Green Summer Events in Montana!

Here are some upcoming Green Events in Helena and around Montana. Please contact us at Recycle @ Savemobile.org or 406.431.0815 if you have an event we should add.

Thanks - Savemobile.org

* June 1-8: S.A.V.E. Plastics Drive, Helena, http://www.Savemobile.org

* June 10-12: 17th annual EPAC Conference on Biofuels, Big Sky, http://www.ethanolmt.org/conferencelist.html

* June 12, 13, 20: Three Montana Farm Tours to Feature Energy-Savings, Oilseeds, Carbon Sequestration and On-farm Biodiesel (see full text below)

* June 16-23: Montana Festival of the Wind, Judith Gap & Harlowton, www.harlowtonchamber.com

* July 14: Sustainability Fair, 9am-5:30pm, Sacajawea Park, Livingston, http://www.northrock.org/

* August 18, NCAT SustainabilityFEST, 10am-6pm, Butte, http://www.ncat.org

* Sept. 7-14, S.A.V.E. Plastics Drive, Helena, http://www.Savemobile.org

* Sept. 11-14. Yellowstone Greening / Waste Not Montana Conference, Big Sky, Montana Sky, Montana, September 11-14, 2007 http://www.headwatersrecycle.com/conference/index.htm

* September 29th, Trash for Trees, 9a.m.-4p.m., http://www.Savemobile.org/trashfortrees/

Three Montana Farm Tours to Feature Energy-Savings, Oilseeds, Carbon Sequestration and On-farm Biodiesel

Three tours of five diversified Montana grain farms will feature a wide range of cropping systems aimed at reducing fossil fuel energy, trapping carbon and increasing profitability.

The first tour is on June12th at 1:30 pm at the Bob Quinn and Thad Willis Farms southeast of Big Sandy.
This tour will focus on:
Reducing energy and off-farm inputs
Growing and pressing oil seeds for farm fuels
A presentation on economic issues related to farm input use and profitability by Economist Dr. Dave Buschena of Montana State University (MSU)
The effect of spring and winter pea green manure crops on soil nitrogen, soil water, and winter wheat on the Quinn Farm by MSU Cropping Systems Specialist Dr. Perry Miller and colleagues

The $10 registration fee covers the tour costs and all-Montana dinner including a Polynesian pig roast. Pregistration is encouraged. Take Highway 236 south out of Big Sandy 12 miles, turn right onto Kamut Lane and go to the second house on the left.

The second tour is June 13th at 9:30 am at the Gettel Farm near Power. This free tour will highlight:
How a no-till diversified cropping system can reduce off-farm inputs. Brothers Dave and Roger Gettel have been experimenting with risk management concepts for a number of years – following in the steps of their father, Arnold, who began no-till farming in the late 1960’s. Crops include winter and spring wheat, lentils, barley and grass & alfalfa hay.
Field research that measures the effect of no-tillage vs. continuous diversified cropping on soil carbon sequestration, presented by Dr. Perry Miller of MSU, research partner David Gettel, and Miller’s colleagues at MSU.
Economic issues related to farm inputs and saving energy on the farm, presented by Dr. Dave Buschena of MSU.

Directions to the Gettel Farm: For those heading north from Great Falls on I-15 -- go past Vaughn to the Gordon Exit. Take frontage road 2 miles North to I-15 underpass and head east two miles to starting point. For those heading south on I-15 take the Power Exit. -- take the frontage road 2 miles south to I-15 underpass and head east two miles to the farm.

For more information or to register for either of these tours, contact Jim Barngrover at 443-7272, (jbarngrover@aeromt.org).

The third tour is June 20th at 1:30 pm at the farms of Ken DeBoer and Curtis Harper near Ryegate, Montana. Camelina crop production at both farms will be featured, along with an oilseed crusher and a homemade biodiesel processor at the DeBoer Farm. This tour provides an excellent opportunity to see what on-farm oilseed crushing and biodiesel processing really involve.

To get to the DeBoer and Harper farms, turn north at Ryegate’s flashing light onto Highway 238, drive two miles and turn west on the Ruzick Road. Drive two miles and stop at the first farm, which is Ken DeBoers at 178 Ruzick Road.

For more information on this free farm tour contact Holly Hill at 494-4572 (hollyh@ncat.org).

Co-sponsors of these tours include the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO), Montana Organic Association (MOA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Montana Farmers Union. Additional support for the Willis/Quinn and the Gettel tour comes from the Western Risk Management Center/USDA-CSREES.

- Savemobile.org

Be Green T-shirt Available / Plastics Drive / Green Event Tonight

Earth Day "Be Green" T-shirt available:

We will be doing a second run of our "Be Green" Earth Day shirts. Check them out at Savemobile.org. They are very cool. To place an order, just reply to this email with the number of shirts you'd like and what size. They cost $10 each.

