BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF 1,000 SQ. FOOT EDIBLE GARDEN AT STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL IN WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT
At the strike of midnight on June 2nd, 2009 the future just got a little brighter, thanks to the inspiring presentation by Dan Levinson, of Green Village Initiative (www.westportgvi.org), the behind the scenes prepping of the powers-that-be by Kimberly Lake and the unshakable professionalism of Eileen Flug, and all the other key people that made this possible.
Congratulations, to Dan, Kimberly and Eileen, and to the entire Staples community who will benefit from this incredible gift of an edible school garden!
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STAPLES HIGH EDIBLE GARDEN: GVI has underwritten a Teich Garden to be installed and planted at Staples High School. In addition to being a tremendously valuable lesson topic for classes, the food being grown will be used by the culinary classes for cooking. This garden will be a model for schools of all levels to implement this learning tool and food source. For more information contact Kim Lake klake57@mac.com.
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See more about the Green Village Initiative below - following the description of how the initiative and other progressive initiatives are funded by a group of people that have decided to make a positive difference with positive projects.
The Westport Green Village Initiative is fully funded by and investment group, Main Street Resources
http://www.mainstreetresources.com/nonprofit.html
Whose purpose is:
Main Street Resources is a private equity firm comprised of entrepreneurs, executives and investors who provide investment capital and resources to companies with great people and potential.
Founder Dan Levinson, along with his team, advisors and operating partners (the “Guild”), bring deep resources and expertise to create a supportive environment for the firm’s portfolio companies, helping them to thrive. We provide capital, financial and strategic expertise, and the resources, contacts and advice of our 100+ experienced investors.
Main Street’s investors are principally owners and operators of mid-size companies interested in backing and assisting other promising companies and management teams. On behalf of these investors, who have long-standing relationships with the firm, we search for attractive, proprietary opportunities where our resources can be brought to bear.
Main Street’s primary activity is the identification and sponsorship of entrepreneurs and management teams who are proven in their fields and are emotionally and financially committed to their businesses. In reaching investment decisions, we weigh the quality and commitment of the individuals involved above all else. Once we decide to invest, we work tirelessly in support of these partners.
While the firm has the flexibility to invest in any type of company, transaction or security, Main Street generally commits $2-10 million equity capital in transactions which include growth capital fundings, recapitalizations and management buy-outs. Main Street targets stable companies in niche businesses that are poised for growth, and as a rule, does not invest in start ups, technology or style/fad companies.
Historically, dedication to this investment approach and philosophy has generated rewarding long-term relationships with outstanding operating partners and yielded financial and non-financial success for all involved.
In addition to seeking to utilize our resources to create safe attractive investor returns, we attempt to integrate corporate social responsibility principles into our operations and companies. We believe businesses can be both profitable and good corporate citizens – taking care of their people, communities and environment – while growing and creating value.
Dan Levinson directs 10-20% of his Main Street-related income in support of these and other charitable endeavors.
Main Street Resources Non-Profit Affiliations include:
Westport Green Village Initiative |
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Here is some of what the Westport Green Village Initiative is doing in their community of Westport, Connecticut. See the website for much more:
http://www.westportgvi.org/
Our initial projects revolve around food, energy and conservation. We hope that our results will ultimately influence our elected officials and town and state legislation. We are focused on results and focus on projects where we feel we can create real tangible progress.
One common theme driving us is the desire and responsibility we feel to begin to repair the damage done to the world so as to make it a better place for our children and future generations.
This site summarizes the current initiatives of our group. The work that is being done by our members is a testament to the shift in consciousness and new energy toward these issues.
We believe good ideas alone are not enough – good people cause good results. We are here to make a difference.
c/o Main Street Resources
120 Post Road West
Westport, CT 06880
203-227-5320
attn: Carmela
ci@mainstreetresources.com
GVI meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30AM at the office above. Everyone is welcome. Please email Carmela if you are new and wish to attend.
"Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible."
2009 We Green Westport Award
This award, given annually by the Town of Westport, is in recognition of GVI’s commitment and inspiration it provides to the community through the ignition of its rapidly spreading grassroots efforts to make Westport Green. Click here
EPA Merit Award
This award was given to 4 Westport RTMers who banned the bag in Westport (one being a founding memeber of the GVI - Liz Milwe). Click here
Official Citation from State of Connecticut
This citation was presented on April 25, 2009 for GVI's advocacy and promotion of conservation initiatives.
