Great resources to check out

Since we're all interconnected, here's a bit of the web that connects us

Community Links:

Mount Airy website Find out Town Hall news, see other community organizations
Mount Airy community forum online Recently started effort to connect and strengthen our community through online connections
Carroll County Community Media Center Television that matters

Partner Organizations:

Natural Zing Speciality organic foods distributor based in Mount Airy; Co-op America Certified Green Business

Mt. Airy Bikes Local bike shop with an exhaustive line of products; Co-op America Certified Green Business

Friends of Frederick County amazing organization that has helped strengthen communities throughout Frederick County

Good organic resources:

www.localharvest.org a comprehensive directory of farms, farmer’s markets, CSAs, co-ops, stores, etc. that is searchable.
www.organicconsumers.org comprehensive source of news of the organic movement and industry
ofrf.org/resources/organicfaqs.html organic farming FAQs
www.organiccenter.org provides numerous scientific studies on pesticides, organics
www.organicfrederick.com an award-winning local documentary about the emergence of organics in the Frederick area

Good local food-related resources

www.carrollag.org Carroll County farmer’s markets and Eat Local challenge
www.discoverfrederickmd.com/farmersmarket Frederick County farmer’s markets
Eat Local Frederick an excellent site that has info on the importance of buying food locally, includes the Eat Local Challenge for September 2007
www.naturalzing.com awesome organic products distributor in Mt. Airy
www.nevrdunfarm.com an organic farm in Westminster
www.summercreekfarm.com a Frederick organic farm; Common Market provider
fieldtoplate.com a food/nutrition education company, based in New Market
dffarms.com/default.aspx Dragonfly Farms, Wine/Flower producer in Mt. Airy

Where to buy organic:

Mount Airy Farmer’s market! Wednesdays from 3:30-6:30 p.m. in the municipal parking lot. We'll be there!
Any other farmer’s market - see Local Harvest for a list
Common Market Co-op in Frederick: www.commonmarket.coop
My Organic Market in Frederick: www.myorganicmarket.com
Roots Market in Clarksville: www.rootsmkt.com
(The above three markets also offer local products, meaning that they are preferable.)
Or, if you must, you can find organic products in most grocery stores, particularly at Safeway or Superfresh in town.

Water Conservation:

www.harvesth2o.com A most comprehensive site on all water-related issues. Tons of know-how, particularly with harvesting and conservation techniques.
www.wateruseitwisely.com 100 ways to save water, plus a wealth of water facts and resources

Renewable Energy:

www.nrel.gov National Renewable Energy Laboratory – comprehensive information on everything renewable
www.eere.energy.gov U.S. Dept. of Energy – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
www.dsireusa.org Database of State incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
www.homepower.com magazine; great for small-scale renewables
www.findsolar.com locate solar retailers/installers
www.solarenergy.org educational non-profit for solar
www.geothermal.org educational non-profit for geothermal
www.windustry.com educational for wind

Buy Green Power:

www.cleancurrents.com purchase clean, green power without investing heavily in your own system right now
www.sterlingplanet.com another green energy purchasing group

Efficiency/ Conservation measures:

www.energysavers.gov comprehensive efficiency info
www.energystar.gov everything efficient: appliances etc.
www.reupower.com/energysvc/53ways.html 53 ways to save energy
www.ase.org Alliance to Save Energy

Community efforts:

www.newrules.org/de/index.html Democratic energy - communities and gov't working on our energy future (excellent resource)
www.community-wealth.org/strategies/tools/index.html several practical approaches and strategies for community wealth-building
www.greenenergycouncil.com/home.htm Promotes green energy policy on all levels of gov't; organizes all components of Green industry
www.appanet.org non-profit: American Public Power Association for community-owned electric utilities
www.postcarbon.org info on economic re-localization and Peak Oil
www.ilsr.org Institute for local self-reliance: promotes sustainable, autonomous communities

Books:

“Deep Economy” by Bill McKibben; www.billmckibben.com
“Citizen-Powered Energy Handbook” by Greg Pahl; www.gregpahl.com
“Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement In the World Came Into Being
and Why No One Saw it Coming“ by Paul Hawken; www.blessedunrest.com

Alternative Energy Retailers/Installers:

Standard Solar sells and installs solar systems of all kinds
Chesapeake Wind and Solar Mid-Atlantic wind and solar retailer that provides system engineering and design, installation, project consulting and development, site survey and assessment services, education and training