Central Wisconsin Sustainability Newsletter February/March 2013 Greetings, The newsletter's primary purpose is to help people learn about events and initiatives related to sustainability in Central Wisconsin. This issue includes three sustainability job postings, many upcoming sustainability events and Businesses Moving toward Sustainability. In addition, you’ll find many great stories in recent sustainability news including: 
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City Limits Farmers Market Radius New Park May Be Coming To Stevens Point City of Stevens Point Is Rewriting Zoning Laws Drop Box Donations Bypass Charitable Organizations Portage County Highway Department Takes Steps to Reduce Idling “The Tuning Fork” Radio Program Discusses Food Issues UW‐Stevens Point Green Advocates Passionately Move toward Sustainability MREA Offers Primer Courses in Renewable Energy Arts and Plants Everywhere: The CWES Garden’s First Full Growing Season Get Active Wood County Farm to School Celebrates Local Food Clean‐Green 2013 Projects ‘K bus’ Rolls Again Lamers Connects Central Wisconsin Pasture Revolution: Turns Out the Most Profitable Dairy Farming Method Also Is the Greenest Wind Turbines Start Spinning at S.C. Johnson Renewable Energy Incentives 2013 Rising Temps Could Change Landscape of Midwest U.S. Roasts to Hottest Year on Record by Landslide Climate Change Given Prominence in Inaugural Address Coal Plant Byproduct, If Spread on Farms, Could Fight Algae USDA Invests in Bioenergy Research and Development More Health Harms for Children Exposed to BPA Lead Exposure in Young Children Can Cause Reduced IQ and Attention Span Over 1000 Cities and Towns in Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio Receive Money in Settlement Common Pesticides ‘Can Kill Frogs within an Hour’ Nations Agree on Legally Binding Mercury Rules If you know someone who would like to receive newsletter by email, they can sign up by entering their email address in the green box at www.uwsp.edu/cnr/landcenter/sustainability.html Sustainability Jobs Sustainability Coordinator Position Description: The Sustainability Coordinator will work collaboratively with the UWSP Sustainability Task Force, Facility Services, WI Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST), WCEE Education for Sustainability (EfS), UW‐Stevens Point administration, faculty, staff, and student organizations to encourage and promote sustainable practices on campus. The Sustainability Coordinator will also work collaboratively with the Sustainable Communities Task Force dedicated to the Sustainable Communities Initiative – an element of the Partnership for Thriving Communities framework. Major functions of the position include sustainability and conservation outreach, project and program planning, strategic planning and leadership, and teaching and curriculum coordination with the academic community. Applicant screening will begin February 15, 2013. A complete job description is available at http://www.uwsp.edu/equity/Pages/jobVacancies.aspx LTE Water Resource Associate Position Description: The Center for Watershed Science and Education (CWSE), located on the University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point campus is seeking a limited term Water Resource Associate. Job duties include the interpretation of water quality data, preparation of reports and field work related to lake and river water quality. A detail‐oriented person with an understanding of limnology, water chemistry, and GIS is desired. Experience with field sampling techniques related to water quality is preferred. Background in aquatic plant identification is helpful but not essential. The position will also include public outreach. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. More information at http://www.uwsp.edu/personnel/Pages/Classified‐or‐LTE‐Vacancies.aspx Business Development Facilitator Position Description: The Organic Processing Institute (Middleton, WI) is announcing recruitment for a (Half‐time) Business Development Facilitator. This position is key to providing client services to, and program delivery for, food processing entrepreneurs, processors, and farmers/producers to build competitive and sustainable food processing in the Upper Midwest. The ideal candidate has experience providing technical assistance to agriculture and food sector entrepreneurs, i.e. financing & business plans of start‐ups‐‐especially entrepreneurial farmers, and knowledge of food safety and processing requirements, and the organic sector. Contact Carla@organicprocessinginstitute.org with questions. More information can be found on the OPI website: http://www.organicprocessinginstitute.org/ Upcoming Sustainability Events January 28, 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Tuning Fork Radio Show WWSP 90FM Listen to a local radio program discussing food issues every Monday for the spring semester. Listen at 89.9 FM or on the web at www.uwsp.edu/wwsp/. February 1, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Southern Wisconsin Vegetable Workshop Dane County UW‐Extension 5201 Fen Oak Dr. Madison Contact: Carrie Edgar, edgar@countyofdane.com, 608‐224‐3706 The 2013 Southern Wisconsin Vegetable Workshop will be held on Friday, Feb 1st at the Dane County UW‐Extension office in Madison. The workshop will feature sessions on vegetable crop production and farm management issues including irrigation, growing farm profits, hoop house production and postharvest management for diversified vegetable producers. Presenters will include area farmers and UW‐Extension Specialists. Registration is just $40 for an individual and $20 for each additional person from the same farm. (FairShare CSA Coalition grower members and IFM grower members receive a discount.) Registration is due by Monday, January 28th. A continental breakfast, lunch and workshop materials are included. Register at http://fyi.uwex.edu/danefoodsystem/2012/12/21/so‐wi‐vegetable‐
workshop/ February 6, 4:00 p.m. Citizens for a Clean, Green & Welcoming Community McMillan Library, 490 East Grand Ave., Wisconsin Rapids Contact: Joe Ancel, ancel@wctc.net Citizens for a Clean, Green & Welcoming Community (aka the Clean‐Green group) is a local grassroots group dedicated to creating a sustainable community through education, recycling, and conservation efforts in greater south Wood County. We invite you to attend our meetings at 4:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the All Purpose Room at the McMillan Library. This month’s guest speakers are Michelle Goetsch and Sue Anderson, who will provide an update on the Wood County Farm to School program. February 7, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Local Food Fair Stevens Point Area Senior High School, 1201 North Point Drive Contact: www.farmshed.org or 715‐544‐6154 The locals refer to it as "that potato dinner at the high school." Farmshed likes to call it the Local Food Fair and use it as our premier outreach event, bringing people together to celebrate community and the food that's grown within it. This year's fair will be held on February 7th from 5:30 ‐ 8:30pm at Stevens Point Area High School (SPASH), and it's FREE and open to the public. Come enjoy a free local, baked potato with basic toppings, or purchase deluxe toppings from area restaurants. Enjoy an information fair and introductory workshops, providing a glimpse of the learning opportunities available all year long through