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Organic Farmers Sue Monsanto
By Dean Kuipers, LA Times
February 17, 2012, 3:12 p.m.

After years of taking farmers to court to assert their patent rights, agri-giantMonsanto Co.is being sued by farmers. Lots of farmers.
Judge Naomi Buchwald heard oral arguments Jan. 31 in federal district court in Manhattan on OSGATA et al. vs. Monsanto, the latest courtroom action on a suit filed almost a year ago. Responding to what they say is a climate of fear created by Monsanto’s long series of patent infringement lawsuits, a group representing as many as 25% of the nation’s organic farmers (as well as other non-organic farmers) have sued the global biotech company to allow them to grow in peace.

Monsanto’s attorneys have asked to have the suit dismissed. Buchwald will respond by the end of March. <MORE>

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Chemical-Free Lakes
Posted by Kalyn Rosenberg on 02/22/2012
Toxics Action Center Calls for End to Pesticide Use in Lakes, New Report Offers Safer Alternatives
Read the full report here.

Toxics Action Center, an environmental nonprofit based in Concord, released Chemical Free Lakes, a new report calling for an end to all herbicide use to treat invasive weeds in New Hampshire’s lakes.  The report sites health impacts. The resource guide provides information on the invasive species threatening New Hampshire water bodies, the health impacts associated with the pesticides used to manage infestations, and the alternative management options are that available. Included in the report are two case studies illustrating the success that groups from the Squam Lakes and Back Bay area have had in reducing or eliminating their use of chemical treatments.

“We at Toxics Action Center believe that everyone has the right to clean air and clean water. To protect this right for the residents of New Hampshire, we believe that keeping harmful chemicals out of the lakes our children swim and out of the rivers that community members enjoy fishing and boating is entirely necessary.” said Kalyn Rosenberg from Toxics Action Center. “Phasing out the use of persistent chemicals is essential for protecting the health of our environment and the health of our community members.”

New Hampshire is home to 959 lakes. Of those, invasive species currently infest 76. According to the report, the weeds inhibit boating, swimming, and other recreation and crowd aquatic habitats, threatening the native species of New Hampshire.

However, the report finds that the herbicides commonly used to treat these weed infestations are toxic.  Kalyn Rosenberg of Toxics Action Center highlighted the health risks associated with specific treatments.  “Exposure to Diquat Dibromide can cause severe long-term impacts such as decreased fertility in males, cataract clouding, and damage to the lungs, liver and kidneys. 2,4-D has been linked to birth defects.” Read the full report here.

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How to Keep Your Land in the Family
Passing it on:  using a trust and timber harvesting to maintain a family property
from MassWoods
Keeping land in the family is a common goal for many landowners, but how do you actually pay for the long-term ownership and maintenance costs associated with the land?
Learn how the Thompson family did it. 

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How much is a parking lot worth?

A Springfield company with a less than stellar environmental track record, is spending a lot of money to expand its parking lot.

UniFirst/UniTech purchased 6/10ths of an acre, paying over $400,000 including the purchase price and the amount the company paid to an ex-legislator turned lobbyist. The company needed the lobbyist to change the land’s protected status as National Park Service land, to a status that allows construction of a parking lot. If they can buy that change, what does “protected” land really mean?  Is the designation “protected land” really a term that means “land available for purchase?”

UniFirst/UniTech at 295 Parker Street in Springfield launders uniforms, gloves and other washable items used by nuclear installations: by power plants, military installations and laboratories, including Los Alamos, Brookhaven and other national labs.

In Springfield, radioactive waste has occasionally bubbled up in a manhole near the plant, spilled into nearby Dimmock Pond, and has been detected by a monitor in a neighbor’s house.

According to a story in the Valley Advocate:

Not all the environmental issues associated with UniFirst/UniTech are nuclear. In 1988 a report prepared for the city and the state noted, "Concern for Dimmock Pond revolves around illegal dumping events which took place during 1981 by Interstate Uniform Services Corp. (now called UniFirst/Interstate Nuclear Services)… Evidently a dry cleaning solvent sludge which contained naphtha was dumped both on the company property and into a manhole on their property, which discharges directly to Dimmock Pond." According to the report, "relatively high" levels of lead and cadmium were found in the sludge. (Earlier, UniFirst officials had told the state that 35 to 40 gallons of sludge "were dumped when no waste hauler was available.")

It is unfortunate that our government at all levels protects companies with bad environmental track records better than they protect the environment that supports all of us.

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Permit Writer’s Manual for CAFOs

EPA has released a technical manual for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to provide states, producers, and the general public with general information on Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program requirements for CAFOs, information to explain CAFO permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act, and technical information to help states and producers understand options for nutrient management planning.

