monadnock Food Co-op.

Gather to help kick-off their crowdfunding campaign and celebrate electric vehicles. Enjoy a meal from Street & Savory food truck, treats from Frisky Cow Gelato and music with Crazy Love. Take a ride or drive in an electric vehicle, learn how ownership is a joy, acceleration is instant, and maintenance is almost non-existent for an EV.

RSVP Today

Crowdfunding Campaign Launch Party: Orchard Hill Breadworks - A Stone Mill for Mill Hollow

Jen Risley — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 09:37:09 GMT

Launches September 3, 5 - 7:30 p.m. at a Pizza Night Fundraiser in Alstead

Help Orchard Hill Breadworks kick-off their TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaign to purchase a New American Stone Mill and begin baking with FRESHLY MILLED WHOLE GRAINS.

For $9 Orchard Hill Breadworks will provide a crust, sauce and cheese plus paper plates and cups for water. You bring your favorite toppings (or pick them from the new Pizza Night garden!) silverware if you want and a picnic blanket/lawn chair. BYOB and rain or shine event.

RSVP on Facebook

Community-Based Crowdfunding Program Seeks Proposals From Social Enterprises

Jen Risley — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 10:16:05 GMT

Emphasis on Affordable Housing, Sustainable Agriculture and Equity

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock, a community-based crowdfunding program serving the entire Monadnock region and state, invites emerging and established social enterprises to submit project proposals to TLC Monadnock.

For this proposal cycle, TLC Monadnock seeks projects focusing on affordable housing, farms & food or living wage jobs & equity. While all for-profits, non-profits and community initiatives are welcome to apply, projects addressing these community needs will receive extra campaign support and resources -- beyond what is currently provided to all TLC Monadnock campaigns.

All crowdfunding campaign teams receive hands-on technical assistance to help them launch a successful crowdfunding campaign. Campaign teams also receive a free crowdfunding assessment to ensure that they receive the coaching and training that best fits each team's needs.

TLC Monadnock will select up to six social enterprises to participate in this crowdfunding cohort, based on the potential of each project to positively impact their local economy and community. Accepted proposals will launch their campaigns in late fall or winter.

This request for proposals is available online at tlcmonadnock.com/rfp. All proposals are due before 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2019.

Crowdfunding is the process in which an entrepreneur, business, or organization asks a large number of people (usually through the Internet) to contribute a certain amount of money for a specific project. By leveraging the power of crowdfunding, TLC Monadnock's fundraising platform offers an innovative way for community members to support the projects they care about.

For more information, visit tlcmonadnock.com or contact Jen Risley at 603-283-5401.

TLC Monadnock is one of four communities participating in a new year-long research project with the National Science Foundation and The Local Crowd designed to uncover the best ways to support social enterprises -- mission-driven organizations that use business principles to make the world a better place.

Locally, this program is hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op and managed by a team of volunteer community economic development leaders and business advisors. Program partners include New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

A Bounty of Local Food and Farm Updates

Jen Risley — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 09:28:57 GMT

Each year, we shine a light on local food, farms and our entire Monadnock Region food system during New Hampshire Eat Local Month, a month-long celebration of our state’s harvest happening each August.

This year, the Monadnock Food Co-op teamed up with New Hampshire Food Alliance to coordinate this statewide promotion — and we’re thrilled to share we recruited over 100 partners to help us spread the word this year. Discover more at nheatlocal.org.

What do we mean by a food system?

Our food system includes all the pieces needed to bring local food from the farm to our plates: the soil, farmworkers, transportation networks, markets and more — everything needed to grow, harvest and distribute these goods to us. These pieces come together to form our local food system.

Please dig in and enjoy part one of our bounty of updates!

Regenerating Soil

“Ultimately, the only wealth that can sustain any community, economy or nation is derived from the photosynthetic process — green plants growing on regenerating soil.”

Allan Savory, Co-Founder of the Savory Institute

Stonewall Farm in Keene embraced a new role in 2018 — they are now a Savory Institute Hub. One of 41 hubs globally and 15 in the U.S., Stonewall Farm uses regenerative farming practices to enrich their soil and improve the health of their dairy herd and vegetable crops. They also strive to spread these practices throughout New England by serving as a demonstration site, offering educational programs and supporting the adoption of bills like the New Hampshire Healthy Soil Legislation.

“We are contributing to the growing body of knowledge and new movement in agriculture that promises more than sustainability,” shared Julie Davenson, Executive Director of Stonewall Farm. “It promises to regenerate our degraded land, produce healthier food, build healthy ecosystems, improve our economy and combat the impacts of climate change.”

More than Books

Thanks to a new program called Monadnock Grows Together, you can now check out gardening tools at the Keene Public Library. Available tools include shovels, garden rakes, garden forks, hoes, a broad fork, small hand tools, hand trimmers, a push seeder and more. Borrow a tool for a week at a time.

You can also get FREE seeds from the library’s new seed library made up of nearly 50 vegetables and herbs varieties. Sign up for a membership and choose the seeds you want to grow. To support the continuation of the seed library, collect the seeds from the plants you grow and donate them back to “seed” the seed library for the next growing season! Not sure how to save seeds? Sign up for a free seed saving workshop at the library on September 28. Check out their full schedule of workshops.

Monadnock Grows Together is a partnership of the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD), Antioch University’s Community Garden Connections, the Keene Public Library and the National Center for Appropriate Technology. If you have questions, please reach out to the Urban Ag and Gardens Coordinator, Rachel Brice at rachel@cheshireconservation.org. She will also answer questions at the library every Friday from 4:00-5:30 p.m.

“This is an awesome resource for the community. It directly addresses food security and engages more people in food production,” shared Amanda Littleton, CCCD District Manager. “It comes with weekly ‘office’ hours for one-on-one gardening assistance and a coordinator who is willing to do garden visits and offer advice.”

Gleaning Program

The Community Kitchen builds the local food system through their six-year-old gleaning project that gathers leftover produce from farms after a harvest — fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste. This year, the Community Kitchen will offer a four-part Food Preservation Workshop series to encourage more of us to make the most of our seasonal bounty.

These free workshops take place at their commercial kitchen at 37 Mechanic Street on alternating Sundays from 2-4 p.m. Explore “Zoodles, Purees, and Freezing” on July 28; “The Basics of Canning” on August 11; “Using the Whole Plant” on August 25; and “Drying and Fermentation” on September 8. These workshops are co-sponsored by Jack’s Crackers, a local value-added food business. Space is limited, so reserve your seat with Andrea at 603-352-3200 or tckgleaner@gmail.com.

“From the perspective of a food charity agency, The Community Kitchen recognizes the importance of local food in providing community food security,” shared Gleaning Coordinator Sarah Harpster. “We understand that without a food system that features strong and interdependent ‘nested ecologies’ of food sources, our community will be burdened with more neighbors facing food insecurity.”

Keeping Farmers Farming

Farmers spend their lives providing food and fiber to us. Their ability to do this depends largely on farmers gaining secure access to farmland. However, accessing land that is affordable is a top challenge for beginning farmers in New Hampshire and nationwide. Land For Good, a regional and national leader in farmland access, based right here in Keene, helps address this challenge.

“A strong regional food system and healthy rural communities require that we keep land in farming and continue to grow viable farm businesses,” said Jim Hafner, Executive Director of Land For Good. “If where your food comes from matters to you and your community, then you need to be concerned about keeping the farmers who produce that food on the land in a way that they can plan for the future of their businesses — and for how they will secure their farm’s legacy as a working farm for the next generation.”

Land For Good’s Land Access Project will provide education, training and technical assistance to over 2,500 beginning and established farmers across New England. Land For Good is working locally with the Monadnock Conservancy and other partners across New England.

Feast on This Expands

This year, two great events become one — the Feast On This Film Festival and the Monadnock Farm Tour. Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition (MFCC) and Monadnock Food Co-op invite you to the Monadnock Farm Tour & Film Festival, a 3-day celebration of local food and films on August 23 – 25. Visit 15 local farms and view a variety of films throughout our region including “The Need to Grow” that highlights innovative soil restoration efforts, shown at the Colonial Theatre in Keene on August 23 at 7 p.m.

Stay tuned for more Monadnock region food system updates! Great things are happening at the Cornucopia Project, Farmers Helping Farmers, Food Connects, Imagine That Honey, Monadnock Food Co-op, Monadnock Sustainability Project, The Sustainability Project, Village at Stone Barn, Walpole Mountain View Winery — and perhaps your organization? Please let us know if we missed someone by contacting me at marketing@monadnockfood.coop or 603-283-5401.

Thank you to all the individuals, programs, policies and initiatives that continue to build stronger local and regional food systems in our corner of the state and throughout New England. Together, we’re cultivating healthier citizens, communities and economies.

Moving Your Nest Egg From Wall Street to Main Street

Jen Risley — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 09:52:28 GMT

Interested in investing your retirement savings locally? Nancy Moore and Janelle Orsi from the Sustainable Economies Law Center produced the report “How to Invest Your Retirement Savings Locally: The Basics of Solo 401(k) Plans and Self-Directed IRAs.”

What would it take for you to pull your retirement savings out of Wall Street and invest it in things that enrich your local community, like a local farm, solar project, worker cooperative, or housing cooperative? Below are some of your options for taking control of where you invest your retirement savings. We focus heavily on solo 401(k) plans, which are a particularly flexible, yet underutilized, tool for self-directing retirement savings. Then, we describe self-directed IRAs (individual retirement accounts) to draw comparisons.

View the entire report

Image credit: The Next Egg

TLC Monadnock Awarded Grant from New England Grassroots Environment Fund

Jen Risley — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 11:38:01 GMT

Funds will support Pay-It-Forward Program

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock received a grant from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund to support its community-based crowdfunding platform and its Pay-It-Forward program that provides extra support to campaigns led by low-income individuals and/or projects focusing on affordable housing, farms & food, living wage jobs & equity.

Currently, TLC Monadnock is supporting a cohort of seven campaign leaders who plan to launch their campaigns in late Summer to early Fall.

Many studies highlight the positive community impacts of supporting locally owned businesses -- better jobs, more charitable giving, higher civic engagement, and increased prosperity for all. TLC Monadnock provides an opportunity for social enterprises to raise the capital they need and, with their success, contribute to a stronger, more just and regenerative local economy.

For more information, visit tlcmonadnock.com or contact Jen Risley at 603-283-5401.

About TLC Monadnock

TLC Monadnock is one of four communities participating in a year-long research project with the National Science Foundation and The Local Crowd designed to uncover the best ways to support social enterprises -- mission-driven organizations that use business principles to make the world a better place.

The Local Crowd Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding program helping start-up ventures, early-growth stage companies, and community-focused projects find access to capital. This program is hosted by the Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by community partners: Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation

About New England Grassroots Environment Fund

The Grassroots Fund is dedicated to co-creating healthy and sustainable communities throughout New England. Grassroots Fund empowers individuals, groups and organizations working across a broad range of environmental and social justice issues. By helping them identify, select and access the specific tools, resources and connections they need to challenge existing systems, they are able to develop lasting solutions to the complex problems affecting the places they live and the health of the people who live there. We're supporting change makers who not only experience marginalization but face systemic and structural barriers to traditional funding. To learn more visit grassrootsfund.org.

NH Eat Local Month: Call for 2019 Partners

Jen Risley — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 11:08:38 GMT

It’s time to start planning this year’s NH Eat Local Month, a month-long campaign in August that celebrates local food and farming in the Granite State.

