Donate to SVG - $25 annual membership dues - be sure to include sharing your contact information.
Green Island Project
It has been 5 years since the Sustainable Valley Group moved to Bellows Falls and developed a strategy for the Green Island Project development. Some of the successes and failures are outlined in the report below.
SVG is looking forward to 2017 and welcomes Rockingham Development Director Emmett Dunbar. Emmett has been helpful developing local collaborations for SVG's Food Hub project, and has been active in moving the Robertson Paper Co. Project forward. Robertson Paper Co. is a blighted property and critical aspect of SVG's "neighborhood" and revitalization.
The incubator project: Ongoing - USDA Approved Dairy Facility is next
BF Train Station - Historic Union Station Project: Ongoing
TLR Buildings: - joint Bellows Falls Historical Society project: Ongoing Farmers Market and Great Falls Food Hub: - in process
Permaculture Group: Daniel Hartigan- Ongoing
Master Planning and involvement in the Island Revitalization Plan: Ongoing
See below for details on all the above
2016-2017 Appeal: Donations can be made now for a 2016 tax deduction or January 1 for a 2017 tax deduction (just click here: Donate to SVG) unrestricted or toward any of the projects/items listed below by writing in the notes on the PayPal donation (at the "Donate" link provided). Call/write anytime to discuss any project in detail. info@greenislandvt.org 802.376.9534
- Retrofit and matching grant funds are needed to upgrade the 30 Island St facility to meet USDA Dairy Processing requirements and reduce capital loan requirements for start-up;
SVG is working with new Rockingham Development Director Emmett Dunbar, CK Foods owner Kevin Corliss, the Farmers Market, Our Place and other community organizations on a local food hub that includes a dairy facility at 30 Island St.
- Matching grant funds for feasibility and planning studies are needed for the TLR project
- Matching grant and loan downpayment funds are needed for purchase and upgrades to the BF Train Station
- Assist with ongoing operational cost and organization of the Farmers Market
Other Materials and Volunteers needed:
- 3 Bay Sink, scale, coolers, cheese caves and other cheesemaking equipment or donations to pay for purchase at equipment auctions.
- Volunteers to staff the Train Station to welcome residents and visitors to Amtrak, Greyhound and to the region. A stipend is available to help volunteers with expenses and travel -Fun for anyone interested in Trains, History, and/or Tourism.
BF Historic Union Station - SVG:
- has made some superficial makeovers to the 95 year old building
- services Amtrak and Greyhound 365 days per year
- administers an annual BF Santa Express to the North Pole with the BF Middle School Band Friends and Destination Bellows Falls
- holds fundraiser events in the station - Chamber Mixers, a Murder Mystery Dinner and Circus Train, Murder Mystery Dinners with the High School Drama Class, indoor winter farmers markets, concerts and barbecues
- has developed a cultural history transportation room in the station
Incubator Project Successes:
- The BF Community Bike Project, under the leadership of Bonnie Anderson to start, and now including an active board and team of supporters. BF Bike has spun off its own 501c3 and moved to a great village neighborhood site at 30 Henry St. - bfbike.org
- Soveren Solar steel rack manufacturing for field based solar panels. In order to:
- eliminate the bottleneck of waiting for steel racking
- lower the cost of the racking and hence the project
- improve the design; utilizing specific geo-location data to stop the over engineering, and make site specific for actual wind shears and snow loads, as well as a pull pin adjustable design to inexpensively adapt for seasonal direct sun
Incubator Project Failures:
- Initially operated by Realwarm, then by Vermont Solar Furnace, the commercial "ganged" passive solar air furnaces manufacturing was troubled by catalyzing the market; with a 7 to 10 year ROI in 2012, growing to a 12 to 18 year ROI with the drop in Oil prices in 2016. The panels are effective in reducing heating fuel usage by 10% so they are part of the solution and worthwhile, but do not actually replace any system; not enough oomph to encourage investment
- SEVCA Textile Recycling: Market rates at .15/lb when they moved in at
30 Island St., Bellows Falls, VT, in 2012 dropped to .025/lb and stayed there 2015/16, with SEVCA closing the textile recycling operation in early 2016.
Island Master Plan and Revitalization Plan
There is community and development work to do in this area. The Town hired John Mullin a few years ago to produce an Island Revitalization Plan. The resulting plan dovetails nicely with the Green Island Project and SVG owned or leased properties, as well as with BF Historical Society (BFHS) properties and plans. SVG is ready and willing to follow through on this work. Current projects at 30 Island St., the Union Train Station, and jointly with the BFHS are all aligned with the Revitalization Plan.
TLR Buildings
In conjunciton with the BF Historical Society (BFHS), SVG mounted a successful information campaign, including public meetings at Windham Antiques, to educate voters about the condition, potential, past plans from Community Investments, waterfront designs that include the TLR buildings by Michael Singer Studio architects, and current active funding sources to save the TLR Buildings.
Following the vote at Town meeting not to demolish the buildings, SVG assisted the BFHS in arranging lease and option to purchase agreement with the Town, and is working with BFHS on feasibility and development plans.
Permaculture
Daniel Hartigan began and hosted monthly meetings at SVG's incubator facility in 2014, which have merged into rotating hosts and joined with the regional permaculture network of groups and meetings. This project continues with Daniel studying and developing a 20 year plan for Hazelnut tree propagation for the local food system.
The monthly meetings have centered around a strong permaculture community in this region of the Connecticut River Watershed with an emphasis on low maintenance perennial edible landscaping with great genetic diversity.
|
|
|
|
|
