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Catamount Earth Institute to offer new discussion course – Healthy People, Healthy Planet. Click here to register for Healthy People, Healthy Planet.
Catamount Earth Institute, in conjunction with a number of community groups and organizations,[1] is sponsoring Healthy People, Healthy Planet discussion groups this winter and spring.
Healthy People, Healthy Planetis a six-session reading and discussion series that
explores “good health,” the connection between human health and the environment, and how we can sustain both. The discussion topics include: precautionary medicine; eating well; household toxins, and healthy natural systems. Throughout the discussion guide there are individual actions that promote good health and in turn, promote a healthier environment.
Healthy People, Healthy Planet is for groups of 8-12 people, meets weekly for 1 ½ hours, and is based on a discussion guide and anthology – A World of Health – by the Northwest Earth Institute. The discussion is largely self-facilitated with start-up assistance from experienced volunteers. The guidebook, at $15 per person, is the only cost for the program. Books are available at the Hanover Food Co-op Service Desk. There are sets of 10 books for library groups available on a first come, first serve basis. Group members should read Session I (10 pages) and the introductory pages before the first discussion. For more information, see a sample of the first 13 pages of the discussion guide at course sampler.
Healthy People, Healthy Planet follows 24 Menu for the Future discussion groups that assembled during the winter and spring of 2011. This highly successful program about healthy food and sustainable agriculture demonstrated the value of coming together for shared learning. Contact catamount@valley.net if you would like to host or participate in a discussion group.
To register click here or contact the sponsors listed below.
Catamount is grateful to the Jack and Dorothy Bryne Foundation, the Mascoma Saving Bank Foundation, the Upper Valley Sierra Club, the Stettenheim Foundation, the Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation, and King Arthur Flour for subsidizing the discussion guides and providing set of books for loan by participating libraries. Thanks also to the Co-op Food Stores, the Upper Valley Food Co-op and Health Connections of the Upper Valley for purchasing sets of books to share with discussion groups.
[1] Co-op Food Stores, League of Women Voters of the Upper Valley, Sierra Club, Sustainable Hanover, Upper Valley Household Hazardous Waste Committee, Upper Valley Localvores, and the Upper Valley Land Trust
Click here to register for Healthy People, Healthy Planet.
Discussion groups forming:
Choices for Sustainable Living groups are highlighted in green. These are a project of Building a Local Economy (BALE)
Dr. Robyn Jacobs Office, 24 Hanover St. Lebanon
Tuesdays, January 17 –February 21st
5:00-6:30pm, Register at 603-448-7344
Purchase book at the Hanover Co-op Service Desk
Bradford Public Library
Thursdays, January 19 – February 23
6:30- 8:00
Register and purchase a book from North of the Falls
nikkiinct@gmail.com
Quechee Library & VINS Nature Center
Thursdays, January 19 – February 23rd
6:30-8 pm
Register and borrow a book from the library or VINS
quelibra@sover.net or hputnam@vinsweb.org
Hanover Town (Etna) Library
Tuesdays, January 24 –February 28th
7:00- 8:30 pm, Register at 603-643-3086
Purchase book at the Hanover Co-op Service Desk
Choices for Sustainable Living
Gifford Medical Center, Randolph
Thursdays, January 26- March 8, 6:30-8 pm
Contact Susan Mills at millsvt@gmail.com for more info.
Hanover Food Co-op
Tuesdays, January 31-March 6
6-7:30 pm, Conference Room
Register and purchase a book at the Hanover Co-op Service Desk
Upper Valley Food Co-op, Upstairs
Thursdays, February 2- March 8
6-7:30 pm
Register and borrow a book from the UV Food Co-op
802-295-5804 or kye@uppervalleyfood.coop
Choices for Sustainable Living
Tunbridge Parish Hall
Thursdays, February 2- March 15, 7-8:30pm
Register with chriswoodvt@gmail.com,
Buy a book from the So. Royalton Market
Choices for Sustainable Living
Stephen and Deborah Aldrich’s, Stockbridge
Wednesdays, February 8 – March 21, 7-9 pm
Register with Steve at saldrich@bio-era.net
Buy a book from the So. Royalton Market
Choices for Sustainable Living
So. Royalton School Library
Wednesdays, February 15 – March 28, 5:30-7
Register with Elizabeth Ferry and buy a book from the So. Royalton Market
Fairlee Public Library
Wednesdays, February 29 – April 11
7 – 8:30 pm
Register and borrow a book from the library
802-333-4716 or fairlee.library@gmail.com
Abbott Memorial Library, So. Pomfret
Thursday, March 1 – April 5
7-8:30 pm
Register with Anna Kehler at annakehler@gmail.com
and borrow a book from the library
Women’s Health Resource Center (WHRC), Lebanon Mall
Tuesdays, March 6 – April 10
Noon- 1 pm
Register and borrow a book from the WHRC
603-650-2600 or stop in
Upper Valley Land Trust, Hanover
Thursdays, March 15 – April 19
Register and purchase a book at the Hanover Co-op Service Desk
Noon – 1:30
603-643-6626 or anna.slack@uvlt.org
Blake Memorial Library, Corinth
Thursdays, March 15 – April 19
4:30 – 6:00 pm
Register and borrow a book from the library
802-439-5338
Richards Free Library, Newport
Tuesdays, April 3 – May 8
7:00- 8:15 pm
Register and borrow a book from the library
603-685-3430
Canaan Town Library
Wednesdays, April 4 – May 9
7- 8:30 pm
Register and borrow a book from the library
603-523-9650
Click here to register for Healthy People, Healthy Planet.
