While six Healthy People, Healthy Planet groups are now wrapping up, a second batch of groups will start in March and April. The next groups begin Feb. 29 at the Fairlee Library and March 1 at the Abbott Library in So. Pomfret and the Thetford Elementary School. These are followed by two noontime groups: March 6 at the Women’s Health Resource Center on the Lebanon Mall and March 15 at the Upper Valley Land Trust, Buck Road, Hanover. Three more are scheduled for Corinth (March 15), Newport (April 3), and Canaan (April 4). Most of these groups have discussion guides on loan. Books are also available at the Hanover Co-op service desk for $15. Program information and contacts for the venues are available at www.catamountearthinstitute.org. Contact catamount@valley.net if you are interested in organizing a group in your town, faith community, workplace, or with your book group. Although we strongly recommend joining a discussion group, if you’d like to check out the Healthy People, Healthy Planet discussion guide (which is called A World of Health), the Howe Library in Hanover has two copies available on loan. The 6-session series topics include preventive medicine, food issues, our chemical legacy, simplicity and consumption, and healthy natural systems.

 “Like” Catamount on Facebook and read comments about groups’ conversations.

Take Action by Feb. 27 asking the USDA not to approve GMO corn that is genetically modified to survive repeated spraying of the herbicide 2,4-D.

The information comes from the Center for Food Safety. The Center’s website has a petition you can email to the USDA urging the agency not to approve Dow Chemical’s genetically engineered corn (DAS-40278-9) designed to survive repeated spraying of the toxic herbicide 2,4-D. As the letter explains, the herbicide 2,4-D is a major component of Agent Orange, the chemical defoliant used by the U.S. military in Vietnam and that “Numerous studies link 2,4-D exposure to major health problems such as cancer, lowered sperm counts, liver toxicity and Parkinson’s disease.” The documentary A Chemical Reaction, highlighted below, which Catamount will show on April 4 explains the dangers of the herbicide 2,4-D. Act now!

Take Action to get GMO’s labeled in Vermont:
The VT Right to Know Genetically Modified Food Act (H.722) would give Vermont consumers information as to whether the food we buy is genetically engineered. food products sold at retail outlets in the state of Vermont. Click here for more information and to sign a petition organized by NOFA-VT, Rural Vermont, and VPIRG. According to these organizations, “Over 70% of all packaged foods sold in the United States contain genetically engineered ingredients.”  House bill H.722, Vermont’s genetic modification labeling law, require food processors to label foods that have genetically modified ingredients.

Lawn pesticides and herbicides programs complement Healthy People, Healthy Planet
Catamount Earth Institute, the League of Women Voters of the Upper Valley (LWVUV), and Howe Library will present “Lawns Without Chemicals” on March 28 at 7pm. The program features Will Allen, co-manager of Cedar Circle Farm in E. Thetford and Paul Sachs, founder of North Country Organics of Bradford, VT. Will Allen will discuss the intended benefits, unintended consequences, and long-term effects of pesticides and herbicides. Paul Sachs will explain ecological lawn care and the dynamics of a natural soil system.

On April 4 Catamount, LWVUV and the Sierra Club will present the documentary A Chemical Reaction about health risks of lawn chemicals, how the town of Hudson, Quebec banned the use of chemical lawn products, and how similar bans were adopted in five Canadian provinces. This is also at the Howe Library at 7 pm. The LWVUV will present additional programs addressing storm water and integrated landscaping on April 11 and 25. More information will follow in the next newsletter.

Upper Valley Sustainability Events Calendar

Thursday, Feb. 23, 7pm, Norwich Public Library
Landscaping for Wildlife Using Native Plants
Presentation by gardener Henry Homeyer

Friday, Feb 24, 7:30 pm, Hartland Public Library, 153 Rt 5, Hartland, VT  05048
State of the World Film: Living Without Money
The film portrays the life of 68 year old Heidemarie Schwermer, a German woman who made a deliberate choice to stop using money 14 years ago. She cancelled her apartment, gave away all of her belongings and kept nothing but a suitcase full of clothes. Living without money – imagine it if you can!
Free + including popcorn
Info: 802 738-0215 or  sites.google.com/site/stateoftheworldfilms/

Monday, March 5, 6:30, Colatina Exit, Main St. Bradford, First Monday Film Series
Growthbusters: Hooked on  Growth
This documentary examines the deleterious effects of economic growth, populationgrowth, urban growth and over-consumption. www.growthbusters.org.
Come at 6pm to order food and drink. Sponsored by the Bradford Conservation Commission. Donations welcomed.

