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Hello to All - We're issuing the April newsletter a little early as there are spring events being held in the next few weeks.
Thank You - To all who participated in our Winter Green-Themed Film series at the MREA. We had an excellent turnout and much lively discussion following the films. Our last film, Mad City Chickens, was attended by approximately 40 folks! A great way to end the series.
Sustainable Stockton Website Update - An updated/enhanced Sustainable Stockton website is now live. Take a minute to look at the new site www.sustainablestockton.org. Anyone can view all sections of the site. Additional drop down menus, a carbon calculator, and access to find a forgotten name and/or password (for registered users) have been added to the site. We hope you like the new look of our site.
You will note some changes in the Goods and Services section:
--If you have lost your paper copy of the Find It In Stockton Directory, you can now go on-line and get a "printer friendly" table of the directory list. This on-line table will always be up to date. You can access this table by clicking the "printer friendly" link at the top right of the Goods and Services page.
The printer friendly table of listings has a maximum limit of 300 characters in the description area. (You will have to view the complete description on-line if longer than 300 characters.)
--You can no longer search in the Goods and Services Section for an item such as "beef." But you can access the printer friendly table of listings and use the "find" feature to search the document for the word "beef," as you would any Word document.
--If you wish to enter a new listing to the Goods and Services listings, you will have to register onto the site.
Upcoming Events:
Next Meeting Gathering - Our next meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 6th at the Town of Stockton Municpal Building.
WIN FREE LOCAL FOOD!
Win Free Local Food - Central Rivers Farmshed, a local, non-profit organization, is sponsoring a short-essay writing contest open to all residents of Portage County. Two winning contestants will each receive a $225 voucher for use in purchasing a membership (share) in a local CSA farm this summer. CSA members receive a weekly box of fresh, local produce throughout the growing season. You can find the application and more information about the contest at www.farmshed.org . Information packets can also be picked up at the Plover and Stevens Point Public Libraries.
The deadline for contest applications is April 13th. Essays will be judged according to their understanding of the benefits that CSAs provide to the environment, personal health and the community. Information about these topics will be included in the packets. The top six essays will be entered into a drawing and two winners will be randomly selected during the Earth Day Festival at Boston School Forest on April 22nd , 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. For more information on the BSF Earth Day Festival go to www.wisp.k12.wi.us/bsf.
Lake Survey Opportunity - Over the last year Nancy Turyk, UWSP Water Resource Scientist, and others have been working with communities and citizens in Portage County to develop lake management plans. Next month they will begin work in Stockton to develop plans for Bear, Adams, and Thomas Lakes. As part of the planning process, they currently have surveys open for these lakes. The surveys have been sent to landowners in the lakes' watersheds but all that are interested in sharing their opinions about the lakes are welcome to take the surveys. If you are interested, you would need to contact
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for a copy.
Seed Collection/Exchange - Are you interested in learning how to collect vegetable or native plant seeds for your own use or to exchange with others in our area? Then come to an organizational meeting on Thursday, April 8 at 7 p.m. in the Pinery Room of the Portage County Library in Stevens Point. People of all levels of experience are encouraged to attend. We will discuss the basics of seed saving and organize a seed exchange for next fall. If you have seeds you're willing to share now, please bring them along. Questions? 715. 592.4423
Upcoming MREA Workshops -
Energy Efficient Construction, March 20, MREA, Custer 9-5 http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=810913
This workshop will cover the basics of energy efficient and environmentally-friendly construction, including site analysis, passive solar design strategies, super-insulated frame construction techniques, sustainable building materials, renewable heating systems and mechanical systems.
Sustainable and Natural Building, March 21, MREA, Custer 9-5 http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=808956
Come to the MREA to learn about different types and styles of alternative construction and to learn about sustainable building and decision making. The purpose of this class is for people to reconnect with the materials that surround them and regain the knowledge about local, healthy, natural material use and selection and appropriate regional wall systems.
Introduction to Cordwood Construction, March 27, MREA, Custer 9-5 http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=808941
In this one-day workshop, students will learn how to employ "Best Practices" with cordwood construction.
Basic Photovoltaics, April 1, MREA, Custer 9-5 http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=807649
This 8-hour course usese a combination of lecture and classroom activities to teach the basics of photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Healthy Home Renovations, April 3, MREA, Custer 9-5 http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=808959
The home of your dreams can be healthy, inexpensive, and a sustainable reality. All it takes is foresight, creativity, and basic skills.
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