This year, the NH Food Alliance is collaborating with the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, Seacoast Eat Local, Monadnock Food Co-op and hopefully you to amplify the “Eat Local” message and empower us to celebrate the harvest.

We’re looking for partners to spread the word and energize their communities to eat local. With your help, NH Eat Local Month will connect more people with local food.

Partners will:

Endorse NH Eat Local Month by sharing their business/organization’s name, logo, and website URL with us
Provide links to any events or promotions that they are organizing during NH Eat Local Month
Spread the word by sharing social media posts, adding a link to nheatlocal.org on their own website and finding other creative ways to engage their network with NH Eat Local Month

Partners will receive:

A listing on NH Eat Local Month’s Website
Ideas on how to celebrate NH Farms & Local Food all month long
Event marketing templates — such as a press release, social media posts and support to create targeted messages
The chance to be featured on the NH Eat Local Month website by writing a blog post or article

How do you sign on as a partner? Send an email to marketing@monadnockfood.coop with an “I’m in!” message and we’ll add you to our list (be sure your business/organization is easy to identify). As always, there’s no cost to you to participate as a partner.

Affordable Housing: The Local Crowd Monadnock

Jen Risley — Tue, 28 May 2019 10:14:14 GMT

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

We asked and you voted! Over 100 community members helped The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock, a community-based crowdfunding program, decide which Local Living Economy building blocks to focus on in 2019. A Local Living Economy is an economy that improves our quality of life, meets everyone’s basic needs and creates an engaged citizenry.

The top three Local Living Economy building blocks were affordable housing, farms & food, and living wage jobs & equity. For this month’s article, we’ll dive into the topic of affordable housing and highlight current efforts in our region to address this need.

First, what is affordable housing?

Affordable housing means housing that is financially viable for households making a median income or below in their location. In Cheshire County, affordable housing means housing that is financially in-reach for one person making $45,750 or less annually (huduser.gov). Affordable housing encompasses all types of housing -- from emergency shelters and transitional housing to subsidized housing, rentals, and home ownership -- for individuals and families.

Are we providing enough affordable housing?

There’s rising concern about the lack of access to affordable housing across the U.S. According to a Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 11.4 million households spend more than half of their income on rent -- and rents are increasing twice as fast as incomes. In rural areas, 25% of households spend over half of their income on rent.

A New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority survey conducted in 2018 found that median gross rent for two-bedroom units rose almost 19% over the past five years. In order to afford one of these units, a renter would need to earn 117% of the statewide median renter income ($47,100 a year). Our state’s vacancy rate is low -- just below 2% compared to a 7% vacancy rate in the U.S. and 5% in the Northeast. A vacancy rate between 4% and 5% indicates a balance between rental supply and demand.

As an indicator of need in our region, four out of five affordable housing applications received by Keene Housing come from the elderly or people with a disability. Keene Housing’s wait list for appropriate housing for these two populations reaches eight years. As the median age of our region’s population rises, so too will the need for more affordable housing options.

Who is working to meet affordable housing needs in our region?

Keene Housing owns or manages over 550 affordable housing units, from homeless shelters to subsidized homes. In addition to providing affordable housing, Keene Housing also offers programs to residents that support employment, financial resilience, and healthy lifestyles -- from developing food forests that will provide residents with free organic produce to installing solar panels on units to decrease monthly utility bills. Their Resident Self-Reliance program helps participants reach their goals by providing incentives such as education grants and rent credits.

Keene Housing Kids Collaborative is a separate nonprofit that partners with community organizations to provide free or low-cost programs and learning opportunities to Keene Housing families. You can support the Kids Collaborative at a silent auction on June 4 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Marriot Courtyard Downtown Keene. Find tickets and more information at bit.ly/keenekidsjune.

Southwestern Community Services (SCS) is another organization helping individuals and families find affordable housing in Cheshire and Sullivan counties. Their Housing Stabilization Service Program offers immediate help to individuals and families facing homelessness. They also provide grants to eligible low to moderate income families so they can afford to make needed home maintenance updates and repairs.

Community members, social service staff, and church representations came together in 1987 to form the Cheshire Housing Trust -- a community land trust to address the rising cost of housing in Keene. They currently own 10 properties that offer single rooms and multi-bedroom apartments in Keene, Marlborough, and Hinsdale for low to moderate income households.

Individual property owners can also boost affordable housing options in our region. New Hampshire Housing offers a Housing Choice Voucher program that subsidizes rents for eligible tenants. New Hampshire Housing also offers financing to affordable housing developers and affordable mortgage loans targeted to homebuyers with incomes up to $126,700: gonewhampshirehousing.com.

This article barely scratches the surface of this topic, so we want to hear from you. What affordable housing efforts in the Monadnock region do you know about? In a future article, we’ll share your answers and highlight innovative affordable housing efforts happening outside our region. Please contact me at marketing@monadnockfood.coop. Thank you!

More about TLC Monadnock

TLC Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations, and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity. Over the past two years, TLC Monadnock raised over $90,000 for fourteen crowdfunding campaigns. TLC Monadnock gives preference to campaigns that align with their respective city or town's master plan and contribute to a local, green and fair economy.

TLC Monadnock is currently hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

Discover more!

Calling All Social Enterprises: The Local Crowd Monadnock

Jen Risley — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 09:31:06 GMT

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

It’s official! The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock, a community-based crowdfunding program serving the entire Monadnock region, is one of four pilot sites across the U.S. participating in a National Science Foundation research project. The project will assess the effectiveness of our crowdfunding program as a tool for community building and economic development. Crowdfunding is the process in which an entrepreneur, business or organization asks a large number of people (usually through the Internet) to contribute small amounts of money to support a new business or project.

"The National Science Foundation supports startups and small businesses with the most innovative, cutting-edge ideas that have the potential to become great commercial successes and make huge societal impacts," said Graciela Narcho, Acting Director of Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF. "We hope that seed funding will spark solutions to some of the most important challenges of our time across all areas of science and technology."

What makes this year’s TLC Monadnock program different from past years? This year, we’re focusing on social enterprises, mission-driven for-profits and non-profits using business principles to make the world a better place. Examples of social enterprises include benefit corporations, cooperatives and other triple-bottom line businesses like W.S. Badger in Gilsum and Green Energy Options in Keene. We’ll continue to build on the power of Internet crowdfunding and provide even more on-the-ground support to our campaign teams. We invite existing and emerging social enterprises to learn more and apply to our program before May 10, 2019.

Specifically, we’re looking for social enterprises interested in raising $15,000 or less for their business (larger amounts can work but please reach out to us first before you apply). Projects need to have simple, achievable goals that will generate real excitement in our community. Proposals can be part of a bigger project but should also have stand-alone value. Most importantly, potential campaign teams need to demonstrate how their project will deliver economic benefits to both their business and the community they serve. We’ll give preference to projects that align with their respective city or town’s master plan and strengthen our Local Living Economy.

Once accepted, social enterprises will receive a free assessment to identify their strengths and weaknesses, helping us match training, marketing and community outreach tools to each campaign team’s unique needs. Unlike other crowdfunding platforms, you’re not on your own when you launch a crowdfunding campaign with TLC Monadnock. You will have a community of business advisors, marketing experts, and experienced crowdfunding coaches supporting you.

While there are no upfront costs, TLC Monadnock charges a 5% fee that is applied to all contributions. This fee is used to pay expenses associated with hosting, administering and promoting TLC Monadnock and for providing direct assistance to campaign creators. Think of this as a “Pay It Forward” fund instead of a fee.

To view our Request for Proposals, please visit tlcmonadnock.com/rfp or contact me at marketing@monadnockfood.coop or 603-283-5401.

More about TLC Monadnock

TLC Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity. Over the past two years, TLC Monadnock raised over $90,000 for fourteen crowdfunding campaigns. TLC Monadnock gives preference to campaigns that align with their respective city or town's master plan and contribute to a local, green and fair economy.

TLC Monadnock is currently hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

Discover more

Top 3 Local Living Economy Building Blocks

Jen Risley — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 09:10:13 GMT

Thank you to the 100+ community members who helped The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock, a community-based crowdfunding program, decide which Local Living Economy building blocks to focus on in 2019.

The top three building blocks were:

Affordable Housing
Farms & Food
Living Wage Jobs & Equity

We will focus on recruiting projects working on innovations in these building blocks and will also provide these projects with extra support to run successful crowdfunding campaigns. Know of a social enterprise working to strengthen one of our top Local Living Economy building blocks? Please share our call for proposals with them today!

Are You Ready? TLC Monadnock RFP Period is Open

Jen Risley — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 23:04:55 GMT

Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen -- one that would strengthen your business, our community and the local economy -- if only you had the funds to make it happen?
Is your business a "social enterprise" that addresses social and/or environmental issues?
Will your project support community goals, while keeping to a budget of $15,000 or less?

If you said yes to these questions...THANK YOU! You are part of the emerging Fourth Sector economy -- a sector that uses the power of business to do good things for people and the planet.

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock believes in people like you. That's why we're participating in a new research project in conjunction with the National Science Foundation and The Local Crowd designed to uncover the best ways to support Fourth Sector enterprises. We are pleased to invite you to participate in this project.

Learn more and download our Request for Proposals

We will accept proposals until 5 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2019. TLC Monadnock will select up to six local businesses to participate in this pilot study -- and the top proposal will receive a free crowdfunding video from 710 Main Films to support their campaign.

Have questions? Please contact Jen Risley at marketing@monadnockfood.coop or 603-283-5401.

TLC Monadnock is hosted by the Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by our community partners: Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

The Local Crowd Monadnock Selected to Participate in National Science Foundation Study on the Needs of Social Enterprises

Jen Risley — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 11:52:16 GMT

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock, a community-based crowdfunding program serving the entire Monadnock region, has been selected to become one of four pilot study sites for a National Science Foundation (NSF) research project.

This NSF project is designed to identify and support the needs of fourth sector enterprises, also known as social enterprises, which are mission-driven organizations that use business principles to make the world a better place.

TLC Monadnock will test and evaluate a new educational/crowdfunding platform developed by The Local Crowd, LLC (TLC) a Laramie, Wyoming based firm. TLC received a $225,000 NSF grant to conduct this research, which has the ultimate goal of increasing community awareness and support for social enterprises.

"The National Science Foundation supports startups and small businesses with the most innovative, cutting-edge ideas that have the potential to become great commercial successes and make huge societal impacts," said Graciela Narcho, Acting Director of Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF. "We hope that seed funding will spark solutions to some of the most important challenges of our time across all areas of science and technology."

"This project will support existing triple bottom line businesses in our region while encouraging new enterprises to explore this sector of our economy," said Jen Risley, TLC Monadnock Program Manager. "We couldn't be more thrilled to take TLC Monadnock to this next level."

For more information, visit tlcmonadnock.com or contact Jen Risley at marketing@monadnockfood.coop or 603-283-5401.

In addition to TLC Monadnock, the communities of Goshen, Indiana; Laramie, Wyoming; and Omniworks™ Business Incubator, Los Angeles, CA, will also serve as pilot sites. This research project will be conducted through 2019.

About The Local Crowd

The Local Crowd's crowdfunding/education platform is designed to solve social problems and make the world a better place by catalyzing community support for social enterprises.

