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SBN Newsletter  

November, 2014  

In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Save the Date! 13th Annual Holiday Celebration
Tickets on Sale for Local Craft Brewfest on 11/21!
Local First Network Updates
New & Returning Member Announcement
SBN Staff Transitions
SBN Receives MDAR Grant
SBLP Updates
SBN Partners with City Awake!
Green Tip of the Month
Save the Date for these Upcoming Events!

Friday, November 7th:

Friday, November 21st: 

SBN's Local Craft Brewfest

 

Thursday, December 11th: 

SBN's 13th Annual Holiday Celebration

 

Check out our Event Calendar for more event information & ticket purchases! 
Dear SBN Members and Friends,

Many of our retail members will soon be entering their busiest two months, and we want to remind everyone about the Shift Your Shopping campaign! We encourage you to shop at locally owned and independent stores whenever possible. The Boston area is fortunate to have several active Local First networks! Check out their upcoming events and new business directories that will guide you to many of the best local shops in the Boston area. 

I want to take this opportunity to thank both Taryn and Charlotte for being fantastic staff members and partners in building an economy that is local, green and fair. Both of these talented and good-hearted women have made major contributions to SBN and our movement, and they will be greatly missed. We wish them the best of luck in the future! We know we'll be seeing them both in the future as they continue their work in local food. 

We're also excited to share the date for our 13th Annual SBN Holiday Celebration, which will be on Thursday, December 11th! We have a new venue and vision for the celebration and it's all about bringing together folks in Massachusetts for a fun party that will support the growth of SBN! If you are aligned with SBN's mission and want our movement to grow, this will be a terrific opportunity for you and your friends to celebrate all things local, green and fair!

I hope to see you and a few hundred of your best friends at the Arts for the Armory in Somerville on Thursday, December 11th.  

Sustainably yours,

Laury

Laury Hammel
Executive Director, SBN
SBN's 13th Annual Holiday Celebration on 12/11/14

 Mark your calendars for Thursday, December 11, 2014 from 7-10pm! More information and ticket sales coming soon! 
Tickets on Sale for SBN's 5th Annual Local Craft Brewfest

Friday, November 21st from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Now that summer shandies are a distant memory, we've got your rich fall beers covered and even some stouts that you can drink well into the winter season! This year's Local Craft Brewfest will feature a selection of some of our favorite local breweries, and we can't wait for you to try them! 

 

Tickets are on sale for SBN's 5th Annual Local Craft Brewfest at the Moakley U.S. Courthouse located on the Boston waterfront--where the city meets the sea! 

 

We have many new vendors this year, including Spiked Seltzer from Norwalk, CT and High Horse Farm and Brewery from Amherst, MA! 

Purchase tickets now!

As a reminder, all tickets are non-refundable. 

What's included with admission price?
+ A newly extended tasting period (6:00pm - 9:30pm)
+ Unlimited tastings from our participating brewers, craft brewers, distillers, cideries, meaderies, artisan beverage vendors
+ Limited food samples from participating local food vendors (bite size)
+ Live music and entertainment
+ Festival Guide with listing of all vendors
+ One of the finest views from Boston Harbor

+ Supporting the local food movement by raising much needed funds for the


Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/bostonlocalfood

Follow us on Twitter: @BostonLocalFood#LocalCraftBrew

Follow us on Instagram: @BostonLocalFood 

 

Are you a current SBN Member? Enter SBNMember7 at checkout for a special members-only discount!
Updates from our Local First Networks

Our Local First networks make it easy for you to Shift Your Shopping during the upcoming holiday season. Please check out the several directory launches and other events coming up that showcase the great work of our Local First networks as they work to build a strong local economy and support local businesses.  

Local First Directory Launch Parties:

11/18/14: Cambridge Local First has just printed their annual directory and will be celebrating its launch at Christopher's in Porter Square on November 18th! In addition, the City of Cambridge will be celebrating Local Economy Week for the fifth consecutive year on November 2-9.   

11/20/14: Waltham Local First will be publishing their inaugural printed Member Directories! Waltham's directory will be unveiled at a Launch Party (which will double as its 1st Birthday Celebration) on the evening of Thursday, November 20th. 

11/20/14:  Belmont-Watertown Local First will be celebrating its 3rd anniversary and will also be launching their first local business directory on Thursday, November 20th at the Mount Auburn Club in Watertown, MA.

12/08/14:  Brookline Local First's directory will be introduced at a Launch Party on the evening of Monday, December 8th. 

Stay tuned for updates from JP Local First for their December Launch Party! 


Join Somerville Local First for Breaking Into the Food Business!

Curious about opening a food business but don't know how to get started? Join Somerville Local First for "Breaking Into the Food Business," a special panel discussion at Aeronaut Brewing. 

Hear from some of Somerville's very successful food entrepreneurs (Jeremy Spindler, Spindler Confections and Heather Schmidt, Union Square Donuts) about how they created their businesses. And get the lowdown from the City of Somerville on permitting, licensing and other nitty-gritty details from Ellen Schneider Collins, ISD Operations Manager for the City of Somerville.

