Common Ground Awards
The Common Ground
Celebration on September 15 was a big success not only because the crowds
enjoyed crafts, local foods and a variety of exciting vendors, but also because
it was an opportunity to recognize just some of the outstanding members of our
community. The Signs of Sustainability Awards acknowledge individuals and
organizations in the Rondout Valley who are doing their part to help advance
community sustainability.
The awards ceremony took
place on the top of a hill at the beautiful grounds of the Stone Ridge Orchard,
providing a vantage point to look out at our neighboring villages that bustle
with the latest ideas in sustainability, transition and abundance.
Presented by Transition
Marbletown, the Signs of Sustainability Awards define sustainability as
practices that demonstrate stewardship and consider the present and future
vitality of wild, agricultural or human resources. This year’s award winners
are:
• Kelder's Farm, Jackie and
Chris Kelder – for a diverse agricultural project and the human community they
support
• Movable Beast, Francesca
Noble and Charles Noble – sustainable grass-fed beef producers
• Joan Ewing and Wilton
Duckworth – promoting community and an understanding of Permaculture principles
• Tom Tegeler – for decades
of devotion to youth sports, and being a beloved coach and mentor
• Ulster Corps –
cultivating a culture of volunteerism
• Rosendale Theatre
Collective – preserving a cultural institution, promoting culture and healthy
economic stimulus to Rosendale
• Rondout Valley Holistic
Community – creating a free Community Health Day and demonstrating sustainable
group governance
• Silas Cutler-Lockshon and
Brian Roach – students at RVHS, for exemplary community service and
volunteerism
• Hudson Valley Seed
Library – seed saving, preserving regional identity of food, and independence
of seeds
• Nicci Cagan – advocate
for garden curriculum in schools and made-from-scratch food that nourishes in
our school cafeterias
• Four Winds Farm, Jay and
Polly Armour – sustainable farmers, solar-powered farm, no-till high yield
techniques
Last year was the first
year individuals were selected for the awards, so many of these people and
groups have been anchors in our community for over a decade or more—seeding the
spirit of sustainability with initiatives and practices that benefit us all.
These award recipients were chosen from three categories: 1) stewardship of
wild resources; 2) stewardship of agricultural resources; and 3) stewardship of
human resources.
The goal of the Signs of
Sustainability Awards is to bring these passionate and valuable community
members together, strengthening their connections to one another, making a
public record of their endeavors, and potentially spawning new sustainability
initiatives by telling the stories of these individuals and organizations.
A “Sign of Sustainability”
plaque, designed and produced by local artists Maria Reidelbach and Brinton
Baker, were presented to all of the awardees. It is a goal that these signs
will be displayed prominently in our towns and will soon create public
awareness of the community-wide concern for local sustainability.
Transition Marbletown will
continue to present the Signs of Sustainability Awards each year. The
organization will invite past recipients of the award to join in and nominate
fellow community members to be recognized.
Posted by Chris Hewitt
on 10:33 AM.
Filed under
Culture Features,
Farming,
locavore,
sustainability
.
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