Our second Economic Summit meeting was very encouraging!
A companion to the BWCommunity website is a new easy to use online community forum which will be a wonderful tool for building on the momentum we have created with these initial two Economic Summit meetings! You do need to
sign-in to post--registering is very easy and safe, but if you would like to join in the conversations without registering, e-mail BWCommunity@gmail.com and we will send you generic log-in information. To check it out, go to http://powerstart.com/Becket/index.php or follow these simple steps:
sign-in to post--registering is very easy and safe, but if you would like to join in the conversations without registering, e-mail BWCommunity@gmail.com and we will send you generic log-in information. To check it out, go to http://powerstart.com/Becket/index.php or follow these simple steps:
- Go to www.BWCommunity.blogspot.com
- On the left you will see "Community Calendar"
- Scroll down, below the calendar you will find "Links to Our Community."
- Click on "Becket-Washington Community Conversations"
- Now
you are at the forum...click on the "register" tab, once registered you
will see the various conversation topics and you can dive right in!
Our friendly neighbor, Steve Schatz, generously donated web space on his website www.powerstart.com, and helped get the forum up and running--thanks Steve!
The Barter-Swap committee came to the conclusion that the best idea for them to pursue is setting up a permanent "swap shack" at the transfer station. People can leave stuff that is still useful but no longer needed/wanted, and take what they like. They have the go-ahead from the transfer station, and are now looking for a container, portable shed, or possibly materials/labor to build a simple structure. This would also be a place where people could post larger items to give away, and requests/offers for barter, on a bulletin board. Anyone with possible resources to move this forward, please go to the new online community forum (http://powerstart.com/Becket/index.php) and post your thoughts.
Also at the online community forum, in the Barter/Swap area, you can--are you ready--barter and swap!
For example, you have a sofa free for thetaking; or you want to barter yard work for pie baking; or your looking to trade a treadmill in good shape for a nice rocking chair.
For example, you have a sofa free for thetaking; or you want to barter yard work for pie baking; or your looking to trade a treadmill in good shape for a nice rocking chair.
The Community Garden is moving along very nicely, as you can see when visiting Town Hall! Planting is underway! There are individual plots as well as a communal plot. Plots may still be available. Contact Alice: alice_briggs_illustration@hotmail.com.
The Local Recreation committee has planned "Summer Festival Days" which is a series of 5 events, one each for June-October! The first is one June 7th at Bucksteep...Kite-making (and flying), potluck, and open music jam. Starting at 11:00.
Kite-making supplies and sound equipment provided, bring a dish to share and an instrument to play or a voice to raise in song. This is a free event! A full schedule of remaining events will be posted on the community website, and about town, soon. If these events are popular, winter events will be planned as well.
Kite-making supplies and sound equipment provided, bring a dish to share and an instrument to play or a voice to raise in song. This is a free event! A full schedule of remaining events will be posted on the community website, and about town, soon. If these events are popular, winter events will be planned as well.
The Alternative Energy/Energy Conservation
committee needs more members to be effective. Anyone interested in pursuing initiatives related to local energy alternatives and
conservation, go to the new online community forum (http://powerstart.com/Becket/index.php) and post your interest!
committee needs more members to be effective. Anyone interested in pursuing initiatives related to local energy alternatives and
conservation, go to the new online community forum (http://powerstart.com/Becket/index.php) and post your interest!
The Town Farm
is still in the planning stages, as this is a long-term project. The committee is looking at possible models and innovative ways to use multiple parcels of land to graze livestock. It remains an exciting idea, with a lot of potential to create a stable, healthy, local food supply. An in initial mission statement has been drafted:
is still in the planning stages, as this is a long-term project. The committee is looking at possible models and innovative ways to use multiple parcels of land to graze livestock. It remains an exciting idea, with a lot of potential to create a stable, healthy, local food supply. An in initial mission statement has been drafted:
The mission of the Becket-Washington Town Farm is threefold:
- To provide our residents access to local, high quality, nourishing food at an affordable price, or in exchange for labor.
- To provide a learning environment for adults and children that teach farming methods that are respectful, ecologically healthy, and sustainable.
- To help reconnect people with their food by providing the opportunity to help grow produce and care for livestock.
The initiatives and cobnversations begun in our two Economic Summit meetings will now move to the Community Forum (http://powerstart.com/Becket/index.php) and can also continue at community events, in the community garden, over coffee at the library, etc.
A big Thank You to everyone who has participated with great enthusiasm and practical effort--we look forward to the participation of many more folks in this wonderful, unique community of ours!
