Restoration Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Save the Bay, Oakland

Job Title: Restoration Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
Organization: Save The Bay
Location: Oakland
Salary: $35,000-$40,000
FT Regular

Job Description:
The Community and Outreach Coordinator is responsible for recruiting and engaging thousands of volunteers to participate in wetland restoration service programs. The Coordinator will engage the community in Save The Bay’s work to protect the San Francisco Bay by strategically marketing programs to recruit new volunteers; targeting partnership opportunities; participating in key Community-Based Restoration events; and coordinating sign ups and program logistics. This includes public Community-Based Restoration programs, outings for private and corporate groups, and occasional community outreach events. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who has strong customer service and organizational skills and is passionate about protecting and restoring the San Francisco Bay. This position reports to the Habitat Restoration Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Marketing and Development:
• Lead program marketing and outreach efforts to current and new audiences to ensure program goals are met;
• Work with the Communications and Development Departments to identify areas and volunteers that help Save The Bay achieve organizational goals and determine outreach strategies accordingly;
• Prepare all event-related materials, including trip packets and volunteer confirmation information;
• Coordinate and implement strategic outreach on Web site, community calendar postings, and other tactics to fill public programs;
• Identify and cultivate community fundraising leads in coordination with Development Department;
• Represent Save The Bay at corporate and community outings as needed;
• Develop and implement follow-up strategies with program participants to further engage them in Save The Bay’s work.

Program Coordination:
• Provide exceptional customer service and coordinate paperwork and follow-up strategies for all potential, current, and past participants;
• Maintain records of trips, contacts, volunteers, invoicing, and program statistics for outreach, grant proposals, reports and annual work plans;
• Provide program statistics and analysis quarterly and annually for department planning and management;
• Develop new and strengthen existing pathways between restoration programs and other Save The Bay programs, membership and involvement.
• Serve as the primary liaison between participants and other staff, providing excellent costumer service on the phone and through email, answering inquiries and signing up participants.

QUALIFICATIONS
• Undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S.) in ecology, environmental studies, marketing or other applicable field.
• Excellent phone manner, speaking skills and customer service.
• Detail-oriented with a high degree of reliability in managing data and records using Excel.
• Computer proficiency with Windows software package and Internet research applications.
• Flexibility to work occasional weekends.
• Must present evidence of clean driving record, proof of auto insurance, valid California’s driver’s license and submit to a criminal background check.
• Ability to set appropriate priorities, meet deadlines, manage multiple projects and relationships simultaneously
• Ability to work effectively with teams and diverse individuals

Highly desirable
• Two-three years professional experience in communications and marketing, volunteer recruitment and coordinating logistics large-scale volunteer programs.
• Two to three years experience in leading high quality outdoor environmental education programs and/or habitat restoration projects
• Knowledge of basic Bay ecology, wetland habitats, and California native plants


How to Apply:
The position is open until filled. Salary: $35,000-$40,000 depending upon experience, plus excellent benefits.

Woman and people of color are encouraged to apply. EOE

Email resume and cover letter to Darcie Collins, Habitat Restoration Director:
Darcie@savesfbay.org
Subject Line: Restoration Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator search

Or mail it to:
Restoration Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator search Save The Bay 350 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 900 Oakland, Ca 94612

Organization Web Site: www.savesfbay.org/jobs

Email replies to: darcie@savesfbay.org

Brooklyn Food Conference: Local Action for Global Change

Brooklyn Food Conference: Local Action for Global Change

A grassroots event for a just, sustainable, healthy and delicious food system


~ Saturday, May 2, 2009 ~ 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. ~

Free and Open to the Public

~ PS 321 & John Jay High School, 7th Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn, N.Y. ~



BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – Rising grocery bills, food riots, and childhood obesity - Food hits home. Food activists, local farmers, health advocates, academics, union leaders and restaurateurs will gather this day with concerned citizens to discuss the changes and challenges in our global food economy and how it impacts our communities. Workshops and speeches will provide education and networking opportunities for individuals to get involved to improve our diet, health and environment.

