Nu Spice is an Ithaca-based, black-owned, woman-owned catering company, specializing in soul, southern and comfort food. NuSpice Catering was born in 2007, when Candace Foster followed her passion to share timeless family recipes with the community. Since then, Nu Spice Catering has fed hundreds of people at dozens of events — including Ithaca’s Taste of Soul event in 2019.
The Foodlink Community Cafe is an extension of Foodlink, a Rochester-based nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and building healthier communities by addressing both the symptoms and root causes of food insecurity. The brand-new cafe is a “pay-what-you-can” nonprofit restaurant concept and offering healthy, delicious meals.
Elderberry Pond is a USDA Certified Organic Farm, fine dining restaurant, & country foods store. Stop by and enjoy dinner at the restaurant made of repurposed materials. It overlooks the orchards, vineyards and 36 acres of seasonal vegetable plantings. Their menu features fresh produce picked daily, pasture raised meats from the farm, organic & biodynamic…
Kal Awad and Sam Walker opened State Bakery and Smokehouse last July on Route 89 in the small Seneca County hamlet of Canoga. Even during a pandemic, it’s proven to be quite the hit! Some of their offerings include sourdough bread, breakfast sandwiches on biscuits, pastries (including Walker’s famous Cruffins – muffins made from croissant dough), crab pies and barbecue of all kinds — pulled pork, brisket, chicken and sausage.
Cornell has multiple maps that outline the eco-friendly features on every corner of campus. Check out the maps here!
Chef Mike Boise and winemaker Nancy Gable joined forces to create Salt of the Earth, a hip little joint in Union Springs (on the northeast side of Cayuga Lake).
Headquartered in Stern’s 500 square foot studio on Burleigh Road in Ithaca, the studio offers a mixed-media experience to unlock the inner artist. Decorate with a variety of materials, further embellish with a few more, and add a bit of something else for good measure. Many of her materials are recycled and repurposed!
Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition is a not-for-profit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting sustainable waste management practices, and to leading the fight to oppose the expansion of landfills for out-of-county and out-of-state garbage. And they need your support! Thank you, FLZWC, for fighting to protect life!
A versatile program in a growing field, the Sustainable Communities program integrates environmental protection, economic vitality and social equity to solve the challenges of communities around the world.
Buy Nothing groups create hyper-local gift economies. Simply join your local Facebook group, ask for what you need, gift what you don’t, and comment to claim! In the process you will get useful things for free, prevent waste, declutter your life, help out your neighbors, and form community connections that foster a spirit of generosity.
Vaughn and Sue Sherman of Jerry Dell Farm have a mission to produce quality, fresh and local foods. They have been certified organic since 2000! Jerry Dell Farm Store, located at the Freeville location, offers certified organic produce (provided by Ithaca Organics), local free-range eggs, and their own Raw Milk Cheddar Cheese – as well as other Artisan raw milk cheeses from around the Finger Lakes.
Rogers Environmental Education Center, also known as Friends of Rogers, in Sherburne, NY, is a place for hiking, birding, and nature-appreciating. They also have programs for adults, camps for kids, and other educational events that make use of 600 acres of protected land.
Want your own rain garden or green roof? You may be eligible for one…..for free! OMG! (The One Million Gallons Community Partnership) is a program of Atlantic States Legal Foundation, with the goal of intercepting 1 million gallons of stormwater from the combined sewer system in Syracuse by 2025. Click here to learn more.
Boss women of “a certain age”, rallying for social justice, a clean environment, and peace through the power of SONG! Go grannies! Visit their Facebook page to hear their ditties.
Kimchi, Kombucha, & Pickles, oh my (…….and dilly beans, and kvass, fireside tonic, and so much more)! Food & Ferments, a Cortland-based company makes naturally-fermented food and drink, and works with local farmers, retailers, & restaurants to help to bridge the gap the processed food era has made. We love it! Visit their Facebook page to keep up with them.
Got an apple tree? South Hill Cider wants your apples (and twigs)! The Finger Lakes Apple Tree Project is an effort to preserve species of native apple trees by using old twigs to propogate, and using native apples to create unique new varieties of cider! Cheers to these environmental stewards!
Think you’ve visited all the thrift stores Ithaca has to offer? Think again! The ReUse Trail has a catalog of all the places in Ithaca & Tompkins County to buy secondhand furniture, clothing, books & music, computers & electronics, sports & outdoor equipment, art & sewing materials, and antiques. Check it out!
Cornell Small Farms Program is an offshoot of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). They have information GALORE for aspiring and current small farmers, gardeners, beekeepers, livestock producers, and more. Check out their upcoming workshop series on everything under the sun, with tiered pricing based on income level. Their newsletter is also packed with news, funding opportunities, events, and more! Subscribe to keep up with them and take advantage of these resources.
Trumansburg Families Gift Economy is a Facebook group that connects people in and around Trumansburg who want to give or receive goods. Simply like the page, ask for what you need, or tell people what you’re giving away! This helps us save money reduce waste and build community connections. Sharing is caring!
Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse (and also Auburn, Binghamton and Ithaca) offers emergency shelter, meals, supportive permanent housing, employment resources, and spiritual care to those struggling with homelessness and hunger. Listen to their podcast, Drinks From the Well, which opens dialogue and understanding between those who have been homeless and those who wish to know their stories. **VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED** for this awesome organization to deliver meals on Christmas morning – a great way to give back as a family!
The Bramble Collective is a group of three Ithaca, NY-based herbalists who dreamt of bringing accessible, sustainable medicine to their community. They are a retail store with bulk herbs & spices, medicine-making supplies and locally hand-crafted products. Bramble is also a community space offering herbal health consultations, a lending library, classes and events. They recently created “Tea Club”, which is a monthly seasonal tea mix subscription to improve your wellness. And today is the LAST DAY to sign up! Even as they struggle, these rockstars are offering ***1 free Tea Club membership to our local BIPOC community for every 5…
When a building has to be demolished, Significant Elements salvages parts of it to promote the reuse of these parts. Buy purchasing from them, you help the planet AND you get doors, windows, knobs, keyholes, etc that have twice the character of the boring ones you would buy new! Check out their Facebook page to browse their inventory, or visit their storefront in Ithaca.
