Ithaca Local Economy Lab -- Radical Experiments in Business and Community
Dia, local economy nerd
Ithaca Local Economy Lab Real experiments in 'radical' alternative economics — from one unusually interesting small cityIthaca, NY once printed its own money. Ithaca HOURS circulated for decades, valuing a plumber's hour the same as a professor's, keeping millions of dollars of spending power inside the community. It was radical. It worked. And it was just the beginning.Today, a worker cooperative runs one of the best-loved coffee shops in town. A shared commercial kitchen has made food entrepreneurship accessible to people who couldn't otherwise afford the infrastructure. A fiber cooperative is doing the slow, deliberate work of rebuilding a regional te...
Episodes
The Anarchist Nextdoor - Blue Boxes and Mutual Aid
Theresa Fulton coordinates 47 blue food-sharing cabinets across Tompkins County — open to anyone, stocked by the community, no questions asked. She joined Mutual Aid Tompkins during the pandemic without any background in community organizing (her PhD is in science education), and took over coordinating the cabinet network in 2022 when it had roughly thirty.The cabinets started when someone saw a little free library and thought: what if that was food? Volunteers built them, placed them from downtown Ithaca to Dryden, Freeville, Spencer, Lansing, and the rural towns in between. When Spencer lost its only grocery store to a fire in September 2026, Mutual Aid Tompkins added a second cabinet there within weeks.In this episode:What mutual aid actually means in practice — and how it differs from charityHow 47 blue food cabinets serve a county of 100,000 people, stocked anonymously by the communityWhy toilet paper and diapers are harder to get than food (you can't buy them with SNAP or WIC)The accessible cabinet designed with disabled residents — 30 inches off the ground, reachable from a wheelchairHow a Facebook group of nearly 10,000 members connects people who need help with people who can give it often on the same dayHow the whole operation runs on a few thousand dollars a year and a handful of committed volunteersWhat Theresa would tell a small group wanting to start something like this in their own communityResources and LinksMutual Aid Tompkins: mutualaidtompkins.comBlue cabinet locations: mutualaidtompkins.com/food-sharing/locationsTompkins County Workers' Center (fiscal sponsor): tcworkerscenter.orgFriendship Donation Network: friendshipdonations.orgCommunity Foundation of Tompkins County: cftompkins.orgPeter Kropotkin (mutual aid theory): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_KropotkinIthaca Local Economy Lab: ithacalocaleconomylab.comThe Practically Real Team:Jake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor linkedin.com/in/jgribschawStacey Cornelius - Associate Producer agencyofwords.comSonia Simone - Content Strategist remarkable-communication.comErin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808Yen Ospina - Artist yenospina.comCarsie Blanton - Musician carsieblanton.comPhotography by Forest Floor Creatives forestfloorcreatives.comProduced by Practically Real Enterprises, LLC. Hosted by Dia
How to Live in a Housing Co-Op
What if housing offered more than four walls and gave residents a real voice in how they live? In this episode, Dia talks with McKenzie Jones, a founding owner of Ithaca’s Aurora Pocket Neighborhood Cooperative, about co-living, cohousing, pocket neighborhoods, and legal housing co-ops.Learn how these models can help people pool resources, share costs and responsibilities, build trust, and create a practical safety net without pretending community life is effortless.McKenzie explains why clear agreements, democratic decision-making, and “one member, one vote” matter, and how cooperative habits can begin without buying property: a shared meal, garden, snowblower, or offer of help can be a first step. Could your neighborhood do this? Listen and subscribe to the Ithaca Local Economy Lab.In this episode:How a housing cooperative can actually work, who holds title, who decides, and what happens when someone can't payThe decision-making matrix: the foundational tool co-ops use before they decide who mows the lawnThe surprisingly varied types of financing available to cooperative developersThe safety net: how housing co-ops are mutual aid and social justice juggernautsWhere housing co-ops and worker co-ops share the same principlesHow to start building cooperative community right now, with no money and no paperworkResources and LinksThe Worker Place: theworkerplace.coopLaunch.coopNASCO (National Association of Student Cooperatives): nasco.coopSustainable Economies Law Center: theselc.orgCo-Op Decision Matrix: www.stl.coop/coop-guide/decisionmakingIthaca Local Economy Lab: ithacalocaleconomylab.comFoundation for Intentional Community: www.ic.orgThe Practically Real Team:Jake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor linkedin.com/in/jgribschawStacey Cornelius - Associate Producer agencyofwords.comSonia Simone - Content Strategist remarkable-communication.comErin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808Yen Ospina - Artist yenospina.comCarsie Blanton - Musician carsieblanton.comPhotography by Forest Floor Creatives forestfloorcreatives.comProduced by Practically Real Enterprises, LLC. Hosted by Dia.
