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Vital Communities - Vital Communities[vc_custom_heading text="Vital" font_container="tag:h1|font_size:90px|text_align:center|color:ffffff|line_height:90px"Vital Communities - Vital Communities Skip to contentVital CommunitiesMeeting regional needs and community interests AboutWelcome to the Upper ValleyAbout Vital CommunitiesStaff, Board, and Advisory CommitteesJustice, Equity, Diversity, and InclusionNews & PublicationsJoin Our TeamVolunteerOur Funding PartnersContactProgram AreasCivic Engagement & LeadershipCommunity Discussion Lists (AKA “Listservs”)Corporate CouncilLeadership Upper ValleyMunicipal LeadersValley QuestClimate & EnergyCommunity Climate InitiativesClimate & Energy NetworksEconomyLocal FirstThe Local Crowd Upper ValleyFood and FarmClimate Farmer StoriesFarm to SchoolBuilding Processing Capacity to Maximize Equitable Local SourcingFarm to ECETransition to Organic Partnership ProgramUpper Valley Resilience NetworkVital Guide to Local FoodHousingBIPOC Home & Business Ownership ProjectWhite River Valley ConsortiumHousing StoriesUpper Valley Home CreatorsRegional Housing Stakeholder Events & ActivitiesTransportationE-Bike Lending LibrariesCommunity Transportation TransitionsE-Bike Subsidies and No-Interest LoansUpper Valley Transportation Management AssociationVTENPast ProjectsEventsUpcoming EventsPast Event Videos & ResourcesSearch: Search DONATEAboutWelcome to the Upper ValleyAbout Vital CommunitiesStaff, Board, and Advisory CommitteesJustice, Equity, Diversity, and InclusionNews & PublicationsJoin Our TeamVolunteerOur Funding PartnersContactProgram AreasCivic Engagement & LeadershipCommunity Discussion Lists (AKA “Listservs”)Corporate CouncilLeadership Upper ValleyMunicipal LeadersValley QuestClimate & EnergyCommunity Climate InitiativesClimate & Energy NetworksEconomyLocal FirstThe Local Crowd Upper ValleyFood and FarmClimate Farmer StoriesFarm to SchoolBuilding Processing Capacity to Maximize Equitable Local SourcingFarm to ECETransition to Organic Partnership ProgramUpper Valley Resilience NetworkVital Guide to Local FoodHousingBIPOC Home & Business Ownership ProjectWhite River Valley ConsortiumHousing StoriesUpper Valley Home CreatorsRegional Housing Stakeholder Events & ActivitiesTransportationE-Bike Lending LibrariesCommunity Transportation TransitionsE-Bike Subsidies and No-Interest LoansUpper Valley Transportation Management AssociationVTENPast ProjectsEventsUpcoming EventsPast Event Videos & Resources VitalCOMMUNITIESVitalCOMMUNITIESBridging boundaries to create positive change in the Upper ValleyBIPOC Project Event March 19Water, Wastewater, and Housing WebinarsGet Help Affording EnergyCounting New Homes Report UpdateGetting Around While Driving LessGet Resilience Hub News!Receive Our Monthly “Vital News!Join a Community (Email) Discussion ListA Thriving Upper ValleyThe Upper Valley of the Connecticut River is made up of thousands of visible and invisible networks of people working together: launching businesses, growing food, creating art, making homes, teaching, healing, caring for the environment, and running the governments, across 69 distinct towns and cities and into two states.Founded in 1993 and serving 69 towns in the Upper Connecticut River Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire, Vital Communities engages Upper Valley people, organizations, and communities to create equitable solutions to our region’s challenges, with a focus on those disproportionately impacted by them.  Vital Communities works to build a thriving Upper Valley by focusing on the biggest issues facing our region including housing, transportation, climate disruption, and access to nourishing food and a resilient local economy. Intrinsic to this work is a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion so that people of all backgrounds and life experiences are involved at every level; and an ongoing acknowledgment that our office is sited and our work takes place within the sovereign homeland of the Abenaki Nation and People.Our Mission StatementWhat’s New? ADUs and Early Childhood Education at Corporate CouncilFebruary 28, 2025The January 2025 meeting of the Corporate Council focused on the issues highest on the Council’s agenda — the shortages… Read more “Just Getting By” Screening Brings Community TogetherFebruary 5, 2025By Ellen Hender, Vital Communities Program Manager, Housing and Transportation This past Sunday afternoon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in… Read more How’s Our Housing Supply Doing?January 2, 2025New “Counting New Homes” Update Adds Data from 2022 and 2023 The new update of the Counting New Homes report… Read more Super Questers Share Their BookletsDecember 18, 2024Congratulations to Martha Doelle, Lindsay Ladd, Lois and Ted Frazer, and Linda James and Henry Ogden for completing this year’s… Read more Five Years of Lending E-Bikes!December 18, 2024Vital Communities’ staff, volunteers, and organization partners gathered to celebrate a successful year of 2024 e-bike programming including the first… Read more Hub Happenings: Making a Trip Over the Mountain with Feeding The Valley AllianceDecember 5, 2024Feeding the Valley Alliance's Fall Harvest Distribution. Photo Courtesy of Monica Collins Feeding the Valley Alliance seeks to bridge gaps… Read more “A Space to Collaborate with Peers”November 25, 2024One core belief of Vital Communities’ work is that our communities do better when we connect and work together. One… Read more Bike/E-Bike Halloween EventNovember 4, 2024Many generations, types of bikes, and beings — bears, turtles, reptiles, fireflies, Austrian yodelers, and a bike lane — were… Read more BIPOC Project LaunchesNovember 1, 2024On Friday, October 25, the BIPOC Home and Business Ownership Project (BHBO) team hosted its Community Kickoff Event, bringing together… Read more Exploring the Newest Valley QuestOctober 29, 2024The “Secrets of Tucker Mountain” were revealed to a multi-generational group of 11 that took part in a guided exploration… Read more E-Bikes Where They Are Most NeededOctober 29, 2024E-bikes are showing up in some Upper Valley communities where transportation solutions are most needed, thanks to the E-Bikes Everywhere!… Read more An Expansive View of Learning on LUV Education DayOctober 18, 2024What goes on in Leadership Upper Valley sessions? LUV Manager John Drew sent us this report! October’s Leadership Upper Valley… Read more Coaching Growth in a Farm To School ProgramOctober 15, 2024Farm To School programs need care and feeding! The purpose of Vital Communities’ Farm To School coaching is to foster… Read more Leadership Profile: Showing Up for Her CommunityOctober 15, 2024Since 2007, Vital Communities’ Leadership Upper Valley (LUV) program has offered people of all ages and backgrounds a chance to… Read more Denise and Justin’s Housing Story: “This Is Our Place”October 15, 2024Housing is a complex challenge and everyone’s story is different.This blog series offers close-up views of how our neighbors are affected… Read more Hub Happenings: A Food Security Workgroup Bridging Gaps in Access and Building AccesibilityOctober 2, 2024A look at the map designed in partnership with Mount Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, Mount Ascutney Regional Commission, and… Read more Project Launches to Support BIPOC Home and Business Ownership in the Upper ValleySeptember 24, 2024A project to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in putting down roots in the Upper Valley kicks… Read more Innovations and Next Steps for Early Childhood Education in the Upper ValleySeptember 18, 2024Vital Communities and its partners in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Initiative will hold a breakfast gathering on Monday, October… Read more The Magical Mr. StevensonSeptember 13, 2024Andy Stevenson is a resident of Fairlee Vermont, where he also teaches 1st grade. He has two children – the… Read more Caring, Passionate, and ExhaustedSeptember 6, 2024Joy Conley wanted to get into early childcare due to a deep passion for educating young children. While nannying in… Read more Sullivan County Transportation ExperiencesAugust 30, 2024During August, Vital Communities transportation staff, along with our partners in the Community Transportation Transitions project, Upper Valley Lake Sunapee… Read more Hub Happenings: Sustainable Woodstock Works at the Intersection of Community and ClimateAugust 29, 2024Since our founding in 2009, Sustainable Woodstock has been dedicated to addressing our community’s food security needs. As part of… Read more Putting A Personal Story to AdvocacyAugust 27, 2024Piecing together a life as a single mom in a rural community is hard enough on its own, but our… Read more New Faces on Our BoardAugust 27, 2024Six new people have joined the Vital Communities Board of Directors. They gathered staff and some current board members in… Read more Second LUV Alums Network EventAugust 27, 2024The Alums Network of Leadership Upper Valley is bringing together graduates from classes who want to connect (and reconnect), form… Read more We Support Each OtherAugust 16, 2024“He’s having to grow up a lot faster than he wants to, and quite frankly, than I want him to.”  … Read more Looking Back to Look AheadAugust 13, 2024Our interviewee, who grew up in Hartford, reminisced about her time in an early childhood education program in the 90s… Read more Hub Happenings: The White River Land Collaborative is Cultivating Community Land Use!July 31, 2024The White River Land Collaborative (WRLC) is a women-led, nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for land access for young… Read more Leadership Alumni Network BeginsJuly 26, 2024Since Leadership Upper Valley began in 2006, a total of 400+ people have gone through the program. Over the course… Read more An Inspiring Tour of New Manchester NH HousingJuly 25, 2024Vital Communities housing staff toured several new housing developments in Manchester along with housing coalition partners from across New Hampshire. These… Read more Upper Valley Farm to School Network 2024 Mini-Grant ProjectsJuly 18, 2024Seven Upper Valley schools and early childhood education programs were awarded mini-grants to support Farm to School projects this year!… Read more Hub Happenings: Clifford Park Food Forest and Abenaki GardenJuly 11, 2024July 10, 2023 wasn’t the first major flood Clifford Park has experienced in recent years. In 2011 the floodwaters from… Read more Leadership Upper Valley 2024 GraduationJune 20, 2024Photos by Rob Strong Congratulations to the 27 new graduates of Leadership Upper Valley! On June 12, participants in the… Read more Housing Breakfast Includes Success StoriesJune 7, 2024The 2024 Housing Solutions Breakfast took time to cite successes as well as challenges — and that was good news… Read more Would-Be Home Creators Flock to HACTCJune 7, 2024Thanks to Rob Strong for these photos! Responses were enthusiastic to the Home Creators Expo on June 1, at the… Read more Exploring Cedar Circle Farm in the Spring!May 21, 2024The setting for the first Guided Quest of the year, on May 18, was Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center… Read more Farm to School Coaching at Thetford AcademyMay 21, 2024We follow an Upper Valley high school as it cultivates food and student leadership through a Farm to School program,… Read more ADU Help in Central VermontApril 24, 2024Applicants are being sought for program to help low- and moderate-income Central Vermonters add accessory dwelling units to their home… Read more Farmer-Led Guided Quest of Climate-Friendly Farm May 18April 23, 2024Saturday, May 18, 10 – 11 am Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center, 225 Pavillion Rd, East Thetford, VT 05043… Read more Revitalizing Valley QuestsApril 18, 2024Since November 2023, some Vital Communities staff and community members have been at work on the Valley Quest Equitable Redesign… Read more Want to Make a Difference in the Upper Valley?April 15, 2024Having greater impact in your community can start by learning what makes it tick. LUV Class at JAM in 2022.… Read more Enterprise column: Considering ‘active transportation’April 15, 2024This article was originally published in the Valley News, April 15, 2024 By Rebecca Bailey, Vital Communities A “time-space machine”… Read more Climate Farmer Exhibition Opens at BillingsApril 8, 2024Farmers, artists, friends, and family joined us Friday, April 6, for an opening reception to kick off the “Portraits of… Read more A Festive Kick-Off to Week of the Young ChildApril 8, 2024“Whereas, early childhood educators have been frontline heroes, especially during the pandemic, underscoring the importance of their work in providing… Read more Updates on the sudden changes to the Community Discussion ListsApril 2, 2024April 3, 2024 — Most list digests did not go out this morning because of a mistake we made in… Read more See Original “Climate Farmer” Artwork April through JuneMarch 18, 2024Want to see the beautiful, original artwork created for Vital Communities’ Climate Farmer Stories project? Last summer, you might have… Read more Shop at Black-Owned BusinessesFebruary 5, 2024There are many ways to support Black communities during Black History Month. One way is to shop at Black-owned businesses.