More Farmers and Artists Join “Climate Farmer Stories”
The Climate Farmer Stories project continues with another cohort of Vermont and New Hampshire farmers and artists! At the end…
Climate change is not some distant problem – it is happening here and now in the Upper Valley. In recent years, we have seen climate disruptions affect our communities in the form of droughts, deluges, ice and hail storms, intense cold snaps, and sudden heat waves. We must recognize these increasingly frequent extreme weather events for what they are: our new normal.
Climate resilience, or climate adaptation, is the ability of a community to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate impacts in a way that minimizes significant disruption to our lives and impacts on our shared resources. This includes our health, safety, built environment, food availability, natural resources, wildlife, and financial strength.
Climate mitigation describes efforts to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. Vital Communities promotes climate mitigation through projects that move the Upper Valley away from reliance on fossil fuels for our heating, electricity, and transportation needs.
The Climate Farmer Stories project continues with another cohort of Vermont and New Hampshire farmers and artists! At the end…
Where you can view in person a new multimedia exhibit celebrating Upper Valley farmers whose methods help the climate. From…
A new multimedia exhibit shares the stories and portraits of 13 Upper Valley farmers who are using agricultural methods that…
How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just…
Did you know that the Community Supported Agriculture movement in the United States was born in this region? Temple Wilton…
What are Climate Wise Business practices and how can businesses be wise about climate? This Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup invited…
Did you ride an e-bike this past year? If you were in Upper Valley, you would have had many chances…
Be inspired all year by the Climate Farmers 2023 wall calendar – a celebration of farmers whose practices draw down…
“When’s the next one? Will this be annual?” These questions dominated post-event conversations about the Affordable Energy Resources Fair, organized…
How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just…
How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just…
Grants Help Food Access and Farming Organizations Form Upper Valley-wide Network Imagine all Upper Valley residents having access to…
How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just…
Droughts & Downpours forum hosted by Hypertherm in Lebanon, New Hampshire on Tuesday, October 30, 2018.Copyright 2018 Rob Strong The…
We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse…
How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just…
We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse…
To celebrate “Walktober” Vital Communities has been exploring walkability in our Getting Around series. In a previous entry, “The Joys of…
We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse…
During the month of October, planners, advocates, and organizations across the northern Hemisphere take advantage of the autumn season to…
How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just…
We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse…
On Saturday, July 16, individuals gathered at Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center in East Thetford, VT for a farm…
We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse…
Coping with climate change involves not just state, national, and international leadership but also action in our communities. Although many…
The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) brings together aspiring community leaders from throughout the Upper Valley to support one another…
We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse…
15th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable On May 12, 2022, Vital Communities hosted a virtual Local Energy Showcase featuring…
Vermont and New Hampshire Artists: Create Farmer Portraits and Change the Story about Farms and Climate Change Application deadline: May…
This article originally appear in the Valley News, January 20, 2022, and is shared with permission. By Rebecca Bailey Here…
On December 3, Vital Communities hosted Todd Chewning of Cowbell Mobile Bike Shop for an informal “E-bike 101” Q &…
So many traditions at this cold, dark time of year involve gifts – expressing love, generosity, abundance, creativity, and human connection.…
Event Summary On November 9, 2021, over 100 leaders and supporters of climate resilient communities joined the Upper Valley Adaptation…
In a rapidly changing global climate, rural New England has been highlighted as one of the nation’s most climate-resilient regions…
Vital Communities’s Valley Quests allow you to undertake self-guided explorations of more than 160 special places throughout the Upper Valley.…
The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released a 2021 Report detailing what science currently tells us about…
The 2021 E-Bike Subsidy Program is closed as of December 31, 2021. Email anna@vitalcommunities.org if you would like to be…
14th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable On August 3, 2021, Vital Communities hosted a one-hour Local Energy Showcase Webinar…
