Sierra Club members and friends...please share this information.

The details and map for Iowa Sierra Club's annual dinner/lunch are now on
the web.  Make plans now to attend!

http://iowa.sierraclub.org/

Sierra Club Annual Awards  Banquet Sunday, Sept. 25 in Fairfield

The Sierra Club Annual Awards  Banquet will be held this year in Fairfield.
The theme of this year's event is  "Building Sustainable Local Economies."
The cost is $20, which includes a vegetarian feast made from fresh and local
ingredients, tours of sustainable living attractions in Fairfield and the
annual silent auction.

The banquet begins at noon at Revelations, 112 N Main Street, Fairfield, and
the other activities follow.

At 3 PM there will be a tour led by local Leopold Group members to Abundance
EcoVillage, the Vedic City Greenhouse  project, and Francis and Susan
Thicke's Radiance Dairy. This tour should take about two hours. Alternatives
include self-guided visits to local businesses  and other showcases for
sustainable agriculture, the area's "Buy Fresh, Buy  Local" initiative, and
renewable energy and sustainable living  initiatives.

. Abundance Ecovillage is a housing development in  Fairfield, Iowa where
energy, waste treatment, water, and food production are  provided on site.
Wherever possible, these services are provided in a  way that not only
sustain but enhance the ability of the earth to clean our  air and water,
maintain the balance of gasses in the atmosphere, and in  general provide a
beautiful and safe place to live.  At Abundance, energy  needs are met by
solar and wind; water is supplied by rainwater catchment;  wastes and
nutrients are recycled and treated as resources and local forests  provide
building materials for the houses.

. At first glance, Francis and  Susan Thicke's 236-acre dairy farm in rural
Iowa looks similar to neighboring  farms. There are rolling green hills, a
big farmhouse, and even a big red  barn-like building. However, a closer
look reveals a completely different  system of agriculture, one that offers
a promising model of organic production  that serves and is supported by a
local economy. Thickes' farm, called  Radiance Dairy, is certified organic.

. Maharishi University Farms and the  Vedic City Greenhouses are ambitious
and growing  projects.  About 90% of the MUM campus produce is supplied
from a one acre greenhouse and 10 acres of outside greenhouse  production.
Produce from the Vedic City Greenhouses are picked when ripe  and delivered
fresh to locations throughout Iowa.  These greenhouses are  impressive to
see.

The menu will include:
. A fabulous green salad with seasonal greens, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers
and exotic sprouts
. Wood fired pizzas with an array of locally grown produce
. Pesto pasta with  zucchini, patty pan and tomatoes
. Dessert and fresh herbal  drinks

To register please send checks to:  Kirsten Williamson, Sierra  Club Leapold
Group, 410 North E Street, Fairfield, IA 52556.   Registration deadline is
September 12th.  For more information call  641-472-7033 or email
[log in to unmask]

SILENT AUCTION
Okay,  some lucky Sierran walked away with a fishing trip under the guidance
of Steve  Veysey (not to be confused with Steve Vessey, local builder);
other attendants  at last year's annual dinner picked up framed pictures,
books, and  specially-prepared meals. The silent auction that accompanies
our annual  awards dinner adds more memories to this excellent event.

You can help the  Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club by donating trips, books,
political  memorabilia, extra camping gear, or unique items you found on
that exotic trip  to Tahiti. If you specialize in some craft or hobby, here
is a chance to share  it with a fellow Sierran. Always fetching high
donations are freshly-prepared  foods or foods from your garden that have
been canned or preserved.

If you  wish to donate an item to be auctioned off, please contact the state
director,  Neila Seaman at [log in to unmask] or phone
515-277-8868, and arrange for the item to get to the dinner.

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Join us at Sierra Summit 2005.  For information go to:
http://www.sierrasummit2005.org/
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