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FOOD CO-OP: GVI members current have a CSA and the GVI is looking for available store-front to expand this program into a community space for food, activities, and environmental awareness. The goal is to create a new food model - a relationship between local farmers and consumers- that offers local/healthy food to people at reasonable prices. Members of The Green Garage will be able to purchase seasonal CSA shares. Contact Monique Bosch moniqueb@optonline.net. ...click here for more information.
TOWN-WIDE GARDENS: Gardens play an important role in providing a sustainable food source, supporting our environment, and educating the community on healthy solutions to the world's waning quality of food. Staples High Edible Garden is GVI's first installment in its commitment to planting gardens all over town. If you have a location for a garden or need support in your garden contact Dan Levinson dl@mainstreetresources.com.
WESTPORT FARMER'S MARKET: Supporting local agriculture protects our natural resources and open space, boosts our region's economy, strengthens our community and tastes great! GVI is underwriting the Summer 2009 Farmer's Market. The market will be on Thursdays from 10am-2pm, at Imperial Avenue parking lot, May 21st - November 19th. Come visit, eat, and support local, sustainable agriculture one delicious bite at a time! For questions, contact Sherri Brooks Vinton sherri@sherribrooksvinton.com (author of 'The Real Food Revival' and nationally recognized speaker on healthy local food (sherribrooksvinton.com)) WestportNow Article ...click here for more information.
STAPLES HIGH EDIBLE GARDEN: GVI has underwritten a Teich Garden to be installed and planted at Staples High School. In addition to being a tremendously valuable lesson topic for classes, the food being grown will be used by the culinary classes for cooking. This garden will be a model for schools of all levels to implement this learning tool and food source. For more information contact Kim Lake klake57@mac.com.
Related Resources
| | "Are you sick and tired of packing your kids’ lunch box everyday because the cafeteria food is unfit |
| "Eaters everywhere are reclaiming their food chain — enjoying food that's full of flavor, isn't loaded with chemicals, and is raised with great sensitivity to the environment, and any animals in its care. I call this empowering movement, The Real Food Revival, and it is taking our food supply out of corporate hands and returning it to the growers, chefs, market owners, and most importantly, to the eaters who want a more sustainable, delicious future!" |  |
 | "Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks. We have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business. Come along and you'll be made welcome. Just say, "are you green?" and we will look after you and introduce you to whoever is there. It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organising network." |
| "With CSA, you, as a consumer, "buy in" in springtime to our farm's summer harvest. In essence, you buy a share of the harvest and then the land and farmer pay you back with vegetables all summer. During the summer, once a week, shareholders will come to the farm to pick up their boxes of vegetables and fruits. You will get a mixed box of whatever is being picked, and the food will change as the harvest changes over the growing season. In addition, you as a shareholder take on the risk of the harvest, as well. Shareholders join us during seed purchasing in March. We plant in April and May. The harvest will start in the middle of June and we hope to run until the end of September. Once a week, on a set day and a set window of time, you will come to the farm to pick up your box. One share is a box that should feed a family of four." |  |
 | "Like the Victory Gardens of WWI and WWII you can have your own garden of fresh fruits and vegetables. Your garden will be a readily available, sustainable food source; free of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals which are physically harmful to you. I create organic gardens right on your property which are a convenient and environmentally conscious way of enjoying chemical free fruits, vegetables and herbs. Vonne’s Victory Gardens was created to help people in the Farifield County, Connecticut area grow their own organic food."
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| "Welcome to The Fairfield Green Food Guide, Fairfield County’s online resource for finding fresh, local, sustainable food and connecting with the green food community. Whether you are searching for local farmers’ markets, CSAs (a share in a farm’s crops), specialty stores, grocers, or wine shops, The Buying Guide will help you find exciting resources in your neighborhood. The Buying Guide is now available to consumers, free! Do you have a green food resource you’d like to tell us about? Suggest a listing to The Buying Guide at info@fairfieldgreenfoodguide.com. Read and comment in our green food blog (a virtual green food forum) to stay hyper-current on local green food happenings and share opinions, resources and advocacy opportunities with other green foodies. Subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss a bite!" | |
- EF Schumacher Society
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