Post Oil Solutions

Meeting Summary

April 11, 2007

Present: Travis, Dora, Jane, Walter, Janet, Steve, Tim, Sherry

New Participants: Leon, Eric, (SIT students writing grant for POS) John Wilmerding – Ayllumanta Fair Trade Advocacy Group

Guests: Meg Lucas & Barbie Schrieber

Sharing & Announcements:

• John Wilmerding: Ayllumanta, the Fair Trade Advocacy group is very aware of and in sync w/POS work. Starting campaign "Buy Local, Buy Fair" and will be bringing proposal to Slectboard. Looking at models in place in other cities for similar campaign. Ayllumanta will have a booth at Strolling of the Heifers event in June. John describes their primary goal as consumer education, promoting knowledge that the choice of what you do with your dollars has ramifications locally and worldwide either supporting or not supporting oppression. Collaborative possibilities with POS, with GEAG on food education related to GMO issues.
• Step It Up – Calling on everyone to be there this Saturday! Weather may move all events indoors (to the Stone Church) but it will be happening.
• Walter reported on making a connection between Mountain Home Park and Hervey Scudder to explore including district heating piping with water/sewer piping work that is about to happen.
• Dora reported that West Brattleboro plan is about to be adopted by the village. One piece included is a ban on formula stores. They have to do some more research on related issues including defining just what is their definition of a formula store. Stay Tuned!

Old & New Business:

Saxtons River Greenhouse Building proposal (Meg & Barbie)

• Build affordable hoop greenhouses (@/under $100)
• Will be structured along the idea of Amish barn raisings – perhaps 5 teams to build and work together pool resources and labor.
• researching sources for materials
• Would the Land Trust or Habitat for Humanity be source for some funding and/or would residents be interested in participating.
• Keeping ground warmer/longer gives us more growing time, out latitude is similar to France but we get the cool air down from Canada making the difference.
• Sherry & Tim, Meg & Barbie, perhaps 1 or 2 others will go in for models, do first models to work it out. Dora, Jane, Travis also interested – all will set up a time to meet
• Woman in Chestnut St area of Brattleboro has land and will offer use of it for a community use greenhouse
•  
www.ediblelandscaping.com a catalog resource for edible plants we can grow here

Permaculture Workshop

• Janet Bailey is interested in hosting a Permaculture class series at Fair Winds Farm

Cindy Hellmann suggested a do-it-yourself-bike care workshop

Pliny Park

• POS has agreed to take responsibility for the vegetation in the park as an outreach opportunity for POS in the community.
• We need to decide on the fundraising for the plants, or partnership with BAFM or other local business
• Bob Stevens & family have been tending the garden to now, are interested in continuing to work on the plants with POS
• Sign indicating POS Community Garden project and use letter in Reformer to thank individuals/businesses who donate.
• Dora will get back to the group at our next meeting Wed May 2 with a plan

SIT Students doing grant writing for POS Community Gardens

• Leon & Eric briefed those present on their work then had to get back to class
• Jane has applied for a mini grant for each of the 3 sites last week. $250 for Upper Dummerston site, also $500 each for the 2 new sites.

Suggestion from John Wilmerding, to co-sponsor Marty Strange as a guest speaker.

• Forum schedule is filled through 07, could look at next year or set up as a special event

POS 2nd year anniversary party –

• discussed location and date options (Fair Winds Farm top choice, Tim will check with Bekah)
• Sunday June 10th preferred date
• Plan to invite other groups such as VEI, WEC, Fair Trade, Brat Climate Protection, etc.

Other Items:

No Idling Campaign will be presented to the select board this coming Tuesday.

Call for anyone interested in Summer Localvore Challenge, meeting in the Co-op Conference Room on Mon Apr 23, 4:30-6:00. 73 Main St (across from Sam’s, next to Windham Art), Brattleboro Food Co-op conference room

All are pleased to see that the Co-op is responding to the call for leadership on Local Food

Good attendance at last night's Community Garden meeting. Biointensive workshop, (Sat. Apr 28, 9-noon) is filling up.

Retreat Farm

• Janet wonders about vegetables being grown there for the community, locating a root cellar and canning facility, etc, making this a true community asset. Discussion followed noting the discouragement from farming community on how all of this has played out. Has Windham Foundation violated public trust in use of the land/funds? Are there environmental concerns related to the West River & Conn. River Watersheds with conventionally grown corn and the chemicals/pesticides/fertilizers, etc. Is the Retreat Meadows a protected wetlands?
• Steve raised issue of the nature of pesticides used for corn, and if the land is not the farmer own land, there is no incentive to care for the land – i.e. crop rotation since successive corn crops will seriously deplete the soil. Are there limits on how long he can grow corn? Will sustainable crop rotation plan be followed?
• John asked if POS has a position on VT Dairy Farms. Tim responded from the perspective of concern for loss of farms which could be part of local food production.

Next POS Business Meeting

Wed, May 2, 2007

7pm

Room 211

Paramount Bldg.

Next Community Forum

Wed, April 18, 2007

7 PM

Marlboro College Graduate Center

See info in Events listings