Farmshed's Growing Community Workshops. The mini‐workshops will be offered at 6:30pm and include topics such as backyard chickens, beekeeping, composting, and more. February 12, 6:30 p.m. Community Potluck Series: Comfort Food The Greenhouse Project, 1220 Briggs Court, Stevens Point Contact: www.farmshed.org or 715‐544‐6154 On the second Tuesday of every month Central Rivers Farmshed invites you to create and bring a dish to share with others, based on the identified theme. February’s theme is Comfort Food. Please label your masterpiece: vegetarian, gluten free, vegan, etc. and don’t forget a serving utensil! While all of the ingredients for your dish may not be locally sourced, please consider purchasing from your local producers whenever possible. We encourage everyone to bring your own place setting, though we’ll have something available if you forget. February 15 Wisconsin Environmental Health Network Conference: Making the Connection 2013 Health Sciences Learning Center, UW‐Madison (available by web‐conference at the Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, UW‐Milwaukee) Contact: info@psrwisconsin.org or 608‐232‐9945 This conference includes faculty presentations on managing environmental intolerances, assessing environmental exposures in clinical practice, health impacts of frac‐sand mining and promoting sustainable, integrated well‐being. Register for either the live conference at UW‐Madison's medical school or the web‐conference in Milwaukee. More information available at http://www.psr.org/chapters/wisconsin/environment‐and‐health/mtc.html February 15‐17, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Farmshed’s 2013 Beginning Farmer Course The Greenhouse Project 1220 Briggs Ct. Stevens Point Contact: www.farmshed.org, info@farmshed.org, 715‐544‐6154 Are you thinking about starting a farm or market garden to grow sustainable, local food or are you a seasoned farmer interested in networking and learning new skills and techniques? Central Rivers Farmshed is proud to announce its 5th annual Beginning Farmer Course. During this three‐day course, participants will learn strategies for growing healthy, sustainable food from several Central Wisconsin farmers. The farmers will lend their experience; how they got started, their current practices, and future visions to a crop of people interested in or currently pursuing sustainable agriculture. Specific course topics include: soil building and composting, efficient harvesting, holistic animal care, marketing strategies, pasture‐fed poultry and grazing animals, season extension, perennials, managing farm worker shares and more. Past participants have come from a wide range of backgrounds, from serious gardeners to people looking for land to start a farm and those with land they wish to begin managing. The course fee is $200 and includes daily local lunches, a Friday night networking dinner, and the textbook “New Organic Grower” by Eliot Coleman. Funds raised by the course will support Central Rivers Farmshed’s local food initiatives. February 20‐21 Networking across the Supply Chain: Local and Regional Food Systems Conference Radisson Hotel, Downtown La Crosse Contact: Michelle Miller at mmmille6@wisc.edu or Peter Allen at pclarkallen@gmail.com This event brings professionals from across the food supply chain to the table to discuss ways to improve transportation and distribution for local and regional food systems. This hands‐on meeting will highlight transportation innovations in the local and regional food systems supply chain in the Driftless Region of the Upper Midwest and beyond. Event information and on‐line registration is available at www.cias.wisc.edu. February 21, 7:00 p.m. MREA Film Series: Ingredients: The Local Food Movement Takes Root Midwest Renewable Energy Association, 7558 Deer Rd., Custer Contact: Mary, 715‐592‐4051 The documentary film, Ingredients: The Local Food Movement Takes Root, will be shown as part of the eco‐themed monthly, fall‐winter film series screened at the MREA on Thursday, February 21 at 7:00 p.m. Ingredients is a documentary about the shortcomings of America’s industrialized food system against the backdrop of a rising local food movement, whose proponents are shrinking the distance between farmland ‐ where our food is grown ‐ and our dinner plates. It’s free and open to the public. Please join us for popcorn (BYOB) and discussion afterward. Call if weather is questionable. The event is co‐sponsored by Sustainable Stockton and the MREA. February 21‐23 MOSES Organic Farming Conference La Crosse Center, 300 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse Contact: Angie Sullivan, angie@mosesorganic.org, 715‐778‐5775 The MOSES Organic Farming Conference is the largest conference in the U.S. about organic and sustainable farming. The MOSES Conference offers more than 70 workshops taught by experts in their fields, inspiring keynote speakers, and a trade show with more than 170 exhibitors open exclusively to conference attendees. Every February, this event draws more than 3,000 farmers, advocates, educators, students, and more to the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis. This farmer‐focused conference is celebrated as the foremost educational and networking event in the organic farming community. More information available at http://www.mosesorganic.org. March 9, 8:00 p.m. – midnight MREA Solar Speakeasy Bernard’s Country Inn, 701 2nd Street N, Stevens Point Contact: Gina, 715‐592‐6595, ginam@midwestrenew.org It's time to get dolled up, grab your baby, and head over to the Solar Speakeasy for a nifty night of live music, food, costumes, and games. Hosted by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, the Solar Speakeasy will be from 8:00 p.m. ‐ midnight at Bernard's Country Inn (701 2nd Street North, Stevens Point). Tickets will be available online starting February 1st. Join as an MREA Member at the event and get in for free! Here's your chance to meet others interested in sustainability. Don't miss it – it's gonna be the bee's knees! March 14, 7:00 p.m. MREA Film Series: Queen of the Bees: What Are the Bees Telling Us? Midwest Renewable Energy Association, 7558 Deer Rd., Custer Contact: Mary, 715‐592‐4051 The film, Queen of the Bees: What Are the Bees Telling Us?, will be shown at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair in Custer on Thursday, March 14 at 7:00 p.m. This documentary investigates multiple aspects to the recent bee epidemic known as Colony Collapse Disorder, including the historic and contemporary relationship between bees and humans. The film has won ten national and international film awards. It’s free and open to the public. Please join us for popcorn (BYOB) and discussion afterward. Call if weather is questionable. The event is co‐sponsored by Sustainable Stockton and the MREA. March 15‐17 Midwest School for Beginning Apple Growers Bayfield, WI Contact: John Hendrickson, 608‐265‐3704, jhendric@wisc.edu The intensive three‐day course demonstrates what it takes to set up and run a successful orchard business. Businesses Moving toward Sustainability Central Wisconsin Sustainability Newsletter is looking out into communities to find businesses that are successful and performing sustainable practices. UW‐Stevens Point student and Center for Land Use Education student writer Taylor Christiansen will be looking for examples of businesses and organizations practicing sustainability. If you