About The Local Crowd Monadnock

The Local Crowd Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding program helping start-up ventures, early-growth stage companies, and community-focused projects find access to capital. Since TLC Monadnock launched in March 2017, fourteen crowdfunding campaigns have collectively raised over $90,000 from 700 individuals.

About the National Science Foundation's Small Business Programs

America's Seed Fund, powered by NSF, awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $1.5 million in non-dilutive funds to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America's Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $7.8 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.

Building Up: Local Living Economy Building Blocks

Jen Risley — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 12:00:41 GMT

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

What is a Local Living Economy?

In November 2009, a group of 70 local entrepreneurs, community leaders, students, and engaged citizens gathered at Keene State College’s Seventh Biennial Symposium “From Local to Global” to answer this question. The consensus: A Local Living Economy is a resilient system that improves our quality of life, meets everyone’s basic needs and creates an engaged citizenry.

What are the building blocks?

With that definition agreed upon, we moved on to the next question: How do we cultivate a stronger Local Living Economy? Judy Wicks, co-founder of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies and key participant in the November 2009 discussion, shared, “In order to build a Local Living Economy, we must first determine what one looks like -- what are the components, or building blocks -- what’s our vision for a Local Living Economy that we can work toward achieving?”

We identified a number of those building blocks including: Affordable Housing, Arts & Culture, Climate Adaptation & Resilience, Community Health, Community Capital, Cooperatives & Community Ownership, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Conservation & Stewardship, Farms & Food, Green Manufacturing, Green Building & Design, Living Wage Jobs & Equity, Renewable Energy, and Sustainable Transportation.

We then compiled examples of regional businesses and organizations currently contributing to these building blocks. We wanted to understand how we’re already building a stronger Local Living Economy and where the gaps in the system are.

Building Block Builders

Keene State College’s Architecture Program serves as one prime example of a Building Block Builder in our region. Their work focuses on multiple building blocks such as Affordable Housing, Climate Resilience, and Green Building. Students designed tiny houses as part of their senior capstone project. Three of their models were displayed at the Tiny House Fest Vermont in Brattleboro last year.

The Architecture Program is also working with the Resilient Design Institute (RDI) to design a tiny house village suited for our climate. In addition to providing housing for the homeless, they want to design a village that will offer emergency housing following natural disasters. Typically, tiny house villages include small private living structures clustered around shared buildings with bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry facilities. One of their biggest challenges with this model is finding a way to keep the private structures livable during the winter and during power outages. This group will meet again this spring to tackle this and other design challenges.

Building on TLC Monadnock’s Success

In 2018, TLC Monadnock attracted ten teams to develop and launch diverse crowdfunding campaigns on our platform. These campaigns collectively raised $58,256 from 500 supporters -- up from $35,146 from 227 supporters in 2017. Seventy percent of TLC Monadnock campaigns met or surpassed their crowdfunding goals -- while Kickstarter has a 31% success rate. We also successfully raised funds to cover a portion of this year’s platform fees. These funds also empowered us to expand our platform to serve the entire region.

We’d love for TLC Monadnock to drive positive change in our Local Living Economy one building block at a time. Help us focus on what part of the system we’ll tackle this year and take our short poll.

TLC Monadnock is hosted by the Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by our community partners: Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations, and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region.

Help Us Decide: 2019 TLC Monadnock Focus

Jen Risley — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 12:41:04 GMT

Help TLC Monadnock decide which Local Living Economy building block to focus on in 2019. We will focus on recruiting projects working on innovations in this building block and provide them with extra support to run a successful crowdfunding campaign. Help us decide by taking this poll.

Take our poll

Our current options are:

Affordable Housing
Arts & Culture
Climate Adaptation & Resilience
Community Health
Community Capital
Cooperatives & Community Ownership
Entrepreneurship
Environmental Conservation & Stewardship
Farms & Food
Green Manufacturing
Green Building & Design
Living Wage Jobs & Equity
Renewable Energy
Sustainable Transportation

What is a Local Living Economy? In November 2009, a group of 70 local entrepreneurs, community leaders, students and engaged citizens gathered at Keene State College’s Seventh Biennial Symposium “From Local to Global” to answer this question. The consensus: A Local Living Economy is a resilient system that improves our quality of life, meets everyone’s basic needs and creates an engaged citizenry.

With that definition agreed upon, we now move on to the next question: How do we cultivate a stronger Local Living Economy? Judy Wicks, co-founder of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) and key participant in the November 2009 discussion, shared, “In order to build a local living economy, we must first determine what one looks like—what are the components, or building blocks, a vision of a local living economy that we can work toward achieving?”

Together, we are looking at the system that drives our Local Living Economy. This type of holistic thinking takes work, but it can result in better problem solving leading to more positive and lasting changes in our community.

As scientist and systems thinker Peter Senge states, “Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes. It is a framework for seeing interrelationships rather than things, for seeing patterns of change rather than static snapshots. Fragmentation, competition, and reactiveness are not problems to be solved -- they are frozen patterns of thought to be dissolved.”

The Pop-Up Economy: Making Our Communities POP!

Jen Risley — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 11:01:31 GMT

Whether a pop-up shop, pop-up event or pop-up planning process – the Pop-Up Economy means that whatever pops up is temporary. This temporary status makes pop-ups less risky than setting up something permanent and typically requires less investment of time and money.

“The pop-up provides business owners the opportunity to test a new product, concept, brand or market before making any long-term investments,” notes the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s brochure on the Pop-Up Economy. “The owners of vacant properties can also economically benefit from the Pop-Up Economy. Traditional leases are long-term; when viable tenants cannot be found, the extended vacancies that result can be a financial burden to landlords.”

Some examples of the Pop-Up Economy in our region include the “Pop Up Holiday Shop” at Central Square in Keene and multiple Complete Streets demos hosted by Southwest Region Planning Commission in Keene and surrounding towns (see Keene’s Complete Street Demo video here: bit.ly/pop-upkeene). Our Pop-Up Economy also includes food trucks like Street & Savory and Salt & Lime. These mobile businesses aren’t temporary, but the locations where they set up their business can change.

Beyond our region, two Pop-Up Economy examples serve as inspiration for building upon our own pop-up efforts: Night Market Philadelphia in PA and Western Market in Muskegon, MI.

Night Market Philadelphia

The Food Trust, a nonprofit focused on access to healthy food, started Night Market Philadelphia in 2010. It’s a roving festival that pops up in different neighborhoods and brings communities together to celebrate the joy of food with food trucks, musicians, street performers and art installations. Each event is co-hosted by a community partner and supports existing businesses in each neighborhood by helping merchants secure permits to set up outside their storefront and attract more foot traffic during the event.

Through a partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Healthy Food Truck Initiative, The Food Trust promotes food truck vendors who offer fresh, healthy menu offerings. They also work with Kiva Zip to bring 0% interest loans of up to $10,000 to local food entrepreneurs. These activities mean the community and economic impacts of Night Market Philadelphia ripple well beyond each one-night event.

“Today, Night Market isn’t just a busy night for food truck vendors -- it’s an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and build a lasting customer base,” states The Food Trust’s Night Market Philadelphia Five Year Report. “It isn’t just one evening of celebrating a neighborhood -- it’s a catalyst for sustained community engagement. It isn’t just a popular event -- it’s a creator of jobs, tax revenue and real economic growth.”

Muskegon’s Western Market

In 2017, the city of Muskegon built twelve small “chalets” on an empty lot and called it Western Market (in reference to their nearby farmers’ market). The chalets each cost about $5,000 to build and the city rents them to businesses for the season, from May to December. Last season’s businesses included a bakery, fair trade boutique and a variety of other retailers. While the initial funding for these structures came from donations from the local chamber of commerce, a community foundation and other area organizations, the success of Western Market (demonstrated by a waiting list of 25 businesses) convinced the city to use municipal funds to build five more chalets in 2018, locating them at different downtown locations.

In addition to helping new businesses get a start, seven existing businesses from nearby communities used the chalets to grow their customer base. The success of Western Market motivated a number of downtown landlords to build smaller retail areas on their first floors to accommodate these growing businesses in the future.

“We’ve taken very small spaces, like here at the Western Market, and much larger areas, like the farmers market, and turned them into vibrant places that draw people from miles around and provide an economic boost to our entire community,” said Muskegon Mayor Stephen Gawron.

Have ideas to make your community pop with the Pop-Up Economy? Explore the opportunity to secure start-up funds for your idea through The Local Crowd Monadnock and email us at marketing@monadnockfood.coop.

2018 Annual Report: TLC Monadnock

Jen Risley — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 14:01:01 GMT

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region. We recently wrapped up the pilot phase of our program.

In 2018, TLC Monadnock:

Attracted a diversity of campaign teams to develop and launch crowdfunding campaigns on our platform

Launched 10 crowdfunding campaigns based in 6 towns in the Monadnock region: Alstead, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Keene, Peterborough, Winchester
Collectively raised $58,256 from 500 supporters (up from $35,146 from 227 supporters in 2017)
Seventy percent of TLC Monadnock campaigns met or surpassed their crowdfunding goals (Kickstarter has a 31% success rate)

Successfully raised funds to cover portion of 2019 platform fees and continue past the pilot phase of this project

Leveraged TLC Monadnock to raise $2,500 -- allowing us to expand our platform to serve the entire region in 2019
The Local Crowd secured a grant from the National Science Foundation to support the Fourth Sector Economy (stay tuned for details in March 2019)

Download our 2018 Annual Report.

Discover more details and updates at tlcmonadnock.com or contact Jen Risley at marketing@monadnockfood.coop or 603-283-5401.

TLC Monadnock is hosted by the Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by our community partners: Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

Monadnock Food Co-op Announces Third Year of Farm Fund: Supporting Sustainable Local Food Production

Jen Risley — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 13:08:06 GMT

The Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund program, a partnership with the Cheshire County Conservation District, is now accepting applications from local farmers. Currently, in its third year, the fund has supported seven farms in our region.

This year, the Farm Fund will award up to $18,000 to help farms in Cheshire County and abutting New Hampshire towns develop or expand their production for wholesale markets, including selling to the Monadnock Food Co-op and Food Connects. Funds can be used to support a range of projects including the purchase of equipment and infrastructure, packaging and labeling design needs, and technical assistance.

The Request for Proposals and application are available here. Applications are due February 1, 2019.

"The Farm Fund empowers local farmers to grow their businesses to help them become more financially sustainable," said Michael Faber, Monadnock Food Co-op General Manager. "It also helps the co-op broaden its offerings of locally grown, raised, and made foods — that means more local food for you, your family, and our community."

Tax-deductible donations to this fund can be made to the Cheshire County Conservation District. Additional fundraising activities will occur at the Monadnock Food Co-op, including a Round It Up Donation Drive in early 2019.

The Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund's mission is to support local farmers in increasing sustainable food production and wholesale sales to contribute to a thriving local farm economy. This grant supports several of the co-op's goals, including building a healthy, sustainable food system, supporting local farmers and producers, and contributing to a strong, sustainable and improving local economy.

For more information on eligibility, to apply for a grant, or make a donation to the fund, please visit https://monadnockfood.coop/farmfund or call Amanda Littleton at the Conservation District at 603-756-2988 ext 116.

Please Vote with Your Dollars: The Local Crowd Monadnock

Jen Risley — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 11:25:48 GMT

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

Great news! The Local Crowd Monadnock (TLC Monadnock), a locally based crowdfunding platform, will extend beyond its pilot phase. While TLC Monadnock will continue to host crowdfunding campaigns based in Keene and seven other towns in the region, the question that we’re asking our community right now is: Should it expand to serve the entire region? So far, thirty-one of you voted “Yes!” by contributing $5 - $500 to our TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaign.

