EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY

Lakeside Farms - A Local Tradition

2010-10-01T17:11:30Z

By Amy L. Stock

"Ooh I love their apple pie!"
"They make the best fresh cider!"
"You have to try their breakfast - it's great."
Mention the name Lakeside Farms to someone in Saratoga County and these are the kind of responses you're likely to get. Started in 1948, Lakeside Farms has been a mainstay in the Saratoga and Schenectady region for fresh apple cider, vegetables, baked goods, or a fresh homemade breakfast or lunch.
Rob Pearce and his brother, both from Schenectady, started this fourth-generation family business as "a means to make a little extra money on the side" said Dick Pearce (Rob's son). The brothers bought the Ballston Lake farm for its old barn and cider press, with the intention of making and selling fresh cider.
After a year in business, Rob Pearce, who held a full time job with General Electric, offered the business to his son Dick Pearce. Dick Pearce said yes, and has been running the Lakeside since he was a junior in High School, and taken it through its various transitions and expansions.
Said Pearce, "My father offered me the place to run. I decided I was up for the challenge, and I've been doing this ever since." That's of course with a break while he served in the Army. After which he returned and continued to operate the farm with his mother Agnes, until the early 1970's when she passed away. ]]> As Dick and his mother Agnes focused on making and selling filtered, preserved cider - the business took off. As their cider business grew, so did the demands. In 1958, Pearce opened a small retail store on the premise. In 1961, they renovated an old carriage barn on the property, naming it the Lakeside Cider Mill & Farm store, the store's current location. They sold fresh vegetables and apple cider. Two years later they added pies, salads and sandwiches. In 1971 customer demand warranted the construction of an apple barn - to better serve their customers by offering a larger space for selling apples and cider.
In the early 1980's Dick began growing his own vegetables on the property, including corn, squash, pumpkins, beans, tomatoes and cucumbers. In response to the popularity of their home-baked pies and made-to-order sandwiches, in 1990 Pearce also started serving homemade country breakfasts. Their business did so well, by the late 1990's he added on a larger indoor dining area. Today, the Lakeside serves breakfast, lunch and select dinner dishes on Friday and Saturdays (dinners from mid-June to end of August.)
A keen businessman, Pearce is retired now, but you wouldn't know it. He still works every day on the Farm. On any given day you might find him making cider, running deliveries or cooking up chicken or steak for one of their famous chicken roasts or for a special event.
The centerpiece of the business continues to be their fresh apple cider and apples, grown throughout the region, and sold for retail. Built in the late 1880's, Pearce continues to use the 120 ton screw driven press to make their fresh cider. Impressive in size and look, the press takes up much of the barn where it is housed. Manually operated, the process for making cider with an old cider press is very labor intensive, commented Pearce.
History aside - a walk through the Lakeside Store tells the story of why this place is so popular with the locals. In addition to their cider, Lakeside Farms tops the charts in terms of fresh and local vegetables and products. The list is almost endless: fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers and the Menands Farmer's Market, homemade pastries and pie including the childhood favorite "whoopie pie", local honey, Adirondack Maple Syrup, fresh mozzarella, cooking items, arts and craft items, and a vintage candy section.
They also carry a number of other locally-made food products including milk from Battenkill Valley Creamery, fresh eggs from Thomas' Poultry in Schuylerville, and meats and sausages from Oscar's Smokehouse in Warrensburg, NY.
The success of Lakeside Farms is clearly due to Pearce's adaptability and willingness to try something new. As business changed so did Lakeside Farm.
Said Pearce,"You can never be complacent in business. Our business changed as times changed." In the early 1970's, Lakeside Farm reduced their wholesale cider production when customer preference and regulations required increased pasteurization. Their cider is run through an ultraviolet machine which kills any "bad" bacteria. According to Pearce, to produce at the level needed for wholesale would have required a significant investment. So now they make enough to sell at their farm store and a few other locations.
Pearce also added on a greenhouse to the 25-acre property, where they grow and sell flowers and other plants in the spring. He's raising pigs in the back, some which end up as dinner at one of their pig roasts. In 1998 he got the idea to build a pavilion which people could rent for events. A great success, the pavilion is regularly rented for wedding receptions, reunions, and family parties. They also host some of their own events including barn dances, big band dances, Polish dances, and chicken and pig roasts.
Pearce still lives in the original farmhouse on the property - where he raised his family. Over the 50+ years of operation Pearce has built a new storefront, a greenhouse, pavilion and four outbuildings to house the cider mill, cider making equipment, and a large walk-in cooler, along with other amenities.
A visit to Lakeside Farms, a few miles west of Round Lake village (exit 11) on Round Lake Road (turns into Schauber Rd) is a must. Stop in any day during the summer and you're sure to find a parking lot full of cars and lots of customers milling around the veggie stand out front, checking out the newly-arrived apples in the apple bins, or inside enjoying a hearty meal.
Lakeside Farm operates seasonally, from mid-April through December, so be sure to time your visit accordingly. For more information go to www.lakesidefarmscidermill.com or call 518-399-8359. Open 7 days a week, 7:30 am - 6:00 pm.