Schrader Farms Meat Market is a small meat processing facility and retail store in Romulus, NY. They’re your source for high quality, locally-grown meat and honest, reliable, and trustworthy service. Their beef and pork is naturally raised with no added hormones. They offer custom cuts, weights, and flavors. Visit their website to shop their beef, pork, chicken, and variety of specialty smoked products!
Green Home Heroes is a NY State licensed Home Inspection company with Infrared imaging experts who will work to discover any health or structural risks in your home due to mold, structural defects, Carbon Monoxide and gas leaks. They also promote energy efficiency, and will help you understand your options for energy efficient repairs and renovations. And they strengthen our local economy by creating as many jobs as possible! Bravo to Green Home Heroes!
This Trumansburg cafe serves breakfast and lunch that is delicious, locally sourced, and farm-to-table! They offer takeout every weekend, and this weekend they’re featuring Down East Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese with a panko-parmesan crust. Visit their website to see their menu and place an order!
The Bioscience Resource Project is an educational nonprofit which provides tons of scientific resources, with unique and revealing perspectives on issues that are fundamental to the survival of people and the planet. It publishes Independent Science News, a media service devoted to food and agriculture. They’ve also got internships and trainings for students! Check out some of their recent publications: ‘Bill Gates’ Global Agenda and How We Can Resist his War on Life’ and ‘Why We Need A Small Farm Future.’
These friends make flours from from 100% locally-grown grape seeds and skins and process them at their mill in Hector, NY! Wine flour can be used to supplement flour in other recipes with flavor, color and nutrition. In addition to antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, each tablespoon adds two grams of protein and three grams of fiber. Visit their website to order some of their autumnal cupcakes (which can also be made to accommodate our gluten-free pals)! They’re selling out quick!
Habitat for Humanity partners with local first-time homebuyers to help them build or improve a place to call home! Recipients work alongside volunteers to build their home, and pay an affordable mortgage when its completed….These mortgage payments are then used to fund the construction of more Habitat homes! This helps strengthen the local economy and improve community connections. Want to help out? You can certainly help build, but theres also plenty of other ways to get involved. Do you identify as a woman and want to expand your handy skills while giving back to the community? Check out their Woman…
Vonnie’s Kitchen is a Black-Owned, Woman-Owned, Food-To-Go business that offers delicious Caribbean and Dominican-style dinners every Saturday, with plant-based options! Owner, Vonnie, moved here from the Bronx and is a single mom trying to put herself through school. Let’s help her find success in Ithaca! Order by Thursday via her website for pick-up or delivery Saturday.
This Ithaca 501(c)(3) nonprofit introduces plant-based foods and nutrition education in schools through interactive classroom visits, after-school cooking classes, and more! They also focus on exercise, kindness to animals, and intersectional issues, like race and the environment. Their goal is to educate entire school communities; not just students, but also parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and food service personnel. Visit their website to learn about this organization and for policy updates on this cause!
Second Wind Cottages houses and walks with people toward restored lives. They built cottages for homeless men in Newfield with a supportive environment- facilitating regular meetings with the men and also providing drug and alcohol counseling, GED assistance, Christian fellowship and support, life skills training, meals and social events such as movie nights with other residents and the larger community, laundry facilities, exercise equipment, and a food pantry! Our largest Climate Fund grant ever was given to Second Wind to pay for the insulation in all six of their first cottages in Newfield! Thanks to all those who offset their…
These friends support animal rights and the vegan ethic in the Rochester area by educating the public about specific animal issues, raising awareness of and expressing dissent against examples of exploitation and abuse, and advocating for more compassion. Visit their Facebook page to learn how you can get involved!
CNY Solidarity Coalition is a grassroots group dedicated to tearing down the walls that divide and impoverish people, opposing any effort to register, detain, deport, or attack their neighbors, providing refuge for those in danger or need, and protecting water, air, and land. They aim to protect and fight alongside people of color, immigrants, refugees, LGBTQ+ people, the Muslim community, the Jewish community, women, people with disabilities, people with mental illness, the deaf community, teachers, scientists, environmentalists, and all other marginalized and oppressed groups that are likely to be targeted in these uncertain times. Visit their website to learn more…
These folks are sustainability superstars! They’ve super-insulated all of the production, storage, and retail buildings, and have installed efficient lighting throughout their facilities. They also had a geothermal heating/cooling system installed and a 348-panel solar system. These improvements allowed them to reduce their carbon impact by nearly half! They’ve also got 24 acres of land that are certified organic and soil that uses compost and poultry manure only. Bravo, Hunt Country Vineyards! Be sure to check out their website for info on the vineyard and upcoming Nature Workshops.
It’s a CSA, but different! Small World Food offers the widest variety of local, organic food in Rochester with crazy flexibility — No more worries about missing a week or whether you’re actually going to eat everything in your CSA box. With their CSA Share Debit Card, you’ll get exactly what you want, exactly when you want it, and can choose from multiple local farmers to support every week. In addition to produce, they offer jam, honey, maple syrup, juice, pasture raised meat & eggs, granola, dairy products, fermented veggies and MORE (including these spooky loaves of bread 👻 )!…
A place for free meals, hospitality, companionship and advocacy for those in need, regardless of their faith, beliefs, or circumstances. Want to give? Loaves & Fishes is still accepting food donations and volunteers with increased safety protocols. Want to receive? In response to COVID-19, free fresh meals will be packaged to-go and served outside in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, 210 N. Cayuga St.
Iron Flamingo Brewery in Corning, NY supports local businesses by allowing food to be ordered in from other restaurants 😱, and sourcing their hops and malt from local farmers. They earn extra points from us by proudly using solar power for the brewing process! 👍 Visit their Events page to see what food trucks will be there this week, and head over to enjoy 16 brews on tap and a rockin’ beergarden! You can also head over to their website to browse their beer menu and learn more about them.
This nonprofit provides more than 475,000 trips per year to over 6,100 children, adults, and seniors with specialized needs in Monroe County. Their transportation solutions are safe, accessible and affordable, and include medical car services, shopping shuttles, senior center and elder care services and individualized contract services. And they’ve been doing this for over 90 years! 👏👏👏 Visit their website or Facebook page to learn more about this valuable organization.