know of a business or organization that fits that description that you think we should feature, please email us at landcenter@uwsp.edu. UW‐Stevens Point Environmental Education: Business Panel By Taylor Ann Christiansen, CLUE Student Writer On December 13, 2012, a business panel of three prominent residents of Central Wisconsin working toward sustainability presented to an upper level class at the University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point, Introduction to Environmental Study and Education. This class is used to fulfill the Wisconsin teacher certification in environmental education and covers such topics as social, economic, and natural factors that influence environmental quality. The three panelists included Shelly Janowski, the Sustainability Coordinator on the UW‐Stevens Point campus, Josh Stolzenburg from Northwind Renewable Energy, and Dick Okray of Okray Farms. The first panelist, Janowski, has been working at the UW‐Stevens Point part‐time for a year and a half, and one of the main goals of her position is working toward energy conservation and efficiency on campus. During the panel she discussed campus energy sources and how they’ve changed. In 2011 natural gas accounted for one third of campus energy sources while coal covered the rest. In 2012 the UW‐Stevens Point stopped using coal altogether and obtained half of its energy from electricity and the other half from natural gas. The two biggest consumers of energy on‐campus are the academic and administration buildings, which account for 64 percent of the electrical use, and the residence halls, which account for 16 percent. The UW‐Stevens Point hired an ESCo, or energy service company, to conduct energy audits on campus to see where the UW‐Stevens Point can reduce energy use and save money. UW‐Stevens Point also hopes to become a zero waste campus that introduces sustainability in all curriculums. Learn more at www.uwsp.edu/sustainability. Next, Stolzenburg introduced Northwind Renewable Energy. The company started five and half years ago and has since focused on solar electric options and weatherization improvements. After graduating from the UW‐Stevens Point, Stolzenburg worked in energy education for the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). He then decided to create a community‐oriented business to help community members reduce carbon footprints, save money on energy bills, and secure a long‐term investment. Northwind is very involved with educational facilities and works alongside the MREA to run workshops and trainings, and introduce curriculums. Northwind also worked with Habitat for Humanity on housing project developments and stayed active in state‐level advocacy for policy and legislative change to get incentives for renewable energies. Another topic Stolzenburg mentioned was Northwind’s involvement in the food system. They have partnered with Central Rivers Farmshed’s Greenhouse Project and have helped develop the site with water collection receptacles. They hope to integrate distributed power throughout the community so that many people are producing their own energy, which makes the grid more sustainable. Okray Farms has been producing food for 107 years in Plover, WI. At this panel Okray focused on one aspect of their sustainable practices: water usage. He discussed the past summer’s drought on the 9,000 acres on their farm. The aquifers the farm uses, like many others in Central Wisconsin, are 18‐20 feet down and they use raking watering which is a computerized method. They have about 90 irrigation systems that cover 90 to 130 acres each and raking watering saves water by spraying the water closer to the plants to prevent evaporation. They also use soil sensors that determine where water is needed most because different soil combinations have different effects on how the water is stored or drains through the soil. For example, in the areas with more absorbent soils, they can irrigate less and save water. The farm also reduces their carbon footprint by growing and selling their produce close to the people that consume it. This panel is a great example of how UW‐Stevens Point is educating students from different disciplines on local sustainability practices. Recent Sustainability News City Limits Farmers Market Radius From Stevens Point Journal Local produce at the Stevens Point farmers market will be even more local than ever before. The City Council on Monday night approved restricting permits to only farmers within a 30‐mile radius — previously it had been 60 miles — of Stevens Point. [….] Under the plan, any vendor who is outside the radius but has sold at the farmers market in the previous year would be grandfathered in and would not be subject to the new rules. Full article available at http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20130122/SPJ0101/301220246/City‐limits‐farmers‐
market‐radius New Park May Be Coming to Stevens Point Adapted from article by Cathy Dugan, Published January 17, 2013, in the Stevens Point Journal A new park may soon be available to residents of one of the densest local neighborhoods. The city has offered to purchase from the school board the land where Emerson School once stood. A full city block bordered by Clark, Ellis, East and Reserve streets, this open space would make a perfect park in a neighborhood where lots are small and yards are tiny. The property is just large enough to accommodate two or three activities, while leaving plenty of uncluttered open space. Since the school was razed several years ago, neighbors have unofficially been using the area as a park; the Old Main Neighborhood Association (OMNA) has even landscaped one corner. Recently, an alderman suggested developing community gardens at the southern edge of the property. The Emerson property is well on the way to becoming a neighborhood park and, with the cooperation of the city and school district, it should be official. This could be the first of several opportunities to add needed open space in cramped city neighborhoods. It’s the open spaces between the significant buildings and the neighborhood dwellings that make a great small city. City of Stevens Point Is Rewriting Zoning Laws Adapted from article by Cathy Dugan published in the Stevens Point Journal, December 27, 2012 The city is rewriting its zoning laws, those ordinances that describe in detail how a small city looks and functions in its suburban and urban areas. Starting in January, the Zoning Code Rewrite Subcommittee will meet each month on the second and fourth Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. in the city conference room at the County‐City Building. Meetings are open for the public to observe, and the newspapers will report on subcommittee activity. In addition, an open house and follow‐up meetings to solicit citizen input will occur as the revision process proceeds. I sat in on the group’s organizational meeting last week, during which members engaged in big‐picture debate and discussion. They reviewed the categorization of land uses in four “context areas” – suburban, urban, center and special – which are further divided into “zoning districts” at increasing levels of density and intense use. The subcommittee began by envisioning the suburban context area, its character, building types and street patterns, within three residential zoning districts and five commercial districts. Members leapt into discussion of the tangible expressions of a suburban neighborhood. I was struck by the attention given to a desirable neighborhood’s walkability, connecting its residents to each other, a small shopping center and public green space. Large lots and McMansions were criticized. Mayor Halverson argued for new subdivisions with smaller lots and homes; he asked for input on uses for huge houses no longer affordable or necessary (if ever they were). Suggestions included encouraging extended families to live together in the big houses and in accessory dwellings on the large lots. Co‐housing, a small neighborhood‐within‐the‐neighborhood sharing common open space and a community building, was also discussed. Drop Box Donations Bypass Charitable Organizations From The Gazette Donations of used clothing and shoes to various
