Posts Tagged ‘New England’

Saunas & Sea Turtles

Posted on May 10th, 2013 by

Mark Nicholson of Wilderness Creations sent us some info on why he donated to a diverse assortment of nonprofits this year- thanks for Loving Blue Mark!

We gave to 5 different charities this year. We chose to support the Coral Reef Alliance and The Sea Turtle Conservancy because the oceans are just so crucial and face so many challenges. When we do have a chance to get away from work and from the New England winters, we love to go down to the Caribbean and enjoy the beautiful weather and waters. We love to snorkel, dive, and view all of the amazing ocean life.

Another charity we gave to was the Adirondack Council which helps protect the Adirondack Park in upstate New York. Being in the Rustic/Adirondack furniture business, we are very tied to the beauty and culture of Adirondack’s.

We also gave to the Rainforest Alliance and to Save the Redwoods. We feel that it is incredibly important to find ways to protect the vital rain forests from abuse and degradation. The redwoods are a magnificent tree that deserve to have protection from irresponsible logging, so that future generations can witness their greatness.

Check out Mark’s Rustic Furniture Gallery to see his amazing work! My personal favorite is the barrel sauna….

A Little Rug with a Big Purpose

Posted on April 16th, 2013 by

Hug On A Rug is a company created around one product and one idea. We designed and had manufactured a rug just for hugging. It is a little rug with a big purpose – healing the world one hug at a time. The rug is intended to serve as a reminder of our relationship to each other and to the planet we all share.

We at Hug On A Rug have a deep and abiding interest in the environment and the health of the planet that is home to us all. As folks hug each other they may be reminded that we are all in this together, breathing the same air and fishing in the same seas. This care for the environment led us to 1% For The Planet – a natural partnership!

Tom first wrote his senator asking for support for the first Wilderness Bill in 1960. Tom was 14. He is a founding member of the former High Peaks Audubon in the Adirondacks of NY and participated in three Breeding Bird Atlases. Jean has been a long-time supporter of wildlife through the National Wildlife Federation and Defenders of Wildlife. It was she who designed the rug.

Our connection with Keeping Track began when Tom took Sue Morse’s (founder of Keeping Track) training nearly 10 years ago. He served for two years as a member of its board of directors. Keeping Track trains and educates both citizen scientists and professionals in methods of data collection that can lead to better decisions involving wildlife and land use. Sue’s efforts, along with those who work with her, have helped directly in the preservation of over 30,000 acres of sensitive wildlife habitat. We at Hug On A Rug will continue to support Keeping Track and it’s mission.

Huge thanks to Hug on a Rug‘s Tom Barber for sending us this story and for completing his 2012 certification early with support of Keeping Track. We’re so proud of our Vermont network- thanks for keeping it local Tom!

Save Bragg Farm!

Posted on April 4th, 2013 by

Across the world as development continues, small farms are at risk of extinction.  Often they become unaffordable and this growth threatens some of our last remaining open places.  We have one of these examples right here in our back yard, the Bragg Farm.

Luckily, the diligent work of land trusts are helping to protect these places and reenergize sustainable local agriculture. The Vermont Land Trust’s (VLT) conservation efforts change the lives of families, invigorate farms, launch new businesses, maintain scenic vistas, encourage outdoor recreation, and foster a renewed sense of community.

This spring, VLT is asking for you to help save Bragg Farm! The Bragg Farm has been an important part of the Mad River Valley’s agricultural landscape for more than 200 years. Perched high above the Mad River, the farm’s iconic barn, hay fields and incomparable views of the Green Mountains showcase the beauty and agricultural productivity of the Valley’s working landscape.

In 2012, the Vermont Land Trust worked with Mad River Watershed Conservation Partnership to purchase the 48-acre property. VLT then searched for a new farmer through through our Farmland Access Program, which helps experienced farmers gain access to productive, affordable farmland.

Marisa Mauro was selected to purchase the farm from VLT. In 2008, Marisa started Ploughgate Creamery, which produced award-winning cheese until a fire destroyed the place she was leasing. If VLT is successful in the fundraising effort, Marisa will restart Ploughgate Creamery’s operations and establish a grass-based dairy farm that produces artisanal butter, fresh cheeses, buttermilk and suckling hogs.

