Stoudts Brewing & Mother Earth

**every day should be Earth Day - kristyn**

Here at Stoudt's, we try to do as much as we can to promtoe a happy and healthy Mother Earth.The less impact we have on the environment, the better off we'll all be in the future. With our new edition, The Wonderful Good Market, we are trying to set an example not only in promoting and consuming organic and local food, but also by limiting our intake of natural resources. We put in brand new solar panels, which dramatically cuts our electricity use. This is an amazing new asset in our increasing needs to conserve our resources. By providing local food, we can rely less on the commercial food industry and gasoline consumption, as well as the outsourcing of our local farmers and food purveyors. On a different level, the Market provides a local book share, where you can borrow and share your own books with others in the community. We have also introduced a thrift store, providing affordable clothing to the greater community.

The brewery is also playing a major role in being ecologically aware...and on so many levels! Our spent grain has been feeding our farm friends for years, a classic win-win situation for everybody. This is an obvious win-win situation for everybody. The grain provides nutrient-rich food for local animals. It is also a great compost element, proven to grow large and numerous worms in Ed Stoudt's compost, providing rich nutrients and earthworms for his beloved Dahlia garden. The worms also provide great treats for his pet duck, Donald. Also, by coming in for a pint at the bar, or purchasing a keg rather than cases, responsible drinkers are greatly depleting the amount of bottles, as well as the energy, which goes into processing those bottles at the recycling center. On a larger scale, the brewery is currently working on a glycol (chilling) system for the Lager Cellar and two of our fermentation rooms. This new system will greatly reduce our energy consumption with regard to cooling and maintaining temperatures in the fermentors. We are also in the process of putting in motion-sensitive lighting in our warehouses, limiting our overall electricity intake.

You're all probably wondering how antiquing can affect the environment. There has been a re-emergence in buying used goods from thrift stores and summertime yard sales. It not only feels great to get something cool for a steal, but it also slows the demand of manufactured products from outsourced companies. Rather than throw away, we can all re-use, swap, and mend what we have. Rather than buying brand new goods, why not buy used furniture, clothing, and trinkets, …after all, they were probably made better back in the day. Plus, you get a one of a kind look for your home and garden. There's some-thing special about antiques in that they provide rich stories of personal histories, and the element of one object being used by various people, which connects all of us on a more personal level.

We try to do our part in every aspect of business at Stoudt's, and we encourage all of you to do the same. This Earth Day, if we all pitch in, we can enhance our Earth's well being in so many wonderful ways. As consumers, we have the power to change the world and make it a better place for generations to come!

Cheers!