Azgreen Magazine - fall issue 2010 by BEAM, llc

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Inside

HarvestingSustainability2010 08

In every issue

Editor’s Letter / Eco-Village

AZGM Features A Sustainable Harvest: How a local family farm helps big business rethink food sourcing

Back Yard Farms: A nationwide trend in urban farming comes home to roost / 15

Farmers Markets Annual Guide / 21 Superfoods: A super-nutritious selection / 26

Cannabis: 28 Cultivating Why the Hemp Not?

Historical analysis about the harvest of hemp and how it makes sustainable sense today

39 Harvesting Sustainability 48 Taking the Lead:

: Eco-minded Weekend

Getaways to Revitalize Your Spirits!

A Horse Whisperer’s Tale

Happy Harvest!

Hit the Hay: Pumpkin patches, hay rides and good old fashioned family fun /55 Add Some Green to Your Halloween / 58 Trick or Treat: Michael’s Garden has the treats / 59 Harvesting Gratitiude: the Bounty of Thanksgiving / 62 Weaving Threads of Connection: for People, Planet, Profit / 66

A2ZDepartments 65 l Art: Elizabeth Frank 66 l Books: Hemp: Not Just for Hippies Anymore! 69 l Dining: FnB 71 l Eco-Centric: Harvesting the Storm 75 l Essentials: Hemp to high tech 76 l Finance: The Color of Money 78 l Heatlh: Harvesting a cure Breast Cancer Awareness 81 l Policy: Vote Mindfully 86 l Workplace:Energy Star at the Office

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Harvesting Sustainability / fall - 2010

INSPIRATION

AWARENESS

STEWARDSHIP

From the Editor

he fall season harkens back to a time when early settlers celebrated the bounty of a New World, when pilgrims gathered to reap the rewards of the annual harvest. Today, we are celebrating the harvest of a new bountiful commodity: Sustainability.

One can only imagine the awe that must have been struck by early settlers when they descended upon the fertile plains in the new country. The soil rich in nutrients provided a rich life for the homesteaders who became land stewards, employing simple land principles worked the way nature intended. Very little went to waste and their efforts were well rewarded. Their grains fed everyone at home with plenty left over for neighbors. As the harvest grew, it had promise to feed the hungry around the world. When the crops became international commodities, priorities shifted to profit. The industrial revolution changed everything; new fertilizers, insecticides and weed killers made up for the soil depletion, pest infestation and rogue weeds that permeated over-used fields. Land stewardship was abandoned for more expedient methods; farming the way nature intended has been replaced by what has become known as industrial farming. Today, we are beginning to see just how unsustainable the industrial methods have become. As new health and environmental concerns come home to roost, we are observing a shift in priorities and a number of farms returning to principled methods. Community-supported agricultural cooperatives and farmers’ markets are cropping up in nearly every metropolitan center. There also appears to be another trend emerging from a combination of these priorities and tough economic times – a return to self-sustaining agriculture at home. We are inspired by these changes and envision a time when everyone embraces principles over profits and a reverence for our bountiful natural resources. This issue is dedicated to that bountiful harvest of sustainability! On behalf of all of us at AZGreen Magazine, I want to thank our subscribers, advertisers, supporters and alliance partners for all they do to help us succeed. We are gratified to have received such positive response to our publication! I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate our friends at Green Living AZ, a new publication whose first issues recently graced the public with fantastic information about going green at home, at work and at play. The presence of a second magazine that bridges sustainability with every day life is validation that demand for information about principles of sustainability is high in our state. That’s great news for everyone. From one editor to another, keep up the good green words, Tishin! We applaud like-minded individuals and businesses joining us to celebrate inspiration, awareness and stewardship – and harvesting the message for a common good. We hope you enjoy this issue and look forward to your comments about Harvesting Sustainability!

Snowden Bishop, Editor-in-Chief

co-publishers Rebecca Edwards: Snowden Bishop editorial Editor-In-Chief: Snowden Bishop columnists Carrie Morgan Gabrielle Saveri writers Lynn Mushorn / John Slemmer Kate McClendon design & production Creative Director: Rebecca Edwards Graphic Design: Rebecca Edwards photography Audubon Society / Snowden Bishop Joan Gellatly / Wiki Commons website Ben Winton / Rebecca Edwards sales & marketing Meredith Brenalvirez / Rudy Brenalvirez advisory board Doug Edwards / Kevin Edwards Philip D. Allsopp / Evelyn Carlson Mary Lynn Kelly / Roselyn O’Connell James M. Strock interns Stephanie Pellicano printer Gordon Graphics, Inc. digital edition Texterity contact AZGreen Magazine 480.473.1430 8015 East Vista Bonita Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85266 www.azgreenmagazine.com advertising adsales@azgreenmagazine.com art department design@azgreenmagazine.com editorial editor@azgreenmagazine.com general inquiries info@azgreenmagazine.com subscribtions www.azgreenmagazine.com ©2010, AZGreen Magazine AZGreen Magazine is a bi-monthly publication published by AZGreen Magazine, LLC. The digital edition of AZGreen Magazine is available globally, via electronic delivery free of charge. Free hardcopy edition is distributed throughout Arizona by authorized outlets. Home delivery of hard copy is $29 per year by subscription only. The entire contents of AZGreen Magazine is copyrighted. No portion of this publication, including but not limited to public service announcements and ads created and designed by and/or photographs supplied thereto by AZGreen Magazine, may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no liability for the opinions contained within the publication provided by sources, contributors or advertisers. Publisher shall not be held liable for performance of goods and services provided by advertisers. Questions or concerns should be directed to appropriate contacts listed above.

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Sustainable Harvest In contrast to the suburban landscape now known as Scottsdale, the “Valley of the Sun” was once a rural agricultural community with a variety of orchards and farms growing citrus, figs, potatoes, peanuts, almonds and cotton. Today, farmland on the Salt River Reservation remains the only overt reminder of the area’s agricultural origins, separated from the city to the west by a single stretch of the Pima freeway. Ten years ago, Ken and Lee Singh leased 20 acres of arid, depleted farmland there and have since transformed into a thriving, fertile oasis using a holistic approach to land stewardship. Without any overt advertising, the family-run farm has become a hub of agricultural activity and education about sustainable farming. Unusually shy toward media, Ken Singh will not hesitate to demonstrably voice his humble passion for farming to an empathetic listener. His passion is evidenced in part by the farm’s orderly appearance, their sustainable efficiency and the obvious devotion of the farm’s staff – many whom are family. Singh Farms is no ordinary farm. Steeped in a reverent respect for the earth and more knowledgeable than most about organic principles, Ken and Lee Singh started the farm with a vision of growing food “the way Mother Nature intended” – sustainably, on land that had been overused for decades then abandoned. So far, their endeavor has worked and the farm is

not only fully sustainable, it is abundantly profitable. “We are in the business of bringing life,” said Ken Singh, who acknowledged that he is dismayed by the disregard for and degradation of land exhibited by industrial farms, corporate polluters and urban developers. He laments about the broken system of commercial agriculture that has tainted the food supply without adequate government oversight. “Food is what man lives for. We should be careful how we regard it.” His statement evoked a sense that as a society we’ve lost touch with the earth, that somehow teaching people how to reconnect with the food they eat has the potential to enrich life and revitalize the planet. Systems implemented at Singh Farms follow the sustainable natural rhythm and diversity of nature. All crops are rotated in succession seasonally to prevent soil depletion caused by a lack of plant diversity. Each rotation allows a recovering field to serve a secondary purpose. Harvest of one season of vegetables on any given field may be succeeded by rows of verdolaga, a “weed” also known as purslane, to enhance soil chelation.

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and herbs are harvested and sold. Fresh produce redefined, it is not unusual to see farm staff at an outdoor sink rinsing dark brown earth from freshly picked carrots before handing them to a waiting customer. Sheltered by a gazebo, shelves are stocked with baskets filled with homebaked artisan breads and pastries, handmade cheeses and fresh eggs just gathered from the chicken coops. Top chefs from popular Valley eateries rely on Singh Farms to provide ingredients for their gourmet menus or consultation for on site gardens that provide herbs and seasonal vegetables. In addition to making weekly fresh produce orders, Chef Frank Belosic, executive chef at The District, the swanky American bistro located in the two-year-old sustainably-built Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Phoenix, depends on Singh Farms to maintain the organic edible garden installed on the hotel’s fourth floor rooftop patio. Verdolaga also happens to be very rich in fatty acids. “We feed the verdolaga to the chickens,” said Lee Singh. “So our eggs are naturally rich in Omega 3.” While the farm opted out of the “Certified Organic” credential from the USDA, their practices are purely organic in every aspect. “USDA allows Certified Organic farmers to use up to 200 chemicals that we simply choose not to use,” said Lee Singh. Clients and customers familiar with the farm’s philosophy know this and don’t seem to mind the absence of an official seal. “So far, it hasn’t adversely affected our business.” Truth be known, it really hasn’t. Even without the USDA certification, Singh’s organic market remains a popular destination for organic foodies and has garnered a loyal following of regular customers. “I am continually amazed by what the Singh family has accomplished on their farm,” said Joan Baron, a local artist and permaculture advocate who frequents Singh Farms’ market on Saturdays to purchase their fish oils, fresh produce and compost for her gardens. “Not only are they are great stewards of the land who are making a positive impact on our community with their sustainable practices, they are also generous and hard-working, and have really turned the farm into something special.” Every Saturday morning, Singh Farms is open to the public to sell in-season harvest and truckloads of mature compost and mulch. Depending upon the season, a variety of beans, squash, peppers, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets lettuce, fruits

The organic garden, which encompasses the patio that runs the length of the building, supplies Belosic with supplemental herbs and vegetables. According to Belosic, roughly half of the available planting space contains edibles, and he anticipates that within the year edibles will replace the remaining small plants grown there. Each week, someone from Singh’s staff visits the rooftop garden for maintenance, and to assist with harvesting seeds and seasonal replanting. An ardent advocate for organic farm-to-table cuisine, Belosic appreciates the benefits and is happy with the garden’s progress: “Between the produce grown on the premises and the produce we purchase from the farm, all of the vegetables we serve are local, in season and organically produced.”

According to Lee Singh, Belosic is a leader – especially considering the size of his operation. He has managed to make the farm-to-table principle work successfully on a large scale. “He has been working with us since the hotel was built two years ago. Then he asked us to help with a simple garden that is now an integral part of his operation,” she said. Belosic’s concern for sustainability transcends the restaurant as well. As a matter of principle, and part and parcel of the hotel’s overall sustainability practices, all organic waste is sent to Singh Farms for composting. Flanking the northeastern corner of the farm, compost stacks easily measuring up to six feet in height host a microcosm of enzymes, microbes, humus, nutrients and minerals synthesizing a precise ratio of carbon and nitrogen necessary to keep the farm thriving. The compost serves one of the most crucial functions enabling the organic process at the farm, and is a key element in maintaining balance in the soil for growing healthy crops. Compost has successfully eradicated the need for any chemical fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides

Hotel guests can enjoy access to the edible garden, and will find the home-grown edibles incorporated into the menu, which is infused with an extraordinarily healthy approach to American cuisine. Use of the edible garden isn’t limited to the dining room. Fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs also provide ingredients for drinks named Berry Lemonade, Sage Julep, Basil Mojito and Pineapple Lavender at The District’s bar. “Singh Farms is a huge part of what we do in every aspect of our restaurant– and everyone there is involved. Their guidance has enabled us to be intimately involved in the food we serve,” said The District’s Chef de Cuisine, Jay Bogsinske. “I like knowing how the food I use is cared for while it grows.” That’s a sentiment shared by Belosic.

and insecticides on the farm. According to Singh, they have never needed chemical intervention. During the week, a number of food suppliers, restaurants, landscapers and civic waste managers deliver organic waste to the veritable mountains of compost that are fermenting at the farm. Many

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of Singh’s clients opted to integrate organic waste programs into their recycling routines as a result of the services introduced to them by Singh. As quickly as new waste comes in, a matured pile goes out. The Sheraton Phoenix, Desert Botanical Gardens, ASU, City of Tempe, Nordstrom and Whole Foods are just some of the local business entities relying on Singh’s production of compost to divert volumes of organic refuse that would otherwise become toxic waste when commingled with trash in landfills. In an article published in January last year, an ASU facilities management associate director told The Arizona Republic that close to a half-million pounds of the campus’ plant clippings and organic waste had been diverted from landfills since July 2007. By now that amount has doubled, and ASU’s restaurant, Engrained, has also started bringing its organic waste to Singh Farms. A frequent destination for school field trips, the farm provides fertile learning ground for children, some who learn for the very first time how a vegetable sprouts from beneath the ground. With mounting concerns about modern childhood nutrition, substantive, hands-on interaction with farms has the potential to effectively change the way children appreciate food. Recent studies have shown that kids given the opportunity to interact with food as it grows are more likely to develop healthy eating habits. Singh believes it makes a difference. “If ten kids come to the farm and one actually learns something positive and retains it for life, we’re doing okay,” he

said. It is hard to imagine any child not being enthralled by learning how nature works on a farm. It is also hard to imagine how anyone could not appreciate the bounty of sustainable farming. Even more difficult to fathom is how American agriculture was permitted to move away from such a simply perfect system of nature. “We come from a place where we think our government would not allow this to happen,” said Singh, who explained that the big business agriculture cannot sustain life – without diversity, crops need chemical fertilizer and pesticides, the animals need hormones and antibiotics. Furthermore, with genetically modified seeds, the farmers are becoming even more dependent on the chemicals and destroying the soil that would sustain crops grown from natural seeds – therefore they become more dependent on modified seed and government subsidies and even more chemicals. It’s a vicious cycle. Singh admits, “It scares me to death.” By contrast, agriculture works in harmony with nature in Singh’s world. It sustains life – on many levels. Organic farming depends upon the processes intended by Mother Nature for abundance. In the seemingly infinite wisdom of Singh: “When you touch Mother Nature, you are in touch with who you are.” Singh Farms is located on Thomas Road, just east of the 101 in Scottsdale. For more information, call (480)225-7199. n

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Urban Backyard Farms W

hen Bryan White and his wife Mira moved to Phoenix from the Pacific Northwest, they were pleasantly surprised to find a growing community of urban agriculture enthusiasts at The Phoenix Permaculture Guild, an organization they immediately joined and continue to actively support. “In Seattle, there is a different culture that encourages organic food production. There weren’t a lot of community gardens, and when we found one, there was a two-year waiting list to join,” said Bryan. “When I took my first tour of a home with chickens and an edible garden, I was convinced I needed to do the same thing.” As soon as they became settled here in Phoenix, they resumed backyard food production – starting all over again from scratch. In what otherwise would be considered an average backyard in a typically middle-class neighborhood, White has staggered plantings that supply his family with roughly 90% of their fresh produce needs. Eggs produced by their hens are an added bonus. “We frequently have plenty left over we can share with the neighbors,” said Mira. They enjoy finding ways to maximize their harvest. Mira explained that when a broccoli head is cut, she leaves the stock in place for another generation of buds that come from the sides. Their three chickens rule the roost, with free reign over the entire backyard when the Whites are at home. Bryan has built a rather elegant looking enclosed coop where the chickens are protected from neighboring dogs at night. “There is definitely a pecking order,” laughs Brian when Mira emerged from the house with a handful of seeds and grain. The pecking order became apparent as Tweetie, Spotty and Dotty vied for first picks of the scattered treats. At least half of the yard is dedicated to edibles, with rows of carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, peppers and herbs growing in succession to allow for staggered harvests. “We’ll plant a row of carrots and wait two weeks to plant another, then wait another two weeks before planting a third,” Bryan explained. The process prevents an over abundance of one vegetable. They have never purchased fertilizer or pesticides. “Between the chickens and the compost, we have never worried about that,” he said. Several stacks of compost are strategically arranged in order of maturity. Nothing goes to waste, and the chickens feed on the tiny larvae and insects that grow around the compost stacks. Their planters are approximately 12 feet squared, and as one crop of vegetables mature, another is being prepped for sowing with added compost. Altogether, he has six planters in use with two more nearly built. Backyard agriculture is not a new concept. Prior to the 1930s, nearly everyone had chickens and gardens that produced foods. As cities became more densely populated, the supermarkets provided a level of convenience that rendered home-grown food obsolete. Today, backyard farms are becoming more popular among families facing mounting economic struggles as well as concerns about food safety issues stemming from industrial agriculture in the U.S. According to Bryan White, his interest in permaculture is not limited to

16 AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010 interest and growing attendance in the organization’s classes and programs prompted Guild leaders to host a citywide tour of 13 homes featuring backyard agriculture last year. Coined the Tour de Coops, the self-guided tour was designed to give visitors insight into the experience of raising urban chickens, ducks, and quail.

