Somerville Local First

SLF Hiring - ED

The fiddles are coming, the fiddles are coming!

May 15 2:30 pm

by JJ Gonson

Ah, winter, we barely knew ye!

Even though this winter was somewhat less than horrifying from a shoveling perspective, it was still a long time of darkness on our neighboring farms, during which there was no eatable food coming from the ground. The farmers in New England are pretty good at keeping food around for us during the less than fertile months. Potatoes, turnips, parsnips, carrots, onions and cabbages are all remarkably well designed by nature to last through the winter, when properly stored. But, yummy as those foods are, they simply do not compare with a brand new sprout, cut fresh from the soil.

The positive side of the early spring we are enjoying is the also early appearance of the first foods that push up through the soil when the ice recedes. One of the most unique to this part of the country is the fiddlehead fern. This curly little shoot loves the dark, wet soil near moving water, in wooded areas, and is easy to forage so long as you know what you are looking for. There are many kinds of ferns, but the one we eat is the baby frond of the Ostrich fern. The are best harvested when the stem has reached a length of a couple of inches, but the frond has not yet begun to unfurl. Cut them near to the ground to get as much of the stem as possible. When you harvest them they may be covered in a brown papery substance that will be washed away in preparation.

Fiddleheads are very high in antioxidants, iron, fiber and Omega 3 and 6, making them an important nutritionally powerful package after the dullness of the winter months. They are delicious, nutty and crunchy, but they must never be eaten raw. They contain a toxin that is removed in cooking but can make you very sick if you do not prepare them correctly first. This fact may make them appear labour intensive, but they are worth it. Here is how you prepare them to use in salads, or to sauté as a side dish. Happy spring!!

Boil a pot of water big enough to completely submerge all of your fiddleheads (blanch), and prepare a large bowl of ice water to shock them in after.

While the water is boiling, rinse the fresh fronds in another bowl of clear water. Swish them around actively to remove the papery covering and any dirt. Repeat this process at least twice, or as many times as it takes to get rid of all of the brown bits. If the ferns are particularly dirty this could take three or four active washings. The brown stuff will sink and the ferns will float, so try to fish them out, leaving the goo behind.

Once the water is clear, drain the fiddleheads and trim the base of the stems, where they were cut from the ground.

Plunge the cleaned sprouts into the boiling water and blanch for 1 minute, then remove them and immediately submerge them into the ice bath to stop the cooking process.

Your fiddleheads are now safe to eat and cook with. From here you can put them in a salad, pickle them, sauté them with green garlic, or just snack on them as they are- spring’s first perfect snack.

Filed under: Local First, Shift Your Shopping — Tags: , , , — SLF @ 2:30 pm

Join Us Tomorrow! Spring Has Sprung 2012!

May 07 2:54 pm

It’s almost here! Our Spring Has Sprung fundraiser TOMORROW with Slumbrew at Johnny D’s, from 5:30-7:30 PM

All Local Tap Lines FTW!

We are pleased to go back to where it all started for SLF, Johnny D’s, and its amazingly appropriate that we’ll also be celebrating/highlighting a special change there.  Johnny D’s now ONLY carries local beer on their tap lines.  Talk about commitment to Local!  So come sample some Slumbrew and pick your favorite to try on draft later in the evening.

Buy your tickets here!

Meet the Slumbrew Founders at Spring has Sprung!

Meet the Slumbrew Founders at Spring has Sprung!

Here’s the top 5 reasons to come to this event.

  1. Sample some of Johnny D’s finest with appetizer plates including Veggie Dumplings and Chicken Quesadilla Bites
  2. Enjoy some of the finest craft beer in all the land and meet the folks at Slumbrew who created it!
  3. Network with some of Somerville’s finest, including SLF Board Members, SLF members, community leaders and local media
  4. Help SLF raise much needed capital as we prepare for our new Executive Director
  5. Celebrate 4 great years of SLF and help us build our network to ensure many, many more!

Tickets will be available at the door, but you can also buy your tickets here now!

We hope to see you there!

CAN’T MAKE IT?

