Greetings,

The newsletter's primary purpose is to increase public awareness of events related to sustainability* in Central Wisconsin.  We're excited that there are many upcoming projects and events!

Here is a list of upcoming events as well as recent sustainability news.

You're invited to these upcoming events...

September 2008

September 11, 7-8 pm
Organizational meeting of the Natural Step for Communities, Study Circles
Wisconsin Rapids McMillan Memorial Library, McCourt conference room
These study circles are an extension of our discussion on how to promote sustainability in our area and achieve economic, ecological and social goals, using different and innovative ways. The study circles are scheduled to meet once a week, for approximately one hour, beginning the week of Oct. 1 and concluding the week of Nov. 20

September 11-12
Going Green - Sustainable Communities and Farms (Wisconsin Association of RC&Ds 2008 Annual Meeting)
Olympia Resort and Conference Center, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

September 13, 10am-noon
The Connection Between Food Choices and Drinking Water Quality - Interfaith Community for the Earth (ICE), Portage County Public Library, Downtown Stevens Point
Discussion will include where drinking water comes from, whether it’s safe to drink including Portage County maps, and how food choices affect water quality.

September 16, 7-8:30 pm
Learn about rain barrels: Learn how to install and use one at your home
Stevens Point Eco-municipality initiative, Stevens Point Library
Questions, contact Susan Ermer at 343-1960

September 17, 7 pm
Sustain Central Wisconsin general meeting
Kristin’s Riverwalk (1140 Clark St, St Pt) in the River Room (all the way in the back)
Note: pre-meeting meeting at 6pm to discuss writer's group

September 20
Ride for Renewables and Harvest Fest
Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), Custer
Join the MREA to help support our education programs. The fundraising bike ride consists of 15, 30 or 60 mile routes in beautiful central Wisconsin. Stay for our annual Harvest Fest, with kids’ activities, harvest-related workshops, food and music.

September 20
Waupaca County Chapter Ice Age Trail Workday
Meet at Hartman Creek State Park parking lot. Work location still to be determined. Bring water, lunch, sunscreen, insect repellent. Wear boots or sturdy shoes. Tools provided. Contact Debbie (715-258-6243) for more information.

September 22, 5:30-7:00 pm
Commission for a Greener Tomorrow Steering Committee Meeting
Wausau City Hall, Maple Room
Visitors are always welcome to attend.

September 23
Root Cellar Workshop
Rms 1 and 2, Court House Annex, Stevens Point
Call 346-1316 to register Free

September 27, 1-4pm
Applesauce Making Day
St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Stevens Point
Learn how to make applesauce and take some home. Call 592-4423 to register

Week of September 29
Stevens Point Sustainability Study Circles begin
Fall Study Circles are forming! For more details about getting to know the Natural Step guidelines and signing up, contact Kevin Hite.  There will also be study sessions on the Deep Economy: the Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future by Bill McKibben

Solar hot water system on Stevens Point’s fire station #2

September 30, 6pm
Sustainable Point meeting
Portage County Annex building, Room 1
Stevens Point is officially an eco-municipality, and we have a great plan for creating a sustainable community. So what's next? First thanks to all of you who helped to usher through the resolution, and who helped develop the goals and recommendations in "A Path to a Sustainable Point." Stevens Point Mayor Halverson still needs to appoint the advisory commission, and city council will work to advance some of the city government/policy recommendations. But we, as community members, can also move forward on a number of the projects outlined in the eco-municipality plan.

Agenda: Please review the plan "A Path to a Sustainable Point." At the meeting, we can identify priority areas and immediate tasks for our community. We encourage you to think about what you personally will be willing to "do" to get a task or project going. We're now in the implementation stage, and with all of us working together, we can get a lot of the ideas to become a reality.

October 2008

October 3
UWSP "Purple, Gold and Green" sustainability fair
more details to come!

October 3 - 4
Stevens Point - Dozynki Harvest Festival
Narrated historic hayrides, farmers market, Polish crafts and demonstrations, arts and crafts vendors, pumpkin painting, food, refreshments and entertainment, traditional Polish dinner. For more information call (715) 343-5356.