freestanding collection bins in Portage County do not go to nonprofit groups with charitable missions, but are instead collected and resold by private for‐profit companies. Critics of the collection boxes say they hurt nonprofit organizations like Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army that rely on the donations to fund their programming. “We’ve struggled quite a bit with these (for‐profit) operators,” said Doug Schacht, leader of donations for Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin (NCW). “The community is not receiving any programs or services for donations.” The for‐profit companies say they are similar to recyclers of other commodities and that they are trying to meet consumer demand for convenient disposal options while helping keep clothing out of the waste stream. “Nonprofit and for‐profit clothing recyclers aren’t competing against one another but rather each has a role to play offering consumers a convenient choice in how to divert old textiles from landfills,” said Scott Burnham, spokesperson for USAgain, a West Chicago‐based company that has 12 for‐profit clothing collections bins in Portage County. [….] Hunt said there are numerous benefits to donating used items to area nonprofits, including helping fund a food pantry, job training for people with disabilities, as well as providing a place people can serve court‐ordered community service. Hunt said St. Vincent de Paul also collaborates with Goodwill, Salvation Army and Portage County to provide items free of charge to people in emergency situations, like if they’ve lost possessions in a fire or other emergency event. “We offer a lot of different things for the community,” she said. Full article available at http://www.pcgazette.com/2013/01/10/drop‐box‐donations‐bypass‐charitable‐
organizations/ Portage County Highway Department Takes Steps to Reduce Idling From Portage County Portage County has made progress on energy‐saving initiatives at the Portage County Highway Department. The department is phasing in seven‐minute idling technology into heavy equipment and department vehicles. The engine will automatically shut down after sitting idle for seven minutes. More information about county energy‐saving initiatives available at http://www.co.portage.wi.us/Energy%20Team/index.shtm. “The Tuning Fork” Radio Program Discusses Food Issues By CLUE Did you know that Central Wisconsin has a community radio station? Based on the UW‐Stevens Point campus, WWSP 90FM features a variety of music and talk radio programs hosted by university and community members. One program featured on WWSP 90FM is "The Tuning Fork: The show that tunes you in to what's on your fork". The show airs on Mondays during the Spring Semester (January through May) from 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Sustainable Agriculture in Communities Society (SACS) student organization on the UW‐
Stevens Point campus hosts the show and discusses food‐related topics. Tune into WWSP 90FM on the radio at 89.9 FM or listen on the web at www.uwsp.edu/wwsp/. 90FM is staffed by UW‐Stevens Point and is licensed to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. The station’s mission is “to build an encouraging difference in both our campus and central Wisconsin communities by providing an exclusive blend of alternative music and various forms of public affairs that highlight the good work going on in central Wisconsin.” UW‐Stevens Point Green Advocates Passionately Move toward Sustainability By Lindsie Wallenfang, UWSP Residential Living Green Associate The Green Advocates are a group of students who volunteer their time and efforts to help plant and nourish seeds of sustainability throughout the residence halls. They are truly a group of “fire souls” and I feel honored to work closely with them in planning environmental outreach programs for the students in the halls. The Green Advocates as well as our Greenest Resident are actively raising the bar for what we consider “green” and really making sure that if we’re going to talk the talk then we’d best walk the walk as well. For them, being “green” is a lifestyle choice that we’re helping each other transition into. The Green Advocates, our Greenest Resident Room Ambassador, Residential Living, Residence Hall Association and myself included have some big and exciting programs and events on the agenda for this semester including:  an Energy Reduction Competition 
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further implementation and improvement of the residence hall composting program a Waste Minimization Challenge, and a campus‐wide collaboration to integrate The Natural Step into campus culture and use it as the thread to tie campus and community organizations together I hope you stay tuned to what the Green Advocates have going on in the residence halls and help me in celebrating their outstanding efforts to make our campus, community, and world a better, healthier, and more sustainable place. Cheers to the Green Advocates! MREA Offers Primer Courses in Renewable Energy From MREA The Midwest Renewable Energy Association has offered full‐day professional education for decades. And now, that same professional education is available in bite‐sized portions! MREA is offering online primer courses that are specifically made for those who are interested in renewable energy technologies, but may not have a full day to come to a course, or for people with a tight budget. The online primers can be taken anytime, at your own pace, and from the comfort of your own home. The primers are perfect for those looking to save some money, and are only $20 for non‐MREA members and free for MREA members. Open for immediate registration today are the primers G 101 Introduction to Renewable Energy and PV 104 Working with Electricity. Register today and take the primers online in your free time. MREA’s courses are designed for a wide range of participants and are taught by industry professionals. To view the 2013 Training Catalog online, visit https://www.midwestrenew.org/training. To see the schedule of courses and primers available, visit https://www.midwestrenew.org/workshops. For more information about the MREA and the Training Programs available, contact the MREA at info@midwestrenew.org, or 715‐592‐6595. Arts and Plants Everywhere: The CWES Garden’s First Full Growing Season Adapted from the Sunset Gazette Last year, the CWES garden was built. In May 2012, chicken‐whisperer Jeni Lila joined us. Besides working wonders with vegetables, Jeni was essential in the production of over 1,300 pounds of chemical‐free produce grown with watering cans and a lot of love. Working with Jeni was fun and inspiring for all of the summer staff. Full article available at http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr‐ap/cwes/Documents/pdfs/ Newsletter%20Fall‐Winter%202012.pdf Get Active Wood County Farm to School Celebrates Local Food By Michelle Goetsch, Get Active Wood County Since obtaining a Transform WI grant through the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources in August 2012 to continue the Get Active Wood County work plan, the Get Active team has been busy tackling the issues of creating better access to healthy foods and increased opportunities for physical activity for Wood County residents. A major component of this work is the Wood County Farm to School program. In January, Humke Elementary Students in Nekoosa celebrated the school’s local food sourcing endeavors with a Carrot Celebration Day. Humke students were able to meet a local farmer, watch a video of the carrots going from farm to lunch line, visit with a dancing carrot and even snack on the local veggies. In the video, students met other players in the farm‐to‐
