You're invited to The Big Green!

The Sustainable Fox Valley proudly presents The Big Green Sustainable Music Festival.

Excitement is brewing in anticipation of the Fox Valley's first annual Sustainable Music Festival - The Big Green™ - premiering Saturday, August 18 from 12:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at The Kimberly Amphitheater, Sunset Park in Kimberly, WI.

The festival features live music, local food and marketplace, handcrafted beer, and exhibits. We even have crafts and activities for children at "The Kids' Green"!

www.TheBigGreenFest.com

Tickets are $10.00 and include entertainment, The Kids' Green, local marketplace and exhibits. Children under age 13 are free.

Proceeds benefit Sustainable Fox Valley™, a non-profit organization, to further its goals for the Fox Valley Region of Wisconsin.

www.sustainfv.org

With music by:

Ifdakar
Greg Waters and the Broad Street Boogie
Recalcitrant
Josh Harty
Justin Bricco of the Blueheels
Galynne Goodwill

Buy tickets now

ECOS-Fox Valley meeting set for February 2

The February meeting of ECOS Fox Valley will once again be a business and planning meeting around our three major community out-reach projects.

• Up-date on our funding search for the ECOS community web-site refinement, discuss options
• Earth Day Communication Network progress
• Sustainable Video Clip Developments with the Town of Menasha (discuss topics, proposed speakers, and how we will contact each of them)
• Other topics of interest for discussion and future planning

Date: Thursday, February 2nd
Place: Menasha Public Library
Room: Company E Room in the lower level
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
This meeting is free and open to the public

Please call 722-6438 if you have questions!

Meet to explore the future of ECOS-FV, Aug. 4, Menasha

The August 4th Meeting of ECOS-FV will explore the potential of the ECOS organization and discuss a consideration of its dissolution in the near future.

We believe we need to hold this discussion as attendance at our educational presentations and planning meetings have been low for quite some time. People seem to have found other ways to obtain information and show their support for sustainable activities and projects in the community.

Yet we also want to highlight that this end can be averted if we have members that want to “take up the torch of the fire soul” and provide the coalition with new energy and direction. The genesis for such a potential renewal lies in the fact that the ECOS organization has strong name recognition in the Valley, a great communication network, a large e-mail base and a well maintained blog site (thanks to Ed Blume at Renew Wisconsin)!

We sincerely hope to see you and hear your thoughts on this important topic…

Date: Thursday, August 4th
Place: Menasha Library, Company E Room in lower level
Time: 6:30 PM
All meetings are Free and Open to the Public!

ECOS Meeting Agenda – August 4
1) Welcome
2) Review past accomplishments of ECOS
3) Discuss the future of ECOS
4) Adjourn

"Play Again" Documentary Screening - TONIGHT!

Tuesday, July 12th 7:00-8:30pm
Bubolz Nature Preserve Auditorium

"Through the voices of children and leading experts including journalist Richard Louv, sociologist Juliet Schor, environmental writer Bill McKibben, educators Diane Levin and Nancy Carlsson-Paige, neuroscientist Gary Small, parks advocate Charles Jordan, and geneticist David Suzuki, PLAY AGAIN investigates the consequences of a childhood removed from nature and encourages action for a sustainable future.

"It is a powerful film, revealing that we are allowing our young people to be so profoundly disconnected from the natural world and denying them the opportunity to fully develop their senses. How uplifting to see these young adults grow before our eyes under the nurturing and stimulating effects of their wilderness experience. We are left with the redeeming message that it is not too late! We can and must unplug our children, give them the access to the natural world that is so essential to their development, and restore childhood!" Robin Mann, President, The Sierra Club.

The screening is free but seating is limited, so register now to guarantee a spot. Please contact Josh Bray to register or for more information at 920-731-6041 or at www.bubolzpreserve.org

Learn about a Transition Initiative in your community, April 28

Join or start a Transition Initiative in your community

“The Transition Movement is a vibrant, grassroots movement that seeks to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. It represents one of the most promising ways of engaging people in strengthening their communities against the effects of these challenges, resulting in a life that is more abundant, fulfilling, equitable and socially connected.”