October 3-4
Wisconsin Solar Tour: On your own, and 3 Central Wisconsin Guided Bus Tours
Although it is officially called the Wisconsin Solar Tour, sites include all sorts of renewable energy technologies and other innovative features. See list of sites at MREA
You can tour on your own:
     •  Friday, October 3: Business sites are open to the public, 10 am-4 pm
     •  Saturday, October 4: Homes around the state will be open for tours, 10 am-4 pm
Or take a guided bus tour for $15 per person. On bus tours you will have an energy expert guide you through various sites and explain the technologies or building design.
     •  Stevens Point guided bus tour of businesses, Friday October 3, 12-4 pm
     •  Stevens Point guided bus tour of homes, Saturday October 4, 9 am-12 pm
     •  Stevens Point guided bus tour of homes, Saturday October 4, 1-4 pm

October 4
Making Your Own Window Quilts
MREA, Custer

October 9, 7pm
"I am human, I am an American, and I am an oil addict" with Nate Hagens of The Oil Drum
UWSP Dreyfus University Center
Free and open to the public

October 11
Free film screening "Escape from Affluenza"
Time and location TBA
Sponsored by the Interfaith Community for the Earth (ICE)

October 11
Solar Water Heating Installation Lab
Artha Sustainable Living Center, Amherst

October 18-19
Intermediate PV for Professionals
MREA, Custer

October 25
Creating a Local Food Economy, Tomorrow River Chautauqua
Jensen Center Amherst
A half day event featuring farmers market, keynote by Ellis Jones, breakout sessions, local food dinner, and musical entertainment

October 25
Green Workplace Auditor
MREA, Custer

November 2008

November 1
Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems
MREA, Custer

November 2
Solar Space Heating Systems
MREA, Custer

November 4
Election Day!
CFL light bulbs will be handed out for free and various polling locations in Portage and Marathon County. If you would like to assist with the CFL distribution on Election Day or if you have a truck to assist in moving palletized CFLs contact Joe Kottwitz

November 8
Introduction to Masonry Heaters
MREA, Custer

November 10
Central Rivers Farmshed 2nd Annual Farmer Appreciation Dinner
Christian's Bistro, Plover, time and details TBA
Visit Farmshed for more information

November 11, 7 pm
Bill McKibben presents in Ashland; MSTC working to broadcast talk in Wisconsin Rapids
Bill McKibben presents at Northland College in Ashland. Mid-State Technical College is working to get his presentation broadcast in Wisconsin Rapids. More details coming. Bill McKibben is an American writer who frequently writes about global warming and alternative energy.
McKibben’s 2007 book Deep Economy: the Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future addresses what the author sees as shortcomings of the growth economy and envisions a transition to more local-scale enterprise. Learn more about McKibben and his books at McKibben's website

November 12
Non-Res. PV Site Assessor Training
MREA, Custer

November 14-15
Solar Water Site Assessor Training
MREA, Custer

November 16
Introduction to Wind Systems
MREA, Custer

December 2008

December 12
Climate Change Summit - Wisconsin Communities Take Action
UW-Stevens Point
You will hear from renowned leaders, participate in real-world breakout sessions on adapting to climate change, reducing your carbon emissions and energy consumption, increasing potential for renewable energy.

January 2009

3rd Wisconsin Local Food Summit
Hotel Mead, Wisconsin Rapids
More information and dates to be announced

April 2009

April 17-19
Prairie Chicken Festival seeking local food vendors
Seeking local vendors to display and sell food or other wares: past festivals have included local grass-based meats (beef and buffalo, organic free-range chicken franks), local dairy, cranberry juice, etc. Farming practices should be in keeping with sound conservation practices, preferably grass-based with sustainability as their goal. The tentative cost for a booth will be $25 or $50 plus 20% of sales. Contact Sharon Schwab at 715-343-6221

Recent Sustainability News...