any one aspect of agriculture, but rather taking a holistic, whole-planet approach to sustainability in general. He is also surprised by the diversity of people attracted to permauclture. “The interest in sustainable urban food production spans across multiple generations and socioeconomic levels,” he explains. If membership of the Phoenix Permaculture Guild is any indication, he’s absolutely right. “Interest is more about what’s sustainable, and making healthier choices.” It is seductive to see how effortless the Whites make it seem. He warns that it involves a tremendous commitment to keep it up. “We have found that people are very inspired to start their own backyard coops,” said Bryan, also noting that some find the level of commitment too demanding for their lifestyle. “I advise people to take classes and begin with an edible garden first to test their own level of commitment. Then if they want more, get a chicken and see how that goes.” There are other services available that can also help to bridge entry into the process to help people decide whether raising chickens is right for them. Jim Dennis, owner of an organization called “Rent a Hen” offers one such service. “Often people are seduced by the idea of raising chickens, and when they realize they don’t really have the time or long term interest, it’s too late,” he said. “Renting chickens can introduce them to the process, and if they don’t enjoy it, the chickens can be returned to us, not abandoned.” Dennis advises people to make sure they are in an area amenable to backyard livestock. Homeowners associations may not permit it, and some city zoning regulations will limit the types of animals people are allowed to keep on their property. Not every neighbor welcomes the notion, which can present another

issue altogether, one that may require some neighborly negotiation followed by agreement. Karl Barton and David Mericle opted to raise Muscovy ducks for this very reason. While some ducks can be noisy, Muscovy are relatively silent. Barton trims their wing feathers so that the ducks aren’t tempted to fly into a neighbor’s yard. Even when the wing feathers grow back, the ducks are content to stay close by the water ponds set up for them in the

back yard. Muscovy eggs are only slightly smaller than chicken eggs, but according to Barton, very tasty. Three females provide an abundance of eggs, almost more than Barton and Mericle can consume without sharing with friends – a fact made apparent by the emergence of a gaggle of chicks chaperoned by a doting female Muscovy. Aligned with nationwide grassrootslevel enthusiasm for chemical-free food, edible gardens and backyard livestock are becoming common in cities like Portland, Seattle, Austin, and Salt Lake City. The trend is gaining steam here in Arizona if the increase in membership in the Phoenix Permaculture Guild is any indication. The organization has recently added to the variety of classes to educate people about sustainable living inside out. Burgeoning

This year, the Guild will host its second annual Tour de Coops, which will include up to 24 homes featuring not only poultry but also small milk-producing goats as well. The tour provides members an opportunity to share insight about techniques, feeding, breeding and harvesting. More importantly, it will be educational to anyone with a desire to learn about sustainable farming in the city. Bryan White is convinced that the Tour offers the best opportunity to people to see what is possible in backyard farming. “It’s really going to open some people’s eyes to the possibility of a very sustainable way of living,” he said. A Phoenix Permaculture Guild educator Rachel Bess notes that people want to know about the options available to them for more sustainable, more locallyengaged, and more self-sufficient city living. “This tour is a great opportunity for that. The variety of sites on the tour demonstrates the expressive possibilities of poultry raising and organic gardening. The Tour is self-guided, so folks can go at their own pace and visit the coops that they’re interested in, and interact with others who are participating in hands-on sustainability.” The 2010 Tour de Coops takes place on Saturday, December 4, 2010 from 7:30am to 4:30pm. Tickets are $10 and go on sale the first week of November. Price of admission includes 2 adults (12 years old and up). Children under 12 are free of charge. Tickets can be purchased on the Tour’s website www.tourdecoops.org and at the Phoenix Public Market Urban Grocery and Wine Bar located at 14 East Pierce Street in Phoenix.SB The Phoenix Permaculture Guild (PPG) is a local 501(c)[3] non-profit, and operates as a volunteerrun organization. The mission of the PPG is to inspire sustainable urban living through education, community involvement and creative cooperation. Programs offered include tours of local sustainable homes, educational classes, hands-on training and event demonstration booths. As well as annual events including the PPG Fruit Tree Sale, Mesquite Bean Milling, Pancake Breakfast and the Tour de Coops.

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APACHE COUNTY Concho Flagstaff

Farmers’

Market

Flagstaff Community Market City Hall West Parking Lot (Rte. 66 & N. Sitgreaves St.) Sundays 8 a.m. - Noon May 30 - October 10 (928) 774-7781 flagstaffmarket@gmail.com www.flagstaffmarket.com Flagstaff Community Market - Eastside St. Pius Catholic Church Parking Lot 257 E. Cedar Ave (at 4th St.) Wednesdays 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. July 7 - September 22 (928) 774-7781 flagstaffmarket@gmail.com www.flagstaffmarket.com

Tuba City Tuba City Farmers’ Market 100 Aspen Dr. (west side of St. Jude’s Catholic Church) Wednesdays 5:30 pm. - 7:30 p.m. August - September 928-283-6886 www.stjudefoodbank@frontiernet.net

GILA COUNTY Payson Payson Farmers’ Market 816 Beeline Hwy, at Sawmill Theater Saturdays 8 a.m. – Noon May 29 - October 16 928-468-0961 katrin.themlitz@gmail.com

www.PaysonFarmersMarket.info

GRAHAM COUNTY Safford Safford Farmers’ Market Firth Park (10th Ave & Thatcher Blvd) Tuesdays, 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. May – September Saturdays, 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. June – September 928-428-7690 rfigueroa@graham.az.gov

GREENLEE COUNTY Duncan Duncan Farmers’ Market Centennial Park on Highway 70 downtown Saturdays 8 a.m. – Noon late April - early December 928-200-0790 duncanfarmersmarket@yahoo.com www.duncanarizona.net/farmers_market

MARICOPA COUNTY Anthem Norterra Farmers’ Market 2640 W. Happy Valley Rd. at The Shops at Norterra 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. October - May 480-585-8639 mmevents@juno.com www.azfarmersmarkets.us

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Carefree Carefree Farmers’ Market 100 Easy St. (Amphitheater Gardens at Ho Hum Way) Fridays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. October – May 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com

Chandler Downtown Chandler Farmers’ Market A.J. Chandler Park, Arizona Ave., south of Chandler Blvd. Thursdays 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. All year 480-855-3539 dwebb@downtownchandler.org www.downtownchandler.org Farmers’ Market at Solera Community Center 6360 South Mountain Blvd. 2nd & 4th Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sept. - July 480-585-8639 mmevents@juno.com www.azfarmersmarkets.us

Gilbert Farmers’ Market at Trilogy/Power Ranch 4369 E. Village Parkway 2nd & 4th Wednesdays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sept. 23 - July 480-585-8639 mmevents@juno.com www.azfarmersmarkets.us San Tan Village Farmers’ Market 2218 E. Williams Field Rd. (at Loop 202 between Sleep Number Store & FitChix) 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Oct. - April 480-585-8639 jennifer.munn@westcor.com www.azfarmersmarkets.us

Glendale Farmers’ Market at Westgate 6770 N. Sunset Blvd., across from Cardinals Stadium 2nd & 4th Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. September - May 480-585-8639 mmevents@juno.com www.azfarmersmarkets.us Twilight Farmers’ Market at the Citadelle 19420 N. 59th Ave. at Utopia, Arrowhead Ranch Wednesdays 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. October - April Wednesdays 5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. May - August 623-848-1234 Info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com

Goodyear Pebble Creek Farmers’ Market at Tucscany Falls 16222 Clubhouse Dr. in parking lot west of Toscana Grill 3rd Saturdays 8 a.m. – Noon

October 17 – April 17 480-585-8639 mmevents@juno.com www.azfarmersmarkets.us

Mesa MacDonald St. Farmers’ Market NE corner of Main St. & MacDonald Saturdays - 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. October - April 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com

Norterra Farmers’ Market 2460 W. Happy Valley Rd., Phoenix (Replaces Anthem Farmers Market) 2nd & 4th Wednesdays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Starting October 6 480-585-8639 mmevents@juno.com http://www.azfarmersmarkets.us Phoenix Camelback Market 3930 E. Camelback Rd. Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. October - May 602-224-0225 info@vincentsoncamelback.com

Mesa Community Farmers’ Market 260 N. Center St. south of University, under the olive trees Fridays 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. June - September Fridays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. October - May 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com

Peoria Momma’s Organic Market 9744 W. Northern Ave. at Park West, just west of Loop 101 Thursday Night Farmers’ Market Thursdays 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sept. - April Original Market 3rd Saturdays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sept. - April info@mommasorganicmarket.com www.mommasorganicmarket.com Vistancia Country Club Farmers’ Market 12902 W. Yellow Bird Lane (at Trilogy) 4th Saturdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. September - July 4th Fridays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. November & December 480-585-8639 mmevents@juno.com www.azfarmersmarkets.us

Phoenix Ahwatukee Farmers’ Market 4700 E. Warner, Ahwatukee Swim & Tennis Club Sundays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. October - April Sundays 8 a.m. - Noon May - September 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com Farm at South Mountain 6106 S. 32nd St. Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. October - May 16 480-236-7097 www.vayaconmaya@cox.net Mountain Park - Baseline Market 635 E. Baseline Rd. Wednesdays 9 a.m. – noon April - October 31 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com

Phoenix Public Market 721 N. Central Saturdays 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. October - April Saturdays 8 a.m. - Noon May - September Wednesdays 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. 602-493-5231 cgentry@foodconnect.org www.phoenixpublicmarket.com Roadrunner Park Farmers’ Market 3502 E. Cactus Saturdays 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. October – May Saturdays 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. June – September 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com St. Mary’s Food Bank 2831 N. 31st Ave. near the WIC clinic Tuesdays 9 a.m. - Noon April - October 31 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com

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Sunny Slope Uptown Market 8801 N. Central Ave. Sundays 8 a.m. – Noon all year 602-341-3269 info@centralslope.com www.centralslope.com

November - April Saturdays 7 a.m. - Noon April 25 - July 25 623-386-3033 tonopahrob@gmail.com www.tonopahrob.com

Town and Country 2021 E. Camelback Wednesdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. all year 602-710-2122 lynn@tandcshops.com

MOHAVE COUNTY Bullhead City

Scottsdale Borgata of Scottsdale 6166 N. Scottsdale Rd. (between McDonald Rd. & Lincoln Rd.) Fridays 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. October - April 480-585-8639 mmevents@juno.com www.azfarmersmarkets.us Scottsdale Old Town Farmers’ Market Corner of Brown & 1st St. Saturdays - 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. October 31 May 29 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com Scottsdale Stadium Farmers’ Market 7408 E. Osborn on NW corner at Drinkwater Saturdays 8 a.m. – Noon all year 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com Skysong Evening Market at ASU Skysong 1475 N. Scottsdale Rd. Thursdays 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. October - April 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com

Surprise

Colorado Place Farmers’ Market Highway 95 & Riverside Saturdays 6 a.m. - 11 a.m. all year 1-877-712-2928 stevenb@farms2you.biz www.farms2you.biz

Bullhead City/Ft. Mohave Tri-States’ Fresh Produce Market 4537 Hwy. 95 in Ft. Mohave Thursdays & Fridays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. all year Saturdays 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. all year 928-706-5252

Tucson Community Food Bank Farmers’ Market 3003 S. Country Club Dr. (between Ajo & 36th St.) Tuesdays 8 a.m. – Noon all year 520-622-0525 x 242 srickard@communityfoodbank.org Downtown Farmers’ Market Arts & Crafts Mercado - South lawn of the Main Library Wednesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. all year 520-326-7810 changs@webtv.net Farmers’ Market at Park Place Mall Broadway & Wilmot, South Courtyard by food court Tuesdays 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. cool weather dates Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. hot weather dates 520-603-8116 emdubis@aol.com

Golden Valley Kingman Golden Valley Farmers’ Market 3211 N. Bacovi Dr. Corner of Hwy 68 & Bacovi Fridays & Saturdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. all year Sundays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. all year 928-706-5252

NAVAJO COUNTY Show Low Main Street Farmers’ Market & Art Walk Festival Marketplace (between 9th & 11th) Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. May 15 - October 16 928-521-9284 showlowfarmersmarket@hotmail.com showlowfarmersmarket.com

Farmers’ Market at Tucson Mall SE corner of Oracle & Whetmore west of Cheesecake Factory Thursdays 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. fall - spring Thursdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. summer 520-603-8116 emdubis@aol.com

Clinica Adelante 16560 N. Dysart Rd. at Tidwell Family Clinic parking lot Thursdays 9 a.m. - Noon April - October 623-848-1234 info@arizonafarmersmarkets.com www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com

Sunshine Herbs & Farmers’ Market 1020 E. Huning Wednesdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. May - October 6 928-537-1711 sunshineherbs@hotmail.com www.lindassunshineherbs.com

Tempe

Green Valley Village Farmers’ Market Esperanza & I-19 Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. October - April Wednesdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. May - September 520-490-3315

Oro Valley Farmers’ Market 11000 N. La Canada at Town Hall, SE Corner at Naranja Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. fall – spring Saturdays 8 a.m. - Noon summer 520-882-2157 www.farmersmarkettucson.com

Marana

Plaza Palomino Saturday Market 2970 N. Swan Road Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. fall - spring Saturdays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. summer 520-320-6344 www.plazapalominotucson.com

Thursday Night Market Downtown Tempe Tempe Urban Garden, SWC 5th St. & Forest Thursdays, 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. October - April 480-355-6060 Amanda@downtowntempe.com www.ThursdayNightMarket.com Mill Avenue Farmers’ Market Mill Ave. & 6th Street Park Sundays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. September - May James: 480-464-4400 www.millavefarmersmarket.com

Tonopah Tonopah Valley Farmers’ Market 35838 W. Buckeye Rd. Saturdays 8 a.m. - Noon

PIMA COUNTY Green Valley

Marana Farm Market 12375 N. Heritage Park Dr., Tangerine exit off I-10 Mondays 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. May - September Mondays 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. October - April 520-622-0525 x 242 srickard@communityfoodbank.org www.communityfoodbank.org

Fridays Farmers’ Market at Broadway Village Broadway & Country Club Fridays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. fall - spring Fridays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. summer 520-603-8116 emdubis@aol.com

24 AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010 Rincon Valley Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market 12500 E. Old Spanish Trail Saturdays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. fall – spring Saturdays 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. summer 520-591-2276 rvfm@rinconinstitute.org www.rvfm.org Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market NW corner Speedway Blvd. & Riverview, West of I-10 Thursdays 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. October - April Thursdays 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. May - September 520-622-0525 x 242 srickard@communityfoodbank.org www.communityfoodbank.org St. Philip’s Plaza Farmers’ Market 4300 N. Campbell Ave. at River Rd. Saturdays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. October - April Saturdays 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. May - September 520-603-8116 emdubis@aol.com Tucson Farmers’ Market St. Phillip’s Plaza 4380 N. Campbell Ave. (SE Corner River Rd. & Campbell) Sundays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. fall - spring Sundays 8 a.m. - Noon summer 520-882-2157 www.farmersmarkettucson.com Udall Park Farmers’ Market 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd. at Morris K. Udall Regional Center Fridays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. winter Fridays 8 a.m. - Noon summer 520-882-2157 www.farmersmarkettucson.com Value Food Store 3003 S. Country Club at 36th Street Tuesday – Friday 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. all year 520-622-0525 x 203 twest@communityfoodbank.org www.communityfoodbank.org

PINAL COUNTY Casa Grande Casa Grande Farmers’ Market Corner of N. Florence St. & Third St. Across from the DES building Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. October - May 11 Tuesdays 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. May 11 - July 1 520-836-4771 dougs_photo@msn.com

Oracle Oracle Farmers’ Market 2805 N. Triangle L Ranch Rd. (Highway 77 & Rockliffe Blvd.) Saturdays 9 a.m. – Noon all year 520-896-2123 info@triangleLranch.com oraclefarmersmarket.com

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY Sonoita

YUMA COUNTY Yuma

Sonoita Growers’ Market Diamond JK Nursery, Highway 83 (½ mile so. of Hwy 82) Saturdays 9 a.m. – Noon May – September 520-455-9262 kkarrels@yahoo.com

Downtown Farmers’ Market Main St. - between 2nd & 3rd Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. December - End of March 928-343-1243 info@yumafoodbank.org

YAVAPAI COUNTY Camp Verde K & B Farms NW Corner 1-17 & Orme Dugas Rd. (Between Cordes & Camp Verde) Thursday - Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. May 1 - November 10 928-202-7393 Verde Valley Farmers’ Market Main St. & Hollaman, Ramada next to Ft. Verde State Park Saturdays 8 a.m. – Noon June 13 – October 3 928-634-7077 jcdavie18@msn.com

Chino Valley Chino Valley Farmers’ Market BonnFire Grill Restaurant 1667 E. Highway 89 Thursdays 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. June 3 - September 30th 928-713-1227 info@prescottfarmersmarket.org www.prescottfarmersmarket.org

Cornville Cornville Farmers’ Market Windmill Park 9950 East Cornville Road Mondays 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. (or dusk) June - September 928-649-3190 loishoo@cableone.net

Cottonwood Cottonwood Farmers’ Market & Jamboree 791 N. Main Street Thursdays 5:00 p.m. – dusk July 1 – September 23 928-639-3200 hallen@ci.cottonwood.az.us

Prescott Prescott Farmers’ Market Yavapai College, main parking lot 1100 E. Sheldon Saturdays 7:30 a.m. – Noon May 15 - October 9 928-713-1227 info@prescottfarmersmarket.org www.prescottfarmersmarket.org

Sedona Sedona Community Farmers’ Market Sedona Airport by the Overlook Fridays 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. June 5 - October Sundays Noon - 4 p.m. November 15 - June 928-821-1133 Katrin.Themlitz@gmail.com

ARIZONA HARVEST Now in season!