VOTE YES!

Our goal is to raise at least $2,500 by Monday, December 10. The more support our community contributes, the more towns we’ll include in the program next year. We will use this funding to cover the platform fees for 2019 and jumpstart our efforts to transform TLC Monadnock into a pollinator enterprise, a self-funding enterprise committed to supporting local businesses.

Past campaign leaders expressed support for continuing TLC Monadnock. Marty Castriotta of Village Roots Permaculture Farm in Alstead raised over $11,000 through TLC Monadnock for a barn raising at his family’s CSA farm. The barn will house animals in the winter and provide space to host educational workshops during other parts of the year.

"TLC Monadnock made it possible for us to embrace the idea of asking our community to support our cause and our project," said Marty. "Within two weeks of launching our campaign, with the tremendous support of TLC, we raised the funds needed to complete our barn."

Locally owned businesses have also demonstrated their support by donating awesome rewards to thank community members for their support. Thank you to Walpole Mountain View Winery, MB Massage Studio, Monadnock Food Co-op, The Works Café, New England Everyday Goods, Cheshire Garden, New Dawn Farm, Yoga with Josephine and Stonewall Farm for contributing rewards to our campaign. See all the rewards on the right side of our campaign page.

Please join with others in our community to continue to leverage the power of crowdfunding to cultivate a stronger ecosystem of investors, service providers and local economy champions investing in a local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock region. You can contribute to our crowdfunding campaign regardless of where you live.

Contribute to this campaign online today

Checks can be made out to Monadnock Buy Local and mailed to The Local Crowd Monadnock, c/o Monadnock Buy Local, 63 Emerald Street PMB #114, Keene, NH 03431.

More about TLC Monadnock

TLC Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity.

This project is part of a two-year research study funded by a USDA Small Business Innovation Research grant to gauge this platform's effectiveness in rural areas. During its pilot phase (that ends January 1, 2019), TLC Monadnock will only accept campaign proposals from businesses, organizations or community initiatives based in Alstead, Jaffrey, Keene, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Peterborough, Swanzey or Winchester. TLC Monadnock gives preference to campaigns that align with their respective city or town's master plan and contribute to a local, green and fair economy.

Discover more details and updates at monadnocklocal.org/tlc or contact Jen Risley at monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com or 603-499-7950.

TLC Monadnock is currently hosted by Monadnock Buy Local and supported by the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Monadnock Food Co-op and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

TLC Monadnock Crowdfunding Campaign: Shift Your Shopping

Jen Risley — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 10:42:44 GMT

Photo credit: Prime Roast Coffee

With Thanksgiving and Plaid Friday this week, things were a bit slow for our TLC Monadnock Campaign. However, we'll be out in full force promoting our crowdfunding campaign next week -- watch for an article about TLC Monadnock in next week's Monadnock Shopper News.

On another note -- If you're looking for some Shift Your Shopping ideas, take a look at our rewards on the right side of our campaign page. They were all donated by locally owned business owners who wanted to show their support for expanding TLC Monadnock.

Is there someone on your gift-giving list that would appreciate a gift from ...

MB Massage Studio: 30-Minute Sauna Session?
The Works Cafe: $25 Gift Card?
New England Everyday Goods: Balsam Fir-Filled Tapestry Pillow?
New Dawn Farm: Two-Week Mini CSA Share?
Yoga With Josephine: Ten Class Coupon Book?
Stonewall Farm: Meeting Space?

Go ahead, shift your shopping and lend more support to our campaign today!

View Campaign

We're Live: TLC Monadnock Crowdfunding Campaign

Jen Risley — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 11:26:35 GMT

Yesterday marked the public launch of our crowdfunding campaign for The Local Crowd Monadnock!

View Our Campaign

Thanks to all of you -- we raised 30% of our goal. Together we're leveraging the power of crowdfunding to make wonderful ideas happen -- projects that support a local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock region.

Impressive News: Our sponsored rewards from Cheshire Garden and Monadnock Food Co-op are already sold out. We hope that other local businesses will donate rewards to support this campaign, too. Please feel free to mention this opportunity to your favorite locally owned business. It's a win-win... especially during the holiday gift-giving season.

Please help us spread the word about our TLC Monadnock campaign by sharing our this link on social media today: http://c-fund.us/hx2

Thank you all again for your support!

The Co Crowdfunding Campaign

Jen Risley — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 13:02:23 GMT

MAxT Makerspace and the Cornucopia Project are turning their shared office space at 49 Vose Farm Rd, Peterborough, NH into a new hub for our community to work, learn and create.

MAxT Coworking and Education Center

Here's a note from Roy Schlieben, Director of MAxT:

Some of you might know that I've been working on a rather large project over the past four years -- creating a Makerspace in my hometown of Peterborough. The idea is simple -- we want to give people, particularly young people, a safe space to learn and pursue their creative passions.

We've had success growing our Makerspace. We attracted talented people and have seen a number of them start their businesses here. People have launched video production companies, developed robots, started second careers as artists, and created community events like repair cafe. If someone has an inspiration to do something, we've been there to help them get going.

We are ready to take another step. We are creating a new section of our space dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurs. We want to give them a workspace to develop new business ideas, provide a home for local business advisors to meet with them, and launch an incubator to help kick-start new businesses. It's a project we've been working on for more than a year and we are ready to launch...but we need a little help to make it happen.

The campaign for The Co is about creating this space, and I am asking you to consider donating to help us reach our goal of $9,700 in the next two weeks. We are already halfway there, but it is still a long way to go. You just have to follow this link and click on the giving level you are most comfortable with.

We even have some modest thank you gifts to claim!

The Makerspace represents everything that I believe in. It is about generosity, sharing, learning and growing. I'm so proud to see how far my efforts have taken things. But, I need your help. Please join me in supporting this worthy cause.

Warm regards,
Roy

Get On the Map: Keene First Friday Art Hop

Jen Risley — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 10:21:31 GMT

The first Keene First Friday Art Hop begins soon - Friday July 6 from 5pm - 9pm. We are eager to get downtown businesses, local organizations, artisan & craft businesses registered and ON THE MAP!

Registration Forms

Downtown Keene businesses can get involved by:

Staying open! We recommend open until 9pm. We understand that some businesses close much earlier. If you are normally open until 6, would you remain open until 7pm and offer a wonderful and unique First Friday special? Offer arts or music in your shop? Add a Harvest of the Month special to your menu? And, if you notify the local police and liquor commission, as well as follow the simple rules (free, open to the public, legal tasting size, etc.), it is FREE to offer a tasting in your store! More here.

Showing ART! Host a local musician! For a nominal fee, Machina Arts, our promoter, will provide low cost access to their ASCAP license, decreasing your cost to host live music. Contact us for pricing.

Promote local food! Promote the Harvest of the Month: Berries in July and Tomatoes in August!

Other ideas!? We would love to hear them! Host a local museum or non profit; offer an arts activity; bring a local artisan business into your shop for the evening; partner with a local artist to commission a new work of art. The list is endless!

We are eager to put you ON THE MAP! Fill out our registration form by June 29 and let us know what will be happening in your location.

And please, do share the news about this event: Share our Facebook event, invite artist friends to vend on Railroad Square, get a local non profit involved to spread their mission and/or host a family friendly activity, visit one of our TWO POP UP Galleries, host/invite a local craft/artisan food company to participate. Information is available here.

Thank you for your consideration. Feel free to contact me with any questions: 603-309-6339 or carolyns@machinaarts.org.

See you at the Art Hop on July 6!

Best,
Carolyn Sweet
First Friday Program Developer

NH Honey Bee Initiative: Crowdfunding Update

Jen Risley — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:00:10 GMT

The support for the NH Honey Bee Initiative's first action, joining muralist Matt Willey's world-wide endeavor called The Good of the Hive, is amazing -- thanks to so many generous donors, especially you!

The Initiative has been featured in two lengthy articles in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript and the Keene Sentinel as well as an editorial enthusiastically in support of this endeavor. Kin and I have met with three classes from two different area schools, and have presentations with several organizations, including Kiwanis, Rotary and the New Hampshire Beekeepers, scheduled over the next few weeks.

Help spread the buzz by sharing the link to this campaign and letting your friends and families know that you are part of such an exciting effort. Go bees!

Share our campaign

Support Safer Streets In Hinsdale

Jen Risley — Sat, 19 May 2018 11:47:20 GMT

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock launched its eight online crowdfunding campaign to support The Hinsdale Beautification Committee Safe Streets crowdfunding campaign.

In 2016, the Town of Hinsdale adopted a Complete Streets Policy -- a plan to consider all types of users (walkers, motorists, bicyclists, seniors, youth, etc.) when designing or maintaining a street. This project will make this policy come to life on Main Street -- to make shopping at local businesses and the farmers' market safer.

This crowdfunding campaign is an effort to raise $2,000 to show community support for this project -- and will be used as matching funds on a future grant application. The project includes adding crosswalks, parklets or bump outs to the sidewalks and a radar post.

Individuals can contribute to this crowdfunding campaign regardless of where they live. Offline donations are also accepted. Checks should be made out to the Town of Hinsdale Town Hall (c/o Kathryn Lynch, Community Development Coordinator) P.O. Box 13, Hinsdale, NH 03451.

Support this campaign today!

Village Roots Permaculture: Barn Raising Update

Jen Risley — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 13:21:53 GMT

From Village Roots Permaculture

Thank you to the community of supporters that helped make this fund raising goal a reality! Your donations of time, money, rewards, materials, expertise, advertising and emotional support have all led us to this next important phase, construction.

Getting Started

We've been stirring on ideas for quite some time now and the planning process continues every time I feed the animals or grab a tool. Now with the campaign a success, we are wrapping up details of the design, gathering materials and starting the first phases of the timber frame construction.

We are adjusting our timber drawings to reflect the materials we have on hand. Many of these timbers, I milled on site two years ago. Joules is adding some animals to the drawings.
We have begun to layout joinery on barn post timbers.
We have picked up a trailer load of 200 year old, hand hewn timbers (with the help of Hans Mayer) and have begun the process of cleaning these up. These came from an old barn in Acworth (Bascom's Sugarhouse) and will become floor joists in the new barn.

Stay tuned. Now the real fun begins.

Follow this campaign

We Did It: Moving Outdoors Crowdfunding Campaign Goal Reached

Jen Risley — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 13:31:22 GMT

From the Montessori Schoolhouse of Cheshire County

We called on you, and YOU ANSWERED!

We want to express the deepest gratitude to each of you who donated and has supported this campaign. It is a huge representation of the generosity of this community and we are so grateful for your support.

We hit our goal of $8,000.00 only 19 days in to the month long campaign!

The campaign will continue on through the end of the month, with April 30 as the last day. And we hope that we will continue to see support.

This means so much to the children of the Montessori Schoolhouse, and I know that as we begin to purchase the items in our budget they will reap all the nature play benefits of your support.

We truly can't do it without such a powerful and generous community of parents, relatives, alumni, and friends.
We thank each of you from the very tip of our toes to the top of our heads, with full hearts.

THANK YOU!

On behalf of the Montessori Schoolhouse Staff and Board, and all the grateful children,
Christina Klueh
Board VP

Monday Madness Success

Jen Risley — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 19:26:59 GMT

From the Montessori Schoolhouse of Cheshire County

We did it – wait – YOU DID IT!

