Here we highlight news and press about Gilmanton’s Own, Inc. and the farmers and artisans associated with us. Anyone who is associated with this organization: Please send us links to any newspaper, newsletter, radio, TV items we should include. (Please, no ads!) Send to gilmantonsown@gmail.com .
A NEW ERA FOR GILMANTON’S OWN, INC.
All organizations evolve over time in order to stay healthy, and so, Gilmanton’s Own, Inc. (GOI) is happy to announce that this month we enter our next phase of development.
Where we came from: Gilmanton’s Own was founded in 2017 by a small group of folks committed to supporting local agriculture and farmers because they are the center of our community and region. Thus, GOI was born, with its Market as the core of the organization – a nonprofit market that offers only local goods. GOI very quickly achieved 501(c)3 status as a nonprofit organization. We launched the first season of operation with all labor contributed by a merry band of volunteers, including operations, management, governance, and everything.
How we’ve done: The Market has operated in the black throughout its history with an ever-increasing number and range of products and producers, and an increasing customer base. During COVID we added our online market. In 2021 we moved to our beautiful home in the South Barn at 741 Province Rd, and since 2022 we have operated 12 months a year, rain, shine, or snow; heat, freeze, or blackflies and mosquitoes.
Always thinking about the future: GOI has been involved in a long-term strategic planning exercise since the beginning of 2022 aimed at creating a data- and analytics-based path toward even more success. This week, we took our next step on that path.
Launching our next phase: Up to this point the Executive Board has served all leadership functions – both nonprofit governance and leadership and operations management. That is not the most efficient, productive way to operate, so this week we separated those functions. Thanks to many of you, our supportive donors, we have been able to contract with Sarah Baldwin-Welcome part-time to run the management of the Market. Sarah was one of GOI’s founders and has been President of the GOI Executive Board since the beginning, done much of the operations management and has worked in customer service. We wouldn’t be what we are without her. Sarah will now step away from the Executive Board and devote herself to managing the market and continuing to volunteer as well. As the life force behind Pancake Hill Farm and Provincial Palate, you will continue to see her products in the Market, including her weekly prepared dishes.
Gina Sapiro has been elected President of the Executive Board for a term ending December, 2024. Gina was also one of the GOI founders and has been on the Board since the beginning, serving for many years as Vice President. The Executive Board will continue to focus specifically on the functions traditionally reserved to nonprofit Boards, while leaving more of the day-to-day operational matters to management. The Board sets the mission, goals, and higher-level strategies; takes fiduciary responsibility for the organization; and assures its health and sustainability. It will also continue to approve vendors and products. Gina will facilitate and lead those Board functions, and help GOI develop our much-needed fundraising program. You will also continue to see her Jones Mill House products in the Market.
The future: Please join us. These changes are designed to help GOI become ever better at doing what the organization is designed to do, and what our customers love about the Market: providing wonderful local products on a nonprofit, community-oriented basis, serving farmers, producers, artists, craftspeople, and customers alike. We hope this change will allow us to fulfill some of the wider aspirations we have for community service. We are still a largely volunteer operation, and depend on people who are eager to serve the community variously by donating their time, energy, expertise, and money. We always welcome new products and producers. Please contact us if you are interested.
Released July 17, 2023
Contact: gilmantonsown@gmail.com
Here’s a great webinar presented by UNH Extension June 30, 2020 on Where Can I Find Local Food in the Lakes Region? One of the speakers is our own Sarah Welcome, representing Gilmanton’s Own Market:
A great article in the Laconia Daily Sun (11/2/17) announcing the opening of the pilot Gilmanton’s Own Market: http://bit.ly/2DVPcfR
Listen to Michelle and Keith Descoteaux, Still Seeking Farm on EmpireRadioNow, talk about their work, their farm, and Gilmanton’s Own, July 19, 2017: https://empireradionow.com/michelle-and-keith-descoteaux-7-19-17-farm/
On May 10, 2017, Gilmanton’s Own was featured on a segment of WEMJ 107.3 Open Mike on the Lakes Region Food Network. Listen to it here — our folks are on at minutes 24-31: http://1073wemj.com/assets/podcaster/1035/2017_05_11_1035_57468_4399.mp3
Gilmanton's Own Market 