Trumansburg, NY Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

THE BUSINESS OF FARMINGBy Sue Henninger, Finger Lakes Writer

Many people envision farming as green fields dotted with peacefully grazing cows, John Deere tractors plowing in spring, or fields filled with colorful orange pumpkins in the fall. Production is certainly at the very heart of farming and the reason that many choose to take on the rewards and challenges of the profession. But there’s another side of farming, one which involves long-range planning and being able to manage a business successfully so it flourishes along with the crops.

Paul Martin and Evangeline Sarat are the proud owners of Sweetland Farms Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Trumansburg. The couple entered the farming profession with slightly different goals. Evangeline wanted to have a career that benefitted the environment and Paul was primarily interested in the personal homestead approach of growing his own food.. Evangeline readily admits that, though the growing side of farming was a breeze for them, the financial side took some getting used to. For example when the two approached their bank for a loan and were asked to provide a copy of their business plan, they were taken aback. However, they quickly downloaded information from the Internet and created an Excel spread sheet, not only for their first year in business, but for the next ten years! Evangeline explains that they charted potential growth curves by matching the farm equipment and other things they’d need to purchase to run a successful CSA with the number of members they hoped to attract for their summer and winter shares. “We created every scenario we could think of,” she says. “Then we came up with multiple business plans for each piece of land we owned. We probably had fifty plans on file by the time we were done!” Once the bank had loaned them the money; the couple found yet another way to use their business plans. They took them along to the auctions they attended to make sure they stayed on target with the expenses they incurred. According to Evangeline, “If we spent more on a piece of equipment than we budgeted for, then we’d have to find a place to take the money from so we didn’t overspend what we’d allotted for the year.” The couple’s system worked so well that they now

Trumansburg Area CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

TRUMANSBURG • INTERLAKEN • LODI • JACKSONVILLE • SHELDRAKE

NEWSLETTER | FEBRUARY 2012

Taughannock Falls On Taughannock Creek, Trumansburg. Thirty-Three Feet Higher Than Niagara Falls.

IN THIS ISSUE:

The Business of Farming

Chamber Activities

New Members

TACC Board of Directors

Member Profile

Member Announcements

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Paul Martin and Evangeline Sarat are the proud owners of Sweetland Farms Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Trumansburg.

www.trumansburgchamber.com | Trumansburg Chamber of Commerce Newsletter | 2

share it with other farmers at the New Farmers Training Program and the Northeast Organic Farming Alliance.

Despite this meticulous approach, Evangeline acknowledges that farming isn’t always a profitable business and that those who want to enter it full-time should be prepared to incur considerable expense. “You have to have the stomach for a big debt-load!” she notes, adding that the money you make as a farmer ultimately comes down to the type of farm you want to run and how hard you’re willing to work to keep it going. On the bright side, the pair has currently finished most of their infrastructure and capital improvements and can now pay themselves a salary while whittling away at their loan payments and credit card bills.

Growing their CSA has required that they learn some new skills. One of their first purchases was “Marketing for Dummies” from which they gleaned invaluable advice. Based on their reading, they decided to invest in a professionally designed brochure, full of colorful pictures and useful content. “It really stands out,” Evangeline says, adding that the brochure also helps people who aren’t familiar with CSA’s understand what they’re all about. She also scrutinized other food-oriented businesses that she felt did a great job marketing (like Wegmans) to try to figure out what they were doing that made them so appealing, then do it at Sweetland.

As organic farmers, Evangeline and Paul are able to grow crops on less land for higher value, because they’ve learned that it’s possible to charge more for specialty salad greens than more traditional farm crops. They kept this in mind when they chose the location for Sweetland Farms, drawing a radius around Ithaca to determine where their produce would be best received. “We wanted people to be able to come to the farm, both to experience it and to pick up their shares, or do their U-pick,”

Evangeline says, adding that they decided early on that they didn’t want to have to deal with the logistics of off-site distribution. Meeting their five hundred plus shareholders’ needs has been a balancing act of finding produce that their consumers like and that’s easy and less expensive to grow. “Asian greens would be an ideal crop,” says Evangeline, “but in America we just don’t have the taste for them.” Instead they plant potatoes which, though they aren’t cheap or low-maintenance, are extremely popular with their shareholders. Giving customers choices works better than being directive so dictating the number of fruits and vegetables shareholders could take each week has gradually morphed into their current system of giving them a bag and letting them choose how much or how little they want of each item (within limits).

