Eddie’s Energy Bars Blog

Just a quick post here before I dive back into studying for all of my quizzes and exams I have this week.  I was reading an article online about Andrew Meyer, a farmer in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, who is on a mission to prove sustainability and that someone’s waste is another man’s business, meaning Vermont’s can support each through this entrepreneurial “full circle”.

As Eddie’s comes to the point where future expansion is going to need to be looked at, we want to do everything in a sustainable manner, from our building materials to how we power our bakery.  Recently I have done some research on green building materials, and there are certainly lots out there!  More on that later, though.

Here is the link to the Burlington Free Press article: Sustainable Farming

Michael
Eddie’s Energy Bars

When I received a call from fellow Vermonter, John Page, the expedition leader for Climbing for Spina Bifida, asking for product donation to climb the highest 67 summits in New England while benefiting the Spina Bifida Association, I just could not turn him down.

John and his crew are awesome people.  They do everything for their sponsors, and really get the word out about products and services, including Eddie’s Energy Bars.  John has coined Eddie’s Energy Bars as “awesome products where I can finally pronounce all of the ingredients”.  That’s what sells our bars…the real ingredients, and the fantastic taste that we worked on for two years to master.

Our product donations do go a long way, but what is more important is what Climbing for Spina Bifida is trying to accomplish.  The 67 highest peaks over 4,000 ft. in New England is one tremendous feat, but John and his climbing partner intend to do it over the next year or two by hiking mainly on weekends.  However, they are not the only team.  John has enlisted a climbing team in the West, and is working on a central team as we speak.

So, why is John and company doing this?  Here is an excerpt from John’s letter on the homepage:
As a lifelong hiker and avid outdoor enthusiast the idea to climb the highest 67 Summits came to me one day while driving home from the Hospital. After seeing my Daughter I was wondering what I could do to help others. I love to climb and this seemed like a great way to go about raising awareness and funds for Spina Bifida. I gave this a lot of thought and the more I thought about it the more I believed people would get behind me.

Our mission is to climb the highest 67 Summits in New England over 4000 feet. We are doing this to raise awareness and raise funds for the S.B.A.A./Mass http://www.msbaweb.org/ which really helps a lot of people. It is an 18 month Expedition which I expect to open a lot of eyes about S.B. I also feel that it will be a Spiritual Journey and a cleansing journey. I hope to touch a lot of people’s hearts.

Expedition Leader
John Page

Everyone at Eddie’s is very excited to get the chance to sponsor this great group of guys, and help out other organizations as well.  Both John and I agree that Vermonters helping Vermonters is the best way to do business!  There is a possibility that we will be hopping around New England with C4SB promoting them and our awesome energy bars!

Stay tuned for event developments!

Michael
Eddie’s Energy Bars

I just got back from spring break, and noticed that I haven’t posted in a while. I had a wonderful time back home with my parents for the week, doing business-related things and hanging out, putting off my homework for as long as possible.

Anyway, to culminate my spring break, we took a trip over to Comeau Family Sugarhouse, the providers of the maple syrup we use in our maple walnut bar. Proprietors Bernie and Ann, are some of the coolest people that we met at the Williston Farmer’s Market last summer. They boil thousands of gallons of syrup each year, and certainly seem to have lots of fun doing it. Below is a picture of the sugar house. Bernie and Ann have won a ton of blue ribbons at various maple festivals–we only use the best maple syrup!

We made sure to get to a sugarhouse before next weekend’s Maple Open House, where all Vermont Sugarhouses open their doors to the public so they can see how syrup is made. It’s really a great event.  Hope everyone is doing well!

Michael, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

Since I am at school nine months out of the year, I am forced to read the Seven Days online every single week. It’s world’s better to read it with a tangible copy in hand, but most of the time I will make do by reading it with my eyes focused on my brightly lit laptop screen.

Well, as the online content gets revamped every Wednesday, I logged on yesterday as usual, and jumped right to the Food section of the Seven Days website (my favorite section).  I clicked on the article about QTees (I had no idea what it was, so curious me wanted to find out). The article got more and more shocking as I read on.  Apparently, the only Dairy Queen in Vermont is no longer a Dairy Queen.  The owner does not want to partake in some mint-explosion blizzard as a promotion for St. Patty’s day.  She also revolts against the big wigs at DQ and makes made-to-order sandwiches.  With these differences, the owner has decided to split with DQ and name her establishment QTees.

