Action: There are a few days to write or call Gov. David Paterson asking him to withdraw his draft regarding the Marcellus Shale Natural Gas drilling in NYS which encouraged this process to go ahead under what we feel are insufficient regulations and staffing of inspectors. There are numerous drawbacks to this process despite the great need for the energy. There is a huge body of information for anyone wanting background beginning with the Sierra Club and Federation of Monroe Cty. Environmentalist's websites. Write Gov. Paterson at State Capital, NY, 12221 or call 518-474-8390.
January 6 "Roots of Migration", 7 pm, Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh St., Rochester.
Vera Leone of Washington Office of Witness for Peace will lead discussion following video. This is important following the farmworker symposum we co-sponsored in October, "Harvest with Justice" and the intense debate on immigration.
January 9 and following weeks: We call attention to the new frontier in agriculture education, "Nutrient Dense Farming" on which there are many articles in the current Northeast Organic Farming Newspaper (covering NE states). The Regional Farm and Food Project in the Albany area is sponsoring a course with speaker giving an overview at their Jan. 9 Annual Meeting.
This year long workshop series will take the farmer/gardner through an entire growing season, from ordering inputs, seedlings, planting, cultivation, harvest and field/plot preparation for next year's growing season, with step by step guidance and coaching to insure optimal success. It will lay the foundation for a Nutrient Density Certification Program measuring the degree to which participating farmer's crops are nutritionally superior to industrially-produced food. For more info: www.farmandfood.org
January 16 "Growing Together: Community Garden Conference" Rochester City Hall Atrium, 30 Church St., Rochester.
9am to noon: Bus tour first to Freshlink, hydroponic greenhouses followed by a drive by school and community gardens in Rochester. $15 including lunch
12:45 to 5:30pm Three breakouts with area experts: "Soil Health", "Garden Planning", "Community Garden and Urban Agriculture Development and Policy". $10
Tables for groups available: $10. Registration through sponsor, Rochester Roots at www.rochesterroots.org or call 232-1463 Jan McDonald, Director.
January 31, Center for Sustainable Living Board Meeting focusing on draft of our 2010 CSL workshop booklet. Sunday, 1 to 3pm
Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua. This meeting may be changed to the new community room at the Lima Library, but members will be notified. If you have other workshop offerings, or suggestions, please contact Chair, Bill Bross, wilperry@rochester.rr.com or Chair Elect Kathleen Draper, kdraper2@rochester.rr.com
Hot off the press: At our Fall Equinox Celebration we shared memories of Thomas Berry, our Sustainable Living mentor, who died this past spring at 94 yrs. old. We also viewed a wonderful video he made based on his book , "The Great Work". Days before he died he completed two more books which are now available: "Christianity's Future and the Fate of the Earth" and "The Sacred Universe, Earth, Spirituality and Religion in the 21st Centrury". These books redefine this wisdom and integrate the revelations of the Divine shining forth through our discoveries into the known Universe and emerging of Earth. For more details: www.Genesisfarm.org