Wed. March 21, 6:30 – 8pm, Porter Community Room, Montshire Museum, Norwich, VT.
Dirty Energy: From Fracking to Tar Sands
Vermont Law School professors Pat Parenteau and Jack Tuholske will discuss legal and environmental concerns related to shale gas hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and tar sands extraction, including the proposed Trailbreaker and Keystone pipelines, water pollution, impacts on climate change, Vermont legislation restricting fracking and the relationship of these dirty fuels to local efficiency and renewables efforts.
This presentation is free and open to the public.
Light refreshments contributed by the Coop Food Stores and the Upper Valley Food Coop.
Sponsors: Sustainable Energy Resource Group, Thetford and Norwich Energy Committees, Catamount Earth Institute, League of Women Voters of the Upper Valley, Sierra Club, Coop Food Stores, Upper Valley Food Coop
Info: SERG@valley.net or 802-785-4126.

Wednesday, March 28, 7pm, Howe Library, 13 South St., Hanover
Lawns Without Chemicals
Will Allen, co-manager of Cedar Circle Farm in E. Thetford and Paul Sachs, founder of North Country Organics of Bradford, VT will discuss the effects of long-term exposure to lawn chemicals and strategies for building a healthy lawn.
Sponsored by Catamount Earth Institute, League of Women Voters, Howe Library
Refreshments served, Will and Paul will have their books for sale.

Thursday, March 29, 9-4pm, Vt. Technical College,
6th Annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit
View complete agenda here. Attendee (Early Bird Price: $35.00 on or before March 15

Thursday, March 29, 7pm, Howe Library, 13 South St. Hanover
Green Fire, a thought-provoking new film about the life and legacy of legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold, which proposes a land ethic for the 21^st century.
Sponsored by the Hanover Conservancy and the Upper Valley Sierra Club

Saturday, March 31, Co-op Food Stores Annual Meeting Expo, White River Junction Elementary School
9:30-10:30 am annual meeting; 11- 3 pm Expo., 3-6, Weatherization Skillshop by CVCAC (Central Vermont Community Action Council). The Expo will offer dozens of displays and booths about how people all over the Upper Valley are working toward a more sustainable world.

Tuesday nights from 6:30-8:30 for 5 weeks, April 3-May 2.
Lebanon College: Gardening: A Practical Workshop. Garden writer Henry Homeyer will teach you the basics of organic vegetable and flower gardening. From garden design to seed-starting , planting, watering, weeding, mulching, and harvesting, this course will give each student practical knowledge of gardening. Contact Lebanon College to reserve a spot for this 5-part workshop www.lebanoncollege.edu or call 603-448-2445.

 Three AVA Gallery, workshops with Henry Homeyer, Lebanon
Sculpting the Living Landscape: Starting Flowers from Seed 
Attend one or all of these workshops with Henry. For more info. call 603-448-3117
April 9; Monday, 6:30–8:30pm; One 2-hour class

Sculpting the Living Landscape: Perfect Perennials for the Upper Valley Garden,
April 23; Monday, 6:30–8:30pm; One 2-hour class

Sculpting the Living Landscape: Organic Techniques for Enriching Soil and Managing Pests
May 7; Monday, 6:30–8:30pm; One 2-hour class
Thanks to SERG, UV Localvores, UV Food Co-op, Chris West, and Bradford Conservation Commission for event info.

To receive the UV Localvores e-newsletter, contact mcgovern.patricia@gmail.com.
For Sustainable Energy Resource Group (SERG) info. see www.SERG-info.org
This Upper Valley Sustainable Living Network update was written by Barbara Duncan.

Catamount Earth Institute, POB 470 Hanover, NH 03755
603-643-0328 (Nov. 1-April 30)  catamount@valley.net     www.catamountearthinstitute.org
Contact catamount@valley.net  if you do NOT want to receive these occasional updates.

Healthy People, Healthy Planet conversations are flourishing around the Upper Valley this winter. The next two groups to start are Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 6 pm at the Hanover Food Co-op Conference Room and on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6 pm at the Upper Valley Food Co-op Upstairs. The 6-session series topics include preventive medicine, food issues, our chemical legacy, simplicity and consumption, and healthy natural systems.

Discussion guides are available at the Hanover Co-op service desk for $15. (The UV Food Co-op, the Women’s Health Resource Center and participating libraries have discussion guides available on loan to their Healthy People, Healthy Planet group participants.) Program information and contacts for the venues are available at www.catamountearthinstitute.org, and are listed below. Contact catamount@valley.net if you are interested in organizing a group in your town, faith community, workplace, or with your book group.

An interesting thing happened on the way to these forums — people and groups who’d become acquainted with the NWEI discussion programs opted to offer other NWEI topics. Building A Local Economy (BALE) is offering four Choices for Sustainable Living groups in South Royalton, Tunbridge, Stockbridge, and Randolph to build understanding of many aspects of sustainability, with Randolph’s first session having started on January 26. (Other dates and registration information is listed below). Harmony Farm in Hartland is offering NWEI’s Reconnecting with Nature, about humanity’s relationship with nature, date tbd. Lastly, King Arthur Flour is offering Menu for the Future for its employee/owners.