Amy L. Stock is a freelance writer and environmental educator living and working in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her writing focuses on buying local, sustainability and "green" living. You can find her through her blog, www.goinggreensaratoga.blogspot.com.

Saratoga Farmers Market "Iron Chef" Competition this Saturday!

2010-09-15T12:50:23Z

THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH

2010 SFM IRON CHEF COMPEITION!

JT BAKER (DEFENDING CHAMPION)
VS

MAX LONDON

Two exceptional local chefs are coming for this exciting cook-off using all market product. They will be judged by Rocco Verrigini (Chef, Slow Food President and faculty at SCCC; Annette Neilson (Food Editor & Local Food Promoter), Christopher Tanner (chef and faculty at SCCC)

COOKING BEGINS AT 10 AM

PRESENTATION & JUDGING BEGINS AT 11:00 AM

EMCEE FOR EVENT: STEVE BARNES (food editor for the Times Union)

LOCAL FARM CHOOSES A UNIQUE WAY TO PROMOTE GO-GREEN INIATIVES & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

2010-09-07T19:49:58Z

Schuylerville corn maze uses 7-acre canvas to raise environmental awareness

Schuylerville, NY, August 20, 2010: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Go-Green, sustainable energy, climate change, global warming; these are all terms that each of us have heard almost daily in our personal lives. They are not just the latest buzz words or phrases, but they are all part of a larger movement that affects us all one way or another. We all have an opportunity to take part in this movement; it may be just as simple as turning off a light when you leave the room, changing over to electronic billing instead of paper, or buying from your local farm stand instead of heading miles further to the grocery store. Jerry Macica, of Schuyler Farms Corn Maze, points out "Going Green" has become a lifestyle for more and more people and Mother Nature surely appreciates it. But he is also quick to point out for the skeptics that there are personal benefits to "going green". Reduced energy bills, healthier food choices, improved health, or even having extra change in your pocket.

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When Schuyler Farms began considering the theme for their family's 9^th annual corn maze the clear choice was to "Go Green". Ken Macica of Schuyler Farms said that sustainable energy is something that is important to both the community and to America's farms. Tom Macica added that 'Going Green' is just part of the social fabric of today's society and it is a movement that can only help ensure a healthy future for his kids and for future generations. The three Macica brothers felt that the family farm could use their 7-acre corn maze to promote the ideas of 'Going Green' and sustainable energy. The maze design features the universally recognized recycling triangle, wind mills, the sun, and yes they even carved corn into the corn field.

The Macica brothers intend on using this years annual fall festival at Schuyler Farms to help promote 'Going Green'. This will include promotional material for school kids, sponsorships from environmentally friendly businesses and of course their giant maize maze. Jerry Macica added that "we are extremely excited about becoming a 'green' leader in our community and showing everyone that being green can be fun!"

Schuyler Farms is a family owned farm in Schuylerville, NY. For nine years they have provided their brand of agritourism to the area. Their garden center has built a reputation of having the best and most beautiful selection of hanging baskets, perennials, annuals, trees, etc. with exceptional customer service. The corn maze, which is open late summer thru the fall, has expanded to include gemstone and fossil mining, a petting zoo, miniature golf, hayrides, pumpkin patches and much more.

If you would like more information on this topic or Schuyler Farms visit them online at www.schuylerfarms.com, call 518-695-5308 or email Jerry@schuylerfarms.com

Congratulations to the Saratoga Farmers Market for being one of the best!

2010-09-01T16:36:52Z

Number 3 in the nation for medium markets and number 2 in New York!

