Grange Notes for October 29, 2017 by Tim Swartz
A win for migrant workers!
I’m pleased to report that the Vermont State Grange annual meeting, the weekend of Oct. 20 & 21, voted to support the resolution our Grange proposed. We voted for the resolution, which supports the passage of U.S. Senate bill 1034. The “Resolved” section states that the VT State Grange urges its adoption by Congress. Merry Shernock attended as one our voting delegates, and took part in the Agriculture/Environment Committee deliverations. The only change made in it by the Committee made, before it was passed by the full State Session, was to notify our Congressional Delegation of our action. I’m pleased to report that there was a large majority of the delegates in favor!
So now this resolution has been sent on to the National Grange annual meeting, being held Nov. 7-11 in Spokane, Washington. We’ll hope for support for this resolution and this bill by the national body. Their support will mean lobbying support from the national organization.
Our Grange decided that immigrant farm workers, who have been vital to keeping VT dairy and other farming going, should have a legal framework for their residence here in the United States. This bill (sponsored by Diane Feinstein, and co-sponsored by Sen. Pat Leahy) provides appropriate safeguards and verifications to set up a “blue card” permit system for agricultural workers, and a road to a “green card” for permanent residence status. Keep your eyes on this bill, and contact your representatives to let them know you support it, and so does the VT State Grange!
So now this resolution has been sent on to the National Grange annual meeting, being held Nov. 7-11 in Spokane, Washington. We’ll hope for support for this resolution and this bill by the national body. Their support will mean lobbying support from the national organization.
Our Grange decided that immigrant farm workers, who have been vital to keeping VT dairy and other farming going, should have a legal framework for their residence here in the United States. This bill (sponsored by Diane Feinstein, and co-sponsored by Sen. Pat Leahy) provides appropriate safeguards and verifications to set up a “blue card” permit system for agricultural workers, and a road to a “green card” for permanent residence status. Keep your eyes on this bill, and contact your representatives to let them know you support it, and so does the VT State Grange!
Other news from State Grange session
The annual session on Oct. 20 & 21 included the vote on the resolution described above, and many others. Among those which CCG discussed at our October meeting:
- #2 restrictions on “neonicitinoid” pesticides (very well researched and documented)–passed
- #12 increase font size on prescription bottles–amended to increase font size on info sheets accompanying prescriptions instead–passed
- #13 advocating better enforcement of seat-belt laws–amended to specifically call for primary enforcement–passed
- #14 calling for Drivers’ Ed to be offered at no charge in all VT high schools–passed
- #17 to actively support the Equal Rights for Women amendment–passed
There are many more Resolutions–they will eventually be posted on thewww.vtstategrange.org website.
The state session also does the annual “business” of the Grange, hearing reports on all the committees, events and accounts of the past Grange Year, just as our CCG business meetings do, in an open and transparent way.
I also got several compliments on the contra-dance we helped to put on at the Grange Fall Festival, bringing some of the Grangers from around the state, plus some “civilians” in on the fun of community dancing–and we’ve been asked to repeat it for next year! I’ll see if musicians Robin Russell, Michael Fiorillo &Emily Bartlett can play, and we’ll see if caller David Kreiss-Tomkins is coming back from Alaska, to reprise the successful combination we had this year–or we’ll find others! Put the Fall Festival in September 2018 on your Calendar.
The state session also does the annual “business” of the Grange, hearing reports on all the committees, events and accounts of the past Grange Year, just as our CCG business meetings do, in an open and transparent way.
I also got several compliments on the contra-dance we helped to put on at the Grange Fall Festival, bringing some of the Grangers from around the state, plus some “civilians” in on the fun of community dancing–and we’ve been asked to repeat it for next year! I’ll see if musicians Robin Russell, Michael Fiorillo &Emily Bartlett can play, and we’ll see if caller David Kreiss-Tomkins is coming back from Alaska, to reprise the successful combination we had this year–or we’ll find others! Put the Fall Festival in September 2018 on your Calendar.
On November 4th, we will be invaded!
