Originally posted in the Monadnock Shopper News
Last April, Monadnock Buy Local hosted two events focusing on Pollinator Enterprises with author, attorney and local economist Michael Shuman. What’s the latest buzz around Pollinator Enterprises? First, a refresher on Pollinator Enterprises from Michael Shuman: A “pollinator” is a self-financing enterprise committed to boosting local business. Some pollinators are for-profit businesses, some are nonprofits, but all allow a community to undertake one or more of five key economic development functions — planning, purchasing, people, partnerships and purse — with far greater efficacy and at a substantially lower cost than typical, taxpayer-funded programs. [Pollinator enterprises] ultimately aim to avoid dependency on government grants or charitable contributions. Want a full refresher? Watch Michael Shuman’s Pollinator Enterprise talk from last year.
We continue to compile the names of existing and emerging pollinator enterprises in the Monadnock Region in hopes of amplifying this approach to boosting our local economy. View our current list of pollinator enterprises.
Now, some short updates on three aspiring Pollinator Enterprises in the Monadnock Region: Community Supported Solar, Machina Arts and Placemaker.
The Monadnock Sustainability Network’s Community Supported Solar project brought the power of renewable energy to the Monadnock Food Co-op on May 25, 2016. This 43.5 KW photovoltaic solar electric system covers the roof of the Co-op and is locally owned by a small group of investors called Cypress Community Solar, LLC. The renewable energy produced by these solar panels is sold to the Co-op and, within ten years, the Co-op plans to purchase the entire PV system from Cypress Community Solar. “Renewable power production and reducing carbon emissions were important goals,” stated John Kondos, founder and president of Monadnock Sustainability Network. “But [we] also prioritized ownership by area people because local ownership promotes local sustainability.”
Machina Arts, a business passionate about community-based art, just completed its latest project -- redesigning a space into “The Hive” (nice name, huh?), a co-working space at Hannah Grimes Center. “The idea of pollination has echoed throughout our work with our start-up business Machina Arts,” shared Danya Pugliese, Co-Founder of Machina Arts. “Although our business focuses on boosting the arts and culture, we believe that the arts touch more people then just artists and musicians -- they create the heartbeat of our region’s culture, give room for healthy social interactions and help to retain our young professionals. Pollination is spreading your passions!”
For years, Monadnock Buy Local searched for ways to demonstrate our true impact on our local economy. Are our efforts really making a difference? Enter the Placemaker Local Rewards Program, an online loyalty platform that tracks purchases made at locally owned businesses while offering gifts and discounts to users who spend their dollars locally. Placemaker’s mission: Strengthen neighborhood business districts that lead to thriving local economies. Watch for our Placemaker crowdfunding campaign coming to The Local Crowd Monadnock in late spring. “The benefit to [groups like Monadnock Buy Local] is now they have the data to prove whether their campaign was a success,” said Michael Scotto di Carlo, Co-Founder of Placemaker. “We want their members to pay dues, not as a gift, but rather because the alliance is really improving their bottom line.” The biggest challenge for these three emerging Pollinator Enterprises is the transition from start-up to a fully self-funding program. Please support these, and other Pollinator efforts, by spreading the buzz around these efforts with your connections. Also, dive into this topic more by picking up a copy of Michael Shuman’s book The Local Economy Solution at the Toadstool Bookshops today!
Nest: mother child home, Peterborough’s unique children’s shop located at 4 Grove Street, is thrilled to announce their One Year Birthday! Nest will be holding its One Year Birthday Party on Saturday, May 6, from 10am to 4pm, and the community is warmly invited to attend the day’s festivities, which include several raffles, fabulous prizes, a big sale table, local crafters, as well as complimentary sweet treats and tea. In addition, Nest is offering the first 10 customers a fantastic Nest gift!
Noticing the high demand for a whimsical and affordable children’s shop in downtown Peterborough, Nest opened in 2016 by Peterborough resident and mother of three, Kimberly Peck. Kim previously owned Precious Cargo, a town favorite until it closed in 2010. “Being in this location, 4 Grove Street has such a rich history, with Hobbs Jewelers being there for over 40 years, and even before that, as the PSNH office, where my mother-in-law worked her first job out of Peterborough High School after graduating in 1952. I feel honored to be in this special spot. Downtown Peterborough is vibrant and has so much to offer -- I’m thrilled to be a part of it and to offer customers a bright and cheerful place to shop and visit.”
Nest encourages individuality, offering imaginative toys, games and activities that inspire play, creativity, and enjoyable learning. Nest also offers unique baby essentials and gifts, with a special gift section for mothers and home. Nest carries a number of popular brands such as Milkbarn Kids, HAPE wood toys, Plus Plus games, KidO vehicles, and PK Crafts, as well as hand-crafted mama and home items from Sweet Brier Farms herbals, Baba.Tilli succulents, and High Fiber kitchen linens, to name just a few. “Having three kids of my own, I am always inspired by the wonderment of childhood, and I understand the importance for reasonably priced, creative products for our children. I am always interested in special and inventive toys and games that nurture sharing, cooperation and imagination. There’s a little something for everyone here, perfect for birthdays, baby showers or just the everyday fun activity,” says Peck. During the past year, Nest has made a positive impact on the community, attracting previous Precious Cargo families and a plethora of new customers seeking quality children’s products. “My favorite part of the shop is connecting with moms, grandmothers and families,” says Peck. “To offer a shop that brings together our amazing community and the surrounding towns has been the biggest reward this year.” For more information on Nest’s One Year Birthday Party, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nestmotherchildhome and on Instagram: nestmotherchildhome.
