Action Alert 2/7/8
--HEMP FOR VERMONT bill passes 127-9!
--VOLUNTEER with Rural Vermont!
--RURAL VERMONT EVENTS
--Other Upcoming Events
***VERMONT HOUSE PASSES HEMP FOR VERMONT BILL!***
Today, the Vermont House of Representatives passed the Hemp for Vermont bill, with overwhelming support. the vote was 127 to 9! This vote was for "second reading" of the bill, so it will have another procedural vote on Friday, and then it will move on to the Senate. THANK YOU to all who made calls and volunteered to help garner support for this bill! Many representatives commented that YOUR CALLS MADE A DIFFERENCE in this process! Our work is not yet done, so get your pens and notecards out to write a THANK YOU NOTE to your representatives if they voted yes, and get ready for action when the bill moves to the Senate. We'll keep you posted! Meanwhile, celebrate this amazing victory for Vermont agriculture! Check out the final bill here: http://www.ruralvermont.org/archives/003557.html
THIS WEEK, please write a Thank You Note to your House Representative if s/he voted yes on the bill. You can find the vote list here: http://www.ruralvermont.org/archives/003558.html. You can download a special Thank You card (in pdf format) here: http://www.ruralvermont.org/hemp/hempthankyou.pdf (thanks to Mark Candaras for designing the card).
If you are not sure who your Representative(s) are, you can find out here: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/findmember.cfm.
Please send your HAND-WRITTEN note (please do NOT email your reps!) to:
Representative ________________
Vermont Statehouse
115 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05633
ALSO, if you have an extra moment, send a special THANK YOU note to Representative Will Stevens, who reported the bill and defended it upon being interrogated by Representative Norm McAllister, who opposed the bill. You can send your note to Rep. Stevens at the address above.
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VOLUNTEER WITH RURAL VERMONT!
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***SPECIAL PROJECTS
If you have some extra time on your hands, and an interest in Rural Vermont’s vision of living soils, thriving farms, and healthy communities, we need your help! We’re working on lots of different projects right now, and you can help with most on your own time, either in your home or here at the office. Rural Vermont staff would provide as much staff support as is needed, though most of these projects will require folks with an independent work style and self-discipline. If you think you might be interested, check out the descriptions at www.ruralvermont.org/getinvolved/volproj.doc , or call us at the office: (802) 223-7222.
***NOFA-VT Conference-Goers: Help out Rural Vermont!***
If you are planning to attend the NOFA-VT conference on February 16th and 17th in Randolph, we need you! We'll have an action table set up during lunch on both days. Lunch happens in 2 one-hour shifts. Please help us staff this table for one hour on one or both days! Email colin@ruralvermont.org to arrange when you can help; this is a busy table, so we are looking for lots of tablers.
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RURAL VERMONT EVENTS
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** CELEBRATE THE HOUSE PASSAGE OF H.267 AT HEMP EVENTS! **
If you missed the film Hemp and the Rule of Law during Rural Vermont's Hemp Week, it's coming back for TWO encore performances! Join us for a lively discussion about agricultural hemp following the documentary relaying the US's past involvement with hemp as a major agricultural crop and the current controversy surrounding farmers and state rights to return it as such. For a detailed film description and reviews, visit http://www.tinroofvideo.com/
WHEN: Wednesday, February 13th, 6 - 8 pm
WHERE: Room 11 at the Vermont Statehouse
Free & open to the public
(come to Citizen Action Day, and STAY in Montpelier to catch the film!)
WHEN: Thursday, February 21st, 6 - 8 pm
WHERE: UVM Billings Auditorium (CC Theatre)
$3 suggested donation (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)
**HEMP TALK AT THE GRANGE**
The Capital City Grange is hosting a Lecturer's Program called HEMP (It's Not Pot). Come listen to Amy Shollenberger, Rural Vermont's director, speak about the benefits of hemp cultivation for Vermont farmers and get an update on what's happening with H.267, the Hemp for Vermont bill. The lecture program will be followed by a potluck (free) and contra dance ($8).
WHEN: Saturday, March 1st, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
WHERE: Grange Hall, Northfield St., Montpelier
Free & open to the public
For more information, please call (802) 223-7222 or visit www.ruralvermont.org
** SAVE THE DATE: WINTER BRUNCH FUNDRAISER **
On Saturday, March 8th from 11 am - 1 pm, Rural Vermont will host brunch at the Rutland Winter Farmers' Market! We'll be serving up recipes inspired by Rural Vermont's Local Foods Cookbook, including squash soup, some local stratas, and apple crisp. Of course, the featured foods will be coming from Rutland Farmers' Market vendors! Sit down and relax in the "cafe" or get your goodies to go. All proceeds will benefit Rural Vermont. For more information or to volunteer, give us a call at 223-7222.
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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
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**CITIZEN ACTION DAY 2008 -- ACTIVATE YOUR VALUES!
