Action Alert 11/18/8
--Rural Vermont Events!
--Rural Vermont Wish List!
--Office Space for Rent
--Other Upcoming Events!
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RURAL VERMONT EVENTS
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FARMERS’ MARKET INSURANCE COLLOQUIUM
a discussion to identify questions, concerns, hopes, and ideas
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Vermont Law School, Oakes Hall, SOUTH ROYALTON, VT
Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
Colloquium Format: Brief Talks by Panelists to Provide Background Information, then Open Discussion among Participants
Panelists:
-Sue Johnson, NOFA-VT
-Emmett Dunbar, Vermont Farmers’ Market Association
-Sam Burr, former Vermont Legislative Council
-Paul Horton, Rural Vermont Board of Directors
Facilitator: Jason J. Czarnezki, Associate Professor of Law, VT Law School
Event Organized by Rural Vermont. More info: 802-223-7222 / www.ruralvermont.org
* Catamount Healthcare Program – FILM SERIES*
Rural Vermont partners with the Vermont Campaign for Healthcare Security Fund. Following each film will be a presentation by Vermont Campaign staff about the Catamount Healthcare program, and information about how to enroll. Bring your questions, concerns, friends, and family.
ALL EVENTS ARE 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
* Critical Condition -- Wed, November 19th, North Congregational Church, 1325 Main St., ST. JOHNSBURY
America's worsening health care crisis is investigated by following a diverse group of uninsured individuals as they battle critical illnesses without adequate medical care. Their stories reveal gaping holes in the health care system, where care is often delayed or denied ultimately, costing them their jobs, health, homes, savings, and even lives.
*Bonus Features of SICKO -- Tuesday, December 2, 2008, Rutland Free Library, 10 Court St., RUTLAND
Michael Moore's film 'Sicko' exposes the profit-oriented health care system in the U.S., and compares it to universal health care models in Canada, the U.K., and Cuba. An assortment of the film's bonus features will be shown.
*Washington and Lamoille Counties dates to be announced. (Want to help organize these events? Contact shelby@ruralvermont.org). Vermont Campaign for Healthcare Security Education Fund is a non-profit organization working to educate Vermonters about, and help them enroll in, state health care programs: Catamount Health, VHAP, Dr. Dynasaur and Medicaid.
**Rural In(ter)dependence! **
FILM AND DISCUSSION
Colchester Meeting House, COLCHESTER
Thursday, December 11, 2008
6:00-7:30pm - Film Screening of the documentary "King Corn"
7:30-8:30pm - Community Discussion "Rural In(ter)dependence!"
If you believe in Rural Vermont's Vision for a self-reliant local food system – please join us to discuss the interdependency of urban, suburban, and rural life. We'll examine Colchester's local food system and explore local agricultural production at all levels, from community gardening to community supported agriculture to commercial farming. We'll talk about ways to increase opportunities for direct sales between farmers and consumers to encourage stable and diverse incomes, a reliable consumer base, and thriving agriculturally-based businesses which support healthy communities, wholesome foods, natural products, and rural innovation based on reverence for the earth. As more people get involved, we can work together to ensure farmer's receive fair prices for their products and are able to stay on the land to preserve Vermont's rural, working landscapes. Join in the dialogue and help us create a vision in which every resident of Colchester will have access to fresh, affordable, locally grown produce.
Rural Vermont – Building Living Soils, Thriving Farms and Healthy Communities. For more info, visit www.ruralvermont.org or email info@ruralvermont.org
** Rural Vermont's Fall 2008 COOKING CLASS SERIES **
Saturday, December 13th
MONTPELIER
$20 per class OR 3 Onion River Exchange credits + $5 ingredient fee per class
The summer series was so popular that we've decided to extend the classes through the fall! Chef Susan Reid has this to say about the types of menus to expect: "I'd like to get some goat meat for braising and make some variations on roasted veggies and perhaps cup custard, and do something with lamb in November along with brussels sprouts and pumpkin/squash pie, and maybe a chicken, apple and root vegetable curry, roasted vegetable salad with local goat cheese, and maple cookies for dessert." YUM! To sign up for one class or all three classes, email shelby@ruralvermont.org or call (802) 223-7222. Space is limited, so get in touch today!
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RURAL VERMONT SEEKS OFFICE SUBLETTER
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$400/mo 180 square-ft room
Downtown Montpelier, near Main & Barre. Light, versatile room.
