South Royalton Market

A reminder that this Friday–and every 3rd Friday of every month–the Market celebrates Member Appreciation Day.  We have two levels of membership, both involving a one-time, life-long investment in our local business. Blue level members pay $50; gold level pay $200. In return they get a 5% or 15% discount (respectively) twice a month–once on MAD and once on the day of your choice. You can become a member at any time. Ask your cashier for an application form.

Whether you are participating in the Eco-Challenge actively or from the sidelines, you can check out the blog at catamountecochallenge.wordpress.com.

Be part of the on-line community to share your experience and learn from others. As an incentive, bloggers will be entered in a drawing for a gift certificate to King Arthur Flour. Be well and do good!

Want to make a positive change for yourself, the Earth, and quite possibly your wallet, too? Then consider giving yourself an eco-challenge. The challenge starts today (or whenever you read this) and runs through Earth Day, April 22. More information is posted below and under the Education tab on this website. One person asked, “Does turning off the water when you brush your teeth count as an Eco-Challenge? I’ve trying to start doing that.” The answer is yes! Any habit that you’d like to change to be more earth-friendly is valid. Choose something that interests you and go for it. Use the structure of the eco-challenge (a set time, a place to register and blog, knowing that others are doing it, too) to support you in meeting a goal. Register on-line at CatamountEcoChallenge.wordpress.com or in-person at the Market (poster in Aisle 2). Here’s to Spring and to change.

At 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 20 (this week!), Community Gardener Liz Spellman and others will host a planning meeting for this year’s growing season. All are welcome. Light snacks provided. Meeting space is the Cafeteria at the South Royalton Public School–accessible and offering plenty of parking.

The South Royalton Community Garden is located on South Windsor Street within walking distance of the village green. Plot size  big enough to grow summer vegetables for a couple of people–and small enough to remain manageable if you tend it regularly. If you are ambitious or have a big family, you can rent two plots next to each other.

To be discussed: garden layout out, organization, possible group work sessions, equipment, and fees. If you have questions, come take part in the discussion! Gardeners agree to follow some basic rules. The garden is supported by several community groups, including the Royalton Recreation Committee, the Royalton Select Board, the South Royalton Market, and others. If you have questions in advance of the meeting, contact Liz Spellman: spellman.elizabeth@gmail.com.

Thanks to our partners, Central Vermont Community Action Council and the South Royalton School, the hands-on home weatherization skillshop (2/15 and 16/13) was a great success.

About 100 students from the South Royalton School got some hands-on training on Friday. The following day, people in the community attended a 6 hour ‘skillshop.’ Participants learned the benefits of a home energy audit and basic skills for improving the comfort of their homes. The photo shows the bag of resources given to attendees. Highly recommended is the 170 page book “The Homeowner’s Handbook to Energy Efficiency: A Guide to Big and Small Improvements” by John Krigger and Chris Dorsi.

Missed the hands-on skillshop training? You can learn more about CVCAC’s weatherization and Do-It-Yourself resources at www.weatherizationskillshop.com.

Photo shows items given to skillshop participants: book, gloves, safety glasses, a can of foam insulation and installation tool.

Concerned about the cost of heating and cooling your home? Lower costs and conserve energy with the skills that you gain at this hands-on workshop on Saturday, February 16, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Tour the home weatherization trailer http://www.vtgreen.org/training-trailer, learn the benefits of an energy audit, understand how heat moves through a building, and practice basic skills such as

• applying foam insulation
• weatherstripping
• and more.

Commit to attending the full 6 hour session held at the South Royalton School. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Sign up at the Market registers.

Questions? Contact Elizabeth at the Market: 763-2400 or soromarket@gmail.com.

Bread pudding is simple, versatile, and delicious. The rhubarb adds appealing color and tastes great — even people who generally aren’t rhubarb fans are likely to enjoy this! This recipe is simple enough to involve young people in its preparation. Share the joy of home baking with the next generation. Feel free to improvise.

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Ingredients:
8 slices of stale or dry bread — trim off the crusts and cut bread into cubed
2 c. milk
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 1/2 c. sugar (or less)
3 c. rhubarb, diced
1/3 c. raisins
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon each: ginger, cloves, ground black pepper
1/2 lemon rind (preferably organic), grated

Method:
1. Grease a 2 quart casserole or 9×13″ pan. Add bread cubes.
2. Combine milk and melted butter. Pour over bread, stir gently, and let set for 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients. Pour over the bread/milk/butter mixture and stir gently again.
4. Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 50 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to set for 10 minutes before serving.

Good hot, cold, or at room temperature.

The cost of heating and cooling your home continues to rise. Through a series of practical, measured, proven steps, homeowners can rein in the expense, reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, and save themselves money.

On Tuesday, March 20 (the first day of Spring), three local entities–the South Royalton Market, Welch’s True Value and Schweitzer Fellows at the Vermont Law School, in combination with VLS Energy Collaborative, is sponsoring a “Button Up” workshop. A press release, with all basic information, is published in the next blog entry on this site.

Further information:
1. Please pre-register! Space is limited to 15. Email: soromarket@gmail.com or phone 763-2400.
2. The light supper will be hearty vegetarian food.
3. The event is 6:00-8:00. Please arrive on time. Welch’s closes at 6:00. If you arrive close to, or after, closing, access the workshop via the side door that faces the hill ‘out back.’
4. Welch’s is located at 3626 Vermont Route 14, north of S. Royalton village.
5. Why now? Because the cost of winter heating is fresh in homeowners minds; and this is the start of the do-it-yourself building season.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Button-Up Workshop, with Light Supper, on March 20

Were your winter heating costs high this winter? Are you wondering how to reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home?

Learn what you can do to ‘button up’ your house or apartment at a Button Up workshop on Tuesday, March 20, 6:00-8:00 pm at Welch’s True Value on Route 14 in Royalton. This free informational session is designed to help Vermonters learn the basics of building science and how to improve energy efficiency in their homes. A light supper, prepared by the South Royalton Market, will accompany the workshop at no charge.

The 2-hour workshop includes an overview of why building efficiency is important, illustrates how homes lose energy, and outlines clear steps that homeowners can take to address this energy loss. Bob Walker of Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG) in Thetford is the presenter.

“March 20 is the first day of Spring,” says Elizabeth Ferry, education and community outreach coordinator at the Market, “and the start of the home building season. This gives people time to make changes during warm weather.”

People who have wallboard down or are putting up new construction, as well as current and potential homeowners, can benefit from this information. Local sponsors include the South Royalton Market, Welch’s True Value, and the Vermont Law School Energy Collaborative (VEC) and Schweitzer Fellowship. The workshop is being held at Welch’s so that participants can become familiar with a range of home-sealing products.

The event is open to the public. Space is limited; registration in advance is appreciated. Contact the South Royalton Market at 763-2400 or soromarket@gmail.com to register. More information is posted at www.soromarket.com.

Home Brew Department Manager (and Guru to many) Scott Russell will be teaching a basic brewing class at the Montshire Museum on Sunday, February 12.

Details on the class can be found at

http://montshire.org/programs/adults/the-science-of-brewing-beer/

The Point radio station ran this “Montshire Minute” on Wednesday 2/1…

http://montshire.org/images/uploads/recordings/01-31-12.mp3