school process such as Tim Botcher, volunteer carrot delivery man, and Lori Mann of Me and Mom’s Catering in Arpin, who peeled and chopped the ton of local carrots that entered Nekoosa, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Pittsville and Port Edwards cafeterias over the last few months. View the video, “Carrots, The Incredible Journey” at getactivewoodcounty.org. Wood County public school district students enjoyed locally grown carrots in their cafeterias throughout the fall and winter months. In February, students will have the opportunity to choose locally grown dried cranberries on their lunch menus—some used as a salad topper, some baked into cookies, and some served as a fruit side. Learn more about Wood County Farm to School at getactivewoodcounty.org/getactiveyouth/farmtoschool. Clean‐Green 2013 Projects By Citizens for a Clean, Green & Welcoming Community The Citizens for a Clean, Green & Welcoming Community (aka the Clean‐Green group) are working on several projects in 2013 with respect to sustainability and reducing our impact on the environment. Some of these projects are continuation of old projects while others are new. Continuing projects include the following:  Choose to Reuse – This event, which is organized by different area townships (e.g. Rome, Grant, Grand Rapids, Saratoga), allows people to drop off useful items for others to have for free. Check with your local township for dates.  Recycling Rangers – This activity will continue to provide recycling containers and volunteers at local community events.  Sustainable Wisconsin Rapids – This involves working with Wisconsin Rapids officials to move the city towards becoming a sustainable community.  Green Map – Businesses, parks/green spaces, and other organizations will be added to the Central Wisconsin Green Map (CWGM), which is a web‐based interactive map that uses the universal Green Map icons to highlight the ecological, social, cultural, and sustainable resources of central Wisconsin. This mapping system helps central Wisconsin visitors and residents to discover and locate the area’s sustainable assets.  Earth Care Booklet – Information in the booklet will be updated. This booklet contains information on items to recycle, energy saving tips, buying locally, and money saving options with respect to food and transportation. To review the electronic version of this booklet, go to the Clean Green Wisconsin Rapids Area Facebook page.  The Growing Friends Community Garden Project – For 2013 this project will consist of forming a committee to help complete the work involved with obtaining, preparing, and maintaining a site for the garden.  Green Certification Update – The list of local hotels with travel green certification will be expanded.  Booth at local/area fairs – Look for us at events like the Grand Affair to learn more about our group. New projects for 2013 involve exploring the feasibility of:  Purchasing available greenhouse space and transforming it into a community center for growing greens and education.  Having a family friendly event that would provide information on sustainability and on the local environment.  Creating a bike share program, advocating for bike‐friendly lanes, and having a bicycle rally.  Earning the Bird City designation for Wisconsin Rapids.  The city adopting an ordinance to allow for residents to keep chickens.  Forming a nonpartisan committee that would keep abreast of pending legislation and policies that impact the environment. The Clean‐Green group is also planning to adopt a stretch of highway for clean‐up so our group can walk the walk in a very public and noticeable way. If you are interested in joining our group and helping out on one or more of these projects, you are invited to come to our meetings which occur at 4:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at McMillan Library. ‘K bus’ Rolls Again From City Pages Complete with free rides all day Wednesday, Metro Ride’s K route through Schofield, touching Rothschild and going into Weston is up and running. Those who led the Everyone Has a Place Task Force of the 10‐congregation NAOMI group were on hand early in the day, holding a brief ceremony before the first run left the Wausau Transit Center at 7:30 am. Technically, riders have to get on the A bus to the health care center where they can catch the K bus. Departure times into the adjacent communities are 6:45, 7:45, 10:45, 11:45, 2:45, 3:45 and 4:45. Kathi Zoern, a rider from Weston who worked to get service restored, said, “This is the best Christmas present. From the bottom of my heart, say yes to transit.” For a copy of the full article, contact the City Pages and ask for the January 3‐10, 2013 edition. Lamers Connects Central Wisconsin By CLUE According to the Wausau Lamers Bus Lines office, the passenger counts are growing for the Central Wisconsin Lamers Connect bus service. Lamers has offered daily service between Wausau ‐ Milwaukee and Wausau ‐ Madison since July 2011. Each route has multiple stops in regional cities. The Wausau – Madison route stops in Wausau, Mosinee, Stevens Point, Westfield, and Portage (including Portage Amtrak station) before arriving at the UW‐Madison. The Wausau – Milwaukee route stops in Wausau, Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac before arriving in Milwaukee and ultimately connecting to the Milwaukee Airport. Find schedules, routes, ticket prices, and more on their website at http://www.golamers.com/Lamers‐
connect‐Wausau‐to‐Madison.php. The routes run 7‐days a week, 365‐days a year and tickets may be purchased online. Discounts are available for college students, military, seniors, and children. In addition, Lamers buses are now bicycle friendly – passengers no longer need to disassemble their bicycles. Pay a small fee to transport your bicycle unboxed under the bus between any of the Lamers Connect routes. The Lamers route connects to a broader network of bus routes serving the state of Wisconsin. A full map of intercity bus routes (on right) is available from the Wisconsin DOT at http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/t