Find a transition group near you: http://transitionus.org/about-us

Join us for a presentation:
Transitions
by Eric Lindberg from Transitions ~ Milwaukee

Time: Thursday, April 28 • 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: House of Tawet, Coffee house
601 N. Broadway
Green Bay, WI
________________________________________
Created By Helfenstein Soup Council, inc., Kim Diaz
________________________________________
More Info HOT Stone Soup Evenings Presents: Eric Lindberg from Transitions Milwaukee speaking on the Transitions movement of building sustainable communities with local Resilience, Self-Reliance, Renewable Energy & Cooperation.

http://www.amazon.com/Transition-Handbook-Dependency-Resilience-Guides/dp/1900322188#reader_1900322188

Earth Day Economics: A Green and Prosperous Future

From an article in the Shepherd Express by Doug Booth, a retired Marquette University economics professor, a founder of the Driftless Area Land Conservancy, and author of The Coming Good Boom: Creating Prosperity for All and Saving the Environment Through Compact Living:

The astounding success of the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, under the tutelage of a true Wisconsin hero, Sen. Gaylord Nelson, marked the coming of age of the environmental movement in this country. Environmental victories in the 1970s included the passage of such landmark legislation as the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species acts. Earth Day ushered in a new environmental era, and today the quality of our lives is much improved for it.

Unfortunately, our work remains unfinished.

Our single greatest environmental threat today is global warming brought to us by the burning of fossil fuels to power our cars, heat our homes, grow our food and fabricate and operate all our wonderful consumer gadgets. Scientists tell us that greenhouse gases from fossil fuels act like a "tea cozy" around the Earth, bringing forth dangerous environmental harms reported in the news on a daily basis—a shrinking polar ice cap, rising sea levels, more powerful storms, droughts and wildfires.

Reducing Fossil Fuel Consumption
Bringing global warming to a halt can be accomplished with a simple act—freeing ourselves from the environmental tyranny of fossil fuels. Some will say this is easier said than done, but doing so will bring on what I call a "good boom" that will lift all our boats. The "good boom" will be an economic expansion created through compact urban living, clean energy, more grassland and less corn, green cuisine, letting forests grow old and more. It will also help us address global warming. . . .

Wind and Solar Are the Future's Power Sources
Necessary to moving beyond fossil fuels is a switch to truly clean sources of renewable energy. Notwithstanding Gov. Scott Walker's attempt to bring wind energy to a screeching halt with onerous regulations, both wind and sun are the primary energy sources of the future. For example, California lawmakers recently approved a rule requiring utilities to derive one-third of their power from renewable energy sources within 10 years. As we do more of anything in our economy, its cost inevitably falls. This is happening already for both wind and solar energy. The Great Plains is on track to becoming the Saudi Arabia of wind energy, and throughout the Midwest industrial belt, old factories are quickly being refitted to produce wind generators and solar panels. Despite the naysayers, the wind and solar energy revolution is under way, bringing forth an abundance of new jobs—windsmiths, solar panel installers, weatherization specialists, solar engineers, wind and solar equipment fabricators and, here in Milwaukee, urban farmers.

To be sure, the fossil fuel industry will resist going quietly and will defend to the death its right to pollute the atmosphere without cost. Eventually, the industry will lose this battle and will pay the public piper through some form of a tax on greenhouse gas emissions.

Wild Ones offering two rain barrel workshops, April 30 & May 15

This year Wild Ones is pleased to offer two types of rain barrel workshops at the national Wild Ones WILD Center this spring.

The first type will be presented by Master Gardener Rod Sternhagen at the WILD Center on Saturday, April 30th. Workshops will be approximately two hours long, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Rod will provide hands-on instruction for you to create your own rain barrel. Workshop rain barrels will be 55 gallon drums. The finished rain barrel will have a permeable lid which makes it insect, child, and pet proof. Cost $50/ non-members, $45/Wild Ones members. Includes the barrel and materials.

The second type will be presented by Eric Schmitz of 4Evergreen Ecoscapes on Friday May 15th at 5:30 p.m. This rain barrel will also be a 55 gallon drum and includes the RainReserve diverter system. The rain barrel will be completely enclosed with a diverter for overflow rainwater. Cost $80/non-member and $75/ Wild Ones members. Includes the barrel and materials.

The WILD Center is located at 2285 Butte des Morts Beach Rd, Neenah – just off County Rd BB. For more information go to www.wildones.org/whatsnew.html or call 920-730-3986.

Getting To Zero Waste, March 9

Spoerl Lecture Series in Science and Society

Getting To Zero Waste (or Darn Close!): From baby steps to big leaps at home, work, and Beyond
Anne Peters
President of Greystone Inc. and Member of Zero Waste Alliance
March 9, 7:30pm
Stietz Hall 102

Natural Step Community Circles begin March 1

Natural Step Community Circles
Join in the Conversation!

