Sunday, March 30, 2014

Post 36

Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River, MN 3/30/14

Greetings! Today, the first day of real spring- like weather, we traveled to Underwood Unitarian Church to pick up the Travelin Truth Telling Tour books, on loan for the past few months. In time for a wonderful service, the topic was "Women's History Portrayals." This was organized and written up by Sandra Barnhouse, and the participants  acted the  parts of significant women of the past. Sandra took the part of various Greek and Chinese characters from mythology as the moderator; the parts were women and one man from the congregation, playing Dolley Madison; Sojourner Truth; Maria Goepper Mayer; Rachel Carson; and Meridel LeSeur. The one male voice was Hermes messenger to the Gods. As is the custom in this church, there was great music, piano, violin, and accordian doing Norwegian dances. And a chili lunch after. We renewed our acquaintances from last fall's workshop, and felt renewed by being in a bunch of Unitarians with all the interests and passions of a liberal church body. Just wish they were not so far away!

Don't forget, the third Feast Film and Forum meeting is on Thursday this week, and we will have a program on toxic drift from potato farming. 5:30 optional potluck, program at 6pm at Happy Dancing Turtle! free and open to the public.

Respectfully Submitted, Mary DeYoung, NUUF news director. 218-587-2543

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Post 35

Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River MN   3/20/14

This evening the second of the series on food issues, Feast, Film & Forum, was held at Happy Dancing Turtle. In place of films, a panel of guests talked about local food promotion, production, and marketing. Panelists included grass finished beef producers; vegetable growers; and members of the Farm at St Mathias. The audience included NUUF members, the proprietors of the local grocery, farmer's market advocates, and other farmers and gardeners. This was a lively meeting, with everyone asking pertinent questions and discussing possibilities and problems. A chance to build connections and network was taken advantage of, leaving us with a sense of accomplishment and cohesion in making a new beginning, possibly new friends in a broader community.

The next in the series will be on April 3rd, and the topic will be "No More Toxic Taters: Transitioning to Sustainable Potato Production in MN."  - of especial interest to potato growers, and other gardeners.

Respectfully submitted, Mary DeYoung, News Director 218-587-2543

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Post 34

Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River MN   3/19/14

Greetings! NUUF will hold its regular meeting on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at the Nisswa Children's Library, Nisswa. The topic will be services to the mentally ill, and will feature the film, "Hope for Recovery", a production of Twin Cities Television and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, or NAMI. In addition, there will be two representatives from recovery programs who will discuss their experiences with available services. We hope that open discussion will expose some of the stigmas that surround mental illness, and that as people become more informed, more help will be available to the patients and their families, as they try to cope with these devastating conditions. Mental illness affects an astonishing number of Americans and their families, with eleven million sufferers of the most severe kind. Probably you, or someone you know has had contact with people in this situation. We invite everyone to join us in learning more and understanding what can be of help. The service starts at 11am, with coffee available at 10:40 and a potluck lunch to follow. The Nisswa Children's Library is located at 5533 County Road 18, Nisswa.  (News Release for 3/23/14)

This week also features the Thursday evening second event of Feast, Film & Forum, with a panel of local food producers leading the discussion. At 5:30, an optional potluck, program starting at 6pm, at Happy Dancing Turtle just west of 371 by the wind tower!

Respectfully submitted, Mary DeYoung, News Director NUUF

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Post 33

Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River MN   3/12/14

This evening the Public Utilities Commission held a public meeting in Pine River, to provide a forum for citizens to question Enbridge Corporation officials on issues surrounding its application for expansion of the Sandpiper pipeline into the local area. Held at the Pine River-Backus School, the meeting was well attended and many questions were asked on various aspects of Enbridge's plans. Some of these had to do with waterways and watersheds protections; with leak concerns and safety concerns; with the company's history on dealing with leaks; with alternate routes; and the fact that the company is already working on leases with land owners and has paid money out, in advance of their approval. Marty Cobenais, formerly of the Indigenous Environmental Network, spoke about the larger environmental concerns and specific problems with this pipeline company, asking questions of the officials that were left largely unanswered. NUUF members were present in force, following up on our earlier and present concerns on this issue. We are continuing to monitor the journey through the process, and will add to the commentary until a final decision is made. Barb Kaufman was one of the speakers, asking for explanations on spills. Keep tuned.

Respectfully submitted, Mary DeYoung, News Director

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Post 32

Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River MN  3/9/14

Hello. Yesterday at the March 8th service in Nisswa, we welcomed Arlene Jones as speaker, and enjoyed her talk on SPROUT (sustainable food production at the local level), and the farm enterprise she runs at The Farm on St. Mathias, south of Brainerd. She is working toward developing a Food Hub in the region, works on farm to school programs and works with USDA, and the MN Dept. of Agriculture promoting Community Supported Agriculture and with other community organizations to bring education and feasibility to local farmers and develop local markets. For more detailed information please contact: www.sprout.com; stmathiasfarm@gmail.com; or visit on the web: www.thefarmonstmathias.com. Arlene invites visitors to the Farm, which does an annual corn maze, wagon rides, hosts weddings, educational events, tours, demonstrations, festivals, and is a great destination for people interested in learning about sustainable gardening and growing.

Arlene says the Farm is sponsoring the 4th Annual Seriously Local Beer Tasting event (featuring their beer) at Prairie Bay on Saturday, April 25; the 5th Annual Midsummer Faire & Celtic Celebration at the Farm on Saturday, July 26.

Our next service is on March 29 at the library in Nisswa, 11am, with a program on services for mentally ill persons, including two Peer Consultants from the community. All are welcome!

Check out our website: mnnuuf.org.

Respectfully submitted, Mary DeYoung, News Director NUUF

Friday, March 7, 2014

Post 31

Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River MN. March 7.

The first of the five meetings, Feast, Film &Forum, scheduled at Happy Dancing Turtle was held last night, March 6th, with a pot luck and program on young farmers and sustainable agriculture.We were pleased to have the Schramm and Brakstad families talking about their experiences as local farmers, the Brakstad parents longstanding farm residents near Pequot Lakes, and the younger Schramms starting their enterprise and raising their young family, and showing such enthusiasm and love for their work. The discussion followed a film called "The Greenhorns," about young farmers around the country and the challenges they meet in the marketplace and life in general.

The next program in this series will be held on March 20 with a local foods panel, "movers and shakers in the growing local foods movement." Again, an optional potluck at 5:30, program at 6pm. These programs are sponsored in partnership by NUUF and Happy Dancing Turtle.

Check out our website soon for a resource page on available for borrowing books and other media on Unitarian/Universalism. mnnuuf.org.

Respectfully submitted, Mary DeYoung, News Director 218-587-2543