Final push to get the votes in to win the Amercian Farmland Trust's "Amercia's Favoite Market Contest"

2010-08-23T17:18:23Z

It is the final stretch for horse racing in the Spa City, AND it's also the final days of voting for "America's Favorite Farmers' Market"! This national contest is sponsored by American Farmland Trust (www.farmland.org) and voting ends on Saturday, August 31. Our very own Saratoga Farmers' Market is in a close three way dual for first in the medium size division of the 4-category contest. It's NY vs Delaware and Virginia. It's Spa City vs the beach town of Lewis, DE and suburban Falls Church, VA. The odds makers might have us losing by a vote or two, but New Yorkers love the underdog, so lets show it and vote for our own Saratoga Farmers' Market!

]]> This is the second year of the contest. Last year the contest had only one category (Saratoga came in 12th in the nation) and offered only on-line recognition/listing of the voting for the top 20 markets. This year the contest has not only 4 categories (boutique, small medium and large), it is offering the winner in each category cash and advertising.
A win would be a win not only for the Farmers' Market but for Saratoga Springs--*our community would be put in the national media as a community that supports local food and farm land! This is a very deserved award for this community.

Last year the contest did not give out cash awards, but we had a big win as a result of the being listed in their Top Twenty Markets in American. The Toyota Company took note and used the list to choose 7 markets across the country for sites for their Toyota's Farm to Chef Across America Tour. The Saratoga Farmers' Market was one of the 7 chosen. This event brought a couple thousand people into our market/city to experience 12 local chefs cooking market product into scrumptious samples. It gave the market and Saratoga Springs recognition, infused the market with quite a few new clients, inspired old clients, paid local farmers and chefs for product and labor and added around 20 Toyota workers into the local hotels and restaurants.

This year's American Farmland Trust contest will not only give recognition to the winning farmers' markets, but provide money and advertising. While the money goes directly to the farmers' market the *national advertising will go to touting the region/town as a sustainable oriented area that supports agriculture, local food and farming. All absolutely true for Saratoga. *Vote and let the world know!
Got to www.farmland.org

Currently Saratoga Farmers' Market is in third place in medium market category and only 250 or so votes shy of first place. With the voting neck and neck between the top three, this is going to the wire to determine the winner. *Every vote counts!!*

*We encourage any and all who enjoy the Saratoga Farmers' Market, believe in local food, sustainability and local farms to go to www.farmland.org and vote for us!!!*

Saratoga Arts Fest a great weekend of sights and sounds

2010-06-17T19:50:39Z

A perspective by Mary Cae Asay
Co-owner, Saratoga Downtowner Motel

I was honored to participate in Saratoga Arts Fest this past weekend. For those of you who missed the experience, Center Stage was a 'happenin' place' with marvelous productions that happened Fri. and Sat. in the hub of downtown Saratoga. I was asked to offer up my parking lot at the Saratoga Downtowner for this element of this event. However, the broad representation of so many art forms throughout our wonderful, fair city was far more in number than what happened at my location.

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I could offer up kudos to all who created this event for they are wise, creative and ambitious and I could offer up accolades to all the sponsors who so generously contributed with financial largess because without such giving this event would not be what it was. I could give thanks and hugs in words to the volunteers who understand the value of volunteerism and I could so give respect to every artist who expresses their vision and ideas of what it is they communicate through their art.

My experience is what I really want to share because I believe the reason to go to Arts Fest is what is most important. I want others to be encouraged to join in next year! One of the events I attended was the Gallim Dance production at Skidmore's Dance Theater. When it was over and the lights came on, the gracious, elderly woman sitting next to me turned and questioningly said, "I'm not sure how I feel about that (performance)!" It began our conversation about our shared experience. She was trained in classical ballet and modern dance and in our brief conversation she explained that modern dance began the era of dance in bare feet, the shoes (slippers) had come off! It was a transition in the dance world. Not being a dancer myself, she broadened my awareness of what I see when I see a dance performance.

The energy of this particular performance was eclectic and frenetic. The dance emoted feelings of intensity of relationship both intimate and rejecting, angst and confusion, playfulness and light-heartedness bringing laughter and feelings of sternness and uncontrollability all rapidly wrapped together grabbing one's attention to stay on the journey of the dance. I questioned why this woman did not like this as much as I. Then it dawned on me that the world has changed drastically from her performance days. I suggested that "maybe it is more a representation of today's frenetic pace in the emotional and lifestyle realm in which we all live now compared to the familiar pace of life when she danced". Our conversation had become a verbal dance!

