Our mission is that of building a sustainable community in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia which supports healthful lifestyle choices, fair economic practices, and sound environmental principles.

NSV BALLE will serve the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia;  notably the counties of Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah and Warren and the cities contained therein.

We look to fill the following needs in our area:

a.       Create a network of local businesses, government leaders, investors, and individuals committed to increasingly sustainable  practices

b.      Provide consumer education regarding the economic benefits of a local living economy

c.       Encourage and promote consumer education regarding healthful lifestyle choices

d.      Encourage education regarding sound environmental principles

e.     Provide education regarding the interconnectedness of healthy people, healthy planet, and  then profit

f.        Increase supply and consumer purchasing of locally produced and environmentally friendly products

g.      Direct capital toward local financial institutions and businesses committed to building a more inclusive and sustainable economy

h.      Provide civic leadership and public policy advocacy from the business perspective for issues around social justice and sustainability; such as living wages, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture

i.        Provide regular updates regarding community progress in sustainability

j.        Promote community arts and music programs supporting sensitivity to sustainability

k.       Develop a Community Resource Center of information supporting sustainability

Advantages of buying locally first

By  “local” we mean stores, businesses, banks and farms which are located in the northern Shenandoah Valley and which are locally owned and operated.

There are several advantages to supporting local businesses and farms:

-          More money spent with local businesses circulates in our local communities (of each dollar spent locally about 70 cents stays in the area, of each dollar spent in a chain or “big box” store about 30 cents stays in the area)

-          When local farms have an increased demand for their products they can make more available, thus keeping costs to a moderate level

-          When you trade locally the folks who you trade with are friends and neighbors!

Raising consumer consciousness

   As consumers we do not often think of the influence we have on our society and our planet. Think for a moment of making a purchase – a can of beans, for example. When you take a product off a shelf you set in motion a series of events to replace that product. Sometimes that process will be quite involved. Someone will provide more bean seeds, someone will get those to a farmer who will plant those seeds. Someone will tend to the plants, then harvest the beans. Other people will probably process them and get them to a food distributor.  Other people will be cutting trees, mining ore, or drilling for oil to make the packaging and labels for the product. There will be ships, planes, trains and trucks, warehouses involved – a fairly long food chain which has been based on cheap gas and subsidized industries.

  As a conscious consumer you make intentional decisions about that entire process. When you obtain fresh items, sustainably and locally grown, the food chain is much shorter. Not only will your food product be fresher, you are more likely to know some of the people involved in the production.

  In a similar way, more of the money invested in and borrowed from a local bank tends to stay in the community – helping a neighbor build an addition to a home or obtain a new car.

  When you obtain items which are not locally grown or produced you can ask yourself some important questions, such as:   “were the workers involved with this food paid a living and fair wage?” and   “were their working conditions safe?” Choosing “fair trade” or “fair exchange” items insures that the people involved were treated fairly.

  When thinking of food there are many studies which indicate that “less is better,” – that is, the fewer chemicals and the less the processing,  the better.  Michael Polland suggests that if you have trouble pronouncing the ingredients of a product you are better off to not consume that product!  When you deal with local farmers you can ask what kinds of fertilizers and sprays were involved in producing that food. You can ask if the animals which provide the meat were pastured and if they were given growth hormones and had antibiotics routinely added to their food.

Do you remember the old saying, “everything I like is illegal, immoral, or fattening!”? Well, eating real food, locally and sustainably produced is a win-win-win  – it’s good for you, good for the farmer, and good for the land – hence good for the planet! Here’s how some people rate things:

What’s best – food that you have grown organically yourself

2^nd best is – local food that has been organically grown by someone with whom you can share hands

Next best is your own garden - conventionally grown

Next is other locally grown food

Next is produce from the supermarket (get fair trade or fair exchange items if at all possible)

Many writers emphasize the helpfulness of avoiding processed or “snack” food.

Many writers also stress the need to avoid Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs).

For the Greater Good will seek to link consumers with responsible food producers and, in the process, strength our local community and promote a healthier planet with healthier people!