2008-04-CCN

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THIS APRIL

IT’S

ALL HAPPENING

your CO-OP!

mitment to restoring and sustaining our blue/ green planetary gem.

Southeast Sub Station for bringing our southeast area bike officers. Come and get to know our local bike officers! Also, thanks to the City of Albuquerque’s Chuck Malagodi and Astrid Webster for their help on all things bicycle! See page 3 for more bicycle details. Global warming and its effects remain one of our gravest environmental issues. This year we are partnering with the Sierra Club to educate on global warming solutions we can all take right now. This year Immanuel Church (just across Carlisle), Sierra Club and the Co-op are teaming up to provide a free mini environmental film festival in Immanuel’s Fellowship Hall. (See page 2 for times and details.)

19th Celebrate the Earth

Festival!

Sunday, April 27, 10:30am-6pm

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pring is in full force in New Mexico and with it comes the Co-op’s Annual Celebrate the Earth Festival. This year there are plenty of important environmental issues to tackle and lots of dedicated community people working to restore and sustain our little planet. People all over Albuquerque and throughout the state are getting ready for the 19th Annual Celebrate the Earth Festival. You can expect an inspiring day filled with information and educational booths from dozens of environmental, social and economic justice organizations, local farmers, seedlings, drought-resistant plants, beautiful art from fine local artists and crafts people, inspiring music and dancing by some of our favorite local performing artists and of course great Co-op food. Again this year the festival will cover two blocks on Silver Street between Carlisle and Tulane for an expanded and better than ever fun and educational time. Alternative Transport: Bike it! Don’t let high gas prices get you down. Ride a bike! Once again we are honored to be working with Bike Albuquerque, the City of Albuquerque’s Bicycle program and the Albuquerque Police Department on a wide variety of bike safety and educational activities. Look for our Kids Bike Safety Rodeo and learn about new city bike helmet requirements. “Vici Accion” will be offering on-the-spot education on bike maintenance; and don’t miss the Endorphin Power Company’s “Power Tower.” Thanks to Commander Conrad, of the

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Get Your Green Tags: Grow Alternative Energy Sources Again this year we are partnering with Green Energy New Mexico to green tag our event. Our purchase of green tags for all the energy we use at the Festival is an investment in alternative energy source creation here in New Mexico. Everyone who comes to the Festival will have the opportunity to “green tag” their energy use to invest in renewable solutions developed in our state. Environmental Education and Action: We are looking forward to having groups as diverse as Hawkwatch, Bethany Organic Farm, New Mexico Solar Energy Association, Amigos Bravos, New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, Citizens for Alternatives to Radioactive Dumping, Defenders of Wildlife, Albuquerque Bio-diesel Project, Desert Woman Botanicals, Animal Protection of New Mexico, UNM Sustainability Department, New Mexico Organic Commodity Commission, Bernalillo County Extension Service, The Los Alamos Study Group, Sparrow Hawk Farm, Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice, No Cattle Farm, Conservation Voters Alliance, Citizen Action, EQNM, and Wild Earth Guardians, to name but a few of the many wonderful organizations confirmed at press time.

Our little street fills up quickly so please reserve your booth space early. We do give first priority to environmental, social and economic justice non-profit organizations and farmers and farming organizations. Join your friends and neighbors as we educate and inform ourselves and joyously dance in the streets at Albuquerque's favorite spring gathering. Mark your calendar, this is one event you don't want to miss. Sunday, April 27, 2008, from 10:30am to 6pm at the back door of the Nob Hill Co-op location. For more information or to reserve your free booth space please contact Robyn at 217-2027 or toll free at 877-775-2667.

Earth Fest Entertainment Schedule 10:30am: Traditional Native American Drum Group 11:30pm: Susan Clark 12:30pm: Alma Flamenca 1:15pm: Joe West and Friends 2pm: Baile, Baile Dance Company 3pm: Saltine Ramblers 4pm: La Chat Lunitique 5pm: Wagogo

5 garden PARTY

April

As always you can count on seeing some of our community’s fine local artists and crafts persons, hearing some of your favorite musicians and thrilling performances from our gifted local performers. Some festival favorites are coming back, and we are once again honored to have them grace the little stage under the big tent, in the middle of Silver Street. For more information on which great local bands you will get to hear for FREE, see the full entertainment schedule. We're praying for a beautiful day, and with Mother Earth's blessing we will once again take time to celebrate "Her" and reaffirm our com-

9th Annual Valley

Garden Party! Saturday, April 5, 10am-3pm 2400 Rio Grande Blvd. NW Don’t miss this fun and educational family event. Get your seeds, veggie and flower starts, green garlic, tree pruning education and other gardening info and supplies. Sit at an umbrella -shaded table and enjoy free local music, Co-op food, friends and more.

Turn OFF TV... Turn ON Life A Festival for Children of all Ages Tuesday, April 22 4pm-7pm. At the Santa Fe Co-op, 913 W. Alameda St./Solana Shopping Center

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he Co-op on W. Alameda Street in Santa Fe is pleased to be participating in Turn Off TV Week again this year. Each year Turn Off TV Week is sponsored by the Santa Fe Public Schools’ Office of Student Wellness and the Santa Fe TV Turn Off Committee. On Tuesday, April 22nd, the Co-op will offer a free healthy pizza party to honor all the elementary school children throughout the public school system who participated in the project and turned off their TVs for one whole week. We also welcome other children of all ages in the hopes of inspiring more of us to TURN OFF TV and TURN ON LIFE. Since this year’s TURN OFF TV... TURN ON LIFE event falls on Earth Day, joining the fun for youth environmental education will be the Sierra Club and Green Tag New Mexico. Collected Works will offer readings and have childrens’ books for sale. Children will be able to make their own pinon art buttons with Apollo Art Studios. Don’t miss performances by the Loren Kahn Puppet Theater, Ethnosphere and Mariachi Oro. Loren Kahn Puppet

Theater has been a favorite entertainment for children of all ages throughout New Mexico for many years. Ethnosphere is a youth ensemble dedicated to sustainable music in Santa Fe. Mariachi de Oro was formed in the fall of 2006 when Eddie Hernandez realized he could use mariachi music to teach children to have respect for one another and work together as a team. Mariachi de Oro kids range in age from 9-14 and perform throughout northern New Mexico, helping to keep traditional mariachi music alive and loved by future generations.

think out of the

BOX!

Enjoy youthful musicians and other performances, puppet theater, button and art making activities, readings and book sales, delicious, healthy, local and natural foods, environmental education and action to inspire the understanding of all we can do and be when we TURN OFF TV and TURN ON LIFE. Come and participate in this FREE, FUN FESTIVAL for children of all ages. Local community organizations and childrelated businesses are all welcome to participate. To reserve your FREE space contact Robyn at 877-775-2667 or e-mail her at robins@lamontanita.coop.

Entertainment Schedule 4pm: Loren Kahn Puppet Theater 4:30pm: Ethnosphere Music Lab 5pm: Loren Kahn Puppet Theater 5:30pm: Mariachi de Oro

Celebrate the Opening of

THE SANTA FE EXPANSION! and the Grand Opening of the New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union • Friday, April 18th, 11:30-1:30pm, 913 West Alameda Join the Credit Union and the Co-op as we celebrate the opening of the first Santa Fe branch of the New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union in the newly expanded La Montanita Co-op. Sample great natural food treats and delicious lunch delicacies from our newly expanded Co-op Deli. Enjoy the music of Young Edward.