Contributions will help VLT to raise the last $85,000 to protect this special Mad River Valley farm, forever!

And if you’re local to the farm, Have glass a wine and help conserve the Bragg Farm! VLT and Cork Wine Bar invite the public to an evening fundraiser on Wednesday, April 10, starting at 6 pm. $1 of every glass of wine poured will go towards the remaining $85,000 needed for the property’s protection. http://www.vlt.org/initiatives/bragg

Protecting the Bragg Hill Farm will:

  • Permanently conserve scenic and productive farmland
  • Ensure the long-term affordability of the farm to Vermont’s farmers
  • Preserve the historic barn, a treasured community landmark
  • Revitalize the Bragg Farm with a new agricultural operation

Partners collaborating on the project

The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB), local conservation commissions and local land trusts are vital to raising the funds needed to protect the more than 50 properties VLT conserves each year. VHCB, the Mad River Watershed Conservation Partnership, and the Town of Fayston are key partners in the Bragg Farm project.

Successes and Challenges

VLT purchased the farm using bridge financing for its appraised value of $760,000 and will sell the farm to Mauro at its appraised agricultural value of $175,000.  VTL is raising money for the conservation easement, appraised at $585,000, as well as funds to preserve the historic barn. The total fundraising goal is $792,000.

With funds already raised and additional grant support from the VHCB, only $85,000 is left to go. 

Call to Action

Make a tax-deducible gift until May 1, 2013 by sending a check to Vermont Land Trust with “Bragg Farm” in the memo line. To learn more about Bragg Farm and the Farmland Access Program, or to donate on line, go to http://www.vlt.org/initiatives/bragg

“As a farmer and Vermonter, I am so proud to be part of the Mad River Valley community. With this opportunity, I can’t wait to get to work at the Bragg Farm with my family, friends and neighbors and contribute to our working landscape.” – Marisa Mauro

Vermont Land Trust

Since 1977, VLT has permanently conserved more than 1,650 parcels of land covering more than 500,000 acres, or about eight percent of the private, undeveloped land in the state. The conserved land includes more than 700 working farms, hundreds of thousands of acres of productive forestland, and numerous parcels of community land. As a member-supported, nonprofit 501(c)(3) land conservation we provide technical and legal assistance to individuals, communities, and local land trusts to help them achieve their conservation objectives. We also have an ongoing stewardship relationship with landowners to ensure that conservation goals are upheld in perpetuity. Learn more about VLT here.

SRI Tips From Social(k)

Posted on April 3rd, 2013 by

The following blog was written by Rob Thomas, the owner of Social(k), based in Springfield, MA. Social(k) joined 1% for the Planet in 2006 and recently completed their 2012 certification early with support of the Spikenard Farm and Honeybee Sanctuary. We appreciate Rob’s support of our network and would like to share the following blog post with the rest of our network, so they can learn how to add socially responsible investment (SRI) options to an employers retirement plan.

Download this valuable step by step guide on how to get your employer or organization to add Socially Responsible Investments to a retirement plan. Please download it and make use of it. Here’s what you’ll find:

-An outline of what a retirement plan involves.

-What the pieces of this sometimes confusing puzzle are.

-Who does what. How to add Socially Responsible Investing, and why.

-What the steps are to add a new employee benefit or change an existing one to better reflect your organizations DNA.

Green America went through this process and the employees decided to choose Social(k) as their 403(b) plan. With that experience we bring you this guide to use when beginning the discussion at your place of employment.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to download and read through the process and considering taking necessary steps to get screened funds added to the retirement plan for organization.

An excerpt from the SRI-Retirement-Guide:

Whether you are an employer or an employee, you’ll want to understand the benefits of offering employees a retirement plan with investments aligned with the employer’s and/or employees’ mission or ethics and their investment goals. It is important to state the benefits of SRI in order to better support the business’s mission and to strengthen the case for SRI in your retirement plan.