The article goes on to say that, with the absence of a McDonald’s in downtown Burlington (Vermont’s largest “city”), and with the only state capital to not have the golden arches, Vermonters don’t really like fast food.  The author also found out that Vermonters are dead last in the amount of money they spend per person on fast food.  To me, this is no surprise.

In the 802, Vermonters (at least me) have come to dislike “chain” anything, especially when it comes to restaurants.  We don’t have a lot of fast food places, we don’t have a lot of chain restaurants, and frankly, the little independent eatery kicks butt compared to anything big and money hungry.  The food is fantastic, and a lot of the time it’s local–which is fantastic!

In a lot of small Vermont towns, residents still walk to the country store to pick up their milk, eggs, and the morning paper.  Some towns don’t even have broadband access!  In Vermont, there is an incredible desire to support the little guy, and not the huge conglomerate (that’s why farmer’s markets are so successful in Vermont).  For example, we were the last state in the nation to get a Lowe’s, granted we already had Home Depot, but we all know their service isn’t too fantastic.

I bring this mentality where ever I travel.  I always say to my parents (and they know it) that I much more prefer to eat at a local restaurant rather than stop at a chain just off the highway.  I support Vermont companies whenever I can, and this is the mentality many Vermonters carry with them.

So, it’s no wonder that we hate the fast food palaces, because, well, we are the healthiest state in America.  Go Vermont!

Have an opinion on this?  Let me know!

Michael, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

Here I am, sitting at my desk, the eve of my 20th birthday (well, really twenty minutes before), and I am contemplating the last twenty years of my life.

Turning twenty makes me think of all the things I have accomplished, and all the things I would like to accomplish.  At 20, or nearly one quarter of my life, I have:

• Survived being a pre-mature baby (the first baby, along with my twin sister, that was born in the ICU in Burlington, Vermont).
• I had the greatest kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Wintersteen.  She made us learn the days of the week in French!
• Along with my classmates, I have written an award winning “Kids are Authors” book, Night Time, in 1st grade with Mrs. Dutil, whom I visit frequently when I am back at home.
• I went on a great trip to Boston in 4th grade after raising the money with candy bar sales.
• (I am skipping middle school because I didn’t really like it)
• I explored the world of high school, met many of my favorite teachers, and landed on High Honors almost every semester.
• I started Adams’ Cookie House when I was 15 selling cookies outside Bridge Street Hair.
• I sat in on a committee to form advisories at the high school.
• I started Eddie’s Energy Bars during my sophomore year, and launched into retail stores in April 2006.
• I have been to China, Austria, Germany, France, the Bahamas, Ottawa and Montreal, and many states.

The list could go on, but I need to get to what I want to still accomplish:

• Travel more, really, anywhere in the world.  After sixteen hours on a plane I can take anything.
• Hike anywhere, and possibly some mountain biking.
• Get back onto the slopes after my two year hiatus from skiing.
• Read more to learn more.
• Road trip across the United States.
• Grow Eddie’s Energy Bars to a regional brand after I graduate by executing my very exciting five year plan.
• Develop a deeper product line that helps me better serve my customers (more on this later).
• Make Eddie’s more socially responsible, and a “greener” business.

This list also goes on, but it’s what I can think of right now.  There is so much in life that people don’t get the chance to do because they choose to do other things.  It’s called opportunity cost.  For everything you do, there is something else you could be doing.  After traveling to China for two weeks, I have realized that I need to get out more.

The business is one thing, but my life is another.  I will have to make sacrifices, but traveling, getting outdoors, eating great tasting food, family, friends, ambition, and independence are all of my core values.  It’s time I embrace them and do what I want; what feels good to me.

Part of that is living in Vermont.  I miss it so much when I am here at school.  It’s just different in Vermont.  The people are nicer and more welcoming, the scenery is beautiful, and the small, locally supported communities are something I miss, not to mention real maple syrup, farmer’s markets, creemees, my family, and friends.  I won’t get too into it, but Matt Lauer said it best,

“Vermont is not just a state, it’s a state of mind”.

I am making a birthday resolution to make life an adventure, all day, every day.  Anyone with me?

Michael Adams, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars