Late November 2024 Programs
11/17 - Story Circle #2
11/19 - Hoodwinked #9
11-/20 - Hoodwinked #10
11/23 - Wildcraft Gourmet Foods
11/24 - Story Circle #3
11/26 - Hoodwinked #11
Localization, Sufficiency, Resilience
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BALE (Building A Local Economy) sees its work, along with many other inspiring collaborators, as building new resilient models grounded in a new story of how we live on the Earth. We know we have so much to learn, and seeing that so much creativity is awakening in this time, we focus on such things as gratitude, conscious living and valuing what is important to the human spirit (which we know is not money… and not scarcity). Deep change awareness, grieving a broken world, facing our traumas, and being engaged in community with hands-on solutions.
Hoodwinked in the Greenwashed Mountains
Why Vermont Gets
Climate Action Wrong
Biomass... carbon credit schemes like payments for ecosystem services... even green technologies like wind, solar and batteries. Not that many years ago, I imagined that these would help tamp down the rapid march toward 1.5 degrees Celsius and lead us to a less dire climactic outcome. The mainstream media and other communication forms that exist today cheerfully amplify such messages (be that social media on earnest environmental groups offering educational programs) and portrayed what, we now know today are, largely, just the next round of inadequate or, more often than not, false solutions on the path toward a catastrophic future. The in-person (and taped) Hoodwinked series continues the hard and often unpopular views at three programs at the Vermont Law and Graduate School in the month of November. Everyone is welcome to this free series presented by BALE (Building A Local Economy), White River node of 350Vermont, Environmental Justice Law Society, Energy Law Society and Environmental Law Society at Vermont Law and Graduate School.
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* Biomass is a False Solution – Tue., Nov. 19 from 12:45-2 PM; Hoff Lounge in Oakes Hall
Presenter: Cheryl Joy Lipton of 350Vermont, Standing Trees and Stop VT Biomass. This presentation will discuss why burning wood for energy is a false solution. She will cover the proposed biomass facility at Lyndon, Vermont, the McNeil plant in Burlington, and other types of biomass facilities in the state, and why biomass facilities contribute to greenhouse gas pollution and health problems.
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* Carbon Credits and Payments for Ecological Services (PES) – Wed., Nov. 20 from 12:45-2 PM; Hoff Lounge in Oakes Hall
Presenters: Cat Buxton, founder and Board member of Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition. This presentation will discuss why PES fails to contribute to mitigating greenhouse gas pollution in the atmosphere. Commodification of nature, unreliable carbon assessments and benefits to polluters and Wall Street. Cat will be joined by Earl Hatley. Alternatives will be discussed that could benefit farmers and landowners.
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* A Low Carbon Energy Future for Vermont – Tue., Nov. 26 from 5:30-7 PM; The Multicultural Center, 182A Chelsea Street
Presenter: Earl Hatley, Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi/Shawnee/Cherokee), President of Ottauquechee Water Protectors Association. This presentation will build off the False Solutions of previous Hoodwinked Series presentations and describe what we can do in Vermont to build a low carbon energy system and ensure a Just Transition for low income/BIPOC communities. A look at legislative and rule making strategies that could get us there will be discussed.
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To view the previous eight Hoodwinked programs (all happened last year), check them out HERE.
Art Shows at
BALE ommons
"This is Where We Live"
by Jo Levasseur Harvest
Catch the last days of Jo Levasseur’s fabulous exhibit of chalk pastels at BALE Commons in South Royalton that she describes as “representative, focusing on the natural world… with atmosphere, quality of light and perspective that often combine to show depth and define the topography of a landscape.” Entitled “This Is Where We Live,” Jo hopes the viewer feels the mood, sense of awe, or finds serenity in her work. Please call ahead to ensure the Commons is open; show ends on November 22.
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Community
Story Circle
Reflecting on the
Meaning of Our Rivers
Come share stories and reflections with your friends, neighbors and, perhaps, a stranger or two. My guess is you won’t be a stranger at the end. The second and third programs in the Community Story Circle takes place at BALE Commons in South Royalton on Sun., Nov. 17 and Sun., Nov. 24 from 3-5 PM. The overarching theme of these stories is the river… perhaps the White River or a river near you. For the Nov. 17, the specific focus is on “flooding and how it’s impacted you” and for Nov. 24 the focus is “imagining tomorrow’s river.” This series is hosted by community members Angie Kaufman and Paige Wagar, who are also Vermont Law and Graduate School students who want to connect with the community in ways that reveal their relationship to the river. Come with your story to this free program. All are welcome. For question or more info, contact Angie Kaufman at 915-887-1444 or kauangie@gmail.com.
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Collecting Season Never Ends
The Harvest That is Still Outside Your Door
No, you say, the season is over; the frost has ended our season of collecting from the soil and earth. However, internationally acclaimed wild food experts and spirited educators Nova Kim and Les Hook know better than that. They bring their program, “Collecting Season is Never Over,” to BALE Commons in South Royalton on Sat., Nov. 23 from 10 AM-1 PM. Join Les and Nova for simple recipes utilizing the differing effect and flavors with firs, spruce and most pines… plus a myriad of other wild foods. Yes, it’s time to discover the endless gifts of nature that may be provisions for us humans well after the end of the so-called “garden season.” There’s a $20 suggested donation but no one is turned away.
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"Water Prints"
by Janet Cathey
Going up on the walls of BALE Commons at the beginning of December is a collection of wood and lino block prints that will amaze! Check out Janet Cathey’s watery image here… I instantly feel a sense of relaxation come over me and connect to the unwinding aspects that water offers us in our lives. Janet’s art opening will be Fri., Dec. 13 from 5-6:30 PM.
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