Locally owned businesses, especially ones working towards a more environmentally sustainable and socially just economy, help us keep “the green” in our communities.
The Local Crowd Monadnock invites you to celebrate these businesses during Choose Indie Sustainable Month in March. We’re teaming up with partners across North America to spotlight independent, locally owned businesses that support our neighbors, neighborhoods, and planet.
Here are just a few examples of Monadnock Region businesses and organizations that inspire us.
Owner Marty Castriotta shared the launch of Earthcraft Design LLC, the design and installation arm of Village Roots Permaculture in Alstead. Permaculture uses ecological principles to design and regenerate healthy, productive landscapes and communities. Earthcraft specializes in edible landscapes, ecological restoration, agroforestry services, water solutions, and farm infrastructure. They cultivate food security in our region by increasing the production of perennial crops, regional food aggregation, and processing.
Earthcraft Design LLC in Alstead is one example of a Monadnock Region business that supports our neighbors, neighborhoods, and planet. In this photo, owner Marty Castriotta captures the bounty of locally grown Seaberry, a perennial crop with nutrient-dense berries that taste like orange, mango, and pineapple. (Photo by Marty Castriotta.)
Visit Earthcraft’s work in Keene, such as the outdoor edible cafe at Brewbakers, featuring gardens, water-catchment features, benches, planters, and an arbor made from local hemlock and white cedar. (Brewbakers’ kitchen regularly uses the fresh herbs and vegetables from their outdoor cafe.) While partially dismantled for the winter, the space will be back up by May 1.
Also, visit the growing forest garden at the Hundred Nights Shelter. This year, Earthcraft will work with the Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene and the Frost Free Library in Marlborough on projects. Stay tuned! What comes next for Earthcraft? “We are in transition,” Marty shared. “But the goal is the same: to keep painting the picture of what change looks like and to help people see what is possible. The work is about connection—between people, systems, and generations. If we can keep that alive, the land will keep feeding us.”
The Monadnock Sustainability Hub will soon launch the Electrify Monadnock Fund, an exciting new, homegrown rebate program that empowers low- to moderate-income Monadnock Region residents to make their homes cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient by supporting the transition away from fossil fuels. The Electrify Monadnock Fund helps make home electrification accessible to everyone, ensuring that our region leads the way in local climate solutions.
SAVE THE DATE: The Monadnock Sustainability Hub invites Monadnock Region homeowners to its Electrify Monadnock Fund Launch Event on Saturday, May 30.
Qualified homeowners can receive up to $7,000 in rebates for home energy-efficiency projects, including the installation of solar panels, heat pumps, and electric appliances, as well as weatherization, electrical panel upgrades, and electric vehicle upgrades.
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"The Hub is excited to officially launch our Electrify Monadnock Fund, a privately funded rebate program —with over $400,000 in donations so far—to help our neighbors make a wide range of clean energy upgrades," said Program Manager, Rachel Ranelli. "This program is here to make the process of electrifying your home within reach."
Over 5,000 community members own Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene—truly a locally owned business! While everyone can shop at Monadnock Food Co-op, Member-Owners receive additional benefits, including quarterly discounts, patronage refunds, and the ability to vote for members of the board of directors.
Each year, the Co-op measures the store’s fossil fuel use, waste-reduction efforts, community contributions, and more. Some highlights from last year: the Co-op supported 334 local farmers and producers with $8.7 million in local sales. Their solar panels generated over 58,000 kWh of energy, and their EV chargers powered the equivalent of 244,000 miles driven by an average gas-powered passenger vehicle. They composted 68,687 gallons of waste and gave 8,682 gallons to local farmers for animal feed.
“Our Co-op was formed by and is owned by our amazing community, who are dedicated to strengthening our local systems and supporting one another,” said General Manager Michael Faber. “We are so grateful for our Member-Owners, staff, and community partners for fostering sustainability at the heart of everything we do.”
Created in 1945, the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) promotes the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources through technical, financial, and educational assistance: cheshireconservation.org. Most recently, they received funding to expand their Farm Future Fund that works directly with New Hampshire farms and land trusts to conserve more acres of active farmland and support farmers with technical assistance.
They also partner closely with the New Hampshire Food Bank on the Cheshire County Conservation District Granite State Market Match (GSMM). This program allows SNAP/EBT users to double the value of their benefits when shopping at participating farmers' markets, CSAs, and farm stands in New Hampshire. Since 2011, the program provided $294,679.26 to Cheshire County farms. GSMM increases access to affordable, local food for SNAP participants while delivering economic benefits to participating vendors, farmers, and host communities. “Working for an organization that prioritizes understanding the intricacies of the natural world with economic and modern realities has been extremely informative and inspiring,” said Nina Branwen, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator. “As we adapt to the ever-changing realities of the world and conservation efforts, we plan to continue strengthening our relationships with our community and the land that sustains us all through our educational programming and grants, with a continued focus on soil, water, wildlife, and farm viability."
The Monadnock Conservancy works to protect the Monadnock Region’s working farms, forests, wetlands, and natural spaces. In the past six months, the organization has conserved roughly 200 acres in Westmoreland, Antrim, and West Swanzey, bringing the total to over 24,000 acres conserved since 1989.
The Conservancy also offers ways for you to engage with land conservation and the land more generally. In the Spring and Fall, they offer a walking group called the Cheshire Walkers for seniors or anyone who prefers a slower pace and plenty of socializing. The Conservancy recently hired Kate Witte as community engagement manager to deepen the local community’s connection to conserved land through impactful, educational workshops and events. “The Monadnock Region remains resilient thanks to the individuals and communities who care to protect the landscapes that offer us all so much,” shared Amanda Littleton, executive director. “This foresight to prioritize conservation will ensure farmland continues to provide bounty, our water sources remain clean and plentiful, and our infrastructure is protected by intact wetlands and floodplains. We are committed to conserving the most vital resources that provide wildlife habitat as well as recreational landscapes that enrich our lives. We plan to continue to increase the pace of these conservation efforts to ensure future generations have the opportunity to share in the same love for the land.”
When we Choose Indie Sustainable, we do so much more than just shop — we bank, invest, create, and donate to amplify the ripple effect of the economic and community benefits we receive when we support our local economy. Together, we build strong local, equitable, and sustainable economies.
The Local Crowd Monadnock - Keene, NH
