NWVT-SLN-newsletters

That’s the new condensed mission statement for the Northwest Earth Institute, and in a nutshell, my new job description as VEI program and courses coordinator. I want to thank both Kristin Devoe-Talluto and Barbara Duncan for their warm welcome as I joined the VEI staff. Both have been wonderful and supportive as I pick up the reins from Kristin. I look forward to working with them both and the entire VEI community of friends to continue this excellent work of building community, fostering conversations, and caring for the earth. Leah Wittenberg

Just to whet your appetite…VEI has a new course coming out sometime in April and it’s all about food. The tantalizing topic areas include: What’s Eating

America

, From Field to Fork, Farming for the Future, You are What You Eat, Towards a Just Food System, and Local Food Communities. If you are interested in being the first group in your community to participate in this discussion course, let me know!

Burlington Sustainable Living Network’s classes are starting again this January!

Burlington Sustainable Living Network is an educational project, presenting films, speakers and discussions that assist and support us in creating a sustainable future for our families, our communities and the earth. For information call 802-238- 4927

January 30, Wednesday, 7-9pm, Community room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington. Presentation: Hybrid Hazelnuts: A Treecrop For Vermont’s Future with Sophie Quest, forest gardener. Hazels, pest-free and cold-hardy, could be the soybeans of the 21^st century

February 27, Wednesday, 7-9pm, Community room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington. Presentation: Systems Thinking and Sustainability with Lance Polya, teacher of Systems Thinking at the University of Vermont. An understanding of complex systems brings us closer to developing solutions.

Coming up in March and April: When Worlds Collide; The Conflict Between Sustainability and Exponential Growth; Global Warming and the Struggle for Justice; Utopian Cities; Energy

The Essex Sustainability Fair in January was really well attended. So many Essex residents were excited about our Global Warming course that the Essex Free Library has agreed to host it! The introductory session will be on March 24 at 7:00. Contact me for more information.

If you would like to join one of the classes below, please let me know. If these days/times don’t work for you or if you are interested in a class not listed here, contact me at veicoordinator@yahoo.com and we will offer a class in your area.

Vermont Earth Institute offers eight courses: Choices for Sustainable Living, Voluntary Simplicity, Global Warming, Globalization and Its Critics, Discovering a Sense of Place, Exploring Deep Ecology, Healthy Children—Healthy Planet, and Your Money or Your Life ..and soon, the food course!

Check our website to see more about the topics and readings in any of these courses.

Events are primarily compiled from Vermont Peak Oil website: www.vtpeakoil.net If you have an event that you would like to share with VEI members, please let me know: veicoordinator@yahoo.com

Saturday, February 2nd
St. Brigid's Day Celebration
The beginning of February marks St. Brigid's Day, an old Celtic celebration of milk and cheese! In celebration of St. Brigid's Day and our wonderful variety of delicious local cheeses, the Addison County Localvores will host a cheese tasting and potluck dinner. Please join us at the United Methodist Church in Middlebury from 6-9 pm on Saturday, February 2. Bring a dish to pass, sample some of the best cheeses the Champlain Valley has to offer, and listen to live Music by O'hAnleigh playing "the music of Irish America." For more information contact Cindy Hill (989-6906) or Bay Hammond (897-2121).

Sunday, February 3. Mold in the Home: Health Issues and Non-Toxic Remediation.
1:00-2:00 pm at Purple Shutter Herbs, 7 Canal St., Winooski, VT.
$10. Call 888-865-HERB to register.

Tuesday February 5th and other dates as noted
Tues. 2/5, 3/4 and 4/1 - Starting Your Own Business** – 9am-12pm - $35

Richard Munkelwitz of the Vermont Small Business Development Center leads a half-day overview of the process of starting and maintaining a small business. This workshop is designed for individuals who are thinking about going into business and need assistance with the procedures involved and government regulations regarding starting a business in Vermont. Topics discussed include the feasibility of starting a business, legal requirements, financing issues, management and risk assessments and general business planning. This workshop is the first step in the VtSBDC in-take process. It is appropriate for those individuals who are not yet in business and are interested in general information and writing a business plan. To register, visit the Vermont Small Business Development Center website (http://www.vtsbdc.org/)

Thursday, February 7^thLow Carbon Diet A 30 Day Program to lose 5000 Pounds -- Tackle Global Warming at a Personal Level JOIN THIS FREE WORKSHOP SERIES BEGINNING
Thursdays, 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Middlebury Commons
Meets for 5 free, one-hour sessions in Lounge area of Middlebury Commons with Laura Asermily, Middlebury Area Global Warming Action Coalition (MAGWAC) coordinator. Interested in starting your own workshop series? Call 388-9478 or email lasermily@yahoo.com.