We will also be joined by Teagan Lehrmann culinary coordinator at the Somerville Arts Council, who will be talking about their new Nibble Culinary Entrepreneurship program.

Free for Somerville Local First members and only $10 for the general public! 


It's exciting to see our Local First networks be so vibrant and active as they continue to strengthen our local economy!

SBN New & Returning Member Announcement    

 

SBN's network is constantly growing! A big welcome to our newest SBN Members:

 

DeCordova Sculpture Park and 

MuseumLincoln, MA. The museum was recently certified by SBN's Sustainable Community Leader Program

 

CERO Cooperative, Boston, MA. A worker owned zero-waste recycling and composting company - does it get any better than this?  CERO which stands for Cooperative Energy Recycling and Organics - helps local restaurants and other area businesses save money and improve the environment by helping them sort a substantial amount of their waste, and then partnering with CERO to collect and sell it. CERO is zero in Spanish - meaning zero waste.


 
Metis Communications, Boston, MA. A local PR firm founded with a goal to create a place where public relations is measurable and impactful. They employ a unique combination of journalism, social media, content marketing and public relations to help their clients get in front of the right audiences at the right time, with messages that make them sound like a human being, not some PR super bot.

 

The Juicery, Boston, MA. Just opened in Boston's North End. Try their all-natural smoothies, organic juices, salads, vegan wraps and wheatgrass shots. We love that all their to-go ware is eco-friendly and compostable.

 

Welcome back to renewing SBN Members:


The Williams Agency, Cambridge, MA. This event planning and marketing firm is a great partner with SBN for our Boston Local Food Festival, Local Food Trade Show and Local Brewfests! They also organize other well known local events like Boston Jerkfest and Cambridge Carnival. 


 
Interested in becoming a member?  

 

Take a look & see what you think! Feel free to reach out to Charlotte with any questions regarding your individual, student or business membership!

 

Thank you all for your partnership and commitment to building a Massachusetts economy that is Local, Green and Fair!  

 

Remember: Think Members First! What better way to support the local economy and each other than to support SBN members who share your values and commitment to the principals of Local, Green and Fair. SBN is working on new programs to encourage and support greater B2B exchange within the network. Stay tuned for ways to get engaged!   

SBN Staff Transitions

SBN has been blessed with some exceptional staff members who, on top of being wonderful people, are "green to the bone, local to the core, and fair through and through." We're sad to see two of our best ever staff members making a transition out of their current roles.  

After over two years of working for SBN, Taryn Johnson will continue her passion for local food as she travels across New England in support of small batch, local food producers. Her upcoming projects will give her hands-on culinary experience, deepen the connection she has with the New England food community and fulfill some of her ultimate career dreams. Taryn is excited about the work that lies ahead of her and has expressed how grateful she is for the opportunities that she's had while at SBN.

Charlotte (left) and Taryn showing off their "Be Local" pride at the 2014 HLB!
We congratulate Charlotte Meissner and her husband, Florian, on the coming birth of their first child! We share in her joy. Charlotte will be working with SBN until mid-December and we all hope that she will be able re-join us part-time next May as we ramp up for the Sixth Boston Local Food Festival. And, of course, we'll be calling on her for advice as we move the Local Food Program forward in 2015.  

We now welcome two new staff members to SBN! Maddie Phadke is our new Local Food Program Coordinator and has long been a lover of local agriculture and local food. Her enthusiasm for the SBN mission is contagious and we know that she will infect others with her passion. She is now in the training process and will begin full-time Nov. 10!

Amy Klein is our new Marketing and Administrative Coordinator, and is also "green to the bone." Amy has had extensive experience working in a nonprofit local business, bringing a wealth of marketing experience to her work, and will also be biking to the office! Amy is in training and will begin work on December 1.  

You will have a chance to meet Amy and Maddie at the Annual Holiday Celebration--another reason to make this fun and meaningful party!  
MA Grant Awarded to SBN to Support Massachusetts Agriculture!

The Patrick Administration's Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) just announced $300,000 in funding for seven Buy Local Groups, including SBN, to enhance agriculture in communities across the state.

 

SBN is the Buy Local representative for the Boston area, and we are thrilled to 

announce that our 2014 grant will go towards funding our Boston Local Food Festival in Fall 2015!

 

"Sustainable Business Network (SBN) will receive $30,000 to increase local food sales and business collaborations across Massachusetts through the Boston Local Food Festival which aims to promote 'Healthy Local Food for All' annual event. SBN is headquartered in Cambridge." 

 

"Buy Local groups create and foster a successful, personal relationship between regional agriculture and their communities," said MDAR Commissioner Greg Watson. "The Patrick Administration is thrilled to support these organizations and looking forward to the central Massachusetts region benefitting from the Buy Local movement."

