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April 13th: Public Party, Performance, & Presentations In Putney for Pee!
Wonder where it all goes when we flush it “away?” It turns out the nutrients in our pee are a hidden key to more sustainable soil, water, food, and energy. On April 13th, from 3:00-6:00 pm at Club VT in Putney, the Rich Earth Institute is proud to present UVM professor Professor Eric Roy, and comedian Shawn Shafner for an afternoon of fun, food, and insights. All performances will be family-friendly, kids are more than welcome, and there will be finger food in exchange for a suggested “nutrient donation.”
Local Vermonters are re-inventing the toilet and you’re invited to join the movement! Since 2012, the Brattleboro-based Rich Earth Institute has worked to turn human urine into fertilizer. This pioneering work supports sustainable agriculture and protects vital water resources.
Join co-founders Abe Noe-Hays and Kim Nace for updates on Rich Earth’s work, as well as presentations on nutrient management in Vermont, and a comedic journey through humanity’s relationship with its outputs. These outputs have serious consequences like nutrient pollution. Recently, over $20 million was earmarked by the federal government to address nutrient pollution and algae blooms in Lake Champlain.
Come hear from local “nutrient donors” who are collecting and depositing their nutrients in Rich Earth Institute’s Urine Nutrient Reclamation Program (UNRP), and how you can become a participant. We will announce the winners of the 2018 Piss-off Contest, where Windham county residents compete to donate the most pee in a year and win the prestigious Zemel Cup!
Learn about the exciting projects progressing throughout Windham County and how you can join the movement to reinvent the way we think about human “waste.” Bring your questions and a full bladder!
Event host and comedian Shawn Shafner stays busy as an artist, educator, and activist. Creator of The People’s Own Organic Power Project (www.thePOOPproject.org), he has spread poop positivity on four continents, at colleges across the country, released three years of Poopcast episodes, devised two critically-acclaimed shows, produced one feature-length documentary, and probably had more conversations about poop with more strangers than anyone on the planet. Shawn will perform excerpts of his new show, Assume the Throne, which has been touring the country since Fall 2018. An intimate blend of storytelling, ritual, and razzle dazzle, Shafner clears the air around toilet taboos, distills lessons learned from eight years of preaching potty-positivity, and teaches the royal alchemy of transforming our tinkle into treasure.
Special guest, Prof. Eric Roy’s work at UVM’s Rubenstein School is focused on ecological design in the contexts of water quality, waste management, and food systems. He has researched Nutrient biogeochemistry & management, ecological engineering & design, aquatic ecology, food systems, and material flow analysis. The title of Prof. Roy’s talk will be: Nutrient Cycling – Mapping the Landscape where Eric will share results of his research in New England following the nitrogen and phosphorus flows to and from our farms, our bodies and our waste water infrastructure.
Don’t miss this public party, performance, & presentations in putney for pee!
Club VT is located at 55 Putney Landing Rd, Putney, VT (Previous home of the Putney Inn Restaurant)
Date/Time: Saturday, April 13th – 3:00 – 6:00 pm