earth fest ‘08 A Community - Owned Natural Foods Grocery Store La Montanita Cooperative Nob Hill/ 7am-10pm M-S, 8am-10pm Sun. 3500 Central SE Albuq., NM 87106 265-4631 Valley/ 7am-10pm M-S, 8am-10pm Sun. 2400 Rio Grande Blvd. NW Albuq., NM 87104 242-8800 Gallup/ 10am-7pm M-S, 11am-6pm Sun. 105 E. Coal Gallup, NM 87301 863-5383 Santa Fe/ 7am-10pm M-S, 8am-10pm Sun. 913 West Alameda Santa Fe, NM 87501 984-2852 Cooperative Distribution Center 3361 Columbia NE, Albuq., NM 87107 217-2010 Administrative Staff: 505-217-2001 TOLL FREE: 877-775-2667 (COOP) • General Manager/Terry Bowling 217-2020 terryb@lamontanita.coop • Controller/John Heckes 217-2026 johnh@lamontanita.coop • Computers/Info Technology/ David Varela 217-2011 computers@lamontanita.coop • Food Service/Bob Tero 217-2028 bobt@lamontanita.coop • Human Resources/Sharret Rose 217-2023 hr@lamontanita.coop • Marketing/Edite Cates 217-2024 editec@lamontanita.coop • Membership/Robyn Seydel 217-2027 robins@lamontanita.coop Store Team Leaders: • Mark Lane/Nob Hill 265-4631 markl@lamontanita.coop • John Mulle/Valley 242-8800 jm@lamontanita.coop • William Prokopiack/Santa Fe 984-2852 willpro@lamontanita.coop • Tim Morrison/Gallup 575-863-5383 timm@lamontanita.coop Co-op Board of Directors: email: bod@lamontanita.coop President: Martha Whitman Vice President: Marshall Kovitz Secretary/Treasurer: Ken O’Brien William Bright Lonn Calanca Stephanie Dobbie Ariana Marchello Tamara Saimons Jonathan Siegel Membership Costs: $15 for 1 year/$200 Lifetime Membership Co-op Connection Staff: Managing Editor: Robyn Seydel robins@lamontanita.coop Layout and Design: foxyrock inc Cover/Centerfold: Co-op Marketing Dept. Advertising: Robyn Seydel Editorial Assistant: Kristin White kristinw@lamontanita.coop 217-2016 Printing: Vanguard Press Membership information is available at all four Co-op locations, or call 217-2027 or 877-775-2667 email: robins@lamontanita.coop Membership response to the newsletter is appreciated. Address typed, double-spaced copy to the Managing Editor, robins@lamontanita.coop website: www.lamontanita.coop Copyright © 2008 La Montanita Co-op Supermarket Reprints by prior permission. The Co-op Connection is printed on 65% postconsumer recycled paper. It is recyclable.

CO-OP

YOU OWN IT

AN EARTH

FILM FEST! The Sierra Club, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, and La Montanita Co-op team up!

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uilding A Clean Energy Future Film Fest"— The Sierra Club and other groups representing faith, youth and labor communities will host a series of films documenting positive collective actions against climate change. Stick around to hear inspiring stories of local campaigns and projects that you can join — or contribute your own ideas to spark additional ones! The Earth Fest-Film Fest will showcase the feature film “Everything’s Cool,” among other films. “Everything’s Cool” follows the journeys of global warming messengers as they reveal the consequences of climate change and highlight the solutions that will help move America from laggard nation to world leader on global warming.

This Earth Fest Film Fest will be held during the Coop’s 19th Annual Celebrate the Earth Festival on Sunday, April 27th, across Carlisle at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, from 11:30am to 5pm. There will be a schedule of films posted at the Co-op Board of Directors table and elsewhere around the Festival area. The Earth Fest Film Fest is a FREE event. The Sierra Club in New Mexico: Helping Solve Global Warming What a momentous year 2007 was in the effort to solve global warming! From people organizing in their communities to our representatives at the state and federal level, there has been a true awakening in this country that global warming is real and that we must act now to avoid reaching the tipping point. Congress raised fuel efficiency standards for the first time in 30 years. It was the biggest single step towards reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, while saving us billions at the pump – $153 million by 2020 here in New Mexico — and reducing our dependence on oil. Closer to home, the state legislature established a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) to guarantee that at least 15 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2015, increasing to 20 percent by 2020. These are just a few of the many smart energy solutions enacted over the course of 2007, thanks to the determination of countless people and organizations, as well as the leadership of key lawmakers. No doubt more legislative battles lie ahead, but we should take great hope in the progress made over the last year.

CLELBRATE 10 YEARS OF BY LISA HUMMON, DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE his year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the initial release of Mexican wolves to the wilds of the southwest. After being brought to the brink of extinction in the 1900s’, the last five remaining wild Mexican wolves were captured in Mexico in the late 1970s’ to begin a very careful captive breeding program. On March 29, 1998, those efforts paid off when eleven Lobos were released into the Apache National Forest in Arizona.

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But ten years later, the wolves are in trouble again. Over the years, twenty-four wolves have been illegally shot, with only one offender being brought to justice. In 2007 alone, nineteen wolves were either permanently removed or killed for conflicts with cattle. The population has declined in three of the last four years. We are now down to just 52 wild Lobos in Arizona and New Mexico and just four breeding

FEST

?

EVERYTHING’S COOL

Seizing the momentum from 2007, the Sierra Club and its volunteers — often in partnership with other community groups — are working to ensure that we continue moving forward towards a clean energy future. Less of our hard-earned income would go towards energy costs, our air would be easier to breathe and our water safer to drink. LIGHT BULB EXCHANGE In order to turn this dream of a clean energy future into reality, Sierra Club volunteers are spearheading a massive light bulb exchange program. We replace people’s incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) that use one-fourth the energy and last ten times longer. The school-based project is the most innovative piece of this program. It involves an educational slideshow entitled “Bright Ideas about Energy” for grades 3-5, and then a light bulb exchange with the parents, teachers and staff at the school over the next three days. Sierra Club volunteers have also distributed CFLs through neighborhood walks and at public events, while a number of churches that are members of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light have organized bulb trades with their parishes. Thanks to The Stove, a relatively new art studio at Morningside and Copper, the incandescent bulbs will become an art project rather than end up in EARTH FEST our landfills. We will have distribFILM FEST: uted 40,000 CFLs in Albuquerque April 27 at the and Santa Fe by the end of May Co-op’s 2008, which will help prevent the equivalent of about 16,000 tons of Celebrate the carbon dioxide from being released Earth Festival into the atmosphere. Another team comprising our Cool Cities campaigns in Albuquerque and Santa Fe is working with the city governments to develop a Climate Action Plan. The focus of this effort is to set and implement a plan that will ensure we reduce greenhouse gas emissions 7 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2012. We remain committed to applying this target to emissions city-wide, not just in terms of city government operations. Desert Rock e sometimes shift our focus from solution-oriented programs to defeating dirty energy projects that would condemn our country to the worst effects of climate change. Alongside Navajo activists, Sierra Club volunteers have been fighting the proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant with a clear message: Doodá (which means "NO" in the language of the Navajo people) Desert Rock, if operational, would emit an estimated 13 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year while consuming about 4 million gallons of water per day. After helping defeat a tax subsidy for Desert Rock at the state legislature in 2007, we continue to work with Navajo community groups and other partner organizations in preventing the construction of a third coal-fired power plant on the Navajo Nation. Please stay alert for the next call to action as the Final Environmental Impact Statement is released and open for comment.

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We will seize other opportunities to move towards a clean energy future as the year progresses. Regardless of the campaign, we need more volunteers to help us build community power and focus our collective attention on solving global warming. BY SHRAYAS JATKAR For more information or to volunteer, contact Shrayas Jatkar (Grassroots Organizer) at the Sierra Club’s New Mexico Field Office in Albuquerque, (505) 243-776, shrayas.jatkar@sierra club.org.

LOBOS

IN NEW MEXICO

pairs. In the Land of Enchantment, only 23 wild Mexican wolves remain. This is unacceptable and has to change. Mexican wolves are ecological pioneers. We know that wolves help maintain landscapes and ensure the health of deer and elk herds: in short they restore the balance of nature for all. It is up to good management, sound science, and all of us to make sure that this recovery succeeds. By working together, we can ensure wolves are able to survive, restoring balance to natural areas in the Southwest. Join Defenders of Wildlife at the Co-op’s 2008 Celebrate the Earth Festival at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church at 1:30pm to learn more about the status of our wild Lobos and what you can do to help ensure that their howls will be heard in the forests of the Southwest for years to come. You may even get to meet a live ambassador wolf from Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary!

Image of Roadrunner this page: courtesy of Jess Alford Photography

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April 2008

earth fest ‘08 BIKES MAKE EVERY DAY

EARTH DAY! BY ASTRID WEBSTER any consider bicycles as green as we can get. Bicycles are good for our health, reduce road congestion and greatly reduce our environmental impact in multiple ways. Studies show that every mile we bicycle keeps a pound of carbon dioxide from spilling into the air we breathe. Cycling may just be the best way to get around town.

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19th Annual Celebrate the Earth Fest Bike Events 10am-noon BikeABQ joins La Montanita on Earth Day to help get Albuquerque biking. Greenwheels, Albuquerque's first venture into bikesharing, will help out with minor bike repairs between 10 and 12. Both groups will staff tables with a host of information and encouragement. 12:30-4pm Between 12:30 and 4, the City's Parks and Recreation Dept. will hold a bike rodeo on the west end of the Earth Day celebration. The rodeo is best suited for youth between the ages of 8 and 12. Parents may quickly ask why not teach these skills to younger children. Our past experience shows that when you teach 5-year-old children street smarts, they want to go out on the road to practice what they have learned. For safety's sake, children under 8 should be riding with parent supervision. Before children of any age take

COMMUNITY

bike RECYCLING TWO MOONS Bicycle riding is an integral part of Earth Day and every day. However, all too often by the time Earth Day rolls around, the New Year's resolution to get more exercise ("I'm going to ride my bike every day”) has fallen by the wayside. BY

Now you have an opportunity to salvage some of that self esteem and help someone else. Donate that bike or any other bicycle to the Community Bike Recycling Program.