The Brooklyn Food Conference will have more than 50 partners participating, including Just Food, Slow Food NYC, and The Children’s Aid Society. Key-note speakers include well-known activists Dan Barber, executive chef and owner of Blue Hill Restaurant, and a leader of fair trade development and healthy food, Anna Lappé, co-founder of the Small Planet Institute and the author of Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen; Raj Patel of the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System; as well as LaDonna Redmond, head of the Institute of Community Resource Development in Chicago.

Children and teenagers are invited to participate in educational activities such as cooking classes, and arts activities. A New Orleans-style parade with massive puppets will kick off the day.

The conference will expand community awareness on the policies and issues impacting the way our food is grown, distributed and eaten. Topics will explore the politics behind farming and the food supply, as well as the effect of corporate and government policies on labor, nutrition, production, and programs such as school lunches.

It also seeks to increase individual and family participation in our communities by proposing strategies and tactics for a local response to the important issues surrounding the food we eat. A Legislative Food Agenda will be proposed to help position Brooklyn as a stage for change in the global food movement and to advocate for food democracy.

The conference will be free to all participants. Donations from individuals and funding from foundations and food companies are welcome.

About the organizers:

Founded in 1973, the Park Slope Food Coop is the country’s largest member-owned and operated grocery store in the country with over 15,000 members. http://www.foodcoop.com/

World Hunger Year is a leading advocate for innovative, community-based solutions to hunger and poverty. WHY challenges society to confront these problems by advancing models that create self-reliance, economic justice, and equal access to nutritious and affordable food. http://www.yhunger.org/

The Caribbean Women’s Health Association was founded in 1982, and provides access to health related services for low income and indigent populations, and assists immigrants in adjusting to their new host environment. http://www.cwha.org/

Brooklyn Rescue Mission Inc. is a community-based organization in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn that develops creative solutions to food justice, community health and the economic challenges our community endures on a daily basis. http://brooklynrescuemission.org


Brooklyn’s Bounty is a coalition of farmers markets in Brooklyn, mostly in communities of color. Its mission is to provide healthy food to Brooklynites and increase awareness of health, environmental and justice issues in the food system in our Borough. http://www.brooklynsbounty.org/

Rural Sociology Graduate Program

Please forward this announcement to prospective students as appropriate regarding an opportunity for prospective Master's students with interests in sustainability across a range of food, agricultural, and environmental dimensions. Core training is in the field of rural sociology, although the program is flexible and encourages diverse coursework across disciplines. We have one fellowship available for study for a Master's degree beginning in Fall, 2009. Applications are due by January 2, 2009.

“Training in Sustainable Sciences Through an Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in
Rural Sociology (IGPRS)”

Fellowship Opportunity for Master’s Students Global warming, biotechnology, obesity and famine, loss of farmland, water shortages, organic and local food systems, the loss of rare animal species, fair trade coffee, deforestation, geopolitical struggles over oil and gas supplies, and desertification – these are some of the major issues of our time. They raise important questions about how we should organize the relationships between people, society and the natural resources and environments upon which they depend. The Training in Sustainable Sciences Through an Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Rural Sociology (IGPRS), a new fellowship opportunity addresses these and many other topical issues. The program will cultivate a new and diverse generation of scholars committed to and capable of a broad understanding of the four primary dimensions of food and agricultural systems: social responsibility, environmental compatibility, economic viability, and production efficiency.

The goal of the master’s degree fellowship is to train skilled, engaged, committed scholars who will make use of and contribute to the food and agricultural system by engaging in basic and applied interdisciplinary research and policy making and analysis. It is targeted at two primary audiences: those wishing to pursue a career in food, agricultural, and environmental sciences; and those wishing to do further academic study and research on these topics.

The fellowship opportunity is distinctive in several ways:
- First, it builds on the concept of the ecological paradigm, which considers the whole spectrum of approaches to food, agricultural, and environmental systems – consisting of social responsibility, environmental compatibility, economic viability, and production efficiency.
- Secondly, the IGPRS makes the connections between the dimensions of the paradigm and social spheres where innovation, adoption and policy-making appear - such as production, distribution and consumption.
- Finally, the program is highly interdisciplinary and will expose students to ideas and practices developed in a range of subject areas rather than one alone.

