Support Local Small Businesses

The threat and spread of the Corona virus is having unprecedented impact on the way that we live our lives and our established patterns of behaviour. Big box stores and large chains have an infinitely larger ability to withstand fluctuations in income as compared to small businesses. This is the time to band together to help small businesses and their owners as they all make up our local communities. Here is a list of companies that I have featured on the blog and what they are doing (as of March 17th) to remain open during these hard times. Many businesses are getting very creative in an effort to remain open and balance public safety.

Please visit their websites and social media channels to ensure that the information that I have provided has not changed. Before you panic buy, think about how you could support someone in your local community.

Eco Cafe, get your beans delivered!

https://ecocafestjacobs.com/, https://www.instagram.com/ecocafestjacobs/, https://twitter.com/EcoCafeStJacobs, https://www.facebook.com/EcoCafeStJacobs/

• open for take out only, regular hours
• offering delivery service for coffee beans, and let’s be serious we all need to have enough coffee for our self isolation!

Queen Street Yoga, check out their virtual classes!!

https://queenstreetyoga.com/, https://www.instagram.com/queenstreetyoga/, https://twitter.com/queenstreetyoga, https://www.facebook.com/queenstreetyoga

• location is closed
• hosting online virtual yoga classes!!! We all need to take care of ourselves during these anxious times

Wooden Boat Food Company, take out available!

https://www.wbfood.ca/, https://www.instagram.com/woodenboatfood/, https://www.facebook.com/woodenboatfood

• take out only , no cash payments, order online or over the phone
• open Thursday, Friday Saturday 12-7

Lady Glaze Doughnuts

https://ladyglazedoughnuts.com/, https://www.instagram.com/lady_glaze_doughnuts/

• open for take out or curbside pick up 9-5
• for curbside pick up, call ahead 519 954-2424

Four All Ice Cream

https://www.fourall.ca/, https://www.instagram.com/fourallicecream/, https://twitter.com/fourallicecream, https://www.facebook.com/fourallicecream/

• Uptown Waterloo store open, factory in Kitchener closed to public
• encouraging people to enjoy their treats off site

Zero Waste Bulk

https://www.zerowastebulk.com/, https://www.facebook.com/zerowastebulk, https://www.instagram.com/zerowastebulk/

• store open
• limiting number of customers in the store at a time
• booking shopping timne appointments

The Truth Beauty Company

https://thetruthbeautycompany.com/, https://twitter.com/TruthBeautyCo, https://www.facebook.com/thetruthbeautycompany/, https://www.instagram.com/thetruthbeautycompany/

• encouraging shopping online
• looks like the retail locations are still open

Vincenzos

https://www.vincenzosonline.com/, https://www.instagram.com/vincenzoswaterloo/, https://twitter.com/VincenzosTweet, https://www.facebook.com/vincenzos.waterloo

• looks like business as usual

Cowbell Brewery

https://cowbellbrewing.com/, https://www.instagram.com/cowbellbrewing/, https://twitter.com/CowbellBrewing, https://www.facebook.com/CowbellBrewing/

• general store is open 12-7
• curbside food and beer pick up details to be posted
• eat in restaurant is closed

Cowbell Brewery, the world’s first closed loop brewery

When at Cowbell….it’s research for the blog!!

And it’s in South Western Ontario!! Over the holiday weekend, I was at a family event in the area and knew that I had to find out more. My (over 19year old) family members were happy to join me on this blog research! So we booked a tour and here’s what I found out…

Cowbell’s achievements:

• The world’s first closed loop brewery. They source water from an on site well and have their own wastewater plant onsite.
• North America’s first carbon neutral brewery. They offset more carbon than they emit by using on site carbon sequestration.
• World’s first craft brewery to use rectification boil technology. Huh? this technology dramatically reduces their boil times which reduces energy consumption.

Other cool stuff

The impressive building itself used local ash trees that were going to be cut down due to the emerald ash borer as well as timber from a sustainable forest in BC where 3 trees are planted for every tree that is cut down. It is designed in a Grand Old Barn architecture style and no nails were used, just wooden dowels! There is a green roof and runoff water is used to water plants and the garden. The waste product of the gains after brewing are used in their kitchen for pasta, bread and pizzas with whatever can’t be used there used by local farmers. And…every beer name is inspired by local history and includes the story! Beer and education 🍻

Yes, we were there before it opened!

You can probably find it on draft at your local establishment (use the find our beer link) or if you’re headed their way, it’s worth a stop. If you do go, add a hike along the G2G trail and take a deep long breath of country air! Check it out: https://cowbellbrewing.com/age-gate, https://www.instagram.com/cowbellbrewing/, https://twitter.com/CowbellBrewing

Been on any cool road trips lately? I’d love to hear your comments!