We are really excited about what we've come up with - a study circle consisting of 5 sessions that hones in on the important concepts of sustainability and brings in local examples rather than spending too much time learning about what happened in Sweden! The next circle begins on March 1st. Circles are limited to 12 people each, so register today!
Use the following link to find out more about Community Circles and to register.

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=pbkvxteab&oeidk=a07e3fbwlxa8d6f1a09

Green (student) thumbs: Moraine Park program focuses on hydroponics

From an article by Sharon Roznik in the Fond du Lac Reporter:

There’s a fresh smell of summer at Moraine Park Technical College — the scent of fragrant herbs, tender leaves of lettuce and stalks of bright green wheat grass.

Culinary art students are gaining green thumbs by growing their own food in Moraine Park Technical College’s new hydroponic garden.

The earthy addition to the college’s culinary arts program is meant to teach students about sustainability and using locally grown foods, said MPTC culinary arts instructor Ron Speich.

“When you look at what’s happening globally, the movement is toward fresh, whole foods. My students are learning to evaluate where products come from,” Speich said.

Gardens have been named the hottest trend in restaurants this year as more chefs involved with the local food movement decide to grow their own tomatoes, herbs and other produce.

Green Bay green drinks meets, Dec. 16

Hello Green Drinker! This Thursday, Dec. 16th from 6-10 PM at Kavarna, join us for Green Drinks. A potential political candidate for county executive may be joining us to share why they are running.

Also, have you checked out New Leaf Market Cooperative yet? Become a founding member today -- www.newleafmarket.org or www.facebook.com/newleafmarket

And don't forget about the Green Book Club that meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 PM at the Daily Buzz (130 E. Walnut Street). See you there! Crystal

Green Bay, WI Green Drinks

"Green Bay Green Drinks" is a monthly 'social gathering' of environmentalists. We meet every third Thursday of the month at Kavarna Coffeehouse, on Broadway.

We start to gather shortly after 6 pm, but don't worry if you can't show up until much later. Peak attendance has been 7:00-9:00 pm so far. The hours you attend will influence who you may meet, however. People come and go all evening until Kavarna closes at 9 pm. Kavarna is a vegetarian coffeehouse/restaurant that sells bottled beers and wine. Soups, salads, chai and juices are among the many other offerings. All ages welcome. Feel free to bring your kids.

If some people suggest that "green" is your middle name, you'll probably find value in Green Bay Green Drinks. At this monthly "happy hour", people who have a passion for anything "environmental" meet for friendly conversation. Since we started in April 2005, we've been visited by folks with a wide variety of interests: science, art, politics, music, film, health, psychology, nutrition to name a few. Many work in an environmental field as professionals, educators, entrepreneurs or neighborhood activists. You never know who will be there! If you look elsewhere on the website www.greendrinks.org, you'll see that "Green Drinks" is an international movement.

See *http://www.kavarna.com for directions to Kavarna at 143 N. Broadway, located on downtown Green Bay's near west side.

You can usually find us in the "downstairs" area. Look for the group with a pile of "green books" on the table. First-timers get a free book! Also, please let Crystal (email below) know that you would like to be added to the email reminder list.

Hosting committee includes Rich Krieg; Crystal Osman, 920-562-2550, crystalosman20[at]gmail[dot]com; Kim Biederman 920.429.9008, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Institute

Town of Menasha firms get first sustainability designations

From an article by Michael King in the Appleton Post-Crescent:

TOWN OF MENASHA — SCA Tissue North America and Miron Construction Co. Inc., neighbors in a westside town business park, were recognized recently by the Town Board for their healthy and sustainable practices.

The firms were the first recipients of the town's Healthy, Sustainable Business Network designation that seeks to recognize and encourage collaborative efforts.

"This is the first in the state of Wisconsin for any business to be recognized as part of a Healthy, Sustainable Business Network," said Margie Weiss of the Weiss Health Group, a sustainability expert serving on the town advisory committee that reviewed business applications.

SCA Tissue has pursued alternative energy (solar and wind turbine) projects at its McMahon Business Park office, where it also works with Miron and McMahon in environmental research and restoration projects.

Students aim to turn pavement to prairie

From an article by Sharon Roznik in the Fond du Lac Reporter:

Some barren land at Fond du Lac High School is set to bloom.

Teens from Margie Winter's environmental science class have taken on the task of restoring school grounds to a natural and native Wisconsin prairie.

On a recent warm day, the students partnered with grade-schoolers from Lakeshore Elementary School to teach them how to "broadcast" seeds — scattering a mix of prairie plants to the wind.

