by jboullion | Feb 21, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Cara Spoto in the Stevens Point Journal:
Two years ago, Stevens Point resident Rob Peck decided to make a career change.
“My kids were grown … and I thought I would really like to do something different,” Peck, 50, said. “I wanted to get into something that would be good for the community and society in general.”
So, after years of working in manufacturing and real estate sales, Peck applied to Mid-State Technical College to become a renewable energy specialist and energy-efficiency technician.
Now a design consultant at Northwind Renewable Energy in Stevens Point, which specializes in designing and installing renewable energy systems, Peck helps customers engineer the perfect solar energy system for their home or business.
Hired about a year ago, Peck was one of two MSTC students who interned with Northwind last summer. Josh Stolzenberg, one of Northwind’s owners, said the business plans to take on three new interns this summer. If things work out with the interns, Stolzenberg and his partner, Craig Buttke, plan to hire two of them.
Peck is one of many Wisconsinites looking toward sustainable technologies to shape his next career move. According to Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Chief Labor Economist Dennis Winters, sustainable industries and technologies have and will continue to play a key role in current and emerging job markets in Wisconsin.
The DWD projects that by the year 2018 “professional, scientific, and technical services” industry will be among the top 10 employers in the state.
“‘Green,’ as it were, actually permeates all industries and occupations,” Winters said.
by jboullion | Dec 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, which for the past seven years has been the world’s best-selling book on permaculture, will be holding a workshop at the Center on Saturday, Jan. 29th from 1-5:00. Cost is $45 members/$55 nonmembers. To register: 414-964-8505. I am really excited to be able to offer this opportunity, please help me spread the word!
DETAILS:
Urban Permaculture For a Hopeful Future
Workshop Description: How can we create resilient, regenerative cities and suburbs? Permaculture, an ecological approach to design, shows us how. Though land may be limited, cities are rich in other resources, especially social capital. This workshop will show how to find, harvest, and integrate the many resources in our cities in sustainable ways, including getting access to land for gardening, creating business guilds and networks, working with local government and policy makers, learning the pattern language of the city, creating public space in neighborhoods, and building urban ecovillages. This workshop will offer specific techniques and strategies for food, energy, and community security in metropolitan areas. We’ll learn how permaculture’s principles and design methods apply to the challenging yet rich environments of our cities as well as the sprawling, car-requiring spaces in suburbia, and will provide ways to leverage the special opportunities that cities and suburbs provide.
Who he is: Toby Hemenway is the author of Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, which for the past seven years has been the world’s best-selling book on permaculture, a design approach based on ecology for creating sustainable landscapes, homes, communities, and workplaces. He is an adjunct professor in the School of Graduate Education at Portland State University, Scholar-in-Residence at Pacific University, and a biologist consultant for the Biomimicry Guild. He teaches, consults, and lectures on permaculture and ecological design throughout the US and other countries. His writing has appeared in magazines such as Natural Home, Whole Earth Review, and American Gardener. He and his wife divide their time between western Montana and northern Arizona.
His website: http://patternliteracy.com
by jboullion | Nov 22, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Pat Eggert in The Dunn County News:
A lot is going on in sustainability here, and 50 local residents gathered Thursday at the First Congregational UCC Church in Menomonie to learn more about what is happening.
Linda Walsh, member of the steering committee of Sustainable Dunn, introduced panelists from the city, county and UW-Stout who reported on recent efforts.
“I think that sustainability is the most important area in which we participate,” Dunn County Board chair Steve Rasmussen told the group. “The County Board endorses sustainability, engages in it and tasked our staff to come up with a sustainability action plan. It was one of my priorities when I was first elected chair.”
“We’re very fortunate that the County Board has supported us,” Dunn County Planner Bob Colson told the group.
Plan of action
Some of the elements of the county plan are an eco-county resolution, a sustainability action plan charter, and a sustainability action plan, Colson said. The county approach has been to complete an internal process first.
An action plan, adopted in February of 2010, covers purchasing, energy, education and public policies.
by jboullion | Nov 16, 2010 | Uncategorized
Tom Stolp
November 16, 2010 at 12:46pm
Subject: November’s Green Drinks – Thanksgiving Edition – Tomorrow at 5:00pm
Hi All,
I hope to see you tomorrow (WED) at 5:00PM at Harmony Corner Cafe for drinks and conversation. We’ll be joined by Nik Novak from Just Local Food Cooperative who will be sharing some ideas on making our Holidays greener.
Bring your ideas on greener gifts, sustainable recipes, and earth-friendly activities for this year’s holiday season.
Please send me a quick RSVP if you plan on attending.
See you tomorrow at 5:00pm
-Tom
by jboullion | Nov 12, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nick Paulson in the Stevens Point Journal:
AMHERST — Since 1971, Marguerite Ramlow and her husband, Bob, have renovated their rural property seven miles south of the village of Amherst, making it more sustainable and eco-friendly with every step.
And since they opened Artha Bed and Breakfast almost four years ago, that process has accelerated.
Solar panels provide electricity and heat water. The wood paneling comes from maple trees felled in a windstorm. Even the sheets, towels and cleaning products are organic.
“We want to show people they can live sustainably and be very comfortable,” said Marguerite, who, along with Bob, runs the Artha Sustainable Living Center, which includes the bed and breakfast.
This week, the couple were rewarded for their commitment. Artha, 9784 County Road K, was named honorable mention on a list of the top “eco-elegant” B&Bs by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.
The department’s Travel Green program showcases top destinations for ecotourism, and being featured so prominently should be a boon to an already sound business.
“Just having our name out there will make people aware there is a place like this nearby,” Marguerite said.
A blurb by Travel Green describing the center mentioned the renovated farmhouse, solar heat and other information the center offers B&B guests.
“Guests come for the hands-on workshops and retreats on solar water heating, gardening and yoga,” the blurb states.