Founded in 1997, this organization is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of our native flora. They hold free public field trips throughout the year, including their 🌟 ANNUAL SEED COLLECTING WALK THIS SATURDAY AT 1:00PM in Ithaca! 🌟 Join them in this socially-distanced event! 🚶 🚶♂️ 🚶♀️ Members of the society receive their newsletter, and participate in a seed exchange, a spring native plant sale, and a December celebration of native plants. Join their Facebook group to keep up with them or visit their website to learn more.
This “spirited cookery” & cocktail bar in Geneva features seasonal & local foods. Cherish the fall weather and sit on their beautiful back patio for dinner on Mondays and get an additional pre fixe menu (ooh-la-la), or on Sunday for brunch; Or any other day! They’re open 7 days a week for dine-in and take-out. Visit their Facebook page or their website to check out their menu and learn more about them.
NEST is a community-based network of programs working for social, environmental, and economic justice and equity out of Binghampton, NY! For those interested in installing clean heating or cooling, they’ve got a new virtual webinar series for you. Visit their website or like their Facebook page to keep up with all the informative events they have to offer.
High-quality art, 100% recycled paper from a carbon-neutral mill, and great stories: Acorn Designs has it all on notecards, journals, and stationery. All their products are sourced and manufactured in the US; mostly within very close proximity to their studio in the Finger Lakes. Bravo, Acorn Designs! Visit their Facebook page or their website to learn more about what they have to offer.
A small vegetable farm in Hector, NY using organic growing methods; CSA members can pick up their veggies at farmers markets in Corning and Elmira, or pick up straight from the farm. Is a weekly share too much? They have alternative options too! AND, they just won a grant through our very own Finger Lakes Climate Fund! Congrats to Muddy Fingers!
SewGreen is a reuse store right by the Ithaca Commons, that sells unwanted sewing textiles, yarn, needlecraft supplies, and sewing machines. All materials are donated by community members, saving about 22 tons 😳 of materials(!!!) from going to landfills EVERY YEAR! Proceeds help support apprenticeships 👩🏭 and meaningful jobs for young people 👨🏫, summer camps for kids 🏃, and sewing classes for all ages🧵 Wooooooohoooooo! 🥳 Visit their Facebook page or their website to learn more.
Step 1: Dish Truck works with you to determine the specific needs for your event. Step 2: Dish Truck brings clean dishes to you and help set up clean dish pick-up and dirty dish collection stations. Step 3: Dish Truck hauls away the dirty dishes. Step 4: You smile, knowing your event did not create disposable dish garbage! 😇👍👍 Visit their website to learn more about this recipient of our Neighborhood Mini-Grant!
This Syracuse gallery has a mission to exhibit progressive art that inspires resistance and promotes social awareness – a mission we can get behind! 👍 ArtRage has reopened in person as of September 1st, but if you’d rather stay home, you can still view their virtual exhibition via their website, called 8 Minutes 46 Seconds, comprised of powerful moments captured from the current BLM movement, or their current exhibition, called The Seven Deadly Sins – A Trump Dystopian Heptology.
The greatest diversity of native plants in CNY! Looking for… Plants that attract pollinators? Plants less favored by deer? Unique screen plants? Plants for dry shade? ….or simply, plants that are beautiful AND ecologically responsible to plant? See Dan and Sarah at Plantsmen 😊
Small home builders, interior designers, kitchen designers, renovators and consultants! So what separates them from the rest of the pack? 🤔🤔
Just southeast of Rochester, in Victor, NY, lies Ganondagan (ga·NON·da·gan), the site of a Native American community that was a flourishing, vibrant center for thousands of Seneca people. They are now OPEN AGAIN 🥳 so pay them a visit!
Celebrate the weekend with East Side Market! Enjoy products from area farmers and craft vendors including fresh local produce, maple syrup, cheese AND live music. Now through October 11th. Eastside Market is now also offering pre-orders for those who don’t wish to enter the market at this time. Place your order online, and pick up your items on Friday afternoon. Visit their Facebook page to learn more ✨
Brad A. Yentzer, MD is a highly trained dermatologist serving Ithaca, Cortland, Dryden, and the surrounding area. In addition to providing fantastic patient-centered care, Dr. Yentzer is also a strong advocate for protecting the environment. In an effort to reduce his carbon footprint, the new Finger Lakes Dermatology building has been designed to achieve a net zero energy consumption. This is accomplished through a combination of high efficiency HVAC, superior insulation, and a SunPower solar array. To encourage his patients to drive electric cars, Dr. Yentzer has also installed a level 2 EV charger in his parking lot. Visit his…
In Trumansburg, lies a program for preschool families and homeschooling families who wish to embody community, awareness, health and education in their daily lives. Their intention is to create intelligent peacekeepers in the next generation, by teaching academic subjects through an interdisciplinary curriculum adapted by teachers who live on the land, using nature to have an applicable learning experience. Skill-building includes farm-to-table nutrition, animal caretaking, primitive technology, yoga and meditation. Visit their website to learn more about their programs.
Carpentry, gardening, cooking, forestry, trades; Lagom Landing is a nonprofit residential program that gives 18-25 year olds the opportunity to discover their passions and gifts and build useful skills. Students spend time in nature while also living and working closely with mentors who inspire and motivate Carpentry, gardening, cooking, forestry, trades; This nonprofit residential program gives 18-25 year olds the opportunity to discover their passions and gifts and build useful skills. Students spend time in nature while also living and working closely with mentors who inspire and motivate them to discover who they are, not just what they will do.…
Hammerstone School empowers women to use their bodies and minds in creative and useful ways. Here’s how: By increasing the skills of individual women 👩🔧 –> more women in trades 🙋♀️🙋♀️🙋♀️ –> changing workplaces for all women 🤩! We love to see it 👍 Visit their website to find info on upcoming courses, workshops, and more.