"We love the outdoors and the beauty that surrounds us. As neighbors, it makes sense for us to partner with the high school," said Lakeshore teacher Julie Gedemer.

The project, which includes a walking path, amphitheater and observation deck at the school's east geothermal pond, is being funded by a $47,600 State Farm Insurance Youth Advisory Board Grant, awarded for environmental responsibility.

Earth Charter Oshkosh events kick off this week

This is the 10th anniversary of Earth Charter Summits at UW Oshkosh.

What is Earth Charter? -- It is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century.

We have an entire week's worth of events -- and I though some might be of interest to you. Here’s an abbreviated version of the 2010 Schedule. For more complete descriptions, please visit our web site. http://www.uwosh.edu/earthcharter/summit10.php

Parking will be available in lots 34 and 15 during events.
http://www.uwosh.edu/parking/

Feel free to forward this email to other folks that you think might be interested

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2010
•3:00-6:00 pm Community Garden Fall Clean-up Bash
Come out to help us clean up the garden for winter or just to enjoy some live music and chili.
Contact: Paul VanAuken, vanaukep@uwosh.edu

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2010
Banquet: (Reeve Ballroom, Rm 227)
•5:00-6:00 pm - Local Food Information Fair -- Come learn about local sustainable food during the social hour.

•6:00-7:00 pm - Dinner featuring local, organic food (Ticket required, available at Titan Central A suggested donation at the banquet of $5.00 for students and $15.00 for non-students is appreciated)

•7:00-8:00 pm - Presentation by Rick Brooks -- Start Here: Chart the Earth Beneath Your Feet,,,Walk and Eat Slowly (http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/pda/bios/brooks.htm)
Rick is outreach program manager at UW Madison. Rick brings a background in applied anthropology, community and international development to his current work in sustainability. He is chair of the board of Sarvodaya USA, the support organization for a grassroots empowerment movement in 15,000 villages in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and now, Haiti. He specialized in the facilitation of health and social change. A former Robert F. Kennedy Fellow, he has worked with community service organizations and taught first graders through graduate and continuing education students for more than three decades.
Contact Maureen Muldoon with questions (muldoon@uwosh.edu)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2010
•9:40- 11:10 am Green Jobs Panel (Reeve Union 214)
Contact: Jim Feldman, feldmanj@uwosh.edu

•4:45-5:45 pm - Fair Trade speaker (Reeve Union Theater)
Jean Johnson will talk about SERRV, one of the largest Fair Trade vendors in the country.
Contact: David Barnhill, barnhill@uwosh.edu

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2010
•10:00 am-2:00 pm - Bicycle Commuting Tips (Reeve Concourse)
Contact: Misty McPhee, mcpheem@uwosh.edu

•2:30-4:00 pm- UWO Bike Club Community Ride (meet at Student Rec & Wellness Center)
Contact: Greg Batten, batteng@uwosh.edu

•4:00-6:00 pm - Public Meeting on UWO's bicycle and pedestrian plan (Reeve 202)
Contact: Mike Lizotte, lizotte@uwosh.edu

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010 (Reeve Theater, 3rd Fl)
•4:30-5:30 pm - Returned Peach Corps Volunteers Panel
Contact: Maureen Muldoon, muldoon@uwosh.edu

•6:00-7:30 pm - Film: The Dark Side of Chocolate, sponsored by SEAC
Contact: Robyn Anderson, anderr91@wosh.edu

•7:30-8:30 pm - American Democracy Project Debate
Contact: David Litman, litmad33@uwosh.edu

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2010
HOMECOMING!
•11:00 am - Tour de Titan. Hop on your bike for a ride to promote a bike-friendly Oshkosh. Cyclists depart from the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and end at Tent City.

•11:30 am-1:30 pm - Pre-game Celebration at Tent City. Come visit the Campus Sustainability Council/Earth Charter tent.

Maureen Muldoon
UW-Oshkosh
Dept. of Geology
800 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901-8649

phone: 920-424-4461
FAX: 920-424-0240
email: muldoon@uwosh.edu
http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/muldoon/

Howard's efforts toward sustainability recognized

From an article by Malavika Jagannathan in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

HOWARD — The village is getting closer to becoming more energy efficient and practicing sustainable development.

The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, a membership organization of local governments committed to environmental protection, recognized the village for its work to chronicle its greenhouse gas emissions for a year.

Howard is the second municipality in Wisconsin, after Madison, to achieve this standing in the group's five-step milestone program.

Seven Wisconsin communities are a part of this organization: Fitchburg, Howard, Madison, Marshfield, Milwaukee, Oshkosh and Racine.