BIKE

IT!

to the road on a bike, they need a properly fitted bike helmet as now required by law. Other Bike Classes and Happenings For adults who want a more in-depth bicycling program, the City's Parks and Rec. Dept. and BikeABQ will be offering four Bicycling 101 classes this year. Classes will be offered April 12, June 21, September 20 and October 18. A bicycle repair class will be offered on August 23. For more information call Chuck Malagodi at 768Bike (2453) or Julie Luna at 224-3454. As an added bonus for greening transportation, Specialized Bicycles is developing a used bicycle tire recycling program. For more information, please contact Sportz Outdoor's bike shop at 837-9400 and ask for Lee. Sports Systems will host the Bike Swap again this year on May 3. Contact BikeABQ to volunteer if you want to get a peek at bike offerings before the swap officially opens. Perhaps you'll be the first to spy the bike of your dreams at a bargain price. Then, oh the fun never ends, ride off to your favorite breakfast stop on Bike to Work Day, May 16. To find out where these are, stop at BikeABQ's information table and pick up a free bike map, if you need one.

Valley

If you have questions about cycling, come to the Alternative Transport Tent at the west end of the Celebrate the Earth Fest and just ask. A variety of bike organizations and activities will be happening all day.

This program takes donations of bicycles for the purpose of refurbishing them, making them safe and rideable, to be distributed to families who may find themselves in financial hardship. Bring that bicycle (or bicycle parts... it doesn't have to be a working bicycle) to the Community Bike Recycling Program at the Co-op’s 19th Annual Celebrate the Earth Fest. Donate your bike and meet some of the volunteers that make this program happen.

Gallup

"Something as small as a bike can have a real impact on our community." Learn more about the program: www.com munitybikerecycling.org or contact Richard Rivas at richard rivas@comcast.net

Santa Fe

RECYCLE YOUR OLD BIKE AT EARTH FEST!

GET YOUR

GREEN TAGS AT EARTH FEST

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ffset your carbon intensive activites with renewables! Celebrate Earth Day by reducing your environmental impact and your carbon footprint with the purchase of Green Energy NM, Green Tags. Green Energy NM is a partnership between Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), the Regional Development Corporation (RDC) and the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy (CCAE). The goals of the program are to increase public awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy. A key component of the program is the sale of renewable energy certificates (RECs) a.k.a. Green Tags. What is a Green Tag? Green Tags represent the environmental benefits associated with electricity generation from new renewable technologies like wind and solar power. A renewable energy facility produces two distinct "products." The first is energy. The second is the environmental benefits resulting from not generating the same electricity — and emissions — from a conventional gas or coal-fired power plant. The renewable electricity displaces the dirtier (coal or natural gas) power that would otherwise have been generated and delivered to the power grid. These environmental benefits can be separated from the electrical power and packaged into a Green Tag. Each Green Tag is equal to one megawatt hour (one thousand kilowatt hours) of renewable energy, the approximate amount of electricity used in an average American home in one month. A BEF Green Tag costs $20 and there is a minimum purchase of two Green Tags, or three Green Tags for monthly payment orders.

April 2008

How are Green Energy NM Green Tags different? Green Energy NM is a unique non-profit collaborative that emphasizes economic development through renewable energy production. The goal of Green Energy NM is to increase the amount of renewable energy generation in New Mexico — by selling Green Tags to New Mexico businesses, organizations and residences, we are creating a reinvestment fund for new wind or solar project generation, thus benefiting the state with clean energy production, new sources of jobs and a new tax base. The Green Tags are also certified by Green-e, the most credible and respected nationwide certification organization. Businesses or residences can buy Green Tags for their electricity or natural gas consumption, and can also purchase them for emissions related to automobile and airline travel. Green Tags can offset more than electricity When you visit www.greenenergynm.org you can determine your carbon footprint by using the carbon calculator to know how many Green Tags offset your footprint. Many businesses and residences throughout NM are participating in Green Energy NM, including local events. For the second year in a row, the Co-op’s Earth Fest offset the energy used at its event with a purchase of Green Tags. Positive Energy, a solar design and installation company, offsets office activities and vehicle travel. The Permaculture Credit Union purchases Green Tags to offset office operations. If you are a merchant or planning an event you can sell mini-tags to your customers or attendees to offset their travel. Support renewable energy production in NM! Visit us at www.greenenergynm.org, call us at (505) 428-7764, or come to the Co-op’s Earth Fest! BY MARIE CLAIR VOORHEES

for more information

www.lamontanita.coop Co-op Values Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. Co-op Principles 1 Voluntary and Open Membership 2 Democratic Member Control 3 Member Economic Participation 4 Autonomy and Independence 5 Education, Training and Information 6 Cooperation among Cooperatives 7 Concern for Community The Co-op Connection is published by La Montanita Co-op Supermarket to provide information on La Montanita Co-op Supermarket, the cooperative movement, and the links between food, health, environment and community issues. Opinions expressed herein are of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Co-op.

CO-OP

YOU OWN IT 3

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PROTECTING QUALITY PRESERVING by Adam Trujillo Many of the myths and stories told by the ancestors of this land tell of feast and famine depending on precipitation. Our livelihood depended on whether or not the rain would water the crops, fill the rivers and allow the animals to drink. Of the Earth and for the Earth, the water provided by the spirits only comes when we honor and hold ceremony for the blessings bestowed upon the land for food, water and shelter. During

ife on planet Earth has managed to survive by means of water. All life is brought into existence on Earth through the life-giving energy of water. The water cycle is what continually churns the cycle of energy and provides the resources that sustain us all. Humanity must realize the importance of protecting and preserving the natural qualities of the water cycle. We must work to maintain the purity of water in terms of the Earth’s health as we re-think our own personal consumption and wasteful misuse of water. In the high desert of Northern New Mexico and the mountainous regions of the Sangre de Cristos, there is a deliNew Mexico’s cate balance between water and survival for all species. The distinct co-existence of plants, animals and all other organisms withwater-flow in the ebb and flow of the water cycle is dependant on the DYNAMIC availability of a clean water source. NATURAL CYCLES Water is the only molecule that can exist in every natural state: liquid, solid, gas and vapor. The special polar nature of a water molecule provides a unique environment for life to thrive and diversify. We are blessed with a relatively abundant supply of water in this region compared to most of the high desert plateau regions of the world. There is a distinct water flow dynamic within the landscape of Northern New Mexico. Water travels from the high mountains down to the watershed and on to lowland bosque wetlands as it descends in altitude. The bio-geographical distribution of animals and plants follows the trends of resource availability: varying with temperature and altitude. As we observe the patterns of collective groupings of plant and animal communities within a distinct inter-dependant relationship with the sacred lay of the land, we begin to notice the role of humanity when it comes to water. Humans have the most dramatic effect on the balance and use of water within a natural ecosystem. The change in allocation of water due to human use is far more influential than any other source of change in the environment. This can be measured by the environmental disturbance that is a direct product of the human ecological footprint. CULTURE There is a strong culture behind the structured use and distribution of water in Northern New Mexico. The longtime collaboration with water in agriculture by Native peoples and the more recent use of water by Spanish and Anglo cultures continue to influence the way in which we honor and protect water in current day Northern New Mexico. Agriculture, ranching and personal use dominates water usage, and current technologies allow people to increase the efficiency at which we grow food through a variety of ways including storing, catching and recharging the aquifer. However, there are always ways to improve our consciousness when it comes to the use and perpetuation of clean water. For the next generation to truly appreciate and be aware of the value of clean abundant water, the elders must educate and instill the worth of water for all the forms of life.

QUANTITY

a variety of positive detrimental and permanent effects; for example, the number of invasive exotic species that have spread as a result of mismanaged grazing land and the use of cattle in our diet. The series of holistic management range practices that allows the land to heal after livestock grazing should be required for all cattle and ranching operations. Limited in quantity and some areas by quality, water is a primary factor in determining the future growth of New Mexico. Residential water use is comprised of two components: indoor use and outdoor use. It has been concluded in water use studies that the amount of water use depends more on lifestyle than family size or age. Water conservation is defined as any beneficial reduction in water use or water losses. The demand for water utilities is increasing every day in Taos County, as the development and construction industries are well out of hand and have been for quite a long time. Many of us locally raised New Mexicans can

Creating a compromise periods of life when technology and scientific advancement weren’t the only tools we used for the health and wealth of our families, we trusted the Earth and knew that although not predictable, the rain would come. There is a compromise between old traditions and the new ways of life that are embraced by the youth of our communities. The way in which each individual perceives its environment will lead to the lifestyle choices that are made. All choices must be looked at in terms of the health and diversity of all life, not just humanity. The ways in which we have been looking at Earth are dramatically evolving as the general public in this nation begins to realize that we are using Earth rather that mutually living in harmony with the blessings of Earth.

