Action ALert June 18, 2007

--Rural Vermont Ice Cream Socials - don't miss them!
--Rural Vermont Local Foods Cookbook - we need your recipes!
--Rural Vermont Volunteer Picnic!
--Volunteer Videographer Needed!
--Other upcoming events...

**RURAL VERMONT ICE CREAM SOCIALS**
The Ice Cream Socials begin this week!
These are events that you do NOT want to miss!
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 (see below)!

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...
We will be covering the whole state, working our way north through the summer.
--WILMINGTON: Monday, June 18th - 7-8:30 pm - Hundredth Monkey - West Main St.
--NORTH POWNAL: Thursday, June 21st - 7-8:30 pm - Inhockuptamias Acres - 4588 Rt 346
--HARTLAND: Monday, June 25th - 7-8:30 pm - Unitarian Church - Route 12 & Brownsville Rd.
--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.

***RURAL VERMONT LOCAL FOODS COOKBOOK***
Imagine a book filled with recipes that all have ingredients you can get right here in Vermont...You could eat year-round, mostly local, farm fresh food without wondering what to do with a fiddlehead or how to cook a squash...all with recipes from other Vermonters!
Here's how you can be a part of this great project:

1) SEND US RECIPES! What kind of recipes are we looking for? ANYKIND! From New to Old, Original to a Family Tradition, Even Recipes that might not be for food (e.g., a white wash paint recipe). As long as most ingredients used in the recipes are grown in Vermont. However, already published recipes cannot be used (No Betty Crocker) Please send your Vermont recipes to be published in our cookbook by emailing them to our Cookbook Intern Katie at katie@ruralvermont.org by July 6, 2007, or call the office for a packet of information at 223-7222.

THANK YOU to those who have already sent in recipes - we can't wait to taste everything in this yummy book!

2) PRE-ORDER YOUR OWN COPY OF OUR COOKBOOK! For information about preordering your own cookbook contact Katie at (802) 223-7222 or katie@ruralvermont.org. Cookbooks are $15 each, and with your paid pre-order, you will receive a BONUS Local Thanksgiving Recipe Booklet featuring a recipe from Sally Fallon, author of Nourishing Traditions. Cookbooks will be delivered in early December - a GREAT Christmas gift for your favorite Localvore. Order Early and Often! All proceeds will benefit Rural Vermont's Farm Fresh Milk and Farm Fresh Meat campaigns!

***RURAL VERMONT VOLUNTEER PICNIC***
YOU are invited to our Volunteer Potluck Picnic!
Enjoy the summer evening, meet other Rural Vermont volunteers, find out about upcoming exciting volunteer opportunities, AND help us to make our cookbook by bringing the recipe for your potluck dish. Whether you are a current volunteer, or someone who is thinking about volunteering, please come and join us for an evening of fun and good eating.

Thursday, June 28, 2007
The "New Shelter" at Hubbard Park, Montpelier
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Potluck - please bring your recipe!
Bring a Friend who might be interested in volunteering...All are welcome!
We'll have beverages, cups, and napkins. If you can, please bring your own plate and silverware - we'll have some spares, just in case.
RSVP requested, but NOT required - 223-7222.

Directions to Hubbard Park New Shelter from State Street in Montpelier.
To Park Entrance:
Elm Street to Spring or Winter Street (combined to the entrance of the park). (Elm Street is off of State Street)
Inside Park:
Drive on Main road until you reach a Y.
Bear Right and drive until to see the New Shelter on Left.
Parking on both sides of Shelter and road ends shortly after it.

***VOLUNTEER VIDEOGRAPHER NEEDED***
Would you like to learn how to film events, use all kinds of video equipment, and even editing software? If so, please consider being our volunteer videographer for the summer. You can get free training from ORCA - the Montpelier Cable Access channel, and, once you're trained, you can use their equipment for free. We need someone to be trained (about 1-2 hours), and then come to our awesome Ice Cream Socials and other summer events, as well as visit some farms to collect footage for us, for a fall project. If you like the job, you can continue on through the fall. This project is *unpaid* but the training is free, and you get yummy ice cream at the socials! This is a great opportunity for anyone, including students looking for a cool internship project (even High School Students - get some great experience!). All you need is time and interest, and a willingness to travel the state (you can ride with us if you come to Montpelier). If you're interested, please send an email to amy@ruralvermont.org by June 30th with your contact information and any questions you might have - OR come to our Volunteer Picnic - we'll have more details there. If you want to do this project as an internship, please include your resume with your email.

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Other Upcoming Events....

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 nations 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.

"VISION KEEPERS: WALKING FOR NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE EARTH"
Slide Show and Book Signing
Tuesday, June 26th
7:00 p.m.
Marlboro College Technology Center
Brattleboro

In the Spring of 1984, a group of individuals started a 7 month journey called " Walk for the Earth" that would take them by foot from California to Washington D.C. and then on to Europe. Doug Alderson, whose vision and commitment inspired this walk for Native American rights and environmental protection, will be in Brattleboro, VT to share experiences from this journey. As Doug shares his book and photos from the Walk, follow his journey from coast to coast across the United States as he coordinates a group walk to support Native American rights and environmental protection, and then across the American Southeast to follow the Trail of Tears in reverse. Doug will be joined by Robin Rieske, a local resident of Brattleboro who participated in the cross continental walk. This event is co-sponsored by Know Media, Vermont Earth Institute (V.E.I.) and Marlboro College Technology Center. A book-signing will follow the reading. For more information, call (802) 258-2402.

The Highfields Institute is offering an On-Farm Composting 101 Workshop
Date: July 12, 2007
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Location: The Highfields Institute's Compost Demonstration and Research Site in Hardwick, VT
Cost: $10 for Farmers, $15 for up to 3 from one farm, $20 for non-farmers
Please dress to be outside all day and bring a bag lunch
Register by 7/2: 802-472-5138 or jvh@ezcloud.com
For more info:www.highfieldsinstitute.org

This Workshop involves classroom components, demonstrations on feedstock mixing and pile formation, and hands-on exercises with an emphasis on recipe development, pile monitoring, and pile management. Our site is a fully functioning farm-scale composting operation where we explore on-farm composting management strategies. Make composting work for your farm by understanding the science of composting and practical methods for effectively managing your operation.

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 triciacoop@hotmail.com.

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.