Buy Local, Made Local

Here in Massachusetts, we’re extremely fortunate to be surrounded by businesses with creative and unique products. And, few things illustrate this quite as well as our Buy Local campaign, featuring products from Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island and Maine.

Being a local business ourselves, we believe it’s important to support local businesses, and that’s why we started a campaign for local, sustainable products! Now Buy Local is not a traditional fundraising campaign as the products we offer are ALL the same price or similar in price to what one would pay in retail stores. That being said- here are some of our favorites.

Delicious Delights:

Our delicious delights section is filled with naturally made goodies, perfect for people of all ages. Whether you’re partial to sweet, salty or fruity, we have you covered. 

Distler’s Pretzels

First, you have to try Distler’s Pretzels, made in Vermont. These pretzels were created in 2008 by a middle school student as a school project to benefit the community. There are two different flavors -ranch and spicy.

You might also want to sample the offerings of Hilliard’s House of Candy, created in Massachusetts. These bars are made with softened, buttery caramel, layered with fresh Georgia pecans, between luscious milk chocolate. And, they come in a decorated tin!

Hometown Favorites :

VT Signature Sauces

The title says it all. Instead of going to the grocery store to buy your standard, big-label products, try these unique and tasty soups, dips, and sauces, made near you!

The VT Signature Sauces will turn your dinner into an unforgettable experience. They’re blended with basil pesto, white wine and cream, perfect for any kind of pasta. They’re also gluten-free and vegetarian friendly!

‘Cook-in-the-Kitchen’ with these gourmet mixes made in small batches with only all-natural, preservative free ingredients from New Hampshire. Choose from Cheesy Garlic Dip, Maple Spice Fruit Dip and French Toast Spice, and your meal will come alive in minutes.

Fun for the Whole Family:

Eco-Kids Products

Have you ever heard of Eco-Kids? If you haven’t, you should. Eco-Kid products, created by a family from Maine that began with a molding dough recipe from grandma, transformed into all natural ingredients. For example, Eco-Kids eco-crayons are designed from rocks in the family’s garden. The earthy colors are made from 25% beeswax and 75% fruit plant and vegetable extracts.

If you’re looking for a perfect gift for your mother, daughter, or grandmother, check out the Charmed Star Bracelet. This fine jewelry piece is made in Rhode Island that will capture the beauty of the stars in your hand. An adjustable Silverstone wire bracelet holds a sterling silver finished star charm.

Nature's Best:

Quality Made Bird Feeder from Aspects Inc

Make your home smell wonderful and elegant with our locally made candles. The Kringle Candle Company is a specialty candle maker. Their Spiced Apple Jar Candle is made with baked apple, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon notes with a gentle hint of vanilla. Your home will smell like a freshly baked apple pie in no time!

Decorate your backyard with a Quality Made Bird Feeder from Aspects Inc., made in Rhode Island. This hummingbird feeder is constructed of unbreakable polycarbonate with three feeding ports. These innovative “nature” products have a Lifetime Guarantee and money raised is donated to programs that support wildlife conservation.

Our other local vendors include: 

Ipswich Bay Soap, MA

• Blue Egg Baking, MA: Baking products that are made with whole-wheat flour and grated veggies “secretly” added.
• Cabot, VT: They have won every major award for taste, including “World’s Best Cheddar”.
• Cape Cod Provisions, MA: Specialty Chocolate & Fruit established in 1996. These treats are all Kosher certified.
• Del’s Lemonade, RI: Make this soft frozen lemonade right at home with no added artificial flavors or colorings. 
• Hillard’s House of Candy, MA: Making the highest quality homemade candy for nearly 90 years. 
• Ipswich Bay Soap, MA: These soaps are 100% natural containing dried herbs, natural oxides and ultramarines, pure essential oils and fragrances. Naturally contain glycerin, a natural byproduct of the cold process soap method.
• Kathie’s SuperSeedz, CT: These healthy snack foods are vegan, gluten free, no cholesterol and no trans-fats. Natural source of fiber and very low net carbs. 
• King Arthur Flour, VT: All flours are non-GMO and made to the highest standards in the industry. In 2008, King Arthur Flour was tapped as one of the 15 Top Small Workplaces in North America.



Lucy's Granola, ME.