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y utilizing specific agricultural, domestic and civil practices that use less water and return clean water back into the system, we can assure ourselves that there will be clean water for the present and into the future. The basic premise of the water cycle ensures that whatever we put into the cycle works itself through with ardent strength. Everything unnatural is magnified and accumulates to the point of danger for the environment. WATER CONSUMPTION The capacity of water to nourish and do work is immense. Irrigated agriculture accounts for 78% of the total water withdrawals in the state of New Mexico. Over half of this 78% is used primarily for livestock and recreational animal foodstuff. Irrigated agriculture and domesticated animals have a long history in New Mexico with

between tradition and new technologies

barely recognize the land as the influx of people has led to a loss of traditional agrarian lifestyle and is tearing apart the matrix of respect, integrity and interconnectivity with the land, water, air and fire.

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ow is the time to implement a public re-education program, and require that building codes are effective in reducing the average daily use in our community. All of these measures may reduce the local demand and may add years to the life of aquifers that are being mined, reduce the cost of wastewater treatment, save energy, postpone or eliminate the expansion of water treatment and distribution systems, and decrease the volume of wastewater discharged into rivers and streams. WITHIN THE FLOW The procedures and human dealings with water in the last 200 years are mind-boggling. Our exhaustive consumption and creation of an ethno-centered mindset around water has resulted in challenges that we try to solve with technologies that may waste more water, all in the process of trying to save the environment. The solution is not found in another program to save water but rather the solution lies in our own individual ability to value and commit to the earth and the elements that allow our families and communities to thrive. The techniques are simple: mimic the Earth, be the plant that sends roots down, absorbing water, gathering life force and letting go of water in other forms so that it can continue on giving life to other beings and communities. If there is any place and people that can be guides for the rest of society, let New Mexico be that place.

DRILLING THE Galisteo BY JOHNNY

JACK OF ALL TRADES

MASTER OF

DRIP IRRIGATION

345-9240

APRIL 2008 4

MICOU he Houston-based oil exploration company Tecton is planning to drill eight exploratory wells on private residential land in the fragile Galisteo Basin. The company claims the Galisteo Basin holds between 50 million to 100 million barrels of sweet light crude; however, the one well that Tecton currently operates is producing a mere 5 barrels of oil a day, leading to doubts about the accuracy of their production estimates.

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If allowed to commence, drilling in Santa Fe County would be devastating to the quality of life, environment and economy. Surface water and groundwater, including private residential water wells, would be contaminated, damaged or depleted. Important archaeological and cultural sites may be destroyed. Wildlife habitat would be ruined. New roads and the high volume of tanker and truck traffic would erode unstable soil and threaten public safety. Noise and

a fragile enivronment

Basin

light pollution would reach unacceptable levels. Property values would likely plummet and real estate sales would decline. Local businesses (bed-andbreakfasts, art galleries and restaurants) would lose money because of the drop in tourism. As you are no doubt aware, Santa Fe County’s mining ordinance clearly and expressly applies to oil and gas activities. Although it is true that the provisions of the ordinance are more focused on hard rock mining, there is absolutely no doubt that the ordinance was specifically intended to apply to all mining – including mining for fluid minerals. The current mining ordinance provides the citizens of Santa Fe County with significant protections from the adverse effects that are inevitably associated with oil and gas mining. For example, the current mining ordinance provides for set-backs for drilling activities, which afford landowners a degree of protection from industry. continued on page 5

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APRIL 2008 5

A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN

UPDATE

PHARMACY RUNS THROUGH IT

MICHAEL JENSEN, AMIGOS BRAVOS

Pharmaceuticals and City Conservation Ordinance

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n early March this year, the Associated Press ran a series of articles on a five-month study it conducted of pharmaceuticals in US drinking water. The AP found that, “a vast array of pharmaceuticals – including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers, and sex hormones – have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans” in 24 major metropolitan areas. The reaction to the AP story was dramatic, getting massive coverage in the media and calls in Congress for an investigation. In New Mexico, the state Environment Department said that New Mexico doesn’t have the same problems with drug residues in its drinking water that other states have. This claim is based on a 2002 report that tested for drug, but not antibiotic, residues. That report found low levels of pharmaceuticals associated with all four water treatment plants tested, as well as the Buckman Crossing of the Rio Grande and the San Juan River at Bloomfield. The AP suggested that their results are just the visible part of the problem. There are no federal requirements to test for pharmaceuticals and no standards. The AP study contacted 62 major water suppliers and only 28 tested their water for pharmaceuticals. Even those who do test sometimes test for only a couple of types of pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the AP tested the watersheds from which most Americans get their water; of 35 watersheds tested, 28 had pharmaceuticals, but 6 of the municipalities in those watersheds did not test their drinking water. The AP also noted that water providers don’t like to report such findings, because, as one major California supplier put it, the public “doesn’t know how to interpret the information.” However, the Environmental Protection Agency has a different reaction. Benjamin Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water at the EPA said, “We recognize it is a growing concern and we’re taking it very seriously.” The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) has insisted that they have

DRILLING THE

GALISTEO continued from page 4 However, at least three of the proposed well sites are in violation of county ordinance. One well is planned within 400 feet of a residence; another ranges from approximately 900 to 1,600 feet from several residences. The ordinance establishes setbacks of no less than 0.5 mile (2,640ft.) from residences. There are other violations, as well. Does Tecton believe that the county will permit these variances to the ordinance? There are some people who have expressed uncertainty about the county’s authority to protect our precious water resources from oil and gas activities. We believe that this uncertainty is misplaced and that the county has full authority to protect its water resources – both surface water and groundwater – from the certain damage that would be caused by oil and gas activities. We further believe that it would be disastrous for the county to "throw in the towel" on the basis of a perceived preemption issue, instead of exercising its full authority under the New Mexico Constitution and New Mexico statutes. The New Mexico Court of Appeals and the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit have addressed the issue of whether state law preempted Santa Fe county's mining ordinance and Rio Arriba county's timber practices ordinance. In both instances, the ordinances were found NOT to be preempted. Likewise, we believe that it is unlikely that a court would find that the county does not have authority to protect the county's water resources from the adverse effects of oil and gas activities.

never detected pharmaceuticals in the Rio Grande, either above or below the City. However, two UNM graduate students, in separate studies released in 2004, both found pharmaceuticals in the river, especially associated with the water treatment plant. The more extensive of the two studies, by Maceo Martinet – now with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Al-

The new ordinance imposes new requirements for city-owned property, commercial property and new residential development and mandates that the new requirements be phased in between the end of 2008 and 2011. The business community, represented by NAIOP (National Association of Industrial and Office Properties), doesn’t want the requirements to take effect until 2018, arguing that it would be too costly and “chaotic” to implement the changes more quickly. The Water Utility Authority has also not been enthusiastic about the stricter conservation requirements, stating that the WUA has 20 years from the start of using its San Juan-Chama water (2004) to meet a per capita daily consumption under 155 gallons. (Santa Fe currently uses a little over 108 gallons per capita per day.)

Some of the requirements are such things as: • Setting seasonal time restrictions on watering of public landscaping; • Requiring medium- or low-water use turf in parks, golf courses and athletic fields except in high-traffic areas, and setting maximum annual water usage; • Limiting high-water-use turf on new public and non-public residential sites to less than 20% of the landscape surface and new commercial sites to 0% high-water-use turf; • Installing low-flow toilets in all public and non-public facilities by the end of 2009 (unless the installation would require major renovation); • Requiring irrigation systems to have automatic proDRUGS gramming schedules, a rain sensor to shut off the system in the RIVER and other conservation features. buquerque office – tested for 19 pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptor compounds. Martinet’s lab analysis detected contaminants in seven of 15 pharmaceutical categories. He also found them in the shallow groundwater that spreads out to each side of the river. The emerging science on these pharmaceuticals is that low doses, comparable to the levels found in rivers and drinking water, can affect cell growth and disrupt endocrine (hormone) activity. Combinations of these drugs also produce novel effects that each drug individually does not. This is the growing concern that the EPA and other researchers in the US and Europe are now investigating. Business Opposes New Conservation Ordinance City Councilor Michael Cadigan wants to move the city and the Water Utility Authority ahead more aggressively to conserve water. To do that, he has drafted the “Water Conservation Landscaping and Water Waste Ordinance”, a revision to Chapter 6, Article 1, Part 1 of the Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque.