Arugula, September through May Basil, August through November Beets, November through May Bok choy, October through March Broccoli, October through March Carrots, October through May Celeriac/celery root, January through April Corn, June through October Dates, October and November Figs, June through October Green beans, June through October Green onion, October through March Herbs, year-round Key limes, October and November Lettuce, October through May Potatoes, April through October Pumpkins, August through November Radishes, October through May Scallions, October through March Spinach, October through May Squash (winter), August through November Sweet peppers, July through October Sweet potatoes, December through March Tomatoes, May through November Turnips, October through March

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26 AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010

A growing body of research connects better nutrition with increased cognitive function, attention, memory, and an array of positive health indicators. According to the Center for Ecoliteracy, improved diet improves performance in school, better school attendance and behavioral cooperation. Medical research also makes the connection between better nutrition and disease prevention. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services attributes poor diet and physical inactivity to as many premature deaths as is tobacco. Obesity increases the risk of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, osteoporosis, and many cancers. The New England Journal of Medicine recently stated that the current generation of young people may have shorter life spans than their parents, a reversal of two centuries of increasing life expectancy. In his groundbreaking 2004 bestseller, Superfoods RX, Dr. Stephen Pratt identified 14 foods common to the most disease-preventing, anti-aging diets in the world. His second book Superfoods Healthstyle: Proven Strategies for Lifelong Health outlined an invigorating path to a healthier, happier, more fulfilling lifestyle that has the power to help us combat cancer and avoid Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, macular degeneration, and stroke. It also introduces newly recognized superfoods, such as the once-forbidden dark chocolate, and explains how we can gain and maintain a healthy lifestyle, regardless of age. Dr. Andrew T. Weil, M.D., director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at Arizona State University warns that superfoods can lose their value when commercially processed. For example, to reap the benefits of chocolate, it should consist of at least 70% and contain no high-fructose corn syrup. Unfortunately, chocolate in most candy bars is devoid of any redeeming nutritional value. In fact, candy bars are notoriously bad for us because they contain too much high fructose corn syrup, which our organs cannot process in high quantities. Dr. Weil also indicates that over time, overconsumption of high fructose corn syrup can lead to diabetes and a host of other diseases. He suggests, “Superfoods should be organic, produced locally and consumed in their purest forms in order to maximize their nutritional benefits.” A food that hasn’t yet made the list, but according to numerous sources will, is hemp, which has one of the highest concentrations of omega 3 fatty acids of any food source. We will likely see more of this food become available here in the near future. The good news is that nearly all organic superfoods can be found in most grocery stores and farmers’ markets everywhere!

AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010

Beans– lower cholesterol, combat heat disease, stabilize blood sugar, reduce obesity, relieve hypertension and lessen the risk of cancer. Blueberries–

lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and help maintain healthy skin to reduce the sags and bags brought on by age.

Wild Salmon– lowers the risk of

Cinnamon– studies show that this

Soy– helps prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, and helps relieve menopausal and menstrual symptoms.

Citrus Fruits– lessen the risk for

heart disease and cancer.

Spinach– decreases the chance of cardiovascular diseases, a host of cancers, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

warming spice may boost cognitive ability and also can help regulate blood sugar levels if you suffer from type II diabetes. mouth, larynx, pharynx, and stomach cancers by as much as 50%. A glass of 100% orange juice a day can help reduce the risk of stroke and can boost vitamin C intake.

Tea– boosts the immune system, helps prevent cancer and osteoporosis, lowers the risk of stroke, promotes cardiovascular health. Cranberries– cousin to blueberries, have among the highest polyphenol levels among commonly consumed fruits, and polyphenols are triple threats to disease: they act as antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties, and are antiallergenic. Apples– can reduce the risk of

cancer, particularly lung cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease, asthma, and type II diabetes.

Honey– one of the oldest known

medications, honey can inhibit the growth of viruses and works as an antioxidant. Remember, in general, the darker the honey, the higher the level of antioxidants.

Tomatoes– lower the likelihood of cancer, raise the skin’s sun protection factor and seem to play a role in preventing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Turkey– a perfect example of

a Twenty-First Century “healthy” protein source, extremely low in fat, and provides multiple nutrients which help build a strong immune system.

Broccoli– boosts the immune

system, lowers the incidence of cataracts, supports cardiovascular health, builds bones and fights birth defects.

Oats– lower cholesterol, reduce the

risk of coronary heart disease & Type II diabetes, high in fiber and protein.

Walnuts– reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Yogurt– promotes strong bones and

a healthy heart, another health promoting protein source, and a great source of calcium.

Oranges– support heart health and prevent cancer, stroke, diabetes and a host of chronic ailments.

Pumpkin– helps lower the risk of various cancers (lung, colon, bladder, cervical, skin, and breast) and supplies nutrients necessary for healthy, youthful skin.

Dark Chocolate– potent

antioxident properties promote cardiovascular health and can help maintain healthy blood pressure, promote heart health, and lower the risk for cardiovascular disease. It also serves as a soothing topical skin conditioner.

Avocado– powerful “nutrient

boosters” help the body to absorb nutrients from food, and also seem to be potent warriors in the fight against prostate cancer.

Onions– may make you cry, but

their considerable cardiovascular benefits should make you smile through your tears. Eating onions has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, and to reduce the risk of heart disease by 20%.

Cultivating Cannabis. Why the hemp not?

AZGreenMagazine.com l fall 2010

“Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country.” –Thomas Jefferson–

In the Beginning, There Was Hemp Humans began using hemp more than 12,000 years ago. Evidence of the first human industry exists in a piece of hemp fiber dating back to 4,000 B.C. Since then, hemp, a versatile, non-psychotropic strain of the infamous cannabis plant, has been one of history’s most widely used plants with diverse applications ranging from food and medicine to textiles, rope, paper, and in the last century, biofuel, building materials and composites. Hemp is as much part of the fabric of our country as the American flag, which Betsy Ross first sewed from pieces of hemp cloth. Benjamin Franklin’s famed kite was flown with a piece of hemp string. The Declaration of Independence was first drafted on hemp paper, as was the U.S. Constitution. Presidents George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson farmed hemp as a cash crop. Hemp canvas covered wagons as American settlers crossed the continental divide, and Levis made of hemp outfitted miners during the Great American Gold Rush. Henry Ford, a hemp farmer, designed his first Model-T using hemp composites and ran its engine using hemp-oil fuel. Moms made apple pies with hemp filling and doctors cured headaches and other ailments with a myriad of hemp compounds and tinctures. Hemp grows rapidly in adverse climate conditions without any pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. It can be used to manufacture nearly anything conventionally made of petrochemicals, synthetic fibers, plastic and wood. Composites made of hemp are stronger, more durable and more environmentally safe than any synthetic or wood composites on the market. It is a carbon consuming plant with remedial root systems that can transform toxic brown fields into fertile soil. It has premium value as a food source. Rich in essential nutrients, fatty acids, protein and fiber, hemp has healing properties. Economists, scientists and environmentalists have declared that hemp has the potential to revitalize our economy, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, alleviate world food shortages, slow deforestation and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. An article published in a 1938 issue of 1893 Painting Charles Weisgerber depicts The Birth of Our Nation’s Flag, made with hemp. Popular Mechanics predicted that hemp would become the world’s first billion-dollar crop. As predicted, it has, and continues to provide profitable returns for farmers throughout the world – except here in the United States, where farming hemp is illegal. Ironically, the United States is the world’s largest importer of hemp products despite the prohibition. Deemed safe for public use by the FDA, USDA and FTC, imported hemp foods, textiles and industrial hemp products are readily available to consumers throughout the U.S. Yet, farmers have been forbidden to grow the profitable crop in the U.S. since 1937, when it was banned by congress – a ruling that has perplexed historians, environmentalists, scientists, doctors, farmers, politicians and economists alike ever since. Most people erroneously confuse hemp with marijuana. It is erroneous because, while hemp and marijuana are of the same species, cannabis sativa L., they are distinctively separate plant varieties differentiated by vastly dissimilar properties and uses. The most important distinction between the two lies in their levels of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient that produces the “high” for which marijuana is famous. Because hemp contains only trace levels of THC, it would not produce even a remotely desirable effect for the recreational drug user, and in fact would induce nothing more than a bad headache.

“The chemist has aided in conserving natural resources by developing synthetic products to supplement or wholly replace natural products.” – Lammont Du Pont, 1939 –

30 AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010 crazy behavior” that lead to “widespread violence” and “murderous rampages” in southern farm towns.

HEMP TIMELINE: 10,000 BC There is archeological evidence of use of hemp in the Jarmon period in Japan 4000 BC First evidence of human industry is a piece of hemp cloth in Ancient Egypt 3,000 BC First record of hemp farming in China 1,000 BC 90% of all ship sails and rope are made from hemp 200 BC Specimens of coarse hemp paper found in the Great Wall of China first made during the Han Dynasty 100 BC Hemp is considered one of major food grains along with Millet, Rice, Barley and Soy 1st Century First Christian Bibles are printed on hemp paper 1400s European ships, including those of Christopher Columbus, are rigged with hemp fiber canvas and rope 1450 Gutenberg Bible, the first printed with a movable type, is printed on hemp paper 1545 First recorded planting of hemp by Spaniards who bring hemp to cultivate in Chile 1600s Dutch master painter Rembrandt creates masterpieces on hemp canvas 1607 Explorer Gabriel Archer discovers hemp crops cultivated by Native Americans 1693 William Rittenhouse establishes the first paper mill using rags, flax and hemp 1700s For 200 years, it is common for taxes to be paid in hemp 1728s Benjamin Franklin’s first printing press prints on hemp paper 1752 In his famous experiment demonstrating lightening and electricity, Benjamin Franklin’s silk kite is flown using a hemp string 1763-1869 In Virginia, it is illegal for a farmer NOT to farm hemp 1776 Declaration of Independence is drafted on hemp paper

Brahma (Pômch’ôn), Chosôn dynasty (1392–1910), Hanging scroll, ink and color on hemp; 214.6 x 224.8 cm, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Confusion, Conspiracy or Coincidence? Origins of the widespread confusion can be traced back to a well executed, but factually misleading propaganda campaign intended to demonize cannabis in preparation for a pending legislative measure banning the crop. Propagated by Hearst publications and backed by Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon (former DuPont CEO and Standard Oil tycoon), the campaign known as “Reefer Madness” omitted any distinction between hemp and marijuana. Laden with racial undertones, the campaign characterized immigrant farm workers and African Americans toking on marijuana cigarettes with boldly-written captions stating that the “killer weed from Mexico” was responsible for “wild and

To anyone familiar with the psychoactive and mellowing effects of marijuana, or to any farmer knowledgeable about the distinction between the two varieties of cannabis, the propaganda campaign might have appeared ridiculous. However, launched on the heels of alcohol prohibition and The Great Depression, and just in time for wartime economic recovery, the campaign distracted the public long enough to allow discrete lawmakers to avoid any would-be public protest of the impending legislation. Passage of The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which banned use of all species of cannabis and subjected industrial hemp farmers to expensive taxes, went virtually unnoticed, except by doctors and hemp farmers, who

United States Special Tax Stamp -- Producer of Marihuana -- July, 1945. It was probably related to the U.S. Hemp for Victory campaign, which allowed production of hemp for the U.S. WWII effort. (1945)

had until then enjoyed profitable returns from such a resilient crop. According to an editorial published in a 1937 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the AMA was vocally against the bill. AMA representative Dr. William C. Woodward testified before Congress that the AMA had become aware only two days before that the so called “killer weed from Mexico” was referring to cannabis, a harmless drug that had been prescribed by doctors for centuries. Strangely, in a 1942 U.S. Government -produced film titled “Hemp for Victory,” the very substance outlawed in 1937 was lauded as the one resource that could help the U.S. win World War II. Some hemp historians have attributed the hemp prohibition to the issues of racism, immigration and cultural inequities prevalent during the era, evidenced in Hearst’s Reefer Madness campaign. Since American jobs were scarce during the Great Depression, and a large percentage of marijuana users happened to be migrant farm workers, some theories speculate that marijuana prohibition was enacted to preserve jobs for U.S. citizens that otherwise were given to immigrants.

AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010

Other historians, such as Robert Deitch, author of Hemp: American History Revisited, have compared hemp prohibition to alcohol Prohibition. Dietch contends that Prohibition was supported by oil interests (Standard Oil and Gulf Oil), not on moral grounds, but rather in

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Hemp pile and spinning wheel to make rope.

an effort to prevent farm-produced ethanol (an alcohol-based fuel) from competing with petrochemical fuels. Similarly, hemp historians such as Jack Herer, author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes, place high-ranking political figures and business moguls from oil, pharmaceutical, timber and chemical companies squarely in the cross-hairs of the hemp controversy – first, for driving the prohibition of the crop in the 1930s, and since then for repeatedly lobbying Congress to block repeal of the ban. Collectively, these industries have been widely considered the largest obstacle to the hemp law reformation to date. Historians who blame the hemp prohibition on politics and greed suggest that big industry moguls in collaboration with policy makers were motivated to eliminate competition in order to profit from new technology in petrochemicals, synthetic fuels, pharmaceuticals, timber, paper and plastics. Whether merely coincidence or the result of a masterminded conspiracy, the fact is that hemp prohibition began at the height of the industrial revolution when: petrochemicals developed by Standard Oil were poised to replace hemp as a primary fuel source; synthetic pharmaceuticals would replace drugs made from cannabis; when DuPont patented nylon, polymers, synthetic textiles and sulfur dioxide, a toxic solvent that enables wood mulch to be made into paper; and publishing giant William Randolph Hearst owned vast timberlands that could provide low cost wood that, with DuPont’s sulfur dioxide, could replace hemp as a paper resource for his publishing empire.

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32 AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010 1776 Betsy Ross makes the first American flag using hemp 1787 First Draft of the U.S. Constitution is drafted on hemp paper 1789-1809 Presidents George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson farm hemp 1812 War between France and Russia is waged when Napoleon cuts off Moscow’s hemp export to England 1820s The cotton gin is invented 1837 24th Congress Senate Bill 3 allows drawback of duties on imported hemp 1842 to 1900 Cannabis compounds make up half of all medicines sold 1850 It is illegal for farmers NOT to grow hemp in Kentucky 1850-1870 Levi Strauss manufactures the first “Levis” for gold miners out of hemp canvas 1861 Hemp Bales protect Civil War soldiers in Siege of Lexington, MO

“Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.” -Ronald Reagan At that time, the oil industry was booming with the discovery of new fossil fuel resources and invention of industrial new devices and technology to process synthetics. These events coincided with the invention of the decorticator, a highvolume machine designed to improve the rate of hemp production by automating the laborious process of separating long fibers from the cellulose herd. With that advantage, hemp had the potential to compete with the new synthetic “miracle fibers” entering the market. Hemp prohibition cleared the way for synthetics to secure a market for cording, textiles, dynamite, cellophane, composites and a host of other products conventionally made from hemp with practically no competition. Not everyone buys into the conspiracy theories in the hemp debate. In a 2008 article titled “Debunking the Hemp Conspiracy Theory,” Steven Wishnia contends that theories about big-business conspiring to edge out competition are unsubstantiated. He noted that Hearst was one of the largest purchasers of paper in the early 1930s and didn’t need “hidden self-interest to trumpet fiendish menaces,” and that there was no financial

1867 Mary Todd Lincoln is prescribed cannabis for her nerves after her husband’s assassination

1899 The first bottle of Bayer Aspirin goes on sale to the public 1906 The first U.S. regulation of cannabis is enacted in Washington DC 1913 California passes the first state marijuana prohibition law

Nazi Germany’s chemical giant I.G. Farben (Ethyl) partners with GM and Standard Oil to produce synthetic tetraethyl fuel (leaded gas)

A An early Middle-Eastern painting of the Cannabis Sativa L. plant

The Pink Elephant in the Room

1914 Federal Reserve Note depicts farmers harvesting hemp

1920s Isopropyl alcohol is produced at Standard Oil’s first commercial petrochemical plant

Regardless of which point of view has more merit, the fact remains that the wholly sustainable, highly productive and profitable crop is illegal to grow, a fact that seems absurd when reason is applied. In 1969 the Supreme Court ruled that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was unconstitutional because receipt of the required government tax stamp would

automatically incriminate the grower. The ruling left the door open for Standard Oil heir, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller to add hemp to the list of Schedule 1 Narcotics under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. There it remains criminalized with harsh penalties for anyone caught growing it. In fact, Federal law makes no distinction between a farmer growing industrial hemp and a drug lord growing its psychoactive cousin, marijuana.