Menu for the Future News
Many of the discussion groups have continued to meet with potluck suppers and other events. There have been two farm tours – one at Cedar Circle Farm and one at Hogwash Farm – in opposite corners of East Thetford. Here are some happy Hogwash piglets.
Thirteen of the 23 Menu for the Future were represented at a festive April 6 potluck and program by gardener Henry Homeyer.
Menu for the Future is a six-session discussion series about sustainable food systems. Groups of 8-12 people meet weekly for 1-1 1/2 hours to discuss readings from an anthology compiled of excerpts from some of the best writers on sustainable food systems. Bring together a group of friends, fellow CSA members, or workplace colleagues for your own discussion series.
The Menu for the Future readings:
- explore food systems and their impacts of culture, society, and ecological systems
- offer insights into agricultural practices that promote personal and ecological well-being
- initiate conversations about our roles in creating or supporting sustainable food systems

With the discussion groups wrapping up, the focus has switched to action steps. Here are some categories for being involved with links for making connections:
Learning about Cooking
Cooking: Co-op Food Stores
Baking Classes: King Arthur Flour
Recipes from local food blogs: Upper Valley Localvore blog, Lisa Cadow’s “A Fork on the Road” blog, Carol Egbert’s blog
Canning & Freezing, Gardening: Co-op, Upper Valley Food Co-op, Cedar Circle Farm, Pompanoosuc Agriculture Society
Henry Homeyer’s newest book: Organic Gardening Not Just in the Northeast: A Hands-On Month by Month Guide- pre-order at the Norwich Bookstore (802) 649-1114
NOFA-VT and NOFA-NH Gardener Workshops
Vermont Extension Service and New Hampshire Extension Service
Helping Others:
Willing Hands
Farm to School
Vital Communities
Upper Valley Agricultural Information Sources
UV Localvores
Valley Food and Farm’s Tidbits: debbie@vitalcommunities.org
Valley Food Council gives you activities of most of the Upper Valley food organizations. This is a networking organization
Upper Valley Local Agriculture Discussion list serve
Cedar Circle’s Education and Outreach link includes details on their Farm To School programs, Community Garden Programs, Educational Farm Tours, and their efforts to participate in and connect regional efforts to improve our food system
Cedar Circle’s events and classes link includes gardening, tool sharpening, and backyard composting classes that they are offering at the farm in 2011. They will also offer cooking and food preservation classes in the fall
Cedar Circle’s events link takes you to a listing of our upcoming Festivals, Tastings, and Meals In The Field for which they are looking for volunteers to help staff
Community Gardens:
Canillas Community Garden Lebanon, NH
mcgovern.patricia@gmail.com
The Community Garden at Enfield Shaker Museum Enfield, NH
www.shakermuseum.org
Hanover Community Gardens Hanover, NH
hanovergardens.org
Hartland Community Garden Hartland Four Corners, VT
www.hartlandgarden.org
Pompanoosuc Agricultural Society Thetford Center, VT
www.forage.ning.com
Royalton Roots Royalton, VT
www.royaltonroots.wordpress.comSustainable Hanover Food/Agriculture Action Group Hanover, NH
www.sustainablehanovernh.org
Sustainable Woodstock Woodstock, VT
www.sustainablewoodstock.comTaftsville Community Garden Taftsville, VT
www.sustainablewoodstock.org
Thetford Community Garden Thetford Center, VT
Transition Town White River Junction White River Junction, VT
www.ttwrj.org
Upper Valley Farm to School Network Hartland, VT
www.uvfts.org/
Upper Valley Localvores Lebanon, NH
http://uvlocalvores.wordpress.com/
White River Jct Community Garden White River Junction, VT





