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

Lakeside Farms – A Local Tradition

Ecolocal Guide — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:11:30 +0000

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.
A true family business, Pearce’s wife, children and grandchildren all work at the Farm. His two sons and daughter work closely with him, and some of the work, like operating the 120-ton cider press, is done predominantly by family.
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.

The post Lakeside Farms – A Local Tradition appeared first on EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY.

Saratoga Farmers Market “Iron Chef” Competition this Saturday!

Ecolocal Guide — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:50:23 +0000

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)

The post Saratoga Farmers Market “Iron Chef” Competition this Saturday! appeared first on EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY.

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

Ecolocal Guide — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:49:58 +0000

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.

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

The post LOCAL FARM CHOOSES A UNIQUE WAY TO PROMOTE GO-GREEN INIATIVES & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY appeared first on EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY.

Final push to get the votes in to win the Amercian Farmland Trust’s “Amercia’s Favoite Market Contest”

Ecolocal Guide — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:18:23 +0000

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 http://www.farmland.org and vote for us!!!*

The post Final push to get the votes in to win the Amercian Farmland Trust’s “Amercia’s Favoite Market Contest” appeared first on EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY.

Saratoga Arts Fest a great weekend of sights and sounds

Ecolocal Guide — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:50:39 +0000

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.

Arts Fest is an absolutely rich combination of talent and heart brought
together in one dynamic, extended weekend, a collective of creative
expression. An opportunity to tap into our culture like no other venue
anywhere! Often we only get to taste a morsel of such talent when we
purchase tickets to a performance or an exhibit from time to time. The
price for Saratoga Arts Fest with its local and world renowned talent
cannot be underscored enough! This event, however, gave all those who
partook the opportunity to truly soak in the interpretations of our
culture from many angles in one fully engaging extended weekend!

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!

The post Saratoga Arts Fest a great weekend of sights and sounds appeared first on EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY.

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

Ecolocal Guide — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:43:41 +0000

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.

Saratoga County’s 15th Annual “Sundae on the Farm” will be held on
Sunday June 20 at Arnoldhaven Farm, Inc. on 1298 Sacandaga Road in the
Town of Charlton. The annual event, taking place from 12:00 pm through
4:00 pm, showcases the breadth and significance of agriculture in
Saratoga County and is enjoyed by approximately

3,000 visitors each year.

“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.

The post Celebrate Saratoga County Agriculture at Sundae on the Farm in the Town of Charlton! appeared first on EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY.

Saratoga Farmers’ Market Opens for 32nd Summer Season

Ecolocal Guide — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:06:52 +0000

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.

The post Saratoga Farmers’ Market Opens for 32nd Summer Season appeared first on EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY.

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

Ecolocal Guide — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:32:13 +0000

(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.

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.

The post CDTA, YNN and PYX 106 INVITE EVERYONE TO GO GREEN ON EARTH DAY and RIDE FREE appeared first on EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY.

Grow your own Organic Vegetable Gardens

Ecolocal Guide — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:45:10 +0000

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

The post Grow your own Organic Vegetable Gardens appeared first on EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY.

REGION’s MAPLE SUGARING SEASON UNDERWAY

Ecolocal Guide — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:27:26 +0000

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.

The post REGION’s MAPLE SUGARING SEASON UNDERWAY appeared first on EcoLocal Guide Blog - Sustainable Living Blog For Saratoga Springs & Upstate NY.