How to Own Your Power
Every month, money leaves the house for electricity, heat, and gas, and every month it's simply gone. Paul Fenn calls that energy rent, and it costs about $70,000 per decade for an average NYSEG household.Fenn is the founder and president of Local Power, the consultancy Bloomberg once called the utility industry's number one enemy. He now administers the municipality of Ithaca's two energy pilot programs. One is the CCA, which buys electricity and gas in bulk for the whole municipality and is currently paused pending state regulators. The other is Own Your Power, which is open to renters as well as owners.Own Your Power helps participants design and buy energy systems on their own site or block: rooftop solar, heat pumps, hot water, storage, and a two-way EV charger that works as a battery, all run as one asset. This pilot takes on the soft costs of paperwork and design that can otherwise make these complete energy system solutions unaffordable. In this episode:Why deregulation and LNG exports left New York households exposed to global gas pricesCCA versus Own Your Power: opt-out bulk buying (paused) versus opt-in ownership (running now)How renters participate: modular equipment you can take with you, shares in a neighbor's system, buy-in written into a leaseCo-op, trust, or go it alone: three ways to own a system, including one with no meetingsIn or around Ithaca? Sign up at tompkins-gen.com. Anywhere else, CCA law already exists in about half the U.S., and Local Power works with communities in both halves.ContactOwn Your Power / T-GEN sign-up: https://www.tompkins-gen.comLocal Power: https://localpower.comResources & LinksCity of Ithaca Green New Deal: https://www.cityofithacany.gov/827/Green-New-DealIthaca Local Economy Lab: https://ithacalocaleconomylab.comThe Practically Real Team:Jake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgribschawStacey Cornelius - Associate Producer https://agencyofwords.comSonia Simone - Content Strategist https://remarkable-communication.comErin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808Yen Ospina - Artist http://yenospina.comCarsie Blanton - Musician http://carsieblanton.comPhotography by Forest Floor Creatives https://forestfloorcreatives.comProduced by Practically Real Enterprises, LLC. Hosted by Dia.
The Carbon Offset You Can Actually See - Sustainable Finger Lakes Climate Fund
What if the solution to one of climate policy's most criticized tools was hiding in plain sight, right here in the Finger Lakes? In this episode, host Dia sits down with Gay Nicholson to explore the Finger Lakes Climate Fund: a local carbon offset program that has spent over a decade turning $25 donations into real, verified home energy upgrades for low-to-moderate income families across Tompkins County, and in the process becoming one of the most transparent and effective community climate programs in the country.Calculate and offset your carbon footprint at https://sustainablefingerlakes.orgLinkshttps://fingerlakesclimatefund.orghttps://www.nyserda.ny.govhttps://southerntiercec.org/tompkinshttps://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/participating-communities/https://www.tccpi.org/climate-smart-communities.htmlhttps://townithacany.gov/get-involved-in-town-sustainability-efforts/https://www.halcoenergy.com/rebates-financing/https://www.nyiso.comhttps://utilityproject.orghttps://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/EmPower-New-York-Programhttp://nodatacenterflx.comhttps://www.foodandwaterwatch.orghttps://www.aceee.orgThe Practically Real Team:Jake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgribschawStacey Cornelius - Associate Producer https://agencyofwords.comSonia Simone - Content Strategist https://remarkable-communication.comErin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808Yen Ospina - Artist http://yenospina.comCarsie Blanton - Musician http://carsieblanton.com
Grounds for Change - How a Cup of Coffee Makes for a Better Economy
