2013 Pioneer Valley Transition Towns Film Festival

Posted on October 16, 2013 by

Don’t Miss the 2013 Pioneer Valley Transition Towns Film Festival!

What does sustainability mean to groups and individuals around the Pioneer Valley? Find out at the third annual Pioneer Valley Transition Towns Film Festival on Friday, October 25th in the Cohn Dining Commons at Greenfield Community College from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. where concepts like: equality, self-help, valuing resources, supporting locally produced, community building, green marketing, diversity, and celebration will be woven through ten short films shown for free. Local documentarian Rawn Fulton will be the MC for this event, and prizes will be given out for the top three short films in the competitive category.

You can join film producers after enjoying the selections for a meet and greet session during which you can ask questions and provide feedback. Join us for a fun night out while building community and learning new things about the region that you call home. It is often in our own backyards that we discover the riches which we deemed to only be available in distant and far removed lands.

For more information, go to www.transitionnorthfieldma.org/PVTTFF or contact Scott MacPherson at GCTV, 774.4288 or Scott@gctv.org.

The flyer of the event: 2013 PVTTFF event Flier 8×11

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Film: More than Honey

Posted on October 12, 2013 by

A Special CISA Event at Amherst Cinema

Tuesday, October 15th at 7pm

Tickets are available at the Amherst Cinema box office, or online at www.amherstcinema.org.

This film, co-sponsored by CISA and Amherst Cinema, explores the vital relationship between humans and bees and addresses the mysterious, drastic decline of honeybee colonies around the world.

A panel discussion, moderated by Philip Korman and featuring CISA’s own Local Hero members, Dan Conlon of Warm Colors Apiary and Ben Clark of Clarkdale Fruit Farms, will follow the film.

More About The Film: More Than Honey explores the effects of “colony collapse disorder,” a global phenomenon that is drastically reducing the world’s bee population (depending on the world region, 50% to 90% of all local bees have disappeared, and this epidemic is still spreading). Scientists and agriculturalists are worried: 80% of plant species require bees to be pollinated. Without bees, the earth could soon face a worldwide agricultural crisis.

More About The Panelists: Dan Conlon has been learning the art of beekeeping for more than forty-five years and owns Warm Colors Apiary (established in 2000) with his wife, Bonita, in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. They work as full-time beekeepers to produce honey, beeswax, and provide pollination services to Western Massachusetts orchards and farms. Warm Colors maintains 700 to 800 colonies, averaging 60-70 pounds of honey per year. Dan raises Queens and keeps a Queen yard that can produce 200-300 Queens annually.

Ben Clark is a fourth-generation farmer, co-managing Clarkdale Fruit Farms with his father Tom in Deerfield, Massachusetts. The fifth generation, Emerson, was recently born to Ben and his wife Lori. The farm practices Integrated Pest Management and is committed to sustainable growing practices. The Clarks grow over 100 varieties of apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes and cherries. Ben also serves as Vice Chair of the CISA board.

More information about CISA can be found at www.buylocalfood.org

Philip Korman, Executive Director
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
1 Sugarloaf Street, South Deerfield, MA 01373

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Hoop Dreams and Winter Greens

Posted on October 11, 2013 by

When: 11:00am – 2:00pm, Sunday Oct. 13th
Where: Laughing Dog Farm, Gill, MA

This hands-on workshop and community “bender” this Sunday at Laughing Dog Farm focuses on season-extension, using low cost, homemade, un-heated “tunnels” or “hoophouses” to keep alive cold-hardy crops, around the calendar in our mercurial New England climate.

From 11-12:00 Farmer Danny “Dog” Botkin will give a detailed review of principles and practices of cold weather gardening, including seed/plant selection, timing, propagation/harvesting techniques, frost “proofing”, and other cultural practices.

Then, after sharing spicy, homegrown soup (heirloom squash with native, with roasted chestnuts, fresh salad and goat cheese, oh my!) …we’ll venture outside to observe the high and low tunnels “in action”, to answer questions, and to take turns bending EMT steel conduit into “hoops” on our own, home-made jig. Participants who bring their own pipes (10′ long x 3/4″ width) are welcome to bend them here Sunday, as well…

The workshop concludes with a demonstration of a low-tunnel hoophouse assembly and an opportunity for further questions and group discussion… Suggested donation is $35 for the class and lunch. Hope to see folks “hungry” to learn winter gardening and keep hope alive. RSVP requested…

—
Daniel Botkin
farm manager
Laughing Dog Farm
www.laughingdogfarm.com

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Bicycle Garden Tour Video

Posted on October 11, 2013 by

We had a successful tour, where we visited three new gardens and an older one. But all of the stops were more than just seeing a garden. We learned as well a bit about what it took to make that garden happen, what underlying principles were followed, and we tasted some of the produce. At each stop I learned something new.