Thursday, February 7^thAn Introduction to Dowsing 7 - 9pm + - $20 - Pine Street Studios, Burlington
Master dowser Ray Machell of Barre provides a basic overview of all aspects of dowsing from the tools and techniques to the its metaphysical possibilities. Dowsing gives you access to things you can't feel, see, hear, smell, touch. Best known as a reliable means of searching for water and minerals, dowsing is a remarkable, useful skill. Ray and his wife Betty have traveled worldwide as professional dowsers for 15 years divining the locations of lost pets, people, and well of varying depths (over 1000 around the world). They have also taught extensively throughout New England. To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit our website www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Wednesday, February 13th
CITIZEN ACTION DAY 2008 -- ACTIVATE YOUR VALUES!
10 am - 2 pm (registration starts at 9 am)
Vermont Statehouse - Rooms 10 and 11
Rural Vermont, in conjunction with the Vermont Alliance of Conservation Voters, the Vermont Natural Resources Council, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, and Vermonters for a Clean Environment will be hosting their annual grassroots lobby day at the State House. Citizen Action Day provides a great chance to lobby your legislators in solidarity with many other concerned citizens about the issues that matter most to you.
Don’t Miss This Chance to:
    - Learn tips on how to talk with your legislators and then go do it.
    - Have lunch with your legislators.
    - Observe a floor debate.
    - Attend a committee meeting.
No prior State House experience is needed. In the early part of the day, organizers of the event will brief attendees on key environmental issues and lobbying techniques prior to meeting with legislators. Dress for indoors. Bring quarters for parking in Montpelier ($1 for 1 hour). Light morning snacks will be provided. You can buy lunch in the statehouse for around $7-$10. For more information and to RSVP (please let us know you're coming if you can!), visit www.vtactionday.org, or contact Shelby at (802) 223-7222 or shelby@ruralvermont.org.

Wednesday/Thursday February 13th and 14th
EFFICIENCY VERMONT'S 10TH BETTER BUILDINGS BY DESIGN 2008 CONFERENCE
Join us for the 10th Annual Better Buildings By Design Conference. This biennial event attracts more than 1000 building and design professionals interested in learning the latest in energy efficient technology and building principles. This year's event will be held at Vermont's largest conference venue, the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center on Wednesday, February 13 and Thursday, February 14 2008. Both commercial and residential new construction topics will be covered, and there are sessions for beginner, intermediate, and advanced practitioners. You can chose from over 35 technical workshops on topics including Mechanical, Envelope, Lighting, Innovations and High Performance. For complete details go to:
http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/pages/Common/News/BetterBuildingsByDesign/

Saturday/Sunday February 16th and 17th
NOFA-VT WINTER CONFERENCE!
NOFA-VT is pleased and proud to announce we will be offering, for the first time ever, a 2-day Winter Conference at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph, Vermont. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information! If you’d like to be added to our mailing list to receive a copy of the Winter Conference brochure, please contact the office, 434-4122, or info@nofavt.org.

Tuesday, February 19th
Developing Local Economies – 7pm - UVM
Amy Kirschner and Melissa Steibert provide an overview of the philosophy, history, and current state of the local currency movement and an informative introduction to participation in the Old North End TimeBank cashless currency exchange. Amy Kirschner is the founder of Vermont Sustainable Exchange, LLC - a statewide business to business trading system launched in 2008. She was previously the Executive Director of the Burlington Currency Project. Melissa Steibert works as the director of the Burlington TimeBank. To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit our website (www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com) for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Saturday, February 23rd
Introduction to Landscape Design – 9am – 4pm - $35 - Pine Street Studios, Burlington
Burlington-based landscape designer and Conway School of Landscape Design graduate Danielle Allen leads a hands-on workshop focused on the basics of landscape design, equipping participants with the skills needed to begin to develop working designs for their own property. To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit our website (www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com) for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Sunday, February 24th
Foraging Wild Edibles Safely and Sustainably – a power point presentation.
1:00-3:00 pm at Purple Shutter Herbs, 7 Canal St., Winooski, VT. $10-$20 sliding scale. Call 888-865-HERB to register.

