Help Saratoga Farmer's Market become America's Favorite - Vote by Aug 31st

American Farmland Trust is sponsoring a campaign to vote in America's Favorite Farmer's Market. Right now, Saratoga Farmer's Market is in 3rd place (in the 'medium' category). We have until August 31st to move up to the top. Please pass the word and take a moment to vote. If we win, we benefit from some great marketing and promotional support.

The process is simple. To vote for Saratoga Farmer's Market, all you have to do is:

1.) Go to www.farmland.org/vote

2.) Type in 'Saratoga Farmers Market'; and,

3.) Click “Vote” (make sure it's the Saratoga Springs, NY market)

(Saratoga Farmer's Market is under the 'medium' sized market)

You only have one vote to cast per market (though you can vote for multiple markets, but that would defeat the purpose.)

The America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest is a project of the American Farmland Trust. The contest is designed to raise national awareness about the importance of supporting fresh food from local farms and farmers.

At the end of the contest, one small, medium, large, and a new category, boutique, farmers market will win the title of “America’s Favorite Farmers Market” for 2010.

The reward for the winning market in each category will be a shipment of No Farms No Food® tote bags, along with other prizes including free printing services from igreenprint and free graphic design services from Virginia based design firm, SQN Communications.

In addition, I hear that the winning markets get an appearance by a nationally-known chef who will cook up some fantastic fare using product from the market. These events typically draw a large crowd, helping to increase awareness of the local market.

The categories are based on the number of vendors the farmers market has. The four categories are Boutique - 15 or fewer vendors, Small 16 - 30 vendors, Medium, 31 - 55 vendors, and Large, more than 56 vendors.

So don’t forget to vote for Saratoga Farmer's Market at www.farmland.org/vote and spread the word!

Big thanks to everyone who has already voted!

Adventures from the road!

Since I'm renting my house this summer, I'm staying with various family and friends in the northeast. I've been in so many places thus far, I've lost track of where I've been and when. Maine - Saratoga - Schroon Lake - Ticonderoga - Racquette Lk - Lake Placid - Saranac - Saratoga - Gloversville. One thing is for sure - it pays to have family and friends in great places. I am also fortunate I have the kind of work that allows me the flexibility to work from a distance - as long as I have wireless access.

I must say I'm having a great time on my "gypsy travels". I do feel a bit wasteful doing so much driving. But when I get somewhere I am trying to follow these few tenants: 1) bike if you can; 2) eat and buy local; 3) recycle (I'm even carrying my recycling with me when in places where there is no recycling); 4) have fun.

Well, I'm not sure if having fun is going to save the planet - but I do know that swimming in Mirror Lake three days in a row did a lot more for my body and soul than any "green" thing I've done in a while. So maybe that's the current lesson - as I get ready to ride my bike into town to pick up my car from the mechanic.

When we take care of ourselves, we're better able to then contribute and take care of others - in whatever fashion that means for your life and work. It's also coincidentally one of the first tenants in Permaculture.

In Permaculture "talk", it's called Zone 00 (zero zero) - our inner and outer selves. The idea being we must first start with nurturing and balancing ourselves. When our inner and outer lives are balanced and in harmony - the rest of our lives, home, landscape, will more easily come into alignment. So, I'm off to get my daily exercise and bike - part of my own way of staying balanced.

More later on the inspiring talk I attended last week at Paul Smith's College by Bill McKibben - author, journalist, Climate Change activist and founder of 350.org.

(Above is a photo of the glass dining area at Camp Huntington, located on an island in Racquette Lake. Camp Huntington, originally built by William Durant, is owned by SUNY Cortland, used for outdoor educatin and the site of Empire State College's Adirondack Residency (which I'll be teaching in the fall).)