A huge thank you to each of you who donated during Monday Madness – we far surpassed our goal of meeting our one-day $1,000 matching challenge. We received $2,025.00 donated by you, and that was matched with the $1,000.00 from Wyatt & Associates to give us a total of $3,025.00 donated in 24 hours!

We are now at 76% of our goal – Whahoo!

I am continued to be amazed by this community. I know that we will hit our goal, and hope that you all will continue to share our mission and goal with others in your community.

Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

The Staff and Board of Montessori Schoolhouse, and all the children

Support this campaign today!

Moving Outdoors Crowdfunding Update: Our First 48 Hours

Jen Risley — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 13:44:51 GMT

From The Montessori Schoolhouse Outdoor Classroom Project

In our first 48 hours we have received more than $1900! Thank you for you efforts in getting the word out and your donations! We appreciate all of the backers for our campaign!

We have seen this campaign spread all the way to Georgia, and we hope that we will continue to see the support of our community grow even further to reach our goal.

Thank you for your support by donation, and we are really looking forward to seeing us reach our final goal!

Support the Moving Outdoors Crowdfunding Campaign

Village Roots Permaculture Crowdfunding Update: Goal Boosted

Jen Risley — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 13:32:19 GMT

From Marty, Ellen and Joules

Two days before we launched this campaign we chickened out and lowered our goal from $10,000 to $8,500. Given the overwhelming support of the community, we are raising this goal back to $10,000.

The extra $1,500 will allow us to pay for the installation of a walk-in cooler, which is critical to our goals for this space.

Thank you for demonstrating that this is possible!

Visit the Village Roots Barn Raising Campaign

The Local Crowd Monadnock Awarded Grant from New England Grassroots Environment Fund

Jen Risley — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 15:32:02 GMT

Monadnock Buy Local received a grant from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund to support The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock, a locally based crowdfunding platform. TLC Monadnock empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in the region.

Since launching in March 2017, over 200 supporters contributed $35,000 to four campaigns through TLC Monadnock's platform. These campaigns focused on sustainable agriculture, bicycling and independent retail. This winter's campaigns include topics such as community solar, complete streets and outdoor learning.

TLC Monadnock is a collaboration of regional economic development organizations including Southwest Region Planning Commission, Monadnock Buy Local, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation. For more information, contact Monadnock Buy Local at 603-499-7950.

About New England Grassroots Environment Fund

The New England Grassroots Environment Fund energizes and nurtures long-term civic engagement in local initiatives that create and maintain healthy, just, safe and sustainable communities using stories, tools and dollars to fuel local activism and social change. Since 1996, the Grassroots Fund's core grantmaking program continues to fund nearly 150 grants annually, giving more than $4 million in 20 years to initiatives by better than 2,000 community groups covering more than 60 percent of New England's cities and towns. For more information, please visit grassrootsfund.org or call 603-905-9915.

The Crowd Expands: Alstead, Jaffrey and Peterborough Join The Local Crowd Monadnock

Jen Risley — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 21:36:34 GMT

In 2017, The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock -- a locally based crowdfunding platform -- supported campaigns based in Keene, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Swanzey and Winchester. In the New Year, we’re excited to announce that we’re expanding into Alstead, Jaffrey and Peterborough, too! What does that mean to you? It means that if you have a great idea -- one that strengthens your local economy and community -- and live in one of these eight towns, you can apply to launch a crowdfunding campaign with TLC Monadnock.

If you’ve heard of Kickstarter and Indiegogo, you might understand how crowdfunding works. However, TLC Monadnock is different from other crowdfunding platforms. It’s designed specifically for rural communities. Also, you’re not alone when you launch a campaign with TLC Monadnock -- we provide education, support and hyper-local tools to connect local businesses, organizations and community groups with the capital they need to thrive.

These differences recently earned us a Crowdfundie Award presented at the Global Crowdfunding Conference in Las Vegas. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the crowdfunding industry. People are beginning to notice what our community is doing to inspire more local investing!

2017 Recap

Since we launched in March, four crowdfunding campaigns have collectively raised $34,946 from over 200 individuals. Our most recent campaign, the Bicycle Mayor of Keene, met its $1,300 goal just five days after publicly launching. Tiffany Mannion, the inaugural Bicycle Mayor of Keene will focus on three areas during her two year term: education, connection and creation. TLC Monadnock funded her first goal, to create an online hub that connects our community of riders to each other. Connect with her at bicyclemayorofkeene.com.

Two TLC Monadnock campaigns focused on sustainable agriculture: Archway Farm’s Farm to Table on Wheels project and Stonewall Farm’s Barn Raising project. Archway Farm bought a Sausage Cart and traveled to various community events this summer, introducing their pasture-raised pork and other local products to new people throughout our region. Stonewall Farm plans to invest their funds in a new barn for their small animals and offer more space for the farm’s education programs.

Our third campaign, the Monadnock Placemaker project, focused on independent retail and the power of online tools to inspire more of us to spend our dollars at locally owned businesses. Funds from this campaign will go into launching a local rewards program this winter. Learn more about all four projects.

Three new campaigns are now in the development stage: Safe Streets project from the Hinsdale Beautification Committee, Moving Outdoors project from the Montessori Schoolhouse of Cheshire County and Chesterfield Community Supported Solar project from the Monadnock Sustainability Network.

Once these new crowdfunding campaigns launch, you can join with your friends and neighbors to support the campaigns that inspire you -- by giving any amount of money you feel able and moved to give (from $1 on up!). Some campaigns provide rewards for your support -- a thank you gift for funding their project. Sign up for our e-newsletter to stay updated. Just send us an email and we’ll add you to our contact list.

In Search of New Campaigns for 2018

So, now we turn to you and ask: Do you have a great idea that could use a lift? Will your project support community goals, while keeping to a budget of $10,000 or less? Are you, or is your business or organization, based in Alstead, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Jaffrey, Keene, Peterborough, Swanzey or Winchester? If yes, then please consider funding your project through The Local Crowd Monadnock. We are accepting crowdfunding proposals until January 12, 2018.

Learn more about our current request for proposals.

Here’s an added incentive to submit a proposal now: TLC Monadnock will select one proposal to receive a free video, donated by 710 Main Films, to support their crowdfunding campaign. Crowdfunding campaigns with pitch videos receive four times more funds than campaigns without a video.

TLC Monadnock is hosted by Monadnock Buy Local and supported by a leadership team that includes the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Region Planning Commission, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Monadnock Buy Local, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation. We’re looking for other economic development groups beyond Keene to join our leadership team. Contact us today for more details at jen@monadnocklocal.org or 603-499-7950.

As our TLC Monadnock crowd expands, we hope you will join us. We are collectively funding the things we want to see more of in our little corner of the world.

The Local Crowd Wins Crowdfundie Award

Jen Risley — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 21:07:38 GMT

Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the crowdfunding industry

We're honored to share that The Local Crowd (TLC), a rewards-based crowdfunding platform, recently won a Crowdfundie Award at the Global Crowdfunding Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the crowdfunding industry.

Locally, The Local Crowd is hosted by Monadnock Buy Local and called The Local Crowd Monadnock. Since we launched in March 2017, four Monadnock Region businesses/organizations/initiatives have collectively raised $34,946 from over 200 individuals.

TLC Co-founders Diane Wolverton and Kim Vincent accepted the award at a VIP event at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

“We are super excited to receive this reward — on behalf of all The Local Crowd communities,” Wolverton said. “TLC's host communities, like The Local Crowd Monadnock, have worked very hard to launch this tool. It is very gratifying to see this work recognized.”

The Global Crowdfunding Conference, founded by Ruth E. Hedges, is the crowdfunding industry’s flagship event. This convention brings the global crowdfunding community together to learn, share and co-create the future of the industry—an industry that is experiencing explosive growth.

In 2016, start-ups, nonprofits and entrepreneurs raised more than $60 billion in capital from crowdfunding. This is a huge jump from just four years ago, when crowdfunding raised $1.7 billion in capital. Hedges commented, “I love what The Local Crowd is doing. It fills a very important niche in the industry.”

The Local Crowd platform is specifically designed for rural communities and is currently in 13 states. In conjunction with The Local Crowd Monadnock, TLC provides education, support and hyper-local tools to connect local businesses and organizations with the capital they need.

The Local Crowd Monadnock is now accepting crowdfunding proposals for 2018. Details are available at monadnocklocal.org/rfp.

Congrats to The Local Crowd and all thirteen TLC Communities!

The Local Crowd Monadnock Highlighted at Global Crowdfunding Convention

Jen Risley — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 09:49:29 GMT

Exciting news: The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock will have one of its campaign videos highlighted at the 6th annual Global Crowdfunding Convention in Las Vegas on October 23 and 24, 2017.

This video exemplifies how TLC Monadnock provides more than just a crowdfunding platform, but leverages the skills, resources and talents of our community to help businesses, organizations and citizens reach their fundraising goals.

"With a proper ecosystem of crowdfunding technology, education, and training, startups and growing enterprises can increase their ability to raise the capital they need, scale up, and compete in today's world," said Ruth Hedges, CEO and Founder of the Global Crowdfunding Convention.

"When Global Crowdfunding Convention founder Ruth Hedges asked me for campaign videos to showcase the The Local Crowd platform, I immediately thought of TLC Monadnock's Stonewall Farm campaign," said Diane Wolverton, CEO and co-founder of The Local Crowd. "Their video tells a great story -- in just 97 seconds!"

TLC Monadnock's connection to The Local Crowd, a program supported by a USDA Small Business Innovation Research Grant, amplifies the region's assets by providing the technology, coaching and training needed for this local effort to thrive.

Stonewall Farm's crowdfunding video was donated and produced by 710 Main Films based in Keene.

View Stonewall Farm's archived crowdfunding campaign

Visit Us at the Winchester Pickle Festival

Jen Risley — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 12:47:17 GMT

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock will highlight the opportunity for individuals, organizations and businesses based in Winchester to raise funds using this innovative crowdfunding platform.

JOIN US: September 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Winchester Pickle Festival

TLC Monadnock will attend the Winchester Pickle Festival with Mark Florenz of Archway Farm. Mark successfully raised over $5,000 through TLC Monadnock's crowdfunding platform. With the funds he purchased a food truck, allowing him to sell his pasture-raised pork and other locally made products at events like the Winchester Pickle Festival. He plans to sell his own hot dogs, sausage, and something pickled (of course!). Please RSVP on Facebook and help us spread the word!

Placemaker Crowdfunding Update: We Did It!

Jen Risley — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 10:37:09 GMT

We did it!

Thanks to 59 supporters, we did it! We reached our crowdfunding goal -- so we're bringing Placemaker to the Monadnock Region!

What's next?

We will make arrangements with Placemaker for an early November program launch. We'll be sure to keep you updated on our progress. Woo-hoo!

Placemaker Crowdfunding Update: $470 to go

Jen Risley — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 09:56:03 GMT

Down to the final days

Thank you for all the shares on social media -- we really feel the local love for Placemaker! We just need $470 to meet our crowdfunding goal, so one more shout out is very appreciated.

We spoke with Placemaker and if we make our goal it looks like we can launch the program this November -- just in time for this year's Shift Your Shopping season and Plaid Friday event!

