ACTION ALERT JANUARY 22, 2007
--House Agriculture Committee Named!
--We still need MUGS!
--Mark your calendar for CITIZEN ACTION DAY
--Upcoming Events
HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE NAMED
The House Agriculture Committee has been meeting for a few weeks. We are sorry for the temporary delay in getting out the action alerts. The House Agriculture Committee members are as follows:
Chair: Representative David Zuckerman (P) - Burlington
Vice-Chair: Representative Al Perry (D) - Berkshire, Franklin, Highgate, Richford
Clerk: Representative Chris Bray (D) - Bridgport, New Haven, Weybridge
Representative Dick Lawrence (R) - Lyndon, Burke, Sutton
Representative David Ainsworth (R) - Royalton, Tunbridge
Representative Reginald Godin (D) - Milton
Representative Steve Larrabee (R) - Cabot, Danville, Peacham
Representative John Malcolm (D) - Middletown Springs, Pawlet, Rupert, Wells
Representative Carolyn Partridge (D) - Athens, Brookline, Grafton, Rockingham, Westminster, Windham
Representative Kristy Spengler (D) - Colchester
Representative Will Stevens (I) - Benson, Orwell, Shoreham, Whiting
You can find the full list of all House Committees here: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/comms.cfm?Body=H .
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW to get started on your New Year's Resolutions ("Get to Know Your Legislators"):
1) IF YOU LIVE in one of the towns that the members of the House Agriculture Committee members represent, WRITE A HAND-WRITTEN NOTE congratulating them on their assignment, and introducing yourself as someone who is interested in Agriculture issues. If you are a farmer, let them know. Thank them for their own interest in agriculture, and their willingness to serve on this committee. You can address your letters to:
Representative __________________
Vermont Statehouse
115 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05633
Be sure to include your return address.
WE (STILL) NEED MUGS!
THANK YOU to everyone who already dropped off some mugs! Keep 'em coming for a little while.
Do you have any mugs in the back of your cabinet collecting dust? Here is your opportunity to clean house and lend a hand to Rural Vermont! Rural Vermont is collecting mugs for our upcoming Hot Chocolate Socials. There is nothing more comforting on a cold winter day than sipping hot chocolate from a warm mug surrounded by old and new friends. Please help us conserve paper and make this winter's Hot Chocolate Socials extra special cozy by donating a mug or two. Feel free to bring them to any Rural Vermont table at the winter events, including the Farm Show or the NOFA-VT conference, or drop them off at the office (15 Barre Street, Montpelier). There will be a box labeled "Mugs" at the bottom of the stairs, but if you're in the neighborhood during business hours, please come up to our office on the 2nd floor and visit us! Thanks!
Also - watch your email and your mailbox for invitations to the Hot Chocolate Socials. They will be fun and informative, and a great way to beat the winter blues! Coming soon to a town near you!
CITIZEN ACTION DAY 2007 -- ACTIVATE YOUR VALUES!
February 15, 2007
9 AM
Vermont Statehouse - Rooms 10 and 11
Rural Vermont, in conjunction with the Vermont Alliance of Conservation Voters, the Vermont Natural Resources Council, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Vermonters for a Clean Environment and other environmental groups, each year sponsors a grassroots lobby day at the State House. Citizen Action Day provides a great chance to lobby your legislators in solidarity with many other concerned citizens on a pro-environment platform.
Don’t Miss This Chance to:
-Learn tips on how to talk with your legislators and then go do it.
-Have lunch with your legislators.
-Observe a floor debate.
-Attend a committee meeting.
No prior State House experience is needed. Just show up at 9 a.m. at the State House. At that time, organizers of the event will brief attendees on key issues and lobbying techniques prior to meeting with legislators.
Dress for indoors. Bring quarters for parking in Montpelier ($1 for 1 hour). Some snacks will be provided. You can buy lunch in the statehouse for around $7-$10. Ride shares are available from Burlington, Rutland, Brattleboro, Middlebury, St. Johnsbury, and St. Albans. For more information about this option and to RSVP (please let us know you're coming if you can!) call Vermont Environmental Collaborative contact Drew Hudson 802.223.5221 ext. 4787 or email drew@vpirg.org, or contact Shelby at Rural Vermont: shelby@ruralvermont.org or 223-7222.
COMPOSTER NEEDED IN BRADFORD
Bradford Composting Program seeking composter!
We are seeking potential composters in the Bradford area to recieve roughly 100 tons of food scraps per year for composting. Upcoming information session for farmers on opportunities through this program on January 11th at 1pm in the Bradford Academy Building. Food scraps are thoroughly source separated at Bradford and Fairlee businesses and hauled to composting location. Composters recieve $30 per ton of food scraps recieved. Technical assistance from the Highfields Institute for establishing, designing and permitting your site, as well as helping establish and provide some on-going assistance in managing compost operation is provided. Funds may be available for site improvements. No previous experience with composting necessary. Are
you a farmer or landowner within a 15 minute drive of Bradford, VT with at least a 1/2 acre of land and appropriate equipment for farm-scale composting? If so, contact Tom Gilbert at the Highfields Institute to learn more about the program: 802-472-5138 or highfieldsfw@vtlink.net. Please inquire by January 20th if possible, not later than January 26th.
UPCOMING EVENTS
NEW YORK FARM CONFERENCE
NOFA-NY Annual Organic Conference: Building the Farm Economy Around Local Foods
January 26-28, 2007 Holiday Inn, Syracuse, NY
The conference will feature over 55 workshops of interest to vegetable, grain, and livestock farmers, gardeners, food businesses, food system activists, consumers, teens and children! Saturday evening will include an anniversary celebration to commemorate 25 years of NYS organic farming education and community. This years conference features an exciting keynote lineup including Joel Salatin from Polyface Farm, Swoope, VA; Richard Pirog from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University; Judy Wicks owner of White Dog Cafi, Philadelphia, PA, and Guest Speaker, Joel McNair from Graze magazine. Dont miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge of organic agriculture and network among the leaders in the industry. The full conference program and registration forms are available at the NOFA-NY website, visit: www.nofany.org.
V.A.L.I.D.
Introduction to Rights-Based Organizing Workshop sponsored by The Vermont Alliance for Locally Initiated Democracy (VALID)
Kellogg-Hubbard Library- Montpelier- January 24th @ 6:00 pm Free.
Rights-based organizing is an empowering new way to challenge corporate power, protect our environment and enhance our democracy. Well discuss why most citizen efforts fail and why even the ones that succeed dont win very much. Also, we will show an inspiring video about how citizens in Barnstead, NH used rights-based organizing to protect their water from a corporate bottling operation. Join us to learn more! For more info: Rick 244-5636 rscharf@pshift.com or www.validdemocracy.org
LOCALVORE WINTER CHALLENGE
Dates: January 29 - February 4, 2007
LOTS OF GREAT EVENTS!
What the Challenge is: Eat local food only for a meal, a day, or a week. You choose what is a challenge for you and your family.
We have updated our website with a pledge form for the winter challenge, food sources, menu suggestions, and a ton of recipes that you can make with local foods that are available now.
Check out the website at www.VermontLocalvore.org
WEAVING WELLNESS INTO SCHOOLS: Using Local Foods in the Cafeteria and Classroom
Regional workshops announced to help schools and child care centers improve the food and nutrition environment and make connections to local food sources, as follows:
January 30 - BFA St. Albans
February 7 - Orleans Federated United Church of Christ
February 13 - Vergennes Congregational Church
March 8 - Barre Congregational Church
This workshop is designed for teachers, administrators, school nurses, school food service, farmers, primary care practitioners, public health providers, school wellness committee members, parents, health educators, and child care resource development specialists, child and adult care food program participants, dieticians, Fit and Healthy Vermont Coalition members, VT Blueprint Committees, and anyone interested! Registration is $15 (includes a light local meal). Download registration form at http://www.vtfeed.org/progservices/WeavingSchoolsFLYER_2007.pdf or contact Dana Hudson at (802) 985-8686 ext 25.
NOFA-VT's 25(!) Annual Winter Conference
February 10th, 2007, Vermont Technical College
Mark your calendars! The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)s 25th Annual Winter Conference will be held on Saturday, February 10th at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph, Vermont. We are very excited to announce our keynote speaker: Kathy Lawrence. Kathy is the former Executive Director of the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, a network of diverse groups whose mission is to shape national policies to foster a sustainable food and agricultural system that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially just, and humane (www.sustainableagriculture.net). Also featured at the Winter Conference are 32 workshops taught by experienced farmers and agriculture specialists for farmers, home gardeners, educators and concerned consumers. Some of the many workshop topics include: Local Grain Production, Climate Change & Farming, Heat Energy from Composting Manure, Wildcrafting, Cooking with Grass-Fed Beef, Organic Raspberries, Integrating Livestock into Your Backyard, Rabbits on Pasture, and Maximizing Space in the Garden. Future farmers can attend the Childrens Conference for ages 6 to 13. The Childrens Conference offers farming related workshops, games and crafts. Also, there is a colorful farmers market (open all day featuring educational materials, organic products, crafts, and associated businesses and non-profits), live music, and a silent auction benefiting our Farm to School Mentor Program, a program which builds partnerships between schools, farmers, and their communities through agricultural education. Registration is available in advance or at the door the day of the conference. Pre-registration is recommended. To receive a conference brochure and registration form, please call the NOFA-VT office at: (802) 434-4122 or email a request to info@nofavt.org. Registration fee is $35.00 for members and $45.00 for nonmembers. $5.00 discount for farmers. The conference will begin at 8:30am with the keynote at 9am and an organic ice-cream social at 5 p.m. For more information about this event, visit: www.nofavt.org. Brochures will be mailed the first week in January. To register for the farmers market, inquire about sponsorship opportunities, or donate a silent auction item, please contact Meg at the NOFA-VT office, (802) 434-4122 or info@nofavt.org.
