Issue 274 - August 26, 2010

Thanks for your continuing interest. We hope that the following timely information will assist you in promoting attitudes and practices in your community that are socially, environmentally, and economically sound. These updates typically include a great deal of material sent in by members; send suggestions to nextstep@state.mn.us. We also encourage you to forward this update to others and to reprint material from the update.

August 26, 2010, Issue #274

In this issue:

Eco Experience at the MN State Fair: August 26 - September 6

Rebates on programmable thermostats, and 100 free thermostats!

Recycle More Minnesota campaign

Evaluating Public Transportation Health Benefits

Another Farm Beginnings course - for aspiring farmers in NE MN and NW WI

Money Available

Jobs Available - many listings!

Upcoming Events

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Fifth annual Eco Experience at the MN State Fair: August 26 - September 6, 2010

http://www.ecoexperience.org

Thursday, August 26 - Monday, September 6, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

At the Progress Center (Corner of Randall and Cosgrove) - look for the 123' wind turbine blade!

More than 1.5 million people have attended the largest environmental event of its kind in the country, and it is right here in Minnesota. The Eco Experience, a 25,000 square-foot interactive exhibit, returns for its fifth year at the Minnesota State Fair.

A partnership between the Minnesota State Fair, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and dozens of organizations and businesses across the state, the Eco Experience has become the second most popular exhibit at the fair.

With hands-on activities and educational presentations, attendees can learn about water and air pollution, recycling, saving energy, climate change, green jobs, renewable energy, vehicles and transportation and more. The Eco Experience also has a healthy local foods area featuring samples and demonstrations, a Green Street and free activities for the whole family.

What's new this year at the Eco Experience:

Green building products and design. Green Street is a model green community being built inside the Eco Experience to teach state fair attendees about green design, energy efficiency, interior products, renewable energy systems and environmentally-friendly landscaping.

Practical tips to avoid wasting energy. The ENERGY STAR exhibit house is modeled after an energy-efficient home and demonstrates how important energy-efficient practices and products are as a first step toward saving energy this year. It is the first time the traveling exhibit has been in the Midwest.

Renewable energy demonstrations. Attendees will find more than a dozen renewable energy demonstrations including grid-connected solar and wind electricity, solar hot water and solar hot air on the front lawn of the Eco Experience. Professionals will be available to discuss which renewable energy systems make sense for your home. This is the largest display ever located at the Eco Experience.

Kick Gas! A solar car port will showcase how "power from the sun" can be used to charge full-use electric cars, which will be coming to the market later this year. Solar charging produces no air pollution emissions, eliminates the need to purchase gas and encourages local power generation-energy independence.

Space-age foam. The University of Minnesota is leading the way in sustainable plastic research, and some Minnesota companies have invested in producing bio-based materials. State fair attendees can learn more about this work and ask questions about products using these materials at this year's Eco Experience.

Each day at the Eco Experience, state fair attendees can see cooking demonstrations, sample local and organic food, ask questions at the Green Jobs booth, learn about Minnesota waterways and much more.

Visit the web site above for a schedule and to learn more!

Rebates on programmable thermostats, and 100 free thermostats!

Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and Honeywell Programmable Thermostat Rebate

http://tinyurl.com/2a89pnp

Programmable thermostats can save an Upper Midwest home over $200 a year in heating and cooling costs. CERTs and Honeywell are teaming up to offer a rebate for up to $10 back on a new Do-It-Yourself programmable thermostat.

What is a Programmable Thermostat? A programmable thermostat allows you to pre-set your home's heating and cooling system to work around your schedule, providing ultimate comfort for your household. Programmable thermostats help you ensure efficient operation of your heating and cooling system, resulting in real energy saving and lower energy bills.

How does the rebate work? Download and print your rebate form at the CERTs web site above, so you can "Come Home to Comfort" with a new programmable thermostat and start saving today! (Rebates are available starting August 26, 2010 until November 30, 2010.) If you want to learn more first, you can view the Campaign Kit and watch the video also at the web site.

Also, get a Free Thermostat! CERTs and Honeywell representatives will be handing out free programmable thermostats to the first 100 interested homeowners visiting the Eco Experience Building at the Minnesota State Fair, beginning at 9am on Friday, August 27th.