New Sponsored Reward

Debbie Daniele Photography of Keene donated one Lifestyle Portrait Photography Session, plus one 11x14 enlargement for donating $250 to our crowdfunding campaign. Thanks Debbie!

Thanks to Nest :: mother child home

A big thank you to Kim Peck from Nest :: mother child home in Peterborough for her video lending support to our campaign.

Placemaker Crowdfunding Update: We Need Your Help Telling Our Story

Jen Risley — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 12:04:37 GMT

Say it with video

We need your help sharing our story about the power of Placemaker. We'd love a very short video of you sharing why you support bringing Placemaker to the Monadnock Region. This would mean the world to our campaign -- as we try to convert interest into support. Post your video on your favorite social media platform and send us an email to let us know it's posted. (If you need help with this, please let us know -- we're so happy to help!) Thank you so much in advance!

Past the half-way mark

We're excited to share we surpassed the half-way point yesterday and reached 65% of our fundraising goal. Woo-hoo! Thank you to the Monadnock Food Co-op for hosting our TLC Monadnock Night at the Co-op last night (and for Mother Nature for a rain-free evening). Next week, we plan to join the Dan Mitchell radio show and broaden our outreach quite a bit. We'll also be at the Farmers' Market of Keene next Saturday.

Get an early jump on your holiday shopping

Hopefully, you've already browsed our amazing rewards for contributing to our Placemaker campaign -- but have you considering getting an early jump on your holiday shopping through our campaign? Have someone on your list looking to get more healthy in 2018? Get them one of our yoga or fitness rewards. Know someone who would love to see a Peterborough Players play? Get them the Picnic and a Play Package with the Jack Daniels Inn. A Citizen Membership to Monadnock Buy Local would also make an amazing gift for a buy local enthusiast. Check out all our rewards on the right side of our campaign page.

Parting words from Michael Shuman

Visit our Placmemaker Crowdfunding Campaign

Week 2 Update: Placemaker Local Rewards Program

Jen Risley — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 13:04:46 GMT

$2,000 Fundraising Milestone

We surpassed the $2,000 mark this week -- and are now reaching towards the halfway mark (we're 41% there!). We built up 5,000+ Placemaker crowdfunding video views on Facebook BUT very few viewers watched long enough to learn what this awesome program is all about. So, we added a new Facebook video just about the Placemaker Program -- feel free to share it with your Facebook contacts.

Join Us for a Stronger Community! from Katrina Scotto di Carlo on Vimeo.

You're Invited!

Please join us for TLC Monadnock Night at the Monadnock Food Co-op on Friday, August 4 from 4 - 6pm in Keene. Visit our table to say hello, share your questions and enjoy a special treat or two! Also, plan to stay for the Co-op's Local Food BBQ.

RSVP on Facebook and Help Spread the Word!

In Case You Missed It

Last week, the Monadnock Shopper News featured our Placemaker crowdfunding campaign. Here's to hoping it reaches more community members and inspires them to vote with their dollars to bring Placemaker to the Monadnock Region!

Please Read and Share: Making Connections Visible and Rewards Sweeter

TLC Monadnock Night at the Co-op: August 4

Jen Risley — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:37:18 GMT

We're so excited!

The Monadnock Food Co-op will host The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock Night on Friday, August 4, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at its store in downtown Keene.

RSVP on Facebook to help spread the word!

You're invited to visit our table outside the Co-op and learn more about TLC Monadnock's latest crowdfunding campaign: Placemaker Local Rewards Program. Be sure to stay for the Co-op's Local Foods BBQ, too!

Placemaker is an online loyalty platform that tracks purchases made at locally owned businesses and offers gifts and discounts to users who spend their dollars locally. It is a powerful tool to inspire more community members to shop at locally owned business, while also giving community economic organizations access to valuable data -- regarding how much the region is shopping locally to grow a more local, green and fair economy. Individuals can contribute to this crowdfunding campaign online at http://c-fund.us/b3w.

TLC Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in the region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity.

Since launching on March 15, 2017, TLC Monadnock has raised over $10,000 from 164 supporters.

Placemaker Crowdfunding Campaign: Making Connections Visible and Rewards Sweeter

Jen Risley — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 09:44:52 GMT

Originally Published in the Monadnock Shopper News

On July 15, Monadnock Buy Local officially launched its Placemaker Local Rewards crowdfunding campaign with The Local Crowd Monadnock (our region’s locally based crowdfunding platform). We're thrilled to report that in the first 2 days of the campaign we reached over 30% of our fundraising goal! To see where we’re at today, please visit our crowdfunding campaign page.

What’s Placemaker?

On the surface, Placemaker is an online loyalty platform that tracks purchases made at locally owned businesses and offers gifts and discounts to community members who spend their dollars locally.

Join Us for a Stronger Community! from Katrina Scotto di Carlo on Vimeo.

Why Placemaker?

Dig deeper and you’ll discover that Placemaker is a powerful tool to inspire more community members to shop at locally owned businesses. Placemaker can give us access to real data, while shoppers have fun. With this data, Monadnock Buy Local and other economic development organizations can monitor and demonstrate the true impact of our efforts on our local economy.

Best of all, instead of independent businesses working to build customer loyalty on their own, they can band together through Placemaker and inspire more people to spend their dollars at locally owned businesses.

Why Crowdfunding?

Bringing Placemaker to our community requires a three-year commitment -- a really big investment for an organization like Monadnock Buy Local. If we can raise $5,000 from you -- our neighbors, friends and family -- it demonstrates our community’s support for Placemaker. These dollars will also allow us to lower participation costs for participating businesses.

The Roots of Placemaker

This program—started in Oregon by Katrina and Michael Scotto di Carlo—currently boasts a network of 150 independent businesses and 80,000 users who collectively shifted $8 million of their spending to locally owned businesses. Placemaker was the couple’s response to watching their town’s Main Street businesses close -- a solution that drives revenue to businesses and engages citizens.

Earn Rewards for Shopping Locally

“We moved here three years ago from a busy metro area with the belief that a smaller town with more individual personality would be a better place to raise our family,” shared one of our early Placemaker campaign supporters. “Placemaker will encourage a healthy local economy and ensure that the qualities we love about Keene will remain and hopefully strengthen. I love the idea of supporting my neighbors and friends in this way, and I'm not going to lie... I like rewards!”

How Placemaker Would Work

When you shop at a Placemaker business that's new to you, you'd receive 20 Merits. Each time you come back to shop or get a service at that business, you’d earn 5 more Merits. You’d collect these Merits at each participating business by sharing your phone number or using the free Placemaker mobile app.

Each participating business would then offer specific products or services that can be purchased with Placemaker Merits. You’d use your Merits to claim rewards on Placemaker's website or app.

How much would it cost for community members to participate? Nothing. It's free!

To make supporting our Placemaker campaign even sweeter, we’re offering special rewards to individuals who give at certain financial levels. For example, for $50 a campaign supporter can choose the "Buy Local Booster" and receive 5 gift certificates from Monadnock Buy Local members -- in surprise amounts from surprise members.

Another great perk: A number of Monadnock Buy Local Members donated fantastic rewards to show their support for our Placemaker Crowdfunding campaign -- and to thank supporters for contributing to our campaign. Browse these sponsored rewards along the right hand side of our campaign page -- catered lunches, social media support, drone videos and more! Claim a reward by adding it to your cart and then following the steps to complete your contribution.

These rewards are limited -- so be sure to check them out today.

So, What Do You Think?

Do you believe this is a good investment for our community? Then please support this program today.

Help Bring Placemaker to the Monadnock Region

Offline donations are also accepted. Checks should be made out to Monadnock Buy Local (with Placemaker in the memo line) and mailed to The Local Crowd Monadnock, c/o Monadnock Buy Local, 63 Emerald Street PMB #114, Keene, NH 03431.

Placemaker can make connections between community and our locally owned businesses more visible, while making the benefits of shopping locally even sweeter!

Placemaker Crowdfunding - Week 1 Update: Over 1,000 Views

Jen Risley — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 12:08:04 GMT

We're Spreading the Word

We hoped to inspire at least 471 page views to our Placemaker Local Reward crowdfunding campaign by August 14... well, thanks to everyone's help spreading the word -- we had over 1,000 page views in our first week! Now, we need to re-engage those visitors over the next three weeks.

Are you connected with a group interested in learning more about Placemaker? We'd love to share a short overview with your group -- just contact us today.

Why Local Economy Builders Love Placemaker

You might be as crazy about building the local economy as us -- so we wanted to share this short video connecting the dots between Placemaker and Community Economic Development efforts: Placemaker Overview for Local Economy Building Organizations

New Sponsored Rewards

Two more Monadnock Buy Local Members added Sponsored Rewards to our Placemaker Campaign this week:

Dine, Play and Stay in Peterborough: Sponsored by the Jack Daniels Motor Inn

Year of Yoga: Sponsored by Yoga with Josephine

Learn more on our campaign page (along the right) -- and share these great rewards with your contacts today!

Placemaker Crowdfunding Campaign

We're Live: Placemaker Crowdfunding Campaign

Jen Risley — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 11:06:41 GMT

We publicly launched our Placemaker Crowdfunding campaign on July 15th -- and we're thrilled to share we raised 29% of our fundraising goal.

Let's bring Placemaker to our region

Why We Gave

“We moved here three years ago from a busy metro area with the belief that a smaller town, with more individual personality, would be a better place to raise our family. Placemaker will encourage a healthy local economy and ensure that the qualities we love about Keene will remain and hopefully strengthen. I love the idea of supporting my neighbors and friends in this way, and I'm not going to lie… I like rewards!” - JDG

The Local Crowd Monadnock Announces Launch Date For Next Crowdfunding Campaign

Jen Risley — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:43:25 GMT

Placemaker Local Rewards Program Crowdfunding Campaign Launches on July 15th

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock will launch its third online crowdfunding campaign on Thursday, July 15, 2017 at noon focused on supporting independent retail: Monadnock Buy Local's "Placemaker Local Rewards" Program.

RSVP to our online launch!

This campaign, based in Keene, is an effort to raise $5,000 needed to purchase a one-year subscription to Placemaker, an innovative online platform that tracks purchases made at participating locally owned businesses and offers gifts and discounts to users who spend their dollars locally. Instead of independent businesses working to build customer loyalty on their own, they can band together through Placemaker and inspire more people to spend their dollars at locally owned businesses. Also, Placemaker can provide real-time data that Monadnock Buy Local and other economic development organizations can use to measure their impacts and refine their efforts.

"For years, Monadnock Buy Local searched for ways to demonstrate our true impact on our local economy. Are our efforts really making a difference?" said Jen Risley, Monadnock Buy Local Executive Director. "Enter Placemaker -- technology that can give us access to real data, while shoppers have fun!"

"How we work with other communities is that we have a local business association or Think Local campaign that we partner with -- and then they actually gain most of the revenue from the program," said Placemaker Cofounder, Katrina Scotto di Carlo. "We just facilitate a license of the technology, but it's really run locally wherever it goes. Most of the money stays local."

This crowdfunding campaign will offer a limited number of rewards to individuals who give at certain financial levels. For example, for $50 a campaign supporter can choose the "Buy Local Booster" and receive 5 gift certificates from Monadnock Buy Local members -- in surprise amounts from surprise members.

Individuals can contribute to this crowdfunding campaign regardless of where they live. Offline donations are also accepted. Checks should be made out to Monadnock Buy Local and mailed to The Local Crowd Monadnock, c/o Monadnock Buy Local, 63 Emerald Street PMB #114, Keene, NH 03431.

