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Networking event brings local farmers and energy experts together

The Massachusetts Farm Energy Program (MFEP), a project of Berkshire-Pioneer RC&D, celebrated the release of the Massachusetts Farm Energy Best Management Practices Guide with a Farm Energy Networking Event on Monday, October 17th at Bramble Hill Farm in Amherst, Mass. This event linked farmers with energy experts and resources, including state and federal agencies, installers, vendors, and public utilities to initiate on-farm energy projects. This event linked farmers with energy experts...

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CISA Emergency Farm Fund

This week, CISA and partners launched the CISA Emergency Farm Fund, a revolving loan fund designed to help farmers recover from Hurricane Irene. The Fund will offer quick, zero-interest loans to assist farmers and farm businesses in the aftermath of the storm and flooding. Thanks to an anonymous donor who has put up a $50K match, CISA hopes to raise at least $100K for the fund, which will help farmers now and in the future. CISA’s partners, Whole Foods Market, Equity Trust, and the anonymous...

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N2N Green Victory in Holyoke City Council

The transition from coal to green jobs has begun! After months of planning, education, and outreach, “Action for a Healthy Holyoke,” a coalition which includes Neighbor to Neighbor, won our first victory in our campaign to shut down coal and bring in green jobs!   On Tuesday, the Holyoke City Council unanimously voted to pass a resolution to form a Community Advisory Group that will conduct a study on potential future uses of the Mt. Tom coal plant site.  The coal plant is the...

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Thai Labor Leader Luncheon

Please accept this invitation to meet Jittra Cotshadet over lunch on Friday October 28 at the Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council, 640 Page Boulevard, Springfield (get directions here). Please reserve your seat now (no later than noon, October 27) by replying to wmjwj@wmjwj.org or calling the Labor Council, (413) 732-7970. Over the course of the past three years, Ms. Cotshadet has become a well-known labor activist in Thailand.  Her work as the President of the Triumph International Thailand...

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Massachusetts Farm Disaster Recovery Fund established

Severe weather this summer brought devastation to many Massachusetts farms. Making a bad situation worse, hundred year flooding from Tropical Storm Irene washed away farmlands, farms, livelihoods, families, and in some cases large chunks of rural communities. Coping with a tragedy of this magnitude demands a full court press. The Commonwealth’s agricultural community has reacted swiftly to this tragedy and established the Massachusetts Farm Disaster Recovery Fund, a charitable initiative...

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Clean Energy Connections – November 2, 2011

2011 Clean Energy Connections Plan to attend this premier cleantech networking andbusiness development event…Building on Success. REGISTER TODAY! Early Registration Ends on Oct 25 _____________________________________ SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED: Creating Cleantech Regional Innovation Clusters – Jim Robbins, Silicon Valley, CAReflections from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory – Walter Musial, Golden, CO Concurrent sessions:o A View from the Summits: The Confluence of Clean Energy Economic...

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Education for sustainability; a holistic philosophy

Education for Sustainability …will require the integration of thinking and feeling, mind and body, science and spirit, knowledge and values, head and heart. My last blog announcing a new certificate in Sustainable Food and Farming at the University of Massachusetts resulted in lots of inquiries.  While most were about specific courses and requirements, some asked about the pedagogy and underlying philosophy of our new program.  This blog attempts to describe the thinking that went into...

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NRCS publishes handbook to help you understand several conservation programs

Massachusetts farmers and forest land owners considering looking for financial and technical help from NRCS  now have a resource to help them understand what’s involved in applying for and participating in several federal conservation programs. “Understanding the 2008 Farm Bill Conservation Programs” is an eight-page handbook that walks landowners through the entire process from conservation planning to submitting an application to signing the contract, and beyond. · Read...

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USDA announces sign-up dates for conservation programs in Massachusetts

NRCS has announced three rounds of funding for four conservation program in Massachusetts. These federal programs, authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill, provide financial and technical help to farmers and forest land owners to protect soil, water and other natural resources. The assistance is available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA), and the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), all...

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Recycling Rally for Textiles, Confidential Papers, and Electronics

Recycling Rally for Textiles, Confidential Papers, and Electronics The Northampton Department of Public Works is sponsoring a recycling event on Saturday October 15th, in cooperation with the Salvation Army, Pro-Shred and JFK Middle School PTO. The event will be held at the JFK Middle School from 9 to noon.   Free Textile Recycling: The Salvation Army will be on hand to accept old textiles that can be reused as polishing cloths, carpet padding, building materials and fibers for insulation and...

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