In this episode, Claire Christensen shares the inspiring story of Gimme! Coffee's transition to a worker-owned cooperative, illustrating how business models rooted in shared ownership can promote community engagement, environmental responsibility, and employee empowerment.Main Topics:The origins and evolution of Gimme! Coffee from a local coffee shop to a worker-owned cooperativeThe process and challenges of transitioning to a cooperative model during the pandemicHow profit sharing, governance, and decision-making work within a worker-owned businessThe role of community engagement and environmental sustainability in Gimme! Coffee’s missionBenefits, commitments, and how employee ownership influences workplace cultureThe impact of cooperative principles on business stability and community relationshipsFuture plans for expansion, new product development, and business stability through property ownershipResources & Links:Gimme Coffee WebsiteFair Trade AmericaWorker-Owned Cooperatives in the USCooperative PrinciplesFairtrade Premium Projects, detailing how premiums are used for community development and environmentResources & Links:https://IthacaLocalEconomyLab.comJake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgribschawStacey Cornelius - Associate Producer https://agencyofwords.comSonia Simone - Content Strategist https://remarkable-communication.comErin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808Yen Ospina - Artist http://yenospina.comCarsie Blanton - Musician http://carsieblanton.com
Ithaca HOURS - The Most Important Economic Experiment You've Never Heard Of
What If Your Town Printed Its Own Money — And It Actually Worked?In 1991, as the U.S. economy stumbled through recession, a community organizer in Ithaca, New York did something radical: he printed money. Not counterfeit dollars — something more interesting. A labor-backed local currency called Ithaca HOURS, where one note equaled one hour of work, equaled ten dollars, and could only be spent right here in town.For more than two decades, it worked.In this episode, Dia sits down with Steve Burke, former president and board member of Ithaca HOURS, for an honest, detailed account of what happened. The Problem Ithaca HOURS Was Built to SolveIthaca in the early 1990s was a town of wage struggle and economic anxiety. Workers were paid too little. Dollars flowed in, then immediately flowed out to distant corporations. Local businesses competed against national chains with no structural advantage.Paul Glover, the currency's founder, understood that money is not inherently valuable. It is valuable because a community agrees it is. If a community could agree to believe in something new, and back it with real labor and goods, they could create economic gravity that kept wealth local.That insight became Ithaca HOURS.How You Build Trust in a Currency From ScratchSteve walks us through the unglamorous, essential work of building belief: community meetings, early adopter lists, handshake agreements with local businesses, and the slow accumulation of a directory that proved the currency could actually be spent. At its peak, over 500 businesses and thousands of individuals participated. HOURS funded loans to local entrepreneurs and grants to nonprofits. Music stores, bookshops, farmers, landlords, healers, and carpenters all joined the network.Why It Declined — And What Actually Killed ItThe decline of Ithaca HOURS wasn't a single failure, it was a collision of forces: the rise of credit cards (which made cash-adjacent systems feel clunky), the shift to online commerce (which rewarded national platforms over neighborhood networks), Paul Glover's eventual departure from Ithaca, and the organization's inability to transition from paper to a digital infrastructure.By 2015, Ithaca HOURS had wound down.The Questions This Episode Leaves You WithCould it happen again? Steve thinks yes — but differently. Dia suggests perhaps a digital local currency with modern infrastructure, institutional backing, and a clear circulation strategy could address the structural weaknesses that paper HOURS couldn't.Steve raises something worth sitting with: as electronic currencies become more prevalent, the question of transparency and government oversight becomes urgent. Who controls the black box? Who audits the ledger? Community currencies of the future will have to answer those questions before they launch, not after.What You'll Take AwayThis conversation is part history lesson, part governance case study, part meditation on what money is really for. Whether you're curious about local economics, community resilience, alternative finance, or just a great Ithaca story — this episode delivers.🔗 ResourcesIthaca HOURS ArchiveAlternatives Federal Credit UnionBerkShares — Local Currency in MassachusettsIthaca Local Economy Lab is a podcast about the people, models, and ideas building a more resilient local economy — one conversation at a time.