Evangeline and Paul’s timing couldn’t have been better for starting an organic farm. With the locavore movement, which places an emphasis on buying locally, and the accompanying rise in the consumption of fresh, healthy foods, there’s a whole new crop of potential customers for Sweetland Farm these days. “We’re very thankful to be able to make a living doing what we love,” Evangeline concludes.

The Lucas family, owners of Lucas Vineyards, didn’t come from a farming background either; in fact they’re originally from the Bronx. Matriarch Ruth Lucas recalls that the young family grew tired of city life and decided to relocate to the Finger Lakes region to try their hand at growing grapes. Though she and her husband knew nothing about growing, they purchased sixty acres in Interlaken and got right to work. Ruth laughingly recalls looking at her first grape vine and asking “Which end goes in the ground?” The first year they sold thirty-four tons of grapes to Taylor, a local wine manufacturing company and thought they had hit the jackpot. Shortly afterwards, Taylor cut back on their production and the Farm/

Winery Act was passed, allowing grape growers to function as wineries. After some consideration, the Lucas family decided that, since they were already investing so much time in growing the grapes, they wanted to have the opportunity to savor the final product.

They made 400 cases of wine the first year which literally, “jumped off the shelf”. Unfortunately the next year, when they produced 2,500 cases, they weren’t so lucky. Ruth notes that they had no business or marketing plan, a bank that was exasperated with them, and wine that wasn’t selling, making it touch and go for awhile. Ultimately the relationships they had built in the community and the wine industry helped them pull through. Local liquor store owners lent a hand to the struggling family by encouraging their customers to buy cases of Lucas wine to “save the vineyard”, allowing them to stay in business. Realizing that they needed to establish a stronger presence in the region, the Lucas’s hired an Ithaca advertising agency to create a brochure for them and experimented with different ways to “get the word

out” like arranging wine tastings at the Greystone Inn. Ever observant, Ruth noticed that a number of wineries were cropping up along the shores of Cayuga Lake. She took the bold step of asking several other vineyard owners to combine resources with Lucas and form the Cayuga Wine

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Ruth Lucas from the Lucas family, owners of Lucas Vineyards.


Trail, the oldest and longest-running wine trail in the United States. This move resulted in thousands more tourists visiting the area, increased publicity from the Wine Trail brochure, and the creation of annual events like the Spring Barrel Tasting. Eventually Lucas added an annual German Festival, featuring German food and music paired with their Riesling and Gewurztraminer wines, another of Ruth’s ideas that has proved popular.

Like any farm, wineries also face challenges from Mother Nature. “The raccoons have been having a ball in our grapes,” Ruth says ruefully. Weather can also wreak havoc on the grapevines. This year’s rain left many of the grapes too wet to harvest because their poor quality would negatively affect the taste of the wine. Another issue they’ve struggled with is finding a reliable labor force. Ruth notes that they have to hire seasonal workers from Mexico every year because they can’t find local people who are willing to work in the vineyards. “It’s monotonous, physical work,” she explains, adding that you have to have a real interest in growing to remain committed to this type of manual labor.

The power of customer service in the wine business can’t be underestimated. “Without your customers, you wouldn’t be here,” Ruth emphasizes, adding that every effort is made to provide visitors with a friendly, informative tasting and that this has paid off tremendously. This is evidenced by their “generational” fan base, loyal customers who have been coming to Lucas since they opened their doors over thirty years ago. The winery also offers a “Case Club” whose members receive discounts and invitations to special tastings. Being allowed to ship wines to most of the United States has been great for their business. Though it requires significant paperwork, Ruth says it’s worth it in terms of customer satisfaction. She elaborates that tourists don’t want to have to carry cases of wine around with them when they’re on vacation nor is it good for the bottles to be sitting in a hot car. Ruth’s daughter, Marketing Director Stephanie Lucas Houcke, adds that their typical visitor wants to see the Finger Lakes, learn a little about the grapes the wines are made from, and find some wines that they like and could imagine taking home and enjoying with their friends and family. Some are more interested

in the farming aspect of winemaking than others she says but reminds us “It all starts in the vineyard so you always need to keep an eye on what’s happening in the fields.” Having a high quality product has been crucial to their success and from the start Lucas wines have consistently won gold and silver medals for many of their wines, developed by winemaker and son-in-law Jeff Houke. Though their fine wines are extremely popular, Ruth observes that it’s their signature red table wine, Tugboat Red, that’s “kept us afloat all these years”.

