Although RUPCO has done great work in providing various services to people in need of affordable housing, RUPCO's model of new affordable housing, which is the model for Woodstock Commons, is the retail equivalent of Costco and the other big box stores. RUPCO gets its funds from afar, its labor from afar, and its residents from afar. In some cases, financing can come from anywhere in the nation, residents from anywhere in the state, and materials and contractors from probably not quite as far, but certainly not from the Town of Woodstock.
When towns decide to refurbish existing housing stock, using local labor and materials, and local investors, and house locals in need of housing in the refurbished structures, everybody works together, AND everybody wins.
This is a very simplified version of the case for local self-reliance, but a simplified version is great for illustrating a point.
Here in Woodstock, there are many industries that could be more localized than they are now, therefore benefiting all of us here in Woodstock.
In the spirit of this local driving force in our economy, and in our lives in general, The Woodstock Land Conservancy and the Woodstock Farm Festival are organizing and hosting a speaker on local farming and the local food supply chain.
On Saturday, February 19, at Woodstock Elementary School, from 10 AM to about 2:30 PM, Joel Salatin, renowned Virginia meat farmer and advocate of a local food supply, will be speaking to the first couple of hundred to buy tickets. As of a couple of days ago, there are only about 30 tickets left, believe it or not. Salatin has a very loyal following. He is a superb speaker. I offer you this youtube clip, a sampling of Salatin's wisdom and wit:
And the effort to support a local food supply does not end with the farmer. After lunch, which is provided at the event, attendees will be treated to a panel discussion of local farmers, food processors, and others who are trying to get all of us here in the Catskills and Hudson Valley to eat more locally produced food.
But that's not all. After listening to talk of local produce, meat and food processing all day, you might wish to sample a dinner prepared by one of Woodstock area's talented chefs. But Saturday February 19 will not be any normal night to eat out in Woodstock. At four local restaurants, the main ingredients of special prix fixe menus will be sourced locally, meaning basically within fifty miles of their restaurants. Right in the middle of February!
I will spend more time later writing about the general dissonance between RUPCO's big box housing solution and the locally inspired, locally innovative, locally involved, and locally rewarding economic engine.
I wanted to offer you a way to have a taste of the whole local concept in the most tangible way possible: listen to the farmer, ask questions, and then go out to a local restaurant and taste how good it is.
For now, here are the February 19 locally sourced prix-fixe dinner participating restaurants, and their offerings:
New World Home Cooking
Local 50 Mile Prix Fixe:
“From Apples to Apples”
4 courses $35, With Wine Pairing $55
•Amuse Bouche
Nettle Meadows Kunik, Black Walnut and Lenny B Honey Tostada
•Soup
Apple-Potato Leek Soup
Wine: Millbrook Chardonnay
•Choice of Entree
Pan Roasted Local Oceans Sea Bream (Hudson)
Slow Roasted NorthWinds Farm Pork Shoulder (Tivoli)
Sauteed Shamah’s Seitan (Kingston) with Davenports Corn Succotash (Marbletown)
Wine: Lamoreaux Landing Pinot Noir
•Dessert
Hudson Valley Cheese Plate with home grown apple butter
(Coach Farm, Sprout Creek, Nettle Meadow)
Wine: Brotherhood Riesling
1411 Rt 212
Saugerties, NY 12477
845-246-0900
Garden Café on The Green (Vegan)
Four Course $30 Prix Fixe Menu including a glass of wine or beer
•Polenta Mushroom Tart (Wild Hive Farms Polenta)
•Tofu Cacciatore
•Walnut Pesto Roasted Vegetables
Sauteed Kale
•Apple Crumb Pie with Vanilla Cashew Ice Cream or
Gluten Free Apple Crisp with Cashew Ice Cream
LOCAL INGREDIENTS:
•Polenta and Bread Flour for •Foccacia from Wild Hive Farms
•Apples-Sunfrost Farms Market
•Maple Syrup-Breezy Mountain Farm
•Cashew Ice Cream-Organic Nectars
•Organic Wine and local Ommegang Beer
6 Old Forge Road
Woodstock, NY
845-679-3600
The Red Onion Restaurant & Bar
Joel Salatin Prix Fixe Dinner Available 5-10pm
$37.95
•Lenny Bee’s Locally Smoked Trout Salad
•Stone Church Farm Duck Breast, Spiced Honey Sauce, Parsnip Puree, Slow-Roasted Brussels Sprouts
•Local Fuji Apple Crisp Topped with Jane’s Vanilla Ice Cream
1654 Route 212
Saugerties NY 12477
845-679-1223
Violette
This dinner menu will feature an omelet with local eggs, local potatoes, local smoked trout, and something for dessert with local apples. Call for details and price.
85 Mill Hill Road
Woodstock, New York 12498
845-679-5300
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