ACTION ALERT April 2, 2007

--Public Heaing Scheduled - PLEASE COME TO THE STATEHOUSE
--Rural Vermont Events
--Other events

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED
Please come to the statehouse on
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4TH
10 AM - NOON
ROOM 11 (first floor)

Speak out for h.522, the Omnibus Agriculture Bill, and particulary Sections 7 & 8 of this bill, which would allow farmers raising fewer than 1000 birds to sell poultry processed on the farm (and not inspected) from the farm, at farmers markets, and to restaurants. You can get a copy of the bill at www.ruralvermont.org, as well as a factsheet detailing Sections 7 & 8, and another factsheet summarizing the whole bill. You can also call 223-7222 for more information, or email amy@ruralvermont.org. You will have 2 or 3 minutes to speak, and you can sign up to speak when you arrive. Written comments are also ok.

Bring quarters for parking, dress for indoors (it's warm in the statehouse), and if you want to buy lunch at the statehouse or in Montpelier, you can get a pretty decent lunch for $7-10.

Please particularly talk about why YOU want the poultry provisions in this bill. If you are a farmer who might benefit, please say so. If you are a consumer who would eat "uninspected poultry" please say so. If you are a chef who would buy this poultry, please say so! WE NEED YOU to come and testify.

***RURAL VERMONT EVENTS***
RURAL VERMONT DEMOCRACY WORKSHOPS
THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!

THIS WEEK - ISLAND POND WORKSHOP ON THURSDAY!

Please join Rural Vermont and the Vermont Conservation Education Fund for a great workshop on how to get involved with policy making in Vermont. You'll learn all you need to know to be an effective advocate for issues that you care about. No experience necessary. All welcome! A great opportunity for home-schoolers, too!
--Learn how the Vermont legislature works
--Get the scoop on how to navigate the legislative process
--Learn the statehouse lingo
--Find out where things are at the statehouse
--Practice talking to legislators one-on-one and testifying at a public hearing
--Take home a helpful booklet filled with tips, tricks, and contact information for your local legislators

All workshops are 6 pm - 8:30 pm and will include light refreshments.
Suggested donation $5 - nobody turned away for lack of funds.

APRIL 5, 2007 - American Legion Hall, 60 Railroad Street, ISLAND POND
***new*** MAY 15, 2007 - Senior Center, 212 Ferry Street, CHARLOTTE

Please call Robb at 223-7222 to RSVP - not necessary, but helpful!

RURAL VERMONT HOT CHOCOLATE SOCIALS! PLEASE JOIN US!
This week - PAWLETT SOCIAL ON TUESDAY!

Come one, come all to enjoy Fair Trade Hot Chocolate made with Vermont Farm Fresh Milk. Learn about how you can get involved with Rural Vermont and work toward our vision of living soils, thriving farms, and healthy communities. Find out what you can do to help make a strong local food system right here in Vermont! Meet local farmers, hear interesting speakers, and enjoy some of the best hot chocolate you've ever had (and other treats, too!).

All socials are 7 pm to 8:30 pm, and are free and open to the public. We hope you'll become a member of Rural Vermont while you're there! We'll have activities for kids, too, and great door prizes!

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THE SOCIAL NEAREST TO YOU!
Tuesday, 4/10/07 - United Church of Colchester, Colchester
Monday, 4/16/07 - Methodist Church, Enosburg Falls
Tuesday, 4/24/07 - Boccelli's on the Canal, Bellows Falls
***NEW*** Monday, 4/30/07 - Elementary School, Highgate

If you have any questions, please call or email Shelby at shelby@ruralvermont.org or 802-223-7222.

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other events...

Seed Ordering Workshop at Salvation Farms office in Wolcott on Saturday, April 7th from 10 am - 2 pm. Sponsored by High-Mowing Seeds with 100% of proceeds being donated to Salvation Farms. Get 5% off your High Mowing seed order and find out what vegetable varieties and seed quantities are appropriate for your needs. Call Salvation Farms at 888-5055 for more information and directions.

Fair Trade, Sustainable and Organic Coffee: Fair trade is a philosophy, not a flavor, with Paul Ralston
April 13, 2007 6:30PM
Inn at Baldwin Creek

NOFA TABLE TALKS: SIDE DISHES FOR THOUGHT ~ DINNER & DISCUSSION
Meet local food experts at our exciting new Friday evening Table Talks: Side Dishes for Thought where we serve up lively discussions each month— from current food trends to food politics. A three-course dinner starts at 6:30 followed by a speaker and discussion from 7:30-9:00. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to keep abreast of the latest culinary topics, both local and global, that are certain to stimulate your appetite and your intellect! Authors will offer signed copies of their books for purchase. Paul Ralston, Bristol, owner of Vermont Coffee Company where he roasts coffee for friends. Cost: $38 Phone: 888-424-2432 www.InnatBaldwinCreek.com

Flavors of the Valley
April 17th, 2007
Hartford High School, White River Junction, VT.
Flavors of the Valley is the greater Upper Valley's premier tasting, informational, and buying event for locally grown foods. Whether you are a chef, gardener, consumer, or wholesale or retail buyer, you'll want to be here. Dozens of local farmers and chefs answer questions about their food and farm products, including meats, produce, maple, dairy, baked goods, and prepared foods. Last year, 1,000 attendees sampled local farm products produced and prepared by area farmers and chefs, learned about local farms, met area farmers, made a deposit on a side of meat, signed up for a vegetable share from a CSA, bought food-related books and gifts, and picked up a copy of the Locally Grown Guide. Info: 802/291-9100 x104 or www.vitalcommunities

A Going Local Colloquium:
The Challenges and Opportunities in Promoting Local Food and Local Food Systems
9:00 am-5:00 pm in UVM's WATERMAN building
APRIL 19, 2007
Join Madeleine Kunin in an opening speech April 18th, 7:00 pm in Memorial Lounge, Waterman Hall
On April 19th, please come enjoy panel discussions, display booths, taste tests, film fest, raffle prizes, and MORE!
FEATURING: Michael Shuman, keynote speaker and author of Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age
Stay tuned for more information coming your way!
For more information contact Jennifer Green or Patrick Wood
e-mail: jlgreen@uvm.edu
pwood@uvm.edu

Salvation Farms Spring Celebration & Fundraising Event at Morrisville VFW on Sunday, May 6th from 5 - 9 pm. Local foods dinner and dessert with music by the Brambles and the Mud City Ramblers. Raffles, Silent Auction, family-friendly and open to the public. $10 door fee, free for Veterans and children under 5. Call Salvation Farms at 888-5055 or visit www.salvationfarms.org for more info.

If you have any questions about this email or if you want to subscribe to or unsubscribe from Rural Vermont's Farm Policy Network e-alert list, contact amybeth@together.net.