Our culture is expressed through the arts. It is the exposure to the arts where we grow in interpreting our circumstances collectively as well as individually. Isn't it in the interpretive experience that we come to know and understand more? My experience with my new, gracious friend brought about a dialog that never would have happened and it encouraged both of us to question what the experience offered us. We were both educated by one another. And in the simplest of ways, we were entertained by the dance!

Through art, in all forms, we are educated, we question, we converse and we are entertained. To each and every one of you, I hope that you choose to immerse yourself in next year's Saratoga Arts Fest. It is a one and only opportunity that, hopefully, will do the same for you because it is worth it on so many levels!

Celebrate Saratoga County Agriculture at Sundae on the Farm in the Town of Charlton!

2010-06-04T14:43:41Z

Fifty years ago there were 1,800 farms in Saratoga County... today 641 farms (one-third as many) are in operation. Because fewer people are directly involved in farming, not many have the opportunity to experience agriculture first-hand and understand how the food we eat (and some of the fiber we wear) is produced. The Saratoga County Agricultural Promotion Committee decided to provide that critical link between the farming community and the public-at-large and hold an open house at a different farm each year for area residents to visit a real working farm, learn about local agriculture, and realize the importance of a viable agricultural industry in Saratoga County.

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"Sundae on the Farm" is fun and educational for the whole family... a perfect way to spend this Father's Day together. Free events include: tours of the dairy farm, children's activities, farm animals to see, horse-drawn wagon rides, live music, agricultural exhibits, and demonstrations by three area chefs using local farm products. Chefs from Charlton Tavern, Village Pizzeria & Ristorante, and the Charlton General Store will be creating dishes using locally produced products.

For the second time, a Spelling Bee and Stewart's Ice Cream Eating Contest will be featured at the event. Plenty of food is served at "Sundae on the Farm" including: hotdogs, hamburgers, Stewart's Ice Cream featuring hot fudge topping from Sundae's Best Hot Fudge, maple syrup topping from Maple Acres, and Pie a la mode featuring homemade pies from Smith's Orchard Bake Shop.

More fun can be found for all ages with the showcase of horses and a unique Farmer's Market. Parking is plentiful and several trams (with farm-savvy hosts on board for questions and answers) will transport visitors between the parking area and the farm.

Saratoga County's "Sundae on the Farm", a successful educational effort to promote local agriculture, has become a model emulated by many other counties. The event is organized by the Saratoga County Agricultural Promotion Committee and sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, American Farmland Trust, Saratoga County Farm Bureau, and the Town of Charlton with support from the Saratoga County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board. The public is invited to experience this year's event in Charlton and see what all the fun is about!

For more information call Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County at 885-8995 or visit: www.saratogafarms.com.

Saratoga Farmers' Market Opens for 32nd Summer Season

2010-04-29T15:06:52Z

Saratoga Springs: Saturday, May 1^st marks the opening of the 32^nd Saratoga Farmers' Market summer season under the pavilions on High Rock Avenue. On hand to assist with will be NYS Commissioner of Agriculture Patrick Hooker, Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension Executive Director Bill Schwerd, and CCE Agriculture Economic Development Extension Educator for Saratoga and Washington Counties Paula Schafer. Special activities at the market on opening day in addition to live music, will be a station where children will be able to turn a paper plate into their favorite flower. Adults and children are encouraged to wear a hat when they attend the first summer season market, the wilder the better! This show of hats will add to the festive spirit of opening day and it will also demonstrate the wearer's support for a variety of causes, including: the Farmers' Market, May Day, the Kentucky Derby and/or support for racing in Saratoga Springs. From May through October the market will be open from 9am to 1pm on Saturday and from 3pm to 6pm on Wednesday.

The Saratoga Farmers' Market, the area's longest running farmers' market is comprised of local vendors who must grow or produce what they sell. Customers are treated to the freshest produce as it is harvested in season. The use of green houses by some producers allows variety year round, fooling Mother Nature. At the opening day market look for fresh spinach, mesclun, arugula, ramps, herbs, hydroponic tomatoes and fiddleheads. Apples beets, carrots, potatoes, and celeriac will also be available along with a variety of bedding plants, and the abundance will continue to expand as the growing season gets underway in the growers' well tended fields. Also available will be dairy products including milk, ice cream, yogurt, and cheese, plus baked goods, meats and eggs. Some farms are now creating delectable "heat and eat" entrees made from their products. Other items for sale include, but are not limited to: be soap, jam, honey, pottery, and mushrooms.

