Groundswell Center for Local Food and Farming is hosting its fifth annual Farm Business Planning Course! In this 9-week course you will learn to set goals, develop market strategies, and assess the feasibility of your business. This course also covers topics of equity and justice in the food system. The Farm Business Planning Course will be be held from Jan. 9 - March 6, 2018 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. For more information, and to register, please visit our website. http://groundswellcenter.org/farmertraining/businessplanning/

Groundswell is a project of the Center for Transformative Action, an independent 501c(3).

This restorative class welcomes students who feel like they need to connect with their bodies and souls and relax into their natural glow. The class will be bringing together gentle healing poses and stretching with the experience of listening to and participating in live music by candlelight. This will vary to include singing and chanting accompanied by acoustic instruments. Rest with us as we embrace the melodies inside your heart, bodies, and minds.

Steve Zinder, Professor in Microbiology at Cornell University
Tuesday, February 13th
7:00 pm – Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY

In Earth's distant past, methanogens ruled the world! Delve into the world of microbes and anaerobes, organisms that live without air. The discovery of methanogens, anaerobes that produce methane gas, led to a new understanding of evolutionary history on Earth. In this exciting presentation, we'll explore the role of these mighty microbes in the carbon cycle, learn the secrets of their discovery, and find out how they helped us revise the tree of life.

Part of "Extreme Life!" - Darwin Days 2018, February 11-17. Celebrate the wild world of evolution through our annual celebration of the life and ideas of Charles Darwin. Cornell University and the Paleontological Research Institution are sponsoring an exploration of "extreme life" during the 2018 Darwin Days. Discover how life is able to thrive in Earth’s extreme environments and learn how life might evolve on other planets. Visit www.priweb.org/DarwinDays for a full schedule of events.

Extreme Double Feature: Cosmos and Life in Hell
Sunday, February 11th
2:00 pm – Cinemapolis, 120 E Green St, Ithaca, NY - FREE!

Panel Discussion – Evolution at Extremes: Exploring Life at the Limits
Monday, February 12th
7:00 pm - The History Center in Tompkins County, 401 E State St., Ithaca, NY

Science Cabaret – Mighty Microbes: Methanogens, the Tree of Life, and the Carbon Cycle
Steve Zinder, Professor in Microbiology at Cornell University
Tuesday, February 13th
7:00 pm – Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY

Darwin’s Trivia Challenge
Thursday, February 15th
7:00 pm - The Rhine House, 632 W Seneca St, Ithaca

Keynote Presentation - Evolution of Life Before Animals: Gasping for Breath and Dodging Snowballs
Dr. Phoebe Cohen, Assistant Professor in Geosciences at Williams College
Friday, February 16th
6:00 pm - 165 McGraw Hall, Cornell University, 740-750 University Ave, Ithaca, NY

Life at the Extremes - Darwin Family Day
Saturday, February 17th
10 am - 3 pm - Museum of the Earth, 1259 Trumansburg Rd, Ithaca, NY