From mrsg at vtpeakoil.net Fri Sep 5 17:31:51 2008 From: mrsg at vtpeakoil.net (Mad River Sustainability Group) Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 17:31:51 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [MRSG] VT Earth Institute's 9/20 Sustainable Living Celebration at Knoll Farm Message-ID: <0bf5eeae02b7d2065693371c8f01888b.squirrel@webmail.gmavt.net> Hi MRSG, Just taking a few minutes on this beautiful Friday to relay that there is still/just one week left to register for the VEI celebration of sustainability taking place 9/20 right here in the heart of our valley. Just quickly scan the listings of workshop topics to see how comprehensive this gathering aims to be. Dennis Derryberry dennisd at madriver.com > Subject: Vt. Earth Institute's 9/20 Sustainable Living Celebration > Reply-To: vt.earth.institute at VALLEY.NET (Barbara Duncan) > Here's a special event we don't want you to miss. It's Vermont Earth Institute's > 4th Annual Sustainable Living Celebration at Knoll Farm in Waitsfield on > Saturday, September 20th from 9:15am - 4:15pm. > This event offers 18 workshops, inspiration, networking, and a > locally-grown > lunch in a breath-taking setting overlooking the Mad River valley. It promises > to be a stimulating day, with opportunities to connect with activists and > budding activists from all around Vermont. > Workshop topics include energy conservation, the transition from fossil fuels, > and ways to expand the use of local foods. Workshop presenters include Deb > Sachs of the 10% Challenge, Annie Dunn Watson of the Vermont Peak Oil Network, > Bob Murphy of Efficiency Vermont, and Bob Walker of the Sustainable Energy > Resource Group. > There are also workshops for fun and for the spirit - street theater, making > music, yoga, non-violent communication and an opportunity to learn from Good > News Garage and NeighborKeepers founder Hal Colston about engaging low-income > community members. > Jim Merkel, former Sustainability Coordinator for Dartmouth College, will open > the day with a brief talk about reducing our carbon emissions and making our > communities more sustainable. > Please see www.vtearthinstitute.org for complete workshop descriptions, presenter bios, site photo, directions, other information, and to register. > PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD and REGISTER PROMPTLY. > Our last Celebration drew 120 people. > Vermont Earth Institute's > 4th Annual Sustainable Living Celebration > September 20, 2008, Knoll Farm, Fayston, VT > 9:15 - 9:45 Arrive, Refreshments > 10:00 - 10:45 Welcome Ceremony, Jim Merkel keynote > 11-12:15 Workshop Session I > A. Feeding the Spirit, Re-kindling the Activist Flame - Annie Dunn Watson, > Vermont Peak Oil Network > B. Reducing Solid Waste and Saving Energy - Central Vermont Solid Waste > District director Donna Barlow Casey and Chittenden Solid Waste District > outreach coordinator Marge Keough > C. Home Weatherization - Bob Walker, Sustainable Energy Resource Group (SERG) > D. Localvore Successes and Challenges - Mad River Valley localvore Kate Stephenson and other localvores > E. Wild Edibles Walk - naturalist Gail Giovanna & Jim Merkel > F. Eco-Parties to Reduce Household Waste, Toxics, and Energy Use - Mary Jane > Ohlson, VEI > 12: 15 - 1:15 Lunch with opportunities for local energy or localvore discussions > 1:15-2:30 Workshop Session II > G. Inspiring Energy Action in Your Community - Bob Murphy, Efficiency Vermont; > Deb Sachs, 10% Challenge; Nancy Notterman, Hardwick Energy Action Resource Team > (HEART) > H. Saving Energy in the Home: Priority Actions - Moshe Braner, Vermont Peak Oil > Network > J. Seed-saving - Gardener and Seed-saver Sylvia Davatz > K. NeighborKeepers - Demystifying Environmentalism: Strategies to Engage the > Marginalized for the Well-Being of the Environment - Hal Colston, NeighborKeepers > L. Non-violent Communication - Speaking Peace - Pan Vera Compassionate Communications > M. Meditative Walk and Yoga in the Knoll Farm's Yurt - Charles Martley > 2:45-4:00 Workshop Session III > N. Transition Towns - Creating Sustainable Communities - Henry Swayze, First > Branch Sustainability Project & Barbara Tam of the Totnes, England Transition > Towns project > O. The Peaceful Transition from Fossil Fuels - Carl Etnier, Peak Oil Awareness, > Montpelier > P. Gleaning - Theresa Snow, Salvation Farms > Q. Building and Using a Root Cellar - Richard Czaplinski > R. People Powered Music - Ben Koenig, musician and owner of The Country Bookshop, Plainfield, VT > S. The Instant Activist: How to Make Political Actions Without Really Trying > (Too Hard) - Leah Wittenberg and Lucy Gluck > 4:00-4:15 Closing Ceremony > Register at www.vtearthinstitute.org or contact vei at valley.net or 802-333-3664. > $25 for VEI members, $35 for non-members. Deadline: September 12th. VEI could > use help with parking and registration. Limited scholarships available at $15; > please call to inquire. > Thanks to our sponsors: Ben & Jerry's Foundation, Cabot Creamery, Concept2, > Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, groSolar, Northfield Savings Bank, Seventh > Generation, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation and the Washington Electric > Co-op. > This Central Vermont, Vermont Earth Institute update was written by: Barbara Duncan, Executive Director > Vermont Earth Institute > P.O. Box 466 > Norwich, VT 05055 > 802-333-3664 > vei at valley.net > www.vtearthinstitute.org > "living lighter, living better" From mrsg at vtpeakoil.net Thu Sep 11 09:25:06 2008 From: mrsg at vtpeakoil.net (Mad River Sustainability Group) Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:25:06 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [MRSG] VEI sustainabitity celebration at Knoll Farm 9/20 - still a few spots left! Message-ID: <847d6b83d0fa6967912d7b108a38f9b1.squirrel@webmail.gmavt.net> Hi All, What a fall so far! Perfect weather for spending a day in the bliss of the Knoll Farm grounds.... Last I heard, there were still several spots open for the Vermont Earth Institutes's Sustainable Living Celebration on Sep 20 at the Center for Whole Communities (at the Knoll Farm) right here in the MRV. Knowing that most of the people reading this email are MRV'ers, I thought I'd encourage you one more time to think about supporting and representing the "home team" by taking part in this special event. For details, please use the following link: http://www.vtearthinstitute.org/upcomingevents.html#2008-Kno and scroll down to the listing for Saturday, September 20, where there are links to workshop and presenter summaries as well as registration info. Be well, -Dennis dennisd at madriver.com