It is EPA’s intent that this is a living document that will be updated periodically to incorporate new and emerging approaches to CAFO management, including those focused on manure reuse and recycling and use for energy generation.  Interested parties are encouraged to bring to EPA’s attention questions and suggestions concerning the content of this manual at any time. EPA will consider this input and update this document periodically to ensure that this manual is as helpful as possible.  For more information and to view a copy of the manual, visit: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/afo/info.cfm#guide_docs.

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Berkshire Conservation District Spring Seedling Sale
The 2012 Spring Seedling Sale is well under way! Orders may be taken online or by mail. If you did not receive a brochure and would like to order by mail please give me your mailing address and I will send it to you or you may find a printable version on our website.

Your continued support is much appreciated! Please share this email with a friend!

In cooperation with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, the district provides technical assistance to landowners in the conservation and management of natural resources throughout the county. The district is also a sponsor of the Massachusetts Envirothon and provides scholarships to Berkshire Community College and UMASS students.

Open public meetings are held every third Tuesday of the month at 4pm at 78 Center Street, Room 206, Conte Federal Building in Pittsfield. 

Sincerely,

Aimee V. Annichiarico
Administrator of Berkshire Conservation District
78 Center Street, Suite 206
Pittsfield, MA 01201
phone (413) 443-1776 ext 102
fax (413) 448-2617
aimee.annichiarico@ma.usda.gov
www.berkshireconservation.org

My office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am until 3pm. Thank you.

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Mass. Land Conservation Tax Credit
–From MLTC

The Mass Land Conservation Tax Credit program got off to a good start in 2011 with 34 applications resulting in $976,000 in tax credits. With an appraised value totaling $5.8 million, the 933 acres donated included 213 acres of Biomap Core, 630 acres of Biomap Critical Natural Landscape, 118 acres of Priority Habitat, 36 acres of zone 2 water supply, 211 acres of prime agricultural soils, 8 acres of med-high yield aquifers, 88 acres of prime forest soils, 186 acres of 0-200 buffer for River Protection Act, and 353 acres in DEM scenic landscape inventory.

We’d like to make 2012 an even better year for this program. Remember:

  • $2 million is available for tax credits
  • The donor can receive 50% of the fair market value of the land or conservation restriction donated up to $50,000 maximum credit
  • A sale below full fair market value can also qualify for the credit.
  • The credit will be applied to the donor’s tax liability in the year of the gift; if the credit exceeds the tax liability, even if the donor doesn’t pay state taxes, the MA Department of Revenue will issue you a check for the remainder of the credit.
  • To qualify, donated property must protect critical land for habitat or farming, as determined by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Further details on selection criteria will be published when available.

For more information, see the information sheet and process chart prepared by Essex Count Greenbelt Association.

Fact sheet: http://www.massland.org/library/ma-tax-credit-land-conservation-fact-sheet

Process chart: http://www.massland.org/library/ma-tax-credit-land-conservation-process

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EPA Now Accepting Letters of Interest from Communities Interested In Assistance for Projects That Use Green Infrastructure to Protect Water Quality

EPA is now accepting letters of interest from communities interested in receiving direct assistance for projects that facilitate the use of green infrastructure to protect water quality.  Technical assistance will be provided through EPA contract support, and will be directed to watersheds/sewersheds with significant water quality degradation associated with urban stormwater.

The total EPA assistance available through this Request for Letters of Interest is approximately $950,000, and will be distributed among 10-20 projects.  The value of the assistance available to each project will be approximately $50,000 – $100,000. Letters of interest must be received by April 6, 2012.  For more information, please see our website: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/gi_support.cfm#CommunityPartnerships

Tamara Mittman
US EPA Office of Water, Water Permits Division 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20004
202.564.1093

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Are you seeding a new idea or project in your community?

Need some funding to keep your group growing?

Never fear, NEGEF is here!
NEGEF now offers 2 grant programs to grassroots groups:

SEED GRANTS:
$250 – $1000 
Apply Anytime
Great for new groups
Project-focused

GROW GRANTS:
$1,000 – $3,500
3/15 & 9/15 Deadlines
Great for established groups
Capacity-focused

Check out our NEW & IMPROVED grant programs today!

Please visit http://grassrootsfund.org for more information.

Thanks for all you do for your community,
Cheryl, Ginny, Bart & Claire

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Berkshire Chefs Bring “Preserving the Berkshire Harvest” to NYC

On Friday, March 2, the James Beard Foundation will present “Preserving the Berkshire Harvest,” an evening showcasing the culinary talents and farm-to-table efforts of several of the most innovative chefs of the Berkshires. The foods prepared will have been preserved using time-honored preserving and curing methods with foods raised and harvested in the Berkshire region. 