If you can’t make the event but would still like to support SLF, you can:

Join SLF as a community member. Click here for details.
Make a donation to SLF
We thank you for all your continued support!

Filed under: Local First — SLF @ 2:54 pm

Spring has Sprung – Early Bird Tix end TODAY

May 02 3:16 pm
Party with SLF, Johnny D's and Slumbrew to celebrate 4 awesome years!

Party with SLF, Johnny D's and Slumbrew to celebrate 4 awesome years!

If you haven’t heard about it yet Spring has Sprung, SLF’s annual spring fundraiser, is coming up next Tuesday!

Early birdtickets will end today, so you can save $5 buy purchasing yours now. Here’s what you’ll get!

  • Beer tastings for 2 full hours with the founders and brewers at Slumbrew
  • An awesome appetizer spread from Johnny D’s (that’s vegetarian friendly)
  • Great networking with local business owners, community leaders, and the SLF board.
  • Be there to celebrate our 4 year anniversary…we were founded 4 years ago yesterday!
  • Knowledge that you are supporting an organization that makes a real impact in the community and has served to advance sustainable communities in Somerville and across the nation

Not bad right?

You can purchase your tickets here.

We hope to see you there!

If you can’t make it, please consider making a donation, even small donations of $5 or $10 make a difference for our fledgling organization, or better yet, JOIN SLF as a community member!

Filed under: Local First — SLF @ 3:16 pm

3 Social Sites you Aren’t Using (and Probably Should)

May 01 3:32 pm

By Kelsey Roth

With almost a billion (yes, I said billion) users, chances are your business is already on Facebook and you might have a Twitter feed

Trying new media can be worth the risk.

too, but there are other social media tools out there that you may want to consider using to help boost your business. We’ll take a look at three of these tools, discuss why you should care, and offer some quick tips on getting the most out of them. Not every tool is going to be right for every type of business, but hopefully you’ll be inspired to try something new.

YouTube:
Why you should care: People view about 15 billion videos on YouTube a month. Google owns YouTube and I’m pretty sure that Google owns the Internet too! YouTube is good for SEO (search engine optimization) and can help get your website to the top of search listings.

How to use it: Most businesses don’t use YouTube because they think that making videos is difficult and expensive. Sure, making some professional videos can be difficult and expensive, but your YouTube videos don’t have to be professional. In fact, having an amateurish quality to your videos can actually lend a feeling of authenticity. That being said, quality does matter. Make sure people can hear what you are saying and that they can see what you are talking about. It is a visual and audible form of media, after all. Don’t be afraid to contact a local videographer for help. I’m sure they can work within a budget and offer advice and expertise to make your videos better.

But what kind of videos should you make? Customers want to watch a commercial that is super creative. They want to see videos that address their needs, such as how-to, advice and behind the scenes clips. Help the customers make tough buying decisions by talking about the pros and cons of two similar products. Show them how to create great holiday cupcakes or take them on a tour of your production facility.

When you are ready to upload the video, be sure to name and tag it with the search terms you want it to appear in. For example, “Holiday Cupcakes: How to bake great holiday cupcakes.” Give a detailed and thorough description and add your website’s URL at the beginning so people can click it and find you.

Pinterest:
Why you should care: A relative newcomer on the block, Pinterest has gotten a lot of buzz lately. Most of it came in February when it was revealed that it was driving more referral traffic than Google+, LinkedIn and YouTube. This turned a lot of heads. Pinterest is a visual bookmarking tool that lets people share images called “pins” and collect them into groups called “boards”. People can ‘like’ pins, comment on them or repin them on their own boards.

How to use it:  Remember that marketing, at its core, is as much about who we are, as it is who we want to be. Many of the images shared on Pinterest are aspirational and inspirational; places I’d like to go, things I’d like to see, clothes I’d like to buy, food I’d like to eat, etc. As a business, share images that connect with people in those ways. When sharing product photos make sure the image links back to your website. That way you can tap into that sweet referral traffic. But make sure you balance promotion with engagement. Watch what your customers pin and take note of what interests them. It’s just as much about sharing in the community of your business as it is about selling product. Be a source of inspiration for your customers.

