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Cider Digest #1716
Subject: Cider Digest #1716, 13 June 2012
From: cider-request@talisman.com
Cider Digest #1716 13 June 2012
Cider and Perry Discussion Forum
Contents:
The Cider Guide to North America (Eric Allan West)
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Subject: The Cider Guide to North America
From: Eric Allan West <eric@ciderguide.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 12:16:50 -0400
***The Project***
Beginning in June 2012, I will attempt to visit as many commercial
cider producers in the United States and Canada as I possibly can. I
will document these road journeys by posting frequent travel notes and
photos to Cider Guide (http://www.ciderguide.com/) and to CG's
Facebook and Twitter accounts. This research will be compiled into a
guidebook with the working title of The Cider Guide to North America.
I have yet to seek a publisher for the book, but I will self-publish
if there is no mainstream interest. If the book is self-published, I
plan to make it available in paperback, Kindle, and GPS versions and
to release the inaugural edition--The Cider Guide to North America
2013--in early November 2012 to coincide with the annual Franklin
County CiderDays event in Massachusetts.
***Are You Listed?***
If you are a commercial cider producer in the US or Canada or you plan
to be in commercial production by the end of 2012, please visit The
World Map of Cider (http://www.ciderguide.com/map/) to confirm that
your operation is listed and that the information is correct. Send me
a quick email [eric AT ciderguide DOT com] to acknowledge that you've
verified your listing, and please include a phone number so I can
schedule a visit should my travels bring me to your neck of the woods.
Even if you are not a commercial producer, I still need your help to
ensure that my map is accurate and up-to-date! For example, if you
know of a cider producer who is not on the map, please send along
whatever contact information you have for them, even if it's just a
phone number or an email address or a link to a newspaper article.
***Please Help!***
This project is completely self-financed for now, so I will need a
great deal of help to keep my travel expenses--particularly
lodging--to an absolute minimum. I am a seasoned adventure traveler
with thru-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail under
my belt as well as a handful of successful self-contained bicycle
tours in the US and Europe, so I plan to camp whenever possible. If
you can offer (or help me find) a safe, quiet place where I can rest
my head at night, that would mean more to me than any financial
support. My wife and I are active members of CouchSurfing and have a
well-established track record for hosting travelers and being
respectful guests, so please consider hosting me if you are able. I
also wouldn't say no to a meal or a bottle of cider or two to share
with my hosts down the line!
***The Schedule***
My tentative schedule is as follows:
June: Mid-Atlantic
July: Western US and Canada
August: Southeast, Great Lakes
September: New England, Quebec, Atlantic Canada
***Why Cider?***
I have volunteered, interned, and worked at various organic farms and
have seen first-hand how difficult it is to make a living at a small
agricultural enterprise. I've also been influenced and inspired by
writers like Wendell Berry and Gary Nabhan who speak of the pleasures
of good food and the importance of strong rural economies. Increasing
the diversity of fruit varieties grown in North America--particularly
cider apples and perry pears--is a cause that's worth supporting.
Every cidermaker I've met is passionate about what he or she does and
is clearly taking a great risk to craft a product that so few have
even tasted! For the past five years I have worked as a math teacher
and tutor, but I recently decided to leave the classroom in order to
devote my energy to spreading the word about cider.
***Why Me?***
I formerly worked as an editor on the Yahoo! Directory where I was
paid to find outstanding content and to write reviews of websites in
my areas of expertise, namely Outdoors and Food & Drink. I was also
instrumental in the launch of Burritophile, a community-driven website
devoted to reviewing taquerias and their shiny-foiled wares. As you
can see from this post
(http://www.burritophile.com/2005/12/my-burrito-vacation.php), I have
always been interested in helping people find good food and drink! In
December 2011 I passed the Certified Cicerone exam, a rigorous test of
beer knowledge that, as of this writing, only 437 experts can claim to
have passed. I was honored to serve as a judge at GLINTCAP 2012 and
have attended other cider events such as CiderDays and the
Cidermakers' Forum at Albemarle CiderWorks.
***Let's Do It!***
Thanks in advance for your support of this project! An online version
of this message is available at http://www.ciderguide.com/book/ if you
wish to link to it or share it with others. Please be in touch with
any additions or corrections to The World Map of Cider, and stay tuned
to Cider Guide for updates on the book's progress.
Thanks,
Eric Allan West
http://www.ciderguide.com/
Cider Guide -- The world guide to cider, perry, and related drinks.
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End of Cider Digest #1716
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