IOWA FARMERS UNION SPONSORING BIODIESEL HOMEBREWING WORKSHOP NOV. 16 NEAR IOWA CITY
By the IFU
Anyone interested in brewing their own biodiesel for use on the farm or at home is invited to a Biodiesel Workshop on Friday, Nov. 16 at Green World Biofuels near Tiffin, just northwest of Iowa City.
The workshop will cover biodiesel production from start to finish including oil titration, washing and drying biodiesel, equipment needs, weather issues, quality control testing, implementation strategies and waste stream management. The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is very hands-on, and is offered by Green World Biofuels owner Steve Fugate.
Our workshops are designed to educate people who are seriously interested in biodiesel production, says Fugate. You will leave very knowledgeable and excited about making and using your own biodiesel.
Sources of oil will be discussed as well, including collecting used fryer oil and the potential for pressing oil from a farmers own seed (soy, canola, etc.)
Workshop cost is $25 per person including lunch. Financial support has been provided by the Leighty Foundation. Register by November 13 by calling 800-775-5227.
The workshop is sponsored by the Iowa Farmers Union Education Foundation, formed in 1999 with a 501(c)3 status to help meet increased needs for education among farmers, rural residents, and consumers. Its mission statement is: To promote a viable system of sustainable agriculture and high quality of life in rural communities through education of farmers, rural residents, and urban consumers; cooperation among farmers; and community activism.
Iowa Farmers Union is a non-profit advocacy group representing family farmers across the state. IFU also collaborates on legislative work and educational programming with Women, Food and Agriculture Network, NFO-Iowa and the Iowa Renewable Energy Association. IFU is a chapter of National Farmers Union, a general farm organization representing a quarter of a million family farmers and ranchers nationwide. NFU serves its membership by providing educational opportunities, supporting farmer-owned cooperative development, and presenting the organization's policies to lawmakers at the local, state and national levels.
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Iowa Farmers Union
PO Box 8988
528 Billy Sunday Rd
Ames, IA 50014
800-775-5227
iafu@isunet.net
www.iafu.org
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Saturday, October 27
IOWA FARMERS UNION SPONSORING BIODIESEL HOMEBREWING WORKSHOP NOV. 16 NEAR IOWA CITY
by
Sam Garchik
on Sat 27 Oct 2007 09:20 AM CDT
Tuesday, October 23
Controversial Rabbi Michael Lerner to Speak at Spiritual Progressives Conference Nov. 3rd in the Quad Cities
by
Caroline Vernon
on Tue 23 Oct 2007 05:23 PM CDT
Controversial Rabbi Michael Lerner to Speak at Spiritual Progressives Conference Nov. 3rd in the Quad Cities By James Lee As the Election Season closes in on the Quad Cities, people are looking at the vast challenges facing our country and questioning how individual citizens can make a difference. According to national polling, over 70% of Americans feel that our nation is on the "wrong track". Organizers of the Spiritual Progressives Conference feel the answers to many of our concerns and worries are rooted in our values, faith and spirituality. Quad Cities Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG) in conjunction with Churches United of the Quad Cities, Democracy for America–Quad Cities, Davenport Unitarian Church, Edwards Congregational-UCC, First Congregational-UCC, Network for Spiritual Progressives, and a host of other supporters are sponsoring a Spiritual Progressives Conference on November 3, 2007. The theme of the conference is: Living our Faith: Integrating Values and Politics in the Heartland. PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE It is our hope that the conference will help the public better understand how to more effectively integrate progressive values with political action that can create positive change in our nation. Conference organizers assert that progressives have been the social innovators who have initiated changes in our society that have given us more freedom, liberty, and equality. Progressives believe in continually improving our society in order to assist as many people as possible to achieve a better life for themselves, their families and the community as a whole. During this time of national drift when confusion seems widespread over what America represents and truly believes, progressive people must amplify their voices in the public conversation on what we value as a nation. We reject the tactic of using religion and spiritual traditions to be a divisive force in our nation; pitting one group of Americans against another group. We believe that ethics and morality cannot be claimed as the property of a single religion or political group, but must be understood in the context of furthering the well being of all humanity, present and future. The conference will cover three main areas:
1) Promoting a conversation on Progressive Values, Faith & and Spirituality The key-note speaker, Rabbi Michael Lerner, will examine the question of how our values are translated into political action. Rabbi Lerner is an internationally renowned social theorist, theologian, editor of Tikkun magazine, and author of The Left Hand of God: Taking Back Our Country from the Religious Right. He has a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley and is the founder of the Network for Spiritual Progressives. Faith, values, and spirituality play an important role in responding to the many challenges we face in our country today. The primary focus of this conference will be to explore how our values, faith, and spirituality can direct political action and transform our nation and our world. In so doing, this conference will be addressing the most serious issues facing our communities such as affordable, quality health care, the war, and global warming to name a few. Conference workshops include topics such as "Challenging the Misuse of God and Religion by the Religious Right", "Global Consciousness and Ecological Sanity", "Our Common Values" and "Grounding Justice Work in Spiritual Practice". To learn more about other workshops which will be presented at this conference,
click here. To download the flyer to print (double-sided to conserve paper) go to our home page: www.qcprogressiveaction.org. The Conference commences at 9:30am with a spiritual reflection on the state of our world. Rabbi Michael Lerner will speak at 10:15am. Workshops will continue throughout the day. At 2:30pm Rabbi Lerner will be part of a panel discussion with local leaders on the state of values and spirituality in our nation. Lunch will be served and the conference will come to a close at 3:30pm. This event is open to the public; seating is limited. To Register, contact PACG at 563-676-7580 or go to our website for more information: www.qcprogressiveaction.org. Interfaith Service The conference begins with an Interfaith Service led by Rabbi Lerner on Friday evening, November 2nd, 7pm at the Unitarian Church, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, Iowa. Spiritual Progressives Conference On Saturday morning, November 3rd, the Spiritual Progressive Conference will be held at the First Congregational Church-UCC, 2201 Seventh Avenue, Moline, IL 61265. Registration starts at 9:30AM. Book Signing with Rabbi Lerner Saturday evening, November 3rd, 5:30pm at Borders Bookstore, 4000 E 53rd St in Davenport. Thursday, October 11
WFAN Women's Fall Gathering Nov. 9
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 11 Oct 2007 01:35 PM CDT
WFAN Women's Fall Gathering Nov. 9
By Denise OBrien "We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For" is the theme for this year's Women, Food and Agriculture Network Women's Fall Gathering, November 9-11 at the EWALU Stone Center near Strawberry Point, IA. The event is open to the public; women with an interest in food and agriculture are encouraged to attend. Participants should plan on arriving on Friday between 5 and 7 p.m. for social time. On Saturday, Laura Krouse, farmer from Mt. Vernon, IA, will be the keynote speaker. There will also be virtual farm tours and several workshops to choose from. A highlight on Saturday will be having time set aside to explore the 250 acres of rolling hills and woodlands. On Saturday night there will be a soup supper with a film later in the evening. WFAN would like to extend a special invitation to mothers who would like to bring their daughters. We have done this in the past and have enjoyed having several generations present. The cost will be $99 which includes two nights' lodging. the rooms are double occupancy, hotel style, and meals on Saturday morning and evening and Sunday morning. We are planning a potluck for Saturday noon, so please bring your best potluck dish along with the recipe for others to try. Every year there is a silent auction to help defray costs of the weekend and to allow us to offer scholarships to participants. Please bring an item from your area that you are willing to donate to the silent auction. Some items in the past have included home crafted baskets, soaps, stationery, popcorn, wine, food items and gift certificates for a bed and breakfast stay whatever your willing to contribute. Please contact Denise O'Brien at denise@wfan.org or 712-243-3264 for more information or to make your reservation. Watch for registration on our website www.wfan.org . Denise O'Brien Executive Director Women, Food and Agriculture Network 712-243-3264 Iowa Farmers Union Monday, October 8
