Valley Futures

For several months, our 16-year-old neighbor Dan O’Shaughnessy has been crafting a magnificent 500 tap sugaring operation in the woods on and adjacent to our little 3 acree homestead property – historically, a rich area full of maples ripe for tapping. Two weeks ago, the sugaring began in earnest, and Dan has already collected more than 2,000 gallons of sap, boiling off the excess for more than fifty gallons of the sweet stuff.

It is a wonderful success story – Dan is a focused and hard-working young dude with a vision, he’s had plenty of support from a whole extended family and community here in Mad River, and even the Harwood Union High School up the road a few miles is giving him some academic credit for his work after school out in the land.
In a praiseworthy article, the New York Post just celebrated our local sugarmakers, in a recent article about "Sugaring," profiling both Dave and Paul Hartshorn and Dan’s operations. It’s sugaring time! Here’s a quick 6 minute look at Dan’s whole operation…

Tags: Agriculture, Arts and Media, Business by Rob Williams
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Ever thought about what happens when wood chips and other plant-based “waste” products become high value resources?  Will the growing demand for renewable power compete for those resources against the increasing use of composting to achieve healthier farming?  And what does it all mean for climate change?

If these questions interest you, consider attending the Vermont Organics Recycling Summit on March 31st at Vermont Technical College.  See additional info below.

Third Annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit
From Waste to Resource: The Future of Organics

Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Vermont Technical College, Judd Gym
Randolph Center, Vermont

Keynote: Bob Spencer, AICP
Environmental and compost site planning consultant, contributing editor to BioCycle Magazine.

Organic residuals are rapidly emerging as valuable resources to meet many community needs. At VORS 09 we will look at the existing uses of organic residuals, competing markets for these materials, and current and emerging technologies.

Visit www.compostingvermont.org for details and to register. Contact: Vicky.viens@state.vt.us or 802-241-3448

This event is a project of the Composting Association of Vermont (CAV) and the ANR Department of Environmental Conservation.

Tags: Agriculture, Announcements by Joshua Schwartz
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Free Worm Composting Workshop
Presented by Melissa Jordan, president of the Wormpost Northeast

Are you concerned about solid wastes and recycling? Join Melissa Jordan, president of the Wormpost Northeast to find out how to use worms to turn food scraps and other waste into compost.

Known as vermiculture, all it takes is a small bin, a of bit “bed” starter such as leaves shredded newspaper, died grass, hay or other organic materials and about a pound wrigglers. The yield of worm castings to volume of organic matter put in will vary from about 1:4 to 1:10. A household of two could easily process their veggies through a small worm bin, with the end result of keeping that waste out of your garbage. Another benefit is the nutrient rich, pH balanced compost produced that can then be used in your garden.

“This is an amazing interdisciplinary activity as well as a great home business,” said Jordan. “You can teach and learn so many different disciplines – math, shop, science. It can be so many different things to so many people.”

The workshop will feature a functioning worm bin as well as information and a demonstration of how you can make worm composting work for your family and the environment.

The free workshop will be held March 18, 2009 at the River Arts Building on Pleasant Street in Morrisville. We encourage Farmer’s Market visitors to stop by the workshop as well. Call Melissa Jordan at 802-888-4364 for directions and more information. For more information about the Farmers and Artisans Market, which is scheduled every Wednesday from 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., call Amy Walker at 802-888-3242 or visit http://riverartsvt.org/events/.

WHAT: Free worm composting (vermiculture) workshop
WHEN: March 18, 2009
WHERE: River Arts Building, Pleasant Street, Morrisville

Tags: Agriculture, Announcements by Joshua Schwartz
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Transition Town Montpelier will hold its second Open Space Meeting, entitled Feeding Our Communities, on Saturday, April 4th, at the Unitarian Church in Montpelier.

Feeding Our Communities    
Time: April 4, 2009 from 11am to 4pm
Location: Unitarian Church downstairs
Organized By: Transition Town Montpelier

Event Description
Open Space Framing Question: What steps can we take in this next growing season and beyond, to feed our neighbors and ourselves, put up and store food for winter, and enrich the soil?
There will be a time for networking and sharing news and information. Be sure to stop in at the Winter Farmers’ Market the same day, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Vermont College gym.
Free – donations accepted to cover the cost of the event. Open to all!
Bring: Potluck, plate and mug, and flyers or information for the Networking Table.
       
