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Cape Ann
Farmer’s Market
SCA knows that access to fresh and locally grown food is critical to our community’s health. In the summer of 2006, we brought together Buy Fresh, the Cape Ann Food Co-op, The Food Project — North Shore, The Cape Ann Food Pantry, as well as numerous volunteers, and all worked as a team to create the successful pilot of the Cape Ann Farmer’s Market (CAFM). A market manager was hired and a working board of local food leaders assembled to plan and oversee a more comprehensive version of the farmer’s market for 2007 and beyond. SCA received donations from hundreds of Food Co-op members, as well as a generous matching grant from a local donor, to fund the start-up operations of the market over the next three years until it becomes fully self-funded. SCA will be working in collaboration with our community partners on the CAFM’s working board to ensure the market’s long term success. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of its many stewards and supporters, the Cape Ann Farmer’s Market is back at Harbor Loop, along Gloucester’s historic working waterfront, and will take place every Thursday (3.00–7.00pm) from July 12th to October 11th.
 Clean Energy Fair
SCA and others in the community share a vision for greater energy conservation and independence. In 2006, we worked as a team with the Cape Ann Climate Change Network, the Sawyer Free Library, the City of Gloucester and numerous volunteers to launch the first-ever Cape Ann Clean Energy Fair. The event featured 40 exhibitors and over 1000 people came to learn about energy conservation strategies and cleaner energy alternatives. Local supporters included the mayor, city councilors and Cape Ann youth. The next energy fair is currently being planned for the Fall of 2007.
 Local Living Economy Lecture and Forum
SCA believes that knowledge is power, and that it is important to learn from the successes of other communities around the country. That is why we worked with the Sawyer Free Library and the Cape Ann Business Incubator to host a forum at City Hall with well-known economist Michael Shuman, a leader in the local living economy movement, and author of “Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age.”
This exciting event drew the mayor, city councilors and numerous other community leaders who then participated in a Q & A about how to strengthen our local economy.
Cape Ann Time Bank
SCA was involved in seeding the Cape Ann Time Bank. Time Banks strengthen community ties through a simple system that rewards every hour of service provided by a Time Bank network member with a Time Dollar that can in turn be used to obtain an hour of service from another member. The types of services which Time Bank members provide to each other include: yard-work, cooking, running errands, tutoring, fitness training, dog-sitting and more. The Cape Ann Time Bank is currently 117 members-strong. It is led by a dedicated team of local residents who have been working collaboratively to weave this amazing tapestry of community spirit.
Generation Conservation
SCA proudly supported the creation of Generation Conservation — an exciting new youth collaborative that is a partnership of the Gloucester High School’s Environmental Club and the Compass Youth Program of Action Inc. In a short time, this dynamic group of Gloucester youth have already organized two successful events that promoted energy conservation and better stewardship of our natural resources. They included a community-wide beach sweep & Arts & Trash event, as well as a youth art auction featuring State Senator Bruce Tarr at Gloucester’s City Hall. The auction raised $2,400 for future programs.
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In less than a year, Sustainable Cape Ann has proven itself to be a valuable leader and partner in initiating and supporting collaborative projects that make key contributions in areas critical to the strength and vitality of our communities. Successful collaborations to date included: 