Action Alert 4/30/08
--Action Needed TODAY for HEMP
--MILK bill is now LAW!
--MEAT bill is moving!
--Summer Internsthips Available!
--Upcoming Events
**HEMP FOR VERMONT BILL NEEDS YOUR HELP!!**
The legislative session is quickly winding down. Most people believe the session will end on Friday or Saturday, and our Hemp bill is still stuck in the Senate. Unfortunately, this widely popular bill has fallen prey to political gamesmanship and is being held purely for political reasons. The bill is supported by most of the Senate, but is being held up in hopes of "trading" it for other bills the Senate wants. WE NEED YOUR HELP to get this bill moving, so it can go to the governor's desk by the time the legislature adjourns this weekend! You can read the bill here: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/house/H-267.HTM. This bill has passed three committees with unanimous consent (House Agriculture, House Judiciary, and Senate Agriculture), and it passed in the House with a 127-9 vote! There is absolutely no reason why this bill should not pass this year. PLEASE MAKE SOME CALLS TODAY TO MAKE SURE THE HEMP BILL DOESN'T DIE BECAUSE OF POLITICS! IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU MAKE THESE CALLS TODAY (THURSDAY)!
PLEASE CALL 802-828-2228 at leave a message for YOUR OWN SENATORS - ask them to "make sure H.267 passes in the Senate." Leave that message along with your name and phone number. Please leave messages for each of your senators (you probably have more than one!). If you don't know who your senators are, ask the person who answers the phone - you'll just need to say what county you live in. Also, please get a few friends to call as well. We must let the senators know that this is a "must pass" bill. Even if you have already called your senators, please call again today! PLEASE ALSO MAKE ONE OTHER CALL to Senator Peter Shumlin at (802) 828-3806. Ask him to make sure H.267 passes before the end of the session. Senator Shumlin is the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and is the person who can bring the bill to the floor. He supports the hemp bill, so be friendly when you call - he just needs to know that it is important to you.
**MILK BILL SIGNED INTO LAW!!**
The Farm Fresh Raw Milk bill was signed into law by Governor Jim Douglas on April 22nd. It is now legal for farmers to sell up to 50 quarts of raw milk each day from the farm. Also, farmers are now allowed to advertise that they have raw milk for sale. THANK YOU to all of you who worked on this bill. We're not done yet, but this is a great first step toward making it much easier to sell (and buy) raw milk in Vermont.
**MEAT BILL IS MOVING**
The Farm Fresh Meat bill has been in a conference committee the past few days. The "on farm slaughter" language was included in the House version of S.322, and the conference committee has been working on a compromise between the house and senate versions of the bill. All of the conferees support the meat language, and the bill is expected to come out of the conference committee this morning, with the "on farm slaughter" language intact. We'll keep you posted - get ready to write your thank you notes!
**SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE!!**
Do you want to work for a great organization focused on building community, building local food systems, and working for economic justice for family farmers? And, at the same time, learn marketable skills in the areas of grassroots organizing, event planning, fundraising, and legislative campaigning? Would you like to meet farmers from around the state, eat a lot of ice cream, and make a real difference for farmers and consumers in Vermont? If so, please apply for a SUMMER INTERNSHIP at Rural Vermont. We are now interviewing for 3-6 summer internship positions, which will run from June 1st through August 20th. Interns must have reliable transportation and be willing to travel in-state (mileage reimbursement is available) and also work at the Rural Vermont office in Montpelier. You must commit to 16-32 hours/week. A small stipend is available. If you are interested, please email a cover letter and resume by May 16th to amy@ruralvermont.org.
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RURAL VERMONT EVENTS
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*** FARM FRESH FORUM SERIES ***
All events are from 7 - 8:30 pm
open to the public
and free (donations encouraged and appreciated!)
Come out and join a lively group discussion led by Rural Vermont, local farmers, and healthcare professionals about Rural Vermont's Farm Fresh Milk, Farm Fresh Meat, and Agricultural Hemp initiatives. Bring your friends and neighbors to learn more about what Rural Vermont is doing to support local agriculture and find out what we can all do to strengthen this movement. For more info or to help out, contact Rural Vermont at (802) 223 - 7222
--TONITE!! Thursday, May 1, 2008--
Senior Center, Blakely Road, COLCHESTER
featuring Dr. Robert Luby MD & Adam Wilson
**SAVE THE DATE: Sept 21st - Tour de Farm in Addison County
Tour de Farm (Bicycle Tour)
Sun September 21, 2008
10 am - 3 pm
Shoreham, VT
Pre-registration: $15/adult, $8/kid (15 and under)
Addison County is home to some of our state's most beautiful and diversified family farms, and on Sunday September 21st, many of them will be open to the Tour de Farm cyclers! Don't miss this exciting opportunity to take in Addison County's beautifully rural scenery, meet the farmers who are producing some of the finest foods in the state and tour their farms - and perhaps most exciting of all - sample lots of these amazingly wholesome farm fresh foods! The Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition, the Addison County Localvores, and Rural Vermont are partnering to host this event. Stay tuned for more details.
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OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT
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Support Rural Vermont and enjoy a nice office space in downtown Montpelier. Rent one large room in the Rural Vermont office for $400/month. Room comes with two desks and some chairs, as well as some storage space (shelves and a small cupboard). Also, use of wireless internet and copier. Renter must provide your own phone. Office is located on Barre Street, convenient to downtown. If you're interested, call Colin at 802-223-7222 to set up an appointment to look at the space.
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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
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The Highfields Institute is offering FREE and REDUCED RATE technical services to Vermont farmers
Technical services for
MANURE, LIVESTOCK MORTALITY & FOOD SCRAP COMPOSTING
* Site ID, design & permitting
* Management plans
* Recipe development
* General systems consulting
* Bedded pack barns
For more information:
june@highfieldsinstitute.org
802-473-5138
www.highfieldsinstitute.org
**“Health & the Hive: A Beekeepers Journey,” a 53 minute film by local filmmaker Jan Cannon, explores the importance of honeybees in our lives. The central figure in the film is Todd Hardie of Honey Garden Apiaries ( www.honeygardens.com). Topics addressed in the film include pollination, queen breeding, disease control, bee venom therapy, organic agriculture and honey-based plant medicine. These showings are free and open to the public. Honey Gardens will offer samples of raw honey and plant medicine at all of the showings.
- City Market in Burlington-
Saturday, May 3, 11 am with Jan Cannon
Friday, May 9, 7 pm with Todd
- Hunger Mountain Coop in Montpelier with Todd and
Zack Woods Herb Farm
Thursday, May 8 at 6 PM
- Ilsley Library Meeting Room in Middlebury with Todd
and Jan Cannon
Friday, April 25, at 7 pm
- Brattleboro coop with Todd
Saturday, May 3, from 1-5 pm,
- Putney Library with Todd
Friday May 2 at 7 pm
**2008 Vermont Going Green Expo
May 10 & 11, 2008 at UVM
Sat. 10am-7pm & Sun. 10am-4pm
University of Vermont's Gutterson Center, Burlington
Advance Tickets: www.TicketsfromtheWeb.com
Cost: $5.00 adults, children 12 and under free
More info at 603-236-7858 www.goinggreenexpos.com
A limited number of spaces for exhibitors are still available. Please call 802-735-1457
Join us at one of the largest Green energy and eco-living exposition ever held in the Ggreen Mountain state! Learn about the latest innovations in solar energy, heating and building technology; discover the latest in sustainable clothing at the Eco-Fashion Show; and explore dozens of workshops taking place throughout the weekend.
**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 .