Stephanie and her mother agree that being able to be the farmer, the packager, and the retailer is very satisfying. “Farmers grow something then ship it off, never seeing where it ends up,” Stephanie explains. “At Lucas, we get to see the products we create from the grapes and the public’s response to them.” Ruth is thrilled that Stephanie and her other daughter Ruthie plan to take over the vineyards and winery for future generations. “Keeping it in the family makes it all worthwhile,” she proudly asserts.

CHAMBER ACTIVITIES

The Trumansburg community is putting forth great effort into the topic of Going Green. The Trumansburg Central School District (TCSD), as well as new TACC member Snug Planet, is making the community as clean and energy efficient as possible. At the Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting on January 18th, members were able to learn more about these efforts.

Middle school students have been traveling to the Henry A. Smith Woods to track trees in order to make the information available on Google Earth so it can be accessed by locals and tourists. The students and their teacher, Andy Moore, are combining forces with Nancy Irish, Middle School Youth Program Manager, Rural Youth Services, to keep the Green Machine going. In the meantime, high school students are taking on the responsibility of upholding their “green culture” by having recycling and composting bins for trash in the cafeteria and having high school sports teams contribute to annual events like Earth Day Clean Up on the streets of Trumansburg.

TCSD Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, Mike Babcock, presented an overview of the many changes that have been made at TCSD since the Green Initiative began in 2001. The school has achieved a 40% reduction on solid waste going to landfills and a 15% total reduction in energy costs over the last three years through the sale of recycled materials. TCSD has received EPA Energy Star Certification for the Russell I. Doig Middle School by ranking 92 out of 100 similar schools for Energy Efficiency; something the school community is very proud of.

Blake Reid, Trumansburg representative for Snug Planet, introduced what their business does and how it is a “green” alternative. Snug Planet operates like a detective to find the missing parts of the home and fill them in. They fix insulation and fill spaces that could let heat escape during the winter. Their services result in lower heating costs, a permanent advantage that will save homeowners money in the future. (Contributed by Megan Chase, Keuka College writing intern)


Remembrance Farm 6294 Searsburg Road, Trumansburg

Nathaniel and Emily Thompson Web: www.remembrancefarm.org

Remembrance Farm is an organic biodynamic vegetable farm that distributes their produce wholesale through Regional Access and Finger Lakes Family Farms. Remembrance is also half of the Full Plate Farm Collective (with Stick and Stone Farm) and provides vegetables to around 500 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shareholders. Emily and Nathaniel are looking forward to connecting with other TACC members and becoming more visible in the community. “There are lots of other farmers who belong to the Chamber,” Emily explains, “and we’ve already been collaborating with some members, like Nana Monaco at Good to Go!, in creative ways.” The couple is also interested in ensuring that there’s a farm presence in TACC to bring a local, geographic point-of-view and a different perspective on business issues to the meetings. “As farmers we have a unique understanding of issues like changes in the environment that we can share with others,” she says.

Windflower Herb and Beauty Personal Treatment Spa, Beauty for Balance 15 East Main Street, Trumansburg (upstairs studio)

Brenda Manheim

Windflower is a full-service salon which offers personal treatments like hairstyling, facials, waxing, and other spa services. Brenda joined TACC because being a part of the community she works in is very important to her. She’s excited about finding ways to support the Chamber through networking and being part of its various events. “It’s nice we have a Chamber right in Trumansburg,” she says enthusiastically. Be sure to visit Brenda and Windflower on FaceBook to learn more about her business.

Snug Planet 1730 Mecklenburg Road, Ithaca

Jon and Elisabeth Harrod Web: www.snugplanet.com

“We make people’s homes more comfortable and energy-efficient, as well as keeping them safe and healthy,” says Elisabeth Harrod of Snug Planet. She adds that the company does “whole-house” assessments for their clients, using building science technologies and tools. They also help homeowners identify areas for improvements, prioritize work to be done, and implement the recommendations. Additionally Snug Planet specializes in air sealing and insulation. The Harrod’s moved their office closer to Trumansburg because they love working with what Elisabeth calls a “great community of homeowners”. She and Jon and their employees are looking forward to learning more about what TACC does and having the opportunity to connect Snug Planet clients with other Trumansburg business owners.