• Lucy’s Granola, ME: These healthy granola mixes are made with maple syrup and honey from nearby suppliers. All of Lucy’s Granola products are made, packaged and shipped from Lucy’s 1840s Maine cape farmhouse .
• N-E-R-V-O-U-S System, MA: This husband and wife are both MIT graduates who design unique science, art and technology products.
• Rosie’s Beef Jerky, VT: Family owned and operated since 1996, Rosie's Beef Jerky is made with the choicest top round beef strips, seasoned and marinated in Rosie's secret blend of spices and slow cooked to perfection 



Cabot, VT




• Spring Break, ME: The maker of Maine Maple Products. All products are organic by nature and made with pure Maine maple syrup. 2013 First place in the North American Maple Syrup Councils' maple confections contest.

• Sugar Snap Jewelry, CT: Award winning DIY jewelry kits for over 20 years. You can make earring and necklace sets that include white fresh water pearls.

These are just a few of our local businesses recognized in the Buy Local brochure. Most of these companies are small, either family or woman owned. They also give back to their communities in many different ways.

So, the next time your school holds a fundraiser, choose Buy Local! Locally made products are made from the heart. Visit our website for more information. 

DIY Teacher Appreciation Gifts

As the school year winds down, let’s give a shout-out to all those dedicated teachers who’ve spent 9 months focused on your child’s papers, projects and maybe even introducing them to their new favorite book.

In celebration of the end of the school year, here are some simple, thoughtful thank you gifts that you can create with your child!

“My teacher is AW-esome” To make this simple gift, grab a pack of A&W Root Beer and a sweet treat. (Added bonus if you know your recipients’ favorite candy) Complete the gift with a handmade tag or note!

“Thank You for helping ______ grow!” Nothing says spring like a pot of flowers or plants! Once you pick out the perfect bloom, simply take a ruler and make a handmade thank you card, like the example below.

Dress Up a Card with a Homemade Touch There are plenty of free, printable cards to use as the base for this craft; your child can write on the backside expressing gratitude for everything that their teacher has done throughout the year!

“Piecing you together” Does your child’s teacher have a sweet tooth? This simple craft calls for a mason jar, a bag of Reese’s Pieces, ribbon, and a hand crafted sign.

“It’s so refreshing to have a teacher like you!” Here at Meadow Farms, we definitely value eco-friendly ideas like this one: find a reusable drinking glass, your favorite tea flavor or Crystal Light, and a homemade sign. A great gift to start a relaxing summer vacation!

This spring, let’s take a pause to remember something; teachers are some of the most important people in our young lives. They can be like second-parents - people who provide knowledge and guidance to last a lifetime. That’s why we encourage creating your own handmade note of thanks to compliment your gift!

Have fun creating this craft with your child - and remember how much you valued your teachers when growing up! For more craft ideas and free pintables follow us on Pinterest and check out our “Teacher Appreciation” board.

Earth Month 2014

Picture from here.

Every April we rally in support of our grand planet by observing Earth Month. The month culminates with the celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd. This springtime holiday highlights the importance of environmental protection through a number of sustainable practices: recycling, using efficient transportation, and education on environmental topics.

This year, we here at Meadow Farms Fundraising want to promote the fact that being environmentally conscious should not be dedicated to just one month or day of the year; and becoming savvy of environmental concerns can start at any age.  

With that being said, it’s crucial to know how to properly recycle. Some of the big ones:

• Make sure to rinse out plastic and glass containers, while removing caps.
• Flatten out boxes. 
•  Be cognizant of what you can’t recycle: this list includes plastic wrap, Styrofoam, and aerosol cans. 

For more complicated recycling we encourage you call your city when referring to: batteries, computers, paint, hangers, and appliances.

So, with all these little complex pieces in play, a question might surface for parents: how do you teach and encourage youngsters to recycle? Here’s a short list of good strategies:

• Story time – There are several books about recycling particularly geared toward young children. Reading with your kids presents an ideal opportunity to start a conversation on the importance of recycling. 

• Get Involved – Label all of your recycling bins in your home with pictures of what is recyclable. Once they’re recycling, you might even want to create a reward system when goals are met.

• Show Them – Point out the items that can be recycled and the items that cannot. It’s always good to show your children what objects have been made from recycled material.

• Arts & Crafts – Get creative! You can make your recycling bin into something that encourages recycling. One of our favorites? Turning a recycling bin into a basketball hoop. Additionally, you could get your children to turn items that can be recycled into art projects.   

Hopefully these tips help you out not only during Earth Month but all year long! Meadow Farms believes that recycling is extremely important, we are proud to say that our wrapping paper is made in the USA and is a 100% recyclable product.

Good luck and have fun! 

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