Some June graduates envision college or careers. The 18 Upper Valley residents who graduated on June 16 from the Climate Change Leadership…
The Local Crowd Upper Valley helped two businesses team up to close the carbon loop. The Local Crowd is a Laramie, WY-based…
Climate Partners Summit Resources On February 25, 2021, over 70 interested partners and citizens joined the Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup…
Combatting climate change depends not just on major national and global policy, but also on action within our local community.…
Climate change has the potential to affect everyone on the planet and virtually every aspect of our lives, including here…
Climate Change Leadership Academy 2019-20 RESOURCES Session 1: ClimateSession 2: MitigationSession 3: AdaptationSession 4: Community Project Development Presentation: Slide Presentation,…
Climate Change Science and Consequences Presentations: Warming Temperatures and Impacts – Presentation by Professor Erich Osterberg, Dartmouth College in March…
Climate Change Leadership Academy Pilot Program 2019-2020 End of Project Summary September 25, 2020 The Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup (UVAW)…
Reprinted from the Summer 2020 Sustainable Hanover newsletter, this article addresses how to reduce food waste and its considerable climate…
The Climate Change Leadership Academy Class (2CLA) of 2020 graduated in May amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We would like…
Climate and Community Resilience: Lessons from the Soil Spring Community Webinar Series to Unpack What Creating Our Future Looks…
Let’s Talk About Climate Change! Effective Strategies for Productive Conversations Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum April 11, 2019 This forum…
Droughts & Downpours: Managing for Extremes UVAW Forum October 30, 2018 Climate Science presentation by Dr. Erich Osterberg SOAK Up…
Impacts of a Changing Climate on the Upper Valley’s Farms and Forests Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum May 15, 2018…
Protecting Land and Wildlife in a Changing Climate Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum November 14, 2017 Forum Introduction – Alex Jacacci,…
Mobilizing Local Communities: A Resilient Community is a Strong Community Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum April 25, 2017 Event Overview…
Upper Valley Adaptation Work Group Events and Forums 2012-2016 Looking for more information about our past forums? We have a…
Vital Communities hosts an Upper Valley Climate Action email discussion list as a forum for topics related to climate action work in the Upper Valley. The intent of this list is to provide a creative and dynamic environment for Upper Valley residents and community groups to share their successes, discuss challenges, collaborate on initiatives, programs and projects and keep everyone informed of upcoming events and opportunities that will further the important work of responding to climate change in the Upper Valley. It is also a resource for individuals and groups to learn about and promote existing work to address climate change and work together.
UVAW is a bi-state, multi-stakeholder working group of leaders and partner organizations that meets monthly to focus on building climate-resilient communities in the Upper Valley. Vital Communities is both the administrative host of UVAW and an active UVAW member.
Global climate change is a growing threat to Upper Valley farmers and the communities that rely on them. Upper Valley farmers are responding with a range of climate and adaptation techniques, educational efforts, and political advocacy. With funding from Northeast SARE, Vital Communities will be convening regular climate-focused farmer events to build a resilient farmer network that is better prepared to mitigate the risks and take advantage of the opportunities that a warming climate will bring. These consistent, farmer-directed gatherings will focus on farmer-to-farmer learning, visiting experts, on-farm models and demonstrations, and sharing resources that could improve farm and community resiliency.
Join us for any of our network events or reach out to Nancy LaRowe at 802-291-9100 x 106, or Becka Warren at 802-291-9100 x112.
It is not necessary to attend every event to become involved. Farmer participants will determine the direction of the Network.
Vital Communities is committed to helping the Upper Valley meet 100% of its heating, electricity, and transportation needs with renewable energy by 2050. To get there, we are leading many projects to help residents and businesses use less energy overall by making our homes more energy efficient and finding healthier, low-energy ways to get around.
Project Manager, Climate, Agriculture, Energy, Economy (she/her)
Erica joined Vital Communities in July of 2022 as a Project Manager focused on Climate, Agriculture, Energy, and the Local…
Project Manager, Climate, Agriculture, Energy, Economy (she/her)
Alana joined Vital Communities in July of 2022 as a Project Manager focused on Climate, Agriculture, Energy, and the Local…
Project Manager, Energy and Transportation (she/her)
Anna began at Vital Communities in 2021 and and works onTransportation and Energy projects, as well as serving on the…
Program Director, Climate, Energy, Transportation (she/her)
Sarah joined Vital Communities as Energy Program Manager in 2013 and provides support for the Upper Valley’s 40+ local energy…