(The above was adapted from text on the CERTs web site.)

Recycle More Minnesota campaign

http://www.recyclemoreminnesota.org

Annual recycling reports from counties in Minnesota show recycling rates in the state have leveled off since the 1990s. Although Minnesota has one of the higher recycling rates in the country, valuable recyclable material continues to be tossed in the garbage.

In 2007, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) partnered with the Recycling Association of Minnesota to create the Recycle More Minnesota campaign to get Minnesotans to start recycling more. After studying state and local recycling data, and conducting research and focus groups, the team confirmed Minnesotans wanted easy and convenient access to recycling service and more information on the benefits of recycling other than "it's good for the environment." To provide information about the benefits and basics of recycling, the team created the web site above as a one-stop-shop for recycling information as part of the campaign to increase Minnesota's recycling rate.

To provide more assistance to residents and counties, the web site was recently updated to make it more interactive and user-friendly. The home page now features an interactive map of the state: users can click on their counties and view information about what can be recycled, where recyclables are collected, and whom to contact for answers to other recycling-related questions.

In addition to the interactive map, toolkits focused on getting the word out that recyclables aren't garbage were also repackaged on the site. Citizens will find fact sheets, advertisements and other materials that can be used in their county, schools or businesses to help implement a recycling campaign with ready-made, customizable resources.

"Recycling not only saves energy and resources, but is a significant source for jobs in the state," said Johanna Kertesz from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The MPCA estimates nearly 20,000 jobs are directly and indirectly supported by companies that manufacture products with recycled materials. Using recycled materials for new products also saves energy: it takes 90 percent less energy to make an aluminum can from recycled content, 50 percent less energy to make products from recycled glass, and 70 percent less energy to make recycled paper.

"Recycling at work, at home, or on the go keeps materials out of the waste stream," said Kertesz. "There are many great reasons to recycle, from saving energy and conserving resources to creating jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is easy to find a reason to make a commitment to recycle more."

For more information, visit the web site above.

Evaluating Public Transportation Health Benefits

http://tinyurl.com/2wq98cy

This June 2010 report for the American Public Transportation Association "investigates ways that public transportation affects human health, and ways to incorporate these impacts into transport policy and planning decisions."

In its 32 pages, the report (downloadable for free from the web site above) contains sections on Travel Impacts, Transportation Health Impacts, Public Transportation Health Benefits, Valuing Health Benefits, Estimating Benefits, and more. The document contains many tables and charts, as well as a detailed bibliography.

Among its findings:

* Traffic casualty rates tend to decline as public transit travel increases in an area.

* Public transit reduces pollution emissions per passenger-mile, and transit-oriented development provides additional emission reductions by reducing per capita vehicle travel.

* The United States has relatively poor health outcomes and high healthcare costs compared with peers, due in part to high per capita traffic fatality rates and diseases resulting from sedentary living.

* Neighborhood design features that support transit, such as walkability and mixed land use, also support public health.

* A growing portion of households would prefer to drive less and rely more on walking, cycling and public transit, provided these alternatives are convenient, comfortable, safe and affordable.

Another Farm Beginnings course - for aspiring farmers in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin

http://www.lssfa.org/Education.html

The Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association (LS-SFA) is now accepting applications for its 2010-2011 Lake Superior Farm Beginnings program. The deadline for registration is October 1, 2010. Classroom sessions are located in Ashland WI this year. The program is appropriate for aspiring, beginning and experienced farmers located in the Lake Superior region of NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin.

The course is tailor-made for people of all ages and enterprise interests who are just getting started in farming, as well as established farmers looking to make changes in their operations.

Classes are led by farmers and other agricultural professionals from the region. The classes (nine in total) run from October 2010 through April 2011. They are followed by an on-farm education component (ten sessions in total) that includes farm tours and skills sessions on farms throughout the region. The field sessions run from May through September 2011.

The program fee is $1,000 per farming partnership (flexible payment plan and partial scholarships available).

