Ambrook Sweater Party

​Local producers are up against thin margins, perishable products, and a supply chain where most of the end price goes to someone in the middle. Today, many producers are responding by making more out of what they already have.

​Robbie Gianadda started growing mushrooms in his Buffalo basement 12 years ago. Flat 12 Mushrooms is now an urban farm with its own R&D kitchen. Beyond selling fresh mushrooms, Robbie and his team have created value-added products like lion's mane nuggets, now served in Western New York public schools.

​Evan Rieth raises sheep for meat and fiber in the Champlain Valley. The meat has been an easy sell, but the price for raw fleeces often doesn't cover the cost of shearing the sheep. This Climate Week, Ambrook is soft launching Big Dipper Wool, a pilot batch of sweaters from Evan's flock, spun at Green Mountain Spinnery and knit at Muriel's of Vermont.

​We'll talk with Robbie and Evan about growing and making things in America today, how new tools are changing what's possible at the local-economy scale, and where regional policy helps or gets in the way. Come meet them, and join us in celebrating shortly after with hot soup, made with Robbie’s mushrooms and Evan’s mutton.

​Conversation moderated by Katie Ellig, Services Lead at Ambrook. Registration required.