… Read more Furthering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Upper ValleyJanuary 22, 2024“Businesses can do a LOT to support people of color in the area,” said Julius Turner, a member of the… Read more Municipal Leaders Learn About MicrotransitJanuary 18, 2024“Uber with a van”: Could microtransit help more Upper Valley residents get around? Transportation is one of the challenges many… Read more Donate to a Community Food Access ProjectJanuary 10, 2024After a brief hiatus, we are very excited to announce the launch of our next The Local Crowd Upper Valley… Read more Farm to School Projects Funded at Six Area Schools and Child Care CentersJanuary 3, 2024Vital Communities’ Upper Valley Farm To School Network has funded six projects at area schools and early childhood education centers… Read more HomeShare Vermont Comes to the Upper ValleyJanuary 2, 2024January 12 meeting spreads the news about homesharing Homesharing — which helps elders stay in their own homes and youngers… Read more Youth Climate Leaders Academy – Fighting Climate Change Locally!December 18, 2023On December 1 and 2, eighty young climate activists gathered with their high school teachers and the staff of the… Read more 2024 Farmer CalendarNovember 25, 2023Our Climate Farmer Stories 2024 wall calendar is here! This unique calendar celebrates farmers whose practices draw down carbon, nurture… Read more A Quest is Renewed, a Book is BornNovember 9, 2023The Moving Houses Quest in Thetford, VT has a new name, Shifting Structures, and a new book that tells its… Read more New Project Aims for a Shared Clean Transportation Future in the Upper ValleyOctober 31, 2023To reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, our communities need to transition to “clean transportation” —… Read more A Day-Long Immersion in Place-Based Ecological EducationOctober 31, 2023Over 100 educators, professional development providers, administrators, and community members came together on Friday, October 13, at Lake Morey Resort… Read more A Day of Climate Farming InspirationOctober 30, 2023More than 200 community members joined us at the Farm to Film Fest on Saturday, October 21, to learn about… Read more Staying Safe in Walktober–and Beyond!October 18, 2023This October, Vital Communities is joining organizations across the country in celebrating “Walktober” – a time to celebrate how great it… Read more Redefining LeadershipOctober 12, 2023The last few years have reinforced the need for leadership that is based on empathy and a true partnership between… Read more Walktober: The Backroads EditionOctober 9, 2023This October, Vital Communities is joining organizations across the country in celebrating “Walktober” – a time to celebrate how great… Read more Advocating for Mobility as We AgeOctober 5, 2023Learning about Walkable Communities and How to Create Them In a rural, car-oriented community, what can you do when you… Read more Walktober: The Freedom of the FeetOctober 4, 2023This October, Vital Communities is joining organizations across the country in celebrating “Walktober” – a time to celebrate how great… Read more Not Just Recreation, But Also PracticalOctober 3, 2023Could an e-bike help you be less dependent on automobiles? Could the Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library help you make… Read more Ashley and Mike’s Housing Story: Disappointment, hope, challenge, and luckSeptember 29, 2023Pandemic home-buying was a grind, but walkability was a surprise benefit. Housing is a complex challenge and everyone’s story is… Read more A Great Start to a New Leadership YearSeptember 29, 2023Leadership Upper Valley 2024’s Opening Day Twenty-seven new participants in Leadership Upper Valley gathered at the beautiful Ohana Family Camp… Read more Early Childhood Education Progress ReportSeptember 25, 2023Collaborative Progress on Early Childhood Education in 2023 For 21 years, Tammie Hazlett has been centering family, community, and play… Read more Intergenerational Community ConversationsSeptember 25, 2023We Upper Valley communities say we want young people to move here. But where do we expect them to live?… Read more A Preview of Riverwalk’s Affordable ApartmentsSeptember 20, 2023Anyone passing through White River Junction over the past several months would have likely noticed the rapid construction of a… Read more Upper Valley Farm to School Network 2023 Mini-Grant ProjectsSeptember 13, 2023Twelve Upper Valley schools and early childcare centers were awarded mini-grants to support Farm to School projects this year! These… Read more Affordable Energy Resource Fair Returns for Second YearAugust 25, 2023Event to help those struggling with high energy costs Vital Communities and LISTEN Community Services are hosting the second annual… Read more Rethinking our community crowdfundingAugust 24, 2023A re-tooled purpose for The Local Crowd Upper Valley  By Cameron Huftalen, Vital Communities Project Manager, Climate and Economy Vital… Read more “Hope and despair, inspiration and overwhelm, learning and unlearning, relief and anxiety, progress and failures”August 24, 2023Reflecting on the successes and setbacks defining our organization’s JEDI work By Sarah Jackson, Executive Director, Vital Communities For those… Read more Reaching Students Through the OutdoorsAugust 22, 2023October 13 Conference Brings Together Place-Based and Ecological Educators to Share Ideas, Inspiration, and Techniques Founded in 2017 as the Wellborn Hub, the Upper… Read more Upper Valley Artist Raises Funds for Farm Flood ReliefJuly 28, 2023Both VT and NH NOFA’s have funds to help farmers The Vermont and New Hampshire chapters of the Northeast Organic… Read more Ashley’s Housing Story: Living in Employer-Provided HousingJuly 27, 2023A little separation and a good work culture can make all the difference. Housing is a complex challenge, and everyone’s… Read more A Homeschool Perspective on Valley QuestsJuly 18, 2023Amanda Ehret is an Upper Valley parent who documents her adventures in homeschooling at “Because We Homeschool”. Her most recent… Read more Flood Recovery ResourcesJuly 14, 2023This page contains information regarding the July 2023 flooding. General Flood Resources The State of Vermont is maintaining a continuously… Read more Kate’s Housing Story: Live in one unit, rent the other two, pets allowed!July 13, 2023Housing is a complex challenge and everyone’s story is different. In this blog series, Vital Communities Housing and Transportation team… Read more 2023 Housing Solutions Breakfast (6/2/23)June 30, 20232023 Housing Solutions Breakfast  June 2, 2023 Hilton Garden Inn, Lebanon NH The Housing Solutions Breakfast brings together employers, developers, advocacy… Read more Learning Together about Making a Difference in Our CommunitiesJune 22, 2023On June 14 at VINS, Leadership Upper Valley ended the 22-23 program with a day of discussion, laughter, plans for… Read more The Lasting Impact of Everyone EatsJune 21, 2023Multiplier Effect Stimulated $78 Million in Additional Local Spending Westminster, Vt. — Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE), the innovative, statewide, $49… Read more Trout in the Classroom with Thetford AcademyJune 20, 2023On a cool morning in May, Place-Based Education Project Manager Andrew Deaett joined the seventh grade class from Thetford Academy… Read more Award for Upper Valley Housing Fund TeamJune 16, 2023Accepting the 2023 Partnership for Innovation Award from New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility. John Benford Photography. At its spring… Read more Upper Valley 2023 Pride Month EventsJune 8, 2023Happy Pride! Connect and celebrate this month and beyond at the Pride events listed below. Pride Events: The Family Resource… Read more Gaining the Confidence, Knowledge, and Skills to Make ChangeMay 22, 2023Leadership Upper Valley, which since 2007 has helped hundreds of Upper Valley residents acquire greater impact and confidence as community… Read more Sasha’s Housing Story: A decade in the same rental with a voucher May 19, 2023Housing is a complex challenge and everyone’s story is different. In this blog series, Vital Communities Housing and Transportation team… Read more Upper Valley Farm to School Network 2023 Mini-Grant RecipientsMay 16, 2023We are thrilled to announce this year’s Farm to School mini-grant recipients. The following projects were selected from 22 qualified… Read more How Businesses Can Help Us Meet Our Early Childhood Education NeedsMay 11, 2023Engaging businesses can help a region meet its needs in early childhood education (ECE), according to a May 10 presentation… Read more Housing Stories from Farm & WildernessMay 5, 2023Providing housing for employees, while finding housing for yourself, and the added challenge when there are pets.  Housing is a… Read more More Farmers and Artists Join “Climate Farmer Stories”May 3, 2023The Climate Farmer Stories project continues with another cohort of Vermont and New Hampshire farmers and artists!   At the end… Read more Climate Farmer Stories 2023 Exhibit ScheduleApril 28, 2023Where you can view in person a new multimedia exhibit celebrating Upper Valley farmers whose methods help the climate. From… Read more June 2 Housing Breakfast Focuses on Small-Scale SolutionsApril 27, 2023Upper Valley Housing: A Complex Problem with Complex Solutions  June 2 Public Event Brings Together Employers, Developers, and Advocates   … Read more Alyssa’s Housing Story: Downsizing and shortening their commute, during a pandemicApril 20, 2023Housing is a complex challenge and everyone’s story is different. In this blog series, Vital Communities Housing and Transportation team… Read more Forest Days at Bradford Elementary SchoolApril 18, 2023Several weeks ago Andrew Deaett, our Project Manager for Place-Based Education had the chance to connect with Megan Dubuque from… Read more Getting Around: Car-free and Carefree (Well, Almost)April 17, 2023We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse… Read more Questing for More Diverse Ways to Get AroundApril 12, 2023Valley Quest 2023 Season Features Super Quest 2023: Ways to Go!  Must we always jump in a car every time… Read more On May 6, Learn the “How To’s” of ADUsApril 3, 20232023 Home Creators Expo in Hartford May 6  Promoting ADUs to Help the Housing Crisis; Encouraging Homeowners to Become Home… Read more Longer-Term Programs for HungerMarch 28, 2023Everyone Eats is ending, but hunger in the Upper Valley continues. Here are ways you can find help and support… Read more The Week of the Young Child: Celebrating Early Childhood EducatorsMarch 27, 2023April 1 to 7, let early childhood educators know how much you appreciate what they do for our children and… Read more A Place to Plant Seeds: The Sowing of Strange BlossomMarch 21, 2023Help create a community center where people can find services, products, events, and more that better connect them to nature… Read more Traveling Multimedia “Climate Farmer” Exhibit Opens April 1March 9, 2023A new multimedia exhibit shares the stories and portraits of 13 Upper Valley farmers who are using agricultural methods that… Read more Webinar: Additional Shared Equity ToolsMarch 6, 2023Previous webinars looked at models where ownership of a property is shared between different parties. There are also tools that… Read more Early Childhood Education Initiative: A Progress ReportFebruary 28, 2023Even if you and your family don’t rely on early childhood education and childcare, you’re probably aware of the current… Read more New Upper Valley Lists – PLURAL! – Start March 1!February 26, 2023The Upper Valley email list(uppervalley@lists.vitalcommunities.org) is one of almost 60 Community Discussion Lists (AKA “liservs”) that Vital Communities provides to… Read more Webinar: Cooperatives, LLCs, and Other Shared OwnershipFebruary 17, 2023Some people who can’t afford to buy real estate individually are interested in purchasing it collaboratively with others to whom… Read more What’s Happening in Housing Policy, State and Local?February 16, 2023This is the third of a new blog post series exploring promising solutions for addressing our region’s housing crisis, at… Read more Farmer and Rancher Stress Assistance NetworkFebruary 8, 2023The Farmer And Rancher Stress Assistance Network is a national program aimed toward connecting people who work in farming and ranching… Read more Wrapping Up the 2022 Climate Change Leadership AcademyFebruary 3, 2023How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just… Read more Everyone Eats Ends on March 31February 2, 2023After two-and-a-half years and 3.5 million free meals that helped Vermont restaurants, farmers, and eaters weather the COVID pandemic, Vermont… Read more Webinar: Owning the Building, Leasing the Land: Potential and Pitfalls.January 24, 2023This webinar looked more closely at the scenario where a resident, homeowner, or farmer owns the buildings that they live… Read more Consider a CSA, Especially a Climate-Friendly One!January 18, 2023Did you know that the Community Supported Agriculture movement in the United States was born in this region? Temple Wilton… Read more Sunrise Farm Field Trip – Woodstock C.R.A.F.T Program January 18, 2023Are you looking to connect your Farm to School program with more community partners? The C.R.A.F.T program at Woodstock Union… Read more Opportunity for Artists – Climate Farmer StoriesJanuary 16, 2023Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center, East Thetford, VT. By Cecily Anderson. Seeking figurative artists and illustrators to portray local… Read more Getting Around: Love Your Bike or E-Bike, Even in Cold WeatherJanuary 11, 2023We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse… Read more Farmer to Farmer Story Swaps Begin February 8January 10, 2023Farmers are known to have some of the best stories around as they deal, day in and day out, with… Read more Building a More Welcoming and Inclusive Community Through FoodJanuary 9, 2023Support the Karibbean Restaurant’s The Local Crowd Upper Valley Crowdfunding Campaign The Karibbean Restaurant partnered with The Local Crowd Upper… Read more 2023 Mini-Grants Available for Outdoor and Farm To School EducationJanuary 6, 2023Loading… Read more Webinar: Community Land TrustsJanuary 4, 2023A community land trust is a specific type of nonprofit organization that owns real estate and is governed by community… Read more Support the “Everyone Eats” RestaurantsDecember 14, 2022We’re highlighting the work of our Upper Valley Everyone Eats partners to encourage the community to support the folks and… Read more Exploring Housing Solutions: A Cooperative ApproachDecember 14, 2022This is the third of a new blog post series exploring promising solutions for addressing our region’s housing crisis, at… Read more Nine Weeks of Shop Indie (Holiday) Local!December 14, 2022In the final nine weeks of 2022, what can each of us do to help make 2023 better for our… Read more Upper Valley Teaching Place Collaborative 2022 Mini-Grant ProjectsDecember 13, 2022Nine diverse educational organizations from across the Upper Valley received Upper Valley Teaching Place Collaborative mini-grants this year, including several… Read more Thetford Academy Outdoor Program: Playing in PlaceDecember 9, 2022On October 5, our Place-Based Education Project Manager Andrew Deaett  joined Thetford Academy’s Outdoor Program on an outing at Bill… Read more How Local Businesses Can Be Wise About Climate (12/07/22)December 8, 2022What are Climate Wise Business practices and how can businesses be wise about climate? This Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup invited… Read more A Great Year for the E-Bike Lending LibraryDecember 7, 2022Did you ride an e-bike this past year? If you were in Upper Valley, you would have had many chances… Read more 2023 Climate Farmer Calendars On Sale NowDecember 1, 2022Be inspired all year by the Climate Farmers 2023 wall calendar – a celebration of farmers whose practices draw down… Read more Affordable Energy Resources Fair: When’s the Next One?November 29, 2022“When’s the next one? Will this be annual?” These questions dominated post-event conversations about the Affordable Energy Resources Fair, organized… Read more 2CLA 2022 Session 5: How to Talk With People About Climate ChangeNovember 29, 2022How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just… Read more 2CLA 2022 Session 4: Climate MigrationNovember 29, 2022How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just… Read more Can the Upper Valley Grow More Food and Feed More of Its Residents?November 28, 2022Grants Help Food Access and Farming Organizations Form Upper Valley-wide Network    Imagine all Upper Valley residents having access to… Read more 2CLA Session 3: Adapting to Climate ChangeNovember 28, 2022How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just… Read more Learning About Leading: Upper Valley ArtsNovember 16, 2022What do participants explore and experience in the 10 monthly sessions of Leadership Upper Valley? This second installment of a yearlong… Read more How Can Upper Valley Businesses Survive in a Changing Climate?November 15, 2022Droughts & Downpours forum hosted by Hypertherm in Lebanon, New Hampshire on Tuesday, October 30, 2018.Copyright 2018 Rob Strong The… Read more Getting Around: A Non-Driver PerspectiveNovember 14, 2022We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse… Read more Expanding Ownership: Shared Ownership Models to Increase Access to Housing and FarmlandNovember 11, 2022Two of the most important issues facing our communities are providing safe housing for all and supporting a new generation… Read more Show White River Junction Some LoveNovember 8, 2022Vital Communities launched a crowdfunding campaign to support White River Junction businesses. White River Junction businesses create a resilient downtown… Read more Homes for All Summit (10/28/22)November 2, 2022On October 28 local housing advocates, municipal leaders and concerned citizens gathered to hear and discuss housing stories in action. The… Read more Who is Everyone Eats? Maple Street Meets White River SchoolNovember 1, 2022This is the second in a series of portraits of some of the restaurants, caterers, growers, social service agencies, and… Read more Vital Communities and Partners Win $200,000 “Food Vision Prize”November 1, 2022Prize Supports Regional Project to Increase Local, BIPOC-grown ingredients in meals for UVM Dining Services Thanks to a $200,000 “Food… Read more 2CLA 2022 Session 2: Focusing on Climate Mitigation and Participants’ ProjectsOctober 25, 2022How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just… Read more Getting Around: Choosing an E-BikeOctober 25, 2022We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse… Read more Business Planning for a New Claremont FarmOctober 24, 2022Successful food and farm businesses are critical to our region’s economy, environment, and ability to keep everyone fed and healthy.… Read more Getting Around: The Challenges of WalkabilityOctober 20, 2022To celebrate “Walktober” Vital Communities has been exploring walkability in our Getting Around  series. In a previous entry, “The Joys of… Read more Helping a New Laconia Food Business LaunchOctober 13, 2022Successful food and farm businesses are critical to our region’s economy, environment, and ability to keep everyone fed and healthy.… Read more Getting Around: Commuting by VanpoolOctober 12, 2022We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse… Read more Making Ecological Learning Real in the White RiverOctober 6, 2022(Hover over these photos to see captions and click on them to enlarge them!) What do riffles, Tropical Storm Irene,… Read more Flora and Fauna Discoveries on a Guided Wetland QuestOctober 5, 2022Photos (L-R): Participants on the guided quest observe the tree canopy while guide Nathaniel Sharp calls migratory birds in with… Read more Welcome to “Walktober”!October 5, 2022During the month of October, planners, advocates, and organizations across the northern Hemisphere take advantage of the autumn season to… Read more Who is Everyone Eats? Waits River Country Store & DeliOctober 5, 2022This is the first in a series of portraits of some of the restaurants, caterers, growers, social service agencies, and… Read more November 4 Conference Offers Learning – and Healing – Through Place-Based EducationOctober 5, 2022The news is full of reports of how hard the pandemic has been on schools, teachers, and students. One antidote… Read more 2CLA 2022 Session 1: Who Are We and What Are We Trying to Do?September 30, 2022How does a concerned community member effectively lead local climate projects? The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) encourages helps folks do just… Read more Getting Around: The Joys of WalkabilitySeptember 22, 2022In preparation for “Walktober” Vital Communities staff member John Haffner explores pedestrian travel in a two-part contribution to our Getting… Read more Attend the Homes for All Summit: Exploring Housing Solutions for the Upper ValleySeptember 14, 2022Join Vital Communities and Keys to the Valley virtually for the Homes for All Summit: Exploring Housing Solutions for the Upper Valley on Friday, October… Read more Late Season Pollinators and Migratory Birds Guided QuestSeptember 13, 2022Join us on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 10:00 to noon for the Late Season Pollinators and Migratory Birds Guided… Read more Placemaking WeekSeptember 7, 2022What is Placemaking? Turning Public Spaces into Great Places! Read more Boost Healthy Food Access in New Hampshire and VermontSeptember 4, 2022The Local Crowd Upper Valley Crowdfunds Reduced-Price ‘Farm Shares’ Vital Communities has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support affordable fall… Read more Help a Vibrant Village Bounce BackAugust 25, 2022Ten days after a malfunctioning sprinkler system caused a flood of more than three feet of water in the basement… Read more Our Vital and Vigorous Valley Quest Box MonitorsAugust 25, 2022Valley Quests are a unique Upper Valley tradition. These treasure hunts take you on a journey through farms, fields, towns,… Read more Exploring Housing Solutions: Local Employers Meet the ChallengeAugust 20, 2022This is the second of a new blog post series exploring promising solutions for addressing our region’s housing crisis, at… Read more Upper Valley Farm to School Network 2022 Mini-Grant ProjectsAugust 16, 2022Twelve Upper Valley schools and day care facilities were awarded mini-grants to support Farm to School projects this year! These… Read more Light the Nights at WhalebackAugust 16, 2022Join us in improving night skiing and riding at Whaleback, the Upper Valley’s nonprofit outdoor snowsports destination.  Whaleback Mountain… Read more August is Eat Indie Local Month!August 10, 2022This August, Vital Communities joins the American Independent Business Alliance, New Hampshire Food Alliance, and partners throughout North America for… Read more Getting Around: Hauling Kids by E-BikeAugust 8, 2022We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse… Read more Happy Farmers Market WeekAugust 7, 2022National Farmers Market Week August 7-13, 2022 Let’s celebrate National Farmers Market Week!  Visit one or more farmers markets this… Read more Meet Representatives from White River Valley Consortium at These EventsAugust 5, 2022The White River Valley Consortium is a new collaboration of 14 towns near the White River in Central-Eastern Vermont, created… Read more Attend These Upper Valley Vermont Open Farm Week EventsAugust 4, 2022Vermont Open Farm Week runs August 7 to August 14, 2022. Farms across the state are hosting events, farm tours,… Read more Call for Projects: The Local Crowd Upper ValleyJuly 28, 2022Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen — one that would strengthen your business, our community, and… Read more New Home Creation is Rising, Just Not Fast EnoughJuly 27, 2022An annual study finds that more new homes were added to the Upper Valley last year than any year since… Read more New Vermont E-Bike Incentives: How Do They Work?July 27, 2022Two new financial incentives can help Vermonters with the cost of purchasing e-bikes! The State of Vermont has incentives of… Read more Exploring Housing Solutions: Accessory Dwelling UnitsJuly 27, 2022This is the first of a new blog series exploring promising solutions for addressing our region’s housing crisis, at all… Read more A Refresher on Regenerative AgricultureJuly 26, 2022On Saturday, July 16, individuals gathered at Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center in East Thetford, VT for a farm… Read more Getting Around: Taking a New Bus LineJuly 12, 2022We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse… Read more Thank You, Ledyard BankJuly 11, 2022We want to give a big thank you to Ledyard Bank for their generous $5,000 gift in support of our… Read more Want to help lead local solutions to climate change?June 22, 2022Coping with climate change involves not just state, national, and international leadership but also action in our communities. Although many… Read more Climate Change Leadership Academy Graduate Creates Pollinator GardenJune 22, 2022The Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA) brings together aspiring community leaders from throughout the Upper Valley to support one another… Read more Independents Month Staycation GiveawayJune 20, 2022This July, take an Upper Valley Staycation! Looking for some inspiration?Take an Upper Valley Adventure, five curated itineraries around the… Read more Support Peanuts Pet StoreJune 16, 2022Peanuts Dog Treats envisions a community where all animals are given an equal opportunity to live a long happy