Chefs Demonstrating Commitment to Extending the Fall Harvest

The Berkshire region boasts a culinary movement characterized by a group of sophisticated chefs whose culinary styles are informed by the ever-changing bounty of New England’s seasons and the spirit of collaboration that pervades this close-knit group of farmers, producers and chefs.

There is a distinctive body of work being produced by Berkshire chefs through the crafts of charcuterie and butchery in addition to the preservation of fruits and vegetables. Many of the chefs participating in the March James Beard Dinner butcher whole animals raised on local sustainable farms and smoke hams, cure meats and prepare sausages, salami and other charcuterie as part of their culinary practice dedicated to the local food movement. The dinner on March 2 will feature a wide range of cured, dried and pickled meats including lardo, pickled pig’s feet, porchetta de testa, hickory-smoked jowl, lamb’cetta and crispy pig ear.

The unique culinary culture of the Berkshires has been shaped by an historical farming culture of dairy, orchards and raising animals on pasture — the county’s biggest “crop,” contributing to the year-round sustainability of the region’s farms. The Berkshires are known for rolling hills and fertile valleys; there are over 66,000 acres of farmland in Berkshire County, Mass.

Organized by Brian J. Alberg, Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Director at The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, this is the third event by a group of like-minded Berkshire chefs to present the multifaceted culinary artisanship of the region in a venue with the mission “to celebrate, preserve, and nurture America’s culinary heritage and diversity.” Alberg has been instrumental in galvanizing a Berkshire culinary movement – as a chef supporting local farms, as a farmer raising his own heritage breed pigs (Berkshire, Tamworth and Old Spot) at his Bacon on the Side Farm, as a mentor for youth interested in culinary arts and as President of Berkshire Grown’s Board of Trustees. This dinner marks Alberg’s ninth appearance at the Beard House.

According to Alberg, “The food culture of Berkshires has been embracing preservation long before the farm-to-table movement became a national story. Here in New England, maintaining and creating nutritional value, texture and flavor, have been imperative to extending our limited growing season. This dinner celebrates our time-honored tradition of preservation and pays homage to the farmer, producer and grower, as well as to the animal itself.”

Dinner Showcases Talents of Seven Berkshire Chefs and Berkshire Farmers and Producers

The Beard House dinner will present the cuisine of seven chefs working in the verdant Berkshire region today. The “Preserving The Berkshire Harvest” reception and dinner is a collaboration among a variety of Berkshire chefs, farmers and producers. The participating chefs are: Chef Brian Alberg of The Red Lion Inn (Stockbridge, Mass.); Chef Chef Joji Sumi and Chef Nicholas Moulton of Mezze Bistro + Bar/Mezze Restaurant Group (Williamstown, Mass.); Chef/Owner Lester Blumenthal of Route 7 Grill (Great Barrington, Mass.); Chef Daniel Hardy of Allium Restaurant + Bar/Mezze Restaurant Group (Great Barrington, Mass.); Chef/Owner Jeremy Stanton of The Meat Market (Great Barrington, Mass.); and Chef/Owner Dan Smith of John Andrews (South Egremont, Mass.). Red Lion Inn Sommelier Dan Thomas selected the wines that accompany the dinner’s reception and six courses. 

The chefs sourced menu ingredients from many Berkshire region farms and artisans including Bacon on the Side Farm, Berkshire Blue Cheese, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Berle Farm, Blue Hill Farm, Community Cooperative Farm, East Mountain Farm, Farm Girl Farm, Foggy River Farms, High Lawn Farm, Hilltop Orchards, Howden Farm, Indian Line Farm, Lakeview Orchard, Mighty Food Farm, North Plain Farm, Peace Valley Farm, Taft Farms, Wanabea Farm, West County Cider and Zehr & Sons Mushroom Farm.

Live at the James Beard House
The evening begins at 7 p.m. with a reception in the Beard House’s charming Greenhouse Gallery as guests enjoy an assortment of hors d’oeuvres. A seated tasting menu begins around 8 p.m. The James Beard House is located at 167 West 12th Street. The price is $130 per person for James Beard Foundation members and $170 per person for the general public. For reservations, please call 212.627.2308 or visit http://jamesbeard.org/index.php?q=events_beardhouse_030212 for event details.

Beginning at noon on Friday, March 2, a team from The Red Lion Inn and Berkshire Farm & Table will be streaming live behind-the-scenes coverage of Berkshire chefs in the James Beard kitchen. The live coverage offers fans a backstage pass to this prestigious event. Last year’s Berkshire dinner – The Whole Berkshire Hog – was the first time live streaming of dinner prep had taken place from the James Beard House. This year, media coverage will include blog posts, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter updates for up-to-the-minute storytelling as it takes place on-site in New York.

