Debra Stark, founder of Debra’s Natural Gourmet, has published a new book that is simply delightful. In its pages, Debra tells the tale of a young woman with a crazy dream to bring organic foods and a holistic way of living to the neighborhood of West Concord in the early 1990s. This book is a fun, lighthearted, and compelling story that reveals through its pages why Debra has become such a beloved figure in and around Concord (and nationwide!). The story tells tales about regulatory law and potlucks, explains why Debra ordered 6,000 pounds of olives in 5-gallon pails just in time for the shop’s opening in 1989, and shares lessons learned along the way.
“I went into the woods because I wished to live deliberately…” Henry David Thoreau’s words echo my own sentiments while making a conscious choice to move back to Concord years ago to raise my children. As a child living in Concord, I spent hours playing, imagining, and creating in the woods. As an adult, I continue to seek the solace, reflection, and wisdom of nature – both on the sunniest days and on the cold, grey ones. Concord’s open space, comprised of public and private lands, is one of our most treasured gems. Our town and its residents have chosen over the years to preserve a healthy dose of nature.
With longer days, fresh breezes, and the bright colors of Spring, many of us will be looking to refresh our homes as we stretch into the delightful season ahead. West Concord is proud to welcome a new gem in the design and build world – Appleton Design Group. Owner Nathalie Appleton and her building partner Tino Fazio help make renovation dreams come true through a seamless experience that offers everything from architectural services, to general contracting, to interior design - all under one umbrella.