Overlooking beautiful Keuka Lake is Heron Hill Winery (with additional tasting rooms in Himrod and Cananadaigua). Not only do they offer delicious wines, but these sustainable folks also grow their grapes without chemical fertilizers 🙅♀️, herbicides 🙅, or pesticides 🙅♂️. AND, they use cultivation practices that protect soil 🌱, support biodiversity 🐛, and reduce the need for irrigation 💧 Visit their Facebook page to book a tasting!
Cumming Nature Center is a 900-acre environmental education center just west of Canandaigua Lake… And they have indeed REOPENED! 🤩 What they have to offer: guided hikes 🚶♀️👨🦯, an eco-book club 🌱📖, forest school for kids up to age 15 🐛, an annual Maple Sugaring event 🍁, yoga in the pines 🌲🌲🧘♀️🌲🌲,…….. and much more! Visit their Facebook page to learn more and to learn about how they’re helping you stay safe during your visit 👍
This hoppin’ farm and craft market, nestled between Seneca and Keuka Lake has been around since the 80’s and has grown to be 200 (TWO-HUNDRED 🤯) shops. What you can do there: enjoy a hearty breakfast 🥞, buy fresh, local produce 🍒, check out the shops 👜, see a free show 🎭, and relax at lunch in the mini-pine tree forest! 🌲👨👨👧👧🥪🌲 Check out their Facebook page to see cute pictures of all the great things they have to offer!
Finding new homes for pre-loved goods 💗 Reopened! Go on in! Just 2 blocks from the Ithaca Wegmans, you’ll find….furniture from 19th c. formal to Mid-Century 🛏,, country primitive, cottage style and industrial pieces 🕰, Glass, china, pottery 🥣, estate/vintage jewelry 💍, ~ vintage clothing 🩱, art 🖼, ~ collectibles, books 📚, and more!🤩 Plus, they can deliver locally! 🚛
The Upstate NY branch of the US Green Building Council provides education, advocacy, and outreach to individual members and those interested in sustainable building design, construction, operation and maintenance. Tap into their experience; share your own knowledge; and help transform the built environment! Visit their Facebook page to learn more and check out their virtual events. 🌟
Boxy Bikes is an e-bike and bike repair shop in Ithaca, NY. They have electric bikes to rent and buy and can also customize your regular bicycle to have electric assistance, allowing you to climb hills 🧗♀️, carry more 🎒, and go fast 🚵♀️ Open every day by appointment! 📅
Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in Lafayette, NY (between Cortland and Syracuse) has been growing apples for over 100 years. Like 1911 Cider? 🍻 It’s made from their apples!!!! 🤩 They’ve also got apple picking starting on August 27th 🥳; a great social-distancing-friendly activity made safer by COVID guidelines put in place to protect you. Visit their Facebook page to learn more. 😊
Eagle Envelope is a print shop in Trumansburg, NY for envelopes and everything you put inside of them. They prepare your order quickly, affordably, and with a high quality standard. Plus, everything is printed with 100% wind power generated in New York State that produces zero carbon emissions. Need we say more? Visit their website to request a quote!
Easy Living Hats employs creative women to manufacture hats by hand in Ithaca, NY. The hats are designed for all ages and activities, variously made from hemp, locally-sourced wood, or cotton recycled from textile production waste, and sold online and at the Ithaca Farmers’ Market. Their recent collection of naturally dyed Sun Hats sold out within 4 DAYS! 😱 The next batch is due to release very soon, so subscribe to the email list for that update! In the meantime, shop HEMP Sun Hats – locally made, with certified organic hemp twine: an easy-packing, versatile, durable and “scrunchable” summer hat…
Imagine: Toys for everyone to borrow…A community resource devoted to play… Well, imagine no more; there’s Finger Lakes Toy Library – a lending library that increases access to toys, supports play, and encourages a culture of reuse and sharing. A great resource for families, child care providers, therapists, family workers, grandparents, babysitters and more.🌟 Due to COVID-19, you can now reserve toys online💻 , pick up curbside 🚗, and keep toys longer 🕙. Toys are also quarantined for 72 hours between borrowers. 🌟
15 minutes northwest of Syracuse – Beaver Lake Nature Center offers 9 miles of trails 🏃🏃♀️ featuring 200 species of birds 🦆🦉🦇🦅 and over 800 varieties of plants 🌻🌳🌷🌺🍁. Kayak or canoe too if thats your thing! COVID accommodations include closing the visitors center and capping the parking lot at 1/3 capacity to encourage social distancing. Visit their Facebook page to learn about species like this one.
