Transition Putney Series: LOCAL FOOD, LOCAL FARMS, Info and Invitation to Assist

I am writing to bring you up to date on the exciting four-event series, “Local Foods, Local Farms,” and to invite you to join with others to assist in making this series a grand success.

The Series: Local Foods, Local Farms - February 17 – 20 (See detailed schedule below)

We hope you will participate in the upcoming Transition Putney four-event series exploring Local Foods, Local Farms. The series will give us, as a community, a chance to explore the question: “How we can strengthen the relationship between Putney food consumers and Putney farms?”

During the four-event series we will:
• Learn about how Food Coops across the country (including the Putney Food Coop) are reaching out to enhance local food production and consumption, • Hear from local farmers about their experiences as they attempt to expand local markets
• Listen to Hans Estrin’s story of how he developed the highly successful Windham County Farm to School program and his expanded vision for creating local food networks
• Learn about the new Greater Falls Food Hub (located in Bellows Falls) and the exciting opportunities it presents to Putney food growers and consumers.
• Watch the film, “Fresh,” an inspiring look at the expanding production of local and organic foods on family farms.
• Engage in conversation cafes following some presentations where we share our responses to the ideas presented and link them to our vision for Putney.

The series will conclude on Saturday, February 20th with a three-hour Open Space event in which we will explore concrete ideas for strengthening our ties between the food we eat and our local farms.
Invitation to Assist

We are inviting all who support the Transition Putney initiative to help us with this event. If you could do one of the following for any or all of the events, please email paull@sover.net, or call 387 4102. We greatly appreciate your assistance as we work together to build a more resilient and vital community.

• Setting up and taking down chairs, etc.
• Child care
• Flyer design (graphic arts)
• Putting up flyers
• Putting up and taking down Sandwich boards
• Greeting people at the event
• Setting up/monitoring the Sound system
• Refreshments
• General assistance


Four-Event Series: “Local Food, Local Farms,” Feb. 17-20

Transition Putney is planning a series of four events to explore how we can strengthen the relationship between Putney food consumers and Putney farms. The events will take place Feb. 17-20.

Here is a tentative schedule of events (more info on this in the coming days).

Feb. 17, 7-8:30 p.m. at Putney Community Center - Putney Coop - How food coops are supporting local agriculture; the successes and challenges of value added food production (e.g., gourmet cheeses)

Feb. 18, 7-8:30 pm at Putney Library. - Hanz Estrin will talk about the amazing work he has done developing Farm to School programs in Putney and Windham county and his vision for establishing local food networks.

Feb. 19, 7-8:30 p.m.at Putney Library - Post Oil Solutions will screen the film “Fresh” which celebrates local food production. The screening will be followed by a presentation about what the Greater Falls Food Hub could mean for Putney.

Feb. 20, 9-noon (followed by potluck lunch) at Putney Community Center– OPEN SPACE event, in which we explore how information from the previous three evenings impacts our thinking about our relationship to local food and local farms.
Those interested in helping us with this series, contact paull@sover.net, 387-4102.

To join the Transition Putney listserv, email paull@sover.net. Put "Transition Putney listserv" in the subject box.