1897 Rudolph Diesel invents the first automobile engine, which runs on vegetable, peanut and hemp oils

1916 USDA reports that hemp yields four times as much paper as wood

Popular Mechanics.

connection between Hearst, DuPont and Standard Oil. About author and hemp activist Jack Herer he writes, “Herer more than anyone else revived the idea that the cannabis plant was useful for purposes besides getting high. Unfortunately, he’s completely wrong on this particular issue.” Unfortunately, Wishnia is wrong about that. Cannabis, hemp, is useful for at least 25,000 other purposes, according to

The absurdity continues. Billions of U.S. dollars have been spent on a war waged in part over marijuana and over hemp. Trade of marijuana, now ruled by powerful drug cartels, has incited rising violence inside the U.S. and across its borders -- more than had ever been reported prior to cannabis prohibition. Long anticipated remedial legislation addressing the issue of industrial hemp farming is again pending in Congress. HR 1009 is in committee phase, where it has remained stalled since 2007, quietly

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34 AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010 1926 DuPont begins synthetic methanol production in the US; synthetic rubber from butadiene and fluidized-bed coal gasification is introduced in Germany 1929 Du Pont-controlled GM acquires Germany’s largest automobile company, Adam Opel, A.G., inventors of gasifier tractors that produce fuel by synthesizing wood or hemp 1930 The Federal Bureau of Narcotics is established; Mellon’s Nephew-in-law Harry J. Anslinger is named as its director 1933 Reginald Gibson and Eric William Fawcett of Imperial Chemical Industries discover polyethylene; DuPont begins production of Rayon tire cord fabrics 1935 Backed by Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, DuPont and Randolph Hearst launch anti-hemp propaganda campaign known as “Reefer Madness” 1937 Popular Mechanics predicts hemp would be the world’s first “Billion Dollar Crop” Backed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon (former DuPont CFO and Standard Oil baron), DuPont develops and patents sulfur dioxide to process wood pulp into paper Hearst begins to use his vast timberlands to produce paper for his publishing empire Based on falsified report by Anslinger and pressure by Mellon, Rockefeller, Hearst and DuPont, Congress passes the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 after a 92-second debate 1938 DuPont files its initial basic patent applications for a new synthetic product called “nylon” 1938 Reefer Madness, the U.S. governmentfinanced propaganda film depicting the “extreme dangers” and “addictive qualities” of marijuana is released 1941 Henry Ford is photographed in his hemp field; Ford’s first Model-T was constructed with hemp panels and built to run on hemp fuel 1942 Standard Oil develops fluid catalytic cracking, a process that now produces more than half of the world’s gasoline; polyester resins are introduced US Department of Defense produces “Hemp For Victory” a World War II propaganda film encouraging US farmers to help win the war by producing more hemp Senator Homer T. Bone chairs a committee implicating Standard Oil and I.G. Farben in a conspiracy to suppress development of biomass fuels (e.g., hemp)

awaiting resolution. To date, it remains overshadowed by the pink elephant in the room – the larger debate about legalizing the other variety of cannabis, marijuana. Because of the popular mis-perception about cannabis, vocal proponents of industrial hemp are often confused with advocates of marijuana legalization. Politicians from both liberal and conservative persuasions routinely shy away from hemp advocacy due to the stigma associated with marijuana, coupled with the issue that the industrial hemp variety of cannabis remains classified as a Schedule 1 narcotic. Thirteen states, including Arizona and California, have cannabis-related measures on November ballots. While numerous states have already passed medical marijuana laws, nine states including Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, and West Virginia have passed legislation to allow industrial hemp farming. To date farmers have been unable to secure Federal permits required to grow the crops. DEA officials continue to draw a hard line of enforcement under rationale that Federal laws trump state laws. The DEA also maintains that, due to the physical similarities between cannabis varieties, declassifying industrial hemp would lead to confusion and make it difficult, if not impossible, for law enforcement to control trafficking of the its psychotropic cousin. Meanwhile, industrial hemp trade outside of the U.S. is booming. Hemp is not only competing with, it is surpassing other cash crops in productivity, sustainability and usability. Import of hemp products has grown more than 500% in the past few years; some argue that excluding U.S. farmers and would-be hemp product manufacturers from a potentially lucrative, “home grown” business is fostering unfair trade. A recent report issued by Canadian hemp producers, Manitoba Harvest, states that the company’s sales have grown more than 1,000% over the past 5 years, earning them a spot on the Profit 100 list of the fastest growing businesses in Canada. Growth in exports has helped the company reach new heights, with average monthly sales of nearly $1 million. The company attributes a portion of its success in the food sector to recent controversy over Canadian flax production being overrun by genetically modified organism (GMO) seeds. Public demand for organic food sources not grown from GMOs or with petrochemical intervention gives Manitoba Harvest a competitive edge. According to the report, “Canadian

flax foods are increasingly made from GMOs, an engineering concept the European Union marketplace is opposed to using in food products. So it appears that this GMO health and environment issue might open up even more opportunities in the EU for Manitoba Harvest hemp foods.” While decriminalizing industrial hemp

Up for a 2010 Academy Award for his role in The Messenger, actor Woody Harrelson walked the red carpet sporting a designer tuxedo made of hemp.

would benefit farmers in the U.S., it also stands to threaten profits of corporate manufacturers of petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, food products, lumber materials, paper products and textiles – makers of nearly every segment of U.S. gross domestic product. Furthermore, it stands to wean industrial farmers off of the perpetual GMO Round-Up merry-goround, an insidious cycle of dependency on toxic chemicals, sterile seeds and government subsidies with powerful political backing. Considering that an organically grown acre of hemp yields on average 20 metric tons of chemicalfree raw material that can be made into 100 metric tons of building materials, food products, medicines, paper, textiles, fertilizer, plastic substitutes, bio fuel and pest, weed and fungi remediation, powerful opposition to a Congressional repeal of the hemp ban is not surprising. What is surprising is that hemp reform has not yet become a hot-bed priority in mainstream American politics. The proindustrial hemp movement has garnered its share of high-profile advocates. In 1998, Anita Roddick, a human rights activist, environmentalist and founder of cosmetics chain, The Body Shop, shocked the conventional cosmetics industry by

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introducing a complete line of hemp-based cosmetics. That year, she also funded a documentary about noted hemp historian and author, Jack Herer called Emperor of Hemp. Up for a 2010 Academy Award for his role in The Messenger, actor Woody Harrelson walked the red carpet sporting a designer tuxedo made of hemp cloth. In 1996, Harrelson challenged law enforcement in Virginia by planting four industrial hemp seeds in public. He was eventually acquitted, but not before enduring a lengthy trial. Another act of civil disobedience occurred as David Bronner of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps along with several farmers from Vermont and North Dakota took shovels and hemp seeds to the front lawn of the DEA Museum in Washington, D.C. Their subsequent arrest was caught on video, where Bronner can be heard saying, “Our kids are going to come to this museum and say, ‘My God, your generation was crazy.’”

hemp for the purposes of making paper has the potential to reduce the rate of deforestation by 50% worldwide. Unlike wood, hemp can be processed into paper without use of toxic petroleum-based chemicals such as sulfur dioxide. The same can be said for hemp fibers used for making canvas and other textiles. Unlike cotton, hemp textiles are resistant to salt water degradation and mold, and can be grown pesticide free. For centuries, hemp canvas was the most common material used to make rigging lines and construct reliable, durable canvas sails on ocean-going ships because of its resistance

Gasifier tractor is replaced by petroleum fueled tractors and subsequently disappears from the market 1948 General Douglas Macarthur rewrites the Japanese Constitution, and includes the Taima Torishimari Hô, the Hemp Control Act 1950 Scientific studies conclude that marijuana, unlike narcotics, is not addictive

1969 Life Magazine publishes article on disproportionate severity of laws; Nixon Administration reduces federal penalty for first offenders to misdemeanor

“That is not a drug. It’s a leaf.”

1969 The U.S. Supreme Court rules the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 violates the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution because compliance requires selfincrimination

Why the Hemp Not?

For centuries, hemp was the primary resource for paper products, and in fact quality of hemp paper was considered far superior to that of wood-based paper due to its resistance to age-related blemishing such as yellowing, fungus, mites, and wear and tear. It is estimated that reintroducing

hemp timeline cont. 1945 DuPont patents the selective herbicide 2,4-D revolutionizing weed control in cereal plants

1968 The consumption of man-made fibers exceeds natural fibers in the U.S.

– Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger –

Hemp, which can be produced organically, is 100% carbon neutral, making it one of the most sustainable, environmentally friendly raw materials of any cash crop. Virtually every element of the plant can be used to make thousands of products with practically no waste. Hemp does not require chemical fertilizers to thrive, even in depleted soil. Its root system has regenerative effects on the soil, and excess leaves and by-products can be mulched and composted to rejuvenate soil seasonally, which enables farmers to reuse hemp acreage more frequently than other crops that require alternating acreage for topsoil rejuvenation. Hemp resists damage caused by weeds, fungus and insects, and its mulch can be brewed into a tea that serves as an organic insecticide and fungicide, which eliminates the need for petroleum chemicals to protect the crops. Hemp is also extraordinarily hardy, adaptable to nearly any climate or soil condition. Resistant to drought, high winds and hot climates, hemp can survive with less water in extreme conditions where other crops struggle, such as in the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico and mountains of Colorado and California.

A 1914 Federal Reserve note depicts hemp farming during the industrial revolution.

to salt air corrosion. The word “canvas” was actually derived from the word “cannabis.” Its strong fibers have been used to back carpets and linoleum or made into fine, durable fabrics and textiles. Hemp fibers are now also being made into a variety of non-toxic building materials such as concrete, plaster, paints, furniture oil, cellulose products and plastic alternatives. Hemp stock is widely used throughout the world as the primary ingredient of Hempcrete, a permeable, breathable concrete alternative that is being used for paving roads and making block walls in construction applications. As building materials go, hemp’s durability, breathability and insulating qualities combined with its zero toxicity make the material stronger, healthier and more energy efficient than any other construction material used in the U.S. today. The Push House in Ashler, North Carolina was the first hempcrete home in the U.S. Builders David Mosrie and Anthony Brenner plan to build more homes out of the material.

Driving Hemp Home A more noteworthy application of hemp is its use in making biofuels and composites

1970 Controlled Substances Act bans hemp in all forms in the U.S. and increases criminal penalties 1972 Vietnam veteran Don Crowe is convicted of selling less than an ounce of marijuana and is sentenced to 50 years in prison 1973 New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller establishes marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic; “Rockefeller Drug Laws” become the cornerstone of America’s War on Drugs 1980s President Ronald Reagan orders DEA to dig up approximately 1.5 million industrial hemp plants growing wild in U.S. 1985 Jack Herer’s bestselling book, “The Emperor Wears No Clothes” ignites the modern marijuana legalization movement 1996 Actor Woody Harrelson is arrested in Virginia for planting four hemp seeds in protest of the law outlawing possession of any part of the cannabis plant 1998 The Body Shop is the first mainstream cosmetics manufacturers to create a line of hemp beauty products; its founder, Anita Roddick funds Herer’s film, “Emperor of Hemp” 2003 Canada becomes the first country in the world to legalize medical marijuana

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“Why use up the forests which were centuries in the making and the mines which required ages to lay down, if we can get the equivalent of forest and mineral products in the annual growth of the hemp fields?” –Henry Ford–

conventionally made with petroleum products for use in the automotive industry. In 1896, Rudolph Diesel’s first motor engine was designed to run on biofuel made from vegetables and grains including hemp. Henry Ford was a hemp farmer who used hemp to manufacture and fuel his automobiles through the 1940s. The December, 1941 edition of Popular Mechanics Magazine reported that the Ford Motor Company had completed 12 years of research and has assembled a prototype plastic body car made from 70 percent fiber (wheat straw, hemp) and 30 percent resin. The plastic panels could withstand a blow 10 times greater than steel without denting; the car weighed 1000 lbs less making it more fuel efficient. Modern auto makers are reintroducing hemp features into their new car designs. The 2011 Ford Explorer is made of hemp composites. Canadian auto manufacturer Motive Industries recently revealed their design of their hemp-bodied Kestral. In 2008, more than 25% of the composite materials used in the Lotus Eco Elise super car prototype were made of hemp. It is estimated that each car made demands a minimum of 10 to 20 pounds of fiber. With an average of 13 million cars produced annually, there is a potential market of 260 million pounds of fiber annually in North America alone. Each pound of hemp fiber is sold for between $.05 and $.30 each, compared to plastic compound at $.20 to $.60 per pound, which adds up to significant savings for auto makers, and best of all, millions of dollars for otherwise struggling farmers. As an organic food source, hemp is one of the world’s most nutritious substances with one of the largest concentrations of Omega 3 fatty acids of any known food. Widely considered a superfood, hemp is also rich in proteins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. For centuries it has been a household staple, used for making flour for cakes, breads and fillings for pies and other culinary dishes. Health food manufacturers use hemp in a variety of protein supplements and powders, and given its zero toxicity, hemp has become a popular base for cosmetics, personal hygiene products and cleaning supplies.

It is worth noting that on October 7, 2003 US Patent 6630507 was assigned to the United States of America, as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services. The patent protects “Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants” for the purposes of providing “...a new class of antioxidant drugs, that have particular application as neuroprotectants, although they are generally useful in the treatment of many oxidation-associated diseases,” according to Patent Storm database.

empire controlled by monolithic GMO producers, relying heavily on the government subsidies that perpetuate the unsustainable chemical farming thrust upon them, the legalization of industrial hemp can break the cycle of dependence and generate a fully sustainable, profitable and remedial crop that can be grown organically without chemical or GMO interference. As our nation grapples with economic hardship and environmental threats, the movement toward a more sustainable future is gaining steam with the promise of a better life. Our forefathers placed high value on a substance that remains one of our planet’s most abundant, regenerative and renewable resources. Reintroduction of industrial hemp has the potential to alleviate global warming, starvation and poverty. George Washington once exclaimed, “Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere!” We ask, why the hemp not? n

The Push House in North Carolina is the first U.S. home constructed using hempcrete in 2010. (source: pushhouseblogspot.com)

Harvesting Hemp: a Carbon Neutral Future What is most noteworthy is hemp’s sustainability factor. Producing petroleum synthetics requires consumption of nonrenewable resources and processing of highly toxic raw materials that emit tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The process of producing hemp fiber is carbon neutral, given that during the life of the plant it has consumed more carbon than it takes to process it into fuels or composites ready for use. The amount of paper that can be produced from a single acre of hemp requires four acres of mature forest to produce, and whereas a forest may take a century to regenerate, hemp fields can reproduce within a year. Whereas cotton crops use up to 50% of the world’s supply of pesticides, hemp’s resistance to insects allows it to grow without the use of any pest control chemicals. Its ability to grow in and regenerate mineral-depleted farmland and contaminated “brown” fields means it needs no chemical fertilizers, unlike other industrialized crops. As commercial farmers throughout the U.S. battle the new industrial farming

“Growing hemp as nature designed it is vital to our urgent need to reduce greenhouse gases and ensure the survival of our planet.” –Jack Herer, Emperor of Hemp– hemp timeline... 2007 A second industrial hemp bill, HR1009 is introduced to the 110th Congress 2009 David Bronner of Dr. Bronner’s Magical Soaps is arrested after planting industrial hemp seeds at the DEA museum Representatives Ron Paul and Barney Frank introduce the Hemp Farming Act of 2009 2010 Nominee for an Academy Award for his role in The Messenger, actor Woody Harrelson is photographed on the Red Carpet wearing a tuxedo made of hemp cloth The Push House, the first home constructed with “hempcrete,” is built in North Carolina Jack Herer, considered to be the Emperor of Hemp, dies April 15 n

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Harvesting Preservation The sweet relief of fall is in the air, finally breaking the sweltering heat that permeates our region every summer. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high time to hit the trails and reconnect with nature, and at the same time explore some of Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most treasured assets. Arizona wilderness offers some of the most breathtaking scenery anywhere, and the vibrant colors of fall are an added bonus this time of year. Throughout the State of Arizona, our network of state parks and national wildlife refuges provide an abundance of wildlife and biodiversity where we can renew our appreciation for delicate ecosystems and at the same time revitalize our spirits. Contributor Lynn Mushorn did a little exploring to find a few amazing, mind-cleansing trails and along the way, harvested some of Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sustainable lodging with organic farm-to-table cuisine.

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Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

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elcome to the White Mountains of eastern Arizona, located 4 hours from Phoenix, Flagstaff, or Tucson. There are abundant trails accessible from Greer that range from 1 mile to 19 miles long and flat to steep mountain grades and wildlife for company. Caution is advised during monsoon season when mud inhibits road access. Maps may be obtained at the Greer Lodge, the Springerville Ranger Station and at nearly every trailhead. More information is available at www.fs.fed.us.

MOUNT BALDY

A few of our favorite hikes include the West Baldy Trail that climbs to a summit of 11,200â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and the West and East Fork Trails, which are a bit tamer elevation-wise but every bit as beautiful during late summer early fall.

POLE KNOLL

Pole Knoll is very typical of the knolls that grace the White Mountains. Vegetation ranges from ponderosa pine, spruce and aspen to bunch-grass and conifers. Vehicles, including snowmobiles, are prohibited from the fragile grass slopes and hiking trails in the forested areas, which makes this a very peaceful setting.

SITGREAVES/MONGOLLAN RIM

Located southwest of Greer, a million dollar view can be seen for 200 miles along the rocky Mogollon Rim. Major attractions include eight cold-water lakes, breathtaking vistas and an abundance of seldom-traveled trails.

WHERE TO STAY/GREER LODGE

Weekend getaway to honeymoon to family reunion to ... well, you get the picture. Nestled among ponderosa pines on the Little Colorado River is a 25-acre slice of paradise called Greer Lodge. Built in 1949, it was originally a destination for church retreats but soon began appealing to hunters and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camps and eventually all forms of tourism. Its success has led to expansion, and scattered around the Greer Main Lodge are 50 freestanding cabins. There are myriad permutations of lodging options, including adult-only hotel rooms in the historic main lodge, dog-friendly cabins, and individual cabins of every possible size, sleeping 4 - 32. These cabins have it all: Wi-Fi, televisions/DVDs, movies, fully equipped kitchens, BBQ grills. The Lodge is chock-full of activities to please every member of your party, and they are all free: fly-fishing lessons, kayaking lessons, volleyball, lawn bowling, croquet, mountain bikes, bird-watching (including binoculars), night telescopes, ATV trail access, DVDs and board games. In the winter you can enjoy free snowshoe rental, XC skiing, or take the short drive to Sunrise Ski Resort. Hiking trails are close by. Rates: $179-279 nightly for rooms in the main historic lodge, $1791299 nightly for cabin rental, and $149-499 nightly for dogfriendly cabins. For reservations, call (928) 935-7216 or www. greerlodgeaz.com.