Procyon Partners, LLC Ulysses Sq., 1891 Trumansburg Rd, Jacksonville

Judith Cone Email: [email protected]

Procyon Partners is described by Judith as a business that provides a variety of services for the high-tech industry, including building maintenance, specialty testing, document shredding, and disposing of extraneous equipment. It’s located in Ulysses Square, which Judith developed several years ago with the goal of restoring Jacksonville to a viable hamlet. She’s eager to have the opportunity to educate TACC members about how it’s possible to have a “green” business without sacrificing safety, noting that the environmentally-friendly buildings she’s built are also highly fire-resistant. Another of Judith’s goals is to keep small businesses in The Village of Trumansburg and in Jacksonville, thus maintaining the rural character of the area.

NEW MEMBERS welcome!

TACC BOD pictured left to right:

Doug Austic, Doug Austic Woodworking; Cheryl Reynolds, Tompkins Trust Company; Rob Sharkey, Finger Lakes Technologies Group, Deb Nottke, Village of Trumansburg; Tracy Kirkman, Ehrhart Propane & Oil; Tara Hallman, Ness-Sibley Funeral Home; Todd Mallinson, 1160 ESPN-WPIE and Jon Koeng, Trumansburg High School

Missing from picture: Mary Spicer, Tompkins Insurance; Nana Monaco, Good To Go! Trumansburg Market; Carol Doolittle, Frontenac Point Vineyard & Estate Winery

2012 TACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Newsletter photos by Jim Mason

Environmental Photography


MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Namaste Montessori School Open House Schedule for Summer/Fall 2012

• Wednesday, February 15, 6-7:30 p.m. 1872 Trumansburg Road, Jacksonville

• Sunday, February 26, 12-4:00 p.m. 1872 Trumansburg Road, Jacksonville

• Sunday, March 4, 2-5:00 p.m. 1698 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca

• Wednesday, March 14, 6-7:30 p.m. 1698 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca

High School Students Seek Community Opportunities TACC member Jon Koeng, Principal of the Charles O. Dickerson High School is looking for residents or business owners who

are able to offer community service, employment, or internship opportunities to young people. Contact Jon at 387-7551 for an application form or to learn more.

College Meeting Coming Up Lucia Tyler of Tyler Admissions Consulting will be holding a free workshop, “Getting into College and Paying for It”, on Tuesday, February 7th at 7:30 p.m. at the Ulysses Philomathic Library, Main Street, Trumansburg.

TACC on FaceBook Nana Monaco (Good to Go! Trumansburg Market) has been busy updating the Chamber’s page on FaceBook and urges all members to “Like” TACC!

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MEMBER PROFILE

Interlaken Historical Society and the Nivison Grain Cradle Museum Main Street, Interlaken http://www.interlakenhistory.org/

Board member Barb Stewart has been representing the Interlaken Historical Society (IHS) at Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce meetings for some time now. The Historical Society joined TACC to reach a wider audience. “We’re a small museum but we do attract tourists,” Barb says, adding that because of their location, it made more sense for them to join TACC than their county Chamber.

IHS has two buildings, both of which highlight local history and agriculture. The Nivison Grain Cradle Museum has exhibits that educate visitors about farming and harvesting equipment used over the years, veterinary paraphernalia, and information on beekeeping. Special demonstrations like woodworking are held there as well. IHS has a combination of permanent and rotating exhibits. Long-term displays include one on the Civil War, Indian Artifacts in Seneca County, antique firearms, and a medicinal bottle display.

Much of IHS’s funding comes from grants so the organization’s mission revolves around education. According to Barb, they offer quarterly programs focusing on topics like the region’s history or heirloom fruits and vegetables which they try to enhance with a local angle. For example they included the Interlaken birdseed company, Pine Tree Farm, as part of their birding presentation.

Along with attracting tourists, Barb notes that local residents will frequently drop by when the exhibits change and IHS often puts on programs for school children to teach them more about their rural roots. Barb invites TACC members to attend Plough Day, a free annual September event because, “It’s good, old-fashioned fun!” Plough Day features all sorts of ploughs from those pulled by horse and oxen to more modern types as well as a tractor parade, a two-cylinder club, a miniature tractor display, exhibits and speakers. IHS members also put together baskets, full of locally made products, to raffle off during the day.