No, wait, that’s not exactly right…
No, wait, that’s not exactly right…
actually, Vermont has already been invaded. So, at our November meeting, Errol Briggs, an environmental consultant (Gilman & Briggs in Barre), who isalso an actual Past Master of the VT State Grange, (and a winner of the cast-iron frying pan throwing contest) will present a workshop on… invading species, those visitors that have been introduced into our state, or have hitch-hiked their way in.
Many of us are familiar with some of the “usual suspects”–Japanese knotweed, purple loosestrife, garlic mustard and wild parsnip, to name a few invasive species. Now is your chance to learn more about their habitats, dangers, victims and predators from an expert.
Brother Errol has a long career working in the field of environmental consulting, and knows his way around the roadsides, wetlands, fields and forests of New England, working with homeowners and contractors. He’ll be speaking at about 5:30 PM, hope you can join us!
At our meeting, we will also be discussing providing holiday food baskets for needy families, based on contacts Merry has been making with Washington County Head Start. We’ll also talk about the information Merry & I plus others saw at the State Session about the Grange supporting Farm to Schoollinks as part of the official program for the next year.
We’ll also talk about the food donations the State Grange is soliciting, and how FCCGH board member Elizabeth Templeton is taking this on as a project. She’ll be setting up donation boxes in our foyer(s) to accept non-perishable products for those who need help getting good, nutritious meals. Look for the signs!
At our meeting, we will also be discussing providing holiday food baskets for needy families, based on contacts Merry has been making with Washington County Head Start. We’ll also talk about the information Merry & I plus others saw at the State Session about the Grange supporting Farm to Schoollinks as part of the official program for the next year.
We’ll also talk about the food donations the State Grange is soliciting, and how FCCGH board member Elizabeth Templeton is taking this on as a project. She’ll be setting up donation boxes in our foyer(s) to accept non-perishable products for those who need help getting good, nutritious meals. Look for the signs!
Chow down with us–Community Potluck at 6:00!
Our meeting and the Invasive Species program will be followed as usual with a tasty potluck dinner. Bring your favorite dish, made from the local harvest if you can. The gardens and Farmers’ Markets have given us a great bounty of vegetables and other goodies in the growing season which is finally coming to a close. We’ll have the usual combination of great food and great socializing, please join us!
Since last writing Grange Notes in early October, we’ve finished up the plantings in the new beds.
Gerald & Carol Noyes planted the plants donated by Carol & Ann Pearce as well as purchased on their advice; I shoveled a mix of compost and topsoil purchased by the Grange and carried water….and now we have garden beds! Merry Shernock led this whole project to improve the attractiveness of our official Main Entrance, making a big difference in the ambiance!
Feeding the Grange with Cellulose Soufflee!
Thanks to Bill Hulstrunk, who also organized our insulation of the attic of the Grange Hall in 2007, we now have a north-end wall filled with dense-pack insulation! With the help of Patty & Kurt Giavara, plus me and Merry, Bill helped us make short work of removing the thin batts of fiberglass we could reach from under the stage, and blowing in cellulose with Bill’s blower. In the photos below, you can see Bill under the stage, and filling other bays from the outside while talking with Patty. Kurt is filling the hopper of the blower in the other picture.
As you can see, the north end is suffering terrible paint peeling–we think that stopping the airflow in the wall will really help. The Friends is also planning to have that end strapped and re-sided, with a drainage plane behind, to keep moisture from being trapped.
Besides stopping air-flow, the dense-pack insulation gives us about R=14 in these 2 x 4 walls–a big improvement!
(For those curious about the spelling of the French above, note that the bilingual labeling of the cellulose bales taught me the French for “blowing cellulose!)
As you can see, the north end is suffering terrible paint peeling–we think that stopping the airflow in the wall will really help. The Friends is also planning to have that end strapped and re-sided, with a drainage plane behind, to keep moisture from being trapped.
Besides stopping air-flow, the dense-pack insulation gives us about R=14 in these 2 x 4 walls–a big improvement!
(For those curious about the spelling of the French above, note that the bilingual labeling of the cellulose bales taught me the French for “blowing cellulose!)