Reasons for offering SRI retirement options include:

-Having a retirement plans that reflects the employer’s values or mission (for example, if you are a producer of solar panels, chances are you want to eliminate or reduce investments in fossil fuels).

-Helping to strengthen the employee’s long-term financial well-being by providing greater investment choice by adding SRI to an existing plan.

-Building employee morale and staff retention by expanding the benefits package.

-Providing an important employee benefit of enduring value since numerous studies have shown that SRI investment returns are competitive with conventional funds over the long term.

According to a September 2011 report by the US SIF Foundation and Mercer, US defined contribution retirement plans that offer SRI options could double in the next three years.2 The results of the survey indicate that four out of five plan sponsors respondents (84%) believe that demand for SRI retirement options will increase or remain steady during the next five years. It is clear that more and more employers are considering SRI, especially in response to employee demand. In fact, legislation has been introduced to make SRI options available to federal employees.

Download the 18 Page guide here

Hey New England – Calling all Nonprofit Partners! It’s Race Time

Posted on March 14th, 2013 by

By now you’ve probably heard about our big 10th Anniversary event coming up this summer.  We’ve joined forces with the Mad Marathon here in our hometown of Waitsfield, VT to create the 1st ever 1% for the Planet Mad Marathon. Dedicated to sustainability and environmentalism in New England, this event will help us to provide awareness and funding for the nonprofits and partnerships that protect the places we play. Not only should all of our partners plan on attending, but we also want to help raise money for your important causes.  How can we do this you ask?

Form a Team:

•   Create a team for your organization and encourage people to sponsor your runners! Your organization’s tile will show up on our leaderboard and potentially attract additional donations.
•   Ask participants on your team to spread the word about the race and your organization.  People love supporting these types of fundraising activities.
•   Ask individual supporters of your organization to participate in “The Most Beautiful Marathon in the World,” so they can raise funds by running on your behalf.  Runners have the choice of running the full marathon, half, or creating a relay team.  They will be sure to have a blast, while doing a good deed at the same time.
•   Have you already received donations from 1% member businesses?  Encourage these partners to form a team in support of your organization.
•   1% for the Planet will be supporting this event by providing numerous activities throughout the weekend and by publicizing it through our various marketing channels.  We can’t wait!

Last year, one nonprofit who fundraised using this race earned $27,000!  We’re looking for nonprofit partners who think they can blow this record away.  With a little effort and our support, we’re sure you can.

Next steps:

•   Please let us know if you are planning on participating. We’ll send you directions and help spread the word! Email us at info@onepercentfortheplanet.org or call us at 802-496-5408
•   Let us know if you are joining on our Facebook event page and invite others
•   Stay tuned for additional ways to participate over that weekend

We’re looking forward to celebrating all that you do. Start your training!

Game, Set, Match- The Longfellow Club Is In

Posted on March 1st, 2013 by

Laury Hammel, the co-founder of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) was recently inducted into the Social Venture Network’s Hall of Fame for being a champion of successful business. We commend Laury on his devotion to the environment and for being a role model in the sustainable business world.  He is living his values through his business, The Longfellow Club, which just became New England’s newest 1% for the Planet member!

We are thrilled to welcome The Longfellow Club to our network.  Although I’ve never been to this Wayland, MA based athletic club, I hope to get down there soon to sharpen my tennis skills (and maybe we could have a network-wide round robin?!). Laury has created an impressive establishment that any business owner can learn a lot from.

The Club has eight indoor tennis courts, a full fitness facility, swimming pools and so much more- they have healthy fitness options for people of all ages and abilities. The Longfellow Club has eight core values which together create healthy minds, bodies and Planet. These values are: Community, Gratitude, Knowledge, Sparkle, Happiness, Health, Service and (our favorite) Sustainability. They have joined 1% for the Planet as a way to help share their giving story and to play a key role in New England, as one of our region’s largest members. We look forward to working with Laury and everyone at The Longfellow Club!

Protect New England from the threat of Tar Sands Oil

Posted on February 4th, 2013 by

The simple truth is that people are addicted to oil. Unfortunately as we continue to burn it, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere continues to rise.  Scientific evidence shows that the world is now suffering the disastrous impacts of climate change caused by elevated levels of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.  As oil supplies dwindle there is a push to uncover new resources by using dirty tar sands mining practices as in the case of the tar sands of central Canada.  The 240 gigatons of carbon stored in the tar sands is equivalent to adding at least 4 million new cars to the road. Current plans will pipe this dirty oil west, south, and east to coastal waters.  Areas around these pipelines will be put at risk of serious environmental disasters, while the entire globe will be increasingly threatened by climate change.

Oil companies plan to pump tar sands oil through some of the most pristine areas of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Linking tar sands oil production centers in central Canada to international shipping facilities in Maine will boost the industry’s profits, while ignoring the potential risks imposed upon the people and environment of New England.  Unlike the Keystone XL pipeline and the Northern Gateway pipeline, the proposed project does not require new pipeline construction.  The plan is to simply reverse the flow of two existing pipeline systems: the 40-year-old Enbridge Line 9 and the 62-year-old Portland-Montreal Pipe Line.

The areas through which these lines travel include some of the most spectacular ecological resources in the region.  The tar sands that will be flowing through this line are not like conventional oil.  Tar sands diluted bitumen is mixed with natural gas liquids and other volatile petroleum products and it is transported at high temperatures and high pressure.  This combination can weaken pipelines and increase the risk of spills.

Important Areas:

  • Saint Lawrence River – Canada’s most important river provides drinking water to 50% of Quebec.
  • Lake Memphremagog – 27-mile long glacial lake, provides water in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Victory State Forest – A 15,000-acre state complex in Vermont’s pristine “Northeast Kingdom” that is home to 130 bird species.
  • Connecticut River – One of New England’s most important watersheds.
  • Missisquoi River – A major tributary to Lake Champlain.  A 767,000-acre watershed, with a 6,700 National Wildlife Refuge at its mouth.
  • Coos County – known as the “North Country,” this is the least developed area in New Hampshire.
  • Androscoggin River – The pipeline will cross this important river twice and run alongside it for 13 miles.  Recent rehabilitation efforts are once again threatened.
  • Crooked River – A favorite area for outdoor enthusiasts, this river is also the primary spawning and nursery ground for Sebago Lake’s landlocked Atlantic salmon.
  • Sebago Lake – Covering 30,000 acres, this area includes Maine’s busiest state campground and provide clean drinking water to Portland.
  • Gulf of Maine – One of the ten most productive marine ecosystems in the world and essential to Maine’s economy.

There is a history of pipeline spills, including an incident near Marshall, Michigan in 2010.  More than 1 million gallons of diluted bitumen spilled and drained into the Talmadge Creek, eventually spreading down a 30-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River.  The results included health effects among the local population and devastating effects on the ecosystem.  Enbridge, the owner of Line 9, has had 804 spills between 1999 and 2010, which resulted in 6.8 million gallons of hydrocarbons.

The proposed tar sands pipeline threatens both humans and the natural environment.

An effort between 350Vermont, the Sierra Club, 350.org, the National Wildlife Federation and other eco-activist organizations are attempting to end this proposed tar sands oil pipeline.


The main objectives of this movement are:

  • Take action and call on our governments to thoroughly review all pipelines that might carry tar sands,
  • Call on President Obama to require a Presidential Permit for the proposed New England pipeline, necessitating a full environmental impact review.
  • Conduct long-range clean energy plans before committing to infrastructure that will increase oil consumption.
  • Embrace policies that will reduce oil demand.

Successes to date:

  • Successfully organizing grassroots efforts.
  • 24 Vermont towns with a Tar Sands Free Resolution on the March ballot
  • Nationwide Fossil Fuel Divestment campaign at several universities
  • Filed a request with the Act 250 Commission for a Jurisdictional Opinion on whether any pipeline reversal would require an environmental review
  • Demonstrations in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Québec: no tar sands in the East!

Challenges to completing the project:

  • Lack of public knowledge in the areas surrounding the tar sands pipeline
  • Building political support of this opposition movement
  • Creating long-range energy plans that will provide alternatives to tar sands oil
  • Embracing new policies that promote renewable energy and reduced consumption
  • Fighting the power and financial resources of the oil industry

Call to Action

Get involved in the Tar Sand Northeast Solidarity Actions.  Events will be taking place throughout New England. There is a national rally to stop the Keystone XL Tar Sands pipeline in Washington, DC on February 17th, 2013.

Please consider donating directly to, joining and supporting the partner organizations doing this vital work:

350Vermont

An independent state chapter of the 350.org movement focused on building a volunteer-based grassroots movement to confront climate change issues in Vermont. Campaigns include Rethinking Transportation, Tar Sands Free Northeast, Fossil Fuel Divestment.

350.org

A grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis.  Online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are lead by volunteer organizers in over 188 countries.

Sierra Club

America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.  Sierra Club’s 2.1 million members and supporters urge the president to cement our nation’s position as the global clean energy leader by going all in on sustainable energy, holding polluters accountable, and rejecting the dangerous tar sands pipeline.

National Wildlife Federation

Providing a voice for wildlife, this organization is dedicated to protecting wildlife and habitat and inspiring future generations of conservationists.

Contact Emily Tompkins, Development Coordinator at 350Vermont, emily@350vt.org or the 350Vermont office, 802-444-0350 with any further questions.  

A Business World Resolution

Posted on January 7th, 2013 by

It’s that time of year again: the holidays have come to a close, the presents have been unwrapped, and we’ve all eaten enough holiday cookies to get us through 2013.

Back to the grind we go, but not before partaking in one last holiday tradition we have all come to know: the choosing of a New Year’s Resolution. We say we’ll hit the gym more, aim to clean out our closets, and try to be healthier and more balanced in the coming year. Whatever the resolution, we all see the New Year as an opportunity for a new beginning and goals – a new calendar providing the perfect opportunity to switch things up individually or as a business.

It is the perfect time for companies to consider joining 1% for the Planet.

We’d like to encourage a challenge that will start small in New England and one we hope will carry through the rest of the network. In the first half of the year, we’d like to see how many new businesses in New England will pledge to donate 1% of their sales to our nonprofit partners. We think this is a conservative (read: attainable!) goal for the New Year. We have exiting things planned for our 10th anniversary year and it would be great to have new members participate in a meaningful way. Look around our website and see who of your neighbors is already involved – we bet you already know someone who is an active member. We want our network to keep expanding and as companies are setting their goals for the next calendar year, it’s the perfect time to start seriously thinking about giving back to our planet.

Have you thought about getting involved? Talk to us! We’re happy to answer your questions and put your mind at ease – your involvement is important to us and your commitment to the program makes a huge impact worldwide.

Here’s to a bright 2013 and an even more impactful network!

NEW England Members: Osmium & Tonewood Maple

Posted on August 21st, 2012 by

I’d like to give a huge shout-out to two of our new New England members! Welcome to Osmium and Tonewood Maple!

Osmium is a designer and online retailer of men’s casual apparel, based in Stoneham, MA.  While their apparel is understated and distinctive, Osmium produces thoughtfully detailed, high quality garments that are built to last. Their styles are just outside the ordinary: Mariner pants, Toques, and very long shorts. The line offers a finely tuned fit, uncommon details, and fabrics with depth and character. Osmium is the creation of Mark Paigen, the former owner/founder of Chaco footwear.

Osmium chose to join 1% for the Planet, in order to give a stronger voice to their philanthropic efforts. Giving a portion of sales to worthy causes has been a company goal since day one.They believe that bigger things happen when people work together, so they are thrilled to have joined this community of like-minded businesses. They believe that “in this time when dollars are precious, we all must remember to sustain our planet, it’s the only one we have.” Well said!

I would also like to welcome Tonewood Maple to 1% for the Planet! They are now one of TWO members from 1%’s hometown of Waitsfield, Vermont!