At Drilling Santa Fe, we have looked carefully at the State's Water Quality Act and the State's Oil and Gas Act. Looked at together, it seems clear that the New Mexico Legislature has intended to preserve the authority of local governments to protect water resources more stridently than those resources are protected by the state. We insist that independent studies be conducted to analyze the hydrogeological, environmental, cultural and economic impacts of oil and gas drilling. We demand that the county defer consideration of all permit applications for oil and gas drilling activities within Santa Fe county until such time as the county promulgates an ordinance or amendments to the hard rock mining ordinance that specifically addresses the many adverse impacts that the oil and gas industry would cause to its citizens and the cultural, environmental and economic resources of the county. The citizenry of Santa Fe County must have the fortitude to support county officials who will stand up to the oil and gas industry. We need strong leadership that places our health, safety, economy and environment above the interests of an out-of-state company. A petition can be found on the Drilling Santa Fe website http://www.drillingsantafe.org. Drilling Santa Fe is a growing group of citizens concerned about impending oil and gas activity in Santa Fe County. For more information, please contact Johnny Micou drillingsantafe@earthlink.net, 505474-3061). PROTECTING COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLIES

Pressure from the business community has already led Cadigan to back off on some of the deadlines and ease the turf requirements for private parks that also serve at least some public function. While it may be costly to retrofit toilets and replace turf, it is also undeniable that these changes will result in lower water bills for those businesses and lower water consumption for the city as a whole. The Water Utility Authority is still offering rebates on low-flow toilets, for example, and smaller turf areas with better irrigation will substantially reduce outdoor water use, the largest source of non-drinking water use. Councilor Cadigan needs to hear from the community and not just the business interests. We may have a record runoff and flows in the Rio Grande this year, but the long-range forecasts for New Mexico and the Southwest are still for reductions in river flows. We need to get serious about conservation. The next Council meeting to discuss the ordinance is April 7th. You can let Councilor Cadigan know that you support his efforts by contacting his office at (505) 768-3189 or maledo@cabq.gov (Mimi Aledo, his staff assistant will take your input).

co-op news

APRIL 2008 6

Paper or Plastic? neither please!

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or 30 years La Montanita Co-op has been a community leader on food, health and environmental issues. Over 20 years ago La Montanita Co-op was the first in the community to offer shoppers a fivecent bag credit for each bag they do not take at the register. This 5-cent bag credit continues today. Last October we asked for your input on the phase out of plastic bags at the register. Overwhelmingly, you let us know that to protect our environment you would support that change. We are using up the last of our plastic bags and, sometime this month, you will no longer be asked: “paper or plastic?� at Co-op registers. Some plastic bags will still be available in the produce, bulk and meat departments. Please use these sparingly and re-use them whenever possi-

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Personal Growth Childhood Trauma • Illness Drugs/Alcohol • Loss Women’s Issues

Louise Miller, MA LPCC NCC Psychotherapy louise@louisemiller.org www.louisemiller.org

Phone (505) 385-0562 Albuquerque, NM

LOCAL SALE ITEMS SHOP LOCAL & SAVE

Herbs, Etc. Santa Fe, NM Allergy ReLeaf System, 120 caps, sale $29.99 High Country Kombu Cha Eagle, CO • Organic Kombucha Tea, 16 oz., Assorted Varieties, sale $3.29

Rudi’s Organic Bakery Boulder, CO • Organic Sandwich Bread, 20-22 oz., sale $2.99. Additional Rudi’s items on sale

Third Street Chai Boulder, CO • Organic Chai Latte, 32 oz., Assorted Varieties, sale $3.99

Tijeras Organic Alchemy Albuquerque, NM • Clary Sage & Cucumber Daily Shampoo & Conditioner, 12 oz., sale $8.99 VALID IN-STORE ONLY from 4/2-4/29, 2008:

Not all items available at all stores.

APRIL SPECIALS WANT TO SEE YOUR LOCAL PRODUCT ADVERTISED HERE? Contact Angela at angela@lamontanita.coop

ble. Over the years we have had a wide variety of reusable bags available. We have ordered a variety of string, canvas and other reusable bags, some as inexpensive as 99 cents. Thanks for joining us in our efforts to protect our planet. Please call or We use write Robyn at 217-2027 300-700 or toll free at 877-775plastic bags per 2667 or e-mail robins person @lamontanita.coop with per year! questions or input. PACKAGING WASTE FACTOIDS 1. US consumers use an estimated 300-700 plastic bags per person per year. This is an estimated 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps a year nationwide, utilizing an estimated 12 million of barrels of oil per year. 2. If everyone in the United States tied their annual consumption of plastic bags together in a giant chain, the chain would reach around the Earth 760 times!

3. Estimates for plastic sack use worldwide range from 100 billion to one trillion per year, degrading landscapes and filling landfills. 4. Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade — breaking down into small toxic bits, contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food chain. 5. The EPA estimates that it can take 1,000 years for the average plastic bag to decompose 6. The EPA also estimates that only 5.2 % of the plastic bags in the waste stream in 2005 were recycled 7. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, in 1999 the US alone used 10 billion paper grocery bags, requiring 14 million trees to be cut down.

Sources: New York Times, April 1st, 2007, EPA Website, www.chicobags.com, Paper or Plastic, Searching for Solutions to an Overpackaged World, by Dan Imhoff, published by Sierra Club Books.

Spring Cleaning with

GREENS BY KRISTIN WHITE s the days grow longer and warmer, the energy of spring, lying dormant in winter, begins to flow. We awake, stretch and stir, becoming more alive and active. Our bodies respond to this increased movement by alerting the eliminative organs, i.e. liver, kidneys, intestines and blood, to remove the collected wastes of winter. The colon, kidneys, lungs and skin play key roles in this important process; but it is the liver, stimulated by these springtime energies, that cleanses the blood and internal organs of impurities, or toxins.

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Toxins are poisonous substances produced by living cells or organisms that are active at very low concentrations. They may be caused by fatty, processed or undigested foods, a deficiency in enzymes, or environmental toxins including heavy metals, drugs, poisonous chemicals, polluted air and contaminated water. When the body is overloaded with toxins, the liver may be stressed and cause symptoms such as allergies, headaches, nausea, irritability, mental fogginess, muscle tension, skin conditions, itching and fatigue. In women, signs of liver stress include PMS, fibroid tumors and endometriosis, given that the liver must process excess estrogens out of the bloodstream. In spring, your body’s internal heat rises just as the temperature outside becomes gradually warmer. Your body heat moves closer to the surface in relationship to the increase in external temperature. All the same, you are still sensitive to cool weather and prone to getting a chill. If your body is sluggish and doesn't heat up fast enough, or if you rush the transition from cool to warm, you are susceptible to colds and flu. It is best to make a gradual transition to warm weather in dress, food and routine.

WHAT YOU CAN DO Stay warmly dressed while making the transition from winter to spring, even though the air may be warm. Increase physical and breathing exercises. A vigorous walk or hike will help you to exhale a considerable amount of built-up wastes. It may also make you sweat a little, stimulating the skin and helping to exude toxins. Practicing proper breathing techniques increases oxygen intake, which purifies the blood, cleanses the lungs, calms and clears the mind and invigorates the body. One of the most beneficial and delicious ways to clear out liver congestion is with food. Continue eating winter foods (heavier, oilier, more carbohydrates and warm), but don’t overdo it! Eating too many heavy foods may make your body too dense for this time of year. Add more vegetables and salads. Greens are plentiful this time of year. Bitter greens, such as kale, collards, mustard, chard, dandelion or watercress, help stimulate the flow of bile and cleanse the liver. Lightly steam or sautÊ them with garlic or ginger and a pinch of cayenne in olive oil for delectable flavor. Squeeze the juice of a lime or lemon on top, just before eating, and enjoy! Eat green salads on a daily basis. Choose endive, watercress, romaine, mizuna, arugula, parsley or other greens. You can make a simple and tasty dressing using olive oil, minced garlic, freshsqueezed lemon juice, a pinch of cayenne pepper and a spoonful of tahini. The liver’s favorite foods are right out of the garden or on colorful display in the produce section of your favorite local Co-op.

Carcinogens in Body Care Products

COMING CLEAN CAMPAIGN Consumer Alert: NEW ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION REPORT RELEASED A newly released study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), a nationwide network of more than 500,000 organic consumers, and overseen by environmental health consumer advocate David Steinman (author of The Safe Shopper’s Bible), revealed the presence of the undisclosed carcinogenic contaminant 1,4-Dioxane in leading shampoos, body washes, lotions and other personal care and household cleaning products claiming to be “natural� or “organic�.