The Social Responsibility Initiative (SRI) invites recent undergraduate degree holders in the fields of sociology, agriculture, economics, biological and environmental sciences and other related fields to apply for a two-year master’s degree fellowship in Rural Sociology focused on the interdisciplinary nature of food, agricultural, and environmental issues.

The IGPRS fellowships cover tuition, stipend ($18,000 per year), and benefits for the duration of a 2-year master’s program in Rural Sociology. Academic standards must be met to maintain eligibility. One fellowships is available for studies beginning Fall, 2009. Fellowships are restricted to U.S. citizens or nationals of the United States. Candidates must have completed their bachelor’s degree by the time of appointment. For application materials go to the Ohio State University Graduate

School admissions website at http://gradadmissions.osu.edu/. As part of the application process, you will be asked to send your transcripts, three letters of reference, and a statement of interest in this fellowship opportunity directly to the Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Committee Chair (208 Ag. Admin. Building, 2120 Fyffe Rd., Columbus OH 43210-1067).

Additional information is available about the SRI and the Rural Sociology Graduate Program by visiting: http://www.sri.osu.edu and http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~hcrd/rural_sociology/index.php

For more information about admission to the Rural Sociology Graduate Program, contact: Professor Linda Lobao, Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Committee Chair (lobao.1@osu.edu).
For additional information about the IGPRS fellowships, contact: Molly Bean Smith, Research Associate, Social Responsibility Initiative (bean.21@osu.edu).

Jeff Sharp

Rural Sociology Program

Dept. of Human and Community Resource Development

The Ohio State University

254 Ag. Admin Building

2120 Fyffe Road

Columbus, OH 43210

work:(614)292-9410 e-mail:Sharp.123@osu.edu

Environmental Justice Community Organizer position

Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island (EJLRI)
Community Organizer


The Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island (EJLRI) seeks an experienced community organizer who is ready to take on responsibility for developing the CARE Alliance in Providence, RI and for building the strength of our organization. CARE stands for Community Action for a Renewed Environment, a project to assess environmental justice issues in Providence and developing a plan to address them.

Duties Include:

* Identifying and recruiting new members by planning and implementing outreach strategies and building relationships. This will include outreach to, and collaborations with, a diverse selection of community-based and governmental organizations.
* Organizing, coordinating, and facilitating community meetings and committee meetings.
* Developing and using instruments to measure the effectiveness of all activities related to the CARE Alliance including: recruitment, training, and communication of issues and outcomes.
* Conducting research, maintaining databases, analyzing data, and preparing reports to EPA and EJLRI on the CARE Alliance activities.
* Taking on key roles in developing the overall capacity of the organization.
* Assisting in the development of funding proposals to sustain and expand program activities.
* Assisting with duties such as member renewal, special events, and routine office tasks, as needed.
* Hours will include some evenings and weekends, as needed.



Qualifications Include:

* Experience and passion for working towards social justice and improving the lives of low income and/or minority people.
* Proven experience in the planning, organizing and implementing grassroots advocacy campaigns including effective outreach, recruitment and mobilization techniques and strategies.
* Ability to work independently and cooperatively with volunteers, members, and Board of Directors in a culturally diverse environment.
* Proficiency in another language other than English is a plus.
* Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience in preparing and delivering public presentations.
* Proven team player with effective interpersonal skills, such as leadership and team building.
* Ability to design a work plan, prioritize and meet goals.
* Experience with database systems and grants management highly desirable. Knowledge of Word and Excel programs also desirable.
* Familiarity and/or experience with environmental and public health issues.


