VITAL COMMUNITIES
Find Open Local Businesses and Farms. Search the Vital Communities Guide.
Buy Local
Here are a few principles to keep in mind:
- Buy less. We can’t foster sustainability in the long term without reducing consumption of goods and resources. That means buying less (or buying used), but buying better (higher quality, longer lasting, more community impact) when we do buy. Make fewer purchases, but make each one count.
- Given two, choose locally owned. Not everything we want or need has a local solution. But when it does, we can make our purchases count by going to the business that’s locally owned. Learn about the ways that local ownership positively benefits our economy and communities.
- Reward stewardship. Local owners run their businesses with community in mind, for the obvious but important reason that they live here too. Get to know the people behind businesses. Find out what they are doing to steward community, and then reward that commitment with your daily purchases.
Michael Shuman describes a purchasing hierarchy that can guide our thinking: run every choice through a chain of questions along a local impact scale.
- Is it made or grown locally, where the production is a source of jobs and wealth for the community?
- Is it bought from a locally owned business, where the owner’s stake in the community is a source of benefit and long-term wealth generation?
- Does it use local ingredients or raw materials, thereby supporting strong local markets between businesses and suppliers?
- And finally, is it a large purchase or investment? – since those are the most important to try and keep local.
We won’t answer yes to every question with every purchase, and there will be times when the local choice is not most attractive for other reasons. But we can ask the questions. We can make the connection between the communities we want, the change we need, and the businesses we already have.
Three times as much money stays locally when spent locally. This reverberation of economic power, the local multiplier, results in an interdependent network of known and trusted businesses and service providers buying from one another over and over again. This is the fabric of a strong local economy.
Thinking local first means remembering the multiplier and voting with your dollars for the kind of community you want to have.
Why choose an independent local bank or credit union?
- Lower fees
- Your money will build your local economy.
- Keep decision making local.
Local First Alliance Members
Have an Idea That Could Use a Lift?
Local Businesses, Farmers,Entrepreneurs, Nonprofits, Community Initiatives:
Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen?
Want to grow y [...]
Crossroad Farm is the BOM!
Crossroad Farm is the November Business of the Month and to celebrate they are raffling off all the fixing for a Thanksgiving feast - a Misty Knoll tu [...]
Member Spotlight: Lyme Green Heat
When Lyme native Morton Bailey started his business, Lyme Green Heat he was just a guy in a truck delivering bagged wood heating pellets to residen [...]
January BOM: Trail Break taps + tacos
We are excited to be celebrating the hot, new eatery in White River Junction
as Local First Alliance
Business of the Month in January!
Visit Tr [...]
BOM Spotlight: West Lebanon Feed & Supply
We are excited to be celebrating Local First Alliance Green Circle Sponsor West Lebanon Feed & Supply (WLFS) as the November Business of the Month [...]
Co-op Food Stores: Nourish. Cultivate. Cooperate.
Since 1936 The Co-op Food Stores has been nourishing our community through their stores, educational activities, and community support. The co-op is [...]
King Arthur Flour is the BOM!
Introducing a new way to celebrate our wonderful, community-building, locally owned businesses:
Local First Alliance Business of the Month (BOM)!
T [...]
Hats for Whatever Shape Your Head is In
The Fat Hat corner in Quechee is a land mark most Upper Valley residents know. The funky old car, the lawn art, and now featuring Chef Brad's Crazy S [...]
Local First Alliance Lunch & Learn Series
Local First Alliance Member Professional Development & Networking Opportunity
Lunch & Learn Series -
Bring or buy a lunch and learn from [...]
Member Spotlight – Jake’s Market & Deli and Jake’s Coffee Company
Member Spotlight- Jake's Market & Deli and Jake's Coffee Company
As you travel around the Upper Valley it is likely that you have filled your b [...]
Our program is underwritten by these community partners
* Sustaining Members *
A.B. Gile * Simple Energy * F.H. Clothing Co.
John Ring, CPA * Jake’s Market & Deli and Jake’s Coffee Co. * Skinny Pancake
Lyme Green Heat * Nomad Communications
Vital Communities Program News
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Upper Valley Housing Update
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Raise Money while Working from Home
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Family Project: Write a Quest for your House!
Over these past few weeks I have experienced waves of anxiety and sadness, and at the same time such gratitude. I can’t imagine going through this crisis in any other part of the world. The ...more
Five Inspiring Stories
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13th Annual Roundtable - September 15
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Upper Valley Farm to School Forum: Trauma & Nutrition
Event Postponed We will be rescheduling the forum to the late spring or next fall Upper Valley Farm to School Forum: Trauma & Nutrition March 19 4:30-7pm Sharon Elementary School 75 VT Route 132, Sharon, VT 05065 Join the Upper Valley ...more
Climate and Community Resilience: Lessons from the Soil
Climate and Community Resilience: Lessons from the Soil Spring Community Webinar Series to Unpack What Creating Our Future Looks Like What is good for the soil is good for our communities. Deep healthy soil governs flood resilience, ...more
Efficient Heating in Vermont
Check out this newly produced, six-minute YouTube video on Efficient Heating in Vermont, created by Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission. The video describes the types and benefits of home heating options and describes the current rebates ...more
Fall Guided Quest: Trees of Dartmouth Quest
Join Vital Communities' Valley Quest Coordinator Beth Roy on a guided treasure hunt of the trees of Dartmouth. Celebrate fall as we discover many exotic trees around the Dartmouth College Campus and learn about their ...more
Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead
Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration. The following are the event’s keynote remarks ...more
Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley
Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to the Upper Valley. In 2019, we are pleased to honor ...more
2nd Annual Curb The Car Day - Friday, May 17!
On May 17, 2019 the rest of the country is celebrating National Bike to Work Day, but here in the Upper Valley we’ll be taking it a step further with our second annual Curb The ...more
Dazzlingly Reflective, 80's Style
We love pairing style with nighttime visibility, so we've ordered REFLECTIVE SLAP BRACELETS to reward people who bike or walk to Flavors of the Valley on Sunday, April 7! If you bike and walk to the ...more
A Lot Lighter with More Hands: Leadership Upper Valley
On the bright, sunny morning of June 13, Cobb Hill was waking up, and the soon-to-be graduating 2018 Leadership Upper Valley class was just arriving for their final meeting. Before the ceremony at Harpoon Brewery, ...more
Staff
Nancy LaRowe
Food & Farm and Local First Coordinator
Local First, Food & Farm
Local First, Food & Farm
— Nancy LaRowe, Food & Farm and Local First Coordinator
Nancy joined Vital Communities as the Food & Farm Coordinator in 2014. She works to support and grow our local food system and economy. Nancy has lived, worked, and farmed in the Upper Valley for more than 25 years and believes our community is healthier and stronger when our connections to food and the farms that produce it stay vital.
Nancy's informal job title is Farmer-in-Residence: she also runs a pasture-based cattle farm in Norwich. Nancy is on the Board of the Norwich Farmers' Market and a retired Norwich volunteer firefighter and EMT. She loves puttering in the garden, hiking with her dog, and visiting farmers' markets.