life… Read more Upper Valley Everyone Eats Extended into 2023June 13, 2022Thanks to a $1.3 million allocation included by Vermont legislators in the final version of bill S.11, signed by Governor… Read more 27 New Graduates of Leadership Upper ValleyJune 10, 2022Leadership Upper Valley graduation in Quechee, VT, on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Copyright 2022 Rob Strong (L-R) Leon Dunkley and… Read more Getting Around: “Close to nature and closer to the world”June 6, 2022We northern New Englanders drive more per capita than most other Americans, and transportation is our biggest producer of greenhouse… Read more Housing Breakfast (6/02/22)June 2, 2022The Vital Communities Housing Breakfast took place Thursday, June 2, 7:30 to 9 am, at the Hilton Garden Inn. Housing… Read more The Local Crowd Upper Valley: Building Regional Prosperity and ResilienceMay 22, 2022Published in the Newport Times Locally owned businesses are the lifeblood of a community, paying local salaries, taxes, and material… Read more Attend Our Housing Breakfast on June 2May 16, 2022The Upper Valley faces a long-standing housing crisis that’s grown substantially worse during the pandemic. On June 2, housing leaders… Read more May 2022 Local Energy ShowcaseMay 13, 202215th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable On May 12, 2022, Vital Communities hosted a virtual Local Energy Showcase featuring… Read more House-hunting with Energy Efficiency in MindMay 3, 2022If you’re an Upper Valley home-seeker who is lucky enough to have found a home to purchase in this tight… Read more Heat pumps are here to stayMay 3, 2022By Rebecca Bailey, Vital Communities For Valley News Enterprise, April 14, 2022 Reprinted with permission Imagine a refrigerator that increased threefold… Read more Let’s Quest!April 26, 2022The weather is warming, the buds are bursting, and the calendar is turning to May — it’s time to go… Read more A Climate/Farming Project for VT and NH ArtistsApril 25, 2022Vermont and New Hampshire Artists: Create Farmer Portraits and Change the Story about Farms and Climate Change Application deadline:  May… Read more Support the Aurora Bakery ExpansionApril 17, 2022Only four years old, Aurora Bakery is already a treasured community asset. Located on Main Street in Newport, NH, and… Read more Earth Month: Invest in Our PlanetApril 17, 2022This April, Vital Communities will focus on Earth Day — ALL MONTH LONG. Read more The Garden Season Begins at Bradford Elementary SchoolApril 5, 2022Spring is here and at Bradford Elementary School, Farm to School coordinator Katie Cole is gearing up for another gardening… Read more Celebrate Our Childcare HeroesMarch 31, 2022In honor of the Week of the Young Child, April 2-8, communities all over the country are celebrating the Early… Read more Fair Housing Month: What’s It About?March 30, 2022Did you know that April is Fair Housing Month? Every April across the United States we celebrate the 1968 passage… Read more Support the Plants for People Project with Hillside BotanicalsMarch 21, 2022Invest in Sarah, Nate, and Hillside Botanicals Husband and wife duo Sarah Shaw and Nathan Bacon own and run a… Read more The Main Street Journal: The World’s Hub for Local InvestingMarch 20, 2022From The Main Street Journal The Main Street Journal, with sponsorship of the National Coalition for Community Capital (NC3) and… Read more Introducing the Upper Valley Vermont Welcome Wagon ProjectMarch 14, 2022Getting connected to your community can be hard in a rural area – which is why  Vital Communities is excited… Read more A Fun, Outdoor, “Light Lift” Volunteer OpportunityMarch 8, 2022Wanted: People of all ages with a love of the outdoors. Share that love by volunteering as a Valley Quest… Read more Six Reasons to Ride the BusMarch 4, 2022Want to: Make our community more equitable to people of all income levels? Cut down on greenhouse gases? Help the… Read more Collaborating Across Town Lines in the White River ValleyFebruary 25, 2022VCRD 4-Town Visit, by Michael F. Sacca Vermont has committed $2.32 million to expand the Working Communities Challenge (WCC) and… Read more What’s a CSA? Should I Join One?February 21, 2022Every year more people say yes. Since the model was first introduced in the US in the mid-1980s, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)… Read more Join us for Star Throwers: Student Service Learning and Activism in the Community WebinarFebruary 11, 2022During October 2021, all students at The Prosper Valley School (TPVS) participated in a service-learning program called Star Throwers. Inspired… Read more Vermont Everyone Eats Celebrates 2 Million Meals!January 25, 2022We’re thrilled to be celebrating another milestone for Vermont Everyone Eats. Over 2 million meals have been served! This statewide… Read more Is Wood Heat Still Good Heat?January 22, 2022This article originally appear in the Valley News, January 20, 2022, and is shared with permission. By Rebecca Bailey Here… Read more Give Local Businesses a Valentine’s HugJanuary 20, 2022This Valentine’s Day, “Love Local Upper Valley”: Show love for your sweetie and your whole community by purchasing gifts (or… Read more Tell Us What You Know About Organic Farming and Climate Change!January 19, 2022Organic agriculture plays an important role as a solution to the climate change crisis. Science demonstrates that organic farming reduces… Read more The Christmas Revels Thanks YouJanuary 18, 2022Thanks to your support, The Christmas Revels Festival was a success! Revels North appreciates all the support offered through their… Read more Grants for Place-Based Education ProjectsJanuary 13, 2022Educators, do you have an idea for a project that will connect students with the outdoors? The Upper Valley Teaching… Read more Big Win for Team Small!January 6, 2022The 2021 SuperQuest winner is Team Small of White River Junction! Bettianne, Carter, and Luther (L-R, above) were one of… Read more Our First E-Bike ClinicJanuary 6, 2022On December 3, Vital Communities hosted Todd Chewning of Cowbell Mobile Bike Shop for an informal “E-bike 101” Q &… Read more Everyone Eats Continues Through April 1, 2022December 21, 2021Good news for those who love to cook and those who need that good food the most: The State of… Read more Childcare Issue and Forum on WMURDecember 15, 2021The two-session November online symposium on the childcare crisis in the Upper Valley was the center of a segment on… Read more Give More, Consume Less!December 2, 2021So many traditions at this cold, dark time of year involve gifts – expressing love, generosity, abundance, creativity, and human connection.… Read more Keep Calm and Shop Indie Local OnNovember 29, 2021As the holiday season gets busier and busier, keep calm and Shop Indie Local on! Need some help with your… Read more This Giving Tuesday, Support Revels North’s Crowdfunding CampaignNovember 29, 2021The Christmas Revels Festival Come dance with daffodils, play with puppets, and lend your voice to our chorus as we… Read more We’re Thankful for … Upper Valley Everyone EatsNovember 23, 2021As we celebrate the fall harvest this Thanksgiving week, we at Vital Communities feel grateful for Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE)… Read more The Prosper School’s Star Throwers: Making a DifferenceNovember 15, 2021From October 12 – 14, all students at The Prosper Valley School (TPVS) participated in a service-learning program called Star… Read more Indigenous Thanksgiving: Honor Native FoodwaysNovember 14, 2021As part of Shop Indie Local Season, we invite you to celebrate an Indigenous Thanksgiving. Here’s some inspiration! Watch the… Read more Planning for a Just, Prosperous, and Resilient Future with Climate Change Migration (11/9/21)November 11, 2021Event Summary On November 9, 2021, over 100 leaders and supporters of climate resilient communities joined the Upper Valley Adaptation… Read more The electric vehicle transitionNovember 4, 2021By Rebecca Bailey, Vital Communities For Valley News Enterprise, October 14, 2021 Reprinted with permission   Next time you’re driving behind… Read more ADUs: How Homeowners Can Become Home Creators (11/3/21)November 4, 2021Recording and Resources related to: ADUs: How Homeowners Can Become Home Creators November 3, 2021 Zoom  What are “accessory dwelling… Read more Give More: Shop Indie LocalOctober 24, 2021Give More this Holiday Season and Shop Indie Local Even with a smaller budget, you can give more this holiday… Read more Help the Upper Valley Plan for Climate Migration, Nov 9October 22, 2021In a rapidly changing global climate, rural New England has been highlighted as one of the nation’s most climate-resilient regions… Read more The ‘Colors’ of Birding and NatureOctober 19, 2021Colors in birding likely bring to mind plumage. Color in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion lends a different… Read more Thetford Academy Students to Design a New QuestOctober 12, 2021The quest was an interesting journey  A means of finding things out Classmates, this town and myself All of these… Read more ADUs: How Homeowners Can Become Home Creators, Nov 3October 7, 2021What are “accessory dwelling units” (ADUs), and how can they help address our regional housing shortage? Find out in this… Read more TLC Crowdfunding Update: Christmas Revels Festival and U.V.E.R. E-BikesOctober 6, 2021The Local Crowd Upper Valley has numerous irons in the fire to move our local economy in a more resilient… Read more Vermont Everyone Eats Extended Through Remainder of 2021October 5, 2021Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE), the innovative COVID-19 response program that provides meal assistance to Vermonters while supporting local restaurants, farmers,… Read more October is the New DecemberOctober 3, 2021Shop Early, Shop Local: October is the New December Why Shop Indie Local early this holiday season? Supply and staffing… Read more Childcare In the Upper Valley: Challenges, Successes, and the Way ForwardSeptember 28, 2021Free and virtual –  Register below to receive Zoom link Upper Valley employers and families both name access to high-quality,… Read more Help Fund E-Bike Delivery in the Upper Valley’s coreSeptember 13, 2021U.V.E.R. – the Upper Valley’s first consumer co-op delivery service – launched earlier this summer; now, we need your help… Read more Two Guided Quests Explore Climate Change This FallSeptember 13, 2021Vital Communities’s Valley Quests allow you to undertake self-guided explorations of more than 160 special places throughout the Upper Valley.… Read more How to be a Local Climate LeaderSeptember 10, 2021The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released a 2021 Report detailing what science currently tells us about… Read more Guest Essay: Meeting Our Housing ChallengeAugust 26, 2021This essay is condensed from articles written by Kevin Geiger, Senior Planner at Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Planning Commission, and first published in the Vermont… Read more Weatherize Kearsarge: Greater Comfort, Lower Bills, Fewer MiceAugust 25, 2021Team 1 of Weatherize Kearsarge at January 2019 kickoff. Contractor performs blower door test to find where home is losing… Read more Need Help Buying an E-Bike?August 19, 2021The 2021 E-Bike Subsidy Program is closed as of December 31, 2021. Email anna@vitalcommunities.org if you would like to be… Read more My AmeriCorps VISTA YearAugust 16, 2021This August, Julia Guy completed a busy year with Vital Communities as an AmeriCorps Energy Savings Outreach Specialist. Originally from… Read more Where to Test an E-BikeAugust 5, 2021Are you hoping to test out an electric bike this summer? The Upper Valley E-Bike Library has been wildly popular… Read more August 2021 Local Energy ShowcaseAugust 4, 202114th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable On August 3, 2021, Vital Communities hosted a one-hour Local Energy Showcase Webinar… Read more Equal Access to BroadbandAugust 4, 2021Access to broadband is critical for Vermont families with students and ten percent of Vermont households with school-aged children cannot… Read more Wait, What Was That You Just Said? The Wondrous World of Transportation AcronymsJuly 30, 2021Even after seven and a half years working in the field of TDM (that’s Transportation Demand Management), I get confused… Read more Upper Valley Farm to School Network 2021 Mini-Grant ProjectsJuly 28, 2021We had an amazing group of projects that were supported this year through our mini-grant program. Read below to see… Read more WOW, Claremont-Lebanon Bus Route Launch!July 23, 2021Many years in the making, the Upper Valley now has a bus route between Claremont and Lebanon, run by Sullivan… Read more Tour Local Farms that are Helping the ClimateJuly 22, 2021Everyone is concerned about climate change, but some don’t realize organic farmers are climate heroes. Fostering healthy soil is fundamental… Read more Feeding People Who Actually Need FoodJuly 20, 2021(L-R) Mel Hall, Rep. Peter