Thursday, February 28th
Wild Edibles Safely and Sustainably – a power point presentation.
Thursday, February 28, 7:00 – 8:30 pm, sponsored by Greater East Montpelier Peak Oil Group, Montpelier location to be announced. Donations accepted. Contact Annie for more information: 802-456-8122.

March
Saturday, March 1st
Addison County 2008 Green Energy Expo: Building Sustainable Homes and Businesses
Middlebury College Bicentennial Hall
Addison County's Green Energy Expo invites you to participate in a great day of workshops, exhibits and demonstrations. The Green Energy Expo emerged from the "Creative Economy Forum" that took place in Middlebury in the summer of 2007. This exciting event builds on the success of prior Addison County Home and Garden Shows by creating a new type of exhibition where beginners and experts alike can visit with local companies with renewable energy, green building and efficiency products and services. Participants will take away many of the tools and resources needed to move toward a clean and green energy future. If you are a homeowner, business, farmer or forestland owner - make plans now to join us at Middlebury College on March 1, 2008. For more information: Contact Ted Shambo, Addison County Chamber of Commerce: 802-388-7951 ted (at) midvermont.com. Additional info on the expo here. Organized by Middlebury Creative Economy Energy Committee citizens in cooperation with ACEDC, ACCOC, ACRPC, ACoRN, MAGWAC, MC, and Efficiency Vermont.

Saturday March 1st Winter Tree Identification - 2pm - Burlington meeting location TBA - Free!
Permaculture designer Mark Krawczyk leads an afternoon tree ID walk around Burlington. We will focus on native and useful trees found throughout the region, specifically looking at those identifying characteristics that are available year round (bark, buds, branches, form site conditions). To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit our website (www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com) for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Sunday, March 2nd
Weave an Adirondack-Style Pack Basket - 10am-4pm - $35 (+$35 materials) - UVM
Basket maker and dairy farmer Jody Stoddard of Craftsbury, VT teaches students how to weave an Adirondack-style pack basket using cane processed from the rattan plant. To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit our website (www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com) for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Wednesday, March 5th
Energy Efficiency for Your Home – 6:30pm – Free! - Pine St. Studio, Burlington
John Lincoln of Burlington Electric leads a presentation and discussion on home scale strategies to reduce energy consumption. To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit our website (www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com) for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

January through March

At Witt's End: Leah Wittenberg. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington. Political cartoonist Leah Wittenberg's show is a collection of 25 favorite works. These larger-than-life cartoons reflect on the enormity of the social and political issues facing us today. Leah has been creating political cartoons with local and global themes for over 25 years. Her works have appeared in numerous local and national publications. She is a winner in the recent Helen Day Art Center cartoon contest.

What does it mean to raise healthy children today? In what ways do advertising and the media influence our children's choices? Does high technology hinder or help the natural process of child development? Is it important to give our children opportunities to connect with nature and the out-of-doors?
Come and explore these questions and much more in a discussion series titled “Healthy Children Healthy Planet” sponsored by the Vermont Earth Institute

Please join Vermont educator and author Jeannette Malone and Vermont Earth Institute in Discovering a Sense of Place, a 6 week discussion course to take place at the Richmond Free Library beginning Tuesday, March 11, at 6:30pm. Jeannette Malone is the author of Wild Adventures, a guide book of activities helping to build connection between others and the earth. Jeannette is helping sponsor this course because she believes that when individuals understand the natural and cultural history of their region, they than are invested in living lighter and more responsibly in that place. For the last meeting of the series Jeanette plans to lead the group to a site of local significance. Jeanette has organized Richmond Earth Day for the last several years and has taught environmental education for 12 years. Contact Leah at 434-1956, or veicoordinator@yahoo.com for more information.

