MAMAKATING — Dick Riseling from Apple Pond Farm in Callicoon recently gave Mamakating’s Town Board a presentation on his Sustainable Energy Internship. Riseling partnered with Mamakating’s grant writer, Kerron Barnes, to bring an internship opportunity to the Mamakating Environmental Education Center (MEEC).
Riseling and his partner, Sonja Hedlund, founded Apple Pond Farm and turned it into a “nearly 100 percent” renewable and self-sustaining energy farm.
The farm is also the home to the Renewable Education Center, which offers apprenticeships, tours, and workshops to educate the public about sustainable farming practices. Out of this farm, Riseling has expanded his vision from his own farm to Sullivan County.
Riseling co-founded the Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development, a non-profit organization that helps educate local businesses and municipalities about sustainable and renewable energy and economic practices through consulting with Sullivan County’s Legislators. In addition to Mamakating, Riseling aims to offer this internship to other municipalities as well.
Riseling stated that the mission of the internship was “to increase awareness and adoption of sustainable energy practices and technologies through research, educational programming and collaboration with local and regional initiatives.”
Riseling stated that The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan would invest in and manage the fund that would support the intern in addition to conducting the search for the internship. The fund would be additionally financed by donations for the intern’s $1,000 annual stipend. The only thing that Mamakating would have to provide is an office for the intern at the MEEC and support from the MEEC’s staff as needed.
Riseling stated that the goal is to be “on the right side of history of sustainable energy production and use.”
The intern would be able to utilize in person as well as a hybrid classroom model to educate those who visit the MEEC. Riseling said that the MEEC would become a place for information and research for sustainable energy that would be able to “reach a wide audience” by providing content with the newest technology. This would also increase the “reputation and value” of the MEEC and Mamakating itself.
Town Supervisor Janet Lybolt explained that Riseling was giving a gift to the town since the only thing Mamakating must provide is space for the intern. Lybolt read a letter of support from the MEEC’s director, Jackie Broder. Broder said that the internship is a “unique opportunity for the county to be on the cutting edge in renewable energy,” while allowing the MEEC to move forward with their environmental research goals.
Lybolt also stated that this internship would connect well with Mamakating’s commitment to be a Climate Smart Community.
Deputy Supervisor Eileen Rogers asked when the internship would be able to start. Riseling responded that the money is available, and it is up to Mamakating to decide when they are ready for the recruiting to begin.
The board voted unanimously to accept the internship, and Lybolt stated that this “will be very good for the town.”