Welch, Damaris Hall, June 2021. By Brooke Grams. Preparing Everyone Eats meals at Global Village… Read more Help Fund a New Upper Valley WineryJuly 18, 2021The Local Crowd Upper Valley is at it again! Our newest crowdfunding campaign will support La Collina Vineyards in Barnard,… Read more Sunapee Region Arts Atlas Surpasses Crowdfunding GoalJuly 17, 2021Published 7/17/21 Read more Everyone Eats Continues Through Summer 2021July 14, 2021Westminster, VT, July 14, 2021 – Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE), the innovative COVID-19 response program that provides meal assistance to… Read more We’ve Got a New Look!July 14, 2021Welcome to the refreshed Vital Communities website! We hope you’ll find it easier and more intuitive to use as you… Read more Awesome RAIN PLAN for the July 2 First Friday!July 2, 2021This next Light River Junction: First Fridays with WRIF, come out of yourself for a night of drag, burlesque, music,… Read more Regional Collaboration for Sustainability via Place-Based Ecology Education: A Mixed-Methods Case Study of the Upper Valley Teaching Place CollaborativeJune 22, 2021Place-based Ecology Education (PBEE) has emerged as a compelling approach to achieving the sustainability goals of Environmental Education (EE), including… Read more Place-based education: A report from the place-based equation evaluation collaborativeJune 22, 2021Place-based education immerses students in local heritage, culture, ecology, landscapes, opportunities, and experiences as a foundation for the study of language arts,… Read more The Benefits of Environmental Education for K-12 StudentsJune 22, 2021Experts at Stanford University systematically searched the academic literature and analyzed 119 peer-reviewed studies published over a 20-year period that measured… Read more June 4 “Light River Junction”: A Night to RememberJune 22, 2021The June 4 “Light River Junction: First Fridays with WRIF,” subtitled “A Night to Remember,” promises more of the social,… Read more 24 New Graduates of Leadership Upper ValleyJune 22, 2021From small businesses and large, health care, municipal government, a church, and many other corners of the Upper Valley, 24… Read more Keynote Speech, Leadership Upper Valley Graduation, June 9, 2021June 22, 2021The following speech was delivered by Monique Priestley, Chair, Vital Communities Board of Directors, at the Leadership Upper Valley Graduation… Read more Hats Off to Our Four Departing Board MembersJune 22, 2021An earlier version of this post had an incorrect title for Sally Kraft. At its May 20 meeting, the Vital… Read more Meet Vital Communities’ New DirectorsJune 22, 2021At its May 20, 2021, meeting, the Vital Communities Board of Directors welcomed seven new members, more than replacing in… Read more Housing Solutions Breakfast (6/11/21)June 21, 2021The Vital Communities Housing Solutions Breakfast took place Friday, June 11, 7:30 to 9 am, on Zoom. This productive, inspiring,… Read more These Graduates Dream GreenJune 21, 2021Some June graduates envision college or careers. The 18 Upper Valley residents who graduated on June 16 from the Climate Change Leadership… Read more Power of Produce in Summer 2021June 11, 2021Power of Produce Clubs are back! The free, fun, farmers market activity for children will happen again this summer at several Upper Valley… Read more Turning Food Scraps Back into FoodJune 4, 2021The Local Crowd Upper Valley helped two businesses team up to close the carbon loop.  The Local Crowd is a Laramie, WY-based… Read more Upper Valley Teaching Place ConferenceMay 25, 2021We’re considering conference models that will keep us safe during COVID-19. Watch this space! The Upper Valley Teaching Place Conference… Read more Eating Local on a BudgetMay 19, 2021Eating local helps people and communities stay healthy and resilient. Getting more of your food from local growers can be done… Read more Community Loan Funds 101 (4/27/21)May 14, 2021The New Hampshire and Vermont Community Loan Funds are a homegrown solution for investing in our communities, energy independence, and… Read more Putting Your Money to Work Locally: Investing Clubs 101 (4/15/21)May 14, 2021Interested in investing locally but don’t want to do it alone? Investment clubs pool money to collectively invest in local… Read more Banking Locally: The Easiest Way to Invest in Your CommunityMay 12, 2021Financial Institutions that are rooted in the Upper Valley invest in our communities! Local Focus: Unlike larger banks that may take… Read more Green Home Sellers GuideMay 11, 2021Your energy-efficient home is different. Help prospective buyers see why. Boast Worthy Green Features ✔   Solar power or solar hot… Read more Green Homebuyer GuideMay 7, 2021Fact #1 Energy will likely be your second highest cost of home ownership, after your mortgage, taxes, and insurance. Fact… Read more Questions to Ask Before Signing a Weatherization ContractMay 7, 2021Reviewing Your Contract and Final Work Scope After you go back and forth with your contractor to settle on a final work scope, ask for… Read more What to Expect from Your Energy Audit ReportMay 7, 2021Important Notes for Reviewing your Report Your energy audit report should include a comprehensive list of recommendations for making your home more energy efficient. Many… Read more What to Expect During Your Energy AuditMay 7, 2021Length Typically 3-4 hours. You will learn a lot from your contractor if you are at home during your energy audit.… Read more Tips for Selecting a ContractorMay 7, 2021All Vermonters are eligible for Efficiency Vermont weatherization rebates. Efficiency Vermont requires you to hire your own contractor from their… Read more Vermont Everyone Eats Serves Its One-Millionth Meal!April 27, 2021On Thursday, April 29, Vermont Everyone Eats, an innovative COVID-19 response program, is celebrating 1 million restaurant meals served to… Read more Flavors of the Valley 2021: The Fun Goes DigitalApril 27, 2021Spring must be here, because it’s time for Flavors of the Valley, our annual celebration of local farms. We hope… Read more Energy Resources for BusinessesApril 24, 2021Energy Help for Vermont Businesses Vermont businesses are eligible for multiple incentives from Efficiency Vermont, including HVAC, lighting, equipment, project… Read more “Light River Junction” Kicks Off May 7 with “Toons and Tones”April 23, 2021The celebratory summer series Light River Junction First Fridays with WRIF kicks off May 7 with a fantastic line-up called… Read more Launching Year 2 of the Upper Valley E-Bike Library!April 21, 2021The UV E-Bike Lending Library will run May – October 2022. Schedule to be announced! Do you wish biking was… Read more Way to Go! Spring ChallengeApril 21, 2021JOIN THE CHALLENGE MAY 1-16 AND BE ENTERED TO WIN PRIZES! Spring is here, so it’s a great time to… Read more Our 2021 Farm-To-School Mini-Grant Recipients!April 14, 2021Ten Upper Valley schools and day care facilities have been awarded $500 mini-grants to support farm-to-school projects this year!  These… Read more The Local Multiplier EffectApril 11, 2021 Read more Investing in Home Creation (4/15/21)April 10, 2021Investing for Home Creation Thursday, April 8, 5:30 pm The Upper Valley faces a shortage of housing, particularly in the… Read more Valley Food & Farm Advisory CommitteeApril 7, 2021Peter Allison, Farm to Institution New England Birget Humper, New London Hospital Janet Taylor, Crossroad Farm Allen Reetz, Coop Food… Read more Have an Idea That Could Use a Lift?March 30, 2021New Hampshire Businesses, Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Nonprofits, Community Initiatives:  Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen? Want to… Read more Valley Quests Open May 1—including a Guided Event to a Vernal Pool!March 30, 2021Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 1: It’s a big one for Valley Quests! Not only is May 1 Opening… Read more Claremont Everyone Eats on WCAXMarch 24, 2021Watch coverage of Claremont Everyone Eats by WCAX-TV reporter Adam Sullivan.  Originally broadcast March 24, 2021. Read more Everyone Eats Comes to Claremont!March 23, 2021Thanks to a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Upper Valley Everyone Eats model crossed the Connecticut River: Vital Communities worked… Read more 15 Things You Can Do To Think Local FirstMarch 16, 2021Ideas from the members and supporters of Local First Alliance! 1. Move your banking to a community bank or credit… Read more The hottest spot in White River Junction this summer? A parking lot!March 16, 2021An underutilized parking lot behind the Hotel Coolidge in downtown White River Junction will become a vibrant, pandemic-safe place to… Read more Free Webinar on Writing Waterway Quests, April 8March 15, 2021Valley Quests are treasure hunts set in special locations around the Upper Valley. Each Quest follows a unique set of… Read more Climate Partners Summit (2/25/21)February 25, 2021Climate Partners Summit Resources On February 25, 2021, over 70 interested partners and citizens joined the Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup… Read more Local Investing: An Overview (2/23/21)February 24, 2021What is local investing? What can it do for a community? Why is it important? Who can do it, and… Read more The 2021 Climate Change Leadership Academy is Recruiting!February 10, 2021Combatting climate change depends not just on major national and global policy, but also on action within our local community.… Read more Climate Partners Summit February 25February 10, 2021Climate change has the potential to affect everyone on the planet and virtually every aspect of our lives, including here… Read more Digital Marketing Assistance for New Hampshire Businesses and FarmsFebruary 4, 2021Could your business benefit from professional consulting services to improve your marketing? With Rural Development funding, Vital Communities’ Local First… Read more Quest to the Star!February 1, 2021Have you seen the star alight upon Mt. Tom in Woodstock?  Wouldn’t it be fun to see it up close? … Read more Vermont Energy Savings UpdateJanuary 20, 2021This week marks the close of Vital Communities and volunteers’ 2020 Vermont Energy Savings project in seven towns in the… Read more Rethinking Place, Reclaiming the Present Moment with the UVLELJanuary 14, 2021In its 12th year, the Four Winds Nature Institute – Upper Valley Linkages for Environmental Literacy (UVLEL) grant program is getting… Read more Calling for Civil, Inclusive Communication & Interaction: Thoughts on January 6January 8, 2021As an organization that brings people together, bridging boundaries and engaging our whole community to create positive change, we were… Read more Upper Valley Everyone Eats: The Common Good; Not-So-Common MealsJanuary 8, 2021With the close of 2020 came a pause for Upper Valley Everyone Eats (UVEE), the local hub of Vermont’s coronavirus… Read more 2CLA 2019-20 ResourcesDecember 30, 2020Climate Change Leadership Academy 2019-20 RESOURCES Session 1: ClimateSession 2: MitigationSession 3: AdaptationSession 4: Community Project Development Presentation: Slide Presentation,… Read more Quest to Refresh Winners!December 17, 2020Congratulations to all our participants in our Quest to Refresh Challenge!  28 teams took us up on the Challenge to… Read more That’s Snow Excuse!December 17, 2020Don’t be deterred by wet, cold, or snow.  Good times can be had when a-questing you go!  Be sure to… Read more Myriad Perspectives, and Backpacking Naturalists!December 3, 2020We are happy to have the opportunity to feature two strong voices in the place-based ecology education (PBEE) movement in… Read more Buy Local to Feed Local: Upper Valley Everyone Eats (11/24/20)December 3, 2020At a virtual gathering on November 24, people from social service agencies and restaurants across the Upper Valley gave powerful… Read more 2CLA ResourcesNovember 23, 2020Climate Change Science and Consequences Presentations: Warming Temperatures and Impacts – Presentation by Professor Erich Osterberg, Dartmouth College in March… Read more Housing and the Future of Claremont: A Community ConversationNovember 17, 2020Housing and the Future of Claremont: A Community Conversation [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner] About 50 community members came together at Vital Communities’ May… Read more Can Accessory Dwelling Units Help Meet Our Region’s Housing Needs?November 17, 2020Can Accessory Dwelling Units Help Meet Our Region’s Housing Needs?     