The winter that wasn’t is finally waning here in the Northeast, and thoughts turn to Spring and the ensuing warmth that it will bring.   With the warmth comes the annual ritual of the running of the maple sap.  The Upper Hudson Valley woods come alive with activity, as maple men and women set their taps to gather up nature’s nectar, and boil it down to create maple syrup and other maple delicacies.  If you haven’t witnessed the maple run for yourself, then now it the time to do it.  The Maple Weekend Open House is scheduled for March 20 & 21, and 27 & 28.  The sugarhouses of the region are opening their doors for you to see this annual ritual up close and personal.  It’s a sensation of sights and sounds, but most importantly, flavors.  Nothing beats fresh made maple syrup poured over a stack of pancakes, and many of the producers on the tour will be serving up a portion just for you.  You just gotta go!  See our special Maple Page or sampling of participating locations.
Speaking of maple, we feature a story about the Man that Maple Made.  Smitten by the maple bug as a child, Steve Rascher of Salem has made maple perfection his life’s work.  He is one of the original tree huggers, embracing stewardship of the forest long before it became a trendy environmentalist moniker.

Another kind of bug has bitten our cover feature – that being the wine bug.  Rich Nimmo and his wife Tara have been making wine for their own consumption for a number of years, and friends and family suggested that they produce it commercially so that more people could enjoy it.  It’s not a simple task to go from producing a few cases a year to now making hundreds.  But the Nimmo’s have never flinched at taking on a new challenge.   Check out their story by Amy Stock within, and we’ll see you at the winery (it’s already become a favorite stop for the locals, yours truly included).
Starting any kind of business can be a daunting task, and finding the money to make it happen can be very difficult.  Banks are hesitant to underwrite new ventures. If you don’t have a rich uncle who left you a pile of cash, then where can you go?  Fortunately, there is a local source, funded by local people who just may want to make your dream a reality.  I am talking about the Capital District Loan Fund, an alternative financial source that has specialized in helping unique business concepts get off the ground, or expand to meet their demand.  This is an example of the “Slow Money” we’ve talked about in past in past issues.  It’s local investors who are putting their faith and capital into local projects, where they can not only reap a profit, but take direct interest and support for the business ventures right here where they live.  It’s the kind of financial stewardship that grows a community, and helps entrepreneurs achieve their dreams.  Tracy Frisch gives us a closer look at some of the benefactors of the CDLF, and how their dreams are coming true.
What’s encouraging about all the stories in this Spring edition is that they are all evidence that, despite the national economic woes of the recession, there is still great opportunity for people to do what they love to do and make a vocation out of it.  In fact, it is the best hope for our economy - for individuals to take control of their destiny by turning their passion into a cash-in of their talents and skills.  Successful local entrepreneurs create local jobs, and the community enjoys the circulating cash flow.  Is it your turn this year? Don’t wait for the job market to turn around; make the job market turn around by making that product or delivering that service that you know the community wants and needs.  Who knows, you may be the next eco-local success story to grace our cover.  Remember…we are the economy. We are local.  We are eco-local!

IN THIS ISSUE:

The Wellness Doc

THE SARATOGA WINERY
Accentuating Local Character

MONEY MATTERS

ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT

Solar Energy and Historical Preservation

RADICAL HOMEMAKERS

Steve Rascher – The Man That Maple Made

GREEN HAIR

Local Money Means Local Business

Nutritional Supplement Access

Goodbye Blue Sky?