IHS has a “soft” opening during Olde Home Day in early June. After that it’s staffed every Saturday in July and August from 10-2:00 p.m. It’s also open by appointment by calling 607-532-9227 or emailing [email protected] .

Fun Fact: IHS has discovered that putting live farm animals on their front lawn will attract visitors to the museum. “Once they come over to look at the rabbits, chickens, or sheep, they’re hooked!” Barb says laughing. Volunteers try to connect the “lawn animals” in with a historical talk or activity like a spinning demonstration or a live shearing.

Board member Barb Stewart representing the Interlaken Historical Society (IHS)


Thanks to UHS TACC gratefully acknowledges the Ulysses Historical Society for hosting such an interesting January Breakfast meeting for members and guest speakers. Milli Tubbs would also like everyone to know that volunteers are now putting together a new exhibit entitled Wheels and Runners: Vehicles Used 1890 to Early 1900’s that will open in the spring.

Support the Fight Against Pediatric Cancer The 2nd Annual TBurg Takes on Pediatric Cancer Fundraiser will be held on February 4th at the American Legion, Post 770 on Seneca Road. Doors will open at 4:00 and the suggested donation is $5.00/person. This is a family-friendly event featuring head shavings, body massages, a silent and a live auction, a children’s room with activities, refreshments, and dancing. For further information contact Fred VanDerzee at 342-1975.

Condolences TACC members would like to extend condolences to the family of American Legion member Al Richar. Al recently accepted the Community Organization Award on behalf of the American Legion at TACC’s Annual Dinner.

TACC Member Interviewed for Buffalo Radio Stations Sue Henninger, Finger Lakes Writer, was recently interviewed by Judge Penny Wolfgang for the Buffalo-area radio show “On Target”. The two discussed how to avoid “cabin fever” during the winter months, mentioning several TACC members, including Taughannock Falls State Park (Rice Hill) and the Cayuga Nature Center (Treetops). Read the AAA Member Connection article at http://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication?m=13525&l=1

Save the Date! T-Burg (Mini Golf) Entertainment Center is bringing Las Vegas to Trumansburg! On Saturday, April 21st, T-Burg Entertainment Center will host a Casino Night Fundraiser (time to be announced) to benefit the 2012 Tru-Ulysses WinterFest. The event will be at the American Legion on Seneca Road and will include gaming, a buffet dinner, and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. “Winnings” can be used towards raffle tickets for a great selection of prizes. Child care will be available with food, fun, games, and a bounce house! Contact the Village Office, visit www.tburgminigolf.com , or call Mike Cirri at 387-7888 for further information.

Vintners Attend Agricultural Conference The New York State Agricultural Society’s 180th meeting and Forum was held in Syracuse in January. TACC members, Carol and Jim Doolittle, owners of Frontenac Point Vineyard - Estate Winery, report that the annual meeting is full of useful information for farmers, educators, and anyone else involved in food production and marketing. This year’s keynote speaker outlined ways to successfully transition farms from one generation to the next and members of the afternoon discussion panel talked about their personal experiences in both family and non-family member farm transitions. To learn more about the Forum visit the website (www.nysagsociety.org) or read the Tompkins Weekly article (www.tompkinsweekly.com , January 16, 2012).

It’s Never too Early! Mary Spicer reminds TACC members that they can nominate a Business, Organization, or Individual of the Year any time between now and October 2012. Download forms at www.trumansburgchamber.com

TACC Member Hosts an Intern Interlaken resident and freshman English major at Keuka College, Megan Chase, spent 35 hours each week during the month of January with Sue Henninger (Finger Lakes Writer) learning the basics of the freelance writing business, including how to write feature articles and news stories.

Got Kids? Got Questions? Free Workshops on Child Development and Education

• Preparing for the Journey Into Kindergarten and the Elementary Years Wednesday, February 15, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

• Working with Children with Challenging Behaviors Wednesday, March 14, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

• Finding Peace--The Spiritual Development of the Child Wednesday, April 18, 7-9:00 p.m.

Bridgid Beames, Director of the Namaste Montessori School, will address developmental stages and practical concerns for parents and caregivers and offer concrete examples of appropriate activities and strategies to use with children in these free workshops. To learn more, call 272-0515 or email [email protected].

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS CONTINUED

Trumansburg, NY Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

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