While sitting in the office working on all of these tasks, I’ve been able to learn about what motivates our members to give. It has been amazing to hear from both our tiniest and largest member companies. Today, I had the pleasure to assist Mamma Chia in completing their 2012 certification.

Since joining 1% for the Planet in 2010, Mamma Chia has directed most of their support to Slow Money, along with some to Slow Food USA. Two members of our staff, Trina and Rebecca were lucky enough to attend the Slow Money National Gathering which took place in Boulder, CO over the last few days. We love the work that Slow Money does and were proud sponsors of this event. Trina just shared these kind words from the event:

Janie Hoffman of Mamma Chia has just given a speech at the Slow Money National Gathering in Boulder.  In introducing her, Woody Tasch, founder of Slow Money, has mentioned Mamma Chia’s 1% for the Planet membership and its incredible generosity several times – to great applause.  Janie, herself, spoke of her 1% for the Planet membership with pride.  Finally, Michael Bartner, of Slow Money, when thanking sponsors of the National Gathering, mentioned Rebecca Callahan Klein and myself in saying that Slow Money was “honored to have 1% for the Planet as a partner.” 

There were about 500 people in the audience in the Boulder Theater.  The talks and presentations have been terrific and the audience is deeply engaged in all aspects of sustainable agriculture and engaging fully with a holistic approach to food and living. Cheers, Trina

We are so appreciative of Janie & Mamma Chia’s support and we look forward to seeing where else this partnership will lead us!

We at Hug On A Rug have a deep and abiding interest in the environment and the health of the planet that is home to us all. As folks hug each other they may be reminded that we are all in this together, breathing the same air and fishing in the same seas. This care for the environment led us to 1% For The Planet – a natural partnership!

Tom first wrote his senator asking for support for the first Wilderness Bill in 1960. Tom was 14. He is a founding member of the former High Peaks Audubon in the Adirondacks of NY and participated in three Breeding Bird Atlases. Jean has been a long-time supporter of wildlife through the National Wildlife Federation and Defenders of Wildlife. It was she who designed the rug.

Our connection with Keeping Track began when Tom took Sue Morse’s (founder of Keeping Track) training nearly 10 years ago. He served for two years as a member of its board of directors. Keeping Track trains and educates both citizen scientists and professionals in methods of data collection that can lead to better decisions involving wildlife and land use. Sue’s efforts, along with those who work with her, have helped directly in the preservation of over 30,000 acres of sensitive wildlife habitat. We at Hug On A Rug will continue to support Keeping Track and it’s mission.

Huge thanks to Hug on a Rug‘s Tom Barber for sending us this story and for completing his 2012 certification early with support of Keeping Track. We’re so proud of our Vermont network- thanks for keeping it local Tom!

Luckily, the diligent work of land trusts are helping to protect these places and reenergize sustainable local agriculture. The Vermont Land Trust’s (VLT) conservation efforts change the lives of families, invigorate farms, launch new businesses, maintain scenic vistas, encourage outdoor recreation, and foster a renewed sense of community.

This spring, VLT is asking for you to help save Bragg Farm! The Bragg Farm has been an important part of the Mad River Valley’s agricultural landscape for more than 200 years. Perched high above the Mad River, the farm’s iconic barn, hay fields and incomparable views of the Green Mountains showcase the beauty and agricultural productivity of the Valley’s working landscape.

In 2012, the Vermont Land Trust worked with Mad River Watershed Conservation Partnership to purchase the 48-acre property. VLT then searched for a new farmer through through our Farmland Access Program, which helps experienced farmers gain access to productive, affordable farmland.

Marisa Mauro was selected to purchase the farm from VLT. In 2008, Marisa started Ploughgate Creamery, which produced award-winning cheese until a fire destroyed the place she was leasing. If VLT is successful in the fundraising effort, Marisa will restart Ploughgate Creamery’s operations and establish a grass-based dairy farm that produces artisanal butter, fresh cheeses, buttermilk and suckling hogs.

Contributions will help VLT to raise the last $85,000 to protect this special Mad River Valley farm, forever!

And if you’re local to the farm, Have glass a wine and help conserve the Bragg Farm! VLT and Cork Wine Bar invite the public to an evening fundraiser on Wednesday, April 10, starting at 6 pm. $1 of every glass of wine poured will go towards the remaining $85,000 needed for the property’s protection. http://www.vlt.org/initiatives/bragg

Protecting the Bragg Hill Farm will:

• Permanently conserve scenic and productive farmland
• Ensure the long-term affordability of the farm to Vermont’s farmers
• Preserve the historic barn, a treasured community landmark
• Revitalize the Bragg Farm with a new agricultural operation

Partners collaborating on the project

The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB), local conservation commissions and local land trusts are vital to raising the funds needed to protect the more than 50 properties VLT conserves each year. VHCB, the Mad River Watershed Conservation Partnership, and the Town of Fayston are key partners in the Bragg Farm project.