Google+:
Why you should care: It’s Google and I’m sure you use them every day for search, email and probably other things as well. They have successfully integrated themselves in almost everything we do on the Internet. Compared to Facebook, Google+ might seem miniscule in terms of number of users. But Google+ and the +1 button are extremely powerful in getting you seen on the Internet. Google likes it when you use their products, and sharing content through Google+ can help your site and your content be more visible on the Internet. Google+ is a social network that focuses on content, allowing you to follow people who have similar interests to yours and choosing who sees the content that you share.

How to use it: In most ways, Google+ works a lot like Facebook where you can share status updates, links, photos, videos, etc. The main difference is in how it is integrated with their other products. When you are signed in to your Google account and search for something, lets say laptop bags, at the top of your search results you’ll see if people in your Circles have commented, +1’d or linked to references to laptop bags. If you use Google Reader, those results will show up as well. This is what Google refers to as “Social Search”. If a friend of yours found a link valuable, you are more likely to find it valuable as well. Also, things posted to Google+ are searchable by Google, whereas things posted on Facebook are not.

The other main aspect of Google+ is the +1 button. This is similar to Facebook’s Like button, but not limited to the confines of a social network. You can +1 web sites, products, articles, blog posts, etc. and these will have impact on other people’s search results. Google gives preference in its search results to things that have been +1’d. If you enable people to +1 your products and your competition doesn’t, that could give you an edge in search results.

At its heart, Google+ is about passions. While we may have 200 friends on Facebook, only a few of them might be as interested in knitting as we are. On Google+, you can find friends as well as strangers who enjoy the same things you do and engage with them. As a business, finding and connecting with people who are passionate about your business is invaluable.

Think about how these social tools might fit in with your business community. A photography studio might find Pinterest to be a much better fit than Twitter. Whereas a bookstore might find Google+ more effective than YouTube. You don’t have to be everywhere, just in the right place. And you might not know where that is until you try it. So give these social sites a shot and see if they work for you.

Filed under: Local First — Tags: , , , — SLF @ 3:32 pm

Somerville Notables

Apr 26 12:18 pm

Photo by Georgy Cohen

by Kristen Schaer

The characters and local color that make a city more than just a place to live is one thing that makes Somerville great, and not just another dot on the map. Whether a birthplace, a nurturing neighborhood to come of age in, a place to generate ideas or a refuge, Somerville has played fertile breeding ground to a number of authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, scientists, intellectuals and artists throughout the years. Not just an outpost of Boston, Somerville is a continuing generator and incubator of invaluable resources: ideas and creativity.

Science fiction author Isaac Asimov lived in Somerville during the 1950s during his time teaching at Boston University’s medical school. Noted author of the stories, “I, Robot” and the “Foundation” series, Asimov’s momentous intellect was matched only by his lack of physical dexterity. He never learned how to swim or ride a bike, but managed to learn how to drive while living in Somerville. In his book, Asimov Laughs Again, he likened driving in Boston to “anarchy on wheels.”

Bobby “Boris” Pickett, though not easily distinguishable by name alone, is the co-writer and singer of “Monster Mash.” Written at the time to be a spoof on the “Mashed Potato” and “Twist” dance crazes, Pickett utilized his passion for horror movies to do impressions of stars Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff for the song. Cult film director John Waters, in his book, Role Models, claims he dances to the song once a day to stay happy.

Archibald Query may sound like a British sea captain with such an illustrious name, but his profession is more fluff. Marshmallow Fluff. Created in 1917 by Query, the crème was sold door-to-door prior to World War I, but languished during the war as a sugar shortage caused the manufacture to be expensive. Swampscott company Durkee-Mower bought the rights to the crème in the 1920s and patented the term “Fluffernutter” to describe the peanut butter/Marshmallow Fluff sandwich. Annually, Somerville’s Union Square hosts the “What the Fluff” festival, featuring art and cooking contests as well as performances and games.

Writers David Foster Wallace and Jonathan Franzen did brief stints in the ‘ville, with parts of Franzen’s Strong Motion featuring references to Somerville.

