Full list: Alerts

Dear Members and Friends: Before I get into all our news, I just want to wish a very Happy 2nd Birthday today to my little buddy Forrest Kidd (son of Rural Vermont’s Organizer Robb Kidd and mom Sarah Adelman). Like a lot of people (especially our hard-working citizen legislators), I am very glad the 2011-2012 Legislative Session is now over. I look forward to having control of my schedule again, the opportunity to get out of Montpelier, and visiting with members and supporters. See below for a link to a complete Legislative Wrap-Up and some thoughts about next year. Below you will also find lots of information about great upcoming events featuring Hemp and Sally Fallon Morell and you can find all the details on our website. I’m looking forward to meeting you all at Rural Vermont’s Annual Celebration on Wed. May 16th, 6:30-9:00PM at The Wilder Center in Wilder (just north of WRJ). What could be more fun and hopeful than gathering with old and new friends, enjoying  good food and music, winning prizes and talking about how we’re going to grow a culture of Vermonters Feeding Vermonters? See you soon! Andrea Stander Rural Vermont Director

PLEASE JOIN US FOR: Rural Vermont’s Annual Celebration >>> LAST MINUTE DETAILS!! <<< Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 6:30 – 9 pm The Wilder Center, 2087 Hartford Ave. (Route 5) WILDER (just north of WRJ, off I91) FREE for RV members $5-$10 sliding scale for everyone else Special drawing for a gift certificate to the Hunger Mt Co-op in Montpelier! Be entered to win if you’re a member who brings a non-member friend OR if you become a member (or renew) at the event! with featured speaker, farmer, author and Rural VT Board member BEN HEWITT “The Future is in the Dirt: Growing the Culture of Vermonters Feeding Vermonters” In less than a week, we will gather at the Wilder Center for a lively and lovely night to celebrate the work we’ve accomplished in the last year, look ahead to another year of progress, and enjoy the company of friends from near and far. We look forward to sharing good food and drink, great conversation, and a memorable evening with you all. This year, we are thrilled to announce that Will Allen of Cedar Circle Farm will be the recipient of the Jack Starr award. Will is being honored for his dedication, vision, and energy in support of this year’s GMO labeling bill. Come and help us celebrate Will! Want to earn yourself some free raffle tickets? Help us sell “FARM FRESH FIVE” raffle tickets before the event, and for every 5 you sell, we’ll give you one! For more info and to get started, email Shelby. Directions: From I-91 North or South, take Exit 5 toward Route 5/Wilder. Follow signs to Route 5 North (Hartford Ave.). Turn onto Route 5 North, and travel a little under a mile to the Wilder Center on the right. It is located at the corner of Route 5 and Gillette Street in the Wilder Village Historic District in the town of Hartford, Vermont. Parking: Park in the Dataman parking lot, located on the left-hand side (coming from the Interstate), just before the Wilder Center. This lot is a very short walk from the Wilder Center. For those who need onsite parking, there is a very limited number of spots available at the Wilder Center. NOTE: Please carpool if you can! And if you need help arranging carpools, email Robb. To bring: a finger food potluck item, place setting, $$, and all your friends, family, and neighbors! All the details about Rural Vermont’s Annual Celebration can be found  here.  See you there!

Beyond Milk: Raw Dairy Processing Cottage Cheese & Yogurt Panna Cotta   with Margaret Osha at Turkey Hill Farm, Randolph Center Wed, May 23rd, 1-4 pm $20-$40 sliding scale portion of proceeds to benefit Rural Vermont Join Rural Vermont and Margaret Osha for an introductory dairy processing class that will demonstrate how easy and versatile cottage cheese can be, as well as how simple it is to make elegant, luscious yogurt panna cotta . For more info or to register, click here, email Shelby or call 223-7222.

Celebrate Hemp History Week Cultivating Economic Prosperity Through Hemp June 6 at 7pm-9pm Addison County Regional Planning Commission Office 14 Seminary St., Middlebury, VT Rural Vermont is hosting a special presentation by Netaka White of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund for Hemp History Week 2012 For more details, click here, contact Robb or call 223-7222

Sally Fallon Morell is coming to Vermont – June 7-9 Rural Vermont is proud to co-sponsor, with Shelburne Farms and many other great organizations, a 3-day visit by the author of “Nourishing Traditions” and one of the country’s foremost proponents of the benefits of raw milk. All events are free and open to the public, thanks to the generous support of the The Forrest C. and Frances H. Lattner Foundation. You can see all the details on our website.

UPDATE on “You Wanted to Be a Farmer” Film Screenings “You Wanted to be a Farmer: A Discussion of Scale” was viewed in 13 locations around Vermont to a collective audience of 200+. The film invoked feelings of frustration, empathy, and inspiration, while serving as a springboard for many thoughtful conversations about food sovereignty, appropriately-scaled regulations, food safety, and strategies to support community-based food systems. Ben Hewitt will continue this conversation at Rural Vermont’s Annual Celebration on May 16th at the Wilder Center in Wilder VT. There are several additional community screenings of “You Wanted to be a Farmer” in the works – stay tuned for details. The film is also available to borrow from Rural Vermont’s library – if you’re interested in either organizing your own community screening or borrowing the film, contact Shelby or call 223-7222.

END OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAP UP:  In the interest of conserving space here, please see the special Legislative Wrap Up Email or visit our website for all the details.

>>> Volunteers Needed As a grassroots organization, Rural Vermont relies on the generosity and commitment of volunteers to help us accomplish our goals. Throughout the year, we need your help advancing our issues in many ways. Consider serving with Rural Vermont as a volunteer to help spread the word about our Vermonters Feeding Vermonters campaign! Current Volunteer Opportunities:    Annual Meeting Support – May 16th is our Annual Celebration and we need help with many tasks to make this event a success. Help in the office next Mon. & Tues. with event preparation or on the 16th at The Wilder Center. Please contact Robb or give us a call at 223-7222 to sign up. Visit with Sally Fallon Morell – Rural Vermont is co-sponsoring Sally’s visit June 7-9 in Chittenden County. We need volunteers to help with all the events and particularly with a special REAL Milk workshop on Fri. June 8, 8am-Noon in Shelburne. Contact Shelby or call 223-7222 for more information if you are interested. Graphic Designer – The 2012 Tour de Farms is in its fifth year, and we are seeking a volunteer with some graphic design and production skills to help us design a 5 year logo.  Contact  Shelby or call 223-7222 for more information if you are interested. For more information about future Volunteer Opportunities, contact Robb, or call 802-223-7222 to get involved today!!! - THANKS!

HELP US REACH 1000!

We’re soooooo close! Rural Vermont’s Facebook Page is just a few clicks away from reaching 1000 “likes.” Can you put us over the top by liking and sharing our page with your friends?

If you don’t use Facebook you can also help by joining our full mailing list here. AND best of all – You can sign up to be a  member and support Rural Vermont’s work by visiting this page.

Legislators go home – Our work continues! 

Dear Members & Friends,

The streets (and parking spaces) in Montpelier are emptier these days and that is a sure sign of the changing of the seasons. Vermont’s citizen Legislature has wrapped up another biennium and headed home.

I’m relieved to have survived my first season as Rural Vermont’s official “lobbyist” and I want to share with you a few details on the status of the issues we worked on and what comes next.

Before I get into the nitty gritty of the session that just ended, I’d like to invite you to become an active partner in supporting Rural Vermont’s advocacy work. It requires a lot of resources to ensure that the interests of Vermont’s small diversified farmers are well represented in the halls of the State House. But it is actually during the “off season” when we must invest in research, public education and grassroots organizing to build the broad support needed to achieve meaningful changes in public policy.

Can you help us build a strong platform to support community-based food systems and economic and regulatory fairness for farmers?
You can make a secure donation here
to support our public education and advocacy work.
Our strength is in our numbers – THANK YOU!

LABELING GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD – H.722

No one was more disappointed than us that the VT Right To Know GMO Food Labeling bill did not become the law this session. Even with over 300 people packing the House Chamber for a public hearing on April 12th and over 100 testifying in unanimous support of the bill, the threat of an immediate lawsuit by the powerful biotech industry was enough to prevent the bill from making it beyond the House Agriculture Committee.

The Committee took hours of testimony, did a great deal of work strengthening the bill and passed it by a strong 9-1-1 vote. Recent polls confirm that 97% of Vermonters and over 90% of Americans want genetically engineered food to be labeled. We will build on that unprecedented support and introduce an even stronger bill next January. This summer and fall we urge you to talk with your representatives and candidates and let them know this is a crucial issue for you.

I look forward to the chance to meet you there!

Included in this email:
Rural Vermont’s Annual Celebration Invite
Farm Fresh Raffle including private dairy lesson!
Sally Fallon Morell comes to Vermont
Open Spots in May Dairy Classes

Hey folks!

I’m writing to you because you’ve either attended or expressed interest in Rural Vermont’s “Beyond Milk: Raw Dairy Processing” classes. I’ve got some important and exciting updates for our growing following of raw milk enthusiasts.

RURAL VERMONT’S 2012 ANNUAL CELEBRATION:

YOU’RE INVITED!

First of all, I want to extend an invitation to all of you (your families and friends too!) to join Rural Vermont for our 2012 Annual Celebration on Wed May 16th from 6:30-9pm at the Wilder Center, which is just north of White River Junction and an easy drive from most places. We’ve got a great night in store, including live music by a local folk duo, finger food potluck, cash bar with VT beer, an interactive presentation and discussion led by our special guest Ben Hewitt (farmer and author of The Town that Food Saved and Making Supper Safe), plus plenty of time for mingling with old friends and getting to know new ones. We hope you can join us! You can see all the details here http://www.ruralvermont.org/.

FARM FRESH FIVE RAFFLE:

WIN A PRIVATE DAIRY CLASS IN YOUR KITCHEN!

