CENTRAL WISCONSIN
Sustainability Newsletter
October & November 2012
Greetings,
The newsletter's primary purpose is to help people learn about events and initiatives related to sustainability in
Central Wisconsin. This issue includes many ongoing and upcoming sustainability events including the Renewable
Energy Fair, farm tours, sustainable agriculture workshops, webinars and more!
In addition, you’ll find many great stories in recent sustainability news including:
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UWSP earns top score in The Princeton Review’s 2013 Green College Honor
Five UW campuses to collaborate on new master's degree in sustainable management
New compost building constructed at Northland College
Eco-Village: Sustainable, affordable
Firms unite to showcase Wisconsin solar sector
Kohl's expanding its electric vehicle charging program
Solar means business: Top commercial solar customers in the U.S.
A summer of start-ups for biobased chemicals: The first batch of a growing list of manufacturing
facilities producing chemicals from sugar is coming on-line
Fall migration takes wing as experts keep an eye out for drought impacts
First-in-nation disposal mandate targets pharmaceutical companies
U.S. announces tough new 54.5-mpg CAFE standard for vehicle fuel economy
Green-building features are going mainstream
BPA linked to obesity in white children
Wasted: How America is losing up to 40 percent of its food from farm to fork to landfill
If you know someone who would like to receive the Central Wisconsin Sustainability Newsletter by email, they
can sign up by sending an email to lmarkham@uwsp.edu with “Subscribe to CWSN” in the subject line.
Ongoing sustainability events
Courses at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association www.midwestrenew.org
Workshops at Artha Sustainable Living LLC
www.arthaonline.com/Workshops.html#SolarThermalSustainableEnergyWorkshops
Events at Central Rivers Farmshed http://farmshed.org/
Upcoming sustainability events
Think Fall! Consider getting a winter storage share
Want to continue to eat locally-grown vegetables this fall and winter? Many
of our central Wisconsin CSA farms offer a box of winter storage vegetables.
Central Rivers Farmshed has a list of CSAs that serve central Wisconsin at
http://farmshed.org/index.php/csa-2012 Best storage conditions for winter
vegetables are provided at
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/pm731.pdf
October 2 – 3
5th Annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference - Midwestern Region
Dubuque, Iowa
This conference is a two-day educational opportunity for municipal professionals, elected officials and
business leaders who have a common interest in sustainability. The general conference held on October
3, 2012 will be preceded by several optional half-day workshops, tours and networking opportunities on
October 2. Current registration fees are $150 for general attendees and $15 for students. Details at
http://www.gscdubuque.com/ Workshops are organized into four main tracks:
• Energy & Resource Management - This track focuses on sustainable building practices, energy
conservation and waste management.
• Water - This track looks at the vital natural resource from rain to drain, from waterway to
kitchen faucet and from wastewater to energy source.
• Transportation and Mobility - This track will feature the latest trends in infrastructure,
alternative fuels and reducing vehicle miles traveled.
• Community Knowledge - This track will look at several examples of citizen and stakeholder
engagement, education and team building.
October 6, 10am – 4pm
Solar Tours with Tom Brown Architect of the Mead Visitor Center
Tom Brown will be conducting tours of the Stanton W. Mead Education and Visitor Center to display the
sustainable systems that are a part of making the Visitor center a green building as well as the
considerations he took while designing this wonderful facility.
October 6, 3pm
Cutler Country Comfort Farm Tour
2554 County Rd N, Milladore, WI, 54454
Contact: Sally and Randy Cutler, 715-457-2781
Cutler Country Comfort has been a family farm since 1949. Randy and Sally have owned and managed
this 230-acre farm in Central Wisconsin since 1976, taking over from Randy’s family. Through the use of
green house, high tunnel, livestock (poultry, sheep, and beef) grazing, gardening, and fruit production
the Cutlers plan to offer year round food to local patrons. Cutlers use natural methods to produce their
food. They will be growing the traditional fruits and vegetables, but will also continue to try new foods
as demands rise. These two life-long teachers want to become as self-reliant as possible while teaching
others farming skills.
