The Farmacy is a partnership between AdkAction and Keeseville Pharmacy, which serves as a model for bringing healthy local food to rural communities. The second Farmacy location will be announced in May, 2019!
The Farmacy is a project that began in 2017 to increase food access in Keeseville, where there are high levels of food insecurity. In 2013, Mac’s Market in Keeseville closed down. As a result of this closure, residents were left with the choice to drive to Peru or Plattsburgh for groceries or buy processed foods from one of many convenience and dollar stores in the community. The Farmacy is a unique non-profit/for-profit partnership between AdkAction and the Keeseville Pharmacy that was formed with the mission of increasing accessibility of local, healthy food to all residents of Keeseville. While some rural communities, such as Keeseville, cannot sustain a traditional year-round grocery store, this business model provides another option whereby an existing business incorporates a farm grocery section into its storefront. This allows access to groceries without incurring the operating costs of opening and operating a new store.
The goal of this business model is to reduce the risk of food insecurity by providing healthy grocery options, as well as the tools and education to properly prepare and consume them. To increase awareness and education around using local foods, the Farmacy has hosted community cooking classes, onsite tasting events, weekly recipes, and incentive programs to remove obstacles to healthy cooking with local ingredients. Dan Bosley, the owner of the Keeseville Pharmacy, has adopted the slogan “Good Health Starts at the Table”, with that belief that food is a tool for good health. The Keeseville “Farmacy” also accepts SNAP benefits, and will be accepting WIC benefits soon. In 2019, AdkAction will replicate this mixed use business model to another location within Essex County, as well as continue to expand on the existing “Farmacy” in Keeseville.
AdkAction offered Sustainable Winter Road Maintenance Training to highway departments and DOT residencies in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties in April. The goal is to
Over the summer of 2018, AdkAction welcomed Colgate University Fellow, Colleen Donlan, on an internship experience funded by Colgate. Colleen worked primarily on the Farmacy Project.
AdkAction offered Sustainable Winter Road Maintenance Training to highway departments and DOT residencies in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties in April. The goal is to
Help us support farmers while creating conditions for healthier communities.
Promoting the health of pollinators, critical to our food and ecosystems, by empowering people to take individual and collective action to help pollinators thrive.
Road Salt pollution is threatening Adirondack waters. Studies now show that Adirondack lakes and streams near roads are contaminated and drinking water wells are becoming contaminated at an alarming rate.
Reviving the Saranac Lake River Walk area is a critical component of community revitalization in Saranac Lake. We are working to bring back the Whitewater Park to create education and recreation opportunities.