At this annual gathering, we will also be drawing the winners of our FARM FRESH FIVE raffle. I wanted to personally tell all of you about this exciting opportunity because I think that one of the prizes in particular will be of serious interest to many of you. One lucky person will win a PRIVATE dairy processing class in YOUR kitchen making 3-5 products of YOUR choosing with cheesemaid Lea Calderon-Guthe. For those of you who have taken classes with Lea, you know that she not only has an incredible depth and breadth of knowledge about all things dairy processing, but she is an absolute pleasure to be around and one of our favorite teachers. Lea is currently down in North Carolina working with the cheesemaker who got her started, and looks forward to sharing her sharpened skills with the winner when she returns to Vermont this summer.

Among the other prizes up for grabs are two different food baskets, both featuring homemade dairy products (of course from raw milk), grass-fed/pastured meat, organic veggies, and a few surprises. We’ve also got a gardening goodies prize featuring supplies donated by Gardener’s Supply and seeds from High Mowing Seeds, and a basket o’ books with titles from food/ag leaders Joel Salatin, Michael Pollan, Ben Hewitt, and Daniel Imhoff. For all the details, visit http://www.ruralvermont.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/raffle-sign1.pdf

RAW MILK/REAL FOOD HERO SALLY FALLON MORELL
COMES TO VERMONT IN JUNE!

If you’re a big fan of raw milk, then you either know or should know of Sally Fallon Morell. She is the president of the Weston A. Price Foundation and the author of the real food advocates bible Nourishing Traditions. Sally does not make it to Vermont all that often, and in collaboration with Shelburne Farms, she is offering a jam-packed schedule of events that is not to be missed! Lectures and workshops will span Thurs, June 7th to Sat, June 9th. Rural Vermont has arranged for a special event devoted entirely to raw milk! Details for the raw milk event are below, and details for the full series of events can be found here: http://www.ruralvermont.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/NourishingTraditionsPoster3.pdf

>> Real Milk – Friday, JUNE 8 from 9-11 am

Location TBA, SHELBURNE

An interactive workshop on the safety, health benefits and economics of raw milk as the cornerstone of a traditional diet. An open discussion welcoming questions from milk producers, people making products from raw milk and those wanting to know more about this versatile food.

NOTE: Childcare available. Space limited. Reservations recommended.

OPEN SPOTS IN MAY DAIRY CLASSES:

WED 5/9 (TOMORROW!) AND WED 5/23

We’ve still got a few spots available in this Wednesday’s dairy class at Chandler Pond Farm in South Wheelock. We’ll be making butter, yogurt, and mozzarella from 1-4 pm. The weather forecast is kinda crummy, so why not come out and huddle ’round a warm stove? If you want to sign up for this class, email me by 10am Wed morning, or call my cell phone (856) 287-1531.

There’s also space in our Wed 5/23 dairy class 1-4 pm at Turkey Hill Farm in Randolph Center. We’ll be making cottage cheese, a product that we’ve gotten numerous requests for but haven’t been able to offer often, and yogurt panna cotta – a brand new product to the dairy class inventory! Be in touch if you’d like to register. And if you’ve enjoyed a Rural Vermont dairy class, please tell others and help us spread the word about these and other upcoming classes!

Stay tuned for the summer’s raw milk ice cream socials and dairy processing classes, including a special event to commemorate our 50th dairy class in July!

Thanks,

Shelby

Hi Rural Vermonters and Friends,

I am writing to invite you to march with Rural Vermont at the “Put People First” rally this Tuesday. As a supporter of Rural Vermont’s recent campaigns of Labeling GMO’s or the Vermonters Feeding Vermonters campaigns you realize that in order to build a strong movement to overcome our obstacles we will need to join forces with others, so

Rural Vermont is proud to be teaming up with the Vermont Workers Center:

Put People First! One Movement for People and the Planet 

Tuesday, May 1st  12 Noon
Meet at City Hall, Main Street, MONTPELIER

We’re joining forces with The Vermont Workers Center and many other social and economic justice organizations to carry a unified message to our elected leaders that it’s essential to make public policy decisions and allocate public resources for the benefit of the people and the planet.

March alongside Rural Vermont and show your support for Vermonters Feeding Vermonters by wearing your farming/gardening garb, and bringing a farm implement and sign (“Power to the Farmers!” ~ “Eating is an Agricultural Act!” ~ “Let Vermonters Feed Vermonters!” You get the idea … get creative!).

Arrive at City Hall at 12 noon and look for the Rural Vermont signs and huddle. For more info or to RSVP for the Rural Vermont contingent, contact  Robb or call the office at (802) 223-7222.