Volunteers Help with Recycling at Riverfront Rendevous
About 10 community members helped out at the 2008 Riverfront Rendezvous in Stevens Point. This was the first year the city provided recycling containers during the event. An estimated 50 large plastic bags of aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles were recycled. Kudos to the volunteers!! If your organization, business, municipality or family is having an event, you can reserve the county’s recycling bins at no charge. The first 25 bags are free. Call the Solid Waste and Recycling Information Line at 345-5972

Mid-State Technical College Launches Renewable Energy Program
Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids successfully launched its three new renewable energy technician associate degree programs in August with over 40 students enrolling in the Biorefinery Technology, Renewable Electricity Technician and Renewable Thermal Energy Technician programs. The college is now accepting applications for January enrollment in those programs and is preparing to implement two additional programs (Renewable Energy Specialist and Energy Efficiency Technician) in fall, 2009. For more information contact John Anderson, (715) 422-5428

Neighborhood Gardens in Stevens Point
The Stevens Point Area Neighborhood Garden (SPANG) project provides garden space for people who have little or none, yet strive to become more self reliant by growing their own food. Golden Sands Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) initiated the project in 2008 through strong cooperative efforts with the City of Stevens Point Parks and Public Works Departments. Golden Sands RC&D rents two unused city lots from The City, then prepares the site and rents plots to neighbors who can grown their own food and meet socially to learn more about gardening, harvesting, processing and sharing their bounty. The site on 3rd St. North and 6th Avenue has eighteen 20' X 20' plots which are rented for $40 a year, while the Franklin Street site offers ten 4' X 12' raised beds for $10 a year. Both sites filled up in 2008 and Golden Sands RC&D hopes to add a couple more sites in 2009. For more information, contact Bill Ebert at Golden Sands RC&D at (715) 343-6214

Stevens Point Journal Developing “Green Progress” Series
The Stevens Point Journal has published a number of stories about Stevens Point-area businesses that are “going green,” with initiatives including recycling, reusable bags, reduced paper use, designing and building sustainable buildings, installing of solar-powered heating systems and more. These stories are saved at Stevens Point Eco-Municipality website. The Stevens Point Journal wants to keep telling the story of businesses and other organizations that are going green. Submit story ideas to the News Department or mail them to Green Tips, Stevens Point Journal newsroom, 1200 Third Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481. Please include the story idea, a contact name for the business, and your name and contact number.

Wisconsin’s Strategy for Reducing Global Warming, July 2008
The Report recommends aggressive short and long-term goals for reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are consistent with Wisconsin’s proportionate share of the reductions needed worldwide to minimize the impacts of global warming. The goals are (i) a reduction to 2005 emissions levels no later than 2014, (ii) a reduction of 22% below 2005 GHG emissions levels by 2022, and (iii) a reduction of 75% from 2005 GHG emissions levels by 2050. The Report makes over 50 viable and actionable policy recommendations in the utility, transportation, agriculture and forestry and industry sectors.

New website: Sustainable Community Development Capacity Center
Includes a page about Wisconsin’s 20 Eco-municipalities, shown on the map to the right, including their resolutions

Home Heating Energy-saving tips from Wisconsin Public Service

• Purchase an efficient heating system. If you are thinking about purchasing a new heating system, look for ENERGY STAR® models. These are the most energy efficient models on the market and will save energy, save money, and help the environment.
• Seal ducts properly. Leaks develop in all air ducts over time. Sealing these leaks in ducts can reduce heating costs by up to 20% with reductions of 10% extremely common!
• Don't let heat go up the chimney. Make sure the fireplace flue is closed when you are not using it.
• Insulate properly. Make sure that your wall and attic are properly insulated. Adding batts of fiberglass insulation in your attic is one of the most cost effective savings measures and one that you can do yourself.
• Seal Leaks. Leaks develop in all air ducts over time. Sealing these leaks in ducts can reduce heating costs by up to 20% with reductions of 10% common!
• Caulk. Caulk windows and doors to prevent drafts.
• Insulate outlets. Electric outlets let cold air into the house. Remove the outlet covers and insert special insulation underneath. Use special insulating plugs in all outlets that are not being used.

If you would like an event you or your organization is sponsoring to be included in the Sustainability Newsletter, please send submissions to Center for Land Use Education

Thank you and please forward this invitation to any who may be interested in advertising in the newsletter.

*We are currently using the following definition for sustainability: "Sustainable development is...development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

World Commission on Environment and Development, Our Common Future, 1987.