October 9: Climate & Farming at Tenderwild Farm!
Dear friends -
Thank you to those who joined for the e-bike demo and happy hour last month in Belfast! We enjoyed meeting new people, and had a robust conversation including the pros/cons of locating an offshore wind port on Sears Island or Mack Point.
Next Gathering October 9
Please save the date Wednesday October 9 (5-7pm) for a special Midcoast Climate, Energy, and Green Building Happy Hour at Tenderwild Farm in Rockport. Owners Peter and Morgen established the farm in 2020 with bio-intensive, no-till practices, to nurture the ecosystem, increase organic food access and community. The team has lovingly restored the land and barn, and you’ll have a chance to wander the fields and barn. We’ll hear from farm business manager Rory and owner/farmer Peter about regenerative agriculture, food systems and access.
Big thanks to Peter, Rory, and Morgen for agreeing to host.
We’ll send details next month!
High School Research Mentors
Do you have a local project, research question, decision, or story that would benefit from investigation by a motivated high school student? Jude Masseur teaches an AP Research class at Camden Hills Regional High School; students in this course identify a question or project that is interesting to them, research the background and identify a “gap” or question to answer, and create and execute a research project to answer the question. Past projects have included behavioral and infrastructure surveys on local biking, barriers to affordable housing in the midcoast, and more. Low time commitment for project sponsors/mentors with a high reward for a student! Please email Jess at jesspscott@gmail.com ASAP if you’d be interested in working with a student.
Our periodic digest is below. If you have something to share, you can join and post in the Facebook group or email us for inclusion in the next email.
See you in October,
Amanda and Jess
Co-hosts, Midcoast Climate, Energy, and Green Building Happy Hour
Announcements and Opportunities
Public Input
The Maine Climate Council needs public input on draft recommendations for the next Maine Won’t Wait update! survey link here
Take a minute to go to your Town’s calendar to look for meetings and board/committee openings!
Rockport community park survey closes August 19
Events
Learn about Floating Offshore Wind: August 21, 5:30-7:30pm, Bucksport (information and register here)
NOAA training on Advancing Coastal Resilience through Nature-Based Solutions, August 22 3-4:30pm
Camden Climate Conversations - ongoing discussion group - next meetings Sept 18/19 at Camden Public Library
First Light Community Conversation Sept 18, 4-5pm
WindowDressers Community Builds - starting Sept 28 in Rockland and Nov 5 in Belfast. Volunteer forms here and contact Connie (cevans@gwi.net) if you can serve as Team Leader in Rockland!
Maine Municipal Association Annual Meeting: October 2-3 in Augusta (agenda and register here)
Check out Passivhaus Maine training opportunities including $25 one-day building codes training, to learn about the latest codes and building practices
Jobs
Have you checked out the new Maine Clean Energy Jobs website? Not just for job seekers - anyone can register to list a job, and you can find training/certification programs
Tenderwild Farm is looking for part-time fall staff; multiple shifts available - Contact harvest@tenderwildfarm.com
Island Institute Climate & Community Center Director - 10-20 years experience and $90k salary
MCD Global Health (Augusta) seeks an Environmental Public Health Program Coordinator to manage projects that help Mainers and Maine communities build resilience to the health effects of climate change
Funding
The Mainers’ Guide to Climate Incentives lists state and federal incentives for homes and apartments, businesses, and towns to pursue climate actions - don’t miss out on unprecedented money!
If you, your friends or neighbors are struggling to pay electric or heating bills, make an appointment now with your CAP agency (e.g., Penquis) to enroll in heating assistance (HEAP) or other programs for next year
Efficiency Maine Trust has multiple open rolling grant programs for towns and workplaces to apply for level 2 and 3 EV charging (information here, click “current RFPs”)
Learning
Plant-Based Buildings are Being Reimagined in Maine (Bangor Daily News)
Offshore Wind/Sears Island
Here is a well-reported article by Midcoast’s own Annie Ropeik about Sears Island, the state’s proposed site for a new offshore wind port
Protect Sears Island is a local community group referenced in the article
Draft Energy Burden study sponsored by Office of the Public Advocate - contact Amanda with questions/comments
Rockport Social Vulnerability Assessment (for climate change) packed with housing, energy, demographic and health stats for Rockport and Knox County - contact Amanda for copy
Maine Coastal Access Guide - talk to Rachael Hamilton (we can intro you!) about Maine Coastal Programs and assistance for your community
First Light Learning Collective - this year-long course, primarily for folks who work with land conservation organizations, seeks to transform conservation culture, in order to further the work of return-- returning land, returning access, returning financial power, returning to a new way of working together-- with Wabanaki people & communities.
CIFF (Sept 12-15) will have a Maine short films panel including Josh Gerritsen’s yearlong footage of TimberHP converting a paper mill into wood fiber insulation
Have something to share? Please join & post to our Facebook group, or email Jess & Amanda for inclusion in next email (no guarantee of timeliness)
