Education
2013 Offerings
We offer learning opportunities to our members and the community. We publicize events on the web, our facebook page, and posters on the store’s front doors.
We welcome suggestions and comments; contact Elizabeth Ferry, the Market’s Education and Community Outreach Coordinator.
Coming Up
Cat & Dog Nutrition: What’s Good for My Pet?
Thursday, May 9 at 3:00
Free & open to the public. Held in the office space downstairs at the Market.
Wonder what’s the best food for your cat or dog? Local veterinarian Anne Carroll, Chelsea Animal Hospital, will give a talk to help you decide what’s good for your four-footed friend. She will discuss
- wet food vs. dry food
- unprocessed diets–raw, homemade, and dehydrated
- how to interpret pet food labels for for nutritional quality and dollar value.
Registration appreciated but not required. Sign up on the clipboard by the pet food or email us: soromarket (at) gmail.com
Happening Now
Eco-Challenge
April 8 to 22 –two weeks leading up to Earth Day
co-sponsored with Catamount Earth Institute and BALE
Challenge yourself to change a routine habit to be more earth-friendly. You define the challenge for yourself (and maybe a team of family members, co-workers, etc). Practice it for two weeks. Talk about the experience with friends and through an on-line blog (address below). Create a community conversation about ways we can make our lives more sustainable.
What counts as an Eco-challenge? Start with something manageable and measurable. Listen to the voice in your head that says, “there’s got to be a better way to do this.” It could be reducing the number of miles you drive in your car, increasing the number of meatless meals you eat, packing your own lunch in reusable containers so that you generate less trash–you get the idea.
We can provide a bit of structure to help you meet your goal. First, sign up at the Market (poster on the freezer in Aisle 2) or on-line at CatamountEcoChallenge.wordpress.com. (There’s a list of ideas there, too, if you need suggestions.) Then talk with people about your experience. Start a conversation with the people around you and/or blog at the wordpress site. Finally, assess your progress on Earth Day. What have you learned? Can you maintain this new habit? What more are you inspired to do?
The power of the Eco-Challenge is creating change where we want it to happen. More power to you!
*
Hands-on Home Weatherization “Skillshop”
Saturday, Feb. 16 9:00-3:00 (6 continuous hours)
Free; pre-registration required. Sign up at the Market registers.
Concerned about the amount of heating fuel you’re burning this winter? You can change that! The Central Vermont Community Action Council’s “Home Energy Makeover” trailer is coming to town!
Learn the benefits of a home energy audit, how heat moves through a building, and how you can tighten up your home. Practice applying foam insulation, weatherstripping, and other basic home weatherization techniques.
This skillshop usually costs $50/person, but we are fortunate to be able to offer it for free. Space is limited. Pre-register at the Market check-out counter.
Plan to bring your own lunch and stay for the full 6 hour training. Held at the South Royalton School building. Questions? Contact Elizabeth at the Market: 763-2400 or e-mail: soromarket at gmail dot com
Recent Past
In 2011 and 2012, the Market collaborated with the local non-profit organization BALE to sponsor community conversation courses. The curriculum came from the Northwest Earth Institute via their Upper Valley “sister” organization, Catamount Earth Institute. Our experience of these curricula have informed the Market’s choices for classes/workshops in 2013.
2012: “Choices in Sustainable Living,” offered in four towns: South Royalton, Randolph, Tunbridge, and Stockbridge. Two themes that were present among the groups: interest in energy/transportation conservation and support of the local economy.
“Button Up Vermont” workshop, co-sponsored with Welch’s Hardware in Royalton, Vermont Law School’s Schweitzer Fellow program, and Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG) of Thetford.
These experiences have contributed to the formation of a Town Energy Committee in South Royalton.
2011: “Menu for the Future,” offered in South Royalton and Tunbridge. At the end of the course, participants researched the recent past history of community gardens in South Royalton, partnered with local government, businesses, and individuals, and helped to create the current community garden site on South Windsor Street.