Author Pagan Kennedy currently resides in Somerville and is credited with having a strong hand in the 1990′s ‘zine movement. Autobiographical Pagan’s Head is a ‘zine about her life. Her writings can be seen in the New York Times and Boston magazine as well as online publication, Salon.

The Emperor’s Children author, Claire Messud, lives in Somerville with her husband, James Wood, a literary critic. Wood’s essays have appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and the New York Review of Books. Wood also co-taught a class at Boston University with author Saul Bellow.

Athletes have found tremendous encouragement in the Somerville area, as well. Current Detroit Lions offensive-line starter, Gosder Cherilus played for the Somerville High School team for Coach Tony Gulla and then offensive-line coach, Joseph Curtatone. Curatone currently serves as mayor of Somerville. Curtatone said of Cherilus in a July 12, 2011 article of the Somerville News, “Gos is one of the most professional, kind, and giving individuals I have had the pleasure of working with, and coaching, in my career.  His eagerness to give back to the community where he had his start as a football player and his generosity to the children here and in his home country of Haiti prove that he’s an incredibly well-rounded and humble man.”

xkcd webcomic founder Randall Munroe is rooted in Somerville, as well. The webcomic features themes including technology, mathematics, science, language, pop culture and romance. Munroe is a proponent for geocache, a method utilizing a GPS system to meet up with other random members at a specific location using geohashing, a logarithm for finding the location. A North Cambridge neighborhood was famously located by xkcd fans in 2007 when it was mentioned in Munroe’s webcomic #240.

Walking around Somerville, visiting its many stores, bars, restaurants, arts venues and concert venues, the excitement and support centering around creativity is palpable. Perhaps people move here to be a part of that sense of forward thinking, or maybe the opposite is true, and the neighborhood itself provides the impetus for creativity. Whatever the case may be, it is happening here.
Filed under: Local First — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — SLF @ 12:18 pm

SLF Executive Director – Job Announcement

Apr 20 11:09 am

(Ed. Note – We are very excited to announce this opening at SLF.  I”ll be posting some thoughts to the blog about my time over the past few years at SLF.  I will be staying on as a board member at SLF, chairing the communications committee. – Joe Grafton, Soon to be former Executive Director, SLF)

Announcement

Somerville Local First, a four-year-old, established non-profit driven by strong community, artist, and business membership, seeks an Executive Director to guide staff and volunteers along a strategic direction established by the Board of Directors. The position opens July 1st, 2012.

Summary
The Executive Director for Somerville Local First is a part-time, entrepreneurially-spirited professional who shares the Somerville Local First vision, mission and values. The Executive Director is accountable to the Board of Directors and is responsible for creating and implementing the organization’s goals and objectives with the Board. The Executive Director will provide leadership in program management; work cooperatively with the Board, local businesses and local community; and manage the daily operations and finances of Somerville Local First. The Executive Director has primary responsibility for the development and implementation of Somerville Local First programs, fundraising, and communications.
Background

Somerville Local First is a fiscally sponsored non-profit, 501(c)3 tax exempt, grassroots organization led by its membership, working together to educate and engage local residents, governments, business and non-profits to build an economy that is local, green and fair.

SLF changes the way people think about and behave in the economy through programs, events and awareness campaigns. Somerville Local First encourages customers, public officials and local businesses to value the wide range of benefits and contributions local businesses provide and the importance of buying local, first. Our Executive Director must not only know how to gather and synthesize important information to raise this awareness, they must be able to connect, communicate, organize and lead people towards change.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Fundraising
• In conjunction with the Board, develop and implement annual fundraising goals to ensure the sustainability of the organization.
• Identify prospects for funding.
• Approach, cultivate and solicit major donors and sponsors.
• Oversee the fundraising plan. This includes researching, tracking and writing funding proposals to businesses, foundations, individuals, and government agencies.
• Establish and maintain relationships with funders and donors at all contribution levels.