Catamount is now on Facebook (see CatamountEarth) so that discussion group members can share their thoughts, concerns and information. See you there!

Schedule of upcoming and just started discussion groups
(You can register with these sponsors or click here to register.)

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.

Healthy People, Healthy Planet
Hanover Food Co-op Conference Room
Tuesdays, January 31-March 6, 6-7:30 pm,
Register and purchase a book at the Hanover Co-op Service Desk

Healthy People, Healthy Planet
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. Royaton Market

Healthy People, Healthy Planet at the 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

Healthy People, Healthy Planet at the 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 on the Lebanon Mall

Healthy People, Healthy Planet at the Upper Valley Land Trust, Hanover
Thursdays, March 15 – April 19
Noon – 1:30 pm
Register and purchase a book at the Hanover Co-op Service Desk
603-643-6626 or anna.slack@uvlt.org

Healthy People, Healthy Planet at the 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

Healthy People, Healthy Planet at the Canaan Town Library
Wednesdays, April 4 – May 9
7 -8:30 pm
Register and borrow a book from the library
603-523-9650

Upper Valley Sustainability Events Calendar

Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 7pm-8:30pm, Howe Library, 13 South Street, Hanover, NH
Reading the Forested Landscape. Tom Wessels, noted regional naturalist and author, will describe what we can learn about land’s history and natural forces that affected it, when we take a walk in the forest.
Sponsored by the Hanover Conservation Commission. Free, open to the public.

Sunday, February 5, 2pm, Black Center, Park St., Hanover
Green Fire, a documentary about the Aldo Leopold’s extraordinary career, tracing how he shaped and influenced the modern environmental movement
Sponsored by Hanover Conservancy, Donations requested.

Monday, February 6, 6:30, Colatina Exit, Main St. Bradford, First Monday Film Series
Carbon Nation, a documentary movie about climate change solutions. Even if you doubt the severity of the impact of climate change or just don’t buy it at all, this is still a compelling and relevant film that illustrates how solutions to climate change also address other social, economic and national security issues.
Come early to order food and drink. Donations welcomed.

Wednesday, February 8, 6-7:30 pm  Upper Valley Food Co-op, Upstairs
Get Well, Stay Well workshop with Carolyn Kelly
Explore a variety of natural ways to maintain and increase vitality and well being. For more information see Carolyn’s website at www.injoynow.com
Sign up near the cash registers at the co-op, or contact Kye: kye@uppervalleyfood.coop

Sun, February 12, 7pm – 10pm,Thetford Congregational Church, Rt. 113 across from the Green, Thetford Hill.
“A Sea Change”: Thetford Energy Committee’s Warmth in the Winter series
A Sea Change follows the journey of retired history teacher Sven Huseby on his quest to discover how excess carbon dioxide dissolving in our world’s oceans is changing sea water chemistry and life within.
Free, refreshments provided.

Gardening Classes with Henry Homeyer:

Lebanon College: Gardening: A Practical Workshop. Garden writer Henry Homeyer will teach you the basics of organic vegetable and flower gardening. From garden design to seed-starting , planting, watering, weeding, mulching, and harvesting, this course will give each student practical knowledge of gardening. Tuesday nights from 6:30-8:30 for 5 weeks, April 3-May 2.Contact Lebanon College to reserve a spot for this 5-part workshop www.lebanoncollege.edu or call 603-448-2445.

AVA Gallery, Lebanon.  Attend one or all of these workshops with Henry. For more info. call 603-448-3117

Sculpting the Living Landscape: Starting Flowers from Seed
April 9; Monday, 6:30–8:30pm; One 2-hour class

Sculpting the Living Landscape: Perfect Perennials for the Upper Valley Garden,
April 23; Monday, 6:30–8:30pm; One 2-hour class

Sculpting the Living Landscape: Organic Techniques for Enriching Soil and Managing Pests

May 7; Monday, 6:30–8:30pm; One 2-hour class

Thanks to SERG, UV Localvores, UV Food Co-op, Chris West, and Bradford Conservation Commission for event info.
To receive the UV Localvores e-newsletter, contact mcgovern.patricia@gmail.com.
For Sustainable Energy Resource Group (SERG) info. see www.SERG-info.org  (also on Facebook)
This Upper Valley Sustainable Living Network update was written by Barbara Duncan.

Catamount Earth Institute, POB 470 Hanover, NH 03755
603-643-0328 (Nov. 1-April 30)  catamount@valley.net     www.catamountearthinstitute.org
Contact catamount@valley.net  if you do NOT want to receive these occasional updates.