October 13, 11am
Liberation Farm Tour
8762 3rd Street, Almond, WI 54909
Contact: John Sheffy 715-366-2656
Liberation Farm is a Permaculture education and demonstration farm in the making. This is the first year
start up for John and Holly at this location, so it is a work in progress. They will give a field tour of the
gardens, food forests and vineyard, and discuss how to assess a property and design according to
Permaculture principles.
October 20, 11am – 1:30pm
Empty Bowls
1201 N Point Drive, Stevens Point
Empty Bowls is a community event for the whole family. Choose a pottery
soup bowl made by local artists and fill it with delicious soup donated by
area restaurants. Add breadsticks, homemade cookies and a beverage and
enjoy live music including Tom Pease, children's activities, a clown and our
Marketplace. Wonderful raffle prizes. Take your bowl home as a reminder
that someone's bowl is always empty! All proceeds go to local hunger
prevention efforts. Sponsored by the Hunger and Poverty Prevention Partnership. $11 per person.
New this year: Empty Bowls to Go!
October 20, 3pm – midnight
Hallowgreen Barn Bash
Wetter's Farm, 485 Casimir Road, Stevens Point, WI 54481
Join local organizers and volunteers for a barn bash celebrating the outstanding community of
volunteers who have worked with Farmshed over the past several years. Activities this year will again
include chili, costume, and jack-o-lantern contests, psychic readings, children’s activities, and a bon fire.
This is a FUNdraiser for the Greenhouse Project! Please spread the word about this event – all are
welcome and the more the merrier! See farmshed.org for details.
October 27, 11am
Chef on the Square
• Bistro 212 will be cooking at the Stevens Point Farmers’ Market, Main Street Square, Downtown
Stevens Point.
• Christian’s Bistro will be cooking at The Wood County Farmers’ Market, 321 3rd Avenue South,
Wisconsin Rapids, between Johnson and Goggins Streets behind the Daily Tribune.
Come join the festivities at the Stevens Point and Wood County Farmers' Markets! Local chefs cooking
up local foods! Learn, laugh, sample, and snag a recipe!
November 3, 6pm – 10pm
Farmer Tribute Dinner
Bernard’s County Inn Restaurant, 701 2nd Street North, Stevens Point, WI 54481
Central Rivers Farmshed invites you to attend the Farmer Tribute Harvest Dinner – a night of local food,
live music, silent auction, and kid’s activities. This is a great opportunity to show your support for the
community and our farmers! This event is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. Proceeds
from this fundraising event will go toward Farmshed initiatives. For ticket prices and information, call
715-544-6154, email info@farmshed.org, or stop in at 1220 Briggs Court.
Recent Sustainability News…
UWSP earns top score in The Princeton Review’s 2013 Green College Honor Roll
From Wheeler Report
In recognition of its environmentally related practices, policies and academic offerings,
UW-Stevens Point received a top Green Rating of 99. Only 21 colleges and universities in the country
earned the distinction. Criteria included having a healthy and sustainable quality of life, preparing
students for employment and citizenship in a world defined by environmental changes and the school’s
overall commitment to environmental issues. (http://www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.aspx)
“For forty years UW-Stevens Point has been a national leader in sustainability. Not only do we have the
largest undergraduate natural resources program in the country, we were the first university in the
nation to offer a major in conservation education,” said Chancellor Bernie
Patterson. “We are proud to continue this legacy in all aspects of campus life and to, once again, be
counted among the top green colleges and universities.”
The Princeton Review recognized UW-Stevens Point for its Operations and Waste Management
Facility, wastewater treatment plant, Residential Living recycling programs, vermicomposting program,
Student Government sustainability committees, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver
rating in constructing the new Suites@201 Reserve residence hall and history of conservation education
since 1946.
Other sustainable practices at UW-Stevens Point include:
• Four residence halls furnished with solar panels that heat domestic hot water.
