NOTE: For more sustainability
resources go to my web page here.
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TO:
Western Mass Friends of Sustainability
FROM: John Gerber, UMass
SUBJECT: What's
Happening?
Upcoming Events and Classes as of November 15, 2009
Local Food Discussion with Pelham CarbonWatchers
November 19th, 7:00PM
Pelham Public Library, 2 South Valley Road
The Pelham "Carbon Watchers" and the Pelham Public Library will
sponsor a talk on local foods by Ben Lester, locavore
enthusiast and co-owner of Wheatberry Bakery and
Cafe. He will talk about the role of local foods in ensuring food security,
building community, and returning real food to our national culture. Admission
is free. For further information, call (413) 256-1157, or go to www.pelham-library.org
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From the CISA Events Page – for more
go to: http://www.buylocalfood.org/page.php?id=12
Gill Cheese Tasting
November 20, 7:00-9:00pm
Gill Congregational Church, Main Road, Gill Center across from the Gill Tavern)
Sample cheeses crafted by Gill farmers! Featuring cheeses
from Upinngil Farm, Laughing Dog Farm, and NMH Farm.
Freshly Baked Bread & Apple Cider too! Suggested Donation: $2/person
Sponsored by the Gill Agricultural Commission
Family
Farm Day
Saturday, December, 12th, 9:30am - 11:30am
Red Gate Farm, Buckland
Winter is upon us, but can you remember the sweet smell of summer? Well, that smell lives on at Red Gate Farm! Our bees worked hard
all year to produce sweet honey and beeswax for us. We will work together to
craft a sweet treat to eat from their honey, and candles for a friend (or
yourself) from the beeswax. The morning will include a hands-on activity,
meaningful work, and meeting the animals. Ages 2 - 7, with
accompanying adult. Backpack babies welcome. Space is limited, so please
call the Farm Office at (413) 625-9503 to register. $5 for
member families / $10 for non-member families.Two
Upcoming Western Mass Ag Commission Conferences.
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Conway School of Landscape Design
Presentations – November 21 & 22
All environmentally-motivated students are invited to
attend the formal presentation of the Conway class of 2009's fall residential projects
on Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21.
See www.csld.edu......
The Conway School of Landscape Design is the only institution of its kind in North
America. Its focus is sustainable landscape planning and design. Each year,
through its accredited, 10-month graduate program, just nineteen graduate
students from diverse backgrounds are immersed in applied landscape studies,
ranging in scale from residences to regions. Graduates go on to play
significant professional roles in various aspects of landscape planning and
design with an eye to sustainability.
What makes Conway an exciting place to study is a curriculum that is based on:
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN --we work together to discover what
sustainability can mean to a project and to the planet;
REAL-WORLD PROJECTS --from the start of each of the three terms, students
manage their own real projects with real clients;
CAREFULLY INTEGRATED LEARNING -- classes, studio time, field trips, and guest
speakers are organized around the projects for that term, rather than around
separate courses on separate topics;
WHOLE AND COMPLEX UNDERSTANDING OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL SYSTEMS
--inter-relationships across scales are examined, whatever project scope;
DIVERSE, INNOVATIVE TEACHING FORMATS --in appreciation of individual learning
styles;
FAVORABLE TEACHER-TO-STUDENT RATIO --much instruction is one-on-one or through
small group interaction, made possible because there are only eighteen or
nineteen students at a time;
COLLABORATION, NOT COMPETITION --each student or team of students has its own
projects, and everyone shares the goal of learning about design that is
ecologically and socially sensitive through all of the projects being
undertaken that term;
A HUMANITIES PERSPECTIVE --we offer practical training in oral and written
communication skills, which are integrated throughout the year; and
FULL INTEGRATION INTO ITS LANDSCAPE IN SCENIC NEW ENGLAND --activities take
advantage of our setting, using it as a springboard to consider landscapes
elsewhere.
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NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION,
MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER
23RD ANNUAL WINTER CONFERENCE
“Food From Farms For Families”
January 16, 2010
Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, Ma
Joel Salatin to
present keynote speech and all day seminar “Introducing
Livestock to your Farm”
Over 40 workshops on organic farming,
gardening, landscaping, and sustainable living. Lively exhibit area, NOFA/Mass Annual Meeting, great children and teens program, potluck lunch!
General registration fee $50 with discounts available.
Registration for Salatin
seminar $115 (includes entrance to entire conference). For more
information visit http://www.nofamass.org/conferences/winter/index.php or
contact Conference Coordinator,
Jassy Bratko,
jassy.bratko@nofamass.org or 978-928-5646
Hitchcock Center Events
For a
full listing of Hitchcock programs, please visit www.hitchcockcenter.org
We have some
wonderful programs happening in November, some great Saturday family
science, a nature hike and evenings with forest and sky experts,
see below. Please call early to register 256-6006,
space is limited.
Forests of Wonder
Bob Leverett
Wednesday, November 18, 7-9pm
Members: $8/Non-Members: $12
Pre-registration required; please call 413-256-6006.
Join Bob Leverett,
co-founder and Executive Director of the Eastern Native Tree Society (ENTS) as he
takes us on a virtual tour of his favorite woodland haunts. Massachusetts
contains nearly three million forested acres. It is hard to imagine that in the
1800s, Massachusetts was between 70- 80% cleared. Today, most of the re-growth
forest is privately owned, often consisting mainly of young to early mature
woodlands that are undistinguished. However, there are hidden spots both on
public and private lands that contain trees which predate the landing of the
pilgrims. Places exist that contain big, tall trees suggestive of a forest more
like the one that existed before settlement by European Americans. These
ancient woodlands possess the power to inspire us and give us pride in the New
England forestscape. Learn about our most exceptional
forest sites and how they compare to the best that our sister states have to
offer. Bob, who is also the president of Friends of Mohawk Trail State Forest
and its principal ecologist, will also introduce us to
the Mohawk ‘super forest’ and the research going on there by ENTS.
Splendors of the Night Sky
Ron Woodland, Astronomer
Saturday, November 21, 7-9pm
Members: $8/Non-members: $10
Pre-registration required; please call 413-256-6006.
Join this wonderful astronomer and educator as he
shares his love and expertise of the night sky. This program will begin inside
at the Hitchcock Center as it gets dark, discussing celestial motion, learning
about reading star maps and using binoculars for star gazing. We will move to
Bramble Hill Farm for its lovely expanse of sky to gaze at the splendors of the
night sky. We can expect to see a first quarter moon, good looks at Jupiter and
the Andromeda Galaxy, as well as Taurus the Bull, the Pleides,
and the Summer Triangle. Please bring binoculars if you have them.
Saturday Family Science:
Small Animals Up Close (ages
5-8)
Micky McKinley
Saturday, December 12, 10-11:30am
Members: $4 per person/Non-members: $6 per person
Maximum of 3 children per
adult.
Pre-registration required; please call 413-256-6006.
Family science days are designed for families with
children ages 5-8, with adults participating along with their children. Come
get to know some small but interesting animals. Learn how to study them as you
explore their special behaviors and adaptations. Some of the creatures you may
meet are: walking stick insects, land snails, goldfish, hissing cockroaches,
large millipedes and Speedy the box turtle.
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NOFA Workshops
See: http://www.nofamass.org/programs/practicalskills/index.php
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For more information on Permaculture and related activities in the region, see http://northeasternpermaculture.wikispaces.com/Mass+Calendar
-----------------------------------------------------------For more local “food” events, see; http://www.nefood.org/events
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Events at Sirius
Community in Shutesbury (see http://www.siriuscommunity.org/
)
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For more information on sustainability, see my web page athttp://people.umass.edu/jgerber/ Namaste