February 13, 2007
10 am - 2 pm (registration starts at 9 am)
Vermont Statehouse - Rooms 10 and 11
Rural Vermont, in conjunction with the Vermont Alliance of Conservation
Voters, the Vermont Natural Resources Council, Vermont Public Interest
Research Group, and Vermonters for a Clean Environment will be hosting
their annual grassroots lobby day at the State House. Citizen Action
Day provides a great chance to lobby your legislators in solidarity
with many other concerned citizens about the issues that matter most to
you. Don’t Miss This Chance to:
-Learn tips on how to talk with your legislators and then go do it.
-Have lunch with your legislators.
-Observe a floor debate.
-Attend a committee meeting.
No prior State House experience is needed. In the early part of the
day, organizers of the event will brief attendees on key environmental
issues and lobbying techniques prior to meeting with legislators.
Dress for indoors. Bring quarters for parking in Montpelier ($1 for 1
hour). Light morning snacks will be provided. You can buy lunch in the
statehouse for around $7-$10. For more information and to RSVP (please
let us know you're coming if you can!), visit www.vtactionday.org, or
contact Shelby at (802) 223-7222 or shelby@ruralvermont.org.
**UPPER VALLEY FOOD CO-OP
ESSENTIAL OIL APHRODISIACS FOR FEBRUARY FUN
WITH CAROL STEDMAN
WHEN: Tuesday, February 12, 5:30 PM
WHERE: Upper Valley Food Co-op, 193 N. Main St., White River Junction, VT
FEE: $5 materials fee
Please call 802-295-5804 to register for this program.
What could be more seductive than scented oils? Lots of fun and a touch of romance highlight this hands-on workshop. Mix and match essential oils of the aphrodisiac sort in formulations designed to enhance your health and well-being. Your teacher is Carol Stedman, an educator from Oshadhi Essential Oils with over 25 years of experience in the natural foods industry.Space is limited, so please call 802-295-5804 to register. Upper Valley Food Co-op is located at 193 North Main Street in White River Jct. Vermont. Look for the big red apple.
**UPPER VALLEY FOOD CO-OP
FREE PUBLIC EVENT
“A LITTLE SOMETHING CHOCOLAT”
WHEN: Wednesday, February 13, 6 – 8 pm
WHERE: Upper Valley Food Co-op, 193 N. Main St., White River Junction, VT
A fun, taste-full, and educational evening of fine chocolate tasting and food courtship! Explore bold and delightful new pairings with exotic species… of food, of course! Have fun discovering some of the foods that have historically been associated with romance, and sample chocolate from Rapunzel, Equal Exchange and new artisan chocolate company TAZA. This delightful and slightly quirky event will broaden your horizons on the darker side of chocolate and the importance of Fair Trade. Bring a friend or come alone. The Co-op is a great place to meet savvy people and this event is a perfect place to start! Upper Valley Food Co-op is located at 193 North Main Street in White River Jct. Vermont. Look for the big red apple. For information, call us at 802-295-5804; or visit us on line at www.uppervalleyfood.coop.
**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.
**Exploring the Small Farm Dream with Beth Claypoole
Are you interested in starting a small farm business? What type of
information do you need to start? What type of farming enterprise you
would like to develop? Do you know someone who has these same questions?
If these questions sound familiar, Cornell Cooperative Extension Wayne
County, in cooperation with Wayne County Agriculture Development Board
will be presenting a 4 session workshop on February 27th, March 5th, 19th,
and April 2nd to help answer these questions. This in-depth program will
run each evening from 6-9pm at the CCE Wayne County office in Newark, NY.
Applications for participation are now available by calling 315-331-8415
or by accessing the CCE website at:
http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/wayne, search for "Small Farm Dream".
Applications are due by Monday, February 11.
**Maximizing Milk on Home Grown Grains and Forages
Time: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Days and Locations listed below:
March 13 – Newport, VT
March 14 – Highgate, VT
March 18 – Springfield, VT
March 19 – Rutland, VT
This traveling one-day workshop, organized by NOFA-VT and UVM Extension, is designed to meet the needs of dairy producers wanting to maximize the use of their forages systems and/or learn about incorporating home grown grains to offset the costs of purchased feeds. For more information, contact NOFA-VT, 802-434-4122 or UVM Extension, 802-524-6501
**2nd Annual Northeast Animal Power Field Days
September 26 – 28, 2008
Tunbridge Fair Grounds, Tunbridge, VT
The Northeast Animal Power Field Days is a celebration of sustainable farming and renewable resources promoting conservation, stewardship, small farms, healthy forests, and the roles that they play in vital communities. This 3-day conference will feature working animal and equipment demonstrations in field and forest settings, workshops, exhibits, networking sessions, and an auction and swap meet on Sunday. Workshop topics will include grazing management, working with draft animals, livestock health, getting started with animal power and more. For more information, go to: www.animalpowerfielddays.org or contact Carl Russell and Lisa McCrory, info@animalpowerfielddays.org, 802-234-5524. Join our discussion forum; www.draftanimalpower.com .