• Biodegradable, earth-safe cleaning products, purchased in bulk with use of refillable containers
that minimize waste, are primarily used at the university.
• Residence halls participate in the NatureWise Program and currently use 40 percent green
energy generated through wind and biogas renewable resources instead of coal and natural gas.
• An end of the year recycle/reuse program donates items such as clothing, furniture and
electronics to the community to avoid landfill disposal.
• The Greenest Residence Room in Knutzen Hall demonstrates to students and the public how to
live a comfortable and affordable environmentally friendly lifestyle.
• A student in each hall serves as a Green Advocate, providing environmental programming and
serving as an environmental resource for residents.
Full article at http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/August12/0830/0830uwsp.pdf
Five UW campuses to collaborate on new master's degree in sustainable management
From Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Five University of Wisconsin System campuses got the green light Friday to pool
their resources and offer a collaborative online Master of Science degree in
sustainable management.
The new collaborative degree, approved Friday by the UW Board of Regents, will
be collaboration between UW-Stout, UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside
and UW-Superior.
Full article at http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/167343675.html
New compost building constructed at Northland College
From Superior Telegram
The facility will be a focal piece of the college's commitment to sustainable operations by reducing
waste on campus and using compost to grow food consumed in the campus cafeteria.
Full article at http://www.northland.edu/news-current-news.htm.htm?id=262
Eco-Village: Sustainable, affordable
From Minneapolis Star Tribune
A Habitat for Humanity project in River Falls, Wis., could serve as a national model, showing for-profit
developers that homes can be both energy-efficient and economical on a large scale.
Full article at http://www.startribune.com/business/167127505.html
Firms unite to showcase Wisconsin solar sector
From Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A coalition of Wisconsin firms involved in the solar power and solar hot water industry are joining
together to market the state at the solar sector's major annual conference.
Full article at http://www.jsonline.com/business/firms-unite-to-showcase-wisconsin-solar-sectort66qes5-169254536.html
Kohl's expanding its electric vehicle charging program
From Sustainable Business Oregon
Kohl's Corp. said September 5 that it is expanding its electric vehicle charging station initiative to include
18 more locations by the end of fall 2012. The expansion spans three new states, including Illinois,
Indiana and Wisconsin and adds additional locations to the company’s Texas program. Each of the
participating Kohl’s locations will have two or three parking spaces reserved for electric vehicles where
drivers can charge their cars for free.
Full article at http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/national/2012/09/kohls-expanding-its-evcharging-program.html
Solar means business: Top commercial solar
customers in the U.S.
From Solar Energy Industries Association
Solar energy is being deployed on a massive
scale by the most iconic brands and bestmanaged companies in the U.S. in order to
help lower operating costs and increase
profits. Solar-electric installations on
rooftops in the midwest include Kohl’s
Department Stores (Milwaukee area), and
IKEA (Twin Cities and Chicago areas).
Full article at http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-means-business-top-commercial-solarcustomers-us
A summer of start-ups for biobased chemicals: The first batch of a growing list of manufacturing
facilities producing chemicals from sugar is coming on-line
From Chemical & Engineering News
When asked which of the biobased chemical producers is considered a leader in commercializing its
technology, analysts point to Gevo, which is making isobutyl alcohol (called isobutanol by the industry)
at its first commercial plant, in Luverne, Minn. The facility, a retrofitted corn-based ethanol operation,
began production in May.
Ritzenthaler visited the Luverne site in early July. “I took a snapshot of two railcars full of isobutanol,” he
says. “They are successful at making and marketing it. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve demonstrated
they can make commercial quantities.”
Kersh also lists Gevo first. “They have production—that is a huge box that we check off.” Kersh adds two
more praiseworthy fundamentals: the company’s easy access to the important solvents market through
an agreement with the chemical maker Sasol and its “capital light” strategy of converting existing plants.