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Red Rock State Park

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ed Rock State Park boasts a diverse network of hiking trails ranging from stroller and wheelchair accessible to rigorous climbs for athletically inclined adventure seekers. More than 10 miles of well-planned and clearly marked trails traverse the 286-acre park. Trail maps come with the Red Rock Day Pass ($5.00 per vehicle), which must be displayed in your windshield when you park. Passes can be obtained at the Red Rock Ranger Station near the Village of Oak Creek. Passes are also available at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. (928) 203-2900. Recommended trails:

OAK CREEK CANYON

This is an easy, mostly flat trail that meanders through the lush verdant Oak Creek Canyon for three miles with 11 creek crossings. The adventurous can continue another eight miles up canyon. The fall foliage season is absolutely astounding here, a visual picnic of red, yellow, and orange oak leaves alongside evergreens against a stunning pink canyon wall backdrop.

SECRET CANYON TRAIL

A little bit more arduous, this trail leads into the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. The maintained trail is 5.5 miles long; if you wish to continue further you simply follow the streambed. The trail is a riparian delight with slots and narrows and a dizzying array of architectural features. Same $5.00 day pass applies.

MESQUITE LOOP

More arduous still, this trail leads to the Eagles Nest Trail, which gains 300 feet to a scenic outlook boasting panoramic views of the park. Comfortable hiking shoes and plenty of water are a must. Bring your camera!

WHERE TO STAY/ GARLAND’S LODGE

photo by runnin

gdog

Open April through November, this charming homestead c.1900 became a guest lodge in the 1930’s and continues to epitomize the ultimate in romance and relaxation in Northern Arizona. Located 8 miles N of Sedona and 20 miles S of Flagstaff, Garland’s Lodge is the jewel of Oak Creek Canyon. There are 16 guest cabins amid 10 acres of lush organic gardens and apple orchards. Inspired by the local food movement, their veteran chef creates world-class cuisine every night but Sunday and is available to everyone, not just Lodge guests. “Without phone, television, or Wi-Fi there is ample opportunity to appreciate the simple pleasures of strolling the gardens, enjoying a game of ping pong, having a massage or attending one of our yoga classes,” says Mary Garland, owner. The Lodge is also a prime launch pad for some of the best hiking trails in Arizona or day trips to Sunset Crater, Walnut Canyon, and Montezuma’s Well. Of course, Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek are nearby for shopping and gallery-hopping. Rates range from $245-295 nightly and include breakfast, four-course dinner, and afternoon tea. For reservations, call (928) 282-3343 or visit www.garlandslodge.com.

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nguided hiking in the Monument Valley, most of which is privately owned by residents of the Navajo Nation, is restricted to the Wildcat Trail within the boundaries of the Navajo Tribal Park. The scenic 3.2-mile path encircles the West Mitten Butte with moderate inclines in soft, sandy earth. Infrequently traveled, the trail offers solitude and tranquility in which to appreciate the breathtaking vistas. The hike takes about 2 hours at a moderate pace. A Navajo Recreation Permit ($5 per person) is required upon entering the park. To get there, take Route 160 to Kayenta, then go North on Route 163 just past the Utah border where you will see a sign for Monument Valley Tribal Park on the right. Follow the signs to the Visitor Center, located behind the Arizona state line. The trailhead is located just past the Visitor Center at the edge of an escarpment frequently used as a campsite. To see more, inquire about Navajo hiking guides for hire.

Where to Stay/The VIEW ntil recently, there wasn’t a single hotel anywhere in the Monument Valley, which straddles the border of Utah and Arizona. Built with the reverence and solar orientation of Navajo tradition, The View is Monument Valley’s first and only hotel. More than 90% of the operating staff are Navajo nationals, all of whom adhere to the hotel’s strict environmental policy. Guest education about environmental stewardship is offered as one of the hotel’s many amenities. The hotel’s easterly views offer unobstructed views of the Mitten Buttes, and photographers are advised to bring a tripod for capturing magnificent time-lapse moonlit shots. Rates are seasonal (starting at $95 in winter, starting at $195 in summer). Call ahead during warm seasons to be sure it is not sold out. For reservations, call (435) 727-5555 or visit www. monumentvalleyview.com.

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Monument Valley

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grand canyon

Aravaipa Wilderness Preserve

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avaipa Wilderness Preserve is home to 100 butterfly species, 400 bird species, 47 amphibians and reptiles, and 93 mammals â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the greatest diversity of vertebrates in the U.S. and the second highest land-mammal diversity in the world. The 19,410-acre Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness is run by the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) and permits are issued to a limit of 50 people per day to minimize impact and provide solitude. The Canyon is 11-miles long with surrounding tablelands and nine side canyons to explore. Most of the hiking is through perennial creek beds, so tennis shoes or sandals are the recommended footwear. The trail is a haven for plentiful and varied wildlife including bighorn sheep, ringtail foxes, and 200 species of birds -- bring your camera. Contact the BLM for permits, available 13 weeks in advance: (928) 348-4400.

photo by Jona

thon

WHERE TO STAY/ C. STEELE ARAVAIPA FARMS Carol Steeleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich and vibrant history spans from shopping center development to furniture design and restaurant and catering. Many of you will remember the C. Steele Marketplace in Old Town Scottsdale, a treasure trove of her home wares and inspirational southwest culinary delights. In 1992 she was inducted into the Phoenix-Scottsdale Culinary Hall of Fame. Shortly thereafter she opened this bed and breakfast country inn at Aravaipa Farms located in Winkleman just 2.5 hours SE of Phoenix, 1 hour N of Tucson. The property consists of a main house and five guest casitas; a heated lap pool; outdoor fireplace; an organic garden and greenhouse and a hen house supplying fresh eggs. There are no phones, televisions, or Wi-Fi here and all meals are included in your stay. Dinner is the highlight where guests come together at the communal table for conversation, a glass of wine (BYOB), and fabulous cuisine boasting ingredients from the organic garden. Aside from swimming, playing in the creek, and bird watching, there are plenty of day hikes within a short drive. For reservations, call (520) 357-6901 or visit www.aravaipafarms.com.

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“Basic human contact - the meeting of eyes, the exchanging of words is to the psyche what oxygen is to the brain. If you’re feeling abandoned by the world,

interact with anyone you can.”

–Martha Beck–

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Taking the Lead a Horse Whisperer’s Journey

by Gabrielle Saveri

mbling down a bumpy, dusty stretch of road on the way to Prescott, it’s a blistering 98 degrees. Koelle Simpson, 30, Scottsdalebased horse “whisperer” bounces along slowly in her giant silver quarter-ton diesel truck, avoiding potholes and making her way towards the Circle “L” Ranch, a privately-owned horse rescue farm located just off Highway 17. Just past Wigwam Road, desolate, dusty pastures appear as far as the eye can see – a hodgepodge of barbed-wire fences, rust-colored metal horse pens, some ramshackle houses, a church and a smattering of horses in every size, shape, color and age you could possibly imagine. She pulls into the front chicken-wire gate of the ranch and prepares to halter-break a wild 18-month-old Bay Quarter Horse named Wildfire, who’s been at the rescue outfit ever since he was born. “He’s totally ‘green’,” quips Simpson, pointing to the muscular black-maned horse as we enter onto the ranch grounds. In horse-talk, “green” means nobody has ever even put a halter on him. For rescue outfits like Circle L, that is an important factor in determining whether or not a horse is ready for adoption. “If you can’t get a halter on him, then he can’t be adopted,” she says. Breaking a horse is nothing new for the small-framed, darkhaired Simpson, who has been working with horses and using natural horsemanship techniques for more than 15 years. “The more untouched horses are, and the more trauma they’ve been through, the more they challenge me to be present. You have to be aware of every micro-move you make because that matters a lot,” she explains. She admits the challenge keeps her on her toes. Simpson began working with horses while growing up in Florida. Having struggled with unhealthy relationships as a child, horses provided an escape from abuse in her daily life and enabled her to minimize her interaction with people.

“I had developed a lot of distrust, and struggled with negotiating around people’s hidden agendas,” Simpson recalls. As she spent more and more time around horses, Simpson began to notice that they were extremely sensitive to her energy and that often, they reflected back the same energy she was putting out. “I found that if I came to the horses from that place of being a victim, they wanted nothing to do with that kind of energy. In order for me to get close to them and enjoy interacting with them, I had to learn how to act differently,” she adds. Simpson believes she learned to communicate better by balancing her own energies when working with the horses. “As a child, I didn’t realize that these majestic and powerful teachers would not only help me rebuild trust within myself, but also to rebuild healthy relationships with people in my life.” The lessons she learned from her four-legged friends were pivotal toward shaping her own behavior: “I learned to really embrace being a leader of my experience, to be compassionate and understanding, and to set healthy boundaries for myself.”

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help us to return to our true nature, who we really are, and who we really are capable of being,” she says. “Working with the horses can bring us back to a place of balance, where we can set healthy boundaries, learn to communicate clearly and become aware of how we are interacting with others.” Simpson takes people through various physical exercises with the horses so they can learn powerful lessons from these teachers. One of the exercises, called the “join up,” involves learning to communicate in the language of equus, a non-verbal language of gestures that can be understood by the horse, and step into a leadership position by earning a horse’s trust.

A turning point in Simpson’s career occurred when she went to work for Monty Roberts, a famed “Horse Whisperer,” whose autobiographical book became a bestseller on the heels of the popular film starring Robert Redford. Roberts offered her the opportunity to teach courses at his learning center, travel on tour with him, and to work with a multitude of very troubled horses. Simpson acknowledges that it was a tremendous leg up to be cast into an accelerated learning curve and hone technical skills that qualified her to rehabilitate and instill trust in traumatized horses. While most horse whisperers focus on rehabilitation of horses, and fixing miscommunication between animals and people, Simpson was inspired to take the practice to another dimension when she connected with Arizona-based life coach and Oprah columnist Martha Beck. In the course of working with Roberts, Simpson facilitated a workshop that was attended by Beck and her family. “She told me I was born to be a life coach,” says Simpson about Beck. She laughs, “I didn’t even know what a life coach was.” The encounter with Beck inspired her toward another stage of her horse-whispering journey. Shortly thereafter, Beck mentored Simpson through her Master Life Coaching certification. The added credential

qualified her to combine life-coaching skills with what many describe as her magical gift with horses. Since then, Beck and Simpson have co-facilitated workshops once or twice a year all over the world. “We help people learn how to make things happen in their lives – to feel empowered and overcome some of the difficulties that are holding them back,” says Simpson. By introducing people to the horse whispering experience, Simpson believes she can help them develop a stronger sense of themselves. “Watching the transformation of a troubled animal is powerful, but I have been inspired by observing how the horses can actually

With these exercises, students learn to use their energy, not their voices, to guide the horses. The students get to see how they really present themselves, communicate, and deal with issues they are struggling with in their daily lives. “The horse gives you very specific feedback about how you’re coming across, such as how comfortable that horse is with you, if that horse trusts you, and if you’ve really genuinely earned a leadership position in their herd,” Simpson explains, “The thing that causes a horse to feel comfortable, allowing you to lead, is the same thing that causes other people to see you as an authentic leader.” For many, experiencing Equus Coaching is transformational. Evfa Cerises, a Phoenixbased filmmaker found the training to be a valuable tool in self-

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“I have been inspired by observing how the horses can actually help us return to our true nature, who we really are, and who we really are capable of being.” -Koelle Simpson-

discovery. “Interacting with the horse gave me an opportunity to get feedback about how my unconscious behavior is received by others,” says Cerises, who recently received Equus Coaching. “I could clearly see the natural relationship between the issues of my life - what I was projecting – and the horse’s reaction to it. It helped me to understand how my relationships with people are effected by my actions, and it gave me the tools I needed to change.”

Kelly Eide, an established business consultant who is training to become an Equus Coach, began working with Simpson last year in hopes of becoming better-acquainted with her own inner voice. “Working with Koelle taught me how to reconnect with what I was born knowing,” she says. “Nineteen years of education taught me a lot of facts and figures and tactics for how to lead my life, but working with Koelle reminded me of the life I was meant to lead. I’m so grateful,” she adds. “If you look to the rest of the animal kingdom, they’re not suffering from posttraumatic stress,” explains Simpson. “Animals in nature are connected to their own intuition. As human beings, for multiple reasons, we have become so stressed and overwhelmed by everything we have on our to-do lists. It has caused us to become so imbalanced.” Through her work, Simpson hopes to help people achieve a more balanced life, and perhaps more importantly, in the true spirit of inspiration, awareness and stewardship, to

reestablish a connection between people and nature in a world where many are just not that connected. “I think that we’re all yearning for a sense of peace, and purpose, and for a sense of connection to the world around us,” she explains. “My mission in life is to help people connect with nature and to empower them to be the best that they can be.” Simpson currently offers Equus Coaching workshops to individuals, groups, and corporations, all over the world – locally here in Arizona, and as far away as Abu Dhabi and South Africa. More information about her workshops is available at. www. koelleinc.com.n

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A Rescue Roundup:

Circle L Ranch Animal Rescue & Sanctuary was founded by Dr. Deborah Wilson under the auspices of her foundation, Feathers Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization. Wilson’s love of animals has inspired many and her commitment to them is nothing short of extraordinary. Beginning with the rescue of birds, both exotic and domestic, Dr. Wilson expanded her idealism to include the rescue of horses, goats, cattle and of course, to dogs and cats. There is no such thing as an animal that is “left behind” at the Circle L Ranch, where the “un-adoptable” could live out their remaining years in a loving environment. Located in Prescott Valley, the Circle L Ranch houses our many horses, goats, cattle and senior and special needs dogs. Dr. Wilson founded a second ranch, Circle Mountain Ranch, located in New River, AZ to house more “easily adoptable” dogs. Recognizing “it takes a pack to save a pet,” Feather Foundation works with foster home providers throughout the state to assist by providing temporary sanctuaries for cats and very young or specialneeds animals. Circle L Rescue envisions a time when all animals are recognized as an integral part of our natural world. Animals are honored, protected, and preserved. Visit www.CircleL.org for more information.

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adventure tour ranch offering hayrides, horse and pony rides, hayrides to and from the pumpkin patch. Choose from guided horseback trail rides, hayrides, early morning, mid-day, or evening Cowboy Cookouts, and many varieties of entertainment. Located in the tranquil Sonoran Desert at 26540 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255. Phone 480-585-0239. www.macdonaldsranch.com Mother Nature’s Farm offers a pumpkin patch, hayrides, school tours, animals, picnic area, and corn maze as well as a bounce house, petting zoo, a little pumpkin for your child to decorate, playground style areas, and picnic areas. A good time for kids and adults alike and conveniently located as well on Baseline between Stapley and Gilbert at 1663 E. Baseline Road, Gilbert, AZ 85233. Phone: (480) 892-5874. Email: news@mothernaturesfarm.com

Halloween at the Farm by John Slemmer

From haunted cornfields and pony-pulled hayrides to pumpkin patches and petting zoos, Arizona farmers provide some of the best, old-fashioned fun for families at Halloween at reasonable prices. Many farms follow organic practices and allow you to pick your own pumpkin directly from the field. If you’re heading north, remember to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a jacket. It is a good idea to call ahead first to make sure a pumpkin patch is open, and check farm websites for current prices, discounts, activity schedules, directions and maps.