CDTA, YNN and PYX 106 INVITE EVERYONE TO GO GREEN ON EARTH DAY and RIDE FREE

2010-04-20T16:32:13Z

(Albany, NY) - The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), YNN (Your News Now) and PYX 106 invite the public to wear green on Earth Day, April 22^nd and ride free on CDTA. This free ride promotion extends to people who use CDTA's regular route, NX Northway Commuter and STAR paratransit services. Customers must show their green wear to operators upon boarding to receive a free ride.

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The iride green Earth Day promotion serves as a thank you to loyal customers who ride CDTA all year long and is designed to encourage others to give public transit a try.

Both CDTA and Earth Day are celebrating 40 years of creating environmentally friendly initiatives to benefit our community. "Promoting the use of CDTA for Earth day is a natural fit," said CDTA Chairman David M. Stackrow. "Just one person switching to public transit can reduce daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds or more than 4,800 pounds in a year." * (*American Public Transportation Association.)

CDTA is sharing its iride green message by participating in several other Capital Region Earth Day activities, with hybrid bus displays and booths staffed by CDTA Travel Trainers, including events, RPI, Hudson Valley Community College, State University of New York at Albany, Saratoga Children's museum and the New York State Department of Transportation.

CDTA's current iride green campaign features real CDTA customers who consciously choose to ride the bus due to its positive environmental effects. The iride Green free Earth Day promotion is cooperatively sponsored by CDTA, YNN, and PXY 106. For more information regarding this Earth Day promotion, visit www.cdta.org.

Grow your own Organic Vegetable Gardens

2010-03-30T14:45:10Z

Urbavores.com and GREEN CONSCIENCE Home & Garden are holding a a FREE presentation on organic vegetable gardening!

Topics Covered:

Raised beds
Companion planting
Using Heirloom
Seed Seed Saving
Attracting Beneficials
Composting

Urbavores is a local organic vegetable gardening business, whose mission is to help people lower their ecological footprints and eat the freshest organic produce by growing it in their backyards. Come learn about the many benefits to growing your own food and many useful organic gardening techniques. A vegetable garden can offer you aesthetic beauty, wonderful learning experiences and the most delicious and healthy food around! Don't let one more season pass you by.

Wednesday, April 14th 2010
6:30 PM
33 Church Street, Saratoga Springs, NY
306-5196

REGION's MAPLE SUGARING SEASON UNDERWAY

2010-03-11T15:27:26Z

This Week's Warm Temperatures Generate First Sap Flows of Season

The 2010 Maple Sugaring Season began last week in the Upper Hudson region, with warmer temperatures generating sap flow in area maple trees. The season is off to a very strong start.

"This is what we wait for all year. The sap was running hard last week, kicking off a new maple season," said David Campbell, a Salem producer and president of the Upper Hudson Maple Producers Association.

Sugarmakers are reporting excellent quality syrup. Ideal sugar making temperatures are forecast for the next several days.

Meanwhile, sugarmakers are preparing for the fifteenth annual Maple Open House Weekend, expanded this year to two weekends, March 20-21 and March 27-28.

A ceremonial first tree tapping with State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker will be held at Dry Brook Sugarhouse in Salem at 12:30 p.m. Friday, March 19.

This year, there are more sugarhouses than ever participating in the self-guided tour.

For a complete listing of sugarhouses and a guide map, click on www.upperhudsonmaple.com.

Prime sap flow temperatures are 40 degrees or more during the day and below freezing at night. Maple season generally runs through early April.

The Upper Hudson region is among the biggest syrup producing regions in the country.

Yes, Virginia, You Can Find Local Vegetables in February - at the Saratoga Farmer's Market!

2010-02-02T15:35:38Z

A visit to the produce isle in any supermarket this time of year is, in effect, a trip around the world. While we are freezing up here in the great white north, folks down in Argentina, Chile and Brazil are growing the produce for our winter salad bowls. To remain healthy throughout the winter months, we need to eat veggies daily. But must we support the intercontinental food transport system, just to get our RDA of vitamins and minerals? You'd prefer to buy local, but with snow everywhere, that's not possible, right?