Laboratory tests showed that products certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program did not contain this toxin. All leading self-proclaimed “organic� brands have at least a few individual “certified organic� ingredients, but for most of these top-selling brands, the product, as a whole, is not USDA organic certified, thereby allowing the presence of synthetic toxins. What is 1,4-Dioxane? Ethoxylation, a cheap short-cut companies use to make harsh ingredients milder, requires the use of the cancer-causing petrochemical ethylene oxide, which generates 1,4-Dioxane as a by-product. continued on page 7

co-op news

APRIL 2008 7

THE INSIDE I recently attended the Organic Farming Conference here in Albuquerque. What a wonderful opportunity to experience New Mexico’s farming and farm support community. It was a pleasure to meet the farmers that supply our Co-op. The challenges they face in today’s farming and marketplace environment are many and complex. I’m proud that through our Food-Shed Project and the Co-op Distribution Center (CDC), La Montanita has been able to support these farmers and have a role in their success. We look forward to strengthening our relationships with local producers and bringing more local products to our member owners and customers during the upcoming year. After months of hard work, the Santa Fe expansion construction phase is coming to a close. The New Mexico Educators Credit Union has opened a branch inside our store. We are excited to have them aboard and wish them the very best. We believe this will be a mutually beneficial

SCOOP

endeavor for us and for the people of Santa Fe. Any Co-op member is welcome to join the Credit Union and utilize their compliment of full financial services. I would like to thank the Santa Fe staff for their hard work and patience during the construction phase of this project. I recognize that our staff had their work lives turned upside down during this time but have remained strong and committed to the completion of this project. This great new expansion would not have been possible without their dedication. Thanks also go out to our member owners and customers. Without your patronage, this vision would have never become a reality. I would like to extend an invitation to all of you to visit our newly expanded Santa Fe Co-op and see what your Co-op has become. Join us for the Credit Union Grand Opening on April 18th from 11:30am-2pm. Thanks again for your support of your Co-op. You own it! In Cooperation, Terry Bowling

Calendar of Events 4/5 4/15 4/18 4/21 4/22 4/27 TBA

Valley Garden Party, Valley Co-op, 10am-3pm Board of Directors Meeting, Immanuel Church, 5:30pm Santa Fe/Credit Union Grand Opening, see page 1 Board Member Engagement Committee, CDC, 5:30pm Turn Off TV, Turn On Life, Santa Fe, see page 1 Celebrate the Earth Day, Nob Hill Co-op, 10:30-6pm Finance Committee Meeting, CDC, 5pm

CO-OPS: A Solution-Based System A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

DIVINE CHOCOLATE:

FAIR TRADE GOODNESS BY ERIN GORMAN esearchers have found that American women appear to crave chocolate more than women elsewhere in the world. But for women cocoa farmers in Ghana, chocolate is much more than a craving. For the women of Kuapa Kokoo, a fair-trade farmers’ cooperative and part owner of Divine Chocolate, chocolate is the way to a bright future.

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Fair trade means that farmers are paid a fair price for their crops and receive premiums to invest in their communities. An equally important part of Kuapa Kokoo’s commitment to fair trade is the advancement of democracy to empower farmers in the local and global markets. Democracy makes it possible for the farmers of Kuapa (45,000 members in 1,200 villages) to discuss how to improve their communities in ways that benefit the greatest number of people. In a world where cocoa farmers are exposed to the vagaries of a market beyond their control, farmers value the ability to speak up for themselves, say what is on their minds, and chart their own futures. Democracy also requires that both men and women take part. Cecilia Appianim is a cocoa farmer from the village of Asemtem in the Central Region of Ghana. She is also a member of the national executive council for

Kuapa Kokoo, and she visited the United States recently to help promote Divine. She explained the importance of women taking part in this way: “Fair trade has helped us a lot. Because of fair trade, women can come out boldly and take part in every event. Before, it was not like that. Before, we would stay at home and watch the men. And we would work with our husbands and they would take the money, put it in their pockets, and when it came time to buy food or pay school fees they would say the money is gone. But Kuapa has opened our eyes to see that everything should be 50-50. So if a man has one vote, a woman has one as well. If the men come together to make a decision, then the women are there to take part as well. So now we are empowered. “Also because of fair trade, we have many projects for women. We make soap, t-shirts, batik. We grow other foodstuffs and sell in the market and then put some money into the credit union for hardship times or to pay our children's school fees.” Divine Chocolate is co-owned by the farmers of Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana, so women and men farmers are involved in decision-making at every level. So, think of Divine Chocolate as more than a way to satisfy your cravings. You can purchase Divine Chocolate at La Montanita and your support is a contribution to democracy and the empowerment of women around the world.

BRANDS FOUND NOT TO CONTAIN 1,4-DIOXANE All USDA Certified Organic brands tested in this study were 1,4-Dioxane-free, including: Dr. Bronner’s, Sensibility Soaps (Nourish brand), Terressentials, Aubrey Organics, Dr. Hauschka, Burt’s Bees Products. Support the OCA’s Coming Clean Campaign to rid the marketplace of synthetic personal care products misleadingly labeled as “organic”. To join the campaign, donate funds to support this and other OCA work and research, go to www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/ continued from page 6

1,4-Dioxane is considered a chemical “known to the State of California to cause cancer” under proposition 65, and is also suspected as a kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant, among others, according to the California EPA.

ceteareth, any other “-eth,” PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol, in their names. In general, avoid products with unpronounceable ingredients to be sure to avoid synthetic toxins and carcinogens.

Read Your Labels You won’t see 1,4-Dioxane listed on product’s ingredient labels, because it is considered a “contaminant” or “by-product” of the ethoxylation process, rather than an ingredient. OCA’s study indicates the toxin is present in products with synthetic ethoxylated ingredients, including those with myreth, oleth, laureth,

Conventional Non-Organic Products Also Contain the Carcinogen Although previous studies have revealed 1,4-Dioxane is present in many conventional personal care products, this new study indicates the toxin is also present in a number of leading self-proclaimed but non-certified “natural” and “organic” branded products.

Classical Homeopathy Visceral Manipulation Craniosacral Therapy

MARY ALICE COOPER, MD St. Raphael Medical Center 204 Carlisle NE Albuquerque, NM 87106

505-266-6522

green cuisine

grCuisne een ! In springtime it is favorable to eat local fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs in season. Fresh young greens are a traditional part of spring diets. The recipes below incorporate spring greens and vegetables such as asparagus, lettuce, spinach, watercress, radishes and arugula. (Key: C = cup, T = tablespoon, t = teaspoon, lb. = pound, oz. = ounce, qt. = quart) Spring Ephemeral Salad 1/2 C sunflower seeds 1 t fresh grated ginger 1 clove garlic, minced 3 T lemon juice 3 T organic, extra virgin olive oil 2 C spinach leaves 2 C dandelion greens, picked before flowers open 1 raw, medium beet, grated 1 medium carrot grated 2 scallions thinly sliced 1 C alfalfa sprouts 15 violets (or as many as you can find), with stems In a medium serving bowl, combine ginger, garlic, lemon juice and oil. Add spinach, dandelion greens, beet, carrot, sunflower seeds, scallions and sprouts. Toss the salad and dot with violets. Spring Greens with Wheat Berries 1 T butter 8 mushrooms 1/2 t salt 1/4 t dried hot chilies 5 C spring greens (lettuce, spinach,

beet greens) 1/2 C spring onions or garlic scapes, sliced 8 radishes, sliced 1/4 C dried tomatoes, sliced 1 C cooked wheat berries, chilled 1/2 C grated Farmer's cheese (or other hard cheese) 1 t fresh mint, minced apple cider vinegar, to taste Heat butter in a pan and sauté the mushrooms until they've released their juices. Season with the salt and chilies and set aside. Layer the remaining ingredients, except for the vinegar, into a large salad bowl. Just before serving, pour the warm mushrooms with their cooking juices over the salad. Dress with the apple cider vinegar. Serves 4 Spring Greens with Acorn Squash 2 small acorn squash (about 2 pounds total) 2 T brown sugar 2 T butter or olive oil 4 C leaf lettuce (romaine, red-leaf, green-leaf, butter or a mixture) 2 T sunflower seeds 4 t honey Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Pierce the skin of each whole squash in several places to let the steam escape during cooking. Place on a baking sheet in 375degree F. oven for about 1 hour. Squeeze the squash to test for doneness. When it yields to gentle pressure when poked with a fork, it's done. Or, if you prefer the quick version using the microwave, pierce the squash several times with a sharp knife. Microwave each squash on high until tender, about 5 minutes. Turn the squash after 3 minutes to ensure even cooking.