Successes and Challenges

VLT purchased the farm using bridge financing for its appraised value of $760,000 and will sell the farm to Mauro at its appraised agricultural value of $175,000.  VTL is raising money for the conservation easement, appraised at $585,000, as well as funds to preserve the historic barn. The total fundraising goal is $792,000.

With funds already raised and additional grant support from the VHCB, only $85,000 is left to go. 

Call to Action

Make a tax-deducible gift until May 1, 2013 by sending a check to Vermont Land Trust with “Bragg Farm” in the memo line. To learn more about Bragg Farm and the Farmland Access Program, or to donate on line, go to http://www.vlt.org/initiatives/bragg

“As a farmer and Vermonter, I am so proud to be part of the Mad River Valley community. With this opportunity, I can’t wait to get to work at the Bragg Farm with my family, friends and neighbors and contribute to our working landscape.” – Marisa Mauro

Vermont Land Trust

Since 1977, VLT has permanently conserved more than 1,650 parcels of land covering more than 500,000 acres, or about eight percent of the private, undeveloped land in the state. The conserved land includes more than 700 working farms, hundreds of thousands of acres of productive forestland, and numerous parcels of community land. As a member-supported, nonprofit 501(c)(3) land conservation we provide technical and legal assistance to individuals, communities, and local land trusts to help them achieve their conservation objectives. We also have an ongoing stewardship relationship with landowners to ensure that conservation goals are upheld in perpetuity. Learn more about VLT here.

The simple truth is that people are addicted to oil. Unfortunately as we continue to burn it, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere continues to rise.  Scientific evidence shows that the world is now suffering the disastrous impacts of climate change caused by elevated levels of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.  As oil supplies dwindle there is a push to uncover new resources by using dirty tar sands mining practices as in the case of the tar sands of central Canada.  The 240 gigatons of carbon stored in the tar sands is equivalent to adding at least 4 million new cars to the road. Current plans will pipe this dirty oil west, south, and east to coastal waters.  Areas around these pipelines will be put at risk of serious environmental disasters, while the entire globe will be increasingly threatened by climate change.

Oil companies plan to pump tar sands oil through some of the most pristine areas of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Linking tar sands oil production centers in central Canada to international shipping facilities in Maine will boost the industry’s profits, while ignoring the potential risks imposed upon the people and environment of New England.  Unlike the Keystone XL pipeline and the Northern Gateway pipeline, the proposed project does not require new pipeline construction.  The plan is to simply reverse the flow of two existing pipeline systems: the 40-year-old Enbridge Line 9 and the 62-year-old Portland-Montreal Pipe Line.

The areas through which these lines travel include some of the most spectacular ecological resources in the region.  The tar sands that will be flowing through this line are not like conventional oil.  Tar sands diluted bitumen is mixed with natural gas liquids and other volatile petroleum products and it is transported at high temperatures and high pressure.  This combination can weaken pipelines and increase the risk of spills.

Important Areas:

• Saint Lawrence River – Canada’s most important river provides drinking water to 50% of Quebec.
• Lake Memphremagog – 27-mile long glacial lake, provides water in the U.S. and Canada.
• Victory State Forest – A 15,000-acre state complex in Vermont’s pristine “Northeast Kingdom” that is home to 130 bird species.
• Connecticut River – One of New England’s most important watersheds.
• Missisquoi River – A major tributary to Lake Champlain.  A 767,000-acre watershed, with a 6,700 National Wildlife Refuge at its mouth.
• Coos County – known as the “North Country,” this is the least developed area in New Hampshire.
• Androscoggin River – The pipeline will cross this important river twice and run alongside it for 13 miles.  Recent rehabilitation efforts are once again threatened.
• Crooked River – A favorite area for outdoor enthusiasts, this river is also the primary spawning and nursery ground for Sebago Lake’s landlocked Atlantic salmon.
• Sebago Lake – Covering 30,000 acres, this area includes Maine’s busiest state campground and provide clean drinking water to Portland.
• Gulf of Maine – One of the ten most productive marine ecosystems in the world and essential to Maine’s economy.

There is a history of pipeline spills, including an incident near Marshall, Michigan in 2010.  More than 1 million gallons of diluted bitumen spilled and drained into the Talmadge Creek, eventually spreading down a 30-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River.  The results included health effects among the local population and devastating effects on the ecosystem.  Enbridge, the owner of Line 9, has had 804 spills between 1999 and 2010, which resulted in 6.8 million gallons of hydrocarbons.

The proposed tar sands pipeline threatens both humans and the natural environment.

