May Meetings and Activities

sustainmidmaine@gmail.com                                   

This is the last monthly message that I personally shall be preparing since I am  no longer the coordinator. Thank you for all that you have done for Sustain Mid Maine Coalition.  We have accomplished a lot together. More is left to be done. Be watching for new ideas and activities coming soon.
With appreciation to all,
Linda Woods
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YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!  A group of people concerned about food insecurity for area residents has started a gleaning group.
Gleaning, or food rescue, is defined by the Maine Gleaning Network as: “gathering of produce after or during an active harvest and donating the produce to humans rather than for compost or for animal feed. The produce gleaned could be used for direct distribution to those in need of emergency food or it could be processed at a soup kitchen.”
Gleaners gather leftover produce right out of the field after a harvest, sort through already harvested foods, and gather unsold produce after a farmers’ market.
We are looking for people who care about food insecurity and who have a flexible schedule.  Once we know of a gleaning opportunity, we will send an e-blast with date/time/place. If you are available, reply to the sender.  We understand you may not be available each time. Our goal is to get 5-8 people for each gleaning opportunity. We have no idea how often these opportunities will occur.
Gleaned food will be donated to local food pantries, homeless shelters, and soup kitchens.
If you are interested in being added to our “Gleaners’ List,” contact Steve at stephendewitt@gmail.com.
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Sustain Mid Maine Coalition’s Permaculture Team presents
Introduction to Permaculture
adult ed class at Lawrence High School
Thursdays, May 2, 9, 16
6:30 to 8:00
Fee: $21.00
Instructors:  Bonnie Sammons.Matt Huck, Alex Burbank
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Laurie Sproul and Jean Ann Pollard at SugarWood Gallery
(248 Broadway, Farmington)
An Open House Reception will be held Friday, May 3, from 5 to 7 PM.
The public is invited and refreshments will be provided. A special presentation led by Laurie Sproul, From Realism to Activism for Climate Policy, will take place at 6 PM.
The Sugarwood Gallery is open Monday thru Friday 10 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturday and Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM.  Unlike other shows that point to the horrors of environmental pollution and climate change, Sproul’s elegant sculpting in a variety of Maine woods, and Pollard’s ‘Gaia Series’ of acrylic paintings with bas relief, focus on the magical, irreplaceable beauty and supreme importance of our one-and-only
home.
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John Alsop and Iver Lofving at Central Maine Artists Gallery (72 W Front St., Skowhegan)
Artists’ Reception
Sunday, May 5 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.
Gallery Hours Wednesday through Friday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Saturday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
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9:  Board of Directors Meeting at 9:00 in the Winslow Town Office
9: Food Recovery Committee at 11:00 at Steve Knight’s house (53 Edgemont Ave., Waterville)
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Sustain Mid Maine Coalition’s Permaculture Team invites you to a Plant Swap
May 11 from 9:00 AM to noon
at Railroad Square Cinema
Have an overabundance of seedlings? Left over but still viable seeds, perennial bulbs or other propagation structures?
Containers or other plant propagation equipment can be traded as well.
Bring seeds, plants (annuals perennials, flowers, food plants, herbs.
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Arts in Bloom
Saturday, May 18
8:30 - 4:00 p.m.
FREE
Families are invited to explore creativity and celebrate the spring season with fun programs scheduled throughout the day. You can attend any or all events. Don't forget to stamp or sticker your Arts in Bloom passport at each destination! Enjoy a bird walk, a movie and a talk about bees, rock painting, art museum explorations, yoga, recycled book flower pins, and an arts and amphibians walk.
FMI:  https://www.facebook.com/events/617935855340800/

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20: Permaculture Team at 5:30 pot luck and 6:30 meeting at 39 Barnett Ave., Waterville  FMI: lunamoth829@yahoo.com

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21: Public Policy Team at 5:30 Location to be determined.
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TENTATIVE 23:  Energy and Education & Community Outreach Teams at 9:30 in the Winslow Town Office
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23:Transportation Team at 4:00 at KVCOG (Main St., Fairfield across from Huhtamaki)
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Articles of Potential Interest:
https://www.centralmaine.com/2019/04/22/sustain-mid-maine-coalition-these-cars-are-electric/
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to SMMC’s Education & Community Outreach Team for a very successful Drive Electric Earth Day event.  You can read about it here.

https://www.centralmaine.com/2019/04/27/electric-cars-touted-saturday-at-thomas-college-in-waterville/

SAVE THE DATE:
Join Kennebec Messalonskee Trails on National Trails Day -- Saturday, June 1st from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Oxbow trail, one of Waterville's earliest trails. New this year, Kennebec Messalonskee Trails has partnered with Five County Credit Union. Together they will be hosting a cleanup and grand re-opening of the Oxbow Trail, on Cool Street in Waterville. This gem lies in the very heart of town and provides a wonderful, lush, quiet little corner for hikers, joggers, birdwatchers, and picnic-goers alike. All are welcome to help us beautify this wonderful community resource. Bags, gloves, refreshments, and tee shirts will all be provided. Step into the Maine woods. Come on down and help us make this trail terrific again!

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We are now referral partners with Maine Green Power (MGP).  A program of the Public Utilities Commission, MGP allows you to purchase electricity made completely from renewable resources in Maine. If you decide to enroll, please check Sustain Mid Maine Coalition to be the recipient of your donation.  Sign up today at MEGreenPower.com/enroll

Buying online is easy and you can avoid those long lines! Buy your gifts using smile.amazon.com and select Sustain Mid-Maine as your Charity of choice. This is free to you and will help fund a local grassroots organization in your town.