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NH2o, Alton Family Farm Down the Drain?

Posted by abohan Senin, 07 Mei 2012 0 komentar

When I first began writing for the Laconia Daily Sun about 10 years ago, one of the first stories I wrote was about an Alton woman who wanted to sell bottles of the natural spring water found on her old family farmland on Old Wolfeboro Road.

I figured it would be the sort of "soft" news/business story that would take about half-a-day.

But I hadn't yet encountered the passionate joyful entrepreneur named Deanna Chamberlain. She was a long-time town resident, and the most active local member of the family that hoped to operate the local water bottling enterprise.

Deanna's excitement about bringing the water that sprang up on her grandfather's old Sunny Slope Farm to the public bubbled up with as much enthusiasm as the water itself on parts of the property.

When I first met her, she led me on an hours-long tour of the land, showing me old wooden structures that barely stood up, muddy spots cows were supposed to have disappeared into decades before, and a lovely country home that her family rented out during the Summer to guests and sometimes for weddings.

She told me stories about spending her childhood Summers on the old farm, about reading the books that lined the walls of the old farmhouse, about the family joys shared on this property.

Then Deanna told me how she first came to know the flavorful water.

She and her family lived in the city, but the day after school let out every year, they would pile into the car and drive hours north to Alton. When they finally arrived, she and her siblings would scrabble out and run to the well in the front yard. And that’s where they would gleefully glug down glassful after glassful of the delicious stuff, soaking themselves, their clothes and each other in a mad celebration of the rich flavor and their newfound seasonal freedom.

Summers were spent in that soft idyllic haze of useless days that feeds children’s souls. Grandma served big meals they all enjoyed around the family table. They occasionally went to a movie. They ate ice cream and pie – and, of course, drank the well water, chug after chug after chug.

Then, at some point, they'd all get back into the old station wagon and head back to the city. "Wait'll next year,” ever on their minds.

Now the news comes that after almost 10 years of bottling the farm’s NH2o water – and after being featured on channel 9's Chronicle and named "The Best Drink of Water" in the state by "New Hampshire" magazine – the old Sunny Slope Farm property may soon be in foreclosure and the water company closed.

In an email message sent to customers, neighbors and other supporters last week, Deanna says the bank (which she says has been abundantly patient and supportive) is owed lots of money and wants a "lump sum" payment of about $52,000 before the end of May, or it will begin foreclosure proceedings

"We are looking for an angel (literally)," she writes.

And added heartache is that while the bank would like to let the family hold onto their homes on and near the main property even in a foreclosure, the legal action would cut off access to the farm’s water and the health permit that allows the bottling company to operate. So unless something happens, the water company will cease to exist.

NH2o – and Sunny Slope Farm, where about a dozen weddings are planned for this Summer – has “fans” all over the state, all over New England, indeed all over the Northeast. But Deanna says the problems are the poor economy and undercapitalization – not an uncommon difficulty for a small family start-up business.

Still, she’s convinced that both the property and the bottling company are "sprouts" just needing the water of financing and some caring support. Her message explains several options the family and its financial partners have explored in recent months but says none appear especially hopeful at this time.

"I hope that your good, strong, sharp and caring minds can come up with even more ideas now that you know what we have to work with,” Deanna writes. “We are willing to listen to all ideas, and especially appreciate you offering to take the initiative on them, and especially - especially - appreciate you spreading the word (especially to folks who have the financial potential and the angel spirit to help us keep our land)."

It would be a shame to see Sunny Slope Farm and NH2o pass from the scene. Deanna and her family have made many friends over the years, from neighbors to customers to government officials.

And the operation is unique to the Lakes Region.

But unless an "angel" arrives very soon, this company - and Deanna’s family farm – will almost literally be "under water.”

To contact Deanna of Chamberlain Spring, call 603/875-7562 or 603/387-3889. The company’s website is Sunny Slope Farm, and the email address is Deanna@chamberlainspringsnh2o.com

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Judul: NH2o, Alton Family Farm Down the Drain?
Ditulis oleh abohan
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