Being from Vermont, it’s a given that maple syrup is one of my favorite treats! Therefore, I was excited to find out from our New England Network Director, Barbara, that a maple producer was joining our network! Tonewood is not your standard mom & pop maple producer, and according to their webpage, they are “redefining a standard for elegance and quality in maple products. Through collaboration with expert sugarmakers, [they] produce pure maple syrups and other specialties. [Their] products are single-sourced, unblended, and free of additives.” How tasty does that sound?! Check out their website for all of their delicious products, including syrups, wafers, cream, flakes and… you can even adopt a tree!

1% for the Planet & Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust Announce Partnership To Increase Environmental Philanthropy in New England

Posted on June 6th, 2012 by

June 6, 2012 | Waitsfield, VT

1% for the Planet in partnership with the Jessie B Cox Charitable Trust has launched a multi-year effort to increase environmental philanthropy in New England.

Founded in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia and Craig Mathews of Blue Ribbon Flies, 1% for the Planet is an alliance of businesses that donate at least 1% of revenue to organizations focused in sustainability. The Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust and 1% for the Planet share an interest in the long-term preservation of New England’s unique environmental resources and are working to put the power of business to work for the planet.

With the support of the Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust, 1% for the Planet is dedicating a team, led by Barbara Friedsam, the organization’s New England Network Director, to expand business support for the environment initiatives in the region, such as preserving and enhancing New England’s large forests.

1% for the Planet’s global network includes 1450 member companies and 2800 approved non-profit partners. New England is home to over 80 member companies including The Skinny Pancake and Spindrift Soda and over 200 approved non-profit partners such as the Union of Concerned Scientists, Conservation Law Foundation and Clean Air-Cool Planet.

“In an effort to push the envelope of our social-environmental mission, … we are proud to make the commitment to join 1% for the Planet,” said Skinny Pancake co-founder/owner Benjy Adler. “We’ll donate 1% of our sales to grassroots environmental non-profits, with a focus on local food and farm-advocacy groups like NOFA-VT (North Eastern Farming Association of Vermont) and Intervale.”

To date, 1% member companies have donated nearly $1 million to New England non-profit organizations working on land conservation, climate change, water resource protection, renewable energy development, and environmental education. 1% members donate directly to approved non-profits allowing them to remain closely connected to the issues they care about.

1% for the Planet will continue to help businesses work for their communities, both locally and on a larger scale.

The new initiative will include heightening awareness in the business community about key environmental issues and targeted investment opportunities. Ultimately, this will enable collaboration between businesses and non-profits that generate long-term environmental and business benefits. Individuals can help by supporting 1% for the Planet member companies in their strategic giving choices and participating with our local partner NGOs. Please follow 1% for the Planet online for updates on regional developments.

“New England is fertile ground for both business and individual participation in the sustainability movement,” said Barbara Friedsam, New England Network Director at 1%. “We know New Englanders care about how business gets done. When businesses align their purpose with their consumers’ concerns, we can collectively increase the triple bottom line.”

That increased bottom line means making giving easier, which in turn results in happier communities and a healthier ecosystem.

“1% for the Planet applauds those businesses committed to donating 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes and welcomes inclusion of more members to the network. The work New England environmental organizations do to protect the unique resources in this region is critical, and 1% member companies can play a unique role in supporting their work. We are excited about the opportunity to grow our network in New England in collaboration with the Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust” said Friedsam.

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About 1% for the Planet

1% for the Planet is an alliance of business financially committed to creating a healthy planet. In 2011, the 1% network donated an estimated $22 million to sustainability initiatives. Despite the challenging economic backdrop, over the last three years we have grown by more than one new member company a day. As a network, 1% is a leading funder of environmental work globally, making reinvestment in the environment a necessary tenet of doing business.

About the Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust

The Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust, a New England Philanthropy, funds projects in New England in the areas of health, education and the environment. In its environmental grant making, the Trust is focused on large-scale habitat conservation. For more information on the Trust, please refer to www.jbcoxtrust.org.

For more information, please contact:

Barbara Friedsam | New England Network Director

barbara@onepercenfortheplanet.org | (802) 496-5408

1% for the Planet team | George Soules Photography