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Renewing the Countryside Newsletter
January 2007
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In This Issue
-- This Month's Featured Stories
-- RTC News Flash
-- Resource Pick: Enterprise Development Website
-- Partner Pick of the Month: MACED (Mountain Association for Community Economic Development) -- What We?re Reading: Organic, Inc.: Natural Foods and How They Grew -- Conference Pick: Minnesota Cooks at Food & Wine Show -- Where We're Going: Elk River Lodge & General Store (Elk River, ID) -- What Does RTC Do?
Welcome to the January Renewing the Countryside newsletter, designed to provide a monthly toolbox of resources, ideas and inspiration for your own efforts and interests in rural revitalization.
Thank you for your continued support of Renewing the Countryside and best wishes for a happy new year. Jan Joannides, Executive Director |
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This Month's Featured Stories --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spinning Spider Creamery
Marshall, NC The ?spider? of Spinning Spider Creamery might once have referred to owner Chris Owen?back when she raised Angora goats and spun their fleece into yarn. Now, though its poetic name remains the same, the operation is home to a herd of 100 dairy goats, with Chris garnering area renown for her hand crafted, artisinal cheeses, sold at area farmers' markets and retail outlets.
Casa Nueva
Back in 1987, a tiny corner restaurant opened on slanted West State Street in Athens, Ohio. It was different from the other eateries in Athens in one very important way: the cooks, dishwashers, servers and hostesses weren?t just hired help at Casa Nueva, they owned it as members of the Worker-Owned Restaurant Corporation. Twenty years later, the cooperative model still stands strong, as this innovative restaurant helps foster entrepreneurial thinking, training and salsa variations. |
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RTC News Flash --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcie McLaughlin joins RTC Board of Directors
RTC is honored to have Marcie McLaughlin join our Board of Directors. As National Policy Director for the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) based in Washington, D.C., Marcie brings strong expertise through her work facilitating research and public education to assist policymakers in understandng the rural impacts of public policies and programs. For ten years prior to RUPRI, Marcie served as the founding executive director of Minnesota Rural Partners, the state's rural development council. Welcome, Marcie! Green Routes Training Expands Across Minnesota To help Minnesota businesses attract the green travel market, RTC is conducting Green Routes workshops for business owners and travel destinations that are looking for tangible ways to green their operations. From showcasing local foods to using renewable energy, Green Routes continues to help lead the sustainable travel movement in Minnesota. Read more about Green Routes in Minnesota Monthly. For information on Green Routes workshops call 1-866-378 -0587 or for general information visit online.
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Resource Pick: Enterprise Development Website ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resource Pick: Enterprise Development Website
For a crash course in small business start up, look to the Enterprise Development Website (ENTERWeb), known as "the knowledge portal for small business." An information clearinghouse on enterprise development, business, finance, international trade and the global, high tech economy, ENTERWeb lists and ranks related websites to provide efficient, valuable information to the entrepreneur. |
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Partner Pick of the Month: MACED (Mountain Association for Community Economic Development) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mountain Association for Community Economic
Development (MACED) works to enhance Appalachian quality of
life through partnering with local people and organizations to
grow economic alternatives and job opportunities for low
income residents. From a sustainable forestry initiative to
innovative small business start up loans, MACED focuses on
providing tools and resources directly to the Kentucky and
Central Appalachia communities it serves.
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What We?re Reading: Organic, Inc.: Natural Foods and How They Grew --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amid a flat line food industry, organic foods continue to grow
at a phenomenal twenty percent annually. In his book,
"Organic Inc: Natural Foods and How They Grew," business
journalist Samuel Fromartz chronicles and analyzes the journey
of the organic movement, from its anti-industrial origins a
century ago to the growth of companies like Whole Foods
Market and Organic Valley Family of Farms today. From food
industry consolidation to the exploding interest in farmers'
markets and CSAs, Fromartz dives into the details, reserving
judgement to his readers. Engaging and covering different
perspectives, "Organic, Inc." offers a comprehensive overview
and trends affecting the natural foods industry.
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Conference Pick: Minnesota Cooks at Food & Wine Show --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join RTC at the the Minnesota Cooks stage at the upcoming
Twin Cities Food & Wine Experience, February 23 through 25 at
the Minnesota Convention Center. Co-sponsored by the
Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Farmers
Union, Food Alliance Midwest and RTC, with Whole Foods as the
stage sponsor, Minnesota Cooks brings together the region's
best chefs to demonstrate how they use locally grown
ingredients to create their award-winning, inventive cuisine.
The chefs come from a range of culinary backgrounds and
influences -- from Twin City restaurants as well as rural
Minnesota establishments -- but they all share a
common passion for local foods.
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Where We're Going: Elk River Lodge & General Store (Elk River, ID) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Located against the scenic backdrop of the Clearwater National
Forest, Elk River Lodge & General Store's name says it all: a
place to comfortably spend the night and pick up supplies. But
this is not a quick, convenient store shop and run kind of place.
Locals of this town (population 156) and travelers alike linger,
savoring a homemade slice of pie or scoop of ice cream,
distinctly flavored with locally foraged huckleberries.
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What Does RTC Do? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Renewing the Countryside is a 501(c)3 non-profit
that strengthens rural areas by championing and
supporting farmers, artists, entrepreneurs,
educators, activists, and others who are
revitalizing the countryside through innovative
endeavors. We build awareness and support for these
initiatives by collecting and sharing stories of
rural renewal, providing practical assistance and
networking opportunities for those working to
improve rural America, and fostering connections
between urban and rural people.
As always, you can support our work by making an online donation or purchasing books from the Renewing the Countryside store. We're grateful to the Beim Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Emma B. Howe Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation, the Bush Foundation, The Brico Fund and North Central SARE, for contributing to our work. Find out more about Renewing the Countryside .
Please consider a contribution to Renewing the Countryside's work. |
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Contact Information ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
email:
info@rtcinfo.org
phone:
1-866-378-0587
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