The Finger Lakes Most Awarded Craft Brewery! This old dairy barn in Geneva has been equipped with two tap rooms for tastings and pints. They’ve reopened Thursday – Sunday with an abbreviated food menu on Saturday and Sunday. They’ve also got tons of bands coming this month; Check out their event page to peruse the…
This grassroots organization empowers low-wage workers throughout the community to combat workplace abuses and improve wages and working conditions. How do these local powerhouses do so? By providing training related to workers’ rights and occupational health and safety, orchestrating campaigns to combat wage theft, promoting employer compliance with the law, and organizing to push for…
The designers of the Peggy Ryan Williams Center, Food Bank of the Southern Tier, their own NET-ZERO ENERGY OFFICE RENOVATION (read more about that here) and much, much more. HOLT Architects keep social, economic, and environmental sustainability at the forefront of all their designs and pride themselves on understanding their clients’ goals, so they can make them realities! Over on their Facebook page, they have a weekly series called ‘What Are We Thinking Wednesdays’, comprised of segments where the architects ponder how thoughtful design can benefit us as we navigate our changing world. To learn more about these folks, visit…
NYPAN-SFL, a chapter of the statewide umbrella group New York Progressive Action Network (NYPAN), is a grassroots organization dedicated to the promotion of progressive issues at the local level. They were inspired by the political movement started by Senator Bernie Sanders, but are open to participation from all progressives regardless of their political-party affiliation. Their leadership members meet regularly to plan activities (including public outreach and education around the issues), to build networks, and to recruit and support candidates for public office. To see what they’re up to, visit their Facebook page. To get involved, check out their events calendar…
Develop your green thumb during quarantine! Fruition Seeds has you covered with 300 varieties of certified organic vegetables, herbs & flowers to surround you with beauty & abundance. They also select varieties for early maturity, productivity & disease resistance here in the short seasons of the Northeast so you & your garden will thrive in every season. They’ve even got a “Plant Now! Guide” (like this one for the month of April) to set you up for success. Check it out! 🌱🍅🌽🥦🌺🌼✨
Did you know that Cinemapolis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit? They are supported not only by ticket sales, but also donations and fundraising. In response to the statewide “stay at home” order, they are offering a weekly slate of new films for patrons to view at home, so you can enjoy current indie films while supporting local business. To see what’s playing now and what’s coming soon, visit their website🍿🎥📽🎭🍫✨
What better way to lift your own spirits in these hard times than to catch some rays and move your body? Trails in the Ithaca area are still open to the public. On the Ithaca Trails website, you can search the areas trails, and can even narrow your results by activity, difficulty, length, dog friendliness, lake views and much more! Such a valuable resource. Check it out! 🚵♀️🌳🌞🍄🏃♂️✨
17th Century Suds is an environmentally conscious and socially responsible manufacturer. Since 1999, they’ve been producing our own recipes of beeswax lip balm, bar soap, liquid soap, olive oil shampoo, and creams with organic coconut oil, American organic sunflower oil, American Northeast beeswax, the world’s finest 100% water processed essential oils produced by small farmers around the world, European olive oil, and their own garden-grown fresh calendula. They are also an approved vendor for the season at the Ithaca Farmers Market! Stop by and show them some love 💗 Or, purchase their products online! For more info, visit their website.…
Windsong Farm raises grass-fed and grass-finished beef and lamb, and makes excellent fleeces, sheepskins and an array of wool products. They also produce pastured chicken and duck eggs, duck and fruit jams and jellies. They are another one of the approved vendors this season at the Ithaca Farmers Market, and you can even order online ahead of time and pick up there! For more info, visit their website.
Ithaca Welcomes Refugees 👨👧👧🌏✨ (IWR) is a volunteer-led community initiative that fosters a welcoming and fair environment for refugees and at-risk immigrants who come to the region. IWR provides a variety of resources and support services, like the Global Roots Play School that offers affordable, accessible childcare to parents eager to learn English, and Response Projects focused on responding to the specialized needs of both newly arrived refugee families and at-risk immigrants who have lived in the Ithaca area for a longer period. Want to get involved? Visit their website to see open volunteer positions 🙂
PathStone serves as the Constituency-Based Organization for the NYSERDA Community Energy Engagement Program in the Finger Lakes area, helping low to moderate income families access subsidies for energy efficiency, Clean Heating and Cooling technologies, and Solar for All. Pathstone also has grants that can assist with home rehabilitation projects. They are a non-profit and focused on helping local families improve the safety and comfort of their homes, in addition to providing other career and employment services, education and health services and much more! The folks over at Pathstone are absolute rockstars! For more info on their work, visit their website.
e2e Materials, which stands for earth-to-earth, is based in Ithaca, New York, develops, designs, engineers, and innovates the next generation of furniture, cabinetry, and other wood-based products, that are smarter, stronger, and cheaper; made in the USA with uncompromised sustainability. e2e’s products use locally produced, annually renewable resources, including soy flour, and natural grass fibers, such as jute, flax, and kenaf. Additionally, e2e uses only a small fraction of the energy required for wood composites, saving billions of pounds of CO2. See the listing on our map for contact info!
ETM specializes in solar energy systems. They install solar electric systems and solar hot water heaters on residences and commercial buildings and repair existing solar energy systems. They also sell small wind turbines. Their prime directive is to bring environmentally friendly solar power to as many people on planet Earth as possible. For more info,…
Words Into Deeds brings cutting edge methods, and resources designed to promote greater youth awareness of and engagement in local and global human rights issues, helping them develop skills and confidence as informed, empowered, active citizens through the use of workshops, seminars, individual consulting, access to global platforms, and classroom activities. Right now, they’re working on Teaching Global Citizenship Skills in Uganda and Teaching Youth About Healthy Consumer Practices. For more info, visit their website.
Love the idea of eating locally-grown fruits and veggies? Want to support your local farmers and local economy? Don’t know where to begin? buylocalfoodny.org, a project of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, is a great place to start. There you’ll find a directory of places to find local food, tips for saving money, and much more. A wonderful resource to take advantage of, for those new to buying local and all you seasoned buyers!
Crow and Owl Farm is a farm startup on White Hawk Ecovillage in Danby. Farm-owner, Steve Woinoski, is currently prepping fields for hazelnuts and berries. He’s also a member of the New York Tree Crops Alliance (NYTCA), which is a small group of tree farmers from Tompkins County and the surrounding areas who helped to make Steve’s dream a reality! Read more about Steve’s journey and NYTCA here!
Way2Go brings together people, information, resources and leadership to work towards a more equitable and sustainable transportation system in Tompkins County and beyond. Way2Go partners on numerous transportation projects providing education and outreach on mobility challenges and solutions in Tompkins County and beyond. They also share information in person and online through their Facebook page and the Way2Go website, which houses an online directory of every transportation service in Tompkins County for local and regional travel, how-to videos, tips and tools and ways to get involved in community initiatives. Way2Go is a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County.…
Neighbor to Neighbor (formerly Love Knows No Bounds) is a volunteer-run non-profit that collects and delivers good quality donated beds and furniture, and performs critical home repairs to ensure that our neighbors live in a safe, functional, and comfortable home. We are working toward a world in which the housing needs of the most vulnerable citizens in our community are at the forefront of people’s consciousness. Check out what they’re up to!
CCAA was formed to educate others and actively work towards reversing the anthropogenic climate change. The Founding Members of the CCAA came together as an organizing committee putting their minds together to host environmentally charged events in Syracuse, NY. They are also a 350.org local group! Thinking about an electric car? National Drive Electric Week is this week and CCAA is celebrating! Check out the event here.
Wellspring Forest Farm & School has a vision that humanity learns to see the forest as a valuable, productive space, forming relationships based on an intimate way of knowing and rooted in participatory action. Through mentoring students, they transform the eastern temperate forest into a productive and diverse ecosystem for generations to come. Take a class, order some mushrooms, or stay at their fun yurt Air BnB! For more info, visit their website.