Global Warming: Changing CO₂urse, Essex
Introductory Session: Monday, March 24, 7:00 pm
Essex Free Library

Global Warming: Changing CO₂urse, Charlotte
First Session: Tuesday March 25, 7:00pm
Charlotte Library

If you would like to join one of the classes above, please let me know. If these days/times don’t work for you or if you are interested in a class not listed here, contact me at veicoordinator@yahoo.com and we will try to offer a class in your area.

Vermont Earth Institute offers nine courses: Choices for Sustainable Living, Voluntary Simplicity, Global Warming, Globalization and Its Critics, Discovering a Sense of Place, Exploring Deep Ecology, Healthy Children—Healthy Planet, and Your Money or Your Life ..and coming in April, Menu for the Future! Check our website to see more about the topics and readings in any of these courses.

Who are we? Eat Local Vermont, the Burlington area localvores. We are a group of food consumers who have been loosely organized since January 2005. We are formalizing our mission statement. What is our purpose within the local food community? Please send back thoughts and suggestions on the proposed mission statement.

Eat Local Vermont, a volunteer organization of Burlington-Area residents, strives to create a community of educated local food consumers, and to strengthen our relationships with area farmers, food producers, and food retailers/restaurants that are focused on local food. We hope to accelerate the demand for local food such that the supply and diversity grows over time. We Localvores work to transform consumer behavior towards the consumption of more local foods, creating a more sustainable and secure food supply for Burlington and Vermont.

Congratulations to everyone who took the winter Eat Local challenge! A total of 58 individuals from 26 households committed to the latest challenge. Most everyone opted to 100% local for the entire week. Fortunately, the availability and variety of delicious local foods grows every year so even in winter there are plenty of options for a week of menus.

Better living through better eating,
Ber Richerdson (guest editing while Nicole is away) 802-338-0626 www.eatlocalvt.org

As James Beard says, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” NWEI’s newest guide, Menu for the Future, due to be released in April of 2008, is a six-session study guide exploring food systems and their impacts on culture, society and the Earth, offering practical suggestions on creating and supporting a more sustainable food system. The course explores the effects of modern industrial agriculture on both human and ecological health, highlighting sustainable forms of agriculture and how individuals can make choices that cast a vote for a more sustainable food supply. Please contact us at VEIcoordinator@yahoo.com if you would like to offer this course as part of our national launch in April.

Call for stories!! VEI would like to share stories of local successes, local initiatives, and responses to our courses as part of this monthly newsletter. If you have a story about your journey in trying to live lighter, challenge stuff in your life, deal with global warming etc, let us know !!

Events are primarily compiled from Vermont Peak Oil website: www.vtpeakoil.net If you have an event that you would like to share with VEI members, please let me know: veicoordinator@yahoo.com

Saturday March 1st
Addison County 2008 Green Energy Expo: Building Sustainable Homes and Businesses
Middlebury College - McCardell Bicentennial Hall
9 am to 4:30 pm
Addison County's Green Energy Expo invites you to participate in a great day of workshops, exhibits and demonstrations. The Green Energy Expo emerged from the "Creative Economy Forum" that took place in Middlebury in the summer of 2007. This exciting event builds on the success of prior Addison County Home and Garden Shows by creating a new type of exhibition where beginners and experts alike can visit with local companies with renewable energy, green building and efficiency products and services. Participants will take away many of the tools and resources needed to move toward a clean and green energy future. If you are a homeowner, business, farmer or forestland owner - make plans now to join us. For more information: Contact Ted Shambo, Addison County Chamber of Commerce: 802-388-7951 ted@midvermont.com. Additional info on the expo here. Organized by Middlebury Creative Economy Energy Committee citizens in cooperation with ACEDC, ACCOC, ACRPC, ACoRN, MAGWAC, MC, and Efficiency Vermont.

Saturday March 1st
Winter Tree Identification Burlington meeting location TBA - Free! 2pm Permaculture designer Mark Krawczyk leads an afternoon tree ID walk around Burlington. We will focus on native and useful trees found throughout the region, specifically looking at those identifying characteristics that are available year round (bark, buds, branches, form site conditions). To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit our website (www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com) for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Wednesday March 5th
Energy Efficiency for Your Home
Pine St. Studio, Burlington Free!
6:30 pm
John Lincoln of Burlington Electric leads a presentation and discussion on home scale strategies to reduce energy consumption. To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit our website (www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com) for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Thursday March 6th
UVM Counting Carbon Series: The Rubenstein School Spring 2008 Seminar Series
Counting Carbon: Approaches for Reducing CO2 Emissions: "The Role of Advocacy"
James Moore, VPIRG. Room 104 Aiken Center
12:30 - 1:45 pm
Information: www.uvm.edu/climatechange

Saturday March 8th
Community Gardens for Vermont Conference
Vermont Tech College, Randolph
9 am to 3:30 pm
Any Vermonter interested in learning about starting and sustaining a Community Garden is invited to attend. It's free! *(Note: A second conference for those interested in youth and school gardening will take place at Vermont law School in South Royalton on April 12th.)
More info on both events: http://www.burlingtongardens.org

Wednesday March 12th
Farmer's Talk and Potluck at Efficiency Vermont
Efficiency Vermont - 255 S. Champlain Street, Burlington
6 pm
Bring a dish featuring at least one local food item to share. Come hear about our community farmers: Shelburne Farms’ Cheddar and Shelburne Vineyards.

Thursday March 13th
The Howard E. Woodin Colloquium Series: "Energy Technology Deployment for Climate Change Mitigation: Socio-political Influences on Wind and Carbon Capture and Storage"
Jennie Stephens, Clark University.
Room 103, The Orchard, Hillcrest Environmental Center, Middlebury College
12:15 - 1:15 pm
Information: (802) 443-5710 or jwiseman@middlebury.edu.

March 13th
Eat Local Vermont's All Local Community Dinner
Multi-Generational Center, 241 N. Winooski, Burlington
2nd Thursday of every month, primarily serving local foods
Dinner served 5:30 - 6:30.
For more info, visit www.eatlocalvt.org

Sunday March 16th
Introduction to Forest Gardening
UVM $40
9am – 5pm
Permaculture designers Keith Morris (Prospect Rock Permaculture) and Mark Krawczyk (Keyline Vermont) lead a day-long introduction to the concepts, design and maintenance of forest gardens – integrated gardens modeled on the structure of natural forests that incorporate fruiting trees, shrubs and vegetables, fertility providing plants, medicinals, beneficial insect habitat and more. Forest gardens can be as simple or complex as you like and are well suited to compact urban lots. To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit our website (www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com) for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Wednesday March 19th and/or Wednesday March 26th
Home Scale Mushroom Production
UVM $60/night $100/both
7 pm
David Demarest, founder of Green Mountain Mycosystems, leads. David has 7 years of specialty mushroom cultivation experience. Part 1 of this two-part series is a demonstration and comparison of indoor and outdoor mushroom cultivation techniques and basic mushroom lab techniques, specifically focusing on the cultivation of shiitake, Portobello and oyster mushrooms. Part 2 focuses on ID, sustainable harvest practices, health benefits and preparation methods of native Vermont edible and medicinal mushrooms. Participants can enroll in one or both sessions. To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Thursday March 20th
Burlington Community Sustainability Fair!
Burlington City Hall 3 - 6 pm
How can you cut your global environmental impact? Start at home! With a few good ideas and simple tools, you will find it’s easier than you think to reduce your carbon footprint. Come mingle with your neighbors, have a snack, and take home the tools and ideas for “living lighter” at the free Community Sustainability Fair. Sponsored by the Chittenden Solid Waste District and community partners.

Thursday March 20th
The Howard E. Woodin Colloquium Series: "Power to Save: Energy Efficiency Potential, Economics and Policies" Phil Mosenthal, Optimal Energy
Room 103, The Orchard, Hillcrest Environmental Center, Middlebury College
12:15 - 1:15 pm
Information: (802) 443-5710 or jwiseman@middlebury.edu.

Thursday March 20th
UVM Counting Carbon Series: The Rubenstein School Spring 2008 Seminar Series
Counting Carbon: Approaches for Reducing CO2 Emissions: "Technological Approaches for Reducing CO2 Emissions: A Penel Discussion"
David Blittersdorf, NRG Systems; Roelof Boumans, The University of Vermont; David Hallquist, Vermont Electric Coop
University of Vermont, Room 104, Aiken Center
12:30 - 1:45 pm
Information: www.uvm.edu/climatechange

Thursday March 20th
Sleep: Can’t Get Enough of It?
ECHO, Lake Aquarium & Science Center, One College Street, Burlington Waterfront
FREE salon event for 21+
6:30 - 9:00 p.m
6:30 p.m - Cash Bar with themed drinks opens;
FREE hors d’oeuvres, live music by guitarist Scott A. McAllister
7:00 pm - Discussion begins

It’s a place where science and culture intersect. Based on the popular European salon concept, ECHO’s Café Scientifique provides a unique, relaxing setting to engage in thoughtful conversations about hot button science topics, with the participation of an acknowledged expert in each field.