See the web site above for more information and/or contact LS-SFA's Cree Bradley at 218/834-0846 or cree@lakesuperiorfarming.org for an information and application packet.

Money Available

Ag Literacy Grant Program

http://www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/minigrant.aspx

Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is a unique public/private partnership between the MAITC Foundation and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Grant funds are provided courtesy of the Foundation based on annual funding provided by Minnesota's agricultural community. The maximum grant request is $400.

This grant program is targeted at K-12 practicing educators with cash awards offered to encourage educators to bring agriculture and food systems education "to life" by effectively integrating related content into their classroom or school. Non-formal education applications will also be considered contingent on available funds.

New applications are strongly encouraged in the areas of youth gardening, unique integration and innovation in the classroom, and field trip experiences. Field trip experiences might include working farms, agriculture industry tours, the MHS sites of Oliver Kelley Farm and FarmAmerica or the Minnesota Zoo Farm, to name a few.

Application deadlines are September 15, 2010 and February 1, 2011. For more information, see the MN Department of Agriculture web site above or contact Al Withers, MAITC Program Director at 651/201-6688 or alan.withers@state.mn.us with questions or for clarification.

Woody Biomass Harvest for Habitat Restoration

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/habitat/biomass_grant.html

Woody Biomass Harvest for Habitat Restoration (also known as Linking Habitat Restoration to Bioenergy and Local Economies) is an innovative project that helps to restore high quality native plant communities by removing ecologically inappropriate woody vegetation (exotic and/or native species) while stimulating local economies through strategic utilization of the biomass material for bioenergy or other products.

Project goals are to enhance biodiversity, utilize woody material traditionally burned or landfilled, stimulate local woody biomass markets, support local businesses and NGO's, and employ labor crews, such as Conservation Corps Minnesota. Efforts provide direct benefits to ecosystems, economies, and human communities.

The MN Department of Natural Resources received $600,000 for this project as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) and funded by the 2010 Legislature. Of this amount, approximately $475,000 is available for projects through June 30, 2013.

Funds will be granted through a competitive process to facilitate habitat restoration efforts that might not otherwise occur, while supplying the woody material generated as a by-product of restoration to local established and emerging woody biomass markets.

To be considered for the first round of grants, applications are due by September 10, 2010. Funds not awarded in the first round will be made available for a second round of grants with a deadline of April 30, 2011.

Eligible applicants are any public or private landowner whose project meets the project selection criteria as outlined on the web site above. Maximum grant award is $75,000/landowner per overall project. Matching funds and in-kind are not required.

For details, see the DNR web site above.

Climate Solutions University - climate action planning assistance

http://www.mfpp.org/Climate_Solutions_University/2011.html

The Idaho-based nonprofit Model Forest Policy Program (MFPP) is now accepting applications for 2011 Climate Solutions University: Forest and Water Strategies. This program offers U.S. rural communities the opportunity to protect their natural resources and be part of the climate adaptation solutions urgently needed across the country. The purpose of the Climate Solutions University is to guide and empower rural communities in resource rich areas to develop local forest and water climate action plans.

Applications are due by September 15, 2010.

Communities will be provided with online educational programs, plus in-depth coaching and consulting services in order to help rural and underserved communities develop a Climate Action Planning process focused on forest and water resources.

It is anticipated that scholarships will be awarded to up to ten rural U.S. communities in the 2011 program. Each community scholarship consists of $10,000 in funding, plus educational and consulting services valued at approximately $50,000.

In exchange for the money and assistance to be provided by MFPP, the selected communities must commit to the entire eleven month project by dedicating at least a half-time position to conduct the local project activities, and provide $10,000 in matching funds or equivalent additional staff time for support of the project. See the web site above for more details.

Laura Jane Musser Fund Rural Initiative Program Grants

http://www.musserfund.org/index.asp?page_seq=6

The Minneapolis-based Laura Jane Musser Fund supports collaborative and participatory efforts among citizens in rural communities that will help to strengthen their towns and regions in a number of civic areas including, but not limited to, economic development, business preservation, arts and humanities, public space improvements, and education.