In Freedom and Unity,

Robb Kidd

Rural Vermont Organizer

p.s. In the spirit of Rural Vermont’s history of activism, please join us May 16 at Rural Vermont’s annual meeting in which we will honor Will Allen of Cedar Circle Farm in East Thetford, VT. Will Allen will be awarded the Jack Starr Award for his vision, energy, and dedication he has displayed in support of Vermont’s 2012 GMO labeling bill. The annual meeting will be at the Wilder Center in Wilder, VT at 6:30 – 9 pm click here for more information

Message From The Director  Dear Members and Friends: Last night I came across a quote from Wendell Berry, (if we had a US “farmer laureate” I would nominate him) that gave me so much hope. “In affection we find the possibility of a neighborly, kind, and conserving economy…” On Monday night, Berry delivered the Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. As reported by Scott Carlson on Grist, “the lecture was a discussion of affection and its power to bind people to community. It was also a meditation on place and those who “stick” to it – as caretakers and curators.” You can read or watch the entire lecture here. Back to present reality – it’s been a tough couple weeks as we have fought hard to pass the VT Right To Know GMO Food Labeling bill and lost out to the tick down of the legislative clock and fear of the bio-tech industry’s threatened lawsuit. But the campaign to give Vermonters the right to know what is in their food will continue – see below for details. We’ll do a complete Legislative Wrap-up after the session ends next week. It is said that “hope springs eternal.” I kind of like another version: “spring hopes eternal.” And there are reasons for great hope in this spring season. I hope you will come to Montpelier City Hall next Tues. May 1st at Noon and join the Rural Vermont contingent at the Put People First March and Rally: One Movement for People and the Planet. We’re joining forces with The Vermont Workers Center and many other social and economic justice organizations to carry a unified message to our elected leaders that it’s essential to make public policy decisions and allocate public resources for the benefit of the people and the planet. I also hope to see you all at Rural Vermont’s Annual Celebration on Wed. May 16th, 6:30-9:00PM at The Wilder Center in Wilder (just north of WRJ). What could be more hopeful than gathering with new and old friends, enjoying  good food and music, winning prizes and talking about how we’re going grow a culture of Vermonters feeding Vermonters? Scroll down for more details about both events. See you soon! Andrea Stander

Put People First! One Movement for People and the Planet  Tuesday, May 1st 12 Noon Meet at City Hall, Main Street, MONTPELIER Join Rural Vermont, along with many other social and economic justice groups and activists, on May 1st as we converge on the Statehouse lawn to demand that our elected officials put people before profits! Music, skits, speeches by Senator Bernie Sanders and others, chants, kid-friendly activities, and more! March alongside Rural Vermont and show your support for Vermonters Feeding Vermonters by wearing your farming/gardening garb, and bringing a farm implement and sign (“Power to the Farmers!” ~ “Eating is an Agricultural Act!” ~ “Let Vermonters Feed Vermonters!” You get the idea … get creative!). Arrive at City Hall at 12 noon and look for the Rural Vermont signs and huddle. For more info or to RSVP for the Rural Vermont contingent, contact Robb , call the office at (802) 223-7222 or click here.

Rural Vermont’s Annual Celebration >>> MARK YOUR CALENDAR <<< Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 6:30 – 9 pm The Wilder Center, 2087 Hartford Ave. (Route 5) WILDER (just north of WRJ, off I91) FREE for RV members $5-$10 sliding scale for all else  (Members! Bring a non-member friend and be entered into a special raffle drawing!) with featured speaker, farmer, author and RV Board member BEN HEWITT “The Future is in the Dirt: Growing the Culture of Vermonters Feeding Vermonters” There is lots to look forward to at this year’s Annual Celebration – we’ve got Ben Hewitt talking about dirt, live music by local folk duo Nancy & Mike Wood, our first cash bar featuring Vermont beers, a finger food potluck, awards for our most committed supporters – and the return of the popular “FARM FRESH FIVE” RAFFLE, where five winners will take home one of five incredible food/farm prizes. Buy a $5 ticket, either at the event or in advance, and be entered to win one of the following five prizes: Gardening goodies – a garden’s worth of High Mowing Seeds, 11 gallon tub trug, nitrile gloves, and 20 qt container mix Basket o’ Books – Making Supper Safe by Ben Hewitt, Everything I Want to do is Illegal by Joel Salatin, CAFO by Daniel Imhoff, and Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan Farm Fresh Fare (option1) – butter, cheese, pickles, bacon, Tbone steak, fermented veggies, chanterelle mushrooms, and more! Farm Fresh Fare (option2) – butter, cheese, jam, ground beef, chicken, fermented veggies, locally-brewed beer, and more! Private raw dairy processing class!  One-on-one lesson making 3-5 products of YOUR choosing in YOUR kitchen with cheesemaid Lea Calderon-Guthe Rural Vermont extends our sincere appreciation to our raffle donors – High Mowing Seeds, Gardener’s Supply, Shiretown Books, Watershed Media, Rural Vermont board members, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, and Lea Calderon-Guthe. Winners will be drawn at the Annual Celebration on May 16th. WINNERS NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN. If you can’t make it to the event, but don’t want to miss the chance to win, then purchase your tickets in advance here. Tickets must be received by May 15th to be entered into the Raffle.  More details about Rural Vermont’s annual celebration can be found  here.  See you there!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:  VT Right To Know Genetically Engineered Food Act – H.722   On Friday April 20, the House Agriculture Committee voted to pass H.722 by a vote of 9-1 with one member absent. The Committee did a great deal of good work to strengthen the bill but at the last minute they added a “trigger clause” that said the bill would not become effective until California and two northeastern states passed similar GMO food labeling bills. Although members of the committee said this provision was added to protect Vermont food producers and ensure the stability of the food supply chain, it would effectively ensure that Vermonters would not get the right to know if their food is genetically engineered for a very long time. Given this development, it is actually a good thing that the legislative session is almost over so there is no chance the bill will become law this year. We are now trying to get a commitment from legislative leaders to make a new GMO Food Labeling bill a priority next year. You can help right now by finding out if your elected representatives would support a GMO Food Labeling bill next year. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE so if you haven’t yet, please join over 4000 Vermonters by signing the petition in support of the VT Right To Know GMOs campaign so we can stay in touch with you.  You can also get up to the minute news by “liking” the campaign’s Facebook page.