Full article at http://cen.acs.org/articles/90/i38/Summer-Start-Ups-Biobased-Chemicals.html
Fall migration takes wing as experts keep an eye out for drought impacts
From DNR
“Homeowners can always help by providing a water source and by providing native trees, shrubs and
herbaceous plants that produce lots of bugs and fruit for birds to eat and shelter during migration.”
Hummingbirds are struggling to find food because the blossoms just aren’t there because of the
drought. “So the feeders become really important.” “There is less seed available because of things not
flowering due to the drought for gold finches and even for migratory birds that depend on seeds, like
towhees, finches and grosbeaks.
Full article at http://dnr.wi.gov/news/Weekly/Article_Lookup.asp?id=2273
First-in-nation disposal mandate targets pharmaceutical
companies
From NACO County News
Alameda County, Calif. is holding pharmaceutical companies
responsible for disposing of their products to keep them out of
waterways and the wrong hands.
Full article at
http://www.naco.org/newsroom/countynews/Current%20Issue/86-12/Pages/First-in-nationdisposalmandatetargetspharmaceuticalcompanies.aspx
U.S. announces tough new 54.5-mpg CAFE standard for vehicle fuel economy
From Detroit Free Press
The Obama administration ushered in a new era of fuel efficiency standards today by announcing
aggressive new regulations that will nearly double fuel economy by 2025 to 54.5 miles per gallon.
Full article at http://www.freep.com/article/20120828/BUSINESS01/120828029/CAFE-mpg-fueleconomy-standards-ray-lahood?odyssey=nav%7Chead
Green-building features are going mainstream
From Los Angeles Times
Once considered eccentric and dowdy, not to mention expensive, green-home building's looks have
gotten a makeover as it creeps closer to mainstream housing.
Full article at http://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/09/business/la-fi-umberger-20120909
BPA linked to obesity in white children
From Environmental Health News
White children exposed to high levels of bisphenol A are five times more likely to be obese than children
with low levels, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The research is the first to link the chemical to obesity in children; previous studies reported links in
adults and animals. It is unclear why BPA levels were so strongly associated with obesity in white
children but not blacks or Hispanics. “It is possible that there is some genetic interaction that may be
specific to the [white] population ... but we don’t know,” said Dr. Leonardo Trasande of NYU School of
Medicine. Traces of BPA – used in some canned food and beverages, paper receipts and dental sealants
– are found in virtually every U.S. adult and child.
Full article at http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/bpa-linked-to-obesity-inwhite-children
Wasted: How America is losing up to 40 percent of its food from farm to fork to landfill
From Natural Resources Defense Council
Food is simply too good to waste. Even the most sustainably farmed food does us no good if the food is
never eaten. Getting food to our tables eats up 10 percent of the total U.S. energy budget, uses 50
percent of U.S. land, and swallows 80 percent of freshwater consumed in the United States. Yet, 40
percent of food in the United States today goes uneaten. That is more than 20 pounds of food per
person every month. Not only does this mean that Americans are throwing out the equivalent of $165
billion each year, but also 25 percent of all freshwater and huge amounts of unnecessary chemicals,
energy, and land. Moreover, almost all of that uneaten food ends up rotting in landfills where it
accounts for almost 25 percent of U.S. methane emissions. Nutrition is also lost in the mix—food saved
by reducing losses by just 15 percent could feed more than 25 million Americans every year at a time
when one in six Americans lack a secure supply of food to their tables. Given all the resources demanded
for food production, it is critical to make sure that the least amount possible is needlessly squandered
on its journey to our plates.
This paper examines the inefficiencies in the U.S. food system from the farm to the fork to the landfill.
By identifying food losses at every level of the food supply chain, this report provides the latest
recommendations and examples of emerging solutions, such as making “baby carrots” out of carrots too
bent (or “curvy”) to meet retail standards. By increasing the efficiency of our food system, we can make
better use of our natural resources, provide financial saving opportunities along the entire supply chain,
and enhance our ability to meet food demand.
Full report at http://www.nrdc.org/food/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf