News & Events

GMC Contingent to Present at Terra Madre 2008
From the GMC Journal
Week of October 6, 2008
Prof. Philip Ackerman Leist (environmental studies), GMC Farm Manager Kenneth Mulder, and student Ryan Dixon have been invited to make a presentation at Terra Madre 2008, an international bi-annual conference hosted by the Slow Food organization. The trio will travel to Torino, Italy, later this month to attend the conference and present their talk “Stewardship of Land: From One Generation of Farmers to the Next” to 700 North American delegates.

“We are thrilled at the invitation to share some of our Food and Farm Project initiatives,” said Philip. “It's quite a tribute to GMC, as the speakers at the U.S. delegation meeting in 2006 included Michael Pollan, Alice Waters, Gary Nabhan, David Masmoto, and a number of other well-known ‘slow-food’ advocates.”

Ackerman-Leist & Mulder Attend
Conference in Michigan
From the GMC Journal
Week of September 29, 2008
Prof. Philip Ackerman-Leist and GMC Farm Manager Kenneth Mulder traveled to Tillers International in Kalamazoo, Michigan for the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy conference "Multi-Tasking Livestock: Adapted Breeds for Productive Farms." Philip described GMC's efforts in rare breed conservation and education as a panelist for a session on "Engaging Kids in Rare Breed Conservation." Their poster on "Harnessing the Educational Power of Rare Breeds at GMC" won second prize.

Kenneth and Philip are exploring avenues for combining rare breed conservation and draft animal technologies as the College begins its newly-funded "fossil-free agriculture" initiatives. Dick Roosenberg, Executive Director of Tillers International, will be a speaker for the Family Farm Forum and a visiting scholar in November.

Letendre to Serve on Renewable Energy Board
From the GMC Journal
Week of September 8, 2008
This summer Prof. Steven Letendre (management & environmental studies) was elected to the Board of Directors of Renewable Energy Vermont, the state’s leading association promoting clean energy technologies. As a member of the REV Board, Steven will work to increase awareness in the state about the benefits of renewable energy and advocate for strong state policies to support a critical industry for the future of Vermont.

Students Publish Ethics E-Book
The spring 2008 animal ethics class spent the semester exploring a key question: What is the appropriate relationship between human beings and nonhuman animals?

Students began the semester by discussing animals in biomedical research before moving on to discuss animal food products. Twice during the semester each student interviewed a member of the Green Mountain College faculty, staff, or community about their personal take on animal ethics. At the end of the semester, students edited the interviews and, along with essays written by the interviewees, published them as an e-book.

Click here to view the animal ethics e-book (PDF format).

Wildcrafters to Host Lecture & Nature Walk
From the GMC Journal
Week of April 21, 2008
Green Mountain College hosts Vermont wildcrafters Nova Kim and Les Hook for a Family Farm Forum event Tuesday, April 29.

Their talk, titled “Wildcrafting: Endangered Traditions and Endangered Species,” begins at 7 p.m. in the East Room of Withey Hall. It is free and open to the public. From 1 – 4 p.m., Kim and Hook plan to lead a wildcrafting walk at the Deane Nature Preserve. The day, co-sponsored by Chartwells, wraps up with a dinner in Withey Dining Hall featuring wildcrafted items.

With over 80 years of combined experience hunting the Vermont woods for wild foods and medicines, Kim and Hook are sought-after teachers and lecturers. Well-known for their passionate view regarding conservation, they have been guests on public television shows and have collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service to give talks on forest ethics. Their work has also been featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Kim and Hook live off the grid in Albany, Vermont, and make their living selling wild edibles to restaurants throughout New England.

GMC to Host Talk on Racism & Privilege
From the GMC Journal
Week of April 7, 2008
Patricia Shine, an assistant professor from Lyndon State College, will visit Green Mountain College on Thursday, April 10, to speak about the matrix of race, racism and privilege. The talk begins at 7 p.m. in the Gorge. It is free and open to the public.

Shine, a professor of human services, will give a presentation specifically designed for white folks, although all are welcome. The talk will be an opportunity to talk about how “whiteness” often blinds us to how racism structures our institutions and our society. The talk will also address how white people benefit from this structure.

This isn’t a presentation about blame and shame. Rather, this conversation will provide the opportunity to understand how we live within the matrix of race, racism, and privilege—and what we need to do to shift our lens in order to challenge the racial injustices that structure our lives and society.

Farm & Food Presentation in VA
From the GMC Journal
Week of April 7, 2008
Prof. Philip Ackerman-Leist (environmental studies) gave a presentation on GMC’s Farm and Food Project during a conference hosted by Virginia Cooperative Extension March 27. The conference was part of the Virginia Agricultural Extension’s effort to build a regional food system and to forge links with colleges and their curricula. Philip gave a presentation on GMC’s approach to integrating food and agriculture into a liberal arts college and participated in a panel discussion on university food and farm initiatives. He also visited Dickinson College's new college farm in Pennsylvania, and spoke to classes at James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University regarding ways to establish college farms and build sustainable purchasing initiatives in their food service programs.

Purdom Gives Lecture in Brazil
From the GMC Journal
Week of April 7, 2008
Prof. Rebecca Purdom (environmental studies) is serving as visiting professor of law at UNIMEP University in Piracicaba, Brazil. She is working with Prof. Paulo Alfanso Leme Machado, known in Brazil as the "father of Brazilian environmental law," on a book about constitutional law and the environment. She recently gave the keynote address at "Deasfio Ambiental/Ribeirao Quiombo: Bacia Hidrografica e Contexto Regional" [Environmental Defense/Quilombo River: Hidrograic Basins in Regional Context] in Americanas, Sao Paulo. Her address, titled "The Public Participation in the Legal Management of Natural Resources and Freshwater System - The International Vision," marked the launch of the first freshwater ecosystem restoration effort under Brazil's new water management scheme. Rebecca will continue as a visiting professor in Brazil until May.

Scholar to Discuss Urban Planning
From the GMC Journal
Week of March 31, 2008
Green Mountain College welcomes Prof. Dong-Ho Shin, a specialist in urban planning from Hannam University in Korea, as a visiting scholar from April 9-11. On Thursday, April 10, at 4 p.m. in Terrace Hall 124, Prof. Shin will give a public talk titled “Reinventing the Urban Space Using the Physical Environment: The European Experience.” He plans to discuss how several European cities – including Dortmund in Germany and Newcastle Upon-Tyne in England – have successfully transitioned from depressed post-industrial towns to 21st century cities with renewed economic and social well-being. His talk will address ways to green the physical environment of cities as well as suggest some useful lessons based on his research. Prof. Shin's visit is co-sponsored by the environmental studies department and the Office of the Dean of the Faculty.

Students Make Supreme Court Trip
From the GMC Journal
Week of May 7, 2007

The spring law seminar course braved a Noreaster to make their annual trip to the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. this year. It should have been a time of cherry blossoms and warm sunshine, but the brutal late-spring storm dictated otherwise. Nonetheless, Prof. Rebecca Purdom and her 15 students had a great trip that included hearing a case in front of the court, a visit to Senator Leahy’s office, where they met and talked with Leahy’s staff, and taking in the sights of Washington, D.C. The spring law seminar is a one-credit course generally focusing on a particular environmental case before the court. The class then travels to D.C. to experience the court live in person.

Stefanie Wickstrom contributes chapter to new book published by MIT Press
From the GMC Journal
Week of April 23, 2007

Prof. Stefanie Wickstrom's (Environmental Studies and Political Science) chapter in a new book edited by David V. Carruthers and entitled "Environmental Justice in Latin America" will soon be published by MIT Press. "Cultural Politics and the Essence of Life: Who Controls the Water?" examines conflict over water in Chile, Bolivia, and Mexico in an effort to determine how indigenous communities, non-indigenous governments, and transnational business attempt to exercise control over water. It draws conclusions about how different regimes in the three countries influence the conflict and about effectiveness of indigenous communities' and movements' responses.

Jonathan Isham to Speak On Global Warming
From the GMC Journal
Week of April 16, 2007

Dr. Jonathan Isham, Associate Professor of Environmental Economics at Middlebury College, will give the Earth Week ’07 keynote talk on Wednesday evening, April 18 at 7 p.m. in the East Room of Withey Hall. Isham, a nationally-recognized scholar and global warming expert, will discuss ideas from his forthcoming book, Ignition: What You Can Do to Fight Global Warming and Spark a Movement (Island Press 2007). For the past several years, Isham has focused his research on building the climate change movement. His book (co-edited with Sissel Waage) draws together the most progressive thinkers and advocates of the times, including Bill McKibben and Gus Speth. Isham’s talk is free and open to the public.

Farm Forum Presents Dr. Peter Horvath
From the GMC Journal
Week of April 9, 2007

Dr. Peter Horvath, nutritionist from the University of Buffalo will present a talk entitled, "You are what you eat, and where your food was grown: the effects of organic methods, storage and transportation on the nutritional quality of foods" on Monday, April 16th at 7p.m. in The Gorge of Withey Hall. This is the second of two farm forum talks this semester exploring issues of nutrition in the context of local and organic foods.

Philip Ackerman-Leist delivers talk at Community Food Security Coalition conference
From the GMC Journal
Week of April 4, 2007

Prof. Philip Ackerman-Leist (Environmental Studies) presented at the Community Food Security Coalition’s national conference From Cafeterias to Capitol Hill: Growing Healthy Kids, Farms and Communities in Baltimore from March 16-17. Philip presented on GMC’s sustainable and local purchasing initiatives in a session entitled "Building Partnerships with Student Groups, Clients, and the School Administration." His presentation focused on the college’s ties with regional farms, connecting the college farm to the dining hall and the curriculum, and the fall 2006 block course on "Food, Agriculture, and Community Development in the Northeast." GMC guest instructor John Turenne of Sustainable Food Systems, Inc. was also on the panel. Philip was joined on the trip by food service director, David Ondria and GMC student Corinna Lowe.

Are Local and Organic More Nutritious? Farm Forum Discussion Tonight
From the GMC Journal
Week of March 26, 2007

Nationally recognized author, nutritionist, and organic foods expert Joan Dye Gussow, Ed.D., will give a talk entitled "Home Food: From Scary Spinach to Hardy Mache" on Monday evening, March 26 at 7 p.m. in The Gorge of Withey Hall. Gussow is the Mary Swartz Rose Professor Emeritus of Nutrition and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University and former head of the Nutrition Education Department. She is the author of many articles and books, including This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader (Chelsea Green). Among her many professional activities, Gussow has served on the Diet, Nutrition and Cancer Panel of the National Academy of Sciences, the Food and Nutrition Board of NAS, and the National Organic Standards Board. A long time organic mini-farmer, Gussow lives on the west bank of the Hudson River in Piermont, NY, where she grows her own produce. As with other GMC Family Farm Forum presentations, the talk will include an audience-guided discussion.

Steven Letendre Op-Ed. Published in Christian Science Monitor
From the GMC Journal
Week of Feb. 12, 2007

Prof. Steven Letendre (Management and Environmental Studies) co-authored an op-ed column that appears in the February 12 issue of the Christian Science Monitor. The article discusses the need for public utilities and auto manufacturers to collaborate in order to build the success of a plug-in hybrid car technology that can reduce the nation's dependence on oil. Letendre is one of a team of researchers who have been exploring the feasibility of plug-in hybrids (Vehicle to Grid Technology) for several years. Letendre is currently on sabbatical researching the technology through Department of Energy funding. For the full text of the article, click here.

Student Greening Project Sheds New Light on Dining Hall
From the GMC Journal
Week of Jan. 22, 2007

In addition to the many recent improvements to Withey Student Center, all of the chandelier light bulbs in the dining hall have been replaced with energy-saving compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). The specialized dimmable bulbs were purchased by students through the Student Campus Greening Fund, after a proposal was given overwhelming support by the student body last spring and approved by the administration last semester. Members of the maintenance staff installed the bulbs over the holiday break. Alumni Tyler Crow, Tim Poole, and Chris Babcock (see photo) wrote the proposal and returned to campus over the break to put the finishing touches on the retrofit. The 8-watt CFLs replaced 236 40-watt incandescent bulbs and are expected to reduce the energy consumption in the dining hall by more than 25,000 kilowatt-hours annually, or about eighty percent.

Food Findings: Block Course Students Host Local Pizza & Sustainable Purchasing Presentation
From the GMC Journal
Week of Dec. 4, 2007

How can Green Mountain College incorporate sustainability into its food purchasing? That is a question that was addressed by 19 students at the conclusion of their 9-credit block course entitled "Food, Agriculture and Community Development in the Northeast." On Tuesday, December 5, the class invited the entire campus community to a "local pizza" lunch at the dining hall, followed by a presentation of their research findings. Later in the evening, the class presented findings at the annual Farmers Gathering of the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link.

Over the course of the semester, students visited farms and food production facilities around the state, gathering data to help them assess the feasibility of supplying the College's own dining hall with locally produced food. They also worked closely with the faculty team of Professors Philip Ackerman-Leist, Jacob Park, and Eleanor Tison, guest lecturer John Turenne, and Chartwells food service director, David Ondria. The semester-long intensive study culminated with the various presentations.