Stay tuned -- and RSVP to our launch online to get updates!

Call for Crowdfunding Proposals: The Local Crowd Monadnock

Jen Risley — Sat, 27 May 2017 12:48:59 GMT

Do you have an incredible project, just waiting to happen -- if you only had the funds to launch it?
Will your project support community goals, while keeping to a budget of $10,000 or less?
Are you, or is your business or organization, based in Keene, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Swanzey or Winchester?

If you answered yes, then please consider funding your project through The Local Crowd Monadnock. The Local Crowd Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform helping start-up ventures, early-growth stage companies and community-focused projects find access to capital.

TLC Monadnock will select one accepted proposal to receive a free video, donated by 710 Main Films, to support their crowdfunding campaign.

The Local Crowd Monadnock is about us -- our region, our community -- and the goals we've created around economic development and prosperity. Learn more about The Local Crowd Monadnock and our Request For Proposals.

The Local Crowd Monadnock Proposals are due July 7, 2017

View Request for Proposals

Archway Farm Crowdfunding Update: Launching the Cart

Jen Risley — Fri, 19 May 2017 12:29:29 GMT

Busy Month

It's been quite a month since our Farm to Table on Wheels crowdfunding campaign closed. We found and acquired the perfect cart soon after the close and have been have been busy getting it ready for prime time. The past week we have been painstakingly scraping off old vinyl decals in preparation for an Archway Farm rebranding (and hanging some Christmas lights)!

Cart Launch

We're excited to say we have two events lined up to kick off the summer season:

Saturday May 20th, 11-2: A "soft launch" at the Montessori Schoolhouse Yard Sale, where all proceeds will be donated to the school.
Saturday May 27th, 11-2: Our "official launch" outside the Monadnock Food Co-op on Memorial Day weekend.

Campaign Rewards

We've caught up with many of you delivering sausage and other campaign rewards. Our second round of sausage is here so we'll be sending out an update for that shortly, and look forward to our first of the scheduled farm tours coming up next weekend. If we have missed you for some reason please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thanks again for all the support, we hope to see many of you at an event this summer!

~ Mark Florenz, Archway Farm

Archway Farm's Crowdfunding Update: We Made It!

Jen Risley — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 10:23:24 GMT

From Mark Florenz, Archway Farm

Crowdfunding Goal Reached

Our campaign closed on Saturday and we reached our goal! Prime Roast Coffee Company pushed us over the line by becoming a Campaign Hero hours before the deadline. We are truly grateful for all the support we have received from the community, family, and friends. Having Jen Risley and The Local Crowd Monadnock as well as Stonewall Farm as partners has been huge in helping us reach our goal.

The Monadnock Co-op

We had a great event at the Monadnock Food Co-op last Friday, it was great to talk to everyone about our campaign, and share some samples. We'll be back at the Co-op this coming Saturday, April 22nd as part of their Earth Festival, stop by and say hello if you are there.

Campaign Next Steps

We will be reaching out this week to start fulfilling our campaign rewards. We are now in hot pursuit of a sausage cart, so that we can be up and operational for the spring sausage season. Stay tuned for more details.

Connecting Community and Capital

Jen Risley — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 20:10:15 GMT

Farm Projects Receive Boost from The Local Crowd Monadnock

By Caroline Tremblay, Orginally Posted in ELF Magazine

In just two weeks, the brand-new, local crowdfunding platform, The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock, helped raise more than $6,000 to support projects at two of Keene’s farms, Stonewall Farm and Archway Farm.

The Local Crowd Monadnock, a collaboration between several economic development organizations in the region, aims to inspire local people to invest in their communities with small contributions that add up to make big things happen.

The idea is one that’s gaining traction across the U.S., and Jen Risley, executive director of TLC Monadnock’s host organization, Monadnock Buy Local, is excited to roll it out here.

“It actually started about this time last year when Michael Shuman came to town, and he gave a talk about pollinator enterprises,” Risley explained. Shuman’s talk centered on developing businesses that support other businesses, an idea embedded in the mission behind TLC.

The day after Shuman’s talk, Risley received an email about a grant to pilot The Local Crowd program, and she felt it was a sign.

“I immediately sent it out to all my usual suspects who do economic development,” she said. Though the grant was due just two weeks later, a group of organizations jumped on board and put together a plan.

“We’re the only ones on the East Coast, and I think there’s only 25 sites happening,” Risley said. But she’s already been part of several conversations related to how the platform might benefit the rest of New Hampshire and beyond. Even after only a few weeks, TLC Monadnock has offered up great insights into what really works when it comes to crowdfunding on a local level.

On March 15, TLC Monadnock launched its first two campaigns, both of which focus on sustainable agriculture. One campaign supports Stonewall Farm’s plans to build a new animal barn for its educational and visitor services programs. The barn would create a safe, fun, interactive space for visitors to learn about animals such as sheep, alpacas, goats and chickens.

The second campaign, which is titled “Farm-to-Table on Wheels,” supports Archway Farm’s hopes to take their meats to the streets. Archway is a small family farm in Keene that raises heritage breed pigs. They sell most of their meat wholesale and would like to connect more with the community by purchasing a sausage cart. The cart would be used to serve food at The Farmers’ Market of Keene, as well as at private gatherings at people’s homes or businesses.

“I’m very excited to be able to bring locally produced meat to a wider audience,” said Mark Florenz, Archway’s owner. “I go to local fairs and festivals, and I’m always surprised at the lack of locally produced food options. I hope this can be one small step towards changing that.”

A relatively new farm, Archway is working to build up its network within the region.

“Having the local connection of Jen Risley and Monadnock Buy Local was what really attracted me to this funding option,” Florenz explained. He’s reached more than half his financial goal in just two weeks and is encouraged by the support received from family, friends, and the community, which he believes “recognizes the value of local sustainable agriculture.”

And be on the lookout for more TLC Monadnock campaigns coming soon.

“We’re really hoping to give preference to campaigns that are supporting a local, green and fair economy,” Risley noted. If the two-year pilot proves successful, she would love to see it expand, perhaps even incorporating the tri-state area of New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. She said the ultimate goal isn’t to detract from any existing fundraising efforts, but to “get more people contributing to really good community initiatives.”

For more information, visit monadnockbuylocal.wildapricot.org/tlc or follow TLC on Facebook at facebook.com/tlcmonadnock/ for updates.

Sweet Beet!

Jen Risley — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 09:21:31 GMT

Archway Farm's Farm to Table on Wheels Update

Support Our Campaign Today!

TLC Monadnock Night

Less than 2 weeks to go and we're well on track. We have 43 supporters and have raised almost 75% of our goal of $5,000. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. We're super excited to be at the Monadnock Food Co-op this Friday night for TLC Monadnock Night. Please join us if you can, there will of course be sausage samples.

Sweet Beet Sausage

We are working diligently on the next round of our Local Sausage. If you haven't noticed, there's not a lot of local produce being grown right now, but we were able to source some Picadilly Farm beets from the root cellar to create a brilliant Sweet Beet sausage. Pork, beets, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Our test batch was a nice beet red color and kid approved (ours anyways).

Is it Spring Yet?

Our first four litters of 2017 are on the ground (and in the mud). Next two litters are due to come in early May. Everyone is hoping that the ground dries out and the temperatures warm up so we can get the pigs out on some green grass, and let the winter paddocks recover a little.

Monadnock Buy Local Receives Grant From New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to Support The Local Crowd Monadnock Project

Jen Risley — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 12:39:28 GMT

We're thrilled to share that Monadnock Buy Local recently received a $5,000 grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation's Elting E. Morison Fund to support outreach efforts for The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock Project in Keene, Swanzey, Chesterfield, Hinsdale and Winchester, NH.

About The Local Crowd Monadnock

TLC Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in the region. This pilot project is a collaboration of regional economic development organizations including Southwest Region Planning Commission, Monadnock Buy Local, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Monadnock Economic Development Corporation and Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship. For more information, visit monadnocklocal.org/tlc or contact Monadnock Buy Local at 603-499-7950.

About Monadnock Buy Local

Monadnock Buy Local (monadnocklocal.org) is a regional network of citizens, businesses and organizations that promotes the positive economic and community benefits of spending dollars locally, while supporting programs and policies that forward a local, green and fair economy. For more information, contact monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com.

About the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation was created in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire, and is dedicated to strengthening communities across the Granite State. The Foundation manages a growing collection of 1,700 philanthropic funds created by generous families, individuals and businesses, and awards more than $30 million in grants and scholarships every year. The Foundation invests charitable assets for today and tomorrow; works with generous and visionary citizens to maximize the power of their giving; supports critical work happening in New Hampshire communities and leads and collaborates on high-impact initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nhcf.org or call 603-225-6641.

100 Crowdfunding Supporters Reached: TLC Monadnock Update

Jen Risley — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 10:59:31 GMT

The Local Crowd Monadnock reached a wonderful milestone -- in two weeks we raised $6,078 from 100 supporters! Thank you to all our TLC Monadnock Supporters.

Give today and help spread the word:

Archway Farm’s Farm to Table on Wheels project
Stonewall Farm’s Barn Raising project

New Campaign Rewards

Be sure to check out the great rewards offered by each campaign, located on the right side of their page.

New rewards include:

Beeswax Ornaments made by Raffi's Bees
A new, exclusive flavor from Jack's Crackers called "The Fallen Vegan" (Bacon & Buttermilk Biscuit).

The Local Crowd Monadnock Night at the Co-op

The Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene, NH will host The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock Night on Friday, April 7, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. You’re invited to learn more about TLC Monadnock and Campaign Leaders from both farms will offer free samples and answer questions about their campaigns.

NH Charitable Foundation Grant Received

We're thrilled to announce we received a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to help TLC Monadnock with outreach this fall. More details coming soon!

The Local Crowd Monadnock Night at Monadnock Food Co-op

Jen Risley — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 10:34:38 GMT

The Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene, NH will host The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock Night on Friday, April 7, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. You’re invited to learn more about TLC Monadnock’s first two crowdfunding campaigns focused on sustainable agriculture:

Archway Farm’s Farm to Table on Wheels project
Stonewall Farm’s Barn Raising project

Both farms will offer free samples and answer questions about their campaigns.

TLC Monadnock launched on March 15, 2017 and raised over to $3,700 from 74 supporters during its first week. Both campaigns end on April 15, 2017. You can contribute online to either campaign at monadnocklocal.org/tlclaunch.

“The Co-op is delighted to support the work of The Local Crowd and Monadnock Buy Local. The work they are doing to support and grow our community and economy is remarkable,” said Megan Megan Straughen, Events, Education & Sustainability Coordinator at Monadnock Food Co-op. “It’s wonderful to see different types of organizations coming together to help grow sustainable agriculture in our region.”

This project is part of a two-year research study funded by a USDA Small Business Innovation Research grant to gauge this platform’s effectiveness in rural areas. During its pilot phase, TLC Monadnock will only accept campaign proposals from businesses, organizations or community initiatives based in Keene, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Swanzey or Winchester. TLC Monadnock will give preference to campaigns from these communities that align with their respective city or town’s master plan and contribute to a local, green and fair economy.

TLC Monadnock is a collaboration of regional economic development organizations working to cultivate a stronger ecosystem of investors, service providers and local economy champions. A team of community leaders from Southwest Region Planning Commission, Monadnock Buy Local, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Monadnock Economic Development Corporation and Hannah Grimes Center manages this crowdfunding platform.

