Author: Neil Allen

Garden Planning Workshop
Saturday, May 4. 1:00pm
Immanuel Episcopal Church (Stone Church)
Bellows Falls, VT

The workshop is free.  Light refreshments and materials provided.

Space is limited so registration is required. To register, please contact Kari
Gypson at 802.282.8669 or at kgypson@yahoo.com.

The presenter, Anna Bowler will discuss energy zones, garden necessities such
as light and compost, and plant selection and guilds.  Gardeners will have the
opportunity to design their garden map for the upcoming growing season with
Anna’s support during the workshop.  While this workshop will not focus
exclusively on permaculture, Anna’s foundation and the methods discussed in
the workshop will be founded in permaculture so gardeners can begin to become
acclimated to the method.  This workshop will be useful to new and seasoned
gardeners.  In the regenerative nature of permaculture, she has found that by
working with the wild, reparations can be made to reverse some of the damage
done to our environment. Over the years she has studied permaculture design in
Costa Rica and Vermont. Working with the likes of Hope Roots Farm, Carbon
Harvest Energy, Brattleboro Permaculture Guild and Couch Brook Farm she has
expanded her plant knowledge. Currently she runs her own gardening business
and feels most at home in the outdoors.

The Food Security Collaborative is a project of Post Oil Solutions and is
active in the communities of Rockingham, Bellows Falls, Westminster, Saxtons
River, Cambridgeport, Grafton, and Athens. Its mission is to achieve greater
food security through the development of a garden-based local food system
resulting in enhanced civic pride, a stronger local economy, and a more
sustainable environment

Small-Scale Self-Sufficiency Workshop

Sunday, April 27. 1:00pm
AlpineGlo Farm
Westminster, VT

“Each part of your homestead benefits the other and works together in harmony”

With this basic premise in mind from our presenter, Westminster farmer, Rachel
Ware,  the Food Security Collaborative will host her Small-Scale Self-
Sufficiency Workshop on Sunday, April 27, 1:00 PM, at her AlpineGlo Farm.

The workshop is free, though participation is limited, and registration is
required. To do so, phone Tim Stevenson, 802.869.2141

Starting small, Rachel will discuss gardening, including such topics as raised
beds, container gardening, cold frames; as well as preparing beds and using
manure and compost from your own your homestead; picking beginner friendly
crops;  planting timeline, staggered schedule, crop rotation, and harvesting
basics.

She will also discuss chickens (eggs, meat, or both), basic husbandry for
chickens; housing, fencing, food; the harmonious cycle of chickens and your
homestead–food for you, manure for your garden, natural bug deterrents,
garden waste for your chickens.

The next step would be raising more food for the table, and dealing with
questions about sheep (meat and/or lawnmower?); goats (meat and/or milk, and
brush clearers?); and Pigs; a large quantity of food for the family. She will
also discuss butchering, where and how one does this. (Note: are you in an
area that welcomes agriculture?  Most zoning is conducive to small scale
animal keeping).

Finally, Rachel will come full circle with a discussion of how different
animals and gardening techniques may benefit your land and specific needs.

The Food Security Collaborative is a project of Post Oil Solutions and is
active in the communities of Rockingham, Bellows Falls, Westminster, Saxtons
River, Cambridgeport, Grafton, and Athens. Its mission is to achieve greater
food security through the development of a garden-based local food system
resulting in enhanced civic pride, a stronger local economy, and a more
sustainable environment.

“More Dreams-Less Drugs!” A Community Forum
Thursday, April 24. 7:00-9:00pm
Rockingham Free Public Library
65 Westiminster St.
Bellows Falls, VT

Join us April 24 for a timely discussion on how we respond as a community to substance abuse and addiction, specifically, opioids. Moderated by Mike Smith, the evening will be broken up into two parts: understanding what is happening locally and what we can do about it. A panel discussion will include the following individuals:

• Heidi Mercher, Turning Point of Springfield (addiction & recovery community)
• Amelia Shillingford, Nurse Practitioner from the Rockingham Medical Group (medical community)
• Lt. Shane Harris, Bellows Falls Police Department (law enforcement)
• James Walsh, The Windham Center (medical and mental health community)

Share and invite family, friends, parents, youth, co-workers. All are welcome. Light food will be served.

RSVP to the Facebook event HERE and share as many times as humanly possible!

For more information, contact Chad Simmons or call 802.463.9927 ext 210.

Monthly Coalition Gathering-POSTPONED until-
Friday, February 21. Noon-1:30pm
Parks Place
Bellows Falls

GFC staff is fresh off an inspiring conference in D.C. Join us as we share all of the amazing research and activities going on nationally around prevention. We’ll also be continuing project work on prescription drug prevention including engaging the local medical community and publicizing medication lock and disposal efforts. A free, home cooked meal will be served. All are welcome!