To view the full menu, chef bios and more, visit http://www.berkshirefarmandtable.com/news/jamesbeardpreservingharvest2012.

The Red Lion Inn
A charter member of Historic Hotels of America and winner of the Wine Spectator award for excellence, The Red Lion Inn (c. 1773) has been providing food and lodging to guests for over two centuries. It offers 108 antique-filled rooms and suites, formal and casual dining, a gift shop, pub with nightly entertainment and a full range of amenities including free WiFi, a year-round heated outdoor pool and in-room massage therapy. The Inn is recommended by National Geographic Traveler, The New York Times and The Boston Globe and has won awards and been noted for its commitment to sustainability.  For more information, contact 413-298-5545, or visit www.redlioninn.com.

James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to celebrating, preserving and nurturing America’s culinary heritage and diversity. The late James Beard was a champion of American cuisine who helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, the James Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by providing scholarships, honoring industry professionals, offering the public the opportunity to enjoy the talents of emerging and established chefs, winemakers, cookbook authors and purveyors, and hosting conferences, readings and classes to engage people with the fascinating world of food. For more information about programs and membership, visit www.jamesbeard.org.

Berkshire Farm & Table
Berkshire Farm & Table is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to cultivate regional economic development through the advancement of food culture in the Berkshires. Through building relationships, producing events and fostering dialogue, they bring the unique stories and expertise of Berkshires’ culinary artisans, farming values and agrotourism experiences to the forefront of the national food movement via new economic modeling. For more information, visit www.berkshirefarmandtable.com.

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Strategies for a New Economy Conference – 6/8-10

Richard Heinberg of the Post Carbon Institute predicts the June 8th-10th
"Strategies for a New Economy" conference will be a "watershed event."
Gathered together will be leaders in the common work to design and build a
new economic operating system.

Early bird registration is now open.  $550 includes registration, room, and
meals at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, site of the conference.

http://www.neweconomicsinstitute.org/conference.

For those unable to join the dialogue at Bard, the resource section of the
conference website will catalogue the background papers, projects, and
organizations shaping theory and practice in each of the ten theme areas.

Those resources will include the article by Gus Speth in the March/April
edition of Orion Magazine titled "America the Possible: A Manifesto."  Speth
discusses the long and noble pursuit for legislative-driven reform of our
economic system.  But concludes: "what is now desperately needed is
transformative change in the {economic} system itself. "

He goes on to discuss the nature of that change in an excerpt from the
article, which is copied below.  The full article may be read online at
Orion’s website or by subscribing to the magazine:

http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/6681

Gus Speth will be one of the many provocative speakers at the June
"Strategies for a New Economy" conference.  Please join us.

Susan Witt, on behalf of staff and board of the
New Economics Institute, www.neweconomicsinstitute.org

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Earth-Centered Recovery: A 12-Step Group for Healing Ourselves, Our Communities, and the Earth

Earth-Centered Recovery is a program of personal and ecological recovery based on the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. We use the recovery program outlined by A.A. to look beyond our delusions and finally address our addiction to excess consumption and other behaviors that are destructive to the environment. We find the courage to honestly face the truth of our current ecological catastrophe with the practices and tools for recovery offered by the 12 Steps. 

There are no dues or fees; the only requirement for membership is a desire to heal ourselves, our communities, and the Earth.

Meetings are held every Monday at 5:30 at the Mason Library, 231 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA

For more information, call (413) 281-8528

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IPM training for Landscape Professionals
The Center for EcoTechnology presents Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training for Landscape Professionals.
Thursday, March 22, 2012 – The Orchards Hotel, 222 Adams Road, Williamstown, MA

Acclaimed author and educator, Ron Kujawski, Ph.D., a Horticultural Consultant, will provide accurate advice and up-to-date information so landscapers can adjust their behaviors and properly apply the minimal amount necessary to control unwanted pests. Dr. Kujawski is the former Landscape and Nursery Specialist for UMass Cooperative Extension. He is a garden writer, educator and researcher in IPM, plant nutrition and soil science. He teaches for the horticultural industry throughout New England.  During this three hour, three credit certification renewal class, Ron will focus on the importance of setting up a management plan to minimize the chemical effects on the ecosystems, identifying pests, and the benefits of toxic alternatives. In addition, we will discuss the economic threshold of implementing a plan, and educate on the importance of proper record keeping. All important aspects when you are looking to move your landscaping business in a more eco-friendly direction while diverting inappropriate costs.

More information is available at www.Cetonline.org.  Registration is required and the cost for the training is $25 and $20 for additional staff from the same business. Contact aric.brown@cetonline.org or call 413-445-4556 ext. 30.

CET is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.  Additional funding for this workshop is provided by the USDA, Rural Development Administration.

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