An effort between 350Vermont, the Sierra Club, 350.org, the National Wildlife Federation and other eco-activist organizations are attempting to end this proposed tar sands oil pipeline.

The main objectives of this movement are:

• Take action and call on our governments to thoroughly review all pipelines that might carry tar sands,
• Call on President Obama to require a Presidential Permit for the proposed New England pipeline, necessitating a full environmental impact review.
• Conduct long-range clean energy plans before committing to infrastructure that will increase oil consumption.
• Embrace policies that will reduce oil demand.

Successes to date:

• Successfully organizing grassroots efforts.
• 24 Vermont towns with a Tar Sands Free Resolution on the March ballot
• Nationwide Fossil Fuel Divestment campaign at several universities
• Filed a request with the Act 250 Commission for a Jurisdictional Opinion on whether any pipeline reversal would require an environmental review
• Demonstrations in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Québec: no tar sands in the East!

Challenges to completing the project:

• Lack of public knowledge in the areas surrounding the tar sands pipeline
• Building political support of this opposition movement
• Creating long-range energy plans that will provide alternatives to tar sands oil
• Embracing new policies that promote renewable energy and reduced consumption
• Fighting the power and financial resources of the oil industry

Call to Action

Get involved in the Tar Sand Northeast Solidarity Actions.  Events will be taking place throughout New England. There is a national rally to stop the Keystone XL Tar Sands pipeline in Washington, DC on February 17^th, 2013.

Please consider donating directly to, joining and supporting the partner organizations doing this vital work:

350Vermont

An independent state chapter of the 350.org movement focused on building a volunteer-based grassroots movement to confront climate change issues in Vermont. Campaigns include Rethinking Transportation, Tar Sands Free Northeast, Fossil Fuel Divestment.

350.org

A grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis.  Online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are lead by volunteer organizers in over 188 countries.

Sierra Club

America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.  Sierra Club’s 2.1 million members and supporters urge the president to cement our nation’s position as the global clean energy leader by going all in on sustainable energy, holding polluters accountable, and rejecting the dangerous tar sands pipeline.

National Wildlife Federation

Providing a voice for wildlife, this organization is dedicated to protecting wildlife and habitat and inspiring future generations of conservationists.

Contact Emily Tompkins, Development Coordinator at 350Vermont, emily@350vt.org or the 350Vermont office, 802-444-0350 with any further questions.  

The snow is starting to fall here in Vermont and it won’t be long until we’re breaking out the skis and snowshoes!  Pretty soon it will be puffy jackets, hats, and mittens on the way to and from work.  Brrrr!  Along with ushering in the winter’s first snows, we also wanted to introduce new member businesses Native Box, Lilian Dauzat, and Hanley’s Foods.

Native Box is a monthly subscription of natural, eco-firendly, and sustainable products that are healthier, safer, and better for you and the planet.  Based out of Peakhurst, Austrailia, Native Box is committed to connecting its customers with businesses that provide exceptional organic and pure eco-products.  By subscribing to their service, consumers will save time, money, and disappointment.  Not only does Native Box offer an amazing service, but they are committed to doing business the right way.  According to their mission statement:

We believe that each dollar spent is vote cast for a healthier world. We have the power to tell the market what we want produced and how we want it manufactured. This is the power of choice and it feels good! It’s our mission to make it easier to make good shopping decisions that are better for you, your family and your planet and this is primarily why Native Box chooses to partner with 1% for the Planet. Together we seek to make a positive impact by working with like minded organizations and ensuring that funds go back into a sustainable Planet for future generations to enjoy.” 

We are incredibly excited to have Native Box in the network and we look forward to expanding the influence of 1% for the Planet in Australia!

One of our other new international member businesses is Lilian Dauzat.  As the owner and operator, Lilian acts as an independent consultant that specializes in business development, planning, strategy, and web marketing.  When discussing his decision to join 1% for the Planet, Lilian said “we have exceeded the limits of what the planet can provide and support: that’s a fact.  Each and everyone’s action is necessary to try and repair the damages to the environment, but alone, you quickly feel helpless. This is the reason why I think that a private company joining a network of like-minded organizations is the ideal structure to allow a large scale change.”   It’s wonderful to welcome another member business to our growing network in France and exciting to see Lilian Dauzat’s commitment to using business to help solve our environmental problems.