>>> Activist and Volunteer Needs   As a grassroots organization, Rural Vermont relies on the generosity and commitment of volunteers to help us accomplish our goals. Throughout the year we need your help advancing our issues in many ways. Consider working with Rural Vermont to help spread the word about our Vermonters Feeding Vermonters campaign! Current Volunteer Opportunities:    Office Volunteer – Can you travel to Montpelier one day a week or a month and help us with our important campaign work? A few hours a week helps us a lot.     Annual Meeting Support- May 16 is our an annual meeting and we need help with many tasks. Event set up or breakdown, member and non-member check in, raffle ticket sales, food prep, sign making, etc.   Poster Hangers – We need folks to hang posters in towns surrounding Wilder, Wheelock, and Randolph for our upcoming Annual Celebration and dairy classes.   (Also in your community) We can send you the posters via mail or email you one to print. Graphic Designer – The 2012 Tour de Farms is in its fifth year, and we are seeking a volunteer with some graphics skills to help us design a 5 year logo.   Email Robb, or call 802-223-7222 to get involved today!!!

Join Us!

Rural Vermont communicates with its supporters in a number of ways – email, mail, and phone. To ensure that you’re not missing any important updates, please join the full mailing list here. You can sign up to be a dues-paying member of Rural Vermont by visiting this page.