ADU expert Kol Peterson presented the opportunities and… Read more Community Conversation on Housing in LebanonNovember 17, 2020Community Conversation on Housing in Lebanon [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] Read more Building a Strong Town: Chuck Marohn Talk in ClaremontNovember 17, 2020  Building a Strong Town: Chuck Marohn Talk in Claremont, April 2019 [/vc_column_text]   Advice from Strong Towns’ President and… Read more One stop shop for VT green transportation news!November 13, 2020Some of our friends in Burlington have put together a super cool online resource called Vermont Goes Green for everything… Read more Local Food and the Pandemic: What’s Been Going On? (12/8/20)November 8, 2020Food and farmers have been center stage in 2020, from store and school closures, to a run on local meat… Read more Building Bridges in Our CommunityNovember 5, 2020At this writing, the outcome of the Presidential election isn’t clear. But what is clear is that the election has… Read more School’s Out(doors): a New Place-based Education (PBE) ResourceNovember 2, 2020School’s Out(doors): Place-based Education Responds to COVID-19 and Beyond was created by  PEER Associates in collaboration with Shelburne Farms, the Upper Valley Teaching Place Collaborative, and… Read more Naturalist Backpack Project Launches in the Upper ValleyNovember 2, 2020A team of educators committed to providing Upper Valley students with the resources they need to thrive during COVID19 have… Read more Downtown vs. Out-of-Town: Community ConversationsOctober 23, 2020Which uses of our land provide the best economic returns to our towns? The answers might surprise you. Developing big… Read more Community Discussion Lists: A Way Out of Partisanship?October 21, 2020In these contentious times, when civility, useful information, and real communication seems to be frequently missing from the big social… Read more Upper Valley Housing, 2010-2019: The Numbers Are InOctober 21, 2020How many and what kind of homes are we creating in our region? Vital Communities and Upper Valley Lake Sunapee… Read more Study Underscores the Benefits of Buying LocalOctober 21, 2020A study commissioned by Vital Communities finds that, for every dollar they earn, local retailers and restaurants return a share… Read more Hartford Dollars Sell Out in Two Days!October 19, 2020  Buyers gobbled up $18,000 worth of Hartford Dollars within just days of the new “currency” going on sale! And… Read more Put Your Money Where Your Life IsOctober 16, 2020  “Rebooting Your Community After COVID – How to Invest Locally Using Self-Directed IRAs and Solo 401ks,” an introductory webinar… Read more 2CLA Pilot SummaryOctober 13, 2020Climate Change Leadership Academy Pilot Program 2019-2020 End of Project Summary  September 25, 2020 The Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup (UVAW)… Read more 50% Off When You Shop in HartfordOctober 12, 2020Support the Hartford businesses you love and boost our local economy with “Hartford Dollars”—a special “currency” that gives you a… Read more Fall Guided Quest in Wilder, VTOctober 7, 2020Join Vital Communities’ Valley Quest Coordinator Sandy Gmur along with Roy Black, lifelong resident of Wilder and a member of… Read more Crowdfund Revels North’s Christmas Revels Film!October 6, 2020  Give Today to The Christmas Revels’ 2020 Production! Will the COVID-19 Grinch steal The Christmas Revels? Perish the thought!… Read more Meet Our New Executive Director!September 28, 2020An experienced international development professional who more recently has immersed herself in the Upper Valley will be the new Executive… Read more Fall 2020 Transit Updates!September 24, 2020Just in time for fall and back-to-school, there are some exciting transit updates from both sides of the river! Tri-Valley… Read more Safe Routes to School During PandemicSeptember 1, 2020  School reopening is the big topic right now: how to do it safely, effectively, and efficiently. New requirements for… Read more 2CLA Graduate Spotlight: Digging in on the Climate CrisisAugust 21, 2020The Climate Change Leadership Academy Class (2CLA) of 2020 graduated in May amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We would like to… Read more Quests Along the Cross Rivendell TrailAugust 18, 2020Do you hope to do a longer hike before the good weather ends?  Do you enjoy a challenge?  We have… Read more The COVID Challenge: Making Our Food Go the DistanceAugust 13, 2020Reprinted from the Summer 2020 Sustainable Hanover newsletter, this article addresses how to reduce food waste and its considerable climate… Read more Bike & Walk Funding Available in Vermont!July 27, 2020Are you a Vermonter who would like to see better bike and pedestrian infrastructure in your town? Funding for this… Read more Fresh Food Sources: An UpdateJuly 9, 2020For an increasing number of families, the cost of putting food on the table is becoming more and more of… Read more Theater + Pandemic: Four Upper Valley Theaters’ StoriesJuly 9, 2020Remember when performances looked like this? (That’s Opera North performing at Blow-Me-Down Farm in summer 2019.) Needless to say, times… Read more New Help for Renters, Landlords, HomeownersJune 26, 2020To help landlords and tenants facing pandemic-related financial problems, refer to this resource sheet created by Upper Valley Strong, a coalition… Read more Get Ready for the Upper Valley E-Bike Library!June 25, 2020The UV E-Bike Lending Library will run May – October 2022. Schedule to be announced! Do you wish biking was… Read more Welcome 31 New Upper Valley Change-makersJune 24, 2020Vital Communities celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 on Wednesday, June 10. This event marked… Read more Lend Your Voice to Local/National Commute SurveyJune 19, 2020  The commutes of many Upper Valley residents have changed significantly due to COVID-19, with many shifting to telecommuting. Now… Read more Pivot, Perseverance & Passion: Business Recovery ForumsJune 19, 2020Many small businesses are overwhelmed with navigating the new normal while implementing rigid safety and sanitation protocols. Staying afloat during… Read more Three Upper Valley Institutions that Could Use Some TLCJune 18, 2020What’s it like to navigate the pandemic when you’re the one signing the checks? Three Upper Valley bosses and business… Read more Regional Collaboration Along Route 11June 18, 2020As part of an effort to better engage the southern portion of Vital Communities’ 69-town region, over five months in… Read more Meetings of Minds = Economic HelpJune 18, 2020A searchable guide to local businesses of all sorts, expert help for businesses trying to survive the pandemic, and a… Read more Local Businesses Adapt to Continue Serving Upper ValleyJune 10, 2020  As green leaves and warm days underscore the arrival of summer, many local businesses are finding new ways to… Read more Key Resources for Activism, Allyship, and EducationJune 5, 2020The following are resources compiled by Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. Coursework & Business Resources: An Intro to Diversity &… Read more LISTEN community dinners go take-outJune 3, 2020Before the pandemic, the doors of LISTEN’s Community Dinner Hall opened six days a week to welcome anyone in need… Read more 2CLA Graduate Spotlight: Climate Change Hike at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHPJune 3, 2020  The Climate Change Leadership Academy Class (2CLA) of 2020 graduated in May amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We would like… Read more Favorite Upper Valley Bicycle RidesMay 21, 2020  For “Get Out & Bike” Week we asked the Vital Communities network to submit their favorite hometown bike rides, ideally 10… Read more Isolate and Create: Local restaurant recipes, right from your kitchenMay 21, 2020Ever wanted to cook a meal from a local restaurant in your own kitchen? Now you can! Released last Friday,… Read more Upper Valley Housing UpdateMay 21, 2020A quick update on Upper Valley housing from our Workforce Housing Coordinator, Mike Kiess: Support for people experiencing homeless and… Read more New Partners and the Vermont Telecommuting GuideMay 21, 2020One significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is the sheer number of people now working from home. Though telework is… Read more UV Strong: what is it, what’s it doing, and how can we help?May 14, 2020In the wake of 2011’s Tropical Storm Irene, Upper Valley organizations and volunteers scrambled to identify and support emergency needs… Read more TLC 4WARD Crowdfunding for BusinessesMay 13, 2020  Do you own an Upper Valley business that is suffering due to the effects of the pandemic and could… Read more Pandemic Small Business Navigator AvailableMay 13, 2020Call Our Small Business Navigator! In response to the extreme stress and economic disruption small businesses are experiencing, a new… Read more School Food Workers Ensure Local Kids are FedMay 7, 2020“Food is nourishing,” said Craig Locarno, food service director for the Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union, when asked why it’s so… Read more Raise Money while Working from HomeMay 5, 2020Work from home and help raise $500 for Vermont Foodbank. Simply record your telecommute trips in your Go! Vermont account… Read more Schools as Hubs for Environmental, Social, and Economic JusticeMay 1, 2020The world has changed drastically in the last two months. And many of us are re-thinking the way things worked… Read more A Letter To Our Upper Valley SchoolsApril 30, 2020I hope this note finds you all healthy and adjusting to the routines of remote learning and teaching. I know my family… Read more Dan & Whit’s Takes a Central Role in Norwich COVID-19 ResponseApril 22, 2020Dan Fraser, owner of Dan and Whit’s general store in Norwich, is posting often on the Norwich Discussion List these… Read more Family Project: Write a Quest For Your House!April 22, 2020Over these past few weeks I have experienced waves of anxiety and sadness, and at the same time such gratitude.… Read more Donation Platform for UV BusinessesApril 17, 2020  Do you own an Upper Valley business that is impacted by Covid-19 and could use a little help from… Read more From Fashion to Face MasksApril 16, 2020On March 4th, Fat Hat clothing in Quechee was on track for its most profitable quarter ever. The brand’s easy-to-wear… Read more Give to the Businesses You Love!April 16, 2020Wendell Berry once said that by choosing to support a local business in your community, you’re essentially telling that business… Read more A Student’s Perspective on Life Lessons of PBEEApril 2, 2020“It’s easier to understand the rest of the world if you really know where you are,” says Sophie Leggett. Although I moved… Read more Public Investment AFTER Covid19March 27, 2020How can we know which uses of our public funds are the most productive in a recovery? Join this free… Read more Five Inspiring Stories – 3/18/20March 20, 2020On March 18, 2020, Vital Communities held a webinar featuring five inspiring stories from energy committees across the Upper Valley.… Read more Cultivating a Sense of Place in PlainfieldMarch 4, 2020Jen Frederick recalls that when she went back to teaching at Plainfield Elementary School after being home with her children… Read more Climate & Community Resilience Spring 2020 SeriesMarch 3, 2020  Climate and Community Resilience: Lessons from the Soil Spring Community Webinar Series to Unpack What Creating Our Future Looks… Read more Re-Invigorating PBEE at Bradford Elementary SchoolFebruary 2, 2020“The logistics around getting our students to the forest once a week to learn are challenging,” says Jess Loeffler, “but… Read more Renewable Energy Funding for Small BusinessesJanuary 27, 2020Get the information you need to move forward with a renewable energy or energy efficiency project in Vermont or New… Read more Renewable Energy Funding for Farms and Small BusinessesJanuary 24, 2020Get the information you need to move forward with a renewable energy or energy efficiency project in Vermont or New… Read more Mystery in My Driveway…January 18, 2020You may remember the story of violin virtuoso Joshua Bell, performing Bach and Schubert on a million dollar violin in… Read more Rethinking Place, Reclaiming the Present Moment with the UVLELJanuary 18, 2020In its 12th year, the Four Winds Nature Institute – Upper Valley Linkages for Environmental Literacy (UVLEL) grant program is getting… Read more Improve Your Small Business Digital Marketing Presence!January 5, 2020Calling all Upper Valley farms and small businesses! Could your business benefit from professional consulting services to improve your marketing?… Read more TLC Upper Valley Success!January 2, 2020  Local Investing Success with TLC Upper Valley! The Local Crowd (TLC) Upper Valley is a locally based crowdfunding platform… Read more Canaan Keeps FarmRaisers AliveDecember 20, 2019Kale. Carrots. Beets. Potatoes. Powerkraut®! These are just a few of the delightful local foods I’ve received from Root 5… Read more An Innovative Partnership to Bring PBEE to High School StudentsDecember 18, 2019“I am working with a sophomore right now who is struggling at school, and I had yet to hear him… Read more Celebrating our Volunteer of the YearDecember 10, 2019  Ed. note: Vital Communities Executive Director Tom Roberts made the following remarks to honor 2019 Volunteer of the Year… Read more Shop Indie Local this Season!October 31, 2019Every dollar spent at a local, independent business returns 2-4 times more to be re-spent in the community than a… Read more Nov. 19 Green Real Estate Crash CourseOctober 29, 2019Vital Communities is offering its popular Green Real Estate Crash Course again on Tuesday, November 19, at Service Credit Union, just off I-89 in… Read more Upper Valley Landlords MeetingOctober 23, 2019October 17, 2019 Upper Valley landlords and service providers gathered in October 2019 to promote networking among landlords and nonprofit… Read more New Hampshire Charitable Foundation announces nearly $300,000 in grants to support place-based ecology education in the Upper ValleyOctober 18, 2019The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is announcing $289,435 in grant awards from its Wellborn Ecology Fund. The grant dollars will… Read more Exciting TLC Projects to Fund!September 27, 2019  Invest in your community and contribute to these exciting campaigns!   