Program Management
• Work in collaboration with the Board and Program Steering Committees to execute, evaluate and deliver quality programs that fulfill the organizational mission and strategic plan.
• Recruit, retain and grow the organization’s membership in all categories.
• Develop and maintain external relationships with other local-first networks and affiliated organizations, including New England Local Business Forum, AMIBA and BALLE.

Administration and Financial Management
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization.
• Manage vendor relationships and negotiate contracts in collaboration with the Board.
• In conjunction with the Board Treasurer, develop and implement a balanced annual budget for Board approval.
• In conjunction with the Board Treasurer, oversee financial management of the organization through daily bookkeeping and adhering to financial policies and procedures to ensure fiscal responsibility.
• Ensure compliance with grant/funding requirements and manage related relationships.
• Ensure all non-profit requirements are met with fiscal agent, state, and federal agencies.
• Ensure all business- related filings are submitted annually.

Communication and Outreach Management
• Be the face of Somerville Local First and act as representative in all public settings
• Capitalize on personal networks to further the mission of the organization.
• Serve as the liaison with the local community, businesses and related constituencies.
• In collaboration with the Communications Committee, oversee all public relations.
• Oversee all media contacts and communication with members and the public to ensure the organization and its mission, programs, products and services are consistently presented in a strong, relevant and positive image.
• Work with Communications Committee to implement social media campaigns.
• Develop and implement the marketing plan, with an eye towards internal fundraising goals, in collaboration with the Communication Committee.
• Oversee the publication of newsletters, materials, website and events.
• Integrate the fundraising and communications plans

Board Administration and Support
• Support the operation and administration of the organization by advising and informing Board members and developing needed workplans, policies and procedures.
• Participate in all Executive Committee meetings.
• Support the Executive Committee.
• Produce monthly Executive Director Reports.
• Ensure compliance with the by-laws, and all other Board-documents, in collaboration with the Executive Committee.

QUALIFICATIONS
Somerville Local First seeks an executive with proven experience in organizational management and/or business formation and development. We seek an individual to continue the successful growth of this dynamic organization in conjunction with the Board of Directors and, eventually, a stellar team of staff and volunteers. The successful candidate should have a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience, in a relevant field and demonstrate strong communication and organizational skills. Prior background in fundraising, nonprofit management and/or business management with a locally owned and independent business is helpful, as is a demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to strengthening local, living economies. The successful candidate will have an entrepreneurial spirit, be creative, vibrant, social, outgoing, and a proven networker. The job will require some travel around Somerville, occasional travel around New England, and attendance at the annual BALLE conference.

LOCATION
Somerville, MA

COMPENSATION
This is a part-time, salaried position, with the opportunity to grow into full-time with benefits in 6-12 months.

TO APPLY
All interested applicants are requested to submit a letter of interest and resume detailing their skills, experience and training that are relevant for this position, as well as three professional references. Please click here to apply.  Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until finalists are identified.

About Somerville Local First: www.somervillelocalfirst.org

Due Date: May 31st; interviews scheduled upon receipt of application.

Filed under: Local First — SLF @ 11:09 am

Local Business, Global Food.

Apr 16 9:30 am

By Sarah Shugars

For me, YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City is like a dream come true.

Local, immigrant-owned restaurants from across Somerville in
the same place at the same time. Tastes from Turkey, Ethiopia,
Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, the Mediterranean, Italy, India and
Nepal. So. Much. Delicious. Food.

To put it simply, YUM is helping me eat my way to a better Somerville. Sounds fantastic, right?

To be held on Wednesday, April 25 at Arts at the Armory from 6:30 – 9:30, YUM is a
benefit for the great SLF non-profit The Welcome Project. Promoting the cultural richness of
Somerville, YUM raises awareness about Somerville’s many delicious immigrant-owned food
establishments while raising funds for The Welcome Project’s core programs supporting our
diverse community.

YUM will feature food from participating restaurants, live entertainment, a silent auction and an
appearance from Somerville’s Mayor Joseph

Tastes from Sabur at YUM 2011

Curtatone. Additionally, YUM has partnered with the City of
Somerville’s Shape Up Approved restaurant campaign. As
part of the evening’s tastings, you’ll have the chance to
sample Shape Up Approved healthy menu items from all the
current YUM restaurants.