Priority is placed on projects that:

* Bring together a broad range of community members and institutions

* Provide the opportunity for diverse community members to work together

* Contain measurable short term outcomes within the first 12 to 18 months

* Include community members actively in all phases of the process

* Work toward an outcome of positive change within their community

Grants are available for planning (up to $5,000) or implementation (up to $25,000). Application deadline is November 10, 2010.

For information on these grants, see the web site above.

Note: the Laura Jane Musser Fund also is active in the following giving areas: Environmental Initiative, Intercultural Harmony, and Arts as described at http://www.musserfund.org

Peoples Garden School Pilot Program

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/outreach/grants/garden.htm

The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is announcing the opportunity for public and not-for-profit organizations to submit applications for a Peoples Garden School Pilot Program grant competition.

FNS has set aside $1 million for this pilot program. One grantee will be selected to enter into a cooperative agreement for the purposes of developing and running community gardens at eligible high-poverty schools; teaching students involved in the gardens about agriculture production practices, diet, and nutrition; contributing produce to supplement food provided at eligible schools, student households, local food banks, or senior center nutrition programs; and conducting an evaluation of funded projects to learn more about the impacts of school gardens. Applications are due by November 8, 2010. For more information, see the web site above.

For more web sites of grant/loan programs, see:

* Grant web pages from all Minnesota State Agencies: http://www.grants.state.mn.us/public/

* Grants & Loans section of Minnesota Office of Energy Security web site: http://tinyurl.com/2bypslg

* NextStep list of grants/loans: http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/resources.cfm?type=10

Jobs Available and Jobs Wanted at www.nextstep.state.mn.us/jobs.cfm

See the NextStep job board http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/jobs.cfm for a variety of organizational postings including these below, talented people offering their skills, and other job listings that post jobs in the field of sustainability.

Current postings include, among others:

* Lexington-Hamline Community Council: Community Organizer and Administrator (deadline September 1)

* Conservation Corps Minnesota: 4 Home Energy Squad AmeriCorps positions (deadline September 17) and also Program Coordinator (deadline September 1)

* Todd County Development Corporation: Executive Director (deadline September 10)

* Go Minnesota: Executive Director (deadline September 6)

* Whitewater River Watershed Project: Outreach Coordinator (deadline extended until September 1)

* Hennepin County: Mechanical Engineer - Environmental Services (deadline September 3)

* Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy: Administrative Director (deadline August 27)

* Great Lakes Aquarium, Educator (deadline September 10)

* Metro Clean Energy Resource Team (CERT): Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Recruitment Intern (deadline September 7)

* Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: Project Manager (deadline September 3)

* Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments: Transportation Planning/GIS Tech Intern (open until filled)

* Permaculture Research Institute Cold Climate: Executive Director (deadline September 9)

* City of Ramsey: Economic Development/Marketing Manager (deadline September 8)

* Midtown Greenway Coalition: Latino Community Outreach Worker (deadline August 28)

* Northwoods Habitat for Humanity: Assistant ReStore Manager (deadline September 19)

* Sierra Club Northstar Chapter: Development and Communications Associate (deadline September 7)

* Blue Green Alliance: Development Associate (deadline August 30)

* Tree Trust: 2 positions (Crew Leader - Young Adult Conservation Corps (open until filled), and Landscape Construction Specialist (deadline August 28))

* Minnesota Waste Wise: Solid Waste/Recycling Intern - part time, paid (deadline August 27)

* Rainforest Alliance / SmartWood Program: 2 positions (Certification Services Assistant and Forest Certification Specialist) (deadline September 12 for Certification Services Assistant, September 24 for Forest Certification Specialist)

* Do It Green! Minnesota: Global Goes Green Coordinator (unpaid internship) (deadline September 9)

* Eureka Recycling: 5 unpaid internships (deadline September 12)

* Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy: 4 unpaid internships (open until filled)

Here are other job listings and resources:

SEEK (environmental education): http://www.seek.state.mn.us/jobs.cfm

MN Environmental Partnership: http://www.mepartnership.org/mep_jobs.asp

MN Council of Nonprofits: http://www.mncn.org/jobs/default.asp

Idealist: http://www.idealist.org

National Green Collar Jobs Board: http://www.sustainlane.com/green-jobs

MinnesotaWorks.net: https://www.minnesotaworks.net/

Discover Green Jobs: http://www.positivelyminnesota.com/JobSeekers/Discover_Green_Jobs/index.aspx