Whaleback Base Lodge Energy Efficiency Updates, Enfield You… Read more A New Quest to Celebrate the Mascoma River Greenway!September 26, 2019Have you been on the Mascoma River Greenway yet? If not, it is time to check it out. I had… Read more Celebrate Farm to School Month With Our Fall Farm to School ForumSeptember 19, 2019  Meet Your Local Farm to School Network! The Upper Valley Farm to School Network invites you to gather in… Read more From the State House to the Farm HouseSeptember 13, 2019  Calling all Vermont Farmers! You’re invited to the second annual From the State House to the Farmhouse event on… Read more A New Quest in Pomfret, VermontSeptember 3, 2019Earlier this summer I had the fortune of working with the amazing staff of the Artistree Community Arts Center in… Read more Welcome Norwich Solar Technologies!August 23, 2019We are proud to welcome Norwich Solar Technologies as a Local First Promoter Sponsor!  The White River Junction-based renewable energy… Read more Have an Idea That Could Use a Lift?August 15, 2019  Local Businesses, Farmers,Entrepreneurs, Nonprofits, Community Initiatives: Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen? Want to grow… Read more Fat Hat Clothing-Keeping it Local for 40 yearsJuly 10, 2019Forty years ago Joan Ecker started Fat Hat Clothing Company with free fabric remnants and a treadle sewing machine. Today… Read more Quest Spotlight: Trees of Hanover QuestJuly 9, 2019With this amazing stretch of sunny days we’ve been having, I wanted to get outside and do more Questing! This… Read more Supporting Social EnterprisesJuly 3, 2019Exciting news! Local First is one of five sites across the country participating in a National Science Foundation research project… Read more Quest Spotlight: Quest for the KestrelJuly 2, 2019This month, I wanted to spotlight a Quest on the Super Quest list! If you haven’t signed up for the… Read more New South Royalton Quest!June 27, 2019We are excited to announce the Royalton Historical Quest, a new Valley Quest! This Quest will take you around the… Read more Building Friendships and Writing Skills in the ForestJune 18, 2019For the last school year, 3rdgraders at the Lyme School and the Sharon Elementary School have been writing to one… Read more New Brownsville VT QuestJune 12, 2019I’m happy to announce that we have a new Quest! With the help of Mr. Butler’s 3rd & 4th grade… Read more Stand in Your Circle of Strength and LeadMay 31, 2019Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper… Read more West Lebanon Feed & Supply is Committed to CommunityMay 29, 2019A strong work ethic, a passion for helping others, and a sincere love of animals have been at the core… Read more Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper ValleyMay 28, 2019Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals… Read more Heroes & Leaders 2019May 20, 2019Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals… Read more 2nd Annual Curb The Car Day – Friday, May 17!May 8, 2019  On May 17, 2019 the rest of the country is celebrating National Bike to Work Day, but here in… Read more UVAW Forum Spring 2019: Effective Strategies for Productive Conversations about Climate ChangeMay 2, 2019Let’s Talk About Climate Change! Effective Strategies for Productive Conversations Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup  Forum April 11, 2019 This forum… Read more Keeping Your Dollars Multiplying in the UV!April 24, 2019When you spend money at locally owned businesses, it is pretty easy to understand that those dollars directly impact the… Read more April Meet-Up Series for Beginning FarmersMarch 29, 2019We have an exciting project for new farmers in the White River valley portion of our region! The High Meadows Fund is… Read more Dazzlingly Reflective, 80’s StyleMarch 22, 2019We love pairing style with nighttime visibility, so we’ve ordered REFLECTIVE SLAP BRACELETS to reward people who bike or walk… Read more The Benefit of B CorpsMarch 5, 2019Certified Benefit Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. Society’s most challenging problems cannot be solved by… Read more Cultivating Perseverance, Kindness, and Empathy in the Outdoor ClassroomFebruary 18, 2019When Nikki Raney thinks about what skills she wants her third-graders at the Dothan Brook School to have when they… Read more Thinking Local FirstJanuary 30, 2019Shop or Buy Local First is a common call to action. The threat to local businesses with competition from online… Read more Local First Members Give Back!November 28, 2018Locally owned businesses are rooted in the Upper Valley and donate time and money to the community every month of the year… Read more Think Local First & SAVE this Season!November 14, 2018Local and independent businesses bring value to our communities in many ways: preserving community character, creating stable jobs, supporting area… Read more UVAW Forum Fall 2018: Droughts & DownpoursNovember 3, 2018Droughts & Downpours: Managing for Extremes UVAW Forum October 30, 2018 Climate Science presentation by Dr. Erich Osterberg SOAK Up… Read more Crossroad Farm is the BOM!October 31, 2018Crossroad Farm is the Local First Alliance November Business of the Month and to celebrate they are raffling off all… Read more Shift Your Shopping this Season!October 24, 2018Every dollar spent at a local, independent business returns 2-4 times more to be re-spent in the community than a… Read more Hornet Stings, Unstructured Learning & ResilienceOctober 18, 2018Leslie Connolly and Jackie Atherley are a dynamic duo. Working together at Hanover’s Bernice A. Ray School, the two are… Read more 2018 Farmer Celebration MixerOctober 10, 2018Join us to celebrate the work we did together in 2018! Do your chores early, leave the spreadsheets behind, and… Read more Donuts & Hogwarts: A Transit Travel Training Case StudyOctober 3, 2018One thing a group of Millennial cartoonists doesn’t need is help using a smartphone app – especially an intuitive one… Read more Farmers’ Market RoundtableOctober 2, 2018Join Vital Communities and NOFA VT for a Farmers’ Market Roundtable November 7, 2018 from 4-7 pm at the Wilder… Read more Celebrate Co-op Month with the Co-op Food Stores!September 26, 2018Celebrate October as Co-op Month, Fair-Trade Month and Co-op Food Stores as the Business of the Month! Visit the Co-op… Read more September Market-Fresh Cooking DemosAugust 30, 2018Love to shop at the farmers’ market, and want to learn a new tip or recipe for cooking with all… Read more The Norwich Bookstore is the BOM!August 24, 2018Celebrate The Norwich Bookstore as the September Business of the Month! And as a founding Local First Alliance member, The… Read more Mascoma Bank is the BOM!August 3, 2018Celebrate Mascoma Bank as Business of the Month August 6-17 and support three nonprofits while you’re at it! Mascoma Bank… Read more Strengthening Farmers’ MarketsAugust 1, 2018An exciting project for the  Upper Valley Farmers’ Market Collaborative is helping markets identify areas to improve or strengthen. A market might decide to improve sales,… Read more August is NH Eat Local Month!July 30, 2018Enjoy the Local Bounty during NH Eat Local Month Visit the Farmers’ Market, Join a Virtual Scavenger Hunt, and Eat… Read more Bird and QuestJuly 27, 2018The Vermont Center for Ecostudies lists 382 species of bird that occur in Vermont, whether year-long resident or migratory visitor.… Read more We Make the Path by WalkingJuly 18, 2018For Beth Ann Drinker, learning to trust herself was one of the most important challenges in taking her students outdoors.… Read more Subbasin Spotlight!July 11, 2018This year’s Aquatic Adventure Super Quest showcases the 5 subbasins that make up the Upper Connecticut River Valley, or, more fondly,… Read more A Valley Side-QuestJuly 5, 2018While Questing is an absorbing hobby in its own right, it opens the door for a number of Side-Quests that you… Read more Rediscovering Questing: Aquatic Adventure Super QuestJune 22, 2018Having lived in the region all my life, I grew up Valley Questing with my family. I recently realized, however,… Read more A Lot Lighter with More Hands: Leadership Upper ValleyJune 21, 2018On the bright, sunny morning of June 13, Cobb Hill was waking up, and the soon-to-be graduating 2018 Leadership Upper… Read more Forest Friday for Lyme 3rd GradersJune 18, 2018Lyme School 3rd grade teacher, Trisha Gautreau caught the PBEE bug 5 years ago when she took a nature writing… Read more The Heart & Soul in Place-based Ecology EducationJune 18, 2018This year Sharon Elementary School 4th and 6th grade teachers, Meg Hopkins and Janis Boulbol, piloted a program called A… Read more Farmers’ Markets are Truly LocalJune 12, 2018Download the printable area Farmers’ Market Calendar! Farmers’ markets are truly local, and that’s as true today as it was 20… Read more High School Communication Contest Winners!May 30, 2018Local First Alliance hosted the 5th annual Upper Valley High School Communications Competition with the Hartford Area Career and Technology… Read more Longevity & Commitment: Keynote Remarks from Heroes & Leaders 2018May 25, 2018Editor’s Note: Many thanks to Kevin Peterson, Director of Economic Development for the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, who… Read more Be a Friend, Get Sweet DealsMay 23, 2018The food is fresh, the market is fun, and the deal is sweet!    Support Your Farmers’ Market with the NEW… Read more The Connecticut River and its WatershedMay 23, 2018Since this year’s Super Quest explores the Upper Valley’s aquatic features in all their myriad forms, this makes for an… Read more Education Characterized by JoyMay 18, 2018Eliza Minucci is a humble yet powerful force in the movement to get kids outdoors and learning through play in… Read more PBEE as a Pillar of School CultureMay 18, 2018“Every day I go out with kids is wonderful”, Lindsay Putnam reflects. “Perhaps one thing that is particularly good to… Read more Upper Valley Transportation Management AssociationMay 11, 2018TransportationProjects Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library Community Transportation Transitions E-Bike Subsidies and No-Interest Loans Upper Valley Transportation Management Association VTEN… Read more LaValley Building Supply is the BOMMay 3, 2018Celebrate as we recognize LaValley Building Supply as the May Local First Alliance Business of the Month For more than… Read more UVAW Forum Spring 2018: Impacts on the Upper Valley’s Farms and ForestsMay 3, 2018Impacts of a Changing Climate on the Upper Valley’s Farms and Forests Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum May 15, 2018… Read more Long-Standing Stewards: Heroes & Leaders 2018May 2, 2018Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts a Heroes & Leaders celebration to recognize individuals who… Read more May BOM: LaValley Building SupplyApril 24, 2018Celebrate as we recognize LaValley Building Supply as the May Local First Alliance Business of the Month For more than… Read more Protecting our WaterwaysApril 17, 2018We in the Upper Valley owe a lot to our wondrous waterways. Our rivers, brooks, ponds, lakes, wetlands, and marshes… Read more Zero Waste for the Win!April 16, 2018We had an amazing Flavors of the Valley, our annual local food tasting expo, with a record-breaking 1,200 attendees! From… Read more Member Spotlight: Lyme Green HeatMarch 29, 2018When Lyme native Morton Bailey started his business, Lyme Green Heat he was just a guy in a truck delivering bagged wood heating… Read more Yes, we sing about FlavorsMarch 28, 2018Confession: we sing a little tune about Flavors of the Valley, around the office, in meetings, while photocopying…. Click here and watch… Read more Waking Up To The WorldMarch 18, 2018Rob Hanson epitomizes the phrase, “lifelong learner.” He has taken advantage of more than a dozen place-based and environmental education… Read more Copeland is the BOM!February 28, 2018Join us as we celebrate Copeland Furniture as the March Business of the Month (BOM)! Visit The Copeland Company Store in… Read more BOM: Simple EnergyJanuary 31, 2018Locally owned businesses strengthen our community in many ways including  job creation, tax