Rural Vermont Update & Action Alert   April 27, 2012

Rural Vermont 15 Barre Street Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802)223-7222 On the side: Issues in the News,  Membership Issues in the News   Free Press: GMO label movement faces hurdles in Vermont     New Yorker: Is Raw Milk Worth It? The Case of the Single-Udder Butter Support Rural Vermont Please consider joining us today. Become a Dues Paying Member In this Alert: Message from the Director Legislative Update & Action Alert JOIN US – May 1st March & Rally – Putting People & Planet First MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 2012 Annual Celebration-May 16 in Wilder VT Activist and Volunteer Needs Help Rural Vermont Grow Stronger: Become a Member Message From The Director  Dear Members and Friends: Last night I came across a quote from Wendell Berry, (if we had a US “farmer laureate” I would nominate him) that gave me so much hope. “In affection we find the possibility of a neighborly, kind, and conserving economy…” On Monday night, Berry delivered the Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. As reported by Scott Carlson on Grist, “the lecture was a discussion of affection and its power to bind people to community. It was also a meditation on place and those who “stick” to it – as caretakers and curators.” You can read or watch the entire lecture here. Back to present reality – it’s been a tough couple weeks as we have fought hard to pass the VT Right To Know GMO Food Labeling bill and lost out to the tick down of the legislative clock and fear of the bio-tech industry’s threatened lawsuit. But the campaign to give Vermonters the right to know what is in their food will continue – see below for details. We’ll do a complete Legislative Wrap-up after the session ends next week. It is said that “hope springs eternal.” I kind of like another version: “spring hopes eternal.” And there are reasons for great hope in this spring season. I hope you will come to Montpelier City Hall next Tues. May 1st at Noon and join the Rural Vermont contingent at the Put People First March and Rally: One Movement for People and the Planet. We’re joining forces with The Vermont Workers Center and many other social and economic justice organizations to carry a unified message to our elected leaders that it’s essential to make public policy decisions and allocate public resources for the benefit of the people and the planet. I also hope to see you all at Rural Vermont’s Annual Celebration on Wed. May 16th, 6:30-9:00PM at The Wilder Center in Wilder (just north of WRJ). What could be more hopeful than gathering with new and old friends, enjoying  good food and music, winning prizes and talking about how we’re going grow a culture of Vermonters feeding Vermonters? Scroll down for more details about both events. See you soon! Andrea Stander    Put People First! One Movement for People and the Planet  Tuesday, May 1st 12 Noon Meet at City Hall, Main Street, MONTPELIER Join Rural Vermont, along with many other social and economic justice groups and activists, on May 1st as we converge on the Statehouse lawn to demand that our elected officials put people before profits! Music, skits, speeches by Senator Bernie Sanders and others, chants, kid-friendly activities, and more! March alongside Rural Vermont and show your support for Vermonters Feeding Vermonters by wearing your farming/gardening garb, and bringing a farm implement and sign (“Power to the Farmers!” ~ “Eating is an Agricultural Act!” ~ “Let Vermonters Feed Vermonters!” You get the idea … get creative!). Arrive at City Hall at 12 noon and look for the Rural Vermont signs and huddle. For more info or to RSVP for the Rural Vermont contingent, contact Robb , call the office at (802) 223-7222 or click here.      Rural Vermont’s Annual Celebration >>> MARK YOUR CALENDAR <<< Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 6:30 – 9 pm The Wilder Center, 2087 Hartford Ave. (Route 5) WILDER (just north of WRJ, off I91) FREE for RV members $5-$10 sliding scale for all else  (Members! Bring a non-member friend and be entered into a special raffle drawing!) with featured speaker, farmer, author and RV Board member BEN HEWITT “The Future is in the Dirt: Growing the Culture of Vermonters Feeding Vermonters” There is lots to look forward to at this year’s Annual Celebration – we’ve got Ben Hewitt talking about dirt, live music by local folk duo Nancy & Mike Wood, our first cash bar featuring Vermont beers, a finger food potluck, awards for our most committed supporters – and the return of the popular “FARM FRESH FIVE” RAFFLE, where five winners will take home one of five incredible food/farm prizes. Buy a $5 ticket, either at the event or in advance, and be entered to win one of the following five prizes: Gardening goodies – a garden’s worth of High Mowing Seeds, 11 gallon tub trug, nitrile gloves, and 20 qt container mix Basket o’ Books – Making Supper Safe by Ben Hewitt, Everything I Want to do is Illegal by Joel Salatin, CAFO by Daniel Imhoff, and Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan Farm Fresh Fare (option1) – butter, cheese, pickles, bacon, Tbone steak, fermented veggies, chanterelle mushrooms, and more! Farm Fresh Fare (option2) – butter, cheese, jam, ground beef, chicken, fermented veggies, locally-brewed beer, and more! Private raw dairy processing class!  One-on-one lesson making 3-5 products of YOUR choosing in YOUR kitchen with cheesemaid Lea Calderon-Guthe Rural Vermont extends our sincere appreciation to our raffle donors – High Mowing Seeds, Gardener’s Supply, Shiretown Books, Watershed Media, Rural Vermont board members, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, and Lea Calderon-Guthe. Winners will be drawn at the Annual Celebration on May 16th. WINNERS NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN. If you can’t make it to the event, but don’t want to miss the chance to win, then purchase your tickets in advance here. Tickets must be received by May 15th to be entered into the Raffle.  More details about Rural Vermont’s annual celebration can be found  here.  See you there!   LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:  VT Right To Know Genetically Engineered Food Act – H.722   On Friday April 20, the House Agriculture Committee voted to pass H.722 by a vote of 9-1 with one member absent. The Committee did a great deal of good work to strengthen the bill but at the last minute they added a “trigger clause” that said the bill would not become effective until California and two northeastern states passed similar GMO food labeling bills. Although members of the committee said this provision was added to protect Vermont food producers and ensure the stability of the food supply chain, it would effectively ensure that Vermonters would not get the right to know if their food is genetically engineered for a very long time. Given this development, it is actually a good thing that the legislative session is almost over so there is no chance the bill will become law this year. We are now trying to get a commitment from legislative leaders to make a new GMO Food Labeling bill a priority next year. You can help right now by finding out if your elected representatives would support a GMO Food Labeling bill next year. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE so if you haven’t yet, please join over 4000 Vermonters by signing the petition in support of the VT Right To Know GMOs campaign so we can stay in touch with you.  You can also get up to the minute news by “liking” the campaign’s Facebook page.    >>> Activist and Volunteer Needs   As a grassroots organization, Rural Vermont relies on the generosity and commitment of volunteers to help us accomplish our goals. Throughout the year we need your help advancing our issues in many ways. Consider working with Rural Vermont to help spread the word about our Vermonters Feeding Vermonters campaign! Current Volunteer Opportunities:    Office Volunteer – Can you travel to Montpelier one day a week or a month and help us with our important campaign work? A few hours a week helps us a lot.     Annual Meeting Support- May 16 is our an annual meeting and we need help with many tasks. Event set up or breakdown, member and non-member check in, raffle ticket sales, food prep, sign making, etc.   Poster Hangers – We need folks to hang posters in towns surrounding Wilder, Wheelock, and Randolph for our upcoming Annual Celebration and dairy classes.   (Also in your community) We can send you the posters via mail or email you one to print. Graphic Designer – The 2012 Tour de Farms is in its fifth year, and we are seeking a volunteer with some graphics skills to help us design a 5 year logo.   Email Robb, or call 802-223-7222 to get involved today!!!  Join Us! Rural Vermont communicates with its supporters in a number of ways – email, mail, and phone. To ensure that you’re not missing any important updates, please join the full mailing list here. You can sign up to be a dues-paying member of Rural Vermont by visiting this page.

WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
& DROP A DIME ON GOV. SHUMLIN
TO SUPPORT YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW GMOs

Greetings GMO Activists:

Last night’s Public Hearing on H.722 was an amazing success. Over 300 citizens like yourself came to Montpelier to testify before the House Agricultural Committee in support of your right to know if your food is genetically engineered. 112 of them spoke passionately about their support for H.722, The Vermont Right To Know GMOs Bill. Thank you for your time and efforts to make last night a truly powerful statement of the vast public support for this bill.

Last night the House Agriculture Committee heard loud and clear that Vermonters want to see this bill passed, and now’s the time to spread  that message to everyone.

PLEASE HELP US KEEP UP THE PRESSURE:

Please write a short letter to the editor of your local newspaper and share why you want to see genetically engineered foods labeled. Your letters don’t need to be long, just tell your story, and let people know why you support the bill. If you were at the State House last night make sure to talk about your experience and let us know when your letter appears in your local paper!   If you need assistance submitting a letter, please contact Robb or call the Rural Vermont office 802-223-7222.

Call Governor Shumlin’s office this week at 802 828-3333

Tell him that Vermonters have the Right to Know GMO’s.

Although, Governor Shumlin has been bold on other issues, his recent response to an activist who contacted him is troubling and not what we as Vermonters expect from our Governor.

“I agree with those who advocate for clear labeling of genetically modified foods. GMO labeling makes sense and would give Vermonters key information about their food choices. However, we know from attempts to pass similar legislation in the past, that such a requirement would not stand up to federal legal scrutiny. I don’t think it is fair to ask Vermonters to bear the burden of the cost of those legal challenges.”

Call Governor Shumlin’s office this week and tell him that Vermonters have the Right to Know if their food is genetically engineered and that the Vermont Strong spirit will not be bullied by fear of lawsuits from multinational corporations or their paid representatives. Vermont’s Freedom and Unity depends on bold and courageous leadership.

Call Governor Shumlin’s office at 802 828-3333

Tell him that Vermonters have the Right to Know GMO’s

You can also send a note online here. 

We at Rural Vermont are so inspired by the passion and energy that thousands of Vermonters have shown in support of H.722. Please keep in touch with us as we lead the country in restoring the integrity of our community-based food systems.

Never Give Up!

Robb Kidd

Rural Vermont Organizer

P.S. If you haven’t already, please “like” the VT Right To Know GMOs Facebook page and share your thoughts and ideas there – it’s also one of the best ways to stay in touch with everyone who is working on this effort.

In this Alert:

Message from the Director
Legislative Update & Action Alert
“You Wanted to be a Farmer” Film Screenings
SAVE THIS DATE: 2012 Annual Celebration-May 16 in Wilder VT
Activist and Volunteer Needs
Join Us!
Message From The Director

Dear Members and Friends:

So did you enjoy that bizarre visit from July that we had last week??? I think I am suffering from a new affliction called CAD (climate anxiety disorder). I had a hard time appreciating the lovely warm days because a little voice in my head kept whispering “We’re gonna pay for this!”

Weather weirdness aside, we are heading into a seasonal transition that is bringing all kinds of events and opportunities for you.

First, I just realized that we neglected to report back to you on the results of our Local Food Sovereignty Resolution campaign on Town Meeting Day. We are grateful to all our terrific local leaders and thrilled that, in all eight communities where the Resolution was taken up, it passed by a wide margin. Here in the Capital City it was 1948 to 461.

On the heels of these good victories, Rural Vermont is partnering with Food for Maine’s Future to invite you and your neighbors to continue the conversation about building sustainable community-based food systems with special film screenings on April 17 of “You Wanted to Be A Farmer: A Discussion of Scale.” This new 30 min. documentary tells the story of Farmer Dan Brown who started the Food Sovereignty movement in New England from his home farm in Blue Hill, Maine. You can get all the details and find out how you can join in below.

Please also continue reading for an IMPORTANT ACTION ALERT on the Right to Know GMO Food Bill.

Here’s to spring (or summer) whenever it decides to return!

Andrea Stander

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

VT Right To Know Genetically Engineered Food Act – H.722

With the legislative clock ticking down fast, the House Agriculture Committee has scheduled a PUBLIC HEARING for Thurs. April 12, 6:30-8:30 in Room 11 at the State House. PLEASE HELP US FILL THE STATE HOUSE WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THEIR FOOD – NOW!

For more information contact Andrea or Robb, or call Rural Vermont at 223-7222.

To stay up to date on this campaign please join over 3300 Vermonters by signing the petition in support of the VT Right To Know GMOs campaign. You can also get up to the minute news by “liking” the campaign’s Facebook page.

The Working Lands Enterprise Investment Bills – H.496 & S.246

GOOD NEWS! After intense negotiations within and between several committees, the House version of this bill, H. 496, was PASSED by the House with a roll call vote of 131-5. The bill as passed includes $2.1 million in funding. Now the debate moves to the Senate.

You can read the latest versions of both bills and also learn more about them on the Vermont Council on Rural Development website.