Found: One of the Most Radical Stores in Ithaca Doesn’t Look Radical at All
Vanessa Weber and Jeremiah Signo are turning a local antique mall into a thriving, community-centered enterprise through creative ownership, vendor collaboration, and strategic moves—all while navigating the challenges of small-town retail. This episode explores the intricate workings of their business model, the power of local relationships, and plans for expansion and community engagement.In this episode:The origins of Found in Ithaca and Vanessa's vintage and antique passionsThe unique buyout model used to acquire the business without traditional bank financingDetails of the operation: vendor-managed booths, commissions, and furniture salesChallenges and strategies in relocating from an old building to a creatively refurbished spaceThe importance of local, community-driven economy and vendor relationshipsInsights into the renovation process of Southworks and the collaborative design visionThe role of community support and small-town relationships in business successFuture plans: programming, community events, and space expansionThe significance of maintaining a welcoming, high-end boutique atmosphereThe intersection of local art, mutual aid, and sustainable retail practicesResources & Links:Found in Ithaca https://FoundinIthaca.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/foundinithaca/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundinithaca/Patricia “Patty” Brown - https://integratedbv.comCreative ReUse - https://www.rachelfeirman.com/creativereuseofithacaFacebook https://www.facebook.com/p/Creative-Reuse-of-Ithaca-61575877676117Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creativereuseofithacaIthaca Murals: https://www.ithacamurals.comJoin the conversation and stay inspired about local economies and community-driven retail! http://IthacaLocalEconomy.com
Is Shared Kitchen Ithaca the Future of Small Town Food Business?
In this episode:Rod Rotundi shares his diverse background in economic development and his journey to IthacaThe origins and mission of Shared Kitchen IthacaHow shared kitchens bolster local entrepreneurs Examples of successful members, from bakers to hot dog vendorsResources & Links: https://www.sharedkitchenithaca.com https://www.sharedkitchenithaca.com/the-smorghttps://www.facebook.com/thesmorgithacahttps://www.instagram.com/thesmorgithaca https://greenstar.coop https://www.rochestercommissary.org https://ithacareuse.org http://farmtofeastny.com https://www.facebook.com/styxstreetfood/ https://gardellasgoodies.com https://www.facebook.com/ithacabreadworks/ https://lamexicanarestaurantandgrocery.com https://littlerambakery.com https://rashidasawyer.com https://www.wellspringforestfarm.comResources & Links:https://IthacaLocalEconomyLab.comJake Gribschaw https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgribschawStacey Cornelius https://agencyofwords.comSonia Simone - https://remarkable-communication.comErin O'Shaughnessy - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808Yen Ospina - http://yenospina.comCarsie Blanton - http://carsieblanton.comGo deeper:• https://patreon.com/Practicalmuse
LocalFiber - Weaving a New Economy From the Ground Up
Explore the journey of natural fiber production, from raising goats to handcrafting textiles, and discover how local fiber collectives are fostering sustainable, community-centered economies. Lisa Ferguson shares her insights on building relationships, educating consumers, and creating a resilient regional fiber industry.Key Topics:The role and mission of the Local Fiber Collective in Central New YorkThe process of turning fiber into finished products: from goat to sweaterValuing quality and natural fibers over fast fashion's low-cost, short-lived clothingBuilding customer relationships through storytelling and transparencyThe importance of collective care and fair pricing among fiber farmersChallenges faced by fiber collectives, including volunteer engagement and organizational identityOpportunities for newcomers: joining collectives as farmers or makersAdvice for starting a similar community-driven fiber initiative elsewhereTimestamps:01:31 - How Lisa got into goats and fiber farming, inspired by natural fibers03:19 - The community aspect of fiber farming and connection with other farmers04:26 - How Lisa joined the Local Fiber Collective and its growth05:38 - Membership details and the regional scope of the collective07:30 - The fiber chain: from goats to finished garments08:49 - The processing steps: shearing, skirting, washing, spinning, dyeing11:15 - Building customer trust through storytelling and transparency12:31 - How natural fiber production educates and reconnects consumers with craft skills14:20 - The collective approach to fair pricing over competition15:14 - The benefits of natural fibers versus fast fashion