ACTION ALERT October 8, 2007

In this email:
--Current Use Public Hearing! Speak up for the Current Use Program
--Democracy Workshops
--Turkey Processing Workshop
--Milk. It Does a Local Economy Good - speaker tour on Same Day Dairy(TM)
--RURAL VERMONT HALLOWEEN PARTY - an event not to be missed!
--Other information...office space, SARE grants, efficiency vermont...
--Other upcoming events!

**CURRENT USE TASK FORCE MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS**
During the 2007 legislative session, the Vermont state legislature authorized a
study of the Use Value Appraisal program (commonly known as "current use"). The
legislature also formed a Task Force to review the study when it was completed,
gather input from Vermonters, and make recommendations to the legislature for
possible changes to the Current Use program. The study has just been completed,
and the Task Force is now meeting. If you are in the Current Use program, have
concerns about the program or the study, or have had difficulties getting into
the program, now is the time to speak up! You can find the study here:
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/WorkGroups/UseValue/Review%20and%20Analysis.pdf .

The Task Force will be meeting on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at the
Statehouse, in Room 11. During this meeting, the consultant will outline the
major findings of the study, and there will be a special presentation on
Agriculture.
There are also three PUBLIC HEARINGS scheduled:
--Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - Room 11, Vermont Statehouse, 5 pm - 7 pm
(focus: Administration of the Use Value Appraisal program)
--Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - Bridport Grange Hall, downstairs meeting room,
5 pm - 7 pm (focus: Agriculture and Current Use)
--Tuesday, October 23, 2007 - American Legion Hall Hartford Post 26, White
River Junction, 5 pm - 7 pm (focus: Forestry and Current Use)

On Wednesday, November 7, 2007, the Task Force will meet again to discuss
recommendations to the legislature, in Room 11 of the Statehouse.

**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

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

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.

**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

**TURKEY PROCESSING WORKSHOP**
Would you like to learn how to process your own turkeys? Rural Vermont and the
North Country Farming Network are teaming up to provide training for people who
want to learn this skill. North Country Farming Network has equipment available
to lend to their members, once they have been trained, and it's easy to become
a member!

The workshop will be held on Saturday October 20th at 9:30am. Chip Conquest is
the trainer, and it will be held at the Banavicius', Herring Brook Road,
Moretown. Please call Lorraine McBride to RSVP (required!) and to get detailed
directions - 229-9949 or email Lmcbride63@verizon.net. The cost will be $15 or
free if you are a paid member of the North Country Farming Network. Workshop is
limited to 12 people, so register early!

**MILK. IT DOES A LOCAL ECONOMY GOOD**
Speaker tour with Warren Taylor, Dairy Technologist, who has developed the Same
Day Dairy (TM) model for milk processing and marketing. Warren will speak on
how farmers and consumers can use this model to process Vermont’s milk in
Vermont, provide fresh, local milk to consumers, reduce the need to transport
milk long distances, and provide a fair price to our dairy farmers. Events
Free for Rural Vermont members. Suggested donation of $3 for non-members.
Nobody turned away for lack of funds. These events will be interesting to
anyone who cares about local food!

**Friday, October 26, 2007
Springfield Town Hall (3rd floor)
96 Main Street, Springfield, VT

**Saturday, October 27, 2007
Hyde Park Town Hall
Main Street, Hyde Park

**Sunday, October 28, 2007
U.U. Church, Main & Church Sts.
Barre, VT – across from the Post Office

All Events are 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
More info at 802-223-7222 / www.ruralvermont.org.

*** SAVE THE DATE: RURAL VERMONT'S HALLOWEEN BASH***
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
7 - 10 pm (winners to be announced at 9:30)
Craftsbury Outdoor Center (dining hall)
535 Lost Nation Rd., Craftsbury
*Special thanks to the Outdoor Center for graciously donating this space!! *
DON'T MISS Rural Vermont's 1st Annual Halloween Bash! The theme for costumes is
"Rural Vermont" - come dressed as whatever Rural Vermont means to you ... cows?
independence? cheese? hay bales? mountains? Those who come in costume will be
entered to win one of several awesome prizes (stay tuned ... to be announced
shortly). The winners will be determined by votes cast at the party (with $$),
so don't forget to bring at least $10 to vote for your favorite costumes (no
one turned away for lack of funds). If you're dressing up, bring lots of
friends with pocketfuls of dollar bills to vote for you! The evening's
festivities will also include music, local treats, and seasonal kids'
activities. All proceeds will benefit Rural Vermont, so invite everyone you
know, and help us raise money for another exciting year! (To join the
organizing committee, or for more info, please contact Shelby at 223-7222 or
shelby@ruralvermont.org.)