Last but not least, we would like to extend a warm welcome to Hanley’s Foods, based in Prairieville, Louisiana.  Established in August 2012 by Richard Hanley Jr., this new business is producing a delicious salad dressing that his family has been perfecting for decades.  Richard’s passion for making salad dressing for family and friends transitioned into the company it is today, after a trip to the local market. According to company lore, he had gone to gather up all of his favorite ingredients to make another bottle of his famous dressing, when a light bulb went off.  He thought, “Why isn’t this in stores? Not only is Sensation salad dressing a classic in southern Louisiana, but the locals know and love it.” Two years later, the dressing launched.  Not only is this beloved dressing created using an authentic southern-style family recipe, but it contains no preservatives or additives, it’s made locally, and it’s packaged in recyclable glass bottles.  Becoming part of 1% for the Planet allowed Hanley’s Foods to show their true support of  environmental causes.  We thank Richard for his commitment and look forward to trying out a bottle of “Sensation” in the near future!

Welcome to all of our new members at home and abroad!  Lets keep the momentum going into the winter.

49southphoto is a very small business, headquartered at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia.  They design field guides that are ideal companions for any explorer of the remote and natural landscapes in southern South America.

49southphoto’s owner, Diego Punta Fernández is a photographer, naturalist and active conservationist. He is involved in a number of conservation and environmental education projects- including his main project that is related with the Hooded Grebe, an endemic Patagonian bird that is critically endangered. Diego told us that he believes “in using businesses to effect positive changes, and [his] hope is to inspire other local and regional companies to become part of this great organization. [He is] really proud of being part of this fabulous movement.” Diego, we’re proud to have you!

Our next shout-out goes to a tasty beverage company based in Australia. Beyond was one of the first coconut water brands to hit Australian markets.  Their coconut water comes straight from young coconuts in Thailand and is bottled completely as is, without any additives. Beyond coconut water is stored in a clean and elegant airtight glass bottle for freshness and convenience and it eliminates any chance of being popped or pierced like their tetra carton competitors.

Beyond coconut water is not just a great tasting and hydrating drink, but in fact there are numerous health benefits associated with drinking 100% natural coconut water. It is a wonderful source of electrolytes while being free of fat, cholesterol, added sugar, sodium or flavoring!  Beyond was inspired to join 1% for the Planet in order to have the opportunity to fundamentally give back to the earth that allows them to create this natural beverage.  Beyond understands and embraces the notion that the sustainability of the natural environment is vital to the sustainability of any business!

We look forward to working with these new members and if you find yourself in Patagonia or Melbourne, we hope that you choose to support them! And if you find yourself in Vermont, you should take advantage of these fun, free, foliage filled activities, or take a drive up Route 17 over the Appalachian Gap and see what I see on my daily commute…

Continuing with this theme of connecting the dots, I challenge you to connect the dots between the following businesses around the world….

West Coast-  PlugOut, Spore Lore, Grass Roots Home Consulting,  California Solar Electric Company, Simply Straws, Green Bliss, Siempre Verde, The Greenfield Group, Skyline Eco-Adventures - Akaka Falls, Small Yellow Horses

East Coast – Hipcycle, The Whiteboard Team, EcoLogic Associates, Coast Toast Organics

Somewhere in the Middle – Nicey Treat, Simple Water, Bristol Family Law, Neighborhood Welcoming Committee, Lighthouse Conferencing, Sustainable Management Group

New England – Enriched Learning Center, North Country Enterprises, Naturesource Communications, Andy Duback Photography, OMBE, Atlantic Acupuncture

Canada –  GIVE Group, White Leaf Photographs

Japan – BeWet, Masahiro Terada

Scandinavia – SavetheC, Good Things International, MNML Agency

France – One Planet Surf, MBC Premium, Planetik

Netherlands – CleanSolutions, 7zerolab

United Kingdom – medical-artist.com

New Zealand- Safebottles

I’m sure that by now you have guessed that these are April’s 40 new 1% members! Welcome to our network, and I wish you all a very happy Green Up Day and hope you all find a way to get involved with cleaning up your local natural landscape!

This Saturday we encourage you to drop all plans, grab your circle of friends and family, and join the big circle, our global community, in action for 1% for the Planet Non-Profit Partner 350.org‘s International Day of Climate Action. Voice, act, dance, paddle, ring, play, sing, whatever you can offer, in show of your support for the number 350, representing 350 parts per million, the scientifically backed “safe upper limit” for CO2 in our atmosphere. With creative events and gatherings across the globe, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with this powerful message that affects us all. Click here to find out what’s happening nearest you.

How are we celebrating? You can find us at Vermont’s 350 Dance Party at Higher Ground in Burlington. Headlined by 1% for the Planet member Barefoot Truth (member since Jan. ’08) the show will be simulcast online and on cable throughout the state so all can join.

1% for the Planet will also have a presence in New York City, circumnavigating Manhattan Island with a group in kayaks stenciled by area students.

Calling all 1% for the Planet members, if you’re participating in a 350 action this Saturday, please write me at kate@onepercentfortheplanet.org. We’d be happy to share your support with updates to our blog post here!