Old Saratoga Mercantile

As we were warned before beginning our tour of St. Croix Farm in Valley Falls, farm owner John Moore could talk for hours about grasses. He did talk about grass. A lot.  And every word was fascinating. The picturesque fields are green, but an attempt to count the types of grasses and plants quickly showed a landscape rich in many, many varieties. Most I'd heard of before and never thought much about: Crab grass, bedstraw, dandelion, clover, violets, burdock....alone they may not seem so impressive, but together, they weave a nutritionally dense diet for the cows.  More fascinating? We learned that the underground structure of roots connects with mycorrhizae , where plants can actually share nutrients! (Sorry if this is not new info to you! I'm still super excited about it!) You can read a little more about it here . We watched as the herd was let into a new field for "first bite" of new "teenage" grasses, which like teenagers, have lots of ene

I’ve been selling Luce Farm hemp-infused products here in the store for nearly two months now. More than 200 jars have gone through the doors, and I’ve received nothing but positive feedback from everyone who has tried it.  Their reasons for trying CBD oil have ranged from minor aches and pains, to ADD, anxiety, sleep disorders, digestive issues, psoriasis, chronic pain and side effects from kidney failure and cancer treatments. I’d used CBD oil myself, for joint pain, but honestly hadn’t looked into its other uses until people started requesting it. As I do with all of the products here, from a bar of soap or pair of mittens, to a head of lettuce or rack of ribs, I find out where it’s coming from. Are they all natural ingredients? Are the animals treated ethically? How are you storing your product? How are your employees being treated? All of these factors, and many more, come into play when I decide what I want to offer in the store. While I strive to carry as much l

The second token was hidden in the Blessings Box (now called the Little Food Pantry) located next to the library. I was hopeful to bring attention to the box itself, as it’s such a   great way to gather our community together in support of each other.   Any time, day or night, you can drop off nonperishable food items, or perhaps a toy or a pair of mittens, for a neighbor to be able to enjoy, too. I’ve checked it out every day since I hid it, and every day there seems to be different items inside. It’s pretty exciting to be a part of a community where we work together like this. Here were the clues: Clue #1: A Gerry and the Pacemakers song This was Ferry Cross the Mersey. The token was hidden somewhere on Ferry Street. I particularly liked one line from the song, though, and while it wasn’t part of the clue, it seemed fitting:  People around every corner They seem to smile and say We don't care what your name is boy We'll never turn you away Clue #2:

Know your roots. It’s printed on the back of the business cards here at Old Saratoga Mercantile, but it’s more than a catchphrase. It was one of the driving forces in deciding to open the store.  I want to know where my food comes from. Was it grown or raised here by my neighbor, using the same practices I would use? Or did it come from a giant commercial operation, using sprays or methods to unnaturally, but with a much higher profit, plump up the product? Was it tossed in a truck to make a thousand-mile journey before it landed, weeks later, on my plate? I think a lot of people want to know, too, but don’t have the time to do the research. Most people can’t walk through the grocery store and read every label, google every farm name, research countries of origin before you determine your purchase. I can, though, do research on our local farmers and producers. I can visit their farms, sample their foods, meet their families, talk to others who use their product—and whe