Cochise County

Coconino County

Apple Annie’s Orchard Farm is a beautiful family-owned fruit orchard north of Willcox, Arizona, in the southeastern corner of the state. The 4300’ elevation with warm days and cool nights make Willcox the premier you-pick fruit and vegetable growing area in Arizona. Apple Annie’s Orchard specializes in delicious, tree-ripened fruit, pies and other treats “just like home-baked,” apple cider, and good, old-fashioned family fun! Apple Annie’s Orchard Farm (formerly Hunsdon Farms) is open Daily 7 AM – 5:30 PM, July to November. It is located about 60 miles east of Tucson at 6405 W. Williams Road, Willcox, AZ 85643. Phone: 520384-2084. Email: apples@appleannies.com. www.appleannies.com

Mountain Ranch Resort doesn’t offer a pumpkin patch, but instead offers fall season fun with hayrides and horse rides. Expert guides will take you into the tall, quiet pines of Kaibab National Forest, where you may see a variety of wildlife, including elk and deer. We provide an experienced horse perfectly matched for every riding level, so you can sit back, relax, and relive the Old West they way it was meant to be... on horseback! 6701 East Mountain Ranch Road, Williams, AZ 86046. Phone: 928-635-0706.. www.mountainranchresort.com

Maricopa County MacDonald’s Ranch is a premier horseback riding stable and western

Schnepf Farms suggests you call ahead to inquire about their Pumpkin & Chili Party, pumpkins, hayrides, pumpkin decorating, make your own scarecrow, live music, and bonfire nights. Located at the corner of Cloud and Rittenhouse at 22601 E. Cloud Road, Queen Creek, Arizona 85242. Phone: 480 987 3100 and (480) 987-333. Email: schfarm@ earthlink.net - www.schnepffarms.com Superstition Farm has straw or hay bale mazes, tractor-pulled hayrides, gift shop, picnic area, a farm animal petting zoo and school tours. They also offer fresh eggs, butter, jams, honey, fruits and vegetables. Located off the 202, exit Elliot Road west to Hawes, 3440 S. Hawes Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212. Phone: 480 986 7781. Fax: 480 986 7781. Email: info@SuperstitionFarm.com Tolmachoff Farms offers pumpkin patches pre-picked or you pick in the field, train rides, corn maze, haunted corn maze, corn cannon, restrooms, picnic area, bouncy castle or moon bounce, petting zoo, farm animals, school tours. The farm is open Sunday to Thursday, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm: Friday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 11:00 pm; pumpkin patch is open through October 31st; the corn maze is open from October 1st through November 21st. It is located about 1/4 mile south of Bethany Home Road at 5726 N. 75th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85303. Phone: 623-386-1301 - www.tolmachoff-

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Vertuccio Farms offers a variety of pumpkins already gathered from the field, a corn maze and school tours. Easily accessed from the 60 and 202 freeways, it is located at 4011 S. Power Road, Mesa, AZ 85212. Phone: 480-6506606. Alternate Phone: 480-650-6611. Email: conoandangela@myway.com

Navajo County Willis Farm offers a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, educational field trips and an after-dark haunted corn maze through October 31. Located in eastern Arizona at 381 South 1st Street, East Snowflake, AZ 85937. Phone: 928-5567788. Email: lamarwillis@frontiernet.net thewillisfarm.blogspot.com

Pima County Buckelew Farm Pumpkin Festival typically offers a haunted corn maze, walking trails, weekend Halloween nights, and horse-drawn wagon rides to and from the 42-acre pumpkin patch. Enjoy a â&#x20AC;&#x153;u-pick-itâ&#x20AC;? experience and a fairlike atmosphere. Check the website for updated times and prices. It is located at 17000 W. Ajo Way, Three Points, AZ, Phone: 520-822-2277. Email: nick@buckelewfarm.com www.buckelewfarm.com Forever Yong Farm - Forever Yong Farm offers an organic pumpkin patch, you pick in the field, and a farm market. It is open Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm and occasionally Monday to Friday (call ahead). Forever Yong Farm is located south of Tucson off exit 48 at 33225 Moyza Ranch Road, Amado, AZ 85645. Phone: 520-398-8030. Email: jyciaz@yahoo.com

Santa Cruz County Agua Linda Farm also follows organic practices and offers pumpkins you pick in the field, a Fall Festival, child-sized hay-bale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, honey from hives on the farm, fresh eggs, already-picked produce, gift shop, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals and school tours. It is located south of Tucson off exit 42 from I-19 at2643 East Frontage Road, Amado, AZ 85645. Phone: 520-398-3218. Email: stewart@agualindafarm.net www.agualindafarm.net

Yavapai County Adams Family Farm offers pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patchalready gathered from the field, fall festival, child-sized hay-bale maze, horsedrawn hay rides, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, pumpkin weigh-off, fresh eggs and more. Adams Family Farm is open Tuesday to Saturday 9 am to 4 pm and on Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Located west of Camp Verde at 17455 S Round Mountain Rd, Dewey, AZ 86327. Phone: 928-632-8155. Email: info@adamsfamilyfarms.com www.adamsfamilyfarms.com Freeman Farms Pumpkin Festival Festival follows organic practices and offers several varieties of pumpkins, minipumpkins and corn stalks, decorative corn, gourds, and sweet corn (when available). Family fun includes hayrides, a train ride, petting zoo, horse presentation, a minicorn maze, refreshments and school tours. They also offer wildlife presentations and conservation education. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October. Call for exact times. It is located about 20 miles north of Prescott at 1096 East Rd 3 south, Chino Valley, AZ 86323. Phone: (520) 850-3990. Email:info@azpumpkins.com www.azpumpkins.com This information is constantly changing, see www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org for updated information. And have a safe, healthy and happy Halloween!

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by Diann Peart

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to create a healthy holiday for your family and the environment. Just follow these simple steps to add healthy green to your Halloween tradition. Pick play makeup and costumes carefully. Children love to wear colorful cosmetics as part of their costumes. Just make sure theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re using safer products and applying them as directed. Visit www.cosmeticsdatabase.com to look up your products and find safer ones.

Toxic Tricks to avoid: Face paints and lipsticks that contain lead, which can impair brain development at extremely low doses, as well as nickel, cobalt and chromium, which can cause skin sensitization and contact dermatitis. Kids tend to eat almost as much as they put on their lips, so avoid lipstick all together. Choose a shiny, beeswax-based lip balm.

Nail polish:Frequently contains

dibutyl phthalate and toluene, chemicals linked to hormone disruption and cancer. Skip it.

Cosmetics in powder form can easily be inhaled. Depending on the particle size, the powder can lodge in childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nasal passages and even lungs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where it may cause damage.

Read the ingredient labels and avoid products listing â&#x20AC;&#x153;fragranceâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Environmental Working Group research found that fragrances may contain allergens or hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Fragrances:

contain toxic chemicals and fragrance. Kids can easily breathe in sprays. Instead, find a great hat or wig at a second-hand store; or create a great hair-do with ribbons

Colored Hairsprays

and barrettes.

Synthetic facemasks and teeth.Masks and fake teeth are made from a variety of synthetic materials

that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always labeled. Plastics may be softened with endocrine-disrupting phthalates. Rather than covering your head with unknown, possibly toxic material, make your own mask from simple materials or try a half-face, masqueradestyle mask instead.

Healthy Treats to Enjoy: Offer treats that you would like your kids to receive. Hand out items that have fewer, more natural ingredients. Try organic chocolate bars from Trader Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or Whole Foods, and Newmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Own peanut butter cups, caramel cups, or peppermint patties. Endangered Species Bug Bites have been a hit with the younger kids â&#x20AC;&#x201C; bite size chocolate with trading cards. Decorate naturally. Pick up pumpkins, gourds (grocery stores) and hay bales (local farm or feed and tack store) to create a haunting scene and reuse decorations from year to year. You can find most of these items at local pumpkin patches that are also good for some preHalloween fun for the whole family More information is available at www.herbnorganics.com.

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like the treats,

and Michael’s Garden has plenty to beguile the most bewitching witch! Choose from an assortment of colorfully decorated hats and matching broomsticks to complete the look, all made by participants of a very unique program of Michael’s Garden, a Division of ACCEL (Arizona Centers for Comprehensive Education and Life Skills). Michael’s Garden was established to provide adults with functional disabilities and autism an opportunity to gain valuable employment skills through practical, “hands on” training in classes that reinforce these skills. These unique witches’ hats are handmade by Michael’s Garden participants with a host of donated and recycled materials. The program “encourages and incorporates artistic expression as part of its special needs vocational training program,” says Gail Curran, Vice President of Organizational Development. Curran, whose experience includes work with the Michigan Special Olympics and other various charities, assists developmentally disabled as Director of Operations for H.O.P.E. Group, LLC, and president of the Arizona Autism Coalition. “Job skill development prepares clients for independence, by

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teaching a specific set of work skills, which may someday be transferred to community employment,” she adds. Each day, Monday through Friday, participants come to Michael’s Garden to train and work with professional staff, to create products that are shipped in 48 states as well as Canada and the UK.

“The hats are fabulous,” says Scottsdale resident Karen Thovson, who explained she had a hard time choosing from a selection from the seasonal line “Bewitched” at The Christmas B in North Scottsdale. Settling on the vibrant “Sun Devils” hat, Thovson and several other area residents volunteered to model the hats at El Pedregal’s recent wine and jazz festival to help raise money for the charity. Other hats on exhibit that day included a “Cardinals” ensemble, as well as bat, spider and wizard collections. Michael’s Garden Halloween hats and brooms are available every fall, and Michael’s Garden has a variety of “Haute’ Hats” for any season or occasion. n A complete catalogue is available for viewing on their website www.michaelsgarden.org. Michael’s Garden is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, proceeds raised from the sale of their unique millinery collection directly benefits their program.

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or centuries, a bountiful harvest has been celebrated with gratitude in nearly every culture of the world. Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln more than 200 years after the infamous feast occurred at Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts. Popular American folklore traces the origin of the Thanksgiving tradition to 1621, when Pilgrims arrived in the New World. The story goes that native Wampanoag Indians were invited by the Pilgrims to partake in a feast to commemorate a successful negotiation for land that would become Plymouth Plantation. History books most of us read as children portray a very pleasant account of the events surrounding that first Thanksgiving celebration, which account has been challenged by historians for generations due to the absence of some cultural accuracies. What many of us donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know is that when the European and English immigrants arrived into North America, they relied heavily on the Native American Indiansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; knowledge about the nature of the unfamiliar new world. The Wampanoag Indians were well versed in seasonal planting as well as nutritional and medicinal properties of indigenous plants, considered wild animals to be their brethren, and regarded all nature with reverence. They also treated newcomers with the same respect they paid to each other. Hospitality toward visitors was a very important part of Indian custom, and despite the cultural differences, most welcomed

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the visitors and offered to assist them with harvesting of food and negotiating the wilderness. Their hospitality was not always reciprocated. In the 1500s, brutal battles ensued when some new settlers converged on land already occupied by Native Americans. Indian villagers were massacred; many who survived the invasions were captured, taken to Europe or the West Indies and sold as slaves. According to a study of The Fourth World Documentation Project, a collaborative endeavor of the Center for World Indigenous Studies, one survivor from the Wampanoag Tribe named Squanto was befriended by an English explore named John Weymouth, who taught him English and took him to England. Shortly after his return to New England, Squanto was captured by a British slave trader, sold to Spaniards and taken to the Caribbean. A Spanish Franciscan priest aided his escape, which took him back to Europe where he met Samoset, another Native American from the Wabanake Tribe who had made a similar journey to England. Both men returned to New England shortly before the Pilgrims arrived in 1620. When Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, they were challenged by their new way of life in the northeastern wilderness. It is reasonable to assume they were surprised to find two native Indians speaking English when Squanto and Samoset approached them. Squanto taught them about survival, indigenous plants and how to cultivate the land for seeds they had brought from Europe. With this assistance, the pilgrims eventually adapted to their new life, and their harvest successfully provided enough food for the coming winter. As was a traditional observance in England, the pilgrims celebrated the harvest with a feast to give thanks for their bounty, and invited Squanto and Samoset to bring their families. When the Indians’ 90 family members arrived, the pilgrims were caught unprepared for such a large gathering, so Squanto and Samoset sent for more food including corn, beans, squash, wild turkeys, fish and berries. “The Wampanoag were actually invited to that Thanksgiving feast for the purpose of negotiating a treaty that would secure

the lands of the Plymouth Plantation for the Pilgrims. It should also be noted that the INDIANS, possibly out of a sense of charity toward their hosts, ended up bringing the majority of the food for the feast,” historian, author and educator Chuck Larsen wrote in The Fourth World Documentation Project study. While that moment of gratitude for the bounty of a harvest is celebrated annually in today’s tradition, what may have been forgotten is that the harmonious coexistence of two vastly different cultures began with an appreciation for nature and a custom of hospitality. The harmony was short lived – followed by decades of battles over territory instigated by a next wave of pilgrims who may not have been aware of the hospitable assistance received by their predecessors. Despite the subsequent violence, the essence of that Thanksgiving feast has been celebrated ever since. According to Larsen, “Its theme has truth and integrity far above and beyond what we have been taught.” This Thanksgiving, as our society struggles with economic hardships, cultural inequities and daunting environmental perplexities, we would be well served to reflect on the bounty that flourished as a result of contrasting cultures embracing their differences, working together and respectfully adapting to nature. Despite current events, we Americans have a lot to be grateful for, and stand to gain so much by rekindling a Native American reverence for the earth, as well as an unconditional respect for one another and tolerance of our cultural differences. Gratitude for life’s bounty is a universal gift we can share in fellowship every day. Happy Thanksgiving. SB Editorial note: The Fourth World Documentation Project was a collaborative endeavor of the Center for World Indigenous Studies (a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization) in an effort to raise awareness in historical education. For more information, visit www.cwis.org.

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AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010

people

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Weaving Threads of Connection for People, Planet, Profit

rom the depths of an economic landslide, the likes of which haven’t been seen since The Great Depression, a revolutionary shift in consumer values is giving rise to a new wave of principled business with heightened focus on sustainability and enlightened self-interest. A new trend that has become known as “Conscious Capitalism” is poised to replace unsustainable business practices that have reigned over a global economy for decades.

“Without a doubt, the three primary forces behind lasting based on each member’s mission and goals and linking them with business success are sustainability, innovation and creativity,” said other conscious-minded business professionals who are determined Star Simmons, founder of to find an effective path Threads of Connection, an towards prosperity. Arizona-based consultancy The Celebrate! Your Business that helps businesses conference covered the topic integrate principles of of Conscious Capitalism at community, sustainability length. Inspiring leaders and enlightened selfin the fields of business interest, also known as the sustainability addressed the triple bottom line: People, –Patricia Aburdene– challenges and opportunities Planet, Profit. “These that people are encountering elements must concurrently as they adapt to the new address the needs of our planet and its people engaging in the value-driven market. Larry Johnson, Arlene Rosenberg and new sustainability movement.” Star Simmons spoke on topics like cause marketing, corporate Simmons, whose life work entails connecting like-minded integrity, sustainability, mastering change and value-minded individuals – bringing them together to create mutually beneficial connections. Keynote speaker Patricia Aburdene, bestselling alliances – is weaving Threads of Connection principles into author of Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism, a very unique professional network she calls “The Namastera spoke on conscious capitalism, the power of conscious money, Community,” which will be launched on March 1, 2011. trends in innovation, employee engagement, green investing, value-based leadership and conscious consumerism. “Celebrate! Your Business,” a recent event hosted by Threads of Connection, highlighted the importance of value-minded connections. “The conference was designed to explore exactly how each of us can provide reliable and enduring value by implementing the ‘triple bottom line’ of People, Planet, Profit, which are the social, ecological and economic concerns of today,” Simmons explained. Based on principles presented in the Celebrate! Your Business conference, the Namastera Community takes an innovative approach to networking a step farther. The Namastera Community will create for its members personalized connections

While corporations have been focused on strategy that cuts costs and quality to increase profits, overall value has diminished, according to Aburdene, who explained that both workforce culture and consumer satisfaction suffer. A prime example, Ford, the only U.S. automaker that didn’t accept a government bailout, implemented innovation, creativity and sustainability in their overall business and as a result fostered a culture of cooperation and leadership within the organization and popularity among consumers. “Isn’t it nice to once again be proud of a U.S. auto company?” she asked the audience.

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art

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Alchemy of a Scavenger “Through the organic and found elements I allude to the human impact on the environment, earthly things and the process of change.”– Elizabeth Frank

lizabeth Frank’s whimsical assemblage sculptures seem born from a hobbit’s curiosity shop. Remnants of broken furniture, bits and pieces of vintage hardware and other found treasures come to life as wooden characters reminiscent of fables and folklore. Considering herself a bit of a scavenger, Frank draws inspiration from odds and ends she collects in urban scrap piles, flea markets and junk shops. “Like most artists my studio is filled with all sorts of unusual things. Mine happens to have more of what others discard. When I see furniture scraps, tree limbs and bits of metal piled in a corner beside a completed sculpture I feel like an alchemist,” she explains. “For me though alchemy is less about turning lead into gold than it is about the potential we all have to positively transform our world.” She is also profoundly inspired by nature. Each year, she makes what she likes to call her annual pilgrimage into the mountains of northeastern Arizona to gather fallen aspen branches and pieces of reclaimed wood to incorporate into her work. Once

collected, the wood is then dried, sorted and matched with her found objects. Her process of sculpture and assemblage begins. Frank combines the fallen branches with found objects or broken, discarded and distressed materials. She considers the found items to be as important as those from nature – each tells its own unique story. By layering many odd pieces together the life of each artwork unfolds as a story. “Through the combination of organic and found elements I allude to the human impact upon the environment, the transience of earthly things, and the process of change,” says Frank. Elizabeth Frank is native to southern Arizona, and currently resides in Tuscon. Her work is available in galleries throughout Arizona, including Scottsdale and Tucson, and on her website at www. elizabethfrank.com.

Gallery Listings: Costello Childs Contemporary/Scottsdale AZ: www.costellochildsart.com Bohemia/Tucson AZ: www.bohemiatucson.com Obsidian Gallery/Tucson AZ: http://www.obsidian-gallery.com/ Mas y mas/Tubac AZ: 520.398.8468/masymas@mac.co

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2. 3.

4. 5.

