Small businesses can be underappreciated and under-supported, and that’s a shame. After all, when a downtown is filled with cool coffee shops, locally owned restaurants, microbreweries, and quirky boutiques—together with plenty of strong non-retail players like architects, ad agencies, and attorneys—that downtown is often the heart and soul of a vibrant community. A strong small business presence—especially one that thrives in the context of a busy, livable, walkable downtown—is what gives a community its character. It creates that sense of...
What happens when you eat the wrong food over and over again? We call it “leakage.” Leakage is when capital exits the economy rather than remaining in it. Our current food system as designed (or left un-designed) is a constant source of leakage for our cities and a missed opportunity for urban planners. What if city designs included space for urban farming to provide a percentage of the calories required by their inhabitants? What if the community saw urban farming...
These are among the pieces that appealed the most to Transition Cornwall+ readers in 2017. Maybe you missed a few, or worth another read as we head into a new year? #10: The Monster Footprint of Digital Technology The power consumption of our high-tech machines and devices is hugely underestimated. #9: Truly Sustainable Economic Development For those of us thinking about ways to foster local, sustainable, green businesses, here are some wise words. #8: What Kind of Housing Do Aging Boomers Need?…the...
Could Eastern Ontario become the next winery tour location like the Niagara Region or Prince Edward County? It is possible with the opening of a new winery, Stone Crop Acres Winery. Owner Norene Hyatt-Gervais said she has been working on opening up the new winery for a number of years. Right now it is just a vineyard and winery, but Hyatt-Gervais said they have plans to make the vineyard into an event location hosting weddings and other events. There is...
…nine different ideas for promoting entrepreneurship, within both government and the private sector. A strong town needs strong local businesses. Local businesses provide jobs and opportunities for wealth creation. They can become a draw, encouraging visitors from outside your community, as well as a way for community members to support each other by buying local. Only with a thriving locally-based economy—one that isn’t owned or propped up by someone six states away—can we succeed in creating sustainable jobs and lasting...
It’s been a long time in the making, and James Loucks is about to realize his vision. Loucks has been working on his Community Market idea for three years and on Saturday, Aug. 27 he is opening the doors to the community. Located on County Road 36, the market will be open seven days a week, all year round. “What we are doing is trying to keep things local,” said Loucks. “So we reached out to all the local people...
Hoping to promote healthy eating to local communities was the driving force behind Bryan Hildebrand’s idea to start an organic farm. Hildebrand Farms began in 2010 due to Hildebrand’s interest in organic farming. Hildebrand recruited his father, Len, for support and influence and the plan was put into motion. With the help of his dad and kids Jayde and Skye, the farm is in full swing. Hildebrand Farms specializes in fruits, mainly black raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, plums, pears and cherries...
Several key principles are essential to creating any successful public space. These principles begin with numerous underlying ideas, the first of which is that the community is the expert — the most knowledgeable and best resource for the professionals that are responsible for designing or managing the space. The second is that when one creates a “place,” the entire project needs to be viewed differently. Partnerships are the third basic tenet because anyone who manages a space knows that it...
NewCare Farms Building Yogurt Site At least half a century has come and gone since a rural route in the Township of South Dundas was the address of an honest-to-goodness milk processing plant. But the Biemond family is well on its way to changing that, with an 8,200-square-foot yogurt-making facility rising on their certified organic Waddell Rd. dairy operation — NewCare Farms. Read NewCare Farms Building Yogurt Site in Eastern Ontario AgriNews. Food Hub in Prescott Russell The Eastern...