ransit/docs/icbus‐map.pdf. Pasture Revolution: Turns Out the Most Profitable Dairy Farming Method Also Is the Greenest From City Pages The fact that a statewide grazing conference is being held here the weekend after next is a clue that Marathon County is at the center of something. For the past 15 years, interest in the grazing dairy farm technique has been building. It’s a new method that returns basically to the old style of farming: The cows feed themselves on pastureland. What that means is far less machinery, less building infrastructure and, as a result, far less startup debt. Cows are healthier, as is the land, and the farmer’s family’s lifestyle is easier, happier and, as it turns out, even more profitable. It’s a revolution of sorts in the industry, but also of interest to foodies. Though most grazing farmers sell to conventional dairies, some are going to processors that market the milk as coming from pastured cows. Twenty years ago, grazing farms were unheard of in Central Wisconsin. Today, about 160 of the 700 dairy farms in Marathon County are grazing operations, with another 80 or so in Lincoln County. One of the area’s first graziers, as they call themselves, were Wendy and Greg Galbraith, who farm near Dells of the Eau Claire County Park, now with their son, David. If this family is any indication, the enthusiasm for grazing has become something like evangelical zeal. They try to show restraint, but that’s hard when you believe this is not only an easier way to farm, but that you also can make more money per cow with a smaller investment. Grazing is far better for the environment. These farms even smell better. The pastures might be littered with cow pies, but there’s no soupy, reeking barnyard or manure pit. Graziers have formed a statewide organization called GrassWorks. And they’re doing big things with it: helping each other, surely, but also establishing something akin to the route a wannabe plumber takes to become a journeyman. They established the only accredited apprenticeship program for farming in the United States. They aren’t stopping there. For a copy of the full article, contact the City Pages and ask for the January 3‐10, 2013 edition. Wind Turbines Start Spinning at S.C. Johnson From Journal Sentinel S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. commissioned two wind turbines Tuesday that are helping it rely almost entirely on its own power. The company built two turbines in the Village of Mount Pleasant, near its largest global factory, known as Waxdale. The turbines are 415 feet tall, equivalent to those at utility‐scale wind farms that have been built in Wisconsin in recent years. They can generate about 15% of the energy for the factory, which is roughly the size of 36 football fields. S.C. Johnson has been moving to rely more on renewable energy as part of its pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its operations, under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program. The Waxdale factory began using renewable energy when the company built a generator that's powered with landfill gas. A second generator burns natural gas. Full article available at http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/183985821.html Renewable Energy Incentives 2013 By Rob Peck, Northwind Renewable Energy There has been so much talk lately about renewable energy installation incentives and grants. The most frequently heard question around here is, “are there any incentives left”? In a word…ABSOLUTELY. Here’s an update. Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credit This tax credit was established in 2005 and is still available to all who pay federal taxes. This is a 30% tax credit, based on the total installed cost of a renewable energy system. What if my tax load is less than my tax credit? No worries, this credit can be rolled over to next year, and the year after. This 30% tax credit is scheduled to end in 2016, reducing to a 10% tax credit after the deadline. Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Program Focus on Energy has released their incentive programs for 2013. For the most part they are unchanged from the second half of 2012 at $600 per installed kW. New for 2013 is an expansion of the system size cap from 2kW to 4kW, so incentives for PV systems are now capped at a more generous $2,400. Solar hot water systems still capture up to $1,200 for qualified systems. The parameters and dollar amounts shouldn’t change for the entire year making them stable and predictable for the first time in quite a while. However, please note that this funding can be suspended or revoked based on how much is spent on technologies that the administrators of the program view as more favorable in terms of benefit to cost. The USDA Rural Energy for America Grant For eligible farms and rural businesses, this grant can provide up to 25% of the installed system cost for solar, wind and anaerobic digesters. It is a competitive grant and the application is not for the faint of heart. If you’re serious about solar in 2013, we can put the grant application together for you. The deadline for this year is March 31 and there is a large amount of information to put together. To broadly summarize, let’s describe a farm or business that would be considered a strong candidate for the REAP grant. A strong candidate would; • Have not received a REAP grant in the past 12 months. • Have a farm/business that is located in a rural area. Luckily, that’s all of us here in central Wisconsin. Yes, even the city of Wausau. • Be classified as ‘small’. For most agricultural operations, you are small if you have less than $750,000 in gross revenue in 2012. Other businesses have a higher gross revenue threshold, such as a school bus service, which would be considered as small if the gross revenue was less than $7,000,000 in 2012. We have the master list and can help you classify your business. • The strongest grant candidates would: o Be a very small business. This is defined as gross receipts of less than 1 million and less than 15 employees. o Install a renewable energy system that will offset more than 50% of your current energy usage. o There is much, much more, but these are the big pre‐qualification questions. Solar and Wind Energy Equipment Exemption In Wisconsin, the value added to a property from a solar or wind system is exempt from general property taxes. All you need to do is file a request between January 1 and March 31 in the year after you install the system. Wisconsin Sales Tax Exemption In Wisconsin, solar and wind equipment is exempt from sales tax. Rising Temps Could Change Landscape of Midwest From StarTribune Algae blooms on Lake Superior, the disappearance of birch trees from Minnesota and more heat‐related complications for human health are all likely without significant action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the warmer climate they are causing. Those are among the conclusions of a new national report from the U.S. Global Change Research Project that is expected to help shape federal climate policy over the coming decade. The Midwest, where Minnesota and other states saw their warmest year on record in 2012, could see average temperatures rise 4.9 degrees by mid‐century, the report said. That's on top of the 3‐degree rise in the past 30 years. It also cites links between continued warming and increased Midwest flooding. "Minnesotans are already beginning to notice climate change. Really beginning to notice," said J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director of Fresh Energy, a group that advocates alternatives to fossil‐based energy. "These will be unpleasant quality‐of‐life changes we're talking about." [….] [The report] includes assessments of impacts for eight U.S. regions. Among the potential impacts listed for the Midwest are: •