 

Regional Buy Local groups connect farmers to their surrounding communities and vice versa. Buy Local groups began in 1993 in the Pioneer Valley and are committed to the idea that knowing where your food comes from makes both good health and economic sense. Originally formed to identify and address marketing challenges in specific geographical communities across the Commonwealth, these groups have grown as a sustainable business movement that includes innovative marketing and educational programs.

 

"The 'Buy Local' initiative is something we have vigorously supported since coming into the legislature in 2011," said Representative Chris Markey. "Supplying our farmers with the resources they need is essential to local agriculture and the Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership has done a great job of doing so throughout the South Coast.  We are pleased to have supported these grants in the legislature and even more excited to see them at work in the South Coast."

 

For more information, visit MDAR's website at www.mass.gov/agr, and follow MDAR on twitter at twitter.com/mdarcommish!

Sustainable Business Leader Program Updates    

SBLP has been on a roll this past month! We've graduated four businesses-- It must be the beautiful fall weather that has gotten everyone excited to finish the program!

 

Haley House Soup Kitchen graduated the Sustainable Community Leader Program in a flash! Haley House was eager to participate in the program and showed it with their dedication to completing the program. From installing low-flow aerators and switching to environmentally friendly hand soap, to using local vendors and creating written sustainbilit policies, Haley house has made a clear commitment to sustainability.

 

deCordova Sculputure Park and Museum has also achieved their first Sustainable Community Leader certification. After completing a record 72 action items, deCordova has graduated from the program. They were able to revamp and formalize a recycling program, commit to reducing overall waste by reusing materials between exhibits, and engage with museum goers about their sustainable practices. This was a true success story and one that we are very proud of. Congratulations!

 

Cambridge Eats and Beats group, made of three restaurants and two music venues, has been re-certified as a Sustainable Business Leader. The restaurants have changed their to-go ware to all compostable and recyclable products. New signage has been posted to encourage water and electiry conservation, and the restaurants have even added the SBLP logo to the menus!

 

Costa Fruit and Produce showed great pride in their re-certification. Costa's Green Team includes members from all divisions of the company, and it was hard to tell who was more excited. Costa was able to combine multiple policies into a Master Sustainability Plan and also switch to all non-toxic cleaners. Costa also purchased highly effificent trucks to add to their fleet, which will reduce their gas consumption significantly. It was another success story for the SBLP. 


Interested in learning more about the Sustainable Business Leader Program? Contact Alex Barber at Alex@sbnmass.org to learn more about the opportunities and how you can reduce your business' carbon footprint and save money. SBLP is also seeking new participants who are committed to local, green and fair.
SBN Partners with City Awake Festival, Dec. 4-13th

A generation from now, when people think BOSTON, we want them to think SOCIAL IMPACT. We want our city to be the first choice where social entrepreneurs start their businesses, philanthropists find the best performing nonprofits and recent graduates find purpose driven careers.

 

To do so, we will be hosting the first annual City Awake from December 4-13. We will showcase how across all sectors this city is driven to make a difference and to serve one another. For ten days and over 50+ events, we will exchange ideas, form new partnerships and build a community as a first step to accomplish our vision in defining Boston as a hub for social impact.

 

Learn more at http://cityawake.is

Green Tip of the Month5 Tips to Dispose of Your Autumn Leaves

 

There is nothing like taking a relaxing stroll to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage - that is, until it is all over your yard! Raking is a seasonal pain, and we often do whatever it takes to get rid of those leaves as quickly as possible. 

 

This season, think about the benefits of properly disposing of your fallen leaves. Here are some quick tips to help get the job done in a responsible, green way!

 

1) Compost: Fallen leaves play a crucial role in composting on the forest floor. Microorganisms found on leaves help start the composting process once fallen. Add fallen leaves to your existing compost pile, or compost on their own. Remember to keep your compost pile moist since autumn leaves are very dry. Oxygen is also required for decomposition to occur, therefore turning over your compost pile from time to time will produce a higher quality compost.

 

2) Mulch: Mulching is the process of using a lawn mower with a mulching blade to chop up leaves into fine pieces. These small pieces of leaves can be directly used as supplemental mulch around trees or plants in your yard. This organic layer helps to benefit earthworms and underground microbes, whose presence increases soil health.

 

3) City/Town Disposal: Some cities and towns offer a leaf and yard waste collection service in fall months. The City of Boston collects leaves and yard debris to use as mulch in public parks. Contact your city or town offices for more information. Boston residents can visit the City of Boston Public Works site.

 

4) Get creative: Try pressing leaves between books and laminating for autumn place-mats or painting leaves as cute critters! Use different leaves as prints, painting and stamping them into a notebook as a guide to autumn leaves.

 

5) Don't Burn: Though it may seem tempting, burning leaves is extremely bad for the environment. According to the EPA, burning leaves can release particulate matter and hydrocarbons into the air, which increase your chances for respiratory problems and even contain cancer-causing compounds.

 

Sourced from: Chesapeake Bay Program  

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