WMGC Green Night February 13, 2013

“Green Night” monthly information and networking events to start up again at Clarion Hotel in Northampton on Feb. 13 with a Spotlight on Local Sustainable Agriculture

The popular monthly “Green Night” events that have taken place on 2^nd Wednesdays for the past four years at the Northampton Brewery, providing information on environmental sustainability topics, discussion and social networking time, will now re-start on February 13 at 4:00 pm at the Clarion Hotel in Northampton.

The February Information Spotlight will feature a half-hour presentation by Abrah Dresdale, faculty coordinator for the Farm & Food Systems program at Greenfield Community College (GCC).  Her talk will be followed by Q&A, and time for “green drinks” and networking.

Ms. Dresdale will share what she has learned from her first year pilot of the new Farm & Food Systems program at GCC, which provides students of many ages with a college-level interdisciplinary understanding of ecological, economic, political, and social systems as they relate to food and farming.  Students also learn hands-on skills through internships and applied courses – which can be non-credit or degree-oriented. — such as Mushroom Foraging & Cultivation, Permaculture Design, Beekeeping, Four Season Farming, Organic Gardening, Food Preservation and Introduction to Food Systems. Students can expect to participate in community efforts to support regional food security, local economies, and planning for resiliency.

Green Night is a project of the Western Mass. Green Consortium (WMGC), a social network dedicated to sharing information about and promoting environmental sustainability, green building, energy efficiency and renewable energy in accessible and fun social events. Started four years ago by Easthampton green builder, Sean Jeffords, and friends, WMGC has grown to include a network of 3,500 individuals and businesses across Western Massachusetts.  The February 13 Green Night will celebrate Jefford’s four years of dedicated organizing and introduce the new Board of Directors now taking WMGC forward as a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation.

“We want to invite everyone interested in seeing Green Night continue to join the party on February 13th and share your energy and ideas for future events,” said Andrew Baker, chair of the new WMGC board of directors.  “We also want to give a big shout-out of appreciation to the Northampton Brewery for their four years of hosting Green Night, to Sean and his crew, and thank the Clarion Hotel for helping WMGC carry on the Green Night tradition.”