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Longer growing seasons, which might be offset by impacts of heat waves, droughts and floods. A 90‐mile northward shift of forest habitats, with maple, birch and spruce being replaced by oak. A decline in the region's ability to store carbon, with tree loss due to insect outbreaks and drought. An increase in demand for air conditioning that would increase greenhouse gas emissions and require $6 billion in infrastructure improvements. A 7‐degree rise in the water temperature of Lake Superior by 2050, with similar warming bringing invasive species and harming beaches and fish populations on all the Great Lakes. Nationally, impacts would include costly damages from severe weather, sea level rise, impaired water quality and water supplies. The report also notes, however, that the Midwest is in position to contribute to widespread reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by developing low‐carbon or no‐carbon energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass. Nordstrom noted that most Midwestern states, including Minnesota, have adopted goals for renewable energy. Minnesota requires most utilities to produce 25 percent of their electricity by 2025. "I think the Midwest is making genuine progress," he said. Full article available at http://www.startribune.com/local/186891992.html?refer=y. Full report available at http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/. U.S. Roasts to Hottest Year on Record by Landslide From Journal Sentinel America set an off‐the‐charts heat record in 2012. A brutal combination of widespread drought and a mostly absent winter pushed the average annual U.S. temperature last year up to 55.32 degrees Fahrenheit, the government announced Tuesday. That's a full degree warmer than the old record set in 1998. Breaking temperature records by an entire degree is unprecedented, scientists say. Normally, records are broken by a tenth of a degree or so. "It was off the chart," said Deke Arndt, head of climate monitoring at the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., which calculated the temperature records. Last year, he said, will go down as "a huge exclamation point at the end of a couple decades of warming." Full article available at http://www.jsonline.com/news/ usandworld/us‐roasts‐to‐hottest‐year‐on‐
record‐by‐landslide‐mh8a2ka‐186098291.html Climate Change Given Prominence in Inaugural Address From New York Times Democrats said the president would start an aggressive campaign to address the issue, using his executive powers to sidestep Congressional opposition. [….] Now there is a broad expectation that he will follow up his first big use of the E.P.A.’s powers to rein in emissions — proposed rules last year for new power plants — with a plan to crack down on emissions from existing power plants. According to estimates from the Natural Resources Defense Council, emissions from current coal‐fired plants could be reduced by more than 25 percent by 2020, yielding large health and environmental benefits at relatively low cost. Such an approach would allow Mr. Obama to fulfill his 2009 pledge to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions by about 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, the group says. Full article available at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/us/politics/climate‐change‐prominent‐in‐
obamas‐inaugural‐address.html?hp&_r=0 Coal Plant Byproduct, If Spread on Farms, Could Fight Algae From Wisconsin Ag Connection An Ohio State University scientist says an abundant byproduct from coal‐burning power plants, if spread on farmers' fields, could help control Lake Erie's harmful algal blooms. Warren Dick, a soil biochemist in the university's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), said applying fluidized gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum to crop fields can keep soluble phosphorus, the main nutrient feeding the algae, from getting washed from the soil by heavy rains, then running off into streams and rivers and eventually into the lake. "And FGD gypsum, which is a synthetic form of gypsum, can improve both the soil and the crops," he said. "Naturally occurring, mined gypsum has a long history as a soil amendment and fertilizer for farming." Full article available at http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story‐national.php?Id=105&yr=2013. USDA Invests in Bioenergy Research and Development From Wisconsin Ag Connection Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited a state‐of‐the‐art bioindustrial facility at Renmatix, Wyndmoor, Penn., where he announced $25 million to fund research and development of next‐generation renewable energy and high‐value biobased products from a variety of biomass sources. "USDA's continuing investments in research and development are proving a critical piece of President Obama's strategy to spur innovation of clean bioenergy right here at home and reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said Vilsack. "The advances made through this research will help to boost local economies throughout rural America, creating and sustaining good‐paying jobs, while moving our nation toward a clean energy economy." The projects announced today are funded by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, established in the 2008 Farm Bill. The funded research will help increase the availability of alternative renewable fuels and biobased products to diversify the nation's energy resources. The Department of Energy will make additional awards through this program. Each award was made through a competitive selection process. Full article available at http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story‐national.php?Id=104&yr=2013 More Health Harms for Children Exposed to BPA From Time Magazine The latest study shows the compound found in plastic and food packaging can put youngsters at risk for future heart disease. The list of health problems connected to bisphenol‐A (BPA) already includes some serious conditions, from hormone abnormalities to asthma, behavioral problems and obesity. Now, new research suggests that the chemical could be harming children’s kidneys and hearts, independent of the heart issues related to obesity. Full article available at http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/09/more‐health‐harms‐for‐children‐
exposed‐to‐bpa/ Lead Exposure in Young Children Can Cause Reduced IQ and Attention Span From Wisconsin Department of Health Services Lead exposure in young children can cause reduced IQ and attention span, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and a range of other health and behavioral effects. A study of Wisconsin students showed that students who’ve had moderate lead exposure before the age of 3 are at a considerable educational disadvantage compared to their unexposed peers 7 to 8 years later. Exposed students are at greater risk of scoring below the proficient level as fourth‐graders. Most lead exposures occur in homes or daycares built before 1978 from chipping and peeling lead‐based paint and the lead‐tainted dust it creates. Video explaining study results at dhsmedia.wi.gov/main/Viewer/?peid=4ec545e906b54f2584d8de11a55162ac1d&autoStart=true Over 1000 Cities and Towns in Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio Receive Money in Settlement Over Atrazine in Public Water Supplies Adapted from Iowa City Press Citizen The lawsuit against Syngenta, the company that produces the vast majority of the agricultural herbicide atrazine, dragged on for eight years and ended in a $105 million settlement that’s now being doled out to more than 1,000 cities and towns that had to remove atrazine from their water supplies. The biggest winners in the lawsuit were states with major agricultural operations, but populations also factored into the amounts. Illinois received the biggest check: $15 million. Ohio got another $10 million, and Indiana got $7 million. Full article available at http://www.press‐citizen.com/article/20130124/NEWS01/301240017/73‐cities‐