See the video Andy made about our tour here.

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Peach Canning

Posted on September 25, 2013 by

On September 29, Sunday, from noon on, come to a peach canning event.

Come to 45 Roosevelt St. Hadley (Roosevelt and N. Maple are the same road.), to participate making peach jam or compote, fill it in jars and give the full jars a hot bath. We will look at methods of preservation to spread out our current abundance of produce and fruits for the whole year.

Please let Gabor know if you plan to attend.

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Fall 2013 New England Transition Gathering

Posted on September 24, 2013 by

On October 5, Saturday, Portland Maine

Why have we all connected to do this work of Transition?
Why would anyone want to engage with us?
Why would we want to connect or align regionally?
What responsive structures could be put in place among us for transition?

Come to the Fall 2013 Transition Gathering in Portland Maine to find out!

At this event you will hear stories of best practices, lessons learned and responsive structures that build resilience. There will be multiple resource sharing opportunities throughout the day, copious opportunities to deepen our connection, collaborate, network, and enjoy delicious locavore food. Doors open at 9:30am.

Join us the night before to hear Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the Transition Network and John Rooks of The SOAP Group speaking at Ludcke Auditorium at UNE, starting at 6pm.

Register for the gathering here: netransition.org/events/7/transition-regional-gathering/.

Please note: you will need a homestay “ticket” to be on the list to receive contacts for community-sourced lodging/couch surfing/tenting options.

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Eating Locally

Posted on September 23, 2013 by

Help All of Us Eat Local?

You’re Invited to a Community Forum to Discuss Ideas:

Monday, Sept. 23, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
at the new store site — 104 North Pleasant St., Downtown Amherst
Next to Food For Thought Books

A Kitchen Team has been working on ideas for cooperative use of the commercial kitchen, little dining area (four tables), “tasting island” and more. How might the kitchen help you eat local food all year ’round? If you have ideas, want to be a producer, want to buy take-out food, want to eat local prepared meals, preserve the harvest, or simply support eating local, please share your thoughts!
We invite you to join the conversation and tell your friends.

Tell us what you like to eat! Fill out a survey at the event or online: www.surveymonkey.com/s/TWMBTCY

Share your ideas at the forum or by emailing: ATLCoopKitchen@gmail.com

Anyone can apply to be a producer and sell products in the market. For more information go to: www.AllThingsLocal.coop

If you can’t attend the forum, but would like to share your ideas OR indicate your interest in commercial use of the kitchen, please write up your ideas and email them to the All Things Local Kitchen Team at ATLCoopKitchen@gmail.com as soon as you can, and no later than September 24. The Board of Directors has asked for a proposal for use of the kitchen and food products to be sold fresh, for immediate consumption. The Kitchen Team is assembling an Initial Use Proposal to help kitchen use get off the ground quickly. We must create an initial plan to ensure that the kitchen is utilized as soon as possible, yet also be able to function without a Kitchen Manager for at least several months. Next year, once food preparation businesses have generated a flow of income to cover kitchen costs, volunteers and members will be expanding the dream. Our shared mission: to use the co-op kitchen to help provide the whole community with healthy, local food.

What do you like to eat? What ideas do you have for how the market can help you and people you know eat more local food? The kitchen, the market, the four tables for eating, and the “tasting counter” will be a fabulous resource. We look forward to your help and ideas!

See you Monday, or communicate with us via the survey or email!

Please help us spread the word about the Community Forum and survey.

Yours in Happy Local Eating,
Peg, Amanda, Hwei-Ling, Tina & Trish
All Things Local Kitchen Team
www.AllThingsLocal.coop
ATLCoopKitchen@gmail.com

Posted in All Things Local links, Dialogues and Conversations, Other Projects | Leave a comment

Effective Collaboration

Posted on September 4, 2013 by

Nick Osborne from the Transition Network in the U.K. coming to Amherst, MA on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 & 22 to give his popular training. Nick is only doing three training weekends in the U.S. and the other ones are in California. The training is very affordable, and spaces are filling quickly. There’s room for only 26 people for the weekend, and 10 for the Training of Trainers one-day course on Monday, Sept. 23.