Shares entrance/bathroom with Rural Vermont, nonprofit organization (www.ruralvermont.org). Can occasionally use other Rural Vermont office spaces, including conference room. Rental cost includes heat/electric, and wireless/Ethernet internet. There is no landline phone service, nor hookup, to the room. Office is dog-friendly.
For more information call 802-223-7222 or email info@ruralvermont.org
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RURAL VERMONT WISH LIST
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Want to lend a hand to Rural Vermont? How about donating one of the following items from our Wish List? TOASTER OVEN, TEA KETTLE, KITCHEN COMPOST BUCKET, LIGHT FOLDING TABLES, EASY-UP TENT, FOLDING CHAIRS, DESK CHAIRS, SHEET PROTECTORS, PHOTO ALBUMS, MARKERS (ESPECIALLY SHARPIES), STAMPS, LABELS, PAPER, PORTFOLIO FOLDERS, 8 X 10 PHOTO FRAMES, BINDERS, THUMB DRIVES OF ANY SIZE, DISPLAY BOARD ... Maybe you've got some folding chairs collecting dust in your basement, empty photo albums in a box somewhere, or you catch a really good deal on a tea kettle downtown! If you can donate any of the items from Rural Vermont's Wish List, give Colin a call at 802/223.7222 or stop by the office -- 15 Barre St., Suite 2, Montpelier. Thanks!
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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
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TONIGHT!
Human Rights Hearing: Healthcare is a Human Right
Tuesday, November 18th
7 pm
Burke Mountain Room
Lyndon State College, LYNDONVILLE
Free public event to explore the human right to healthcare in our community. Refreshements and childcare available. Healthcare is a Human Right is a campaign of the Vermont Workers' Center. For more info, visit www.workerscenter.org/healthcare or call Erika at 802-316-7829.
NOFA-VT's Winter Feed and Feeding Clinics for Organic Dairy Producers
The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont's Dairy and Livestock Technical Assistance Program has scheduled four regional Winter Feed and Feeding Clinics for organic dairy producers. These clinics will provide producers with an opportunity to review their feeding strategy and identify possible alternatives and improvements, find out about sources of purchased forages & grains and explore long-term feed production and feeding strategies. The clinics will be informal roundtable sessions where producers will have an opportunity to discuss winter feeding and "crunch the numbers" on their own stored feed inventories using worksheets provided by NOFA-VT.
The Winter Feed and Feeding Clinics will be held from 10am-Noon at the
following locations:
*Wednesday, December 3 at The Corse Farm, Whitingham (lunch and barn tour after the clinic)
*Thursday, December 4 at Applecheek Farm, Hyde Park
NOFA-VT's Winter Feed and Feeding Clinics are FREE for all dairy producers. Walk-Ins are welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged. For further information and pre-registration contact NOFA-VT at 802-434-4122, info@nofavt.org.
Home Energy Saving Workshops Available for Vermont Communities
Central Vermont Community Action Council (CVCAC), in partnership with the State of Vermont and the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN), will implement an intensive six-month public education program to mobilize Vermonters on how to save energy in their homes. Through a series of two-hour workshops around the state, citizens will learn about the fundamentals of how buildings lose energy and do-it-yourself opportunities for saving energy, including behavioral changes and low-cost weatherization measures. We are inviting you to sign up today for a Home Energy Savings Workshop in your community. If you are interested in having a Home Energy Saving Workshop in your community, please contact Diana Peduzzi, Assistant Coordinator, Button-Up, Vermont at Button-up@cvcac.org (802 279 1708), or Paul Markowitz, Coordinator, Button Up, Vermont at paul@markowitzvt.com (802 229 6307).
NOFA-VT’s On-Farm Animal Processing Workshop Series
**Friday, November 21st On-farm Pig Slaughter 9am-1pm
**Saturday, November 22nd Whole Animal Butchering 8-5pm
Warren, VT
Carl Russell, of Earthwise Farm and Forest, will be leading the Friday slaughter workshop. He will review procedure, technique, and infrastructure along with tool and food safety. Rural Vermont will join the conversation to address current on-farm slaughter regulation and policy. There will then be a live pig slaughter, scalding, and carcass prep. Saturday morning Cole Ward, Head Butcher at Sweet Clover Market, will lead the group through the breakdown of the whole carcass. He will go over primals and retail cuts, along with how to maximize quantity and quality of product. In the afternoon, Andrew Taylor, professional cook with Clio Restaurant in Boston will lead the group through techniques in further processing: making fresh sausage and pate, brining hams, smoking bacon, and curing salami. Please bring a lunch for Saturday. Cost: Friday: $20 for members, $25 for non-members; Sunday: $40 for members, $50 for non-members. Pre-registration required.