Salary for the position is $39,000/year plus health benefits. This position is funded for 2 years. Start date projected for November 10, 2008. Send resume and cover letter (preferably by email) by October 15, 2008 to:

Personnel Committee
c/o ECRI
PO Box 9061
Providence, RI 02940
resume@ejlri.org

The Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island (EJLRI) is an alliance of individuals and organizations working together to promote environmental justice (EJ) in Rhode Island through advocacy, education, networking, organizing, and research. The Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island developed out of the Providence Environmental Justice Forum, which had held a series of education meetings for three years where environmental justice and other environmental activists shared their efforts and built a friendly network. With a $50,000 EPA Healthy Communities grant, we conducted education and outreach activities in Providence on environmental justice, and sponsored a major statewide environmental justice conference in November 2007, attended by 75 people. Conference participants followed up with a meeting in December of 2007, where the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island (EJLRI), was formed. The EJLRI has a vibrant set of people representing a wide range of community-based organizations and health providers, and has much potential to play a leading role in improving environmental health in our state. The EJLRI developed sufficient infrastructure and membership in a short time, enabling us to write a successful EPA CARE grant proposal ($100,000, awarded in 2008). The EJLRI’s first major public presence was at a large press conference/rally in May 2008 at the RI Supreme Court, where an appeal was heard on the RI Attorney General’s nationally significant lead paint suit.
The EJLRI has much of its origins in activism around building schools on contaminated sites in communities of color. In addition to continuing that work, we are engaged in statewide efforts for environmental justice guidelines for brownfields, and for broader environmental justice policies in the state. Through the CARE grant we will conduct a two-year assessment of EJ needs in Providence, and write a larger level-2 CARE grant to attain those needs. We will be presenting our “What is EJ?” slideshow to many civic, educational, and community groups, in order to build broad awareness of EJ. Our membership consists of both unafilliated individuals and activists with specific connection to like-minded organizations. We have an office in the building that houses the Childhood Lead Action Project.

International Affairs Forum - Student Award Contest

ANNOUNCEMENT:

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FORUM
www.ia-forum.org


STUDENT AWARD CONTEST
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

SPRING 2008 AWARD: THE EU AND CLIMATE CHANGE

The European Union is considered to be at the forefront of addressing
climate change in the international arena. Based on your research,
discuss the EU's influence with regard to changing international
attitudes towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a global
priority objective.


Essays should be between 750 and 2500 words, excluding footnotes.


PRIZES:

First Prize $1,000
Second Prize $500
Third Prize $250


Prizes will be awarded for the best essays as judged by IA-Forum
Editorial staff and a distinguished panel of judges. Winners and
finalists may also be published on IA-Forum.


Please read additional contest rules before applying. Use award
research tips for links to organizations and books listings that can
help start your paper.

The deadline for this contest is May 31, 2008.

International Affairs Forum (www.ia-forum.org) is a publication of the
Center for International Relations, a nonpartisan nonprofit
organization.

Contact us at editor@ia-forum.org

Center for International Relations
990 N. Quintana St.
Arlington, VA 22206
703-532-6800

April 3 - Climate Justice Series at Tufts

In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Beverly Wright (Xavier University and the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice) and Ted Glick (U.S. Climate Emergency Council and the Climate Crisis Coalition) will speak on behalf of their work in environmental justice.

Thursday, April 3
Reception from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Rabb Room Lincoln Filene
Lecture at 6:00 p.m., Braker 01

COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT – JOB ANNOUNCEMENT / JOB DESCRIPTION

COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT – JOB ANNOUNCEMENT / JOB DESCRIPTION

Community Survey Coordinator

Position: Consultant - 80% time Duration: 1 year

Supervised by: Program Director Salary: $26,000

Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) is an environmental health and social justice non-profit organization that seeks to achieve environmental health & justice by building grassroots power in and with communities of color and low-income communities.

CBE’s unique three-part strategy provides grassroots organizing, strategic research and legal advocacy to urban communities disproportionately impacted by industrial pollution.

In the midst of a campaign against a massive refinery expansion and at the close of a community-based study testing for the presence of indoor and outdoor sources of toxic exposure, CBE aims to conduct a community health assessment as a critical tool to evaluate neighborhood level health conditions, community needs and resources.