Join over 490 independent bookstores in 48 states for parties, author readings, in-store events, and exclusive day-of merchandise. Toadstool Bookshops in Keene, Peterborough and Milford will celebrate 2017 Independent Bookstore Day with independent bookstores nationwide on Saturday, April 29th, with literary parties around the country. Toadstool will offer exclusive day-of merchandise created especially for Independent Bookstore Day by major publishers and authors. Since its inception in 2014, more than 150 authors have demonstrated their support for independent bookstores by donating work for Bookstore Day. The third annual National Independent Bookstore Day is sponsored in part by Penguin Random House, Ingram, and The American Booksellers Association.
Last year participating bookstores saw an average increase in sales of 200% on Independent Bookstore Day, with some stores up as much as 1000% over their average Saturday sales in April.
“Indie bookstores play a crucial role in society—they are spaces where ideas live freely, thought and conversation flourish, and communities are nurtured and strengthened. Independent Bookstore Day is a national party to celebrate this significance. We love to celebrate with our customers and toast to the vitality of indies, as well the enthusiasm and support of avid readers everywhere,” says Katie Eelman at Papercuts J.P. in Boston. While Benjamin Rybeck at Brazos Bookstore says, “Independent Bookstore Day makes a big city like Houston feel small, cozy, like everybody knows everybody.” “There are those who love Christmas, and those who love Valentine's Day, and those for whom Independent Bookstore Day is the only holiday that matters. Three cheers to the readers, the writers, the booksellers, the kiddos, the dogs, the cats, and the bookstores that bring us all together!” says our 2017 Bookstore Day Author Ambassador, Emma Straub.
Straub is the bestselling author of three novels, Modern Lovers, The Vacationers, Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, and a short story collection, Other People We Married. She is also, with Michael Fusco, the owner of Books Are Magic, a new bookstore opening this spring in Brooklyn. Independent Bookstore Day is proud to announce a selection of exclusive books and art pieces for Bookstore Day 2017. These limited edition, unique items will be available only at participating IBD bookstores, on April 29. Not before. Not online. And not in chain stores. Children’s items include:
Adult items include:
To see all of the exclusive items created for IBD and for all current information, visit: http://www.indiebookstoreday.com
Independent Bookstore Day began in California in 2014 and became a national event the next year. A host of publishers and authors such as Neil Gaiman, George Saunders, Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, James Patterson, Stephen King and many others have donated work in support of the event. Independent Bookstore Day (IBD) is produced by writer and former bookseller Samantha Schoech in partnership with the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association. Its sponsors include Penguin Random House, Ingram, and the American Bookseller’s Association.
Monadnock Buy Local is proud to host The Complete Economy Event: Cultivating a Local Economy That Works for All with local researcher and author Stacy Mitchell on Thursday, May 4th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Antioch University New England in Keene. Stacy, from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, will share effective strategies that communities around the country are using to grow local businesses and how public policy needs to change to create an economy that works for all. Learn more about this free event and RSVP today.
JUST ONE WEEK LEFT! The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock’s inaugural crowdfunding campaigns end April 15, 2017. Check out each farm’s rewards for contributing to their campaign.
Select your reward on the right side of Archway Farm’s TLC Monadnock Page.
Select your reward on the right side of Stonewall Farm’s TLC Monadnock Page.
This week's online discussion focuses on COMPLETE ECONOMY POLICIES.
Participate in the discussion
Now is the time to join Monadnock Buy Local, a movement to cultivate a more local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock Region.
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What is Monadnock Buy Local?
We are individuals, businesses and organizations working to promote the positive economic and community benefits of spending and investing our dollars locally, while supporting programs and policies that forward our vision.
Why Join?
This year, organizers proudly present the inaugural TEDxKeene event. TEDxKeene will be the newest of a handful of TEDx events throughout the state of New Hampshire.
The event theme, “A Tipping Point”, is intended to resonate with audience members in multiple ways. Whether the theme reminds you of Malcolm Gladwell's book about small actions resulting in big effects, or you simply think of a life changing realization, TEDx wants you to stop and think about tipping points, or the lack thereof, in your life and community.
Speakers at TEDxKeene, and their respective topics, include: Mackenzie Donovan (Forest Protection), John Benjamin and Chris Ekblom (The Power of Songwriting), Rana Abdelhamid (Hate Crime Self Defense), Dottie Morris (Taking Control of Identity), John Hoffman (Overcoming Depression), Ryan Owens (Conservation as Human Interest), Rudy Fedrizzi (Community Health), and Bryan Russell (Breathing Techniques).
TEDxKeene will be offering a free livestream of the event on April 8th for those that wish to follow along.
To receive additional information and a link to our livestream, please sign up for our livestream newsletter on our www.tedxkeene.com homepage and follow us on Facebook for current updates.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or fewer) delivered by today's leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED's annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, and made available, free, on TED.com.
Keynote speaker: Philip Ackerman-Leist, Professor of Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, Green Mountain College, VT; farmer, and author of Rebuilding the Foodshed: How to Create Local, Sustainable & Secure Food Systems.
The Local Crowd Monadnock - Keene, NH