Water Front is a blog by Peter Mantius, a journalist writing about the latest happenings in Environmental Politics in the Finger Lakes region. Check out one of his latest stories – a comprehensive look at the Harmful Algal Blooms in Cayuga Lake.
VINES is an organization that establishes community gardens, urban agriculture and community green spaces with a focus on empowering community members of all ages and abilities. Programs include:- a community garden program- the Binghamton Urban Farm (BUF)- Grow Binghamton (a summer youth employment program)- the Green Thumb Educational Workshop Series- the Binghamton Farm Share program (Farm Share)- a community garden program – the Binghamton Urban Farm (BUF) – Grow Binghamton (a summer youth employment program) – the Green Thumb Educational Workshop Series – the Binghamton Farm Share program (Farm Share)
Homes and properties in communities across New York are located on or near toxic sites that can cause health hazards or reduce investment value. Toxic Targeting obtains environmental data from local, state and federal government sources and updates our information on a continuing basis. They provide extensive archival data now withheld from public disclosure. If you are buying a specific home or property, you can order a Toxics Targeting Phase I Environmental Database Report. They will walk you through your detailed report and answer your questions! For more info, visit their website.
The Solar Home Factory builds pre-fab solar homes at their factory at 33 Forge Ave in beautiful Geneva, New York. Homes are designed for a low maintenance, low impact, and highly efficient lifestyle. Solar panels power heat pump systems that heat, cool, and insert fresh air. The steel siding, PVC trim, and membrane roofing make for an extremely low maintenance home. For more info, visit https://www.solarhomefactory.com/.
For more than a century the Smith Opera House has thrived as the center stage of the Finger Lakes, offering quality performing arts and cultural opportunities for area residents and regional visitors. Occupied approximately 250 nights per year with events open to the public, the theatre is an ongoing symbol of historic preservation, non-profit perseverance, and artistic excellence. For more info, visit their facebook page.
The Business Leaders of Colors (BLoC) is a member-based organization whose mission is to support business leaders and work towards equity in the arena of economic opportunity, integrity, and growth. The network was formed to level the playing field and create a cooperative space for commerce that will serve the under-served business community.
HeatSmart, a program of Solar Tompkins, is a nonprofit community-based organization focused on promoting the rapid adoption of renewable energy in Tompkins County, NY. They work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Tompkins County by facilitating the adoption of home insulation, sealing, and heat pump technologies for heating and cooling. They provide residents with the information, confidence, and value they need to transition their homes toward zero net carbon emissions, strengthening local markets for renewable energy and energy efficiency. To learn more, and to access HeatSmart designers and installers, visit the NYSERDA website.
STEPS is a neighborhood health improvement project for southern Seneca County, New York, specifically Covert, Lodi, Ovid and Romulus, with a mission to strengthen families, address challenges that are part of rural life, grow a sustainable regional economy, cultivate leadership, encourage initiative, and foster respect for all. They offer cooking classes, herbalism classes, and all things of the sort! For more info, visit their website.
CCAA was formed to educate others and actively work towards reversing the anthropogenic climate change. The Founding Members of the CCAA came together as an organizing committee putting their minds together to host environmentally charged events in Syracuse, NY. They are also a 350.org local group!
The Town of Geneva and Joule Community Power have partnered to provide a local renewable energy program serving residents and businesses in the NY Finger Lakes region. Go solar and save! Enrollers save approximately 10% on electricity every year for up to 25 years. For more info, visit their website.
Mover and shaker, Suzanne Hunt, provides expert policy, political, and investment advising on energy, agriculture, transportation, and the environment. Hunt Green helps businesses and investors anticipate and respond to changing markets, technologies, policies, political dynamics, and other risks and opportunities, and work with policymakers to address climate, energy, food, security, and green design challenges. For more info, visit the website.
The Ithaca Children’s Garden is an innovative grassroots effort to create exciting, interactive garden-based experiences with children of all ages. Garden programs are intergenerational and open to all! With an endless list of educational programs, exciting events, and fun features, what’s not to love? Stop by! ICG welcomes ALL visitors EVERY day.
Looking for a place to stay in Syracuse? Choose LEED-Platinum certified – Hotel Skyler! This hotel has lights and heat/cooling systems that shut down when the guests leave the room. It also features geothermal heating and cooling systems, which utilize the steady temperature of the earth. Hotel Skyler also prioritizes incorporating regionally-produced and reclaimed materials and serves sustainably sourced wine, beer, and liquor!
The Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming strives to make local ecologically-sound farming opportunities and food more accessible to people of all demographics, through an array of educational programs. Their core values include regenerative agriculture, relationship building, equity and justice, land reparations and reconciliation. Check out their workshops, discussion groups, and other events!
Looking to invest in a renewable energy solution like a wood pellet stove or boiler? Ehrhart Energy of Trumansburg can help. With the help of NYSERDA incentives through the Renewable Heat NY program, local residents have saved thousands of dollars on wood pellet heating systems purchased at Ehrhart. They also sell wood bricks and offer a biodiesel blend for home heating and auto fuel.
Edible Acres is a permaculture nursery and forest farm research space in Trumansburg, NY focused on low and no tech solutions. Edible Acres can help your garden vision come to life! They provide I wide array of plant stock and offer land management and consultation services.
Cayuga Waterfront Trail Initiative (CWTI) is a partnership of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the City of Ithaca. The Cayuga Waterfront Trail is a 5.5-mile, multi-use trail providing an active, non-motorized transportation and recreation way connecting Cayuga Lake’s most popular waterfront destinations. Rent a bike, canoe or kayak to enhance your waterfront experience!
Camp Earth Connection is for everyone who seeks fun and inspirational experiences in nature. CEC is a drug and alcohol free facility at Hammond Hill State Park that values diversity and wants to provide a safe space and welcome all types of families. Their facility is designed to have a minimal impact on the surrounding land by using principles and practices such as permaculture, no trace camping, composting toilets, rainwater collection, and minimal motorized traffic. Enjoy camping and outdoor activities in the summer, or women’s retreats coming up in the fall!