Upcoming Plastics Collection, June 1-8th:

S.A.V.E.'s upcoming plastics recycling drives will be June 1-8 and September 7-14 at 1100 Last Chance Gulch (former guard armory, next to the YMCA parking lot). Download a flyer for your office at Savemobile.org

Upcoming Green Events:

* (Today!) May 22: An Inconvenient Truth, Live Slideshow Presentation with Billings Mayor, Chuck Tooley, 6-8pm, Pattern House (1229 E Lyndale), Helena
(This is the Slide-show used in Al Gore's movie. Details at Montanans for a Healthy Climate, 443-4455)

* June 1-8: S.A.V.E. Plastics Drive, Helena

* Sept. 7-14, S.A.V.E. Plastics Drive, Helena

Volunteers Needed:

* This is S.A.V.E.'s biggest summer yet, with growing business collections, plastics expansion in the works, and much more. We regularly need volunteers every Tuesday and Friday with our business route. We also need help with manning tables and making biodiesel at events such as Alive @ 5 and with biodiesel presentations. Some of our Biodiesel Montana dates this summer will be this Thursday-Saturday at the Patagonia outlet sale in Dillon, July 14th at the Livingston Sustainability Fair, and August 18 at the NCAT SustainabilityFEST in Butte. These are road trips with S.A.V.E. with expenses covered for volunteers. We also have projects in the office most weekdays. Call 431-0815 to sign up.

Trash for Trees a Success:

Nearly 100,000 pounds collected at Trash for Trees!

The recent Trash for Trees with Growing Friends of Helena and The S.A.V.E . Foundation was a record success, with nearly 100,000 pounds of recyclables collected. The event took place on April 28 at Northgate Plaza and raised close to $2,000 for planting trees and expanding recycling in Helena. The 98,891 pounds of recycling collected included 48,982 pounds of paper (newspaper, magazine, office paper), 22,260 pounds of glass, 19,406 pounds of corrugated cardboard, 3,078 pounds of steel cans, 2,372 pounds of aluminum cans, and 2,793 pounds of plastic.

Special thanks to the City of Helena, City-County Sanitation, Pacific Steel & Recycling, The Good Samaritan Thrift Store, Albertsons and all the community volunteers who made this event possible. The next Trash for Trees collection will be September 29th, 2007.

- Savemobile.org

Biofuels testing for Montana passed by 2007 Legislature!

Biodiesel Testing Facility for Montana!

Biodiesel producers and researchers need to ensure they are using quality, specification fuel, a process that typically cost $1,500 more per test and takes place out of state.

To help address this challenge and foster biofuel production and research in the state, the Montana Legislature alloted $250,000 for equipment to create testing a facility in Montana. The facility is likely to be located in Havre (see article below) and would tie into funds from a WIRED grant for training.


MSU-Northern could be home to national biodiesel-testing facility
By KIM SKORNOGOSKI (March 17, Great Fall Tribune)

Biofuel Position Available at MSU-Northern


- Savemobile.org

Upcoming Environmental Events this Summer in Montana

More Events Posted Soon!


* S.A.V.E. Plastics Collections Week, June 1-8th

* 17th annual EPAC Conference on Biofuels will be held June 10 - 12 at Big Sky, Montana

* NCAT 2007 SustainabilityFEST, Saturday, August 18, 2007 from 10am to 6pm


*
The Fourth Yellowstone Greening / Waste Not Montana Conference will take place in Big Sky, Montana, September 11-14, 2007

Nearly 100,000 pounds collected at Trash for Trees!

Trash for Trees a Success!

This years Trash for Trees with Growing Friends and The S.A.V.E. Foundation was a record success, with nearly 100,000 pounds of recyclables collected. The event took place on April 28 and went from 9am to 4pm at Northgate Plaza. The event raised around $2,000 for planting trees in Helena and expanding recycling in Helena. The 98,891 pounds of recycling collected included 48,982 pounds of paper (newspaper, magazine, office paper), 22,260 pounds of glass, 19,406 pounds of corrugated cardboard, 3,078 pounds of steel cans, 2,372 pounds of aluminum cans, and 2,793 pounds of plastic.

Special thanks to City of Helena, City-County Sanitation, Pacific Steel & Recycling, and all the community participation that made this event possible.

The next Trash for Trees collection will be this coming September. S.A.V.E.'s upcoming plastics recycling drives will be June 1-8 and September 7-14 at 1100 Last Chance Gulch (former guard armory, next to the YMCA parking lot).

More information at:

S.A.V.E. Recycling Position Available. Apply now!

S.A.V.E. Recycling Driver Position Available!

S.A.V.E. is looking to hire a new driver for its recycling route. The position is 20 to 30 hours a week and is located in the Helena area, primarily downtown. The job involves driving to various businesses, collecting recyclables, and dropping of materials at recycling centers in Helena. Duties also include working with volunteers, maintaining a recycling log, and occasionally meeting with new businesses to coordinate recycling.

Candidate must have must be a hard worker and have clean driving record. An interest in recycling and environmental stewardship is helpful. Additional opportunities with this position include educational outreach, helping with events (e.g. Earth day), and otherwise work for expanding recycling and environmental awareness.

Schedule has some flexibility based on driver. Pay is $9-$11 per hour. Contact Matt Elsaesser at 431-0815 to apply or for more information.

Learn more about S.A.V.E. at www.Savemobile.org