Iowa‐end‐up‐receiving‐money‐settlement Common Pesticides ‘Can Kill Frogs within an Hour’ From the Guardian Widely‐used pesticides can kill frogs within an hour, new research has revealed, suggesting the chemicals are playing a significant and previously unknown role in the catastrophic global decline of amphibians. The Guardian, United Kingdom. The research study is available at www.nature.com/srep/2013/130124/srep01135/full/srep01135.html. [Note: The pesticide that killed frogs in an hour is the fungicide Pyraclostrobin (Headline) which was used on 52 percent of Wisconsin potato acreage in 2010 www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Wisconsin/Publications/Miscellaneous/chemical_corn_pot_201
0.pdf] Full article available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/24/pesticides‐kill‐frogs‐
within‐hour. Nations Agree on Legally Binding Mercury Rules From BBC More than 140 countries have agreed on a set of legally binding measures to curb mercury pollution, at UN talks. Delegates in Geneva approved measures to control the use of the highly toxic metal in order to reduce the amount of mercury released into the environment. Full article available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science‐environment‐21078176 Announcements 2013 Water Conservation Youth Poster Contest The Wisconsin Rural Water Association (WRWA) and local water utilities invite teachers and students throughout Wisconsin to enter students' artwork in WRWA’s 2013 Water Conservation Poster Contest. The contest is open to all Wisconsin public and private school 1st – 6th graders. Posters are due March 1. First place receives a $100 cash prize and a chance at your school winning $500 for supplies. Second place receives a $50 cash prize. Information and registration materials at www.prairieduchien.info/WATER/2013‐01‐11‐WaterPosterContestFlyer.pdf Nominations Sought for Leopold Conservation Award From Wisconsin Ag Connection Sand County Foundation and Wisconsin Farm Bureau are accepting applications for the $10,000 Leopold Conservation Award. Given in honor of Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation, inspires other landowners in their communities through these examples and provides a visible forum where leaders from the agricultural community are recognized as conservation leaders outside of the industry. The deadline for nominations is August 9. Full article available at http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story‐state.php?Id=46&yr=2013. Deadline Near for 2013 Landscape Pesticide Registry From DATCP Feb. 1 is the deadline to sign up for the Landscape Pesticide Registry for this year's growing season, so you can be notified before lawn care companies apply pesticides in your neighbors' yards. Register online at http://datcpservices.wisconsin.gov. Participation in the registry is free. Signing up is a two‐step process: 1. You will register, providing your email address, street address and telephone number, and set up a password. 2. Enter the addresses for which you want notification. Unless you complete both steps, businesses will be unable to notify you. The password will provide you access to see what addresses you've entered and edit that information. You can register addresses only for the block where you live and blocks that are adjacent to it. If you have signed up for the registry last year, you will not have to re‐enter addresses that you entered then, but you will have to indicate that you want to keep them on your notification list. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection oversees the landscape registry. Full article available at http://datcp.wi.gov/News/?ID=747. UW‐Extension Launches Regional Food Systems Profiles Portal From UW‐Extension University of Wisconsin‐Extension is pleased to announce the Food Systems Profile Project online portal. The web portal tool features printable county profiles and maps for a twelve state region, food systems resources by topic, and template discussion tools to help county educators make use of the profile in a community setting. This project was driven by a growing interest in food systems as a community economic development tool in the Upper Midwest. The goal of this project was to develop and publish an online food systems profile tool using existing secondary data sources to: 1. help county based educators and community leaders better understand the local/regional food system in a systematic way in the North Central Region 2. understand how key indicators are changing over time and 3. identify opportunities for growth or expansion in regional food systems through the use of food and agricultural industry cluster analysis. This was a collaborative project that included project partners UW‐Extension Center for Community & Economic Development, UW‐Madison Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and UW‐
Extension, Center for Land Use Education, Applied Population Laboratory, and UW‐Extension Publications with significant funding from the Northern Central Regional Center for Rural Development. The portal can be assessed at http://foodsystems.wisc.edu/. Reflection Enjoy a poem inspired by UW‐Stevens Point’s Residential Living Green Advocates program. Our Mission From Central Wisconsin and for all our sake, My friends and I would like to take…. Just a moment or two and share our mission with you, ‘Cause believe it or not, you’re part of it too. We’re propelling a movement, a dance if you please, To share information and put our systems as ease. We live on a planet sustaining more than its weight, And the signs have all told us, Mother Nature’s irate. We’re caught in a system seeming to keep us down, It extends ‘round the world in every village and town. Our hearts say fix this, there’s a better way to live, But I’m only one person, just my two hands to give. But fear not dear friends, for we have a solution! A cure, it’s true! For this senseless pollution! We’ll be the platform if you’ll fill the chairs, And we’ll share information ‘bout how to take care. Not just of ourselves, both inside and out, But the planet we live on, the one forgotten about. Yes, it’s a big job, but you know what they say…. Many hands make light work at the end of the day. So come stand beside us and we’ll continue this dance, After all, doesn’t the next generation deserve a chance? ‐L. Wallenfang The Central Wisconsin Sustainability Newsletter is a project of the Center for Land Use Education (CLUE), a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point and University of Wisconsin‐Extension. CLUE’s mission is to create learning opportunities for communities to help them make sound land use decisions that result in a sustainable Wisconsin.