ACTION ALERT June 1, 2007
--Celebrate with Rural Vermont, VT Farmers, Localvores, and American Flatbread!
--Help our Vermont Farmers!
--Upcoming Rural Vermont ICE CREAM SOCIALS!!! - Mark your calendar!!
--Other upcoming events...
**CELEBRATE with Rural Vermont, Vermont Farmers, Localvores, and American Flatbread!! THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HELPED TO GET THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION PASSED! Please JOIN US for a CELEBRATION of this bill's passing and SUPPORT RURAL VERMONT!
Chicken Event II - A Public Act of Civil Obedience
Friday, June 8, 2007
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm (program at 7 pm)
American Flatbread, Rte. 100, Waitsfield
Come early and get your name on the list for dinner!
For every flatbread sold on June 8th, Rural Vermont will receive $4. Also, you can become a member of Rural Vermont and pre-order our awesome local-foods cookbook! We'll also have lots of info about the Chicken Bill and local poultry options for farmers and consumers. For more info: 802-223-7222.
**CAN'T MAKE IT, BUT STILL WANT TO SUPPORT Rural Vermont's vision for living soils, thriving farms, and healthy communities? Please BECOME A MEMBER OF RURAL VERMONT today! You can join online at www.ruralvermont.org or send a contribution to Rural Vermont, 15 Barre Street, Ste. 2, Montpelier, VT 05602. ANY amount will help - AND, if you join between June 1st and July 15th, your contribution will be matched, dollar-for-dollar by some special friends of Rural Vermont, with a match challenge of $2000! Join Today and Keep Us Strong!
**Help Vermont Farmers** - Call our US Senators about INTERSTATE SHIPMENT OF MEAT!!
As the Farm Bill discussion heats up, one very important issue to Vermont Farmers is "interstate shipment of meat." Right now, Vermont farmers who get their meat processed in state-inspected facilities (but not USDA inspected) are not allowed to ship their meat to other states for sale, even though our state inspection program is "equal to" the federal USDA inspection program. This situation creates barriers for meat producers who want to sell into the regional markets. RIGHT NOW, language is being considered that would allow this interstate shipment of state-inspected meat. Please help our Vermont Farmers and call our Congressional Delegation today! Please make all three calls.
--Representative Peter Welch: (888) 605-7270 (toll free in Vermont)
--Senator Patrick Leahy: (202) 224-4242
--Senator Bernie Sanders: (202) 224-5141
A few talking points:
-Allowing interstate meat sales is just common sense-no other food commodities are prohibited from being shipped across state lines.
-Meat and poultry from 34 foreign countries can be freely shipped and sold anywhere in the U.S.-this is unfair and hurts American small businesses.
-The Senate and House legislation will give small processors, farmers and ranchers the opportunity to compete in their regional marketplace. It expands local economic growth and gives consumers more choices at the supermarket.
**RURAL VERMONT ICE CREAM SOCIALS**
Last summer’s wildly popular Ice Cream Socials are back! We’d like to invite you to come out and join us at the social nearest you. So far, we’ve got a few scheduled in June and July (see below; more to be announced shortly - don't worry, there will be one close to you!). Come enjoy homemade ice cream with friends and meet fellow Farm Fresh Milk enthusiasts and farmers! You can also become a member of Rural Vermont (and be entered in a raffle for a signed copy of _Animal, Vegetable, Miracle_ by Barbara Kingsolver) and pre-order our awesome local foods cookbook! We will also be holding prep events to make the ice cream and toppings for the socials. If you would like to attend a prep event, volunteer to help at the socials, make calls to invite people, or flyer around your town, call Shelby or Kara at 223-7222 or email shelby@ruralvermont.org. Please bring a friend and tell everyone you know! Be on the lookout for more socials to come!
--WILMINGTON: Monday, June 18th - 7-8:30 pm—Hundredth Monkey—West Main St.