1. 1. Mother and Child 20.5” x 11” x 8” media: carved found aspen wood, reclaimed wood, reclaimed metal, acrylic, wax 2. Grower’s Talisman 4.5” x 1.5” media: carved found wood, vintage jewelry, antique hardware, antique glass doll’s eye 3. Big Bird Love- Union Series 24” x 6” x 1.5” media: carved found aspen, vintage hinge, acrylic, wax 4. Tin Can Angel 8” x 8” media: carved found aspen wood, found preprinted tin, acrylic, wax 5.Tiny Monsters 7” x 3.5” x 6” media: carved aspen, vintage brass furniture casters, antique porcelain doll arms, acrylic 6. Singing Tree 19” x 12” x 6” media: carved found aspen and manzanita woods, antique tin, acrylic, wax

books

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Hemp: Not Just for Hippies Anymore! There is a lot to digest when it comes to the topic of hemp. We sorted through volumes of information and found these books provided the best insights, practical wisdom and debates about hemp and the social, environmental, political and economic consequences of its prohibition. The Emperor Wears No Clothes by Jack Herer  Considered the “Emperor of Hemp,” Herer exposes motives influencing big business and government leading to hemp prohibition, which took hemp out of competition with producers of paper, fuel, food, cellulose and textile products. First published in 1985 with 12 reprints since by Ah Ha Publishing. www.Amazon.com Hemp Horizons: The Comeback of the World’s Most Promising Plant by John W. Roulac  Roulac provides hope for tomorrow as he covers every aspect of industrial hemp farming and what it could mean to the world economy, the environment, the farmer, and everyday life. Published in 1997 by Chelsea Green Publishing Company. www.Nutiva.com Industrial Hemp: Practical Products – Paper to Fabric to Cosmetics by John W. Roulac Roulac offers the history of hemp production in China and Europe up to modern times, including the importance of the decorticator machine, and how hemp led to victory in WWII. First published in 1995 on hemp paper by Hemptech. www.Nutiva.com Hemp for Health by Chris Conrad  Hemp for Health contains information concerning the food and healing properties of cannabis sativa L derived from both the industrial hemp and marijuana varieties of the plant. First published in 1997 by Healing Arts Press. www.Amazon.com. A Modern Introduction to Hemp: From Food to Fiber by Paul A. Benhaim Benhaim shows all aspects of hemp foods, the health benefits, and nutritional values with diagrams of protein content, fiber, essential fatty acids. Published in 2003 by Paul Benhaim and available for purchase by emailing the author at paulb@hemp.co.uk. Hemp: Lifeline to the Future by Chris Conrad Hemp Lifeline to the Future offers a detailed look into the history of hemp, its decline and prohibition. Published in 1994 by Creative Xpressions Publications. Distributed by BACH at www. equalrights4all.org The Great American Hemp Industry by Jack Frazier  This collection of research papers written during 70s, 80s, and 90s gave the hemp constituency its first glimpse of historical facts. First report published in 1973, and volume published in 1991 by Solar Age Press. Available by calling 847-516-8035 Advances in Hemp Research edited by Paolo Ranalli If you don’t have a degree in agronomy or know agricultural terminology then this book may be a difficult read, but it contains a factual examination of hemp farming in Europe. Published in 1999 by Food Products Press, an imprint of The Haworth Press, Inc. www.HaworthPress.com

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AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010

dinning

Farm To Table Favorites

by Kate McClendon

y husband, Sean and I got to spend another wonderful evening at FnB in Old Town Scottsdale. FnB stands for Food-and-Beverage, and they definitely deliver on the name. For those of you who remember Sea Saw, you will be happy to know that Charlene Badman and Pavle Milic have settled into the same space with their own version of culinary genius. The menu and atmosphere does not at all resemble its previous life under Nobou Fukuda’s direction, but you will find that you are still dazzled by both a wonderful meal with inventive flavor pairings and the entertainment of a little kitchen theater while you dine.

I love watching a talented chef at work. I have spent years at my mother-in-law’s kitchen counter while she creates her magic, all of it seemingly effortless. The bar at FnB offers this experience. The transformed space is very welcoming to pulling up a chair and watching as Charlene graces the kitchen. I found myself simultaneously enjoying what I had ordered and making mental notes for my next trip while I saw her create one beautiful dish after another. Charlene Badman offers up a menu that displays the same culinary prowess she demonstrated at Rancho Pinot with selections that include Roast Jidori Chicken, Fried Green Tomatoes with Green Goddess dressing (yes, please!) and Boneless Trout with Sunchokes, Caramelized Onions and Dill. All items we tried and enjoyed, along with a Cauliflower Gratin, a favorite of mine. Our conversation was interrupted throughout the meal with exclamations of “Oh wow! You have to try this!” The decor is very inviting, but it is Pavle’s attentiveness that makes you feel at home. I felt like I was a regular on my first night. Charlene offered us a taste of Braised Leeks with a Fried Egg on top. There was also a side of bread, to make sure we enjoyed every last bite, since the sauces were as much of a star as the dishes they accompanied. Just when I thought we couldn’t take anymore, we saw her at work on a dessert, and found the strength to continue. Not wanting to choose favorites we ordered both the Crème Brulee and an Apple Crisp with homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. Sean is a Crème Brulee fan (and snob, to be honest) and he declared Charlene’s to be the best he had ever tried. Plus, nothing is cooler than seeing a Crème Brulee caramelized with a branding iron. Told you it was kitchen theater! Located at 7133 East Stetson Drive, FnB is such a beautiful addition to Old Town Scottsdale. It’s nice to see Charlene and Pavle have the success they so richly deserve. There must be good karma in that kitchen, because I foresee enjoying more wonderful evenings there in the near future. Contributor Kate McClendon works with her family on their organic farm, McClendon’s Select, located in Peoria. They are a supplier of farm fresh organic food for some of the area’s top chefs. For more culinary delights, visit www.mcclendonsselectblog.com. And be sure to visit her at local farmers’ markets this season! Town & Country Farmers’ Market in Phoenix on Wednesdays 8:30am-2:00pm, and Old Town Scottsdale Market in Scottsdale on Saturdays 8:30am-1:00pm.

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eco-centric

T Harvest of

the

Storm

Revolutionary Stormwater Management System â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Under Dog Paradise by Carrie Morgan

he hard crust of the desert floor, parched from the triple-digit heat of summer, lays in wait for the wild bursts of wind accompanied by millions of gallons of water that promise to satiate our everlasting thirst for rain. Answering the call, the monsoon seemingly comes from nowhere, and in its wake flash floods roar through the valleys accompanied by wild bursts of wind sending palm fronds, roof tiles and other debris whirling across your neighborhood. While most of our flora and fauna welcome the rain, its aftermath causes untold damage to the environment. And because the hard-baked earth is slow to absorb such mass quantities of water, the excess rainfall funnels through the nonpermeable streets in urban areas as if in a channel directly into city sewers. In fact, according to the National Weather Service, urbanization increases runoff twoto-six times what would occur on natural terrain. To anyone rationing water in arid environments like Phoenix and Tucson, it seems a terrible waste to watch such a precious resource literally running down the drain. Unfortunately, there are larger problems at issue with stormwater runoff. According to information provided by Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the EPA estimates that roughly 30% of known pollution to our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waters is attributable to urban stormwater runoff.

Areas of particular vulnerability are open developments under construction where stormwater can more freely move loose soil sediments that carry a host of particle pollutants such as phosphorus, heavy metals and organic compounds into aquatic systems. To curb this problem, permitting guidelines require developers to comply with a wide range of environmental conservation measures, examine potential runoff problems and offer a cohesive plan prior to breaking ground on new urban or suburban developments. As a result, technical experts have found creative ways to store and distribute water while preserving the landscape and accommodating urban growth. Storage cisterns under parks, curbing that funnels runoff to landscaping and irrigation, sunken rock or grass micro-basins that naturally absorb pooling water are just a few of the innovative water harvesting methods that surround us â&#x20AC;&#x201C; often so effectively we hardly notice. During the last decade, new federal mandates are requiring builders to integrate more effective environmental stewardship practices into their communities. With the scarcity of undeveloped land in urban settings, coupled with heightened public awareness about the importance of preserving natural settings, some developers are taking initiatives above and beyond governmental requirements to

76 AZGreenMagazine.com l fall 2010/digital preserve the environment. Developers of Paradise Valley’s Paradise Reserve and its sub-community, The Village at Paradise Reserve, made its innovative storm water management system a large priority – quite large, in fact. The million-gallon storm water reservoir and distribution system is strategically situated under a residentsonly dog park to minimize the footprint of the huge system while preserving native plant life and maximizing usable land.

Not Just A Dog Park Environmentally responsible design was an under-riding theme across virtually every aspect of the plan for the new luxury home community in Paradise

community that truly leveraged stateof-the-art sustainability practices. I think we achieved that with strategic design that truly embodies the greener direction that the building industry is headed toward,” Sahd explains. Schiabor recalls, “We knew that harvesting and storing water would enable a slow, measured release of storm water without damage and erosion to the property. We ruled out above-ground ponds because of the inherent issues with evaporation, mosquitoes and such - even though it required a larger expenditure, underground tanks were clearly the ideal solution.” Why put a dog park over it? “It is the perfect amenity. It gives our residents a great place to relax and mingle with

One pond is 70 by 80 feet, and the other 90 by 200 feet - both hewn out of solid rock. Other green initiatives on the project included careful preservation and replanting of all native plants over oneinch growing on the property, using 100% native stone from the area to hand-build retaining walls along the low-profile roadways, and taking care to leave sizeable areas untouched with their natural state intact to preserve the mountaintop and minimize environmental impact of the homes - including a reduced number of lots and careful placements of each building envelope.

Taking It To The Next Step - Greening Homes Placing emphasis on environmental stewardship in the development at large, Sahd and Schiabor endeavored to work with builders who also embrace sustainability. After a rigorous screening process, the developers selected Cullum Homes as the exclusive builder for The Village at Paradise Reserve, which launched construction in September. “Their expertise and core belief in extensive green building practices mirrored our own, and perfectly complemented the vision of the project,” says Schiabor about Rod and Kim Cullum, the husband and wife principals of NAHB Certified Green Professionals rated Cullum Homes. “The synergy of our collaboration has helped us to realize our vision of creating one of the most environmentally friendly luxury communities in the State of Arizona.”

Valley, the last remaining privately held acreage located at the edge of Phoenix Mountain Preserve in Paradise Valley. According to Paradise Reserve’s principal developers Bob Sahd and Scott Schiabor of Paradiso Development Corporation, a cornerstone of the development strategy was to protect and preserve the federally protected arroyo running through the property. As a natural corridor for wildlife and storm event runoff down the side of the mountain upon which the community is perched, protecting the fragile ecosystem was critical. “Not only did we want to preserve the natural beauty of the property, which is tucked up against the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, but we wanted to create a

their pets and other homeowners. The dog park preserves important areas of undeveloped land in a natural state while accommodating one of the most important sustainability features of the development. It is an unprecedented system for a residential community,” adds Schiabor. Roughly $45 million dollars has been invested to date, in land and development of the extensive water management infrastructure at Paradise Reserve. Throughout the Paradise Reserve development, the site’s roadways and curbs are designed to funnel water to the underground system, which consists of ten-foot wide interconnected pipes feeding into two underground retention ponds.

The design, size and amenities of the Paradise Reserve residences have been carefully conceived to reflect a “new normal” in homebuilding - increased emphasis on energy efficiency, indoor air quality and smart water usage within a smaller and more manageable carbon footprint. That’s something to anticipate seeing from more and more builders who vie for a competitive edge in this new ecominded economy.n Columnist Carrie Morgan is founder and president of Rock The Status Quo, a Phoenix-based marketing, public relations and online visibility consultancy firm. She is also author of A Fragile Planet, www.afragileplanet. com, a green blog focused on Arizona’s journey to a sustainable future.

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essentials

Tilley LTM6 @HOLLAND HATS (hemp) www.hollanhats.com This hat has a life Lifetime guarantee! The Tilley features a broad down-sloping brim and lightweight design this hat is perfect for both rain and sun protection. Certified UPF50+ the LTM6 is crushable, packable, and machine washable. This Tilley Hat is great for all outdoor activities from hiking to sailing. $64.95

SOLEO ALL NATURAL SUNSCREEN www.valleynaturals.com Because Soléo Organics sunscreen contains only natural and organic ingredients, it is ideal for young children, people with sensitive skin and anyone who is health conscious. $10.99

BRUNTON RESTORE PORTABLE POWER DEVICE www.rei.com This power device is a tough, compact unit that charges iPods, phones, digital cameras, GPS units and other electronic devices. With it’s Internal rechargeable lithium polymer battery, it can be charged in a car with the included DC adapter, from a computer or via the sun’s rays. A must have on any hike! $89.95

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NG 5737(hemp) www.videodirect.com EARTH EXPLORER mirrors National Geographic’s dedication to exploration and its commitment to conservation. They use environmentally friendly components and sustainable materials such as hemp and cotton, and replace plastic fastenings with brass buckles. $292.90

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finance

holding on until the market turns. While it may seem that this market would be advantageous to any homebuyer, the lower prices don’t always translate into a better deal. The cost to renovate may push the basis over the price the renovated home could appraise for once the renovation is complete. Adding insult to injury, shell-shocked banks have tightened their belts while treading cautiously toward recovery. It is

or better or worse, the aftermath of the subprime mortgage quagmire has resulted in housing prices unheard of since the start of the last real estate boom. It would seem that now is a great time to buy a home, right? Well, that depends on whom you ask. For those with a lot of cash and lines of credit to spend on properties they can afford to hold indefinitely, the answer is yes. For others, and in likelihood, most, the answer would patently be “no.” The economic landslide has left many with little or no cash to spare for a down payment and others with credit scores that could send a mortgage broker running for the hills. Of the homeowners lucky enough to have skirted foreclosure, many are locked into upside-down mortgages and

now more difficult than ever to qualify for a conventional loan, and lending guidelines keep changing with larger down payments and higher credit score requirements shutting even more people out of this opportunity rich market. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. With the plethora of bank-owned properties on the market, there are a lot of good deals attracting buyers eager to enter the market while the prices are low. Trouble remains that many won’t pass the appraisal process required by lenders. Some of these homes have been stripped of anything that makes them habitable prior to foreclosure. If spared that demise, others have deteriorated from months of neglect during the foreclosure process. Sounds pretty bleak, right? Well, again, it depends whom you ask. Mike Jones, a Phoenix, AZ-based mortgage banker at Academy Mortgage says, “No. If a buyer renovates green and retrofits the home with energy efficient features, then they are likely to qualify for a green loan program when conventional banks turn them away.”

Academy Mortgage Corp., one of the few mortgage companies that has actually thrived in this post sub-prime era, is a pioneer of energy efficient loans. Much of their success can be attributed to a flexible program they call Energy Advantage, which can be structured into various guaranteed or conventional financing options, depending on the applicant. Federal guidelines have been established for energy efficient mortgages (EEMs) designed to encourage homeowners to retrofit their homes with energy saving features. The premise behind EEMs is that the energy efficient upgrades will improve the property value and result in lower utility costs, thereby allowing banks to consider higher debt-toincome and loan-to-value ratios when qualifying loan applicants. When the cost of energy upgrades is wrapped into the mortgage, the amount of the additional payment is often less than the amount saved on utilities each month, which translates into lower monthly expenses for the homeowner, or higher discretionary income from the bank’s perspective. The EEM programs therefore increase borrowing power. The FHA EEM guidelines allow lenders to add 100% of the additional cost of energy efficient upgrade to an already approved loan provided that those costs don’t exceed $4,000 or 5% of the home’s value, up to a maximum of $8,000, whichever is greater. No additional down payment will be required, and for programs such as Energy Advantage, the FHA loan limits won’t interfere with the process of obtaining the EEM. “Green loans are creating win/win opportunities for buyers, sellers and homeowners. Buyers can qualify for a more valuable house than they could with a conventional loan. For sellers, the program enables them to sell an otherwise troubled property. Existing homeowners can actually reduce their monthly expenditures, even with a higher mortgage payment, and at the same time improve their home’s value,” said Jones. Energy Star, VA and conventional lender EEM programs are emerging, as are EEM programs for new homebuilders that apply through HUD. The benefits of an EEM apply to the back end as well. Studies have shown that energy efficient homes sell faster and

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for more money than their conventional counterparts. So why isn’t every bank making green loans? “I think lenders are reluctant to try new programs because of public and media pressure to correct mistakes of the recent past. People simply haven’t been made aware of how advantageous these loans can be,” said Jones. Patricia Reineger, a loan consultant who teaches realtors about the benefits of EEMs at the Arizona School of Real Estate and Business concurs. “These loans are not widely publicized, and awareness is key to the EEM programs becoming more popular,” said Reineger. “Another reason is that the EEM application process is cumbersome and for some realtors, the extra paperwork isn’t worth it. However, the option to purchase an energy efficient home using an EEM can make the difference between a prospective homeowner affording a home or not.” Reineger cites the burden of the cost of energy audits as another primary reason more EEM programs are not utilized. An energy audit typically costs upwards of $500, and is a requirement for qualifying for an EEM program. In response, some energy auditors are beginning to team up with banks to offer additional incentives to homeowners and buyers. Arizona-based REEIS, an energy efficiency auditing firm, has teamed up with mortgage bankers W.J. Bradley and Wells Fargo to offer free energy audits to homebuyers interested in purchasing an energy efficient home, a cost which is absorbed by the bank, not the buyer. Factoring the significant reduction of monthly energy costs coupled with the utility rebates, tax advantages and incentives provided by lenders, an EEM can add up significant savings for homeowners, both in the short term and over the term of a home loan. “We’ve been doing these loans for some time, so our formula is well tested and really works, both for us as lenders, and for our borrowers as well,” said Jones. This might lead one to reconsider whether now would be a good time to buy. If you put some green into your property, the answer could be a resounding YES! And you might just get some extra green in your pocket as well. SB

health

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Harvesting a Cure t’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and a number of Arizona businesses are making an effort to help research organizations harvest a cure. While some are directly making donations or offering matching donation programs, others are helping to spread the word by offering incentives for their customers to make donations to one of several breast cancer-related organizations. “To support the community in honoring breast cancer awareness, we are pleased to provide this opportunity for our customers to help us make this donation, simply by scheduling an audit,” says Vince Hunter, co-owner of the Phoenix franchise of Pro Energy Consultants. With co-owner Alan Hart, Hunter will match the donations collected for October, and will present a check on behalf of the company to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.