Forum for Women in the Environmental Field: http://www.fwef.org/employment

League of MN Cities, City Job Postings: http://www.lmc.org/page/1/city-jobs.jsp

Association of MN Counties, County Job Postings: http://www.mncounties.org/employment.html

Federal Government Job Postings: http://www.usajobs.com

Upcoming Events at www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar.cfm

Featured events include:

* Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventid=4695 - free (with State Fair admission), August 26 - September 5, St. Paul, MN

* Product Stewardship Efforts in Ontario and Manitoba http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventid=4759 - free, August 27, St. Paul, MN

* Permaculture Site Tour and Mini-Workshops http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4789 - $15 - $35, August 28, Welch, MN

* Grazefest Minnesota 2010 http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4722 - $20 - $65, depending on date of registration and days attended, September 10 - 11, St. Charles, MN

* Backyard Homesteading: Farm Tour, Potluck and Produce Exchange http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4718 - $8 - $10, September 11, Winsted, MN

* Lake Superior Harvest Fest and Energy Fair http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4721 - $4, September 11, Duluth, MN

* Global Sustainable Bioenergy North American Convention http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4692 - $375, September 14 - 16, Minneapolis, MN

* Eating Locally: Opportunities, Barriers, and Local Programs http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4775 - free, September 16, Baxter/Brainerd, MN

* Clean Water and Climate Adaptation Summit 2010 http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventid=4736 - $60/day, September 16 - 17, Chaska, MN

* Preserve Minnesota: 30th Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4735 - $90, September 16 - 17, Winona, MN

* Tour de White Bear Lake - 15th annual conference on wheels http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4773 - $25 - $35, September 19, White Bear Lake, MN area

* Envisioning Minnesota's Electric Energy Future http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4791 - $15, September 22, Minneapolis

* Growing Green: Evolving and Expanding Minnesota's Economy http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4792 - $30 - $60, September 23, Minneapolis

* Minnesota Solar Tour (over 50 sites!) http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4697 - free, October 2, statewide

* Nobel Conference 46 at Gustavus Adolfus College: Making Food Good http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4762 - $60, October 5 - 6, St. Peter, MN

* Sustainability and Behavioral Marketing in the Renewable Economy http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4711 - $400 before 8/31/10 and $450 afterwards, October 6 - 7, Madison, WI

* Fuelish Choices: Improving Sustainability of Transportation http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4765 - free, October 13, U of MN St. Paul Campus

* Northland Bioneers Conference http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventid=4760- October 23 - 24, St. Paul, MN

* 1st Annual Green Schools National Conference http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=4701 - early registration rates through September 12 (varying from $150 - $395), October 24 - 26, Minneapolis, MN

See these and many other upcoming events at the NextStep Calendar, onto which anyone can post events, for:

* Other future and past events

* Links to other web-based calendars for:

o Sustainable Agriculture

o Environmental Education

o Minnesota River Events

o Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living

o Transportation

o Green Buildings

If you are receiving this e-mail and have not registered as an MnSCN member (i.e., given us your mailing address which puts you on the postal mail list for a member directory, a yearly Digest of new publications, tools and case studies, and yearly MnSCN meetings), please join by sending an e-mail to nextstep@state.mn.us with your name, organizational affiliation (if any), address, phone (optional) and FAX. Also note if you would not like to have your name shared with others in the MnSCN member directory published each year.

This list does not offer members the ability to post information directly to it.

For further information and questions about the MPCA or the MnSCN, please feel free to contact Philipp Muessig or Paul Moss at 651/296-6300 or 800/657-3864, or see www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/sc/

We encourage submissions of local examples of sustainable community activities, guidebooks and other tools, studies, speakers, conferences, workshops, meetings, grant and loan funds, and courses that might be of interest to MnSCN members. Please e-mail us: nextstep@state.mn.us. Your response will not be posted directly to this list, but will be considered for inclusion in a future update to MnSCN members.