To purchase tickets or to learn about the YUM discount card,
visit yumsomerville.org. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40
at the door and individual sponsorships start at $100. A great
deal and a great way to support our diverse, local community.
Happy local eating!

 

**Comment on this post by Sunday, April 22 for a chance to win 2 free tickets!**

 

Participating restaurants:
Aguacate Verde – Mexican, Porter Square
Fill out Aquacate’s healthy eating survey and get a free taco
or drink!

Amelia’s Kitchen- Italian, Teele Square

Churrasco buffet line

Part of the buffet line at Churrasco

Yummm, artichoke pizza.

Churrasco Buffet & Grill – Brazilian, Magoun Square
The buffet line stretches around the room offering an

assortment of food from plantains to salad ingredients.

Fasika – Ethiopian, East Somerville
In the mood for Ethiopian food? Fasika has great vegetarian options, which are full of protein!

Istanbul’lu – Turkish, Teele Square
Enjoy Turkish breakfast all day long and mouth-watering Turkish Tapas for your lunch and
dinner dining pleasure!

Masala – Nepali and Indian, Teele Square
Try the Indian take on lentils at Masala

Maya Sol – Mexican, East Somerville
Lovers of Mexican cuisine love Maya Sol’s burritos, tacos and quesadillas!

Ronnarong Thai Tapas Bar – Thai, Union Square
While tapas originated in Spain, you can try them Thai-style at Ronnarong

Sabur – Mediterranean, Teele Square
Carnivores: Must try braised short ribs at Sabur

Yak & Yeti – Nepali and Indian, Ball Square
Check out their lunch buffet!

Filed under: Local First, Our Members — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — SLF @ 9:30 am

SLF Audio Clip – What about Podcasts?

Apr 13 1:13 pm

Our co-op this semester, Lawrence Aronoff, came up with the idea to start offering audio on our website.  He’s smart and it’s a good idea.

SLF via Spoken Words from KyAnn Anderson!

SLF via Spoken Words from KyAnn Anderson!

So, along those lines, here’s a short audio clip describing SLF, featuring the one and only KyAnn Anderson of Greater Somerville and TEDxSomerville fame.

The 411 on Somerville Local First

We plan to have this on our site so folks can get a quick blast about us and what we do, but are also thinking about a podcast series.  So, that’s where you come in.

If we did podcasts, what would you want to hear/listen to?  We’d love your thoughts/ideas in the comments section.  Let us know!

Filed under: Local First, Our Members — SLF @ 1:13 pm

Reserve your ad in the 2012 Local’s Guide to Somerville

Apr 05 2:33 pm

Sign up here to reserve your advertising space in the 2012 Local’s Guide To Somerville, a major annual program and publication from Somerville Local First.

Contact Executive Director, Joe Grafton, with any questions at: 617-628-0763

 

Ad Sizes
Ad Design Needed?

Filed under: Local First — SLF @ 2:33 pm

Ball Square Fine Wines & TW Foods

Mar 15 12:54 pm
Wine and Food + Incredible Knowledge + Free = You Win!

Wine and Food + Incredible Knowledge + Free = You Win!

Calling all wine loving locavores!

Ball Square Fine Wines is teaming up with TW Food’s Jillian Marini to host a special wine/food tasting on March 15.  They’ve  invited the ever-erudite T.W. Food Sommelier, Jillian Marini, to host a special tasting at their fine shop on March 15th.

Chef Wiechmann has whipped up some delicious, fresh, local-ingredient-inspired finger foods – and Jillian has taken a look at Ball Square Fine Wine’s shelves to discover the perfect pairings. Come by Ball Square on this mid-month, Thursday ‘eve to taste wine and food in tandem – and learn from one of Cambridge’s best Sommeliers!

This is sure to showcase Camberville at its best!

5:30-7:30pm @ Ball Square Fine Wines

This event is FREE (!!) and open to all 21+ years of age.

Filed under: Local First — SLF @ 12:54 pm
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