Rural Renaissance

07/25/2025

Fresh picked produce available weekdays 1:30-5:00 at 120 Union Street, Bennington - pay by donation to support the Bennington County Multicultural Community Center!

Visit this new downtown farm stand for garden-fresh organic produce picked by multicultural growers and volunteers, along with rotating specialty food items, crafts, and more. All purchases are by donation and all proceeds will help to support and sustain the work of BCMCC.

Love to garden? Love to bake? You can donate your veggies, fruits, baked goods, crafts, and more to the Multicultural Market stand!

04/22/2025

It ends here. ✌️✌️

For the past few weeks, we have watched lawful residents of our country be abducted from our streets simply for exercising their free speech and having the courage of their convictions. We have watched in horror and wondered when folks will stand up to this fascist experiment and say enough is enough.

With the arrest of beloved Vermonter Mohsen Mahdawi, we say: it ends here. They have messed with the wrong people in the wrong state. Mohsen is one of our own–and if they come for one of us, they come for all of us.

It ends here in Vermont, and it ends now. Join Vermont Interfaith Action in a day of public action at the Vermont State House in Montpelier on Tuesday, April 22nd.

04/14/2025

A fantastic article by Dan B. Jones on how we can utilize Vermont's rural resources to create resilience and sustainability in a time of uncertainty.

"What you and I can actually do, is to use our minds and our hands to create something concrete and lasting, right here at home. We can all build our own gardens, and help our neighbors build theirs. Coupling such efforts with the toil and ingenuity of a new generation of farmers we can, perhaps, begin creating a local future that will nurture and feed us. In that way, hand to hand, neighbor to neighbor, community to community we can learn the skills to navigate through that rough times slouching our way."

In these frightening times, rather than any investments, I am finding food security climbing to the top or my worry list. I am searching for those with positive visions and

04/09/2025

Local agriculture and ecological land management is essential to making our community resilient, self-sufficient, and sustainable.

A great opportunity to get involved is to join the Bennington County Multicultural Center's Gardening and Farming program!

Email [email protected] to learn more or sign up as a volunteer!

There’s an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty right now. Many of us have already been impacted by federal funding cuts, layoffs, and inflation. The new tariff hikes and precarious stock market adds a whole new layer of change and anxiety–putting enormous strain on those of us just trying to scrape by.

We can’t easily reverse national and international trends, but we can take proactive action locally. Turning our attention to the tangible actions that will protect ourselves and our community is our best hope in this moment.

Small towns like Bennington have a key advantage in that we already have a dense, tight-knit community. We know and care about our friends and neighbors; and, if we choose to, we can make sure we all make it through this together. Our lives are close to the land, and we are small enough that sustainability and self-sufficiency are attainable.

In order to accomplish that, we need to:
-support our local businesses (ditch Amazon and co.)
-spend cash so businesses aren’t losing out on fees–keeping our precious dollars in our local economy
-grow and produce food locally
-share and trade knowledge, skills, and goods
-get to know each other–when we know each other, we take care of each other

The more we can depend on each other and our local resources, the more buffered we are against the uncertainty and instability of broader society.

What does local resilience look like to you? Let us know what you think should be done in the days ahead to strengthen our town.

04/07/2025

There’s an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty right now. Many of us have already been impacted by federal funding cuts, layoffs, and inflation. The new tariff hikes and precarious stock market adds a whole new layer of change and anxiety–putting enormous strain on those of us just trying to scrape by.

We can’t easily reverse national and international trends, but we can take proactive action locally. Turning our attention to the tangible actions that will protect ourselves and our community is our best hope in this moment.

Small towns like Bennington have a key advantage in that we already have a dense, tight-knit community. We know and care about our friends and neighbors; and, if we choose to, we can make sure we all make it through this together. Our lives are close to the land, and we are small enough that sustainability and self-sufficiency are attainable.

In order to accomplish that, we need to:
-support our local businesses (ditch Amazon and co.)
-spend cash so businesses aren’t losing out on fees–keeping our precious dollars in our local economy
-grow and produce food locally
-share and trade knowledge, skills, and goods
-get to know each other–when we know each other, we take care of each other

The more we can depend on each other and our local resources, the more buffered we are against the uncertainty and instability of broader society.

What does local resilience look like to you? Let us know what you think should be done in the days ahead to strengthen our town.

03/30/2025

Introducing: The Rural Renaissance. ✨ Rural regions and small towns have been declining globally for decades. Commerce, population, culture, and opportunity have become increasingly concentrated in major metropolitan areas. Young people, in particular, have fled rural areas in favor of cities.

But what if the opportunity was here all along? Opportunities for ecological sustainability and agricultural self-sufficiency that are impossible to achieve in urban areas. Opportunities for low-barrier arts and cultural engagement and (inescapable) community in a society facing a loneliness epidemic. Opportunities for recreation and nature access that would require hours-long commutes in cities. Opportunities for motivated young people to have an outsized impact.

Small towns are pure potential. Bennington is pure potential.

Enter the Rural Renaissance. We are Erin Williams, Tyler Kulfan, Jack Rossiter-Munley, and Martha Mackey: four friends who are (relentlessly) passionate about reviving our beloved town into a model of a thriving, sustainable rural community. We know that the challenges facing Bennington are real. But we also understand that these challenges are the same that face every community in America, whereas the assets that Bennington possesses are totally unique. Bennington (and Vermont more broadly) are uniquely well-positioned to demonstrate regional resilience and self-sufficiency; we have everything we need to thrive right here.

With experience in ecology, sustainability, anthropology, journalism, and more–we’re on the ground and ready to get our boots muddy. There will be lots to talk about on the road to Bennington’s bright future and lots of opportunities to get involved.

Stay tuned, stay engaged–Join the Rural Renaissance! ✨

03/05/2025

The race is over, and we’re not going anywhere. ✨ We’ve been campaigning, but above all else we’ve been organizing. Electoral politics is just one way to bring positive change—the energy, optimism, and imagination that defined our campaign is here to stay. Stay tuned, Bennington.

Congrats to Tom, Jackie, and especially to top vote getter Jim Sullivan!

03/04/2025

It’s Town Voting Day and the vibes are off the charts!

Come out and see at the polls! Your local polling stations are open from 7am-7pm. New voters can register to vote - and cast their ballots - today.

➡️ Bennington voters: Bennington Fire Station @ 130 River Street

➡️ North Bennington voters: Village Trustees Office @ Main Street (The Old Train Station)

✨Vote for Martha Mackey and Jack Rossiter-Munley for Bennington Select Board✨

We’re here all day and are ready to say hello! 👋

03/04/2025

GOOD MORNING BENNINGTON! ✨ Voting is TODAY from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm at the Bennington Fire Facility located at 130 River Street (use Lincoln Street entrance). For North Bennington residents, your polling location is at the Village Trustees Office on Main Street (also known as the Old Train Station).

Vote for Martha Mackey and Jack Rossiter-Munley for Select Board!