See more details and RSVP on Transition Vermont

Tags: Agriculture, Transition Towns by Joshua Schwartz
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One of the compelling visions often shared at Valley Futures Network gatherings is of a future in which our community largely feeds itself with food grown by our neighbors, on the rich farmland in our Valley.

Please join friends and neighbors this Wednesday, February 18 at the Big Picture Theatre and Cafe from 6-9 pm to take a leap towards this vision of our future.  A community potluck and fundraiser will kick off the final phase of the Vermont Land Trust’s campaign to conserve the Kingsbury Farm in Warren and the Bruce Farm on Route 100B in Moretown.

The conservation of these farms will lead to their revival as food-producing farms. The Kingsbury Farm will pass into the hands of the Vermont Foodbank and the Bruce farm will be affordable to an energetic couple eager to grow fresh vegetables and offer eggs and meat, particularly to those at the northern end of our Valley.

We have less than two months to raise the money needed to leverage over $278,000 in State and Federal Funds.   Visit http://www.vlt.org/MRVcampaign.html to learn more about the Mad River Valley Two Farm Campaign.  Spread the word and help make our future happen!

Contact Liza Walker at 496-3690 or Liza@vlt.org with questions.

Tags: Agriculture, Announcements by Liza Walker
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Valley Moves Meeting Minutes   January 8, 2009, Wait House, 6pm
Present:  Sue Frechette, Stan Ward, Liz Weller, Bobbi Rood, James Foreman, Erin Russell Story, Dave Cain, Joshua Schwartz, Laura Brines, Brian Fleischer
Agenda:
Working Group Reports:
*  Shared Transportation: James Foreman and Erin Russell Story, Co-Chairs
The State “Go VT” organization has had a staffing shake up, their website will not be up & running until March ’09 (many months later than expected);  James is developing a website, Madriverforum.com, which he hopes to introduce at the “Hopeful Inauguration” celebration for feedback.  One of the features of this forum will be that folks can post info re. carpooling or vanpooling  possibilities…
James will submit an article about the new website, etc. to the VR in February.

*   Valley Walk and Roll Festival- Dave Cain, Chair
The Festival will be May 11-15, which coincides with the National Bike to Work Week; The State “Way to Go” week, which encourages businesses to support alternative transportation ideas will be, May 5-8.  Dave has been in touch with Steve Gladzuck, of “Way to Go”, and some joint PR will take place.
The Festival will be the same as last year’s, with some new ideas under consideration:
•    A Bike Clinic-  folks would learn how to maintain their bikes by working on the fleet of Mad Bikes (helping the Mad Bikes get serviced while learning new skills)
•    A bike swap (similar to the Ski & Skate Sale)
•    A Women’s Bike Clinic, sponsored by Sugarbush
•    A raffle for a new bike  (fundraiser for the Mad Bikes)
•    2-3 hour bike education courses
•    Other?
Next meeting of the Valley Walk & Roll Festival Working Group:  Feb. 2, 7:30 a.m. at the Three Mtn. Café.  All are welcome!

*  Mad Bikes of Waitsfield- a Town of Waitsfield Committee:  Bobbi Rood, Laura Brines, Liz Weller, Kari Dolan, Peter Lazorchak, Sue Frechette and Troy Kingsbury
The fleet of bikes and all the new bike racks are being stored in James Foreman’s barn;  Laura will write a report for the Waitsfield Town Report;  Hopefully some of the bikes will be worked on by Steve Skilton’s shop class at Harwood Union High School over the winter (Troy will contact Steve);  $2000 grant was received to support this project by the Mad River Valley Rec District.

2.  Valley Moves structure
Working Group Chair functions:  Each working group of Valley Moves has a Chair or Co-Chair.  The Chair(s) will keep in touch via email, and call meetings when needed.  Info regarding these meetings will be posted on the VFN website, via email to the list, and on the new Madriverforum.com
If anyone has a new idea for transportation related project, either share it at the monthly VFN meetings, the quarterly Valley Moves meetings, or communicate via email to create a new working group.

Set 2009 quarterly meeting dates for Valley Moves:
Acting Chairs will: publicize the meeting, create an agenda, take minutes,
bring snacks ☺, etc.
April 9:  Dave, acting Chair
July 9:  Erin, acting Chair
October 8:  Bobbi, acting Chair

VFN Monthly meeting attendance:  we decided not to structure this, 1 or more Valley Moves members will try to attend monthly.

