Category Archives: Vermont
Taking a Montpelier community garden from online to in-the-ground
There were these subject lines, among others, on the Montpelier Front Porch Forum:
“Community Garden Seeks Seedlings in Need of Good Home”
“Community Garden Seeks Manure Loader/Hauler”
And the one that started it all:
“Space Available: Community Garden on Elm Street”
Those posts, and others on Front Porch Forum and Facebook, reached people all over Montpelier and in nearby towns. And, The Garden at 485 Elm was born…
Click here to read the rest of this story by garden organizer Sheryl Rap©e-Adams and Rob Fish of Vermont Council on Rural Development.
Grateful for Winooski neighbor connection
Lovely posting today on the Winooski FPF from Mary Beth today…
I am sure many other people share this sentiment of how thankful they are for Front Porch Forum.
What a wonderful resource in so many ways.
Because of the forum I have learned about events in the area, participated in a research study at UVM, gotten a free desk for my daughter, and found the owner of the chicken that I found dead in the road and disposed of the other day. Both the owner and I were grateful to have located each other and it was all because of the forum.
For those who post and those who run the Forum, THANK YOU for this valuable community resource!
One-woman move and reconnecting with friend after 20 years
Posted on the Montpelier FPF this week…
I just want to give a big shout-out to Front Porch Forum, through which all the details of a (more or less) one-woman move would have been much more difficult. Through FPF, I was able to sell some of the furniture I no longer need, find a mover, hold a successful yardsale (and free pile), find some moving boxes, and, finally, sell my last big item – a washing machine – at the very last minute. But, even better, I met many of my neighbors, who I might not have otherwise met, and discovered that a dear co-worker from 20 years ago has been living right next door to me for almost a year! Thank you FPF!
We asked the author if we could share her posting here, and she responded…
Absolutely use it! You should know that when I participate in outreach and marketing webinars and workshops, and people from out of state find out about Front Porch Forum, they immediately want to know how to get it in their state. I always include it in my list of absolute “musts” for community outreach. I don’t know what we did before you guys came along! (this statement is relevant to my work) but do use anything I say — I really am grateful to you all for the role FPF played in making my move successful.
NEK and Upper Valley FPFs
From Penny in the Barnet Waterford FPF…
I cannot begin to tell you how much I love Front Porch Forum. I have been a part of the Front Porch Forum in Morrisville for quite some time I have sold swingset, kayaks, windows I have purchased tires I have connected people with a lost dog. I can’t begin to say how wonderful FPF is. I joined the one in Barnet as well due to the fact that we purchased a camp here. In a roundabout way due to Front Porch Forum as a matter of fact! I am disappointed that more people do not participate in Barnet yet but I am sure once people realize the value they will join. Thank you FPF!
Communicating with your neighbors
Deanna in Westford shared this today with neighbors on her FPF…
The thing I love about Front Porch Forum is the feeling of connecting with my neighbors and the sense of community. It’s nice to be able to communicate with your friends and neighbors in a positive way.
Cornwall neighbors rally to reunite family
Liam posted this heart-warming note to his Front Porch Forum in Cornwall, VT today…
Where to start? Perhaps the best place to start is to say Ben is home and safe. And a lot of that is due to Front Porch Forum…
Ben, our 9-year-old Border Collie, came to us in March having been the stud dog for a puppy mill is PA. He had been locked in a crate 23 hours a day for most of that entire time. He essentially knew nothing about being a dog outside of his crated world. He has been steadily learning about the wider world since his rescue. Monday night he got lost and didn’t know how to find his way back…
At 5:30 the road commissioner called and said Ben had been sighted on Rte 30. We drove to the spot, but no Ben. We went back home and, among other things wrote up a post for FPF, assuming it would be published at the end of the afternoon, as such things usually are.
Wrong! FPF published it IMMEDIATELY! Within minutes, we got our first email about Ben. Reports of sightings began to pour in and continued throughout the day.
After a short while, it appeared that Ben was operating within a fairly small area of Morse Rd in Cornwall. As we went out to explore the area and check out the sightings, everywhere we were greeted by people who knew the story and were on the lookout for Ben.
