MOSES announces organic conference details for 2009

From the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)announcement of the 2009 Organic Farming Conference, February 26-28, 2009, in La Cross

An extraordinary, farmer-centered event, the Organic Farming Conference is the largest organic farming conference in the U.S. In 2008, more than 2,300 people attended, with participants traveling from 37 states and 1 foreign country. Sponsored by the Wisconsin-based Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), the conference is celebrated as the foremost educational and networking event in the organic farming community.

The conference is highly regarded due to its practical workshops designed to help beginning, transitional, and experienced organic farmers.

Congress for the New Urbanism meeting, Dec. 3

Congress for the New Urbanism
CNU Wisconsin Group
Invites you to attend a great local opportunity to become involved in CNU and meet professionals and others with similar interests.

Presenting: “New Urbanism and You”

With Guest Speaker: Steve Filmanowicz, Communications Director, Congress for the New Urbanism

Steve will speak about the benefits of walkable urban development, ranging from more livable communities, to reduced carbon emissions – plus, how CNU is working to remove the barriers that stand in the way of great neighborhoods and sound transportation systems.

MILWAUKEE
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
5pm (light snacks served)
Office of Engberg Anderson Design Partnership
320 E. Buffalo – Corner of Milwaukee & Buffalo Streets, 53202
Take elevator to 5th Floor
Doors open until 6pm

Note: The CNU Wisconsin Group is developing a chapter of the national Congress for the New Urbanism – which seeks to expand its influence and capabilities through chapters. For questions, call Joan Herriges at 414-289-7685, or email joanherriges@yahoo.com.

Principles and work of Sustainable Dunn

From the Web site of Sustainable Dunn:

Sustainable Dunn will be guided by the following principles:

1. Minimize use of fossils fuels and minerals taken from the Earth.
2. Minimize dependence on manmade chemicals.
3. Minimize harm to the natural world.
4. Meet human needs fairly and efficiently with minimal impact on the environment

To this end, Sustainable Dunn will work to:

1. Raise awareness about the threat global climate change, and other environmental degradation, poses to life on this planet.
2. Raise awareness about the negative impacts of natural resource depletion (e.g, water, oil, etc).
3. Raise awareness about what actions individuals can take to create an environmentally and economically sound present and future.
4. Develop policy recommendations regarding actions government and business can take to create an environmentally and economically sound present and future.
5. Initiate projects in the community to create an environmentally and economically sound present and future.
6. Increase participation in local sustainability efforts.

Eau Claire seeks input on more sustainable comprehensive plan, Dec. 11

From the green Web site of the City of Eau Claire:

Sustainability “is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition has come to mean not only meeting human needs, but environmental and economic as well. Thus, to do its part, the City of Eau Claire is conducting a process to amend its Comprehensive Plan addressing green issues more adequately.

Eau Claire’s Comprehensive Plan has won ‘Excellence in Planning’ awards by the Wisconsin Chapter of American Planner’s Association for both our 1993 and 2005 plans. Although there are many sustainable development goals, objectives and policies already listed in the 2005 plan, more could be addressed in the areas of energy, recycling, waste, green buildings, food production, and climate change. Thus, this amendment process will seek community input on these and other issues as we increase our efforts towards creating an even more sustainable future.

A series of Community Workshops will be held in the River Rooms on the ground floor of Royal Credit Union Corporate Center, 200 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire, WI, 54703. The next workshop is on December 11, 2008 at 7 p.m.

St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development

From the institute’s description of itself:

Founded in May of 2007, the Institute is a “go-to” resource for every context of “Sustainability in the St. Croix River Watershed.” Besides the “walk the talk” service it provides to the UWRF campus community, it is the primary resource for regional, county, town, and municipal leaders seeking assistance with sustainable community development (SCD) in response to the myriad of environmental, social, and economic challenges.

Through a holistic, systems-thinking approach, Institute staff, faculty experts, student interns, and research teams from UWRF are coordinated to address the breadth and depth of comprehensive planning, development, and commercial issues that ultimately define the quality of “The River” and the quality of life in the valley.

This includes, but is not limited to:

+ Assisting the region in a comprehensive benchmarking and tracking of integrated data on ecologic integrity, social justice, and economic vitality;
+ Achieving maximum self-sufficiency and commercial value for local food, fuels, water, housing, transportation, native habitat, and carbon sequestration systems; and
+ Partnerships across all social contexts, from the arts to community health, job development, education, and other civic engagement initiatives.