Sustainability Expert Jim Merkel Gives Talk
From the GMC Journal
Week of Nov. 27, 2006

Jim Merkel, author of the book Radical Simplicity, and Sustainability Coordinator at Dartmouth College, gave a talk at Green Mountain College on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Gorge of Withey Hall.

Originally a military engineer trained in foreign military sales, Merkel changed his life at the time of the Exxon Valdez disaster, quitting his job and devoting himself to environmental service and world peace. He downsized his life and lived on $5,000 a year for 16 years. Merkel founded the Global Living Project (GLP) and initiated the GLP Summer Institute where teams of researchers attempted to live on an equitable portion of the biosphere.

GMC Students Attend VT Service Conference
From the GMC Journal
Week of Nov. 13, 2006

Nine Green Mountain College students attended Ideas into Action, Vermont Campus Compact's 7th Annual Statewide Student Conference this past weekend in Montpelier. Co presented this year by Vermont Campus Energy Group (VCEG), the three-day event focused on poverty and hunger, and environmental sustainability. More than one hundred students from 15 Vermont colleges participated in skill-based workshops and large-group activities presented by student peers, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and professional associations. Students who attended the conference will present on their experiences to the Student Senate and to the broader campus community. The Student Senate contributed $500 to the cost of registration for this event.

GMC Faculty present at Terra Madre Conference
From the GMC Journal
Nov. 6, 2006

Professors Philip Ackerman-Leist (environmental studies), Steven Fesmire (environmental studies), Heather Keith (philosophy), and Julie Alpers (farm manager) traveled to Turin Italy for an October 29 presentation at the Terra Conference, an international gathering for the slow food movement. The GMC contingent gave a presentation entitled "Local Food in a Liberal Arts College: Fields of Knowledge & Fields of Hope at Green Mountain College," which discussed how GMC uses the liberal arts to explore the cultural, economic, and ecological histories that have contributed to the development of our current food system, and using interdisciplinary approaches to try to find solutions for increasing local food production, processing, distribution, and preparation.

Student Greening Fund & Chartwells Present 'Five Farms in Five Days'
From the GMC Journal
Week of Sept. 18, 2006

Sausage-stuffed peppers, roasted pork tortillas, grilled turkey, fresh salad greens, sourdough bread, apple cider... It's a week of local flavor at Withey Dining Hall as the Student Campus Greening Fund and Chartwells Dining Service present a special lunch-time series "Five Farms in Five Days." Menus each day this week include food from a featured local farm and several local food producers (11 in total). The brainstorm of GMC senior, Corinna Lowe, 'Five Farms' promotes the importance of local food sources and, Corinna hopes, gives some examples of how people can spend their dollars locally for high quality food. Corinna applied for and received a $3,000 grant from the Student Campus Greening Fund. The grant was matched by Chartwells and Corinna went to work lining up the food suppliers and planning menus with Chef David Ondria.

Bill McKibben Previews New Book During GMC Graduate Residency
From the GMC Journal
Week of Aug. 28, 2006

Author and Environmentalist Bill McKibben previewed material from his forthcoming book (due out mid-winter) in a talk entitled "Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future" at Green Mountain College on Thursday, September 7 at 7 p.m. in The Gorge of Withey Hall. McKibben's talk attempted to imagine what comes after globalization: the local economies that might allow us to deal with climate change, peak oil, and the fact that we hardly know our neighbors anymore. He discussed examples ranging from local radio and local energy to farmers' markets and community timber. Bill McKibben is a former staff writer at the New Yorker magazine. His work appears regularly in the Atlantic, the New York Review of Books, the New York Times, Harpers, Outside, and many other national publications. His first book, The End of Nature (1989) was the first book to a general audience about global warming. It is now available in 20 languages.

Italy 2006
Agroecology in the Alps
Biology, law & policy, ethics

Brunnenburg Castle and Agricultural Museum in Dorf Tirol, Italy, were the home base for studying the interrelationship of Alpine ecology and the local multiethnic communities on this trip. The course, conducted by Philip Ackerman-Leist, consisted of spring orientation lectures, on-site lectures, daily field trips, two workdays in the castle vineyards, and overnight trips to high-elevation pasturages. The course met during the regular spring 2006 semester and traveled to Italy in the summer of 2006.