dollars, charitable giving, economic vitality, responsive customer… Read more Envisioning School-Wide PBEEJanuary 18, 2018Newton School principal, Greg Bagnato, started getting a lot of phone calls and emails when Anmari Kicza, the school’s kindergarten… Read more Learn What Farm Workers are Looking for in JobDecember 29, 2017As part of a Northeast SARE Partnership grant to help farmers solve the challenge of finding and keeping farm labor… Read more Labor: Farmer Best Practices and BenchmarksDecember 29, 2017In 2017 farmers shared their labor best practices and benchmarks. Here are the survey results. Thanks to Northeast SARE for… Read more January BOM: Trail Break taps + tacosDecember 27, 2017  We are excited to be celebrating the hot, new eatery in White River Junction as Local First Alliance  Business… Read more Member Spotlight: John Ring CPA, A.B. Gile & Ledyard BankDecember 27, 2017Local First Alliance is proud to represent so many members that make our economy strong. Retail stores are the businesses that… Read more Teaching the Whole Child through Place-based Ecology EducationDecember 18, 2017Both Shawn Brodeur-Stevens and Mary Lord have been teaching at Charlestown Middle School for over 20 years. Yet they have… Read more Vital Communities Open House in ReviewDecember 12, 2017About 100 people attended Vital Communities’ Open House on Friday, December 1. It was an evening of meaningful connection as… Read more Giving Back to the CommunityNovember 30, 2017Local First Alliance members really know how to give back to the community. Year-round Local First Alliance members go above and… Read more BOM Spotlight: Hubert’s Family OutfittersNovember 29, 2017Hubert’s Family Outfitters has been in business for 42 years with the third generation fully involved in this Local First Alliance… Read more UVAW Forum Fall 2017: Protecting Land and Wildlife in a Changing ClimateNovember 3, 2017Protecting Land and Wildlife in a Changing Climate Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum November 14, 2017 Forum Introduction – Alex Jacacci,… Read more BOM Spotlight: West Lebanon Feed & SupplyOctober 24, 2017We are excited to be celebrating Local First Alliance Green Circle Sponsor West Lebanon Feed & Supply (WLFS) as the… Read more Igniting academic curiosity through outdoor explorationOctober 18, 2017Scott Ellis has infectious enthusiasm for getting outside to learn and explore in nature. He taught at the Cardigan Mt.… Read more Leasing Your Land to a FarmerOctober 18, 2017Leasing Your Land to a Farmer Workshop Join Vital Communities and Land For Good to learn about leasing your land… Read more New Directors Join Vital Communities BoardOctober 11, 2017In September we welcomed three new members to the Vital Communities Board of Directors. Barbara Barry, Rick Mills, and Nancy Merrill join 10… Read more Food Hub Meeting NotesOctober 6, 2017The goal of the activities during the food hub meeting was to collect information from participants about pain points in the… Read more Co-op Food Stores: Nourish. Cultivate. Cooperate.October 4, 2017Since 1936 The Co-op Food Stores has been nourishing our community through their stores, educational activities, and community support. The co-op… Read more The Skinny Pancake is the October BOM!October 3, 2017Celebrate our wonderful, community-building, locally owned businesses with Local First Alliance Business of the Month (BOM) The Skinny Pancake will be… Read more Farm to School Forum: King Arthur Flour Bake for Good Kids ProgramOctober 3, 2017Join Upper Valley Farm to School Network as we learn how to make the dough!     King Arthur Flour… Read more Chugga Chugga, Chugga Chugga, VTEN!September 29, 2017The Vermont Transportation Efficiency Network (VTEN), convened semi-annually by the Vital Communities Transportation Program, met on Monday, September 18 to… Read more Upper Valley Farm & Food Processing ResourcesSeptember 27, 2017Area processors/kitchens/etc. Genuine Local, Meredith, NH. A purpose-built specialty food production facility. Vermont Food Venture Center, Hardwick, VT. Kearsarge Food Hub,… Read more Member Resources for Holiday PromotionsSeptember 12, 2017Trying to compete with box stores and online retail advertising budgets ability to dominate many marketing channels means that locally owned businesses… Read more Local First Business of the MonthSeptember 11, 2017Introducing a new way to celebrate our wonderful, community-building, locally owned businesses: Local First Alliance Business of the Month (BOM)! Throughout… Read more King Arthur Flour is the BOM!August 30, 2017Introducing a new way to celebrate our wonderful, community-building, locally owned businesses: Local First Alliance Business of the Month (BOM)! Throughout… Read more Forest DaysAugust 18, 2017Christina Wild wishes that more teachers felt empowered to go beyond traditional modes of learning. So, she’s co-writing a book… Read more Hats for Whatever Shape Your Head is InJuly 26, 2017The Fat Hat corner in Quechee is a land mark most Upper Valley residents know. The funky old car, the… Read more Quest of the Month: Lake MoreyJuly 18, 2017Last week, I brought my partner along to do the Lake Morey Quest in Fairlee, Vermont! It was a beautiful… Read more Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Kahl and Lois FrazerJuly 17, 2017Valley Quest is often thought of as a family-oriented program. With educational treasure hunts of varying length, difficulty, and physical… Read more Ticks and Questing-Be Prepared!June 14, 2017With the warmth and the beginning of Quest season this past month, I’ve dealt will my fair share of ticks.… Read more Herricks CoveJune 13, 2017Hey Questers, A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival in Rockingham Vermont.… Read more Upper Valley Food Hub MeetingJune 12, 2017Does the Upper Valley Need a Shared Farm & Food Facility? Join us on September 26 to share your ideas… Read more Locally Owned Businesses Drive Our Local EconomyJune 4, 2017The following opinion article appeared in the Valley News last week after the closing of Everything But Anchovies, a local… Read more The Hop and Vital Communities Celebrate Rural TraditionsJune 4, 2017The Hop and Vital Communities Celebrate Rural Traditions   Doggie Hamlet, Thursday, June 29, 4:30 & 7 pm, Dartmouth Green, FREE See the… Read more Closing Remarks for Heroes & Leaders from Markell RippsJune 1, 2017Thank you all for joining us to celebrate the young leaders who are being honored tonight, and thank you to… Read more Congratulations Communication Contest Winners!May 31, 2017Local First Alliance hosted the 4th Annual Upper Valley High School Communications Competition with the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center’s… Read more Intern Spotlight: Carrie BorowyMay 24, 2017Every summer Valley Quest recruits an intern to help us monitor our 170+ Quests. Carrie Borowy joined us in March as… Read more The Miraculous American ChestnutMay 16, 2017This year’s Super Quest was designed in honor of the beloved Miraculous Trees Quest, written by Ted Levin and Steve… Read more Partner Spotlight: HyperthermMay 11, 2017Hypertherm: Social Responsibility at its Core A global company founded and headquartered right here in the Upper Valley, Hypertherm has… Read more Miraculous Trees- Identification GuideMay 5, 2017Our 2017 Super Quest is now live! This year’s theme is “Miraculous Trees” where we celebrate the beautiful tree diversity… Read more UVAW Forum Spring 2017: Mobilizing Local CommunitiesMay 3, 2017Mobilizing Local Communities: A Resilient Community is a Strong Community Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum April 25, 2017 Event Overview… Read more Meet the 2017 Heroes & Leaders HonoreesMay 2, 2017  Merritt Patridge joined the Tuck School of Business in 2015, where she serves as Executive Director of the Center… Read more Great Eastern RadioFebruary 26, 2017Congratulations to Local First Alliance member Great Eastern Radio for receiving  several top awards at the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters… Read more Farm to School Professional Development Course Offered in Partnership with Vermont FEEDFebruary 14, 2017Join Upper Valley Farm to School and Vermont FEED for a Level I Professional Learning Course: Cultivating Farm to School.… Read more Member Spotlight: Farm-WayJanuary 28, 2017When I visited Farm-Way last week to chat with owner Carol Metayer, the small office where all the “business” happens… Read more Enjoying the Fruits of their Labors in NewburyJanuary 4, 2017Newbury Elementary School: “The Newbury Elementary School has been enjoying the fruits of many labors with the success of our first “Grow-a-Row”… Read more Sharon’s Learning Fair to Focus on Farm to SchoolJanuary 4, 2017Sharon Elementary School: “Our gardens are put to bed, but the cooking and learning continue here at Sharon. The first… Read more Member Spotlight – Jake’s Market & Deli and Jake’s Coffee CompanyJanuary 3, 2017Member Spotlight- Jake’s Market & Deli and Jake’s Coffee Company As you travel around the Upper Valley it is likely… Read more Local Businesses Give Back to Our Communities All Year!November 28, 2016The holidays are a time of joy and giving, but for our Local First Alliance members being charitable is a year-round… Read more Farm Labor Problem-Solving Session in DecemberNovember 18, 2016Farmers – Please join us for a conversation about the challenges around finding farm labor in December!   Finding and… Read more Good Things Happening: Village Green PublishingOctober 5, 2016Village Green Publishing (VGP) owner Jennifer MacMillen is an Upper Valley native with a passion for connecting people with the best… Read more Celebrate National Farm to School Month in OctoberSeptember 27, 2016Celebrate National Farm to School Month in October October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate connections… Read more Welcome Fall with Local First MembersSeptember 2, 2016It’s autumn in the Upper Valley once again, and Local First Alliance members King Arthur Flour and the Co-op Food… Read more Wilder’s New Quest: Olcott Falls QuestAugust 24, 2016Looking for something fun to do in Wilder? Try the new Olcott Falls Valley Quest! This Quest was created this… Read more Questing in WindsorAugust 24, 2016Tom Marsh from Around Windsor interviews Valley Quest Coordinator, Sara Cottingham and Questers Ted and Lois Frazer. Read more Simple & Stunning: Blueberry FoolJuly 20, 2016Fool – a deceptively delicious English dessert – is one of my favorites. It’s easy, so tasty, and can be… Read more Honoring 12 Upper Valley MentorsMay 3, 2016Vital Communities will honor a dozen Upper Valley mentors at its 2016 celebration on May 19. The annual event, now… Read more Five Ways to Stretch Your LOCAL Food DollarOctober 28, 2015We know that spending our dollars at local businesses has a big and positive impact, both economically, environmentally, and directly… Read more Herbs: Bring on the FreshAugust 25, 2015Cooking with herbs lends a bright, fresh note to food and, whether used sparingly or with gusto, can completely transform… Read more Honoring 10 Upper Valley VisionariesApril 21, 2015Vital Communities will honor 10 “Upper Valley Visionaries” at its 2015 Heroes & Leaders celebration. The annual celebration recognizes significant… Read more Wonderful Winter SquashFebruary 19, 2015Winter squash is versatile, delicious, and healthy. This fruit makes a comforting soup, a sweet side, or a fabulous main… Read more Zucchinator!October 2, 2014“Woodstock Union Middle High School has had an exciting fall! Our fourth annual Zucchinator contest brought in zucchinis and squashes of all shapes… Read more Honoring Women Leaders of the Upper ValleyMay 15, 2014Vital Communities will honor 14 women leaders whose work has significantly contributed to the Upper Valley at its 2014 Heroes… Read more School Compost Tour RecapMay 10, 2013On May 1st, UVFTS led a school compost tour! Nine FTS practitioners from all over the Upper Valley and beyond… Read more Heroes and LeadersMay 6, 2013Free Town Hall Discussion about the challenges veterans face coming home and the opportunities available to them in the Upper… Read more A Week of Local Food and Fun July 13-20, 2012July 6, 2012    Friday July 13th,  Friday Night Food Fight and Everyday Chef Taste Test  Watch as three contestants face off… Read more Load more Contactinfo@vitalcommunities.org 802-291-9100 195 North Main Street, White River Junction, VT 05001Find us on:Facebook page opens in new windowX page opens in new windowInstagram page opens in new windowRecent NewsADUs and Early Childhood Education at Corporate CouncilFebruary 28, 2025“Just Getting By” Screening Brings Community TogetherFebruary 5, 2025How’s Our Housing Supply Doing?January 2, 2025 Newsletter* indicates required Email Address* * © 2025 Vital Communities, All Rights ReservedWebsite Maintenance by Get YOU Found Digital Marketing Go to Topenusen-US1771014489https://vitalcommunities.org

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