Through this promotion, Pro Energy also hopes to raise awareness of the wellness solutions provided by an energy audit. According to Hart, many people have homes or offices with rooms that are hotter or colder than another, dust or other air-quality issues, all of which can be found by doing an energy audit.

Even smaller retailers are making an effort by pledging a percentage of sales in support of the cause. Last year, The Christmas B, a small boutique located in North Scottsdale donated 10% of sales proceeds on any item containing the color pink or white throughout the month of October to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. According to the shop owner, Bonnie Bishop, the store will do the same again this year throughout October. Nationwide, organizations have made efforts to make corporate giving easy. Symbollon Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of the nutraceutical Iogen, a natural molecular iodine supplement that promotes breast health, has pledged to donate $5 from every bottle of Iogen sold at Hi-Health stores in Arizona through a nationwide campaign called Shop for the Cause. The proceeds go to Mayo Clinics’ breast cancer research efforts. The program aims to raise funds for research and increase public awareness about female reproductive health. “We are proud that Hi-Health has invited us to participate in their efforts to benefit Shop for the Cause. There are so many women impacted by breast-related diseases,” says Symbollon representative Paul Desjourdy. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, corporate sponsorships are critical in furthering and strengthening their mission to gain the advantage over breast cancer by supporting initiatives that have proven to be lifesaving to thousands of women. The organization offers a variety of programs for any business size that can be requested by filling out a simple from their website. www.nationalbreastcancer.org. Susan G. Komen for the Cure ® is a new member of Community Health Charities which offers payroll-deduction giving options to employees in a number of private firms. Federal employees will find Susan G. Komen for the Cure ® listed as an option in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) in the alpha-index or the federation index under Cancer Cure of America, listed as “Breast Cancer, Susan G. Komen for the Cure ®.” “Nearly everyone knows someone affected by breast cancer and other reproductive diseases – directly or indirectly, at home or at work – and awareness is key to combating the odds,” says Dr. Deborah Wilson a North Scottsdale-based gynecologist. “Early detection as the first line of defense saves lives – and research is the disease’s best offense toward combating the disease.” Research has come a long way, and with the generosity of donors, breast cancer foundations are successfully enabling that crucial process. SB

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are just around the corner with both executive and legislative posts to fill. Relying on political ads to sort truth from fiction is like relying on the tooth fairy to pay your mortgage. Minus the rhetoric, the voter pamphlets offer an overview of pertinent facts, but won’t really help to dissect the pros and cons of any given issue or candidate. If you are curious about how Arizona politicians performed on important environmental issues, Arizona League of Conservation Voters’ 2010 Arizona Legislative Score Card is a great resource. Each year the League weighs in on voting records and provides measured results. Wiki Ballots is another excellent resource for reliable, unbiased information with citations to back up facts supporting arguments on either side of a ballot measure. Up for grabs this year are hotbed measures on affirmative action, health care reform, union elections, conservation issues and the State budget. As for those 2010 ballot measures, four will directly impact conservation, preservation and sustainability on November 2nd, 2010.

Proposition 301,

Arizona Land Conservation Fund Transfer, is a measure that impacts the Arizona Preserve Initiative of 1996, which set aside certain parcels of State Trust land in and around metropolitan areas to provide open space for the benefit of future generations. If passed, Proposition 301 will allow state lawmakers to transfer $123.5 million of funds from the land-conservation fund into the general fund. The primary argument in support of 301 is the State budget, which could be helped by moving the funds. Opponents, including Grand Canyon Chapter director of the Sierra Club, argue that the voter-approved fund has already been allocated for conservation projects such as the expansion of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale.

Another measure on the same topic is Proposition 110, Arizona State Trust Lands Question. This Constitutional Amendment would authorize exchange, sale or lease of Arizona State Trust lands to prevent future development from encroaching on land adjacent to military installations. It would also allow for voter approval after public notice and hearings. Supporters include Governor Jan Brewer, Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Education Association, Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, Arizona Farm Bureau and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. The measure has no opponents on record according to Wiki Ballots. Curiously, Proposition 109, Arizona Hunting Amendment, a constitutional amendment to protect the right of citizens to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife, places the fate of wildlife in voters’ hands. While it is already legal to hunt in the

state of Arizona under a wildlife management system that has worked well since 1929, the amendment, Section 36 to Article II of the Arizona Constitution, adds language that reads, “Wildlife belongs to the State and is held in trust for the benefit of the citizens of the State.” Sponsored by the National Rifle Association and Representative Jerry Weiers, the measure, if passed, would give the state exclusive authority to regulate the manner, methods or seasons for hunting, fishing and harvesting wildlife and would deem hunting the primary method of wildlife management. What the measure doesn’t specify is how the State lawmakers intend to use their exclusive authority and how that may impact the growing number of wildlife species that are recovering from or leaning toward endangered status. Proponents of 109 argue that the measure protects a traditional recreational sport, and that funds generated from sale of tags and licenses are essential to wildlife conservation efforts, and that hunters provide necessary wildlife management services. Measure supporters include the National Rifle Association, Arizona Deer Association, Arizona Game and Fish Commission, Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club. Opponents argue that Proposition 109 will undermine the current wildlife protections and management, exclude citizens from having a voice in wildlife protection, and prevent citizens from voting in defense of wildlife in the future. Organizations opposing 109 include The Humane Society of the United States, Animal Defense League of Arizona, Sierra Club-Grand Canyon Chapter and Humane Voters of Arizona. Perhaps the most controversial is Proposition 203, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Initiative, which may have more to do with sustainability than you would think. If enacted, the legislation would make Arizona the 15th state to legalize medicaluse marijuana. Similar measures have been tried three times in Arizona and have either failed or if passed, been repealed. Under the proposed legislation, Arizona Department of Health Services would regulate distribution and sales to authorized non-profit dispensaries, and would govern usage. Patients with medical permits would be protected from arrest and prosecution for possession and employers would be prohibited from discriminating against medical marijuana users. Since 1965, more than 21 million Americans have been prosecuted for marijuana offenses. Almost 5,000,000 people have been arrested on marijuana charges since 1992, more than 850,000 of whom were arrested in 2009 according to the FBI. Of those, 88% were prosecuted on possession charges only. There are currently 60,000 people behind bars in the U.S. Altogether, according to the Associated Press, criminalization of marijuana has cost

policy

MINDFULLY

elections

86 AZGreenMagazine.com l fall/digital 2010 taxpayers more than $1 trillion dollars. As written, 203 would pay for itself with licensing fees and penalty violation fines, and would actually have a positive fiscal impact when offset by reduction of costs associated with enforcement of today’s law. Findings of a number of surveys show that two-thirds of Americans have at least once used marijuana, a substance called “one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man” by a U.S. Drug Enforcement administrative judge. In October last year the Deputy U.S. Attorney General David Ogden cleared the way for states’ autonomy on the governance of medical marijuana. In a memorandum dated October 19, 2009 to federal prosecutors in states that allow prescription of medical marijuana, he said that federal resources should not be focused on individuals in compliance with state laws providing for medical marijuana use. Medical Marijuana is also on the ballots in California, Oregon and South Dakota this year. Why is this an issue of sustainability? Marijuana was considered nature’s analgesic for thousands of years prior to the invention of aspirin and other modern pharmaceuticals. It is a non-toxic, nonhabit-forming drug that according to many

doctors is preferable to addictive narcotic painkillers, and more effective in treating pain and nausea suffered by individuals with debilitating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, AIDs, cancer, and Hepatitis C, to name a few. Furthermore, the herb itself is carbon consuming and unlike conventional narcotic pharmaceuticals, produces no toxic waste and requires little in the way of processing to prepare for use. Opponents of Proposition 203, including Stop the Pot, Keep AZ Drug Free and Journey Healing Centers, argue that the measure is more about decriminalization than medicine, that it allows for excess use and potential for fraud and abuse, and that it would adversely affect users’ work performance on the job. Supporters of 203 contend that marijuana use has fewer adverse effects than alcohol. Others argue that regulation of legal marijuana removes the substance from control of illegal drug cartels, provides patients with a safe, legal alternative to questionable black-market supplies, and eases the burden of a legal system taxed with prosecution of non-violent, medical users. Fiscal conservatives have also openly advocated decriminalization of marijuana due to the reduction of costs associated with prosecution and

incarceration as well as the measure’s revenue potential to help ease the State’s budget crunch. Other proponents cite the drug’s benefits over other analgesics such as its non-toxic and non-addictive quality, and absence of deleterious side effects. Measure supporters are primarily doctors, medical users who rely on its benefits and The Arizona Medical Marijuana Policy Project, an organization that protects terminally or seriously ill patients from state prosecution for using marijuana on their doctor’s recommendation. We’d be lying if we said we remain neutral on all political issues – clearly, we advocate policy that supports sustainable living and protection of our natural resources. No matter what side of the aisle your political persuasions lean, environmental issues have an effect on everyone. Choices we make today determine the health and safety of generations to come. As for every issue on the ballot, we urge you to stay informed and vote mindfully. Most of all, we urge you to exercise your right to vote. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to express ourselves and give voice to the values we hold. SB

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Arizona Wilderness Coalition Goes to Washington! H

eralding the national legacy of wild lands protected for all Americans by the hallmark 1964 Wilderness Act, signed into law on September 3rd of that year, President Barack Obama declared September as National Wilderness Month. At the end of September, a contingent of Arizona wilderness advocates descended on Washington, D.C., to take part in Wilderness Week, a national effort sponsored by The Wilderness Society and Pew Environmental Group’s Campaign for America’s Wilderness, meant to raise awareness in Congress about the importance of wilderness and wild and scenic river protection. Advocates from at least 17 states, including Arizona, took part in the week-long lobbying trip. Arizona Wilderness Coalition (AWC) staff members Kate Mackay, Deputy Director, and Ian Dowdy, Conservation Outreach Associate were joined by Ben Alteneder with the Arizona Wildlife Federation, Eric Gorsegner with the Sonoran Institute, and Mike Quigley and Nicole Layman with The Wilderness Society’s Support Center to meet with staffers of Senators Kyl and McCain as well as House staffers from offices of representatives Raul Grijalva (D-Dist. 7), Gabrielle Giffords (D-Dist. 8), Trent Franks (R-Dist. 2), and Ann Kirkpatrick’s (D-Dist. 1). The team discussed nuances and progress on AWC’s campaigns to protect lands in western Maricopa County, safeguard the Upper Verde as Arizona’s next Wild and Scenic River, and designate three unique and legendary mountain ranges in Cochise County as wilderness. “It was a valuable experience to meet with representatives of our congressional delegation,” says Dowdy, “especially to hear their insight on the Sonoran Desert conservation effort which is such a critical piece of our current mission at AWC.” “The president’s proclamation couldn’t have come at a more poignant time, particularly for Arizonans, who need an uplifting reason to be proud of the heritage of their state and what its citizens have accomplished,” says Kate Mackay, deputy director for the Coalition. “Wilderness has a way of pulling people from all different backgrounds and political persuasions together, because our wild public lands are what all Americans share and enjoy. AWC

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n Saturday, October 2nd, the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center received Valley Forward Association’s highest honor, the President’s Award for Special Achievement in Environmental Excellence. One of the Center’s education programs, Water’s Changing Journey, received an Award of Merit for outstanding environmental education. In making the awards, Valley Forward noted that “the Center illustrates how innovative design, thoughtful construction, exciting educational programs, and a community committed to the environment can work together to create an educational and environmental success story.” In addition to the President’s Award, Valley Forward also recognized the Nina Mason Pulliam Río Salado Audubon Center with a prestigious Crescordia award in the buildings and structures category. The awards committee noted that the Audubon Center “represents far more than an amazing physical structure that epitomizes environmental design.” Valley Forward’s annual Environmental Excellence Awards program is Arizona’s oldest and largest environmental competition. This year marks the competition’s thirtieth anniversary. n

is working hard to bring diverse partners together to talk about new wilderness in our rapidly urbanizing state—where wildlife-related recreation activities bring in billions of revenue to the state every year.” The Bureau of Land Management will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1990 Arizona Desert Wilderness Act and other public land milestones in Arizona by co-hosting a family-oriented celebration on December 4th at the Auxiliary Air Force Base in Gila Bend. n

noteworthy

Valley Forward honors Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center O

You voted for Arizona’s Greenest Workplace Challenge – the results are in!

ZGreen Magazine loves Mrs. Greens World for challenging all of us to be more sustainable! Arizona’s Greenest Workplace Challenge did just that. With 3,493 votes tallied, the results are in. Three Tucson businesses showed their true color! 1st Place: Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc. : A clear winner with 1,230 votes is Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc. a member of the Tucson Regional Clean Cities Coalition, which promotes the use of clean fuels and clean-fuel vehicles in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program. Through its Green Team and several company led initiatives, Golden Eagle Distributors is committed to green programs that are making an impact in its facilities, at its events and in the community. 2nd Place: The Westin La Paloma: Taking hospitality to sustainable heights, the Westin La Paloma set their sights on groundbreaking green initiatives back in 1990. The organization’s “Green Team,”

a group of associates who are passionate about the environment, meet once a month to discuss recycling, reducing, and reusing, a Green Report Card Program, chemical pollution prevention, water and energy conservation and landscaping waste repurposing. The company fosters environmental stewardship by educating employees in green principles and involving them in community outreach. 3rd Place: Sam Levitz Furniture: When Sam Levitz Furniture relocated their primary Distribution Center, they set their sites on what they considered to be an aggressive recycle and energy conservation program encompassing 5 Retail store locations and two warehouses. They also set their sites on an energy rebate program that has the potential to reduce their annual electricity usage by nearly a half-million kilowatts and shave hundreds of thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and sulfur oxide from their environmental footprint every year. They are on target to recycle more than 800,000 pounds of cardboard, paper and plastic this year. Good going, Tucson! And, thank you Mrs. Green’s World for organizing Arizona’s Greenest Workplace Challenge! Next year, we hope to see some winners from central and northern Arizona as well! n

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to introduce

Energy Star at the office

CHANGE YOUR COMPUTER SETTINGS.

Use the “energy saver” setting on all computers and laptops in the office, and set monitors to go into sleep mode when not active for more than five minutes. A sleeping computer can use up to 70% less electricity - a very tidy savings. Screen saver mode was originally used to prevent a still image from “burning” itself into a monitor and for privacy on an unattended computer – but had no impact on energy. Sleep mode instead can accomplish that same goal and saves substantially more energy.

PLUG NIGHTTIME ENERGY LEAKS.

Many consumers know to look for the Energy Star® label when they shop for new appliances, but did you know there are fantastic programs, tools and resources for the office, too? After all, being environmentally responsible should be an eco-centric lifestyle choice that touches every part of living. According to the Energy Star website, energy used by a building to support just one office worker for a day causes over two times more greenhouse gas emissions than that person’s drive to and from work. Yikes! Here are a few easy ways to get your colleagues thinking green at the office:

Make sure that monitors, printers and other accessories are plugged into a surge protector. Then encourage your team to get into the habit of turning off their electronics and surge. Called vampire energy, anything plugged into an electrical outlet will continue to draw power, even when it is turned off. Along the same lines, it is always a good idea to unplug battery chargers too.

PAY ATTENTION TO AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING.

Just like homeowners do, be sure that all vents that use air filters are regularly changed. This often overlooked task isn’t always taken care of by building management or the janitorial service, so consider making someone accountable for the task and setting a monthly calendar alert to remind themselves. A quick walk around the office should identify where the filters are located and show you what size of filter to keep on hand.

CREATE A GREEN TEAM.

By joining the Energy Star Green Team program, you can make a strong impact on reducing waste and increasing energy efficiency. You can test your Energy IQ, download a corporate energy challenge kit, download tip sheets and posters, and other helpful resources to green your business. Even small changes can make a difference!

CONSIDER ENERGY STAR-LABELED BUILDINGS IF MOVING.

If you are moving spaces, consider looking for an Energy Star-labeled building or a LEED certified building. These buildings are proven to meet certain green building and performance standards - both benefits that can save businesses money while being easier on the environment.

ARIZONA ENERGY STAR THOUGHT LEADERS Out of 281 Arizona companies that participate in ENERGY STAR programs, only Arizona Public Service (APS) has won awards for their participation, including recent winner of the 2010 Sustained Excellence Award, 2009 Partner of the Year award for Program Delivery, 2008 Partner of the Year award and 2007 Excellence Award. Pretty darn impressive! If you think your organization has made outstanding contributions toward protecting the environment through energy efficiency, consider applying for the 2011 ENERGY STAR® Award. Deadline is 8pm EST on December 3, 2010 and application can be found on the ENERGY STAR website, www.energystar.gov.

Read more about vampire energy loss on the Arizona green blog, A Fragile Planet.

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SUSTAINABLE READING It’s only natural

We strive for a world where reading books doesn’t have adverse effects on the environment. Our mission is to make reading much more sustainable than it is today. Eco-Libris provides you with an affordable yet powerful way to make a difference: Plant one tree for every book you read. For each tree planted, you will receive an Eco-Libris sticker to display on your book’s sleeve, proudly showing your commitment to sustainability. www.ecolibris.net

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