LOCALLY GROWN, NATIONALLY KNOWN - MAY 18 at 6:30 p.m. Have you ever tried Shroomschetta? It's just one of the mouthwatering, locally sourced goodies we'll hear about as we visit with our special guests from River Valley Ranch & Kitchens in Burlington, WI. River Valley is a sustainable mushroom farm that offers fresh mushrooms and a variety of delicious products at their farm store and regional farmers markets. Join us from the comfort of your home, as we explore the connection between climate and food systems. This promises to be a fun-filled evening celebrating local food and drink and grassroots activism. Register today to reserve your spot and we'll send a link prior to the event!
Visit www.tinyurl.com/23LocalGrown to register.
MAY 3 - KNOW YOUR RURAL UTILITY Join us online at 6:30 p.m. on May 3 to learn more about where many of Wisconsin's Rural Electric Cooperatives get their power and what we can do to transition them to clean energy. Dairyland Power Cooperative is a generation and transmission cooperative that provides electricity for distribution co-ops across Wisconsin. From Scenic Rivers Electric Cooperative to Bayfield Electric Cooperative, Dairyland provides power to 18 Wisconsin co-ops. Dairyland is also pursuing plans to build out their fossil fuel infrastructure by constructing a large, new gas plant in Superior. Not only would this plant negatively impact climate and health, it would be expensive.
The Inflation Reduction Act provides new opportunities, specifically for rural co-ops to invest in clean energy at a discount, making it a no-brainer that Dairyland should switch their plans. Join us to learn more and take action! RSVP at www.tinyurl.com/WISC-RECs or call 608-315-2693.
TREMPEALEAU SOLAR OPEN HOUSE Despite predicted bad weather, a full house enjoyed an informative program about the new solar panels at the Shirley M. Wright Memorial Library in Trempealeau on April 15.
Library Director Jessica Schoonover talked about the library’s journey to renewables, and how the many grants and donations received for this project have reduced the anticipated “payback period” to just four years.
Alicia Leinberger of Ethos Green Power Cooperative in Viroqua, the project installer, highlighted monitoring that helps Ethos and those with solar installations monitor their energy production. Representatives from MREA and the Couillard Foundation spoke about the Solar for Good program and other initiatives, like the Solar for Schools grants, that are speeding the transition to renewable energy.
Following the program, a Drive Electric Earth Day event in the parking lot allowed people to view and ask about a variety of EVs.
LA CROSSE EARTH FAIR Despite cold and rainy weather, CRSC tabled at the La Crosse Earth Fair on April 30 at Myrick Park, highlighting the club’s local work on clean water and renewable energy. CRSC also sponsored the Drive Electric Earth Day electric vehicle display.
MAY 2: ONLINE BOOK CLUB Join fellow Wisconsin Chapter Sierra Club members on Tuesday, May 2 from 7 to 8 p.m. online to discuss this month’s book club book, The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture, by Wendell Berry. Learn more: www.tinyurl.com/
WISCMay23Bk
WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY World Migratory Bird Day is an annual global awareness-raising campaign to celebrate the amazing journeys of migratory birds, and to inspire worldwide conservation of migratory bids and their habitats. World Migratory Bird Day is a time to reflect on the cyclical nature of bird migration as well as the fact that there are varying peak migration periods in the northern and southern hemispheres.
The Coulee Region Audubon Society will host a WMBD event on Saturday, May 6 at Myrick Park from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m., including a 6:30 a.m. bird walk, a family bird walk at 9:30, a bird presentation by River Valley Raptors at 10:30, and more. Visit their web page for more information: www.couleeaudubon.org.
The Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge will host a WMBD event on Saturday, May 13 which will include guided bird hikes. bird banding, and other family-friendly activities. Learn more at www.tinyurl.com/TNWRWMBD23.
The Mississippi Valley Conservancy wiill host a guided bird hike on Saturday, May 13 at Sugar Creek Bluff near Ferryville from 7 to 9 a.m. www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/world-migratory-bird-day-hike
Other virtual events will be held during the first weeks of May including a history of WMBD on its 30th Anniversary, programs for students, a book club event, and “Dawn Chorus,” an invitation to submit recorded bird sounds. Learn more at www.migratorybirdday.org/virtual-events/
MORE MAY EVENTS
5/ 9: Why No Mo May? a Sustainability Chat at 2 p.m. online. www.tinyurl.com/SusInst-NMM
5/13: Bumblebee Talk at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve at 10:30 a.m. kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar
5/13: Monarchs & Land Ethics talk, Kickapoo Valley Reserve, 1:30 p.m. kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar
5/17: Jackson County Wellness Extravaganza at Lunda Memorial Arena, Black River Falls 4-30 to 7:30 p.m. www.tinyurl.com/brfwellness0523
5/17: Citizen Scientist Monarch Monitoring, Kickapoo Valley Reserve, 6 to 7 p.m. kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar
5/20: Pace and Pedal Run, Walk, Bike, Black River Falls www.jacksoninaction.org/pace-and-pedal
5/25-27: Mississippi Valley Conservancy tree planting at Trempealeau Lakes. www.tinyurl.com/mvctreeplant52023
JUNE POTLUCK MEETING Mark your calendars now for our annual June potluck gathering. We’re not yet sure about where, but we do know when: Tuesday, June 27. We may host a volunteer event along with the potluck. Watch for more details in our June newsletter.
Energy Fair early bird tickets are available until May 15! TheEnergyFair.org