Job responsibilities include:

􀂃 Work with collaborative partners to develop survey design, format and protocol

􀂃 Orient (4) community surveyers & (2) organizers to the survey and provide training on door-to-door

outreach

􀂃 Coordinate implementation of door-to-door survey

􀂃 Organize a community educational forum around breast cancer and the environment

􀂃 Complete an assessment of local resources for breast cancer screening and treatment

CBE seeks a Community Survey Coordinator to oversee implementation of a community health

survey in one of CBE’s target communities adjacent to a large oil refinery and other significant

sources of pollution. Residents of Contra Costa are encouraged to apply.

DESIRED SKILLS & QUALITIES

􀂃 Must have strong people skills, be community friendly and have the ability to engage a broad spectrum of

people representing various social, cultural and professional backgrounds.

􀂃 High accuracy, attention to detail, organization and ability to prioritize multiple tasks.

􀂃 Must have strong time-management skills.

􀂃 Ability to ensure a positive, team-oriented environment.

􀂃 Feels aligned with CBE’s mission and work

􀂃 Willing to work evenings and weekends

EXPERIENCE & JOB REQUIRMENTS

􀂃 Requires previous experience in survey design and/or implementation.

􀂃 Solid understanding of Environmental Justice and commitment to long-term social change.

􀂃 Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

􀂃 Public speaking/presentation experience.

􀂃 Spanish language proficiency.

􀂃 A valid driver’s license, driver’s insurance and access to a reliable vehicle.

TO APPLY

Send résumé with cover letter and include three professional references with phone numbers.

Send email to cperez@cbecal.org and/or mail to the address below:

Communities for a Better Environment

Attn. Carla M. Pérez, Northern California Program Director

1440 Broadway Ste. 701

Oakland, Ca 94612

CBE is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from candidates of every age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and disability status that are committed to Environmental Justice.

Environmental Policy Design MA Program--Lehigh Univ.

We are pleased to announce a new graduate program at Lehigh University in "Environmental Policy Design" and can begin accepting Masters students this coming Fall '08. A short description is attached. For more general information, see the EI web site, or http://www.ei.lehigh.edu/academics/programs/Envma.pdf

The new degree program represents a new, forward-looking approach to environmental policy and should begin to prepare the next generation of scholars and professionals to develop and implement more effective environmental policy than has existed to date.

Please post and/or forward to any current students or practicing professionals who may be interested in this graduate program.

Save the Date: Van Jones at Tufts UEP

Save the Date
Tuesday, April 22, 2008

In celebration of its thirty-five years of graduate education, UEP welcomes Van Jones to Tufts University.

3:30–4:30 p.m. UEP Community Networking Reception–Remis Sculpture Court
4:30–5:30 p.m. UEP Community Dialogue with Van Jones–Balch Arena Theater
(Open to UEP alumni, students, faculty, and staff only)
6:00–7:00 p.m. Van Jones–Public Lecture, Cohen Auditorium
(doors open at 5:45 p.m.)

Tufts University’s Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning (UEP)
will celebrate its 35th anniversary on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 (Earth Day). The special guest
speaker for this event will be civil rights leader and activist Van Jones. Join fellow UEP alumni, faculty, students, and staff at this free event.

RSVP by April 4 for UEP Community Networking
Reception: 617.627.3394 or e-mail uep@tufts.edu.

Van Jones is the founder and board president of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a California-based nonprofit organization that works to prevent youth violence and incarceration. Through its Green-Collar Jobs Campaign, Jones and the center have expanded their work to address global climate change and advance the emerging green economy by lifting people out of poverty through employment and other opportunities in green construction, clean technology, urban agriculture, and energy.

To learn more about Van Jones, go to www.vanjones.net.

Women and Environments Magazine

This looks like an interesting magazine for those interested in how feminism and environmental issues connect: Women and Environments International Magazine. I'd be interested in hearing what others think of it: www.weimag.com.

Recycling + Barter + Social Networking = ...

I found this website called SocialWay which has a great premise, but so far doesn't have a lot of users in the states. (It's freaking huge in India, apparently). Basically, you post items that you either want to loan or give away. They are entered into a searchable database, and other users can look for the stuff they need. When they find your item, you arrange the loan/giveaway/trade! It functions much on the same principle as Freecycle and the Free Stuff section of Craigslist, except it's more graphical -- you actually get to see what you're picking up.

