"The Hub" Rural Resource Center & Agricultural Depot
We envision an outlet in the St. Lawrence River Valley of NY that could serve as a community hub for many local projects. "Bringing the goat to market"  The Hub will host a commercial kitchen for use as a business incubator for small agricultural entrepreneurs (who could then sell their goods in the on-site store, as well). It could also be available to the public for canning or other food preservation projects, by the hour or day.  The Sustainable Living Project (SLP) is inspired to provide a "hub" or "umbrella" site for many local endeavors, for- and non-profit. Please note: none of the folks we're going to mention next have actually AGREED to this yet, the following is just to provide an idea, specifically, of other entities could benefit from this project.  + The fledgling North Country Online Farmer's Market operation is another possibility to need all of the same, and delivery "call center". + The Mobile Processing Unit (a more humane, farm-based mobile slaughter facility) will need a base and storage unit, as well. + The Hub will help existing businesses and create opportunities for many more enterprises that may have an interest in sharing an outlet or using a facility for a reasonable rate.  coolers, freezers and a standardized packing area value-added processing (canning, drying, fermenting, vac-pac, flash-freeze) eventually, space for artisan cheesemaking and other local dairy packaging and assembly for "value-added" foodstuffs aggregation and storage facilities loading docks (multi-level for farmers and shipping containers) regional distribution hub infrastructure a program for a kitchen incubator/"value-added" foods business development "Reach for the Sky!" We envision partnering with varied organizations providing institutional support for Farm to School and other institutions, as well. We already partner with the St. Lawrence Health Initiative on the Dig In! Conference, for instance, and the NY Small Scale Food Processors Assn. as well as many, many other local organizations and farms. Both retail (possibly a Winter Farmer's Market) and a Wholesale Farmer's Market outlet could grow into this facility with us. Of course, either way, we'd eventually want to sell some of the goods that will be created in the facility -- though we are sensitive to support local stalwarts such as the Potsdam Food Co-op and Nature's Storehouse. How about a tool lending library, or a seed exchange -- cooperative ventures of all stripes will be encouraged. A community space for use by locals and offices/classroom space for use by incubator businesses and non-profit organizations; a place to share meals, parties and dances, would round out the mix. Of course, our own year-round schedule of rural skills open-learning workshops (we encourage YOU to share your skills with others!) will have a wonderful home base as well. We envision classroom space and a "hands-on" cooking center to showcase our Nutritious Delicious cooking series. All of this would be augmented by contributions by and for local students, largely through our ongoing Internship Program, which is quite active at St. Lawrence University and at SUNY Potsdam. Sixteen students have been mentored in a variety of fulfilling and meaningful community projects since the Fall of 2010. Creation of a "Green" Home Tours database, the Nutritious Delicious Cooking series, a Community Supported Agriculture survey and display, the first Zero Waste certified event in New York State, the Local Living Festival, Campus Sustainability Week activities, and the Campus Sustainability Summit were all created or assisted by college-level Interns. Clarkson University and SUNY Canton are natural places to expand the Program into -- a world of local good could come of the projects that can be run through such a community center! Our plans begin with a feasibility study and business plan. Funding is available through many sources, especially for agriculture endeavors such as the Commercial Kitchen. The Hub -- Renewable Resource Center & Agricultural Depot is part of our long-range plan for a Homesteading College in the St. Lawrence River Valley. At the time the College comes to fruition, some of these facilities will transfer to that campus. If you can help us move forward through your expertise in some facet of this, or just as an interested volunteer, please be in touch! Read more here: The Hub White Paper |
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HUB Facility |