Blue Spoon Farm, of Groton, NY, raises goats, sheep, geese, turkey, and chickens on 16 acres of flat open pasture land. They are building a diverse and sustainable farm by……- using permaculture principles and holistic management practices- not using chemical pesticides or fungicides on our vegetables or in animal feeds- buying feeds from local farmers- treating animals humanely- practicing rotational grazing – striving for all of hay to be produced on the farm, or locally, and organically- powering their farm with solar energy!!!!!!
Located in the parking lot across from Curley’s Restaurant, from 7 AM – 2 PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, June through October. Stop by Auburn Farmer’s Co-op Market for some fresh strawberries, local produce, baked goods, jams & jellies, and more!
Mowing Solar Farms is a Women-Owned Farm Business offering to keep your solar farm working at optimal performance. With a grazing package, no shade will hinder the performance of your panels – their flock of sheep will maintain a lawn underneath your solar array. In the winter, the flock returns to their home farm in Upstate NY. They also offer discounted lamb to their clients!
A Stone’s Throw Bed and Breakfast offers a delightful ambiance, well-appointed rooms, and wholesome vegetarian breakfast offerings using products from farms and producers in the region. They are currently using a solar hot water heater and waiting for a Renovus Community Solar Farm to go online.
Bringing you wine country in the city, just 4 miles from the heart of Syracuse, Greenwood is farm-to-table! Check out their kitchen garden, where they produce herbs, tomatoes, and other local produce to enhance their one-of-a-kind recipes or take a look at their vineyard, vegetable and herb gardens, winery, tasting room, event area or bistro!
Trailblazers is a nonpartisan political action committee dedicated to the funding and promotion of rookie candidates committed, first and foremost, to campaign finance transparency! Trailblazers PAC providing resources for local candidates to rebuild ties between voters and their democracy, one “front porch” conversation at a time.They’re currently endorsing candidates for office for 2019. Check ’em out!
The Bath Farmer’s Market features fresh vegetables, cheese, farm fresh eggs, pastured meats and poultry, local honey, granola, fresh local seafood, just made baked goods, homemade soups, locally roasted coffee, hand spun wool, unique gifts and more! Open YEAR ROUND rain or shine on Saturdays 8:30am – 12:00pm (May – October) 9:00am – 12:00pm (November – April) At Pulteney Square (the Waterfront) in Bath, NY.
The Ithaca Freeskool is a platform for free classes, discussion groups, skill shares, projects, and events hosted in a non-intimidating, informal, radical, creative, and fun environment. The Freeskool aims to bring people together to equalize the distribution of knowledge and confidence with an emphasis on skills and issues of local importance.
Recycle Ithaca’s Bicycles is a program of the Southside Community Center, Inc. They are a community bicycle maintenance and repair shop offering education and support to Ithaca residents for over 20 years. They accept donations of unwanted bikes and bicycle parts, effectively rerouting them from landfills.
Last year, Crooked Carrot was bought by Headwater Food Hub. Headwater Food Hub works collaboratively with a network of regional farmers and food producers to coordinate a Good Food System that delivers top-quality, sustainable foods year-round. For Customer Partners, they provide a one-stop-shop for this area’s best produce, meat, dairy, and value-added goods. For Farmer and Food Producer Partners, they provide a consistent, large, and fair market for their products.
Wonderful Wheelchairs repairs and sells power and manual wheelchairs, walkers, and mobility scooters at very reasonable prices. Got an unused wheelchair on your hands? Donate it and receive a tax deduction! Their stock of mobility equipment is collected entirely through donations. Their average reconditioned manual wheelchair costs around $75 for the parts and materials needed for repairs.
Crystal City | Creative Spaces is an exciting new “community-supported” property development company in Syracuse, New York. In short, this unique for profit (REIT) focuses on the adaptive re-use of older, ex-industrial properties in the greater Downtown area, creating adequate, affordable and efficient space for Syracuse’s “Creative Class”,“Greening” buildings, vacant lots and public spaces, jelping neighborhoods become more resilient, safe and community friendly; and creating new openings for economic development through Arts & Cultural activity.
CNY Land Trust, working in Onondaga and Oswego Counties, acquires land either by donation or purchase and keeps it in its natural state. These lands may contain wetlands, ponds, streams, grasslands, forests, hills and all of the other wonderful natural landforms that abound in Central New York. CNY Land Trust owns all of its preserves, and cares for the land forever for community benefit. All of the preserves are open, free of charge, for hiking, photography and nature study from sunrise to sunset every day of the year.
Gadabout is a nonprofit transportation service for older and disabled residents of Tompkins County. Gadabout also provides ADA Complementary Paratransit, specialized, door-to-door transportation service for people who are not able to ride the fixed-route transit system because of a disability. To be eligible you must be disabled or be 60 or older.
Looking for quality whole-grain flour? Want to support local business? Look no further! Farmer Ground Flour is made from grain grown in the Finger Lakes region, through a series of beautiful pink granite millstones, designed to keep the nutritional integrity of the grain intact. In Ithaca, you can purchase FGF at Greenstar, Hometown Markets, Ithaca Coffee Co., The Piggery, and Wegman’s.
Gourdlandia is the leader of the Farm-to-Bedside-Table movement, where lamps are grown organically, from seed to shining LED bulb! Pop into their store in EcoVillage, or take a class with them to learn about the process of growing gourds and turning them into lamps and other functional art! Groups of 6 or more get a $5 discount per person!
The Finger Lakes Bee Club is a community of over 100 beekeepers at all levels of experience and expertise whose purpose is to share knowledge and appreciation of honeybees, to improve the craftsmanship of its members, and to provide opportunities for friendship and conviviality among members and their families. Beekeeping speakers, workshops and programs are sponsored throughout the year! They meet on the 3rd Sunday of the month @ 2pm. Don’t bee shy and pop by! The Finger Lakes Bee Club is open to the public.
How does NO electric or heating bills sound? Lake Tunnel Solar Village features 20 homes from Solar Home Factory, built to be solid, light, warm, and with integrated renewable energy. You can live just steps from the water and walk to fine dining and entertainment downtown. 2 bedroom Lake Access Townhomes start at $167,000. You might even be eligible for a $10,000 Federal Tax Credit!