It's not very useful right now, I admit, but if it ever takes off, it's something I'd certainly like to be a part of.

http://www.socialway.com/Init

Attention All Vegans, Vegetarians, and Alt-Energy Fans

For those of you keeping up with news on alternative energy sources, this article may be of interest.

Charred Farm Waste Gobbles Carbon

"Since last year a number of researchers around the world have been interested in reducing CO2 emissions from soil using agrichar.

This charred product is the result of burning biomass without oxygen, a process called pyrolysis."

Cool stuff!

An easy armchair activist thing you can do.

So, I was working at the coffeeshop today and I saw on the back of our Silk Soy cartons that they're doing this cool energy donation thing. You just punch in the UPC code from the carton, and they donate 30 kWh worth of wind energy to one of those energy credit programs that you may have heard Al Gore talking about. It also enters you in a sweepstakes to green-ify your house.

You can enter up to three times a week. Click here, and enter this UPC code:

025293600270

You'll have to put in your personal info (or login if you already have), and you may have to punch in the UPC again.

Pretty cool way to save some serious energy by doing just about nothing!

Those in and around CT: Sustainable Living Fair at UCONN!

Sustainable Living Book Fair & Conference,
UConn Co-op
April 22, 23, 24,
2075 Hillside Road, Storrs, CT. 860-486-5027.

What is it like to live off the grid? Is geothermal heating and cooling
practical for Connecticut residents? How can you eat what's in season
and reduce your reliance on foods that have been transported great
distances? Get the answers to these questions and more at the second
annual Sustainable Living Book Fair and Conference at the UConn Co-op
and on the University of Connecticut campus April 22, 23, and 24.
We all know that we should be living more lightly on the earth so that
there are resources enough for the next generations. We know we should
do our part to ward against global warming. But it is hard to know on a
personal level what you can do and what, with others in your community
you can do together. We've invited experts on a range of topics to speak,
we will be showing films, and we will have displays and lots of books on
everything from solar energy to organic growing to the Local First
Movement. We will be looking at the philosophical and most importantly,
the practical. Attendees will go home with information they can put to
use right away.
Here is a look at what we have scheduled. We have a few more speakers
to confirm, so check back in a few days.

Sunday, April 22, Noon to 6:00 pm.
Earth Day
Noon - FOR KIDS -The Cat In the Hat Visits
Fifty years ago, Dr. Seuss published The Cat in the Hat which has been a
favorite of children ever since. In 1971, Seuss published his most
controversial book, The Lorax that many readers interpreted as his attack
on corporate greed and a strong defense of the environment. The book
has been challenged and banned, loved by children, taught in schools, and
has inspired environmental work and tree planting in the decades since it
first appeared.
Inspired by Dr. Seuss and The Lorax ourselves, we have invited the Cat In
the Hat to appear here in person. We will read The Cat in the Hat and The
Lorax and we'll plant trees that you can take home.
1:00 pm What's Toxic What's Not: Know Your Risk-Safeguard
Your Home
Dr. Gary Ginsberg and Brian Toal, M.S.P.H., authors of What's Toxic What's
Not, will talk about the potentially harmful toxins in our homes and
workplaces. Dr. Gary Ginsberg is the senior toxicologist at the
Connecticut Dept of Public Health. He holds faculty appointments at Yale
and the University of Connecticut Medical Schools. He has published
extensively on children's risks and is a member of several National
Academy of Science panels. He received his Ph.D. in toxicology from the
University of Connecticut and his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of
Buffalo. Brian Toal, M.S.P.H., supervises the Environmental and
Occupational Health Assessment Program in the Connecticut Department
of Health, where he works closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention in preventing community exposures to toxics. This
is an important topic for all of us.
2:00 pm Andrew Sholdudko, singer, songwriter
UConn student Andrew Sholdudko will perform his lively, take-care-of-the
environment song, "Need Your Help" which he composed for UConn's
Environmental Expressions. In the song, Sholdudko begins, "Can't you all
hear what the siren meant. Gotta start saving the environment. Do a little
bit, every little bit that you can. Cuz we're cutting down on the human
lifespan." Andrew will also perform a few other tunes for us.
3:00 pm Living Off the Grid
Baron Wormser, author of The Road Washes Out in Spring: A Poet's
Memoir of Living Off the Grid, will talk about his life in rural Maine far from
power lines and the accoutrements of modern life that many of us cannot
imagine doing without. For 25 years, Wormser, a poet, and his family lived
without electricity or running water. They produced most of their own
food and made do. His account of these years is insightful and a pleasure
to read. Whether you dream of living off the grid yourself, or love books
about country life, you will enjoy meeting Baron Wormser.