Look for Rural Vermont at the ACTION TABLE at lunchtime!
CLIMATE CHANGE LECTURE SERIES
Barry Rock - “New England is Not Immune: The Regional Impact of Climate Change” is scheduled at 4:00 pm on Thursday, February 8th at Dartmouth College: Steele 006.
Dr. Barrett N. Rock is a Professor in the Complex Systems Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Barry received his B.A. in Botany, from the University of Vermont (1966); an M.S. in Botany, from the University of Maryland (1970); and a Ph.D. in Botany, from the University of Maryland (1972).
Kim Knowlton - “Climate Change: The Public Health Implications” 7:00 pm on Tuesday February 20th, at the Fairbanks Museum in St Johnsbury, VT and at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, February 21st at Dartmouth College: Steele 006.
Dr. Kim Knowlton is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Columbia University's Department of Environmental Health Sciences. During the previous academic year, she organized and gave a course at Columbia on the subject of climate change and its public health implications.
Bill McKibben - Climate Change on Wednesday, March 7th at 4:00 pm at Dartmouth College: Filene Auditorium.
Bill McKibben is an American environmentalist and writer who frequently writes about global warming, alternative energy, and the risks associated with human genetic engineering. McKibben is a frequent contributor to various magazines including The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, Orion Magazine, Mother Jones, The New York Review of Books, Granta, Rolling Stone, and Outside. He is also a board member of and contributor to Grist Magazine.
TWO ORGANIC FARMING CONFERENCES IN CONNECTICUT
CT NOFA is sponsoring three conferences this winter. Click on the links below for more information.
For community organizations, farmers and individuals who operate or want to operate a community farm:The Community Farming Conference will be held on February 10 at the Mercy Center in Madison. It is co-sponsored by the Mercy Center and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Elizabeth Henderson and Lynda Simpkins will keynote. http://www.ctnofa.org/events/CommunityFarming.php
For farmers, gardeners, land care professionals and citizens: Cultivating an Organic Connecticut will be held on March 10 at Windsor High School in Windsor. John and Nancy Jack Todd will discuss "The Promise of Ecological Design." Plus 30 workshops, potluck lunch and organic marketplace.
http://www.ctnofa.org/events/CaOC.php
FILM SERIES IN MARLBORO
Know Media Presents their 4th Annual
ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM FILM SERIES
Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m.
Marlboro Technology Center, Brattleboro (directions below)
January 23, 2007 - Big Bucks, Big Pharma: Marketing Disease and Pushing Drugs
Big Bucks, Big Pharma pulls back the curtain on the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry to expose the insidious ways that illness is used, manipulated, and in some instances created, for capital gain. Panel discussion to follow. Sponsored by Know Media and the Vermont Citizens Campaign for Health
February 27th, 2007 - Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes
Director hip-hop fan, and gender violence prevention educator, conceived the documentary as a "loving critique" of a number of disturbing trends in the world of rap music. He pays tribute to hip-hop while challenging the rap music industry to take responsibility for glamorizing destructive, deeply conservative stereotypes of manhood. Critically acclaimed for its fearless engagement with issues of race, gender violence, and the corporate exploitation of youth culture. Sponsored by Know Media and ACME VT.
March 27th - DOUBLE FEATURE: Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People
ALSO SHOWING: MANY WAYS TO SEE THE WORLD: A Thirty-Minute Tour of World Map Images
This groundbreaking documentary dissects a slanderous aspect of cinematic history that has run virtually unchallenged form the earliest days of silent film to todays biggest Hollywood blockbusters. By inspiring critical thinking about the social, political, and basic human consequences of leaving these Hollywood caricatures unexamined, the film challenges viewers to recognize the urgent need for counter-narratives that do justice to the diversity and humanity of Arab people and the reality and richness of Arab history and culture.
All films are open to the Public Suggested donation $3 - $7 (Proceeds to benefit Know Media) For More Info Call Robin (802) 258-2402 tbreeze@sover.net. Directions to Marlboro Tech Center: From North: Interstate 91 Take Exit 1, Brattleboro. At end of ramp turn left; (Route 5 / Canal Street). Travel 1.2 miles toward downtown Brattleboro. At the bottom of the second hill you descend, look for signs for Route 142 South. At 4-way intersection, make a sharp right onto Vernon Street (Route 142 South). Go past Brattleboro Museum on left. Parking for the Graduate Center is the next left. Room 2 NE
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