Located in Willseyville, NY, Double E Forest Farm produces shiitake and oyster mushrooms on hardwood logs. The wood used is selected and cut from over 70 wooded acres using sustainable forestry practices. All mushrooms are cultivated using natural and organic methods. Mushrooms, ramps and fiddlesticks are sold by CSA through Full Plate Farm Collective and direct order.
Democratic Women of the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes is an independent, grassroots organization dedicated to bringing more Democratic women into the political process. They actively recruit women to become engaged in their communities and to run for office and connect potential candidates with their appropriate Boards of Elections and political committees. They also offer training and community programs! Check out their website, where they identify all women running on the Democratic line in any race in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions of New York State in the current election cycle.
Lang Elliott has documented the sights and sounds of the Finger Lakes for several decades, and shares these gifts on his website and online store. Photos, videos, and recordings cover a full range of the birds, insects, amphibians, mammals, and even the winds and waters of our region. Get the app, Pure Nature (free at the app store!) or head to the website to listen to 3D Binaural Soundscapes and have the sounds of the Finger Lakes at your fingers anytime!
Natural Upcycling collects organic waste and food waste and turns it into a renewable resource – such as electricity or natural gas – through a process called anaerobic digestion. Developed for a wide range of organizations generating high volumes of food waste, such as hospitals, food manufacturers and processors, hotels, universities, long-term care institutions and hospitality providers, their WasteMaster conversion system re-purposes food and organic waste as reusable resources, on site, without adding anything during the process.
Wild Things Sanctuary helps native wildlife by rescuing and rehabilitating debilitated and orphaned/displaced animals until they are ready for release back into the wild. They currently specialize in native bat care, however they are happy to advise on any wildlife situation. Came across an injured animal? All hope is not lost! Their website provides contact info for plenty of wildlife sanctuaries in the Finger Lakes region, and info on what to do until help arrives.
Weaver Wind Energy’s mission is to create the world’s best small wind systems and related products. They prioritize using methods that are respectful of the natural environment as much as possible, and business practices that are based on cooperation, not competition. We admire their commitment to our community, as they offer opportunities for students of all ages and even New York State politicians to learn about their work. Check them out!
Looking for a new place to live? Want to be a part of a sustainable community? EcoVillage at Ithaca is part of a growing global movement for a more sustainable human culture. Comprising an intentional community and a non-profit educational organization, the project is developing an alternative model for suburban living which provides a satisfying, healthy, socially rich lifestyle, while minimizing ecological impacts.
Tiny Timber LLC provides affordable housing alternatives using natural, sustainable building materials and methods to create homes that fit in today’s world. Earlier this year, Tiny Timber went tiny! They now specialize in making affordable modular “tiny-houses” to fill the gap in middle-income housing in Ithaca. They are also an EnergyStar Partner and a living-wage employer. We applaud their commitment to their founding principles and to community wellbeing!
By air sealing, insulating and installing high-efficiency heating systems, Snug Planet is saving Tompkins County residents thousands of dollars on fuel and electricity, dollars that remain in our local community. Snug Planet uses the most environmentally-friendly products available and follows the highest building science practices. During your comprehensive home energy assessment, Snug will listen to your concerns, perform thorough testing and inspection, and develop solutions that target your specific issues. The results will have you living more comfortably and with lower utility bills.
Paradise Energy Solutions is a family-owned, full service solar installation company with a vision, “To help people be good stewards of God’s abundant resources.” Though based in Himrod, NY, they provide turnkey grid-tied solar installations all throughout the mid-Atlantic region for businesses, farmers and homeowners. Employees are trained by Solar Energy International (SEI), an industry-leading training program, and several team members are certified professionals with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Their website provides info on state-specific grants, tax incentives, and SRECs that make switching to solar even more affordable.
Anabel’s Grocery provides nutritious, affordable food for all Cornell students through a student-run grocery store and offers educational programs that create a fun, inclusive, empowering community around quality food, food choices, wellness, and positive social change. They also feature a CSA pick-up site for Full Plate Farm Collective. For more info, visit their website.
Ability in Bloom is a dynamic, horticulture-based social enterprise of Challenge Workforce Solutions. Through a partnership with Take Your Pick Flower Farm, they provide jobs within their CSA for a committed group of adults and teenagers with disabilities and other barriers to employment. They provide an opportunity to cultivate work skills and self-reliance. For more info, visit their website.
With a mission build wealth and create economic opportunity for underserved people and communities, AFCU is helping fight systemic inequalities. Stop in to apply for a loan, open a checking account, or participate in some of their community programs, such as “Coffee Talk”, the peer mentoring business circle, or “Money Matters”, the financial workshop. To learn more, visit their website.
With the goal of a prosperous, safe, and healthy New York, AGREE works for safe, affordable energy and the development of a green economy in New York State. By promoting a transition to a carbon-free and nuclear-free future and educating the public about energy alternatives, they work to revitalize the economy and safeguard human health and the environment. To learn more about their work, visit their website.
ASGA promotes grazing livestock on solar installations. They develop best practices that support shepherds and solar developers to both effectively manage solar installations and create new agribusiness profits. To learn more, visit their website.
Abundant Solar Power, Inc. is committed to the origination, development, installation, financing, operation and maintenance, and asset management of solar power projects. ASP has recently partnered with Ampion to provide subscriptions for businesses and residents the Greater Rochester community. Visit their website to sign up for a subscription to one of their four operational solar farms!
2 Kids Goat Farm milks their goats and cows daily to produce a variety of fresh and aged cheeses from their rich creamy milk, alternating between goat and cow milk depending on the time of year, to make sure everyone gets a break. They also make their own goat milk soaps, lotions, and lip balms and support the local economy by selling products to local retailers and restaurants. For more info, visit their website.
Did you know that there is a full-color road map of the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County offered to the public for free? The map highlights bike lanes, trails and bike boulevards for safer city cycling, current road conditions for biking, as well as points of interest (swimming areas, farmers’ markets, hospitals, waterfalls, bike repair locations, parks, visitor’s centers, etc.).