The National Slow Money Conference was held on June 10-11 at bucolic Shelburne Farms, Vermont.  Organizer and author of the book, "Slow Money", Woody Tasch and his team managed to pull off an inspiring two days of ideas, energy and general optimism that left attendees hopeful for the future.  The fast money monetary system that we've adopted over the last 50 years has led up down the path of wealth concentration and resource exploitation.  Mr. Tasch explained that we need a new type of monetary system, one that nurtures instead of usurps; one that grows sustainable entrepreneurship vs. corporate buyouts and takeovers.  The answer to healing our monetary system and our planet is to invest locally in local food systems.  Organic, free-range, grass-fed derived food is necessary for a healthy bodyand healthy environment.  These farming and food production models hearken back to a different time; a slower time when raising food was done on small family farms.

Well, according to Slow Money advocates like Tasch, the small family farm is the place of the new entrepreneur.  The many new business ventures  in attendance were evidence that going slow and producing local is indeed, the path to new opportunity.  And these companies are all looking to expand.  They are creating jobs, and more importantly, building and supporting the local food systems in their respective communities.

Here are some video clips from the the Slow Money Conference, illustrating that good old American entrepreneurship is alive and well:

THE FARMERS DINER of Quechee and Montpelier, VT

VERMONT SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND of Montpelier, VT

VERMONT SMOKE AND CURE of South Barre, VT

VERMONT NATURAL COATINGS of Harwick, VT

CHAMPLAIN ORCHARDS of Shoreham, VT

ROTOKAWA CATTLE COMPANY of Hardwick, VT

GREEN MOUNTAIN ORGANIC CREAMERY of North Ferrisburg, VT

TERRA GREEN BIOLOGICS, of Boston MA

THE CARROT PROJECT of Somerville, MA

CITY FRESH FOODS of Roxbury, MA

MIDWESTERN BIO AG< of Blue Mounds, WI

GREENLING, of Austin, TX

RHYTHM SUPERFOODS, of Austin, TX

LHASA BEER of El Cerrito, CA

PEOPLES COMMUNITY MARKET of Oakland, CA

MODULAR FOOD SYSTEMS of Walla Walla, WA

SANTA FE ALLIANCE of Santa Fe, NM