Rural Vermont supports the ambitious goal of these bills to create greater investment in and focus on the critical role that our working farm and forest lands play in sustaining Vermont and Vermonters. Please contact Andrea or call Rural Vermont at 223-7222 if you would like more information.

Vermont Farm Guest Worker Program – S.238
This bill, which seeks to address issues of justice and fairness for Vermont’s many migrant farm workers, was PASSED by the Senate this past Tuesday and has now moved over to the House Committee on Transportation. There is considerable concern that it may be consigned to a summer study committee. Rural Vermont supports this bill as a matter of human rights and in recognition of its goal to improve living and working conditions for the farm workers who play such a crucial role in VT’s agricultural economy.

>>> “You Wanted to be a Farmer: A Discussion of Scale” -

Film Screenings at various locations around VT (and the country)

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

For two public screenings and a handful of neighborhood screenings, Rural Vermont partners with our friends at Food for Maine’s Future and local allies to share this brand new documentary that exposes the regulatory challenges and barriers that small farms face. Farm and food policy that is blind to size or scale is an issue that many Vermonters can identify with, and this film raises the questions that need to be addressed in pursuit of growing a culture of Vermonters Feeding Vermonters. Come out and watch the film, and join the discussion about where we go from here!

> Co-Sponsored by the Upper Valley Co-op

Upstairs at the Upper Valley Co-op, WHITE RIVER JUNCTION

7 pm

Free & open to the public

> Co-Sponsored by Food Works, & Central VT Food Systems Council

Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, MONTPELIER

6 pm

Free & open to the public

Or take the lead on hosting a screening in your neighborhood! Rural Vermont will provide all the materials you need to pull it off, and hosts get to keep their copy of the dvd! Because April 17th is just around the corner, we have to work quickly, and need all commitments by next Wed, April 4th. If you’re interested or want more info, please email Rural Vermont’s outreach intern CeCe. Please include your phone number in the email!

About the film:

“You Wanted to Be a Farmer: A Discussion of Scale”, a new documentary by No Umbrella Media and the Sap Pail in association with Food for Maine’s Future, profiles Dan and Judy Brown of Gravelwood Farm in Blue Hill, Maine, and the issues surrounding the lawsuit filed against them by the State of Maine and Maine Department of Agriculture, soon after their town was one of six that passed the Local Foods Community Self-Governance Ordinance. The film features “inside-the-barn” interviews with Dan and Judy as well as conversations with their farm patrons. Topics range from the importance of producing food locally to the control over food policy by corporate-influenced government regulatory agencies. “You Wanted to Be a Farmer” is a revealing bottom-up look at food policy that raises important questions about the need for scale-appropriate regulation for neighbors feeding neighbors.

>>> SAVE THE DATE: Rural Vermont’s Annual Celebration
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
6:30 – 9 pm
the Wilder Center, 2087 Hartford Ave. (Route 5)
WILDER (just north of White River Junction)
free for members; $5-$10 sliding scale for all else

with keynote address by BEN HEWITT: “The Future is in the Dirt: Growing the Culture of Vermonters Feeding Vermonters”

You’re invited to join us for this festive occasion and annual gathering of Rural Vermont supporters! Celebrate Rural Vermont’s recent progress towards Vermonters Feeding Vermonters over potluck food and drink with live and local music. In addition to Ben’s keynote, also expect Rural Vermont’s annual meeting, farm fresh five raffle, awards ceremony, and board elections.

“The Future’s in the Dirt” will be a lively presentation and conversation that digs into the challenges and potential of Vermont’s rapidly growing local foods movement. How can we build healthy, regionalized economies that honor the producers, consumers, and environment? What will it take to ensure a vibrant culture of Vermonters feeding Vermonters? The answers are not always obvious, but the need to find them has never been more urgent.

Stay tuned for more details!
>>> Activist and Volunteer Needs

As a grassroots organization, Rural Vermont relies on the generosity and commitment of volunteers to help us accomplish our goals. Throughout the year we need your help advancing our issues in many ways. Consider working with Rural Vermont to help spread the word about our Vermonters Feeding Vermonters campaign!

Current Volunteer Opportunities:

Right To Know Campaign – As campaign needs are always changing, please stay in touch on ways you can assist us. If you can help make some phone calls or lend a hand at an event or the office, call 223-7222!

Newspaper Clipper Do you read the Newspaper? If so, adopt a newspaper for Rural Vermont! Although we are now in the electronic world, Rural Vermont is still looking for some old-fashioned newspaper clipping. We save articles, letters and stories about our issues for our archives.

Hosts- We are always looking for people to host Rural Vermont events, whether it be a discussion, film, workshop or class. Open up your farm or home and invite your neighbors to learn more about Rural Vermont and Vermonters Feeding Vermonters.

Email Robb, or call 802-223-7222 to get involved today!!!

Join Us!

Rural Vermont communicates with its supporters in a number of ways – email, mail, and phone. To ensure that you’re not missing any important updates, please join the full mailing list here. You can sign up to be a dues-paying member of Rural Vermont by visiting this page.