Longwave Spring ESG Impact Newsletter

Happy Earth Day! There is no time of year more hopeful than spring. Whether it's the warmer rays of the sun, the scent of rain or the warmth of the breeze, the season brims with optimism and the feeling of regeneration. At Longwave, we're ready to let the sunshine in.

In this issue of the ESG newsletter, you'll find:

  1. How to make spring cleaning both refreshing and green

  2. Spotlight on the Rhinebeck Farmer's Market

  3. Our Director of Investment Research Brandon Wester shares a cash management solution that creates opportunities around the world

Green Living

Spring cleaning is a wonderful way to banish the last of winter. Here are four tips to make the process greener and cleaner:

Open your windows: Mold, dust and other unhealthy residue builds up in the home, circulated by and through the air vents. In the season between heating and cooling, let the spring breeze freshen up your home. For an added kick, you can add lavender essential oil to help purify the air and bring in garden scents.

Upcycle and recycle: If you're cleaning out your closet and garage, consider "upcycling" things in good conditions - turning old clothes into quilts or blankets. Anything that can't be reused can be salvaged for cleaning rags to polish furniture or for dusting. Old T-shirts also make a great replacement for paper towels.

Recycle your electronics: Extend spring cleaning to technology that's outlived its purpose like TV's, phones, laptops, printers and all those cables that don't plug in anywhere. Most communities have a local e-waste disposal day during a spring weekend.

Make a greener cleaner: Rather than using a chemically harsh all-purpose cleaner, you can make your own with ease, with this easy "recipe:"

  • 1 teaspoon Borax

  • 1/2 teaspoon washing powder

  • 1 teaspoon castile liquid soap

  • Any essential oil of choice

  • Mix ingredients and pour into a spray bottle

Longwave in the Wild

Jeff traveled to Costa Rica with a Rotary-sponsored group of local Hudson Valley students on a trip of learning and service.

Non-Profit Spotlight: Rhinebeck Farmer's Market

We've spend some time this winter in Rhinebeck and are looking forward to seeing the Hudson Valley bloom this spring and summer. As part of our commitment to being a local presence, Longwave is one of the sponsors for the 2023 season of the Rhinebeck Farmer's Market. Not only is the market a community hub and marketplace for local farmers, they also match every dollar spent by participants in EBT/SNAP programs.

Investing to the future, the Farmer's Market has a scholarship program for local high school and college students committed to sustainability and environmental science. There is a such a plentitude of students that Longwave has sponsored the Jeff Scales Award to honor his contribution to the Farmer's Market and his dedication to ESG mentorship. We can't wait to meet our first award winner and taste amazing organic produce this season.

Know What You Own

For the past few years, there weren't many options for growing your cash. Rising interest rates have brought cash management solutions that can put your money to work but also have it work for good. Calvert's Community Investment Notes serve as 'do good' CDs, with rates for terms that run from 1 to 5 years. The portfolio currently manages over $500 million dollars invested in organizations that focus on goals such as sustainability, affordable housing, community development and microfinance. Their reach extends to 107 countries and we wanted to highlight the work of one of their local partners, the African Local Currency Fund, where you can trace the impact of someone's excess savings changing lives across the world.

Adwoa is a single mother raising 3 daughters in Ghana. She has been trading in groundnut for over fifteen years, selling it in both a raw and paste form. Because there was no grinding machine in her town, Adwoa used to travel for miles to create her product. Her first loan request was for GHS 3,000 in 2014 to buy a grinding machine to make groundnut paste herself.

After being denied by multiple financial institutions and considering selling the small parcel of land that she had, a friend introduced her to AFB Smart Cash Loans and Adwoa was quickly granted a GHS 3,000 loan. Within two weeks, Adwoa paid off her loan! Today, Adwoa owns four machines and has expanded her business into pepper grinding. Because of the success of her growing business, her three daughters are enrolled in training college and university.

If you'd like to explore if this makes sense for your particular financial situation, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Calvert Impact Capital, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, offers the Community Investment Note®, which is subject to certain risks, is not a mutual fund, is not FDIC or SIPC insured, and should not be confused with any Calvert Research and Management-sponsored investment product. Any decision to invest in these securities should only be made after reading the prospectus or by calling 800.248.0337. Due to Blue Sky regulations, the current offering of the Community Investment Note® may not be available in all states. *Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Nathan Munits