Effective Groups is a 2-day skills-building training for individuals and teams. It started with Transition Town groups in mind, but evolved into a course on collaboration that has been popular with people doing a wide variety of social change efforts.

Effective Groups is a dynamic and engaging training course which covers key skills for collaboration.
It will help you:

  • Create systems for teams to work effectively together
  • Develop an enjoyable and fair atmosphere to work within
  • Make order in the chaos to find freedom within a structure
  • Utilize diverse perspectives as an advantage instead of a problem
  • Balance achieving goals with keeping your team healthy and effective
  • Manage conflicting needs and paradoxes, both within and outside the team
  • Develop the skills & mindset to cross stony ground without falling out (or over) with each other!

Where & When:
2-day Effective Groups: 9/21&22
1-day Training of Trainers: Monday 9/23

For scholarship info contact:
carolyne@transitionus.org, (707) 824-1554

Costs & Info:
$125 for the 2-day course (max 26 participants)
$125 for the 1-day Training of Trainers
(customized for up to 10 participants)

Info and registration:
http://transitionus.org/event/effective-groups-amherst-ma

About the facilitator:
Nick Osborne, a leading trainer from the UK with the Transition Network, will be in the U.S. to give his 2-day Effective Groups weekend workshop, plus his 1-day Train the Trainer training, in three locations.

The Effective Groups (aka Effective Collaboration) weekend workshop is Nick’s labor of love for Transition Initiatives – helping community-based Transition Initiatives develop stronger group skills. It comes from integrating 20 years experience of working with leadership models in social change projects, intentional communities and Eco-villages, and conventional and cutting edge organizations. The course is open to anyone involved in any kind of social change work, with preference given to groups using the Transition model to inform their work.

The Train the Trainer training on Monday will be for people who already have training and facilitation skills who want to deepen their understanding of the material and use it to train other Transition Initiatives and social change organizations. Participants in the Monday workshop must attend the weekend workshop and meet criteria which demonstrate they are already experienced group facilitators and trainers.

Here’s the buzz about the course:

“The inspiring training helped me massively as I worked with my core team…we grew from a loose bunch of activists dashing around to a neatly knit constituted body capable of receiving grants.”
Ed Mitchell

“We were soon picking up practical tips on welcoming new people into our groups, running shorter and more effective meetings, and coming to decisions which everyone could support”.
Sustainable Brampton

“A very thought-provoking and insightful workshop into the dynamics of what happens when people work together”.
Transition Town Totnes

Posted in Group Process, Reskilling Workshops, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Another Permaculture Event

Posted on August 29, 2013 by

Another HUGE name in permaculture coming to Amherst for a presentation next week. Geoff Lawton is an Australian Permaculturist coming to talk about his latest green projects on September 3rd, 6pm. The event is put on by UMASS, in the Campus Center Room 165-169. See more about it here.

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Edible Garden Bicycle Tour

Posted on August 14, 2013 by

Transition Amherst is co sponsoring an event with Grow Food Amherst and Sustaining Amherst; a tour of some of Amherst’s edible gardens on bicycles.

The tour will take place on Saturday, August 24th – we will leave the north side of Amherst Common at 2 pm sharp, so arrive sooner, like at 1:45 PM. All are encouraged to join along the entire tour, but individuals may select tours at specific locations. No need to register for this event, but don’t be late!

Garden stops are scheduled at the following times/locations:
2:20 PM – 39 Longmeadow Dr (Nancy Karella)
3:00 PM – 44 Beston Street (Gabor Lukacs)
3:40 PM – 483 Montague Rd (Becky Reed)
4:10 PM – 324 Henry Street (David Lovler)
4:30 PM – Potluck at Henry St location

There will be a potluck immediately following the tour beginning at 4:30 PM at the Henry Street location. Contributions to the meal are welcome, but not required. Please contact David Lovler at (617) 733-7577 or via e-mail: howitallvegan@yahoo.com to confirm attendance at the potluck.

See more in a Gazette article as well as on the town’s website

Also, in another event, please join Peg Thibbitts on Thursday, August 22nd in the Large Community Room at the Bangs Center from 6 PM – 8 PM for the second in our summer series of jam making workshops. Enjoy the tastes of summer all season long by learning how to make your own homemade jam. All participants will leave with a jar of jam. Pre-registration is required as participation is limited to twenty individuals. Please contact Stephanie Ciccarello at (413) 259-3149 or via e-mail at ciccarellos@amherstma.gov to register.

Posted in Cargo Bicycling, Reskilling Workshops | Leave a comment