September 13, 2007

--MARY ZANONI comes to Vermont! Speaker tour on NAIS sponsored by Rural Vermont
--Animal Power Field Days - volunteers needed!
--Democracy Workshops - don't miss these trainings!
--Other info and upcoming events

***THERE'S NO (free) LUNCH and FREEDOM ISN'T FREE:***
The USDA’s War on Our Food Choices and Our Democracy
with Mary Zanoni, legal expert, farmer, and anti-NAIS activist

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2007
The Abbey, Sheldon
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
(get lunch before the event at the pub!)
**and**
Ilsley Library, Middlebury
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007
United Church of South Royalton
(the Red Door Church on the Green)
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Events are Free for Rural Vermont members.
Non-members: Suggested donation of $10.
JOIN ON OUR SECURE WEBSITE TODAY: www.ruralvermont.org !
(nobody turned away for lack of funds)

***NORTHEAST ANIMAL POWER FIELD DAYS Trade Fair & Conference***
September 29-30, 2007, Fair-Grounds, Tunbridge, VT
The Field Days will be promoting conservation, stewardship, small farms,
healthy forests and the roles they play in vital communities. The weekend
activities will include presentations, panel discussions, vendor exhibits,
working animal presentations, field demonstrations of animal-powered farming
and logging equipment, plus an equipment auction. Workshop topics will include
grazing management, composting, CSA/Market Gardening, and working with draft
animals on the farm and in the woods. For information, or to reserve exhibit
space, contact; Carl Russell or Lisa McCrory, Earthwise Farm & Forest, 341
MacIntosh Hill Rd., Randolph, VT 05060. Phone: 802-234-5524, Email:
lmccrory@together.net. For directions and lodging, go to:
www.tunbridgefair.com.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! For more information, please go to:
www.animalpowerfielddays.org. To volunteer, please contact Kristen Gage at
802/431-1029 or kristengage@comcast.net

**THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!**
Training for Vermonters who want to be effective citizen advocates.
--Learn how the Vermont legislature works
--Get the scoop on how to navigate the legislative process
--Learn the statehouse lingo
--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

Trainings offered by Rural Vermont and the Vermont Alliance for Conservation
Voters. Get Ready for the Upcoming Legislative Session!
Please RSVP if possible: 802-223-7222
Suggested donation $5. Nobody turned away for lack of funds.

***Want to host a training? Contact Amy at Rural Vermont: amy@ruralvermont.org
/ 802-223-7222***

Burlington – hosted by Citizens Awareness Network and the Peace & Justice
Center
Thursday, October 11, 2007
6:45 pm – 9:30 pm
Heineberg Senior Center, North Avenue
More info/directions: Lea at 802-658-1908

Wolcott – hosted by Salvation Farms
Thursday, October 18, 2007
5:45 pm – 8:30 pm
Salvation Farms, 813 Brook Road
Directions: Theresa at 802-888-5055

**OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT**
Sublet an office space in Rural Vermont's suite above Angeleno's on Barre
Street in Montpelier. Rural Vermont is leasing a 12'x15' room to Carl Etnier of
Peak Oil Awareness, and he is looking for someone to share the room and the
rent with. The corner room is well lit and spacious. $200/month, including all
utilities and high-speed internet. Telephone not included. For more
information, call Carl at 802-498-4443.

**EFFICIENCY VT CAN HELP FARMERS!***
Farm incentives from Efficiency VT -- Efficiency VT has been working with farms
for quite a while to help them use less energy, with a focus on electric
savings. Towards that goal, they look at ventilation, lighting, refrigeration,
the vacuum and milk transfer pumps on milking systems, and plate coolers. They
have also secured grant money to promote and provide incentives for using heat
from the refrigeration condenser to heat water for use by the clean in place
system after milking. Please see their Agricultural Rebate form for farmers at:
http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/pages/Business/RebateCenter/
For more information contact: George Lawrence, Market Coordinator Business
Energy Services Efficiency Vermont 255 S. Champlain St S. Burlington VT
05401-4894 Tel (888) 921-5990 x 1082 Fax (802) 658-1643

**Vermont Barn Grants. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation has a
50/50 matching grants program to assist owners of historic agricultural
buildings (barns, corn cribs, sheds, grist mills, etc.) Up to $10,000 can be
awarded to assist the restoration and repair of these endangered buildings.
This program encourages the continued use of farm buildings for agricultural
use. Due date: October 2, 2007 For more info,
see:http://www.historicvermont.org/financial/barn.html

**Northeast SARE Farmer Grant Program. The goal of the Farmer grant program is
to develop, refine, and demonstrate new sustainable techniques and to explore
innovative ideas developed by farmers across the region. To apply, you must be
a farmer in the Northeast SARE region, made up of Connecticut, Delaware,
Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Grants
average about $5,200, and are capped at $10,000. Due date: December 18, 2007
http://www.uvm.edu/~nesare/FGinfo.html

********************
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
********************
Green Mountain Global Forum presents:
Free Trade vs. Fair Trade
What is the Difference? Why should we care?
On Thursday, September 20th, the public will have a unique opportunity to gain
insight into global trade issues. What exactly is free trade? Free for whom?
Who benefits from US free trade policies and who shoulders the costs? James
Heinz, from the Political Research Institute at the University of
Massachusetts, will explore how our current free trade policies are connected
with increasing inequalities across the globe. He will discuss why
multinational corporations pressure our administration to encourage unregulated
trade and the resulting impacts of free trade on lower-income countries. The
presentation will also cover whether "fair trade" business models and campaigns
can be a workable alternative to "free trade" policies. This presentation is
sponsored by the Green Mountain Global Forum and will take place Thursday,
September 20 at 7pm at the 1824 House Inn on Route 100 in Waitsfield. It is
free to the public. For more information call 496-7556 or visit www.gmgf.org.

SAVE THE DATE
7th Annual Cultural Awareness Workshop
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Billings Building on the UVM Campus
Title of Workshop: Recognizing Health Issues for Vermont Farm Workers
Brochure and registration information to follow in September.
Presented by the Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University
of Vermont
Contacts: Emira.Smailagic@uvm.edu or Penilee.Saulnier@uvm.edu

Environmental Action 2007 Conference – Mobilizing the Grassroots for a
Greener Vermont
November 17, 2007
Over 30 training and information workshops will focus on transportation and
land use issues, energy and global warming, water and forest issues, and
environmental health and toxins. Several workshops will also focus on honing
some of the skills necessary to be an effective advocate. So don't miss a great
opportunity to join your friends and neighbors for a fun day intended to help
catalyze greater local action and forge the connections that will lead Vermont
toward a clean, healthy and sustainable future. For more information or to
register online visit www.vtenvironmentalaction.org or call or email Johanna
Miller at 802-223-2328 ext. 112 or jmiller@vnrc.org.