Discover more details and updates at monadnocklocal.org or contact Jen Risley at jen@monadnocklocal.org or 603-499-7950.

The Local Crowd Monadnock Update: Week One

Jen Risley — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 10:07:39 GMT

On March 15, The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock launched with two crowdfunding campaigns focused on sustainable agriculture: Archway Farm’s “Farm to Table on Wheels” and Stonewall Farm’s “Barn Raising” projects. We held a party on March 18 at Stonewall Farm to celebrate our launch. Thank you to the 100 people who celebrated with us.

We’re thrilled to share that in our first week, we raised over to $3,700 for these two campaigns from 74 supporters! Thank you to all who gave so far. You can give online through April 15 at http://monadnocklocal.org/tlclaunch.

Each campaign offers a limited number of rewards to individuals who give at certain financial levels. For example, Archway Farm offers a Sausage Club to individuals who give $75. Sausage Club members receive one pound of four different kinds of Archway Farm sausages, each featuring an ingredient from a local farm. The first sausage is a Cheddar Smoked Bratwurst made with Stonewall Farm cheese -- and it’s delicious!

Archway Farm's Crowdfunding Update

Jen Risley — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 11:03:19 GMT

By Mark Florenz, Archway Farm

In the first 24 hours our Farm to Table on Wheels crowdfunding campaign, we received more than $900! Thank you for you efforts in getting the word out and your donations! We appreciate all of the backers for our campaign!

I picked up cheddar bratwurst this morning, made with cheese from Stonewall Farm. We are super excited to feature (and sample) this new sausage at our kickoff event this Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Stonewall Farm.

In addition to the samples there will be children's activity stations and hayrides. This event is free and open to the public. Register at: tlcmonadnock.eventbrite.com.

I will be posting on a regular basis on our Facebook page and Instagram account, maybe even some live video from the kickoff event:

https://www.facebook.com/archwayfarm/

https://www.instagram.com/archwayfarm/

Again, thank you for your support!

The Local Crowd Monadnock Launches Online on Wednesday

Jen Risley — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 12:18:22 GMT

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock will launch online on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at noon with two 30-day campaigns focused on supporting sustainable agriculture:

Archway Farm's "Farm to Table on Wheels" project
Stonewall Farm's "Barn Raising" project

Both campaigns are based in Keene, NH. Individuals can contribute online to either campaign regardless of where they live, inside or outside of the Monadnock Region.

Each campaign will offer a limited number of rewards to individuals who give at certain financial levels. For example, Archway Farm offers a Sausage Club to individuals who give $75. Sausage Club members receive one pound of four different kinds of Archway Farm sausages, each featuring an ingredient from a local farm. The first sausage is a Cheddar Smoked Bratwurst made with Stonewall Farm cheese.

A kick-off celebration is scheduled at Stonewall Farm on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Local Crowd Monadnock Launch Party includes food samples, children's activity stations and hayrides. Members of TLC Monadnock's Leadership Team will attend to answer questions and handout resources. This event is free and open to the public.

About The Local Crowd Monadnock

TLC Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in the region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity.

This project is part of a two-year research study funded by a USDA Small Business Innovation Research grant to gauge this platform's effectiveness in rural areas. During its pilot phase, TLC Monadnock will only accept campaign proposals from businesses, organizations or community initiatives based in Keene, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Swanzey or Winchester. TLC Monadnock will give preference to campaigns from these communities that align with their respective city or town's master plan and contribute to a local, green and fair economy.

TLC Monadnock is a collaboration of regional economic development organizations working to cultivate a stronger ecosystem of investors, service providers and local economy champions. A team of community leaders from Southwest Region Planning Commission, Monadnock Buy Local, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Monadnock Economic Development Corporation and Hannah Grimes Center manages this crowdfunding platform.

Discover more details and updates or contact Jen Risley at jen@monadnocklocal.org or 603-499-7950.

Crowdfunding for the Monadnock Region to arrive in March

Jen Risley — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 13:07:04 GMT

By Xander Landen, Keene Sentinel

Crowdfunding for and by Monadnock Region businesses is coming next month. Members of several regional economic development organizations are launching The Local Crowd Monadnock — an online platform to raise money for projects proposed by area businesses — in mid-March. Read the entire article: Crowdfunding for the Monadnock Region to arrive in March.

Archway Farm Launches "Farm to Table on Wheels" Crowdfunding Campaign

Jen Risley — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 13:13:08 GMT

Archway Farm in Keene, NH is excited to announce that they have been selected by The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock as one of two crowdfunding campaigns focused on sustainable agriculture.

Archway Farm, a small family farm on Arch Street, is dedicated to raising quality local pork.

"With the support of our community, we would like to purchase a mobile sausage cart that would allow us to showcase the great tastes of locally grown food directly to our customers," said Mark Florenz, owner of Archway Farm. "Our pork is available at the Monadnock Food Coop in Keene and the North End Butchers in Brattleboro, but we feel a direct connection to customers is critical to our farms sustainability."

TLC Monadnock will officially launch online on March 15, 2017 with two campaigns focused on sustainable agriculture: Archway Farm’s “Farm to Table on Wheels” project and Stonewall Farm’s “Barn Raising” project. Supporting sustainable agriculture is a prominent part of Keene’s Comprehensive Master Plan.

“TLC Monadnock is about us -- our region, our community -- and the goals we've created around economic development and prosperity,” said Jen Risley, Monadnock Buy Local Executive Director. “We invite everyone to become a campaign supporter -- it doesn’t matter where you live.”

Stonewall Farm in Keene will host The Local Crowd Monadnock’s Launch Party on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event includes food samples, children’s activity stations and hayrides. Also, this event is free that is open to the public.

Follow Archway Farm on Facebook for updates or contact Mark Florenz at mark.florenz@gmail.com or 603-352-3198.

Be Part of the Crowd: The Local Crowd Monadnock

Jen Risley — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:00:00 GMT

The Local Crowd Monadnock launched on April 15, 2017!

What’s The Local Crowd Monadnock?

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform that’s about us -- our region, our community -- and the goals we've created around economic development and prosperity.

Crowdfunding, the practice of sourcing small contributions from a large number of people, is nothing new. In fact, the Statue of Liberty’s base was funded by crowdfunding in 1885. Publisher Joseph Pulitzer launched a fundraising campaign in his newspaper and raised $101, 091 from over 160,000 donors. In today’s world, that would amount to over $2 million!

With the advent of the Internet, the power of crowdfunding has increased exponentially. TLC Monadnock brings that power to our community.

Once TLC Monadnock launches, you’ll be able to join with your friends and neighbors to support campaigns that inspire you -- by giving any amount of money you feel able and moved to give (from $1 on up!). Some campaigns provide rewards for your support -- a thank you gift for funding their project.

TLC Monadnock will officially launch on March 15, 2017 with two campaigns focused on sustainable agriculture: Archway Farm’s “Farm to Table on Wheels” project and Stonewall Farm’s “Barn Raising” project.

Why Sustainable Agriculture?

Supporting sustainable agriculture is a prominent part of Keene’s Comprehensive Master Plan. Here’s a relevant section of the plan: “Local sources and sustainable agricultural practices can provide us with a high-quality, healthy, affordable and secure supply of food. We should continually seek to help local food producers sell their goods directly to consumers… as well as [support] sustainable food-production methods and education opportunities, linking local food with health, economic development, and land-use and climate-change goals.”

TLC Monadnock empowers the crowd to help the City of Keene -- and our community -- reach our Master Plan goals.

Farm to Table on Wheels

Archway Farm, a small family farm on Arch Street in Keene, raises heritage breed pigs. “We think pigs are awesome, and there aren't nearly enough of them in New Hampshire,” said Mark Florenz, owner of Archway Farm. “With the support of our community, we would like to purchase a mobile sausage cart that would allow us to showcase the great tastes of locally grown food directly to our customers.”

Mark hopes to bring Archway Farm products, as well as other local producers’ products (like bread and condiments) to the Farmers’ Market of Keene. The cart will also be available to come to your home or place of work to provide lunch for small groups. Learn more about Archway Farm.

Barn Raising

The stars of Stonewall Farm’s educational programs -- the sheep, alpacas, goats and chickens -- need a new and safer barn. So, Stonewall Farm is having a barn raising, not only to help build the structure, but to fundraise to cover the costs of designing and constructing the barn.

“The new barn will offer interpretive features, encourage visitor interaction with the animals, as well as provide an adequate meeting space for educational programs involving the animals,” shared Julie Davenson, executive director of Stonewall Farm. “For over 27 years, people have been able to use the trails, visit with the animals and learn about agriculture first hand when visiting the farm.”

Discover more about Stonewall Farm.

TLC Monadnock Pilot Project

During its two-year pilot phase, TLC Monadnock will launch campaigns that support businesses, organizations and community initiatives based in Keene, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Swanzey and Winchester. If successful, we’ll expand access to enterprises throughout the region. Any individual can become a supporter (it doesn’t matter where you live) -- this limit is only for campaign creators.

TLC Monadnock is a collective effort of the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Region Planning Commission, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Monadnock Buy Local, Hannah Grimes Center and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

Learn more and sign up for updates from TLC Monadnock. Join the crowd – The Local Crowd Monadnock!

Stonewall Farm Hosts The Local Crowd Monadnock Launch Party

Jen Risley — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:02:35 GMT

Stonewall Farm in Keene will host The Local Crowd Monadnock’s Launch Party on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event includes food samples, children’s activity stations and hayrides. Also, this event is free and open to the public.

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in the region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity.

This project is part of a two-year research study funded by a USDA Small Business Innovation Research grant to gauge this platform's effectiveness in rural areas. During its pilot phase, TLC Monadnock will only accept campaign proposals from businesses, organizations or community initiatives based in Keene, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Swanzey or Winchester. TLC Monadnock will give preference to campaigns from these communities that also align with their respective city or town’s master plan and contribute to a local, green and fair economy.

TLC Monadnock will officially launch online on March 15, 2017 with two campaigns focused on sustainable agriculture: Archway Farm’s “Farm to Table on Wheels” project and Stonewall Farm’s “Barn Raising” project. Supporting sustainable agriculture is a prominent part of Keene’s Comprehensive Master Plan.

“TLC Monadnock is about us -- our region, our community -- and the goals we've created around economic development and prosperity,” said Jen Risley, Monadnock Buy Local Executive Director. “We invite everyone to become a campaign supporter -- it doesn’t matter where you live.”

TLC Monadnock is a collaboration of regional economic development organizations working to cultivate a stronger ecosystem of investors, service providers and local economy champions. A team of community leaders from Southwest Region Planning Commission, Monadnock Buy Local, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Monadnock Economic Development Corporation and Hannah Grimes Center manages this crowdfunding platform.

Discover more details and updates at monadnocklocal.org/tlclaunch or contact Jen Risley at jen@monadnocklocal.org or 603-499-7950.

Crowdfunding Inspiration: The Local Crowd

Jen Risley — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 16:22:32 GMT

The Local Crowd Monadnock is proud (and inspired) to be part of The Local Crowd -- a group of rural communities across the country who are leveraging the power of crowdfunding to help start-up ventures, early-growth stage companies and community-based projects find access to capital.

Here are a sample of projects that received funding through The Local Crowd -- which of these crowdfunding campaigns resonate most with you in the Monadnock Region?