APRIL2008 10

Place the cooked squash on a cutting board and cut in half. Scrape the seeds out of the center of each half and discard the seeds. Remove the pulp of the squash and put into a mixing bowl. Repeat with the second squash. There should be about 2 cups of pulp. Sprinkle squash with the brown sugar and add the butter. Mix until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly. Divide the lettuce amount on 4 salad plates. Top each with 1/2 cup of the squash mixture, 1/2 tablespoon sunflower seeds and 1 teaspoon honey. Serve immediately. Serves 4 Pasta with Asparagus and Spring Greens This simple pasta dish showcases leafy greens as well as asparagus, another classic spring vegetable. 10 to 12 oz pasta, any short shape 1 lb fresh asparagus 2 T olive oil 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced 6 to 8 oz fresh greens, such as arugula, watercress or baby spinach leaves (or a combination), well rinsed, stemmed if desired 1/2 C grated fresh parmesan, feta or crumbly goat cheese salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Cook the pasta according to directions in plenty of rapidly simmering water, then drain. Meanwhile, trim woody ends from the asparagus spears and scrape any tough skin with a vegetable peeler (slender spring asparagus usually needs no scraping). Cut the spears into 2-inch long pieces and set aside. Heat the oil in a small skillet and add the garlic. Sauté over low heat for a minute or two or until golden. Add the asparagus and a small amount of water. Cover and steam until the asparagus is done to your liking but still bright green. Add the greens, cover

and steam very briefly (less than a minute will do), just until wilted down slightly. Combine the pasta with the asparagus and greens mixture and cheese in a serving bowl and toss well. Season with salt and pepper and serve at once. Serves 4 Spring Vegetable Soup 2 T vegetable oil 2 scallions, trimmed and sliced 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 2 small turnips, peeled and diced 2 new potatoes, scrubbed and diced 2 carrots, diced 1 spring fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 C chopped fresh parsley 6 C vegetable stock or chicken stock 1/2 lb asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces 1 cup peas, fresh or frozen 1 bunch (6 oz) watercress, leaves only 2 T tarragon vinegar salt and pepper In medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add scallions, garlic, turnips, potatoes and carrots. Cover and cook until vegetables are starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in thyme, parsley and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add asparagus and peas and cook another 5 minutes. Purée half the soup with watercress and return it to remainder of soup. Stir in tarragon vinegar, taste for salt and pepper, and serve. Potage Polenta Cooked cornmeal makes a delightfully dense soup base. Serve this meal-in-a-bowl with a bountiful salad and crusty bread. 2 T olive oil 3 to 4 cloves garlic 6 C water

green

cuisine

1 C yellow cornmeal, preferably stoneground 1 16-oz can small red beans, drained and rinsed 1 medium-small zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced 1 C diced ripe tomatoes 1/4 C oil-cured sun-dried tomatoes, plus more for topping if desired 1 t Italian herb seasoning blend 6 to 8 oz Swiss chard or spinach, well washed, stemmed and chopped salt and freshly ground pepper to taste basil leaves, handful, cut into strips 1/2 C grated mozzarella-style nondairy cheese for topping, optional Heat the oil in a soup pot. Add the garlic and sauté over low heat until golden. Add 4 cups of the water and bring to a gentle simmer. Pour the cornmeal into the pot in a thin, steady stream, 1/4 cup at a time, whisking constantly. Stir in the beans, tomatoes, dried tomatoes and seasoning. Cover and continue to simmer gently. Uncover to whisk well every 5 minutes or so, for 25 minutes, or until the cornmeal is cooked. Whisk in 1 cup of water with each of the last two stirrings. Stir in the chard or spinach. Cook for an additional 7 to 10 minutes for the chard and 3 to 5 minutes for the spinach, just until tender but still bright green. Adjust the consistency with more water if needed. The soup should be fairly thick, but thinner than a cornmeal porridge. Season with salt and pepper and serve. Top each serving with a few strips of basil, and if desired, a sprinkling of cheese and a few extra strips of dried tomato. Yellow Split Pea Soup This version of split pea soup instructs you to cook the split peas separately so if you want to double the amount of split peas, you can save half for some other use. You can use a vegetable stock, if you like, in place of the water. Rapunzel Herb Bouillon with Salt is recommended; use about 1/2 of one cube in the soup to make a nice, light flavorful broth. If you want to go 2% on the Greek yogurt, that is fine. Look for yellow split peas in the bulk department of your favorite Co-op. 2 C dried split yellow peas, picked over and rinsed 6 C water 1 T extra virgin olive oil 2 large onions, chopped 1/2 t fine-grain sea salt 3 C water 1 7-oz container of Greek yogurt 1/2 C shredded, de-seeded, unpeeled cucumber 1 clove garlic, mashed and minced scant 1/4 C fresh mint, chopped big pinch of salt chopped black olives for garnish more olive oil to drizzle Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan, add the yellow split peas, and cook for 20 -30 minutes, or until tender. Drain, salt to taste and set aside. Add olive oil to a big pot over med-high heat. Stir in onions and salt and

APRIL2008 11

cook until the onions soften, just a minute or two. Add the cooked split peas and stock/water. Bring to a simmer and let cook for a few minutes. Now remove from the heat. Using a large cup or mug ladle half of the soup into a bowl and set aside. Using a hand blender or regular blender, puree the soup that is still remaining in the pot. Stir the reserved, (still chunky), soup back into the puree you should have a soup that is nicely textured. If you need to thin the soup out with more water (or stock) do so a bit at a time. Give the soup a taste, if it needs more salt, add more a bit at a time until the flavor of the soup really pops. In the meantime, make the yogurt topping by mixing together the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, mint and salt. Set aside. Ladle soup into bowls or cups, and serve each with a generous dollop of the yogurt, a drizzle of olive oil, a touch of chopped mint (any that was left on the cutting board) and a sprinkling of black olives. Serves 4 Spring Tonic Soup A medicinal soup to awaken your body for spring! 2 T cooking oil 1 onion chopped 1 fresh burdock root sliced 2 cloves garlic minced 1 carrot sliced 1 celery stalk sliced 1 handful of fresh, young nettle leaves or 1 C of nettle tea 1 C vegetable broth 1 C brown rice fresh ginger root, grated (to taste) fresh chopped parsley and cilantro to garnish salt, pepper and/or other spices to taste In a frying pan, sauté oil, onion, garlic, ginger, burdock root, carrot and celery. Make one cup of nettle tea unless you have fresh leaves. Cook brown rice. In soup pot, combine sautéed vegetables, nettle tea, vegetable broth, spices and rice. Cover pot and simmer on low heat for two hours. Serve with freshly chopped cilantro and parsley as garnish.

New Mexico Roots Down Earthwise Landscape Solutions

The recipes above have been adapted and reprinted from the following sources: www.mayoclinic.com www.care2.com www.thedailygreen.com www.101cookbooks.com www.tummytemple.com http://blog.vegkitchen.com/2008/03/ www.globalgourmet.com

575-770-8871 Thrivable Design • Natural Building • Permaculture

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food TROUBLE ON THE

book review Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto (Penguin, 2008). Ann Vileisis, Kitchen Literacy: How We Lost Knowledge of Where Food Comes from and Why We Need to Get It Back (Island, 2008). REVIEWED BY VENETIA PIMLEY

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wo new books about the American food system both confirm that shortening our food chain will make us healthier and happier. In In Defense of Food Michael Pollan calls for a more commonsense approach to eating, faulting food scientists and the food industry for making food too complex. The problem is the way most Americans view food, believing that nutrients, not food, matter, that we need scientists to explain food to us, and that the purpose of eating is to deliver fuel and chemicals. He calls this view nutritionism. We’re bound to fail, he shows, when we try to understand food by studying nutrients out of the context of foods and by studying foods out of the context of diets. Pollan traces many health problems to the Western diet, pointing out that several leading causes of death are chronic diseases linked to diet (coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer). To understand the relationships between chronic diseases and the diet of refined foods, we need to stop looking at food in terms of its chemical constituents.

Member of International Society of Arboriculture and Society of Commercial Arboriculture ISA Certified, Licensed & Insured

232-2358 www.EricsTreeCare.com ericstreecare@earthlink.net

Spring is in the Air Time to mulch beds, fertilize and don’t forget spring pruning!

Services • Fruit and Shade Tree Pruning • Technical Removal • Planting • Cabling & Bracing • Fertilization • Root Rehabilitation Services

OUTPOST +;H<EHC7D9; .F79;

FOOD CHAIN

Also, to benefit from food (which Pollan distinguishes from processed foodlike products), forget trying to tease out which nutrient is responsible for which health benefit: foods are more than the sum of their parts. Pollan proposes we think of food not as a thing but as a relationship. We should replace our reductionist, utilitarian view with “a broader, more ecological, and more cultural� one. That is, we should

Redefining our relationship with FOOD

APRIL 2008 12

one governed by outside experts representing an alliance of commerce, science, and government.� When consumers no longer knew the farmers who supplied their food, producers, processors and marketers did what benefited themselves. Ads exploited homemakers’ “inferiority complex� as cooks, and pictures on labels exploited city-dwellers’ nostalgia for the country (increasingly, a manufactured version of nature). Knowing brand names replaced traditional knowledge: a leading home economist in the 1920s recommended shoppers give up the “burden of knowing,� learn only brand names, and not worry about ingredients or methods.

A

understand how the health of all parts of the food chain are related. And we should let appetite, pleasure and tradition be our guides to eating. In Kitchen Literacy, Ann Vileisis tells the story of how our food chain lengthened from 1800, when Americans knew where their food came from, to now, when most of us don’t. She details the movement of people to cities, the rise of processed foods and additives, the first cross-country transport of beef, the ignorance about pesticides moving through the food chain, and the absence of truthful labeling. This story includes the birth of nutritionism. After the turn of the 20th century, kitchen literacy “evolved from being a matter governed by an individual’s sense, common sense, and tradition, to

troubling feature of the lengthened food chain has always been the use of preservatives, synthetic foods and colorings because they nullify our ability to relate to food through our senses. From their inception, Vileisis writes, additives and “made-foodsâ€? threatened “what had always been a direct, natural, sensuous relationship between eater and food.â€? And today, Pollan argues, “foods that lie to our senses are one of the most challenging aspects of the Western diet.â€? Eaters need experience to interpret a food’s signals of smell, color, taste, and to understand ideas of ripe or spoiled, an experience many of us have never gotten. Pollan and Vileisis recommend we eat lower on the food chain, grow some of our own food, and buy organic and local foods. In fact, Vileisis says that the local and organic foods movement is a way to “exercise‌ social consciousness in a mass-marketdriven society.â€? Foods bought directly from the farmer or with the organic label are foods grown in ways that are better for the land, the animals, and us, the eaters.

EXPERIENCE REAL FOOD!

Local Food Festival and Field

Day

A celebration of food from the ground up! Saturday, May 17th • 11am-3pm, Hubbell House and Demonstration Farm • 6029 Isleta Boulevard, SW Come and enjoy the 2008 Local Food Festival and Field Day, at the grand opening of the Hubbell House in Albuquerque’s South Valley. AMONG THE MANY THINGS YOU’LL GET TO DO: • Taste locally grown foods prepared by local chefs • Get gardening tips on what to plant • Find out how much you need to water • Discover the perfect time to prune

• Meet the people who grow local food • Explore preparing and selling food from your own fields • Learn how to cook with the seasons • Find out what’s so important about bees Pet a chicken, feed a goat, listen to live music and just enjoy the beauty at the grand opening of one of New Mexico’s historic treasures! The event is organized and co-sponsored by the Mid-Region Council of Governments’ Agriculture Collaborative with Bernalillo County and the Hubbell House Alliance. For information, contact Jen Silverman or KT LaBadie at 724-3619 or localfoodnm@mrcog-nm.gov. The festival is free and open to the public and celebrates all that our local Food-Shed has to offer.

Celebrate food from the ground up!

210 YALE SE s s WWW OUTPOSTSPACE ORG

SPRING 2008

Monday s April 21 s 7:30pm

Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion NATIONAL HISPANIC CULTUR AL CENTER This concert made possible with support from The Livingry Foundation Serafian’s Oriental Rugs OGB Architectural Millwork

Tickets: $20-$50 (Ticketmaster, NHCC, or Outpost)

APRIL !NDY -ILNE $APP 4HEORY (OLLY (OFMANN -IKE 7OFFORD 3TU -AC!SKIE 2OUST THE (OUSE :AKIR (USSAIN S -ASTERS OF 0ERCUSSION 6IJAY )YER MAY +ATE -AC,EOD $OUG ,AWRENCE "OBBY 3HEW ,UIS 'UERRA *OHN 2ANGEL $AGAR %NSEMBLE *EFF "ROWN (ENRY 'RIMES /LUYEMI 4HOMAS 4ATSUYA .AKATANI with -ARK 7EAVER -IKE "ALISTRERI #HRIS *ONAS 3OUTHWEST *AZZ /RCHESTRA -ARIE +NIGHT -ARIANA 3ADOVSKA SUMMER 3rd Annual .EW -EXICO *AZZ &ESTIVAL 0HAROAH 3ANDERS s 9OUSSOU . $OUR !LLEN 4OUSSAINT s #ASSANDRA 7ILSON 0RESERVATION (ALL *AZZ "AND 0AQUITO $ 2IVERA & much much more!

EXPERIENCE JAZZ IN NEW MEXICO LAND OF ENCHANTMENT Funded in part by the New Mexico Tourism Department

Two Locations! Nob Hill

Acupuncture Center Relief from stress, pain, digestive discomfort, colds & flu Most insurances accepted. 3415 Silver SE Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106 P: 505-265-5087 103 East Hill Gallup, New Mexico 87301 P: 505-863-8018

The Harwood presents:

Let Me Say This About That Featuring: Bryan Konefsky Hakim Bellamy Lisa Gill Virginia Hampton Mitch Rayes

Friday, April 11th, 7-9:00 pm FREE! 1114 7th St. NW ~ 242-6367 ~ www.HarwoodArtCenter.org

farming &

gardening

APRIL 2008 13

GM O ROULETTE BRETT BAKKER otton, canola, corn, papaya, potato, soybeans and squash account for the mostplanted genetically modified crops while wheat, plums, alfalfa and others wait in the wings. To date, not one GM crop has been developed for better nutrition, increased yield or drought-tolerance. Four out of five acres planted to GM crops worldwide have been bred for resistance to Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup, the most used pesticide around the globe (a note to clarify the nomenclature: bugs and weeds are pests, therefore insecticides and herbicides are both classed as pesticides). BY

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BITTER SWEETS These days there’s a longer list of processed products that contain corn syrup or its derivatives than those that don’t. That sweetener is more abundant, cheaper and more “plastic” (as in malleable) than “old fashioned” sugar from cane or beets. Its also derived from corn that is Genetically Modified. The use of imported cane sugar is falling dramatically but beet sugar accounts for 1.3 million acres in the US alone. This spring hundreds of thousands of acres, mostly in Idaho, will be planted to GM sugar beet seed from Monsanto for the first time. Beets, like corn, easily cross-pollinate, which means genes from the GM sugar beet can easily pass to table beets and to chard

MAKING WITH

Just say NO to GMO’s!

itchy green

thumb

(botanically speaking, chard is a beet green that doesn’t produce a beet). A suit in US District Court of California is attempting to block the use of GM beets until environmental impact studies are complete, much the same as last year’s suit against GM alfalfa. The case is pending. KRAFTY In response to consumer demand for dairy products free of recombinant bovine growth hormone (a.k.a. rBGH or rBST), Kraft is releasing a specialty line of growth hormone-free products. At a higher price of course. Not all of us were convinced that American

WATER

ROCKS!

BY CRAIG SPONHOLTZ OF DRYLAND SOLUTIONS o you consider making water with rocks to be some sort of fanciful alchemy? Do you believe that virtually every culture that has occupied the arid lands of the Earth has possessed this power?

D

It is in fact true that dryland cultures throughout history and around the world have utilized gravel and rocks to harvest dew, rainfall and runoff. The ancient Nabatean culture of the Negev desert in what is now Israel employed these techniques to develop a thriving agricultural society in a very harsh environment. Here in New Mexico, the Ancestral Puebloans engineered entire watersheds with rocks to provide their staple crops of corn, beans and squash. They used boulders to build networks of terraces, cobbles to slow runoff in gullies and layers of gravel on their fields as a moisture-conserving mulch. These are simple, time-tested techniques that we are just now rediscovering. Consider a typical xeriscaped suburban yard with droughttolerant plants and ample amounts of rock and gravel neatly separated for just the right aesthetic. I am always amazed that when we do use rocks and gravel that we carefully separate them from the soil surface with weed barriers that prevent any vegetation from growing. This creates a very hot and dry growing environment for isolated clumps of xeric plants. The whole point of thriving in drylands and living harmoniously in the landscape is to maximize every drop of rainfall that is naturally available to enrich your surroundings in a sustainable way. Cisterns are great, but can be expensive. Consider that the soil under your feet provides more water storage capacity than any tank ever could and it is literally free. Our job is to simply allow every possible drop of rainfall to soak in. This is where rocks come in. We can use many different sizes and configurations of rocks to encourage moisture storage in soil. The simplest technique is gravel mulch. This thin layer of gravel protects the soil from the heat of the sun, holds in moisture, increases microorganism populations in the soil, which thereby increases moisture