3.  Other ideas:
*  Wind Powered  Electric Cars /Batteries – Dave Sellers:  Bobbi described Dave’s exciting       idea!
•     Brian Fleischer told us about a petition to get businesses in the Ag District (Am. Flatbread, for ex.) to have more flexible zoning possibilities.
•    MRPA survey-  Laura encouraged everyone to do the survey.  The MRPA is in the midst of Strategic Planning.
•    Central VT Rec Trail Group:  Joshua talked about this new initiative, they are working on developing a Central VT Trail Website, similar to Localmotion’s (Burl.)  Hopefully the MRPA will collaborate with this initiative.

Tags: Agriculture, Energy, Transportation by Bobbi Rood
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Tara Hamilton is heading a study to assess the Valley’s biomass potential.  The first goal with the Northern Forest Alliance/UVM biomass study is simply to connect with everyone here in the valley who has any interest in biomass at all, to get the best input on what anyone here is already thinking about utilizing the watershed’s biomass resources sustainably, and also what anyone has learned or done so far. The NFA/UVM project is just getting underway and is open to all kinds of ideas as they determine how to direct the project’s funding and student resources. A summary of the project appears below and Tara’s email is thamilton@madriver.com if anyone would like to discuss it more.

Summary

NFA will implement a three-year action research project to implement and monitor a shared multi-town biomass heating and power project in the Mad River Valley in Washington County, Vermont. The project should contribute to the question “how can communities in and near the Northern Forest produce and use local forest biomass to meet their energy needs in ways that are sustainable, efficient and fair?” and be framed within the larger methodological question of “how can universities and communities work together more effectively to share learning and enhance the impacts of sustainability initiatives in the Northern Forest?

NFA’s goals will be to:

1. Improve understanding and effectiveness of renewable local wood biomass production and conservation in the Mad River Valley.

2. Together with other project partners, develop a model for consensus-based, community identification and implementation of sustainable, local wood biomass projects.

3. Together with other project partners, create a foundation for improved collaborative learning among universities and forest communities to increase the impact of sustainability initiatives in the Northern Forest.

To accomplish these goals, NFA will:

(1) Use focus groups, key respondents, forest inventories and surveys to collect quantitative and qualitative data on the current use, production and management of forest-based biomass in the Mad River Valley community cluster by Sept 2009. Baseline data will cover forest condition (including coarse woody debris), existing and recent biomass production and consumption, communities’ energy priorities and knowledge about existing biomass options, how community decisions are made and community goals for sustainability;

(2) Facilitate communities in the Mad River Valley community cluster to identify practices that will improve their production, use, or management of biomass and define local indicators for ecological, social and economic sustainability, including impacts on atmospheric carbon, by Dec 2009.

(3) Monitor 5 to 7 new practices in the Mad River Valley cluster according to indicators by June 2011. Practices should be able to show at least partial impacts in 18 months.

(4) Analyze and compare community decision-making and adaptation through key informant interviews, participant observation and review of meeting materials and minutes to compare community decision-making processes and outcomes.

Dennis Derryberry and Bob Ferris

Tags: Agriculture, Energy by Bob Ferris
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It is always nice to see the mainstream news media focus on positive and solutions-oriented new stories, instead of “if it bleeds, it leads” fare.

Check out this WCAX story on growing gardens in the Mad River Valley.

Robin McDermott, Troy Kingsbury, and Dave and Chatham Barnett are among our featured neighbors.

WCAX Spotlights” Relocalizing Vermont” Efforts in Mad River.

Kudos to all your green thumbs!

Tags: Agriculture, Arts and Media by Rob Williams
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Here is an idea for all of you veggie gardeners…When you are planting your veggies for this season, consider adding a few extra plants for the MRV Foodshelf. The Foodshelf, located in the back of Evergreen Place, is open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and I guarantee you that a basket of fresh tomatoes, beans, or yes…even zucchini would be welcome. Once thing that the Foodshelf has requested in the past is simple recipes to go with the various veggies they get so if you have some favorite recipes to send along with the veggies, even better!

Tags: Agriculture by Robin McDermott
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Helen Whybrow from Knoll Farm went a little crazy planting tomato seeds this spring and now has an overabundance of seedlings – nine different heirloom varieties.  She is selling them for $2.50 each and donating the proceeds to a new foodshelf project that Ned Kelly is starting up that will serve our broader valley from Rochester to Duxbury.  Stop by the farm this weekend to purchase starts.

Tags: Agriculture, Announcements by Robin McDermott
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