"Chicken Bill" goes to the Governor

--Please Call Governor Douglas!
--Rural Vermont Events!
--Other upcoming events!

THE "CHICKEN BILL" IS NOW ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK!
H.522, The Agriculture Viability Act of 2007, has finally made it through the end-of-session backlog at the proof-readers, and has landed on Governor Douglas' desk. He has until Monday, May 21st to decide what to do. Please help him decide to sign it! If you'd like to see the final version of the bill, you can find it here:
download bill
The Poultry Sections are Sections 7,8, and 9 of the bill. Please read the whole bill and see how it helps ALL Vermont farmers!

Here's what you can do this week to help make this bill a law:

CALL GOVERNOR JIM DOUGLAS at 1-800-649-6825 and ask him to SIGN H.522, the Ag Viability Bill. BE FRIENDLY when you call. The governor has not stated any opposition to this bill, and we want to be encouraging! If you leave a message, be sure to leave your name and phone number. If you get a response, let us know - email amy@ruralvermont.org with any reports.

RURAL VERMONT EVENTS - PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT RURAL VERMONT!!!

**FARMER'S FAT TUESDAY AT THE FARMER'S DINER!**
Please enjoy a great dinner and support Rural Vermont!
TUESDAY, May 22, 2007
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
at the NEW Farmer's Diner
Quechee Gorge Village
5573 Woodstock Rd (Rte 4)
Quechee, Vermont
Reservations requested - but not required - 802-295-4600
15% of food sales during this time will be donated to Rural Vermont, to help with our work to achieve our vision of Food with Dignity --
living soils, thriving farms, and healthy communities.
for directions, visit: www.farmersdiner.com

**MARK YOUR CALENDARS!**
CHICKEN EVENT 2
June 8th - details to come soon. It will be an evening event.

PLEASE HELP RURAL VERMONT - Have a YARD SALE on Memorial Day Weekend!
It's time for spring-cleaning, and that means Yard Sale Season is just around the corner! Please consider hosting a yard sale on Memorial Day weekend and donating all or a portion of the proceeds to Rural Vermont! Get rid of stuff you don't want, and help a great cause - family farmers and local foods! We'll provide you with everything you need to make your sale successful plus we'll help you advertise it! For more information or to sign up, please contact Shelby at 223-7222 or shelby@ruralvermont.org as soon as possible.

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Other Events...

The North Country Farming Network invites you to an informational meeting on Thursday, May 24, at 6pm, at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, to learn about the Farming Network and our expansion into 6 counties of Northern and Central Vermont. Since 1997 we have been a network of Northern Vermont farmers and others who are helping each other to achieve self-sufficiency and food security through sustainable agriculture. With generous funding from Heifer International and support from local agencies, churches, and Farming Network members, we are growing to have chapters in the counties of Orange/Washington, Lamoille/Franklin, and Caledonia/Orleans. The North Country Farming Network is actively seeking new members in each chapter. Members receive access to training, shared equipment, livestock placements, cooperative marketing, micro-loan fund, and bulk feed purchase. All members “pass on the gifts” they receive by making a donation of their choice to the group or to another member. At the meeting you can take home some free garden seeds and learn how you can help strengthen and revive our local farming culture. For more information contact Lorraine McBride at 229-9949 or lmcbride63@verizon.net

10th Annual YES!2007
An Event Planned By Teens, ForTeens
May 25 - 27,2007
Hulbert Outdoor Center -Fairlee, VT
DON'TMISS OUT! Apply now for this life-changing experience!
Paperless applications now available onlineatwww.vtrecyclers.org
The theme of this year's summit is Becoming the Change and the goal is to explore ways in which individuals can LIVE MORE SUSTAINABLY AND REDUCE THEIR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT. Speakers will discuss global climate change, permaculture, working landscapes, local foods, recycling and composting, youth activism, civic engagement, toxics, environmental justice, wilderness survival, plant and animal identification, hand crafts, environmental communications, alternative energy, campus sustainability, and much more. Workshops will emphasize hands-on, practical how-to learning, community building, and provide the attendees with usable, applied skills, and lively discussion topics. Representatives from each participating high school will have the opportunity to share their successes and challenges and to create action plans and apply for grants.

Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) Announces
Producer Workshop and Veterinarian Roundtable on Quality Milk and Udder Health on Organic Dairy Farms
Organic and non-organic dairy farmers interested in learning how to improve milk quality and udder health on organic farms are invited to attend a special workshop on Friday, June 8 in Waterbury, VT presented by Dr. Linda Tikofsky, Senior Extension Veterinarian, Quality Milk Production Services, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. Dr. Tikofsky has extensive on-farm experience concerning milk quality and udder health on organic dairy farms and is an active researcher in this field. She is an experienced and effective workshop presenter and facilitator for producer and professional groups.
A morning session will consider strategies and methods for improving milk quality, udder health, disease management, improving milking and milking systems, approaches to disease treatment and effective treatments with organically approved products. Lunch will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&As with Dr. Tikofsky and several experienced organic dairy farmers and veterinarians with experience on organic farms.
A special Roundtable Discussion for Dairy Veterinarians with Dr. Tikofsky will take place from 4-6pm.
For more information contact NOFA-VT: 802-434-4122; info@nofavt.org.

SAVE THE DATE - WED, JULY 18, 2007
ADVANCING VERMONT'S CREATIVE ECONOMY CONFERENCE
A statewide conference on Vermont's creative economy will take place
Wednesday, July 18th from 9:00 - 4:00 in the State House (Montpelier).
This conference is an opportunity to share skills and discuss policy
options for topics ranging from developing downtown activity to building a
regional creative economy. A draft agenda is available online at: http://www.vtrural.org. Highlights include a welcome by Governor James Douglas, remarks by Speaker of the House Gaye Symington and presentation of the VCRD Community Leadership Award.
For more info: Helen Labun Jordan, Director, Creative Communities Program
Vermont Council on Rural Development, (802) 223-3793

NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION (NOFA)
33rd ANNUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE – AUGUST 10-12, 2007
“A CELEBRATION OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING”
Not only for farmers, anymore. Join us for over 200 workshops, incredible Keynote Speakers (Bill McKibben and Hazel Henderson), fun Saturday afternoon Fair, numerous Exhibitors and Vendors and great organic food all in one fantastic weekend at Hampshire College, Amherst, MA on August 10-12. An incredible opportunity to learn all about organic agriculture, natural landscaping, organic gardening, homesteading, animal care, sustainable living, holistic healing and so much more. Separate Children and Teen Conferences going on simultaneously with Adults. To receive a Registration Form or any questions, contact Julie Rawson at (978) 355-2853 or julie@nofamass.org. Online registration available: www.nofamass.org. Check out the website, www.nofamass.org, for complete workshop schedule and all the latest information regarding the Conference.

SAVE THE DATE:
BOSTONS 2ND ANNUAL Tour de Farm BIKE TOUR
SATURDAY, AUG. 11, 2007
Please join Farm Aid and Boston-area cycling and farming organizations for the 2nd annual Tour de Farm bike tour.
The Tour de Farm will showcase innovative urban farms and food projects that are strengthening Boston's local and sustainable food system. Riders will visit an urban farm in Roxbury, a CSA (community supported agriculture) farm and greenhouse in Dorchester, a new community farm in the Blue Hills Reservation and Bostons oldest commercial farm. Riders will sample fresh, locally grown food, learn of the benefits of local agriculture and how they can actively support these efforts. The ride will go through the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Brookline, Mattapan, Milton and the beautiful Blue Hills Reservation. The Tour de Farm is a free event and all are welcome. New this year, the tour will offer a shorter option for less experienced or younger riders of approximately 15 miles of mainly flat terrain. The longer of the two loops, approximately 25 miles, includes some moderate hills. The ride will start and finish at Boston's Franklin Park, beginning at 9:00am and concluding by 1:00pm.
Pre-registration is required. For more information about the Tour de Farm and to pre-register, contact Mark Smith at Farm Aid, 617-354-2922, or via email to mark@farmaid.org

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 amy@ruralvermont.org