Monday, April 23, 8am - 8pm
UConn Celebrates Earth Day
The Eco Huskies and the Office of Environmental Policy will have free bike
tune-ups, hybrid, electric and grease cars, information on water usage
with pyramids of water, Mt. Sneaker, a piece of green roof and more. Visit
their outdoor displays on Fairfield Way and the surrounding areas.
1:00 pm Serving Up the Harvest
Cookbook author Andrea Chesman offers advice and inspiration to all
who want to enjoy fresh, local, seasonal vegetables with every meal. In
her book, Serving Up the Harvest: Celebrating the Goodness of Fresh
Vegetables, she offers recipes that follow three guidelines: "Simple.
Delicious. Harmonized with the growing season." She believes that
vegetables that ripen together taste good together. Her recipes include
such tasty treats as Warm Mushroom Salad, New Potato Salad, Grilled
Chicken and Asparagus Salad, Soy-Sesame Grilled Eggplant, and Everyday
Tomato-Cucumber Salad. Chesman has written many popular cookbooks
including, The Roasted Vegetable, The Vegetarian Grill, 365 Healthful
Ways to Cook Rice, Beans, and Grains, Pickles and Relishes, and Sun Dried
Tomatoes. The Café Co-op will be offering specials from Chesman's
cookbooks.
2:00 - 4:00 pm Turn Old Paper Into New: The Pleasures of
Hand Made Paper
Stop at our paper making station. We will show you how to make
beautiful paper for cards and letters by recycling newspapers, brown
grocery bags, tissue paper, wrapping paper, junk mail, and what have you.
Bring a bit of dryer lint from home to add color and texture to you
creation. Papermaking is an ancient craft that anyone can do.
6:00 pm. Community Supported Energy
Greg Pahl, author of The Citizen Powered Energy Handbook:
Community Solutions to a Global Crisis will talk about Community
Supported Energy. Pahl has been involved in environmental issues for
more than 20 years. In the 1970s he lived "off the grid" in a home in
Vermont with a wind turbine atop an 80-foot steel tower that provided
for his electrical needs. He is a founding member and co-director of the
Vermont Biofuels Association. He has written about biodiesel, wind power,
wood heat, solar energy, heat pumps, electric cars, sustainable forestry
management, and "green" home building materials.
Pahl is also the author of Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy,
Natural Home Heating: The Complete Guild to Renewable Energy Options,
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Saving the Environment and The Unofficial
Guide to Beating Debt.

Tuesday, April 24
2:00 p.m. Building with Awareness: The Construction of a
Hybrid Home
Screening of the award winning video on building a straw bale solar home.
Learn about straw bale walls, post-and-beam framing, adobe thermal
mass walls, passive solar heating and cooling, rubble trench foundations,
roof-framing and insulation, concrete floors, earth plasters for walls,
electrical wiring, photovoltaic systems, rainwater cisterns and more.
3:00 p.m. Virginia Walton: Town of Mansfield Recycling
Manager
In the summer of 2005, after joining the Connecticut Clean Energy
Communities Program, the Town of Mansfield committed to the goal of
having 20% of the town residents signed up for SmartPower by 2010.
Virginia Walton will talk about what this means for the town, the benefits,
and how people can participate. Residents of other towns that do not
already have such a program will also want to hear how the program is
working for Mansfield.
Books for Sustainable Living and displays on various topics will be
available all three days.