Municipalities are asked to calculate greenhouse gas emission for a base year and a forecast year from all municipal operations, including buildings, streetlights, motor vehicles and wastewater treatment facilities.

Howard's report shows that vehicle transportation makes up most of the village's carbon footprint, making up about 53 percent of the 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emitted from village sources.

RENEW president and tech college's Green-to-Go trailer head to Energy Fair, June 18-20

Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) instructor Jenny Heinzen, also president of RENEW Wisconsin, will present two workshops - Basic Electricity for Women and Wind Basics for Women -- at the Energy Fair, June 19, Custer, WI.

In addition, LTC will display its Green to Go trailer:

Continuing its commitment to be a regional leader in sustainability training, Lakeshore Technical College has developed Green to Go, a mobile demonstration and training unit that will reach the community through education, customized training and community outreach. The unit was adapted from a donated FEMA mobile trailer, and features demonstrations in sustainable lighting, plumbing, flooring and heating options.

With help from local industry partners like Orion Energy Systems, Kohler Company, Arch Electric, Dulmes Décor and others, LTC will use Green to Go to expose a larger audience to the benefits of sustainable living and the supporting educational and training opportunities at LTC. These partnerships benefit all parties and play an important role in furthering sustainable energy in Northeast Wisconsin.

Green to Go reaches the community in the following ways:
+ Education. Green to Go provides a training platform for apprentice- and journey-level trade workers, students in LTC programs, and the general public to acquire skills and knowledge in sustainability and renewable energy concepts and systems. In this application, the trailer serves as a workable hands-on platform where the instructor and students can install and remove different systems and components.
+ Customized Training. Green to Go offers a training solution to local businesses and industries — including construction, plumbing and electrical contractors — working with emerging energy and water efficiency products. In an effort to meet employer needs, training programs are convenient in time and location, delivering skills on-site and in a customized manner.
+ Community Outreach. Green to Go also serves as an idea-generator for sustainable homes and businesses, exposing the community to services in sustainability while highlighting the products and services of LTC’s Green to Go industry partners. The mobile unit can travel to local schools, businesses and community events to introduce attendees to these concepts.

Green teams work at work

Bill McKibben leads list of Energy Fair keynote speakers, June 18-20

From the announcement of keynote speakers for the Energy Fair of the Midwest Renewable Energy Associaiton:

On Saturday, June 19, 2010, join us to hear an inspirational keynote address from noted environmentalist, activist and author, Bill McKibben. Bill is the founder of 350.org, an international climate campaign. He frequently writes about global warming, alternative energy, and the risks associated with human genetic engineering. Beginning in the summer of 2006, he led the organization of the largest demonstrations against global warming in American history.

Bill has written many books including The End of Nature and is a frequent contributor to various magazines including The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, Orion Magazine, Mother Jones, The New York Review of Books, Granta, Rolling Stone, and Outside. He is also a board member and contributor to Grist Magazine. Bill has a new book out, Eaarth, that details how we can't continue the unsustainable consumer culture and gives us hope for a more sustainable future.

Visit Bill McKibben's website to learn more.

Dodge County farming couple who emphasizes environmentalism

From an article by John Oncken in The Capital Times:

"We've always been conservation minded because the soil is so important to us. The soil is our strength. We know that you can't abuse the soils and get good yields. It's always been our goal to try and have the best soils we can."

That's how Nancy Kavazanjian, who with her husband Charles Hammer farm some 1,800 acres in Dodge county, explains their approach to farming. Pure and simple, their motto is "Our Soil, Our Strength."

Charlie Hammer, a fourth generation farmer on this land east of Beaver Dam, and Nancy Kavazanjian, a city girl from Long Island, New York, have put their beliefs into action during the 30 years of their marriage:

• Practiced no-till farming since 1985.

• Use a three-crop rotation of corn, soybeans and wheat to maintain fertility and organic matter in their soils.

• Were early users of precision agriculture with a Global Positioning System that meant grid soil sampling, fertilizer and chemical monitoring, efficient wheel traffic during field work and minimal soil compaction.

The environmentally minded couple have proved themselves over and over with their innovative farming methods and cooperation with environmental agencies.

Their latest move was the erection of a wind turbine that is quietly making green electricity every minute the wind is moving. The 120-foot tower, appearing similar to the farm windmills ever spinning on most Midwest farms prior to the advent of electricity, began making electricity in September 2009.

How to grow a corporate garden, February 11, Neenah

Click on image to enlarge.