"Bioneers" Conference Features Speakers, Arts, Community Events
by
Sam Garchik
on Mon 08 Oct 2007 08:42 AM CDT
"Bioneers" Conference Features Speakers, Arts, Community Events
By Rich Dana On October 19, 20th and 21st, 2007, Grinnell will host its first "Beaming Bioneers" Conference. Grinnell is one of 20 sites across the US and Canada that will be linked by satellite to the main Bioneers conference in San Rafael, California. Visitors from across the Midwest will converge to attend presentations and talk about creative solutions to our world's most pressing environmental and cultural problems. "Bioneers is not just for scientists and environmentalists," says Rich Dana of Imagine Grinnell, the events lead organizer. " Anyone who is interested in building a healthy society and a healthy environment will enjoy this conference. We will be hearing from internationally known speakers by satellite, and we will be joined by local and regional leaders here in Grinnell." Plenary speakers presenting live by satellite will include Winona LaDuke from the White Earth reservation in Minnesota, Eve Ensler, an award-winning author of The Vagina Monologues, Paul T. Anastas, Ph.D., the founder of "green chemistry" and professor at Yale's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Judith F. Baca, a world-renowned painter and muralist, and Wallace J. Nichols, Ph.D., senior scientist at the Ocean Conservancy. Local speakers will include farm activist Denise O'Brien, Des Moines Register columnist Rekha Basu, environmental engineer Kamyar Enshayan and Iowa Poet Laureate Robert Dana. Dubbed the "Tallgrass Bioneers Conference", the Grinnell event will include workshops on renewable energy, environmental and social issues and community building, as well as arts events, live music, outdoor activities and a banquet featuring locally grown and prepared food. "We have a sliding fee for registration, and we want to make sure anyone who wants to come can come," says Dana. In addition to paid registration, community volunteers are needed, and will receive a free weekend pass. For those who want to get a small taste of Bioneers, there are several free events scheduled throughout the weekend. For a full schedule of events, to register or to volunteer for the Tallgrass Bioneers Conference, please contact Rich Dana at: rich@gotoplanb.net or 319.530.6051. For more information on the conference, please visit: www.gotoplanb.net/bioneersconference. Sponsors include: Adbusters Media Foundation, Catnip Farm , Frontier Natural Products, Grinnell Area Arts Council, Grinnell College Center for Prairie Studies, Grinnell College's Peace Studies Program, Grinnell Tourism Group, iDEZiN Digital Workgroup , Imagine Grinnell, Iowa Foundation for Education, Environment and the Arts, Iowa Renewable Energy Association, Radish Magazine, Rosenfield Center and Wildwood Organics. ------------------------ Tallgrass Bioneers Local Events Friday, October 19th 3:15 PM - Panel Discussion on "Diversifying the Heartland" with guest speakers Rekha Basu, Robert Dana, Kamyar Enshayan and Emily Guenther. 6:30 PM - Local Food Banquet, prepared by Kamal Hammouda of the Phoenix Cafe. Denise O'Brien, speaker. Saturday, October 20th Workshops on Renewable Energy, Immigration, Globalization, Local Foods, Green Businesses, Natural Building and Water Quality. Also a tour of restored prairie, LEED certified green building and 50kw wind turbine. Evening - Arts Walk, live Music by "Escape the Floodwater Jug Band" at Saint's Rest. Sunday, October 21st 9:00 AM - Community bike ride, Historic walking tour, Canoe trip, workshops on water quality, renewable communities and faith-based environmental initiatives *********************************************** please join us! The Tallgrass Bioneers Conference October 91-21, 2007 Grinnell, Iowa for more information: http://www.gotoplanb.net/bioneersconference/tallhome.html |
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