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There are veggies of all kinds, even greens! How can this be? Well, through the marvels of technology and tenacity, farmers like Mike Kilpatrick of the Kilpatrick Family Farm are growing vegetables in the winter. "We use hoop houses for winter growing," said Michael Kilpatrick. " All we need is the sun to shine and it gets amazingly warm inside," he explained. Fortunately, the lack of snowfall this year has the benefit of more solar gain for the winter farmer.

As proof, the Kilpatrick family farm's stand has an array of hearty greens available, from Arugula to Spinach, and Brussel Sprouts to Cabbages. "We were able to harvest a late crop of cabbage that was buried in the snow!" said Michael. "We planted late, and the plants got snowed on in December. The thaw we just had exposed the crop and we found it to be in great shape. We are selling it as braising greens."

In addition to the great greens, there are the usual winter root veggies such as carrots, potatoes, kolrabi and turnips.

With all these great options, there's plenty of opportunity for creativity in the winter kitchen. Not only will your meal be great tasting, but because it was locally sourced, the nutritional value will be superior to anything from South America that has sat in the belly of a boat for a week. Not only that, but chances are, like me, you will have developed a relationship with your farmer, and your support helps him continue to bring the best food to you week in and week out!

So, next time you're at the grocery store, bypass the produce isle, and instead, make Saturday your "veggie day" at the Saratoga Farmer's Market!

BTW - the Saratoga Farmers Market is not just about produce - you can find home spun local made woolens, artisan goat milk soap. Save your appetite and indulge in some delicious Mrs. London's pastries or the best breakfast burrito on the planet, made with local eggs and sausage by Funky Fresh Foods

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SHARING LOVE ART EXHIBIT 1/25 to 2/6

2010-02-01T19:10:12Z

A Benefit to Support 'Rebuilding Together Saratoga' & our Local Artists

SILENT AUCTION
SATURDAY February 6th
6:00 to 8:00pm

All unique pieces made with natural and recycled materials, created for the event.

- Discover a story behind each art piece
- Find a special Valentine's Day gift
- Support the local community

Hosted by Green Conscience Home and Garden
33 Church Street - Saratoga Springs - 518 306 5196

Organic Farming and Gardening Conference Comes to Saratoga Springs

2010-01-04T17:16:54Z

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) announces Circles of Caring, their 28th Annual Organic Farming and Gardening Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. The conference, which attracts more than 1,000 people each year, will take place from January 22- 24, 2010 at the Saratoga Hilton. Over the three day event, attendees can choose between more than 80 workshops which explore all types of organic farming, gardening, value-added processing, cooking and policy issues. Workshops are of interest to farmers, gardeners, educators, environmentalists, foodies, and more. A special focus this year is on Beginning Farmers. Starting with a reception for young farmers on Thursday Jan 21st, there is programming throughout the conference to help people who are just starting out in farming or are considering becoming a farmer. New this year, NOFA-NY will offer 75 scholarships to beginning farmers.

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The conference is rounded out with delicious meals prepared from local organic ingredients donated by NOFA-NY supporters, a large trade show, entertainment, and children's workshops. Information about registration, conference schedule, and trade show is available online: www.nofany.org. Questions? Contact Greg Swartz (570) 224-8515 conference@nofany.org

Sustainable Saratoga Buy Local Expo

2009-11-30T14:23:58Z

The next Sustainable Saratoga Task Force meeting is Tuesday evening, Dec. 1, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. in the Music Hall, above Saratoga Springs City Hall (third floor of 474 Broadway.)
The topic for the evening is the importance of buying local products and supporting local merchants.
The evening's agenda includes a brief discussion by several individuals actively involved in promoting and supporting 'buy local' initiatives, followed by opportunities to meet local business owners who will be displaying the types of products they can offer during the holiday season.
At the core of a sustainable community is easy access to a diverse array of goods and services - something we're happy to say Saratoga offers, and which Sustainable Saratoga is committed to supporting. As part of that commitment, we're offering the community an opportunity to learn more about the importance of buying local and the types of locally produced goods as well as "green" and sustainable products sold by local independent merchants.
The event is free and open to the public ( just in time to plan for the "gift-giving" season.)