This month, The Local Crowd Monadnock (TLC Monadnock), a community-based crowdfunding program, launched two local food-related campaigns. Perfect since August is NH Eats Local Month! One campaign for The Farm Café in Keene and the other for Food Connects in Brattleboro. Whether you give $5 or $500, it all comes together to strengthen our local food system.
The Farm Café: Outdoor Patio Campaign
With more of us looking to dine local and outdoors, The Farm Café in Keene wants to meet this community need. They recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to purchase new outdoor tables, chairs, and umbrellas to create a welcoming and safe outdoor dining patio area in front of their business.
“Here at The Farm Café, our mission is to support small farms, businesses, and a local economy in the most eco-friendly way that we can,” said Chef Skip, owner of The Farm Café. “We work hard to bring local, organic, real foods to you, our patrons, for your enjoyment.”
As I write this article, they have reached 40% of their $3,000 goal. Give at certain levels and claim a great reward (or two) while they last. Rewards include a Farm Café gift card, t-shirt, hoodie, the privilege of naming a new menu item, and a Chef’s VIP Night (a 3-course meal for two).
Food Connects: Farm to School in a Neighborhood Near You
Food Connects is an entrepreneurial non-profit on a mission to create healthy families, thriving farms, and connected communities. They partner with local schools throughout southeastern Vermont to support their Farm to School initiatives, and they want to bring this work to the Monadnock Region!
“We want to help Monadnock Region schools grow their Farm to School programming by collaborating with existing programs like the Cornucopia Project and Stonewall Farm,” said Laura Carbonneau, Food Connects Marketing Manager. “Our work will help ensure more kids have access to local food, integrate more Farm to School curriculum, and supply more school staff with the support they need. When schools embrace Farm to School programming, students spend more time outdoors—gardening, engaging in hands-on lessons, and exploring the natural world.”
After just one week, they have reached 40% of their $8,000 goal. Rewards include Food Connects swag, a charcuterie platter, and a private kids’ cooking class.
More about TLC Monadnock
Watch for more crowdfunding campaigns launching this fall, including a campaign to support this year’s Plaid Friday and Cider Monday campaigns. Also, we plan to recruit more affordable housing, sustainable agriculture, and equity campaigns for a 2022 launch. Please stay tuned.
TLC Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations, and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region. Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity. Our goal is to raise at least $100K for ten campaign teams in 2021. We’re thrilled to share that, as of today, we’ve supported eight campaign teams who have raised over $80K. Our 2021 goal is in sight!
TLC Monadnock is currently hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by the Greater Keene and Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation. Have questions? Please contact me at [email protected] or 603-400-9157.