products16:37 - Environmentally conscious farming practices in the collective18:42 - Challenges of maintaining interest and organizational clarity19:01 - The importance of mentorship and community support for new farmers22:02 - Advice for starting similar collectives outside Ithaca23:44 - Building community through local events and shared purpose25:49 - Challenges: volunteer engagement, organizational structure, fundingResources & Links:Local Fiber CollectiveLaughing Goat Fiber Farmhttps://IthacaLocalEconomyLab.comThe Practically Real Team:Jake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgribschawStacey Cornelius - Associate Producer https://agencyofwords.comSonia Simone - Content Strategist https://remarkable-communication.comErin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808Yen Ospina - Artist http://yenospina.comCarsie Blanton - Musician http://carsieblanton.com
Beyond Insurance - The Healthcare Model That's Changing Everything
Beyond Insurance - The Healthcare Model That’s Changing EverythingDiscover how healthcare is transforming with an innovative direct primary care model, offering affordable, accessible, and relationship-based health solutions in Ithaca. Learn why this model is gaining momentum as a sustainable alternative to traditional insurance-based healthcare.Key TopicsThe limitations of the current patient care system and the complexities of insuranceHow direct primary care (DPC) simplifies access and reduces costsCost savings with DPC, including cheaper labs, imaging, and medicationsThe role of DPC in managing emergencies and routine health needsHow DPC offers tailored services like men's and women's health, hormone therapy, and home visitsThe impact of DPC on practitioner burnout and patient satisfactionStrategies for starting or joining a DPC practice, including low overhead requirementsThe future of healthcare: people-over-profit and a return to personalized careContact details: homesteadyhealth.com and 607-882-6001Resources & LinksHomesteady Health - https://homesteadyhealth.comHomestead Health on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/homesteadyhealthHomestead Health on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/homesteadyhealth/Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to share this episode, rate, review, and subscribe to support the local economy conversations. For more resources and to connect with hosts, visit https://ithacalocaleconomylab.comThe Practically Real Team:Jake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgribschawStacey Cornelius - Associate Producer https://agencyofwords.comSonia Simone - Content Strategist https://remarkable-communication.comErin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808Yen Ospina - Artist http://yenospina.comCarsie Blanton - Musician http://carsieblanton.comConnect with Dia on Patreon:https://patreon.com/Practicalmuse?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
Caring for People and the Environment: An Introduction to the Ithaca Local Economy Lab
This episode is an introduction to the podcast themes and reveals the fundamental questions behind creating economic systems that prioritize human well-being.Hosted by Dia, the podcast explores radical economic experiments in Ithaca, from local currencies to community-driven finance, offering insights for anyone interested in rebuilding economies from the ground up.Key topics:The core question: What would an economy built to care for people look like?The importance of relationship-building and cultural shifts in economic transformationExamples of radical economic experiments in Ithaca, including local currencies and cooperative ownership modelsThe role of trust, skills, and community in shaping new economic systemsThe purpose and vision behind the Ithaca Local Economy Lab initiativeThe team behind the podcast, including production and creative contributorsHow these Ithaca stories serve as models for other communities worldwideThe podcast's release schedule of first and third Thursdays and access details via Patreon and websiteTimestamps: 00:04 - What if the economy was designed to prioritize caring for people?00:33 - Introducing the Ithaca Local Economy Lab and its focus on radical economic experiments01:00 - The team behind the podcast and its production details01:34 - Closing remarks and gratitude from the creatorsResources & Links:https://IthacaLocalEconomyLab.comJake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgribschawStacey Cornelius - Associate Producer https://agencyofwords.comSonia Simone - Content Strategist https://remarkable-communication.comErin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808Yen Ospina - Artist http://yenospina.comCarsie Blanton - Musician http://carsieblanton.comConnect with Dia:https://patreon.com/Practicalmuse?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink