Saturday, April 25, 2009

Keep the conversation going!

You've been invited to join Northern Shenandoah Valley on GREEN DRINKS

Set up by our very own Valerie Cookson-Botto, go to this site and keep the conversation going between meetings!
Northern Shenandoah Valley Green Drinks now has a group listing as part of the Green Drinks site on ning. Go to http://greendrinks.ning.com/group/northernshenandoahvalley
Please spread the word.

Northern Shenandoah Valley

1 member

Created By: Valerie Cookson-Botto

Check out Northern Shenandoah Valley on GREEN DRINKS:
http://greendrinks.ning.com/group/northernshenandoahvalley?xgi=gIIq9ya

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

King Corn

“King Corn” is one of a series of three films regarding current agriculture policy, production, and consumption. This film series examines “the complex web of market and political forces that is changing what we eat” as well as “exploring alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today.” “King Corn” is the story of two friends, an acre of corn in Iowa, and how corn has “conquered America.” The film helps unlock the hidden truths about America’s modern food system. “KingCorn shows how- and why- whenever you eat a hamburger or drink a soda, you’re really consuming…corn.”

“King Corn” : Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.

The second item is a lecture which is a part of Earth Week at Shenandoah University. This is another event which it would be helpful to support.

“Sustainability Starts With You”

Please join us for the Earth Week 2009 Keynote Speaker:

chris_215.jpg

Mr. Chris Miller, President of the Piedmont Environmental Council, will speak about living sustainably in your community and what the Piedmont Environmental Council does for sustainability in the region.

The lecture begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 in Stimpson Auditorium in Halpin-Harrison Hall.


Arbor Day at the State Arboretum

Come celebrate Arbor Day at the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm. All activities will be Saturday, April 25, 1-5 p.m. and everything is free. There will be tree-related presentations, information and advice, and children's activities from 1-3 p.m. in and around the Quarters (main brick building). From 3-5 p.m., join us in planting native oaks. Bring the family, bring work gloves if you have them, and bring those plastic flower pots you've been saving -- we'll collect these for recycling.

Call Steve Carroll with questions: 540-837-1758 ext. 287

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Green Drinks for the Bay! - Earth Day

When? Earth Day, April 22nd at 5:30

Where? Ferguson's in Winchester (click here for a map)

Why? To celebrate Earth Day and the health of our waterways (oh, and to beat a record set in Australia!)

More info? - look below, and check out www.greendrinksforthebay.org and the facebook page!

That's right, fellow Green Drinkers, this month we'll be gathering on Earth Day, April 22nd at 5:30 (ish), at Ferguson's in Winchester, VA. We will not be alone in our celebrations, 16 different participating Green Drinks chapters throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed will come together to stage a same-day gathering in their respective cities, attempting to top the world attendance record of 1,800 set in Melbourne, Australia, and to rally support for action to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Not just the bay, but also the health of our water ways right here in our own Shenandoah Valley!

Jed Rau from the Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District will join us to talk about how what we put on our yards and gardens and how we use water in our homes affects water quality, and representatives from Ferguson's will be on hand to answer questions about water conservation in our homes.

Ferguson's will be graciously providing refreshments for us (beer in the bathtub? Tea on the counter?) as we gather to celebrate Earth Day, to increase our awareness of how our personal actions affect water quality all the way to the bay, and to learn how to decrease our water consumption in general.

So come on out and join us on Earth Day, bring your friends, your family, your neighbors, and let's show the world that Virginians mean business about greening our environment!

Greening the Valley one conversation at a time.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Green Home Builders Conference

Green Homeowners Panel

Thursday, MARCH 26, 7PM AT NCTC
􀀵 Mike Tidwell, founder and director of the Chesapeake Climate Action
Network and winner of numerous conservation awards, will explain why
we have to go green to protect our future. Tidwell has been featured
on Meet the Press, NPR, and the New York Times and is co-host of the
nationally syndicated radio show Earthbeat.
􀀵 Andrew Grigsby, principal and sustainability consultant with
Commonwealth Sustainability Works, helping diverse clients integrate
green thinking into homebuilding, community development, land use,
and business planning.
􀀵 Chris VanArsdale, attorney and entrepreneur at the vanguard of the
green building movement in the Washington, DC region, serves as
Executive Director of the Canal Park Development Association, Inc.
Builders and Homeowners

Conference
Friday, March 27, 2009
8:30am - 4:00pm
National Conservation Training Center
Shepherdstown, WV
(Come to this, Jed and I will be speaking at 2:30! oh, and there will be all sorts of other speakers too!!!)

GREEN HOMES TOUR
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
10AM TO 4PM

For more information:
http://www.potomacaudubon.org
Tour Maps $15 available at the
conference and after March 2 at the
following locations:
Charles Town:
Dream House Furniture Store
Shepherdstown:
Four Seasons Books,
Martinsburg:
Good Natured,
Berkeley Springs:
The Nature Niche
Tour proceeds go toward purchase
of renewable energy credits to offset
carbon dioxide emitted by vehicles on
the tour circuit and to support
Potomac Valley Audubon Society’s
environmental youth education
programming.
Conference Registration Information:
Early Registration by March 6 - $45
Registration after March 6 - $55
EPHBA members $40 before March 6.
Pay by check or credit card (invoiced by e-mail)
Registration fee includes NCTC’s fabulous
smorgasbord lunch, snacks, and materials.
For more information or to register:
E-mail: phrcd.6003@verizon.net
Phone: 304-267-8953 ext. 5
Promote your Green Business: Consider a Conference Display!
Display space fee is $100, which includes one paid registration!
Regional home construction can no longer maintain the status quo. Building for a Greener Future is a
conference designed to help builders understand how to transition to greener construction.
Speakers include:
Afternoon concurrent sessions will provide information about green
building, weatherization, and home energy retrofits for building,
remodeling and living green. Hear experts and practitioners
explain:
􀀵Transitioning to Green: Perspectives on the Challenges and Rewards.
􀀵Getting Started with Building Green: The Homeowners Perspective.
􀀵Dealing with Energy: Home Energy Audits and Weatherization.
􀀵Tools for Builders: Certification Programs and Training Opportunities.
􀀵The Green Advantage for Marketing and Affordable Housing.
􀀵Tax Incentives and Legal Considerations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable,
sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived
from any public assistance program. Full statement of the USDA Nondiscrimination Statement available upon request.

Menu For the Future

There is still space in the series, "Menu For the Future" scheduled for 7 Wednesday nights, beginning this Wednesday, March 4, at 7:00 p.m. and held at the Friends Centre Meeting house on Picadilly Street in Winchester. I've ordered a few additional copies of the discussion guide which includes readings from people such as Michael Pollan, Wendel Berry, Lester Brown and Barbara Kingslover. Call me at 665-8989.

Documentary Film Screenings

BALLE will be showing a series of 3 documentary films dealing with sustainable agriculture and responsible food consumption starting this month. Films will be shown in the Hester Auditorium of Henkel Hall (near the library) of Shenandoah University at 4:00 p.m. Two titles are yet to be decided, but mark your calendars for the dates and let your own contact lists know.

22 March -"The Future of Food," with adding the special section on CSAs.

26 April

24 May -

Even though the weather is cold, our thoughts are starting to turn toward spring and the new growing season. We look forward to the renewed opportunities for fresh food!

Best wishes,

Robert Hughes, co-ordinator, For the Greater Good, Inc.