Long story short, We eventually tracked Ben [and now he’s home]. FPF was instrumental in this community-wide effort. Their quick response set a whole chain of events into motion that resulted in our famiy being reunited. Not only are we so glad to be living in this wonderful and supportive community, we are so glad that FPF is a part of it and has the capacity to really energize it in pursuit of a common goal. Thank you FRONT PORCH FORUM and thank you Cornwall!
Hansel back home in Cabot now
Posting published on the Cabot Front Porch Forum Saturday…
Hansel is a shepherd/lab mix, black with tan markings on his chest and legs. He’s wearing a blue collar on which is written my phone number (though it may have rubbed off). He ran off with my landlord’s dog mid-morning on Saturday. Landlord’s dog was discovered in front of Cabot General Store late afternoon Saturday, Hansel is still wandering. Hansel is friendly and will come when called. Please call with any sightings or information about my best friend.
Followed by this one Sunday…
Hansel was several miles away, in lower Cabot. He’s home now, safe, exhausted, limping a bit. Many thanks to all who were watching for him.
And infinite thanks to FPF who posted an entire forum that contained only the posting from me about Hansel. I won’t wait until I win the lottery. I’m making a donation to Front Porch Forum this week. It is an invaluable and vital connection for us all.
Moose in Burlington’s Five Sisters neighborhood
Shared by Sue on today’s Five Sisters Front Porch Forum…
Roger, sharp-eyed and vigilant Charlotte Street neighbor, caught a snap of our Tuesday morning neighbor…
Reports Roger: “It was surreal seeing a moose waltzing down Charlotte St.”
Neighborhood dogs (well, one in particular) say: “Surreal schmurreal. Where’s the blood pressure medicine?”
Others reported on FPF seeing the moose near Oakledge Park.
Check out Nik’s video in the comments… next to Calahan Park in Burlington.
Tires? Try your neighbors
From Penny tonight on the Morrisville FPF…
Hi Neighbors! If you are like me the markings on your tires are written in another language! I mean 205/55/R16? What the heck?
Any way several months ago a fella from Front Porch Forum sent me some information on tire sizing and I came across this web site which is SO easy to use. You put in the make and model of your car and year and it tells you all kinds of tires that will fit your car! I also double check with my car fella just to make sure…
Also I want to post a HUGE thank you to FPF. Today in just 2 hours I found my second set of summer tires for the season! Also last fall I found my sister and friend winter tires within days!
I LOVE FPF!
Critical mass and communication in Waterbury
Posted by Debra on the Waterbury FPF today about the actions of the local long-term community recovery director (Tropical Storm Irene disaster coupled with closing of major employer)…
I want to publicly commend Barbara for her postings on the Waterbury Front Porch Forum.
I admire the way she gets the information out about what projects are happening around town and their status. Her updates to the proposed MC, and times of meetings that are being held, have always been non-opinionated and informative. Also, the inclusion of the various other things going on within our town (e.g., the demolition & reconstruction tours being done at the State complex and even info. about our town’s annual Green-Up Day), are all to the point and give good information for those with a possible interest.
FPF has proven to be a great media tool for passing information quickly, as often-times the date of a meeting or a special event cannot really be planned for because by the time we read about it in the Record, that day is almost upon us and it may be too late to do something.
More & more town citizens sign-up on FPF every day, and while not everyone in this community has a computer, or access to one, most do or they have a smart phone. I’m also guessing that not everyone takes time to log into Waterbury’s Town site. I know I don’t, as I often forget or cannot take time to go the extra step to do so.
But notifications for each FPF hit my personal email box on a daily basis and they are right in front of me. I have found, like I’m guessing others may have as well, that these postings are a a great way to stay in touch with what’s happening (be it projects, updates, for sale stuff, special events, etc.) within our community.
I hope Barbara, or someone else, will continue getting town information out on FPF – even when this current bond vote is resolved one way or the other – as I think it’s a great way to communicate to those who live here, and, for all of us to stay informed as a community. Thanks for doing these, Barb!
About Blog
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
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