--BRANDON: Wednesday, June 27th - 7-8:30 pm—Wood’s Market Garden—Route 7
--BETHEL: Tuesday, July 17th - 7-8:30 pm—Earthwise Farm & Forest—341 Macintosh Hill Rd.
--SPRINGFIELD: Thursday, July 26th - 7-8:30 pm—Cherry Hill Farm—409 Highland Rd.
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Other Upcoming Events....
THIS WEEKEND!! The Sixth Annual Strolling of the Heifers Parade & Festival will take place in Brattleboro, Vermont, Friday, June 1 – Sunday, June 3, 2007. This fun-filled celebration has been named one of the Green Mountain State’s Top Ten Summer Events for five years in a row by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Strolling of the Heifers Parade annually attracts an average of 40,000 spectators. It also attracts international media attention. For more information: http://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/. Stop by the Rural Vermont booth to find out about upcoming Ice Cream Socials, get information on the Chicken Bill, and pre-order our awesome local foods cookbook!!!
NOFA-VT Announces Workshop 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&A’s with Dr. Tikofsky and several experienced organic dairy farmers and veterinarians with experience on organic farms. For more information and registration materials contact NOFA-VT: 802-434-4122; info@nofavt.org. Registration fees are $20/person. Lunch and refreshments are included.
COMPOSTING WORKSHOP
Saturday, June 9th from 10 - 2 pm at the Salvation Farms office, Wolcott
Workshop led by Tom Gilbert of The Highfields Institute LTD about composting and soil building. Come out and help establish Salvation Farms' compost system, and take home a wealth of knowledge to apply to your own kitchens and yards! This is a free workshop that every home gardener should attend. Please be prepared for some physical work, and bring snacks and water! For more info or directions, call Salvation Farms at 802-888-5055 or visit www.salvationfarms.org.
FARM & FOREST FORUM: SUPPORTING THE WORKING LANDSCAPE
Saturday, June 9th from 9 - 4 pm at Applecheek Farm, Hyde Park
Consumers, farmers, and wood producers are invited to work on solutions to purchasing locally made produce, dairy, and wood products. Guest speakers include author John Elder, Tod Murphy of the Farmers Diner, and Kathleen Wanner of Vermont Woodlands. Fee is $25-$35 and includes a local foods lunch. For more info or to register, contact Christina Goodwin at 888-9218 x13 or christina.goodwin@vt.nacdnet.net
MANAGING HEALTH ON ORGANIC DAIRY FARMS WITH DR. HUBERT KARREMAN, VMD
Saturday, June 23: 10-3
Applecheek Farm, Hyde Park, Vermont
This is a not-to-be-missed workshop for all organic dairy producers and others interested in learning up-to-date, practical and proven strategies for maintaining livestock health on organic dairy farms. Dr. Karreman is a dairy veterinarian and one of nation’s foremost experts on organic livestock health. He is the author of Treating Dairy Cows Naturally: Thoughts and Strategies (Acres, USA) and a highly sought after workshop presenter. A morning presentation and Q&A session with Dr. Karreman will be followed by a catered lunch and hands-on session in the barn. Materials and books on livestock health from NOFA-VT’s bookstore will be available for sale. Contact NOFA-VT for more information: 802-434-4122, info@nofavt.org. Directions to Applecheek Farm: From RT 15, just east of Morrisville, turn on Garfield Road (near intersection of RT’s 15/15A); travel 1+ mi and turn onto McFarlane Ln & Applecheek Farm. 802-888-4482.
NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION'S 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 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. Still seeking Exhibitors. A great way to gain exposure for your business to over 1,400 people. Contact Katie Campbell-Nelson at (413) 337-4327 or katiecampbellnelson@gmail.com. Fun-makers: lend your ideas or talents to the fun Saturday afternoon Fair: still seeking jugglers, musicians, gymnasts, dog-tricksters, game-makers, etc. The Music Stage is open to those with a desire to play – if you want a venue, you’ve got it. For the above, contact Tricia Cooper at: (617) 558-3322 or
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