*** FOOD TASTINGS & FILM SCREENINGS ***
What better way to connect with friends, family, and neighbors than over
wholesome foods and thought-provoking films? Rural Vermont’s Local Foods
Cookbooks are finally here! They feature 100+ recipes collected from all of
you, and highlight Vermont’s bountiful farm fresh products. Now we need your
help to debut them! As the holiday season approaches, there is no better time
to host a Food Tasting (featuring recipes from the cookbook) for friends,
family, and neighbors. They will be floored by the flavors and the worthy cause
that their cookbook purchases support! You can also order a cookbook ($15 each)
by calling 802-223-7222.

Rural Vermont has a newly stocked library of FILMS including The Power of
Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil, Standing Silent Nation, Fast Food
Nation, and Supersize Me. Organize a Film Screening in your home, church, or
library and help us share these and other important films about relocalizing
our food supply and supporting our local economy. The legislature will be back
in session before we know it, so now is the time to inspire your community to
take action!

Contact Shelby at 223-7222 or shelby@ruralvermont.org for more info about
setting up a Food Tasting and/or Film Screening in your neighborhood.

**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

**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
********************
KEEPING YOUR HARVEST. An exploration of winter food storage.
Salvation Farms is pleased to host an informative workshop instructed by Kris
Coville from the Wild Branch Valley Farm in Craftsbury and Theresa Snow,
Salvation Farms’ Director. As a workshop participant you will help process
dry beans, pickle beets, and discuss methods for storing a wide range of crops.
This workshop will occur Tuesday, October 9th beginning at 6pm at Salvation
Farms’ headquarters. The workshop will be approximately 2 hours long.
Handouts and canned goods will be available to all participants. A $5.00
donation is suggested to cover the cost of canning materials. We hope to see
you! Salvation Farms ☼ 802-888-5055

DELIVERING AN AFFORDABLE ENERGY SOLUTION: Wed, Oct 10; Davis Center, University
of Vermont, Burlington. 3rd Annual VT Biodiesel Workshop. Info:
info@vermontbiofuels.org

UPPER VALLEY FOOD CO-OP presents
THE GLOBAL BANQUET: The Politics of Food
WITH LOCAL FILMMAKER ANNE MACKSOUD
WHEN: Wednesday, October 17, 7 PM
WHERE: Upper Valley Food Co-op, 193 N. Main St., White River Junction, VT
Independent filmmaker Ann Macksoud hosts this stunning documentary on the
secrets behind our global “food shortages.” The film uncovers facts
pointing to the politics of distribution practices, not actual food shortages,
as one of the driving forces behind world hunger. This is one of the best in
the recent explosion of independent films on social and environmental issues.
The post-film discussion with the filmmaker will focus on strategies for
developing local sustainable food systems. Space is limited, please call
ahead. Upper Valley Co-op is located at 193 North Main Street in White River
Jct. Vermont. Stop by or contact us at 802-295-5804.

RENEWABLE ENERGY VERMONT CONFERENCE: Oct 17; Sheraton Hotel; South Burlington.
A conference for those interested in VT's energy future and economic
development. Through interactive presentations and discussions we will examine
our renewable energy options and how we can create a more sustainable and
vibrant economy though increased use of VT's native energy sources. Speakers
will address how we could meet VTers' desire for clean and secure energy with
our own renewable energy sources, while strengthening our local economy and
protecting our natural environment. Info: REVermont.org or call 229-0099.

BIKE COLLECTION: Sat, Oct 20 and Sat, Nov 10; 10 am-1 pm; FreeRide, 89 Barre
Street, Montpelier. Donate used bikes and bike parts for refurbishment into
usable transportation. Unusable parts will be turned into public art. Info:
mdca.org or 223-9604.

ROCK-N-ROLL FOR THOSE IN NEED. Don't miss an evening of locally grown rock and
roll on November 2nd at the Rusty Nail in Stowe to benefit Salvation Farms, a
non-profit project that salvages excess farm produce and makes it available to
Vermonters in need. Live music by the Seth Yacavone Band and Lobot. Bring your
friends and spread the word! Show starts at 7 pm with a $10 cover to be donated
to Salvation Farms. For further information, visit the Rusty Nail at
www.rustynailbar.com or Salvation Farms at www.salvationfarms.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.
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.