Garrick Applebee, MD, Neurology & Pediatrics, FAHC/UVM College of Medicine.Garrick will begin his presentation talking about the basic functions of sleep and the consequences of sleep deprivation. This should dovetail nicely into chatting about various sleep disorders in adults and children, and other sleep topics you might be interested in. Your questions and shared knowledge is always appreciated. Any questions? Contact Linda Bowden: lbowden@echovermont.org

Saturday March 22nd
Natural Building for the Northeast -–
UVM - $50
9am – 4pm
Local natural builders Jacob Racusin and Mark Krawczyk of Seven Generations Natural Builders (www.sgnb.com) discuss design strategies, principles and materials suited to creating natural buildings appropriate to our challenging climate here in the northeast. The course consists of lecture, slide presentations, discussions and hands-on design work. To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Wednesday March 26th
When Worlds Collide: The Conflict between Sustainability and Exponential Growth, talk and slide show with Moshe Braner, PhD.
Community Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington
7 - 9pm
Are humans smarter than yeast? The jury's out until we learn to grapple with the indisputable facts and figures of exponential growth. After 200 years of population and industrial expansion, "growth" is a pervasive force in our economy and culture. By its very nature, growth is ever-accelerating. This leads to exhaustion of resources in a very short time. The on-going depletion of oil, forests, fisheries, soil, and groundwater are just some of the inevitable consequences. This talk will explore the inescapable arithmetic of exponential growth, and why, although progress and innovation are helpful, growth per se must be abandoned if we are to build sustainable economies and communities.
Moshe Braner holds a PhD in mathematical ecology (as well as backgrounds in physics and public health statistics), and draws upon this basis to spread energy literacy, assess the impact of Peak Oil, and suggest policy responses. Sponsored by the Burlington Sustainable Living Network; BSLN is an educational project, presenting films, speakers and discussions that assist and
support us in creating a sustainable future for our families and our communities and the earth.

Thursday March 27th
UVM Counting Carbon Series: The Rubenstein School Spring 2008 Seminar Series
Counting Carbon: Approaches for Reducing CO2 Emissions: "Building Green to Reduce Our Carbon Footprint," Chuck Reiss, Reiss Building and Renovation.
Room 104 Aiken Center.
12:30 - 1:45 pm
Information: www.uvm.edu/climatechange

April
Tuesday April 1st
Second Annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit: “Compost, Community, and the Carbon Cycle.”
Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, VT
For carpool information contact Erica.Spiegel@uvm.edu.

Wednesday April 2nd
Biodynamic Rhythms
UVM 7pm
Keith Morris of Prospect Rock Permaculture shares his knowledge and awareness of this fascinating subject. To register or learn more, contact Mark Krawczyk at burlingtonpermaculture@gmail.com or 999-2768. Also visit www.burlingtonpermaculture.googlepages.com for updates and the complete Burlington Permaculture course schedule.

Wednesday April 2nd
Presentation: Global Warming and the Struggle for Justice
Community Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington
7-9 pm
Author and eco-activist Brian Tokar, Director of the Institute for Social Ecology presents on the economic, political and social transformations needed to sustain the earth's ecological balances and our hopes for a more just society. Sponsored by the Burlington Sustainable Living Network; BSLN is an educational project, presenting films, speakers and discussions that assist and support us in creating a sustainable future for our families and our communities and the earth.

Thursday April 3rd
UVM Counting Carbon Series: 12:30 - 1:45 pm - The Rubenstein School Spring 2008 Seminar Series-Counting Carbon: Approaches for Reducing CO2 Emissions: "Sequestering Carbon in Vermont's Agricultural Ecosystems," Vern Grubinger, The University of Vermont. Room 104 Aiken Center. Information: www.uvm.edu/climatechange