**Friday, December 5th On-farm Pig Slaughter 9am-1pm
**Saturday, December 6th Whole Animal Butchering 8-5pm
Brown Boar Farm, East Wells, VT
Join us for a two-day workshop at Brown Boar Farm, a diversified farm where they raise heirloom pork, beef and produce. Roger Shaddock will lead the Friday slaughter workshop reviewing procedure, technique, and infrastructure along with tool and meat safety. Rural Vermont will join the conversation to address current on-farm slaughter regulation and policy. There will then be a live pig slaughter including the scalding and carcass prep. Saturday morning the group will go through the breakdown of the whole carcass. The butchering demonstration will review primals and retail cuts, along with how to maximize quantity and quality of product. In the afternoon the group will be lead through techniques in further processing: making fresh sausage and pate, brining hams, smoking bacon, and curing salami. Please bring a bagged lunch for Saturday. Cost: Friday $20 for members, $25 for non-members; Saturday: $40 for members, $50 for non-members. Pre-Registration required
THE GOLEDN CAGE: Through December, VT Folklife Center, 88 Main St, Middlebury. Photography exhibit of Mexican Migrant Workers and Vt Dairy Farmers. Photographs by Caleb Kenna with interviews by Chris Urban. Info: 388.4964
END OF AMERICA FILM: Anytime; online. If you only have a few minutes, watch a four-minute preview of "The End of America" with Naomi Wolf at myamericaproject.org. When you have more time, watch the entire 75-minute version for free at Snag Films
2009 VT Grazing Conference Includes VT Beef Producers’ Conference
The 13th Annual Vermont Grazing Conference, titled Managing Animal Behavior: It’s Not What You Do, It’s How You Do It, will feature grazing behaviorist and NY-NRCS State Grazing Specialist Dr. Darrell Emmick as keynote speaker. The main conference will take place at Vermont Technical College in Randolph, VT on Saturday, January 17, 2009. The schedule includes themed tracks for dairy, beef, small ruminants, animal behavior, poultry & small animals, research, grazing partnerships, technical and on-farm energy options. A full day kids’ conference will take place on site. Pre-conference workshops on Friday, January 16 will focus on winter livestock management.
Dr. Emmick has worked for over 25 years promoting grazing-based dairy production systems in the northeast region of the U.S. This work includes the development of practical application guidelines and the provision of on-farm technical assistance. His primary research interest is in the foraging behavior of lactating dairy cows and the influence of supplemental concentrate feeds. In an exciting new partnership, the VT Beef Producers’ Association will be sponsoring a beef-themed track as a concurrent conference, and will be holding its annual meeting on site. The beef conference title: Improving the Quality of Our Beef. The conference is co-organized by the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Vermont Grass Farmers Association, with major support from the VT Beef Producers’ Association. To learn more, contact Jenn Colby, Pasture Outreach Coordinator, at (802) 656-0858, jcolby@uvm.edu, or visit www.uvm.edu/pasture.
IS FARM LEASING RIGHT FOR YOU?
Access to farmland is one of the biggest challenges for new farmers. For many, leasing may be an effective strategy. Leases can offer you affordable, flexible and secure access to farms, land, and buildings. Find out about leases and leasing -- what’s in a lease, types of leases and how to negotiate a good lease. Land For Good is offering workshops and an online tutorial on leasing for farmers.
WORKSHOPS:
-Randolph Center, VT. January 17, 2009: Vermont Grazing Conference
-Augusta, ME. January 13-15, 2009: Maine Agriculture Trades Show
-Worcester, MA. January 17, 2009: NOFA/Massachusetts Winter Conference
-Randolph Center, VT. February 14-15, 2009: NOFA/Vermont Winter Conference
-Sturbridge, MA. February 26-27, 2009: Harvest New England Conference
-Dighton, MA. March 7, 2009: Southeast Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) Conference
ONLINE TUTORIAL: Four short, easy and informative modules will give you basic information, lease examples and lots of linked resources. Visit www.landforgood.org to take this free tutorial. For more information and resources, visit www.landforgood.org/leasing .