Action Alert 10/23/07
--Milk and the Local Economy Speaker Tour with Warren Taylor - THIS
WEEK!
--Rural Vermont HALLOWEEN BASH! don't miss it!
--Current Use - LAST DAYS FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS!
--FOOD tastings and FILM screenings!
--Other Upcomin Events
**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.
*** RURAL VERMONT’S HALLOWEEN BASH & FUNDRAISER ***
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!! *
BRING THE KIDS! DRESS UP! WIN A PRIZE! GAMES & ACTIVITIES!
What does “Rural Vermont” mean to you – cows, maple syrup, foliage,
blackflies? Use your imagination and come show off your costume and get
entered
to win some awesome prizes!! Votes will be cast at the party with cash,
so
bring at least $10 to vote for your favorite costumes (or for
yourself)! All
proceeds benefit Rural Vermont. GREAT PRIZES! The grand prize winner
will
receive a gift certificate for an overnight stay donated by Fruitlands
Bed &
Breakfast in Marshfield, a small diversified family farm sitting almost
1900’
atop Thistle Hill. Other donated prizes include dinner for two at the
lovely
Highland Lodge overlooking Caspian Lake in Greensboro, a sampler box of
produce
and other goodies from Pete’s Greens year-round CSA in Craftsbury, a
wonderfully local Chicken Pot Pie from JDC Catering in Hyde Park, and a
gift
certificate for farm fresh foods and services from Applecheek Farm in
Hyde
Park. Bring the whole family and all your friends to the party for local
treats, music, games, and a costume contest featuring all of Vermont’s
finest!
*** HALLOWEEN PARTY PREP OPEN HOUSE***
Monday, October 29, 2007
4 pm - ???
Montpelier (call 223-7222 for directions)
Come join the Rural Vermont staff as we prepare for the Halloween Bash
...
carving pumpkins, baking snacks, creating games, making decorations,
and more
... Bring your carving knives, your creativity, and your appetite
(dinner
included!). Come when you can, stay as long as you'd like. For more info
(including location), call 223-7222.
**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 is one PUBLIC HEARING left scheduled:
--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.
You can also submit written comments to:
Rosalind Daniels, Legislative Council
115 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05633
*** 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 or visiting
http://www.ruralvermont.org/publications.html .
***FOOD TASTING - HOSTED BY NUTTY STEPH'S***
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
7 - 8:30 pm
Nutty Steph's, 190 River St (behind the Trading Post), MONTPELIER
Mingle with like-minded folks over tasty treats, purchase your very own
Rural
Vermont Local Foods Cookbook, and check out Nutty Steph's new retail
space. To
RSVP, get more info, or contribute a dish to share (help!): Shelby at
223-7222
For directions: Nutty Steph at 229-2090
***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.
************************************
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS!
************************************
**A Global Perspective: The World Water Crisis and the State of Vermont
7 p.m., Tuesday, October 23
The Unitarian Church of Montpelier – 130 Main Street
The Vermont Natural Resources Council hosts local Montpelier legend Dot
Helling
in her first post Blue Planet Run speaking engagement. Hear from Dot
about what
inspired her to run across the world, what water problems global
communities
are facing, and why she cares so deeply about the fate of Vermont’s
fresh
water supplies. Hear more about some of the water problems Vermont
communities
have faced – and will continue to face – without proactive and adequate
protections in place to safeguard the state’s drinking water supply and
aquatic habitat. Learn how you can join Dot, VNRC and other Vermonters
who will
work this year and beyond to keep Vermont’s freshwater supplies pure and
public. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact
VNRC at
802-223-2328 or www.vnrc.org.
**On October 23rd, the SIERRA CLUB will be hosting an event with Mark
Schapiro,
author of the book Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products
and What's
at Stake for American Power. After Schapiro's presentation the floor
will be
open for a public conversation that will address exposure to toxic
chemicals
and avenues of protection for Vermont. The event will be at the Norwich
Public
Library, 368 Main Street, in Norwich Vermont starting at 6:30pm. It's
free and
all are welcome!”
**On October 24th, VPIRG will be hosting an event with Mark Schapiro,
author of
the book Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's
at Stake
for American Power. Schapiro will be joined by Senator Ginny Lyons and
green
business owner Amy Todisco in a conversation that will address exposure
to
toxic chemicals and avenues of protection for Vermont. The event will
be at
the Kellogg Hubbard Library in downtown Montpelier and will go from
6-7:30pm.
It’s free and all are welcome!
**Mad Sheep: The True Story Behind the USDA's War on a Family Farm
October 25, 2007 7:00PM
East Room, Withey Hall, Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT
Linda Faillace, author of 'Mad Sheep: The True Story Behind the USDA's
War on a
Family Farm' speaks at Green Mountain College.
**BIKE COLLECTION: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.
**Lamoille County Farm Tour & 16th Annual Harvest Banquet
Sunday, Oct 28th; farms open at 1:30 pm, dinner begins at 6 pm. Five
farms in
Lamoille County will be offering free farm tours and other activities.
The
final tour of the day starts at Applecheek Farm at 5 pm, and will be
followed
by the 16th Annual Harvest Banquet. The banquet will include door
prizes,
awards, live music, and a local foods dinner. The cost for dinner is
$18/person. For more info, visit www.lcnrcd.com. Please RSVP to (802)
888-9218
x13 by Oct 23rd.
**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.
**Save the Date! 2008 VT Grazing Conferences Features Greg Judy
The 12th Annual Vermont Grazing Conference, titled From Forgotten
Fields to
Farm Fresh Food will feature Missouri grazier Greg Judy as keynote
speaker.
The conference will take place at Vermont Technical College in
Randolph, VT
on Saturday, January 19, 2008. The schedule includes themed tracks for
dairy, meat, poultry, diversified, animal management, soil and forages,
consumer interests, and grazing partnerships. Plans are in motion for a
kids' mini conference, and an intensive afternoon session focused on
meat
processing. The conference is co-organized by the UVM Center for
Sustainable
Agriculture and the Vermont Grass Farmers Association. To learn more
about the
conference, contact Jenn Colby, VT Pasture Network, at (802) 656-0858,
jcolby@uvm.edu , or visit www.uvm.edu/~pasture .
**Save the Dates! NOFA-VT 2-Day Winter Conference Announced
NOFA-VT is pleased and proud to announce we will be offering, for the
first
time ever, a 2-day Winter Conference, February 16th and 17th, at the
Vermont
Technical College in Randolph, Vermont. Mark your calendars and stay
tuned for
more information! If you’d like to be added to our mailing list to
receive a
copy of the Winter Conference brochure, please contact the office,
434-4122, or
info@nofavt.org.