Excerpt from upcoming edition of WLFS Feed for Thought
Fall Harvest Edition
by Ira Richards
Is it just me or does the technology gap seem to be widening once again? Just when the baby-boomers have finally warmed up to the idea of corresponding with grandchildren through email, the online community has been taken by storm with applications like Twitter, Facebook, and Town-Sync, among others.
And while marketing gurus may insist that any entrepreneurs not currently using Facebook should also consider having the 8-track players removed from their Ford Fairmonts, most users know that the primary function of these programs is to keep users in touch with family and friends. Simply put, they're community driven. However, as major advertisers continue to promulgate their marketing value, the sites are becoming more susceptible to spam overloads as impersonal mega-corporations launch by-the-minute Twitter campaigns informing us that men's tube socks are buy 1, get 1 free.
The Upper Valley offers a unique respite from the digital confusion that, I believe, results from our preservation of the community ideal. We cherish and support our small, local businesses; we get to know our neighbors, and we champion causes that are dear to our hearts. While we know that not everyone we meet may be worthy of our trust, there is an underlying sense of good-faith among the folks of the Upper Valley and we don't walk away from a random act of kindness wondering how we might have just been bamboozled.
Yes, West Lebanon Feed & Supply is currently on Facebook and Twitter. But I'd like to think that we look at it as more of a place for the community to gather and share ideas than as a marketing campaign. Traditionally speaking, the local feed store has long been the social hub for communities with strong agricultural functions; as contact with our neighbors becomes more virtual, it seems a logical next-step for WLFS to host a digital gathering place for folks to connect and discuss ag-related topics.
And, while we will be announcing opportunities and promoting upcoming events (ask about our recent e-Sale Flyer - August 19-29), we hope that our customers will recognize that we're using these tools to go beyond the simple, generic marketing ads you get from other stores. We encourage everyone to think of us as your "friends" down at the local feed store and to consider joining our WLFS online community so we can work together to solve our backyard living challenges and become partners in preserving the community ideal.
Follow us online. Visit http://www.westlebanonsupply.com/ for links.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Time to think Canning/Preserving!
Due to the unusually high amounts of rain and early surge of late blight, among other things, it’s truly been an eventful summer for gardeners. And, while we respectfully acknowledge those who have lost significant portions of their livelihood, we optimistically turn our sights toward the latter part of summer…toward the harvest.
The crops are coming in! Although a few of our customers are telling us that they have lost a portion or have not seen particularly heavy growth from some plants, folks are now generally seeing fruits and vegetables ripe and ready for picking. As the blueberries finally turn their deep-blue hue and cucumbers reach full-size, many folks here in the Upper Valley have begun the process of preserving to allow for consumption long beyond the normal keeping time.
For anyone not familiar with the tradition of preserving (including canning, pickling, curing, jellying, freezing, dehydrating, etc. - terms which are sometimes used interchangeably), there is a certain sense of pride that comes from raising, harvesting, preparing and preserving your own produce. It is not only an activity that has been passed down for generations here in northern New England, but is increasing in popularity as more folks become concerned with both the cost and health problems associated with processed and manufactured foods.
According to the Ball Company’s Blue book of Preserving, foods for preserving can be generally divided into two categories: low-acid and high-acid. Depending on the classification, a different method of preserving is recommended due to the range of growing environments for molds, yeasts, bacteria, etc. Low-acid foods include most vegetables, meats & seafood, and soups, to name a few. High acid foods include most fruits, tomatoes, juices, pickles (vinegar-based), and more.
We stock a wide assortment of canning supplies including the following:
Seasoning Packets
Lime / Salt
Wax
Canning Pots
Mason and Jelly Jars with Lids
Meat Cures
Strainers & Funnels
Freezer Bags
Berry Baskets
Jar Lifters
Thermometers
Canning/Preserving “How To” Books
and much More!
So if you are a seasoned canner or are giving it a go for the first time, be sure to come into West Lebanon Feed & Supply to stock up on all your supplies. Happy Preserving!
The crops are coming in! Although a few of our customers are telling us that they have lost a portion or have not seen particularly heavy growth from some plants, folks are now generally seeing fruits and vegetables ripe and ready for picking. As the blueberries finally turn their deep-blue hue and cucumbers reach full-size, many folks here in the Upper Valley have begun the process of preserving to allow for consumption long beyond the normal keeping time.
For anyone not familiar with the tradition of preserving (including canning, pickling, curing, jellying, freezing, dehydrating, etc. - terms which are sometimes used interchangeably), there is a certain sense of pride that comes from raising, harvesting, preparing and preserving your own produce. It is not only an activity that has been passed down for generations here in northern New England, but is increasing in popularity as more folks become concerned with both the cost and health problems associated with processed and manufactured foods.
According to the Ball Company’s Blue book of Preserving, foods for preserving can be generally divided into two categories: low-acid and high-acid. Depending on the classification, a different method of preserving is recommended due to the range of growing environments for molds, yeasts, bacteria, etc. Low-acid foods include most vegetables, meats & seafood, and soups, to name a few. High acid foods include most fruits, tomatoes, juices, pickles (vinegar-based), and more.
We stock a wide assortment of canning supplies including the following:
Seasoning Packets
Lime / Salt
Wax
Canning Pots
Mason and Jelly Jars with Lids
Meat Cures
Strainers & Funnels
Freezer Bags
Berry Baskets
Jar Lifters
Thermometers
Canning/Preserving “How To” Books
and much More!
So if you are a seasoned canner or are giving it a go for the first time, be sure to come into West Lebanon Feed & Supply to stock up on all your supplies. Happy Preserving!
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