07/06 Update

Greetings! Now that Summer has officially started please take a moment to look through our exciting list of events in this email and see how you can get involved with Rural Vermont and our new Town-by-Town Food Sovereignty Campaign. From educational cheese classes and ice cream socials to Tour de Farms and Farmer to Farmer Workshops, Rural Vermont will be all over the state educating, organizing and doing outreach to support local agriculture and economic justice for farmers.

While these events are fun and a great way to connect with farmers, consumers and local agriculture enthusiasts, they are equally important to building our Town-by-Town Food Sovereignty Campaign. As you may have heard, Rural Vermont is working overtime this summer in an effort to organize communities throughout Vermont to pass local “food sovereignty” resolutions at Town Meeting Day next March.
So what is Food Sovereignty? Food Sovereignty is about embracing the traditions of our rural heritage and growing the vibrant local food system that has existed in Vermont for hundreds of years. Food sovereignty is a rejection of the industry-controlled system of agriculture that has made us largely reliant on corporations whose loyalties are to the shareholders and not local communities. Food Sovereignty is restoring balance to our agricultural system and developing solidarity and unity between farmers and communities. Food Sovereignty is reclaiming our rural heritage and declaring the right of communities to produce, process, sell and purchase local foods.

We have an ambitious goal to pass resolutions in dozens of towns throughout Vermont, however, if we are to be successful in this campaign, we need your help. Please consider being a leader in your community by working with us to bring this message of food sovereignty to your Town Meeting Day. For more information about our Town-by-Town Food Sovereignty Campaign or to become a town leader, give us a call or shoot me an email at jared@ruralvermont.org.

Rural Vermont’s Raw Dairy Classes Return!

BEYOND MILK: RAW DAIRY PROCESSING

Check out the class in your area:

* Chevre with Goats’ Milk

Thursday, July 14th / 1 – 3 pm

Foxwell Farm, NEWBURY

* Butter, Yogurt, Whipped Cream, and Buttermilk Scones

Saturday, July 23rd AND Saturday, August 13th / 1 – 4 pm

Hawk’s Hill Farm, BARNARD (same class, two dates!)

* Kefir, Ricotta, and Soft Serve Ice Cream with Goats’ Milk

Thursday, July 28th / 1 – 4 pm

Twin Acres Farm, RANDOLPH

* Butter, Fromage Blanc & Ricotta

Sunday, August 7th / 1 -4 pm

Earthwise Farm & Forest, BETHEL

* Ice Cream, Salted Caramel Sauce, & Ricotta with Katie Rumley

Wednesday, Aug 17th / 1-4 pm

Bread and Butter Farm, SHELBURNE

** Raw Milk Victory Celebration to follow; see below for details **

All classes require advance registration and space is limited. $20-$40 sliding scale. All proceeds benefit Rural Vermont.

To sign up OR to host/teach a class, contact Shelby at (802) 223-7222 or email Shelby.

Raw Milk Victory Celebration & Ice Cream Social

Wednesday, August 17^th / 7 – 8:30 pm

Bread & Butter Farm, 200 Leduc Farm Drive, SHELBURNE

Come one, come all – FREE & open to the public

The newly passed S.105 reaffirms Vermonters’ rights to teach and learn how to process raw milk into delicious dairy products. Join Rural Vermont and folks from near and far in celebrating this victory that brings back the wildly popular value-added dairy workshops! On tap will be live music and dance-worthy tunes, plenty of raw milk ice cream to go around, as well as a few surprises. Mark your calendar and plan to help us celebrate the return of these educational workshops!! For more info, contact Shelby at (802) 223-7222 or email Shelby.

Farmer to Farmer Workshop Series From Cow to Customer: Producing Raw Milk for Direct Sale

Rural Vermont is bringing back a series that we hosted last year to help current and aspiring raw milk farmers learn about the regulations governing the sale of raw milk, and provide an opportunity for folks to see them in practice on a successful raw milk micro dairy, while learning about cow care and microdairy management.

* Thursday, July 21st / 11 am – 3 pm

the home of Susanna & Joe Grannis, WEST TOWNSHEND

* Thursday, August 11th / 11 am – 3 pm

Symphony Farm, WASHINGTON

JUST ADDED! * Monday, August 22nd / 11 am – 3 pm

Bob White Systems, SOUTH ROYALTON

(note: Bob White Systems is both a business that develops and sells microdairy equipment, as well as a microdairy operation)

* September date TBD / 11 am – 3 pm

New Village Farm, SHELBURNE

$10 for Rural Vermont members, and $20 for all others (no one turned away for lack of funds). For more information click here

Pre-registration is highly recommended. Sign up by calling Rural Vermont at (802) 223-7222 or email Shelby.

Sunday, September 18th, 2011
Shoreham Green, Addison County, VT
RAIN OR SHINE
advance reg: $25 adults/$10 kids 12 & under
day-of reg: $50 adults/$20 kids 12 & under
kids in trailers and bikeseats free!
To register online or print registration materials, click here.
The Tour de Farms is an annual event and collaboration among Rural Vermont, the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition, and the Addison County Relocalization Network. Choose between 30, 25, and 10 mile routes and take a leisurely bike ride that includes sampling at various farm stops along the way. For more info, click here or email Shelby.

Check out this Youtube video documenting the 2010 Tour de Farms!

Event Tablers-Have fun at an event while talking to neighbors and friends about the campaigns of Rural Vermont. Need help this Saturday 3 pm-7 pm at the Windsor County Fair in Springfield, contact Robb at 802-223-7222.

Town leaders and activists needed in your town- Rural Vermont is currently looking for activists to help organize your town for our Town-by-Town campaign! We are excited to help you recruit friends and neighbors to strengthen our food systems through local food sovereignty and grassroots activism.

Front Porch Forum and other Local Networks-Do you participate in an online forum for your town such as Front Porch Forum ? If so please contact us to send you information about our campaigns and events to publicize with your community.

Posters- We need help putting up posters for our upcoming events! Email Robb and he will send you posters via email, or call and he will send some in the mail.

Recruiters- Are you good at talking to people and getting them excited and involved in important issues? Consider helping Rural Vermont recruit new members and activists.

Email Robb, or call 802-223-7222 to get involved today!!!

August 6th, 2011

Killington Resort / start time 9 am

Roughly $100 entry fee / deadline August 3rd

Thanks to a Rural Vermont member, who happens to be a diehard Spartan racer as well, the Spartan Beast is offering a special opportunity for Rural Vermont supporters! Use coupon code FARM when signing up and get $10 off your entry fee, PLUS a portion of your fee will be donated to Rural Vermont!

The Spartan Beast is a 10-12 mile Obstacle Race from Hell. If you have done any race anywhere in the world: whether a mud run, fun run, olympic run, bike race, death march or any kind of event claiming to be the “toughest race on the planet,” you will be happy to know that this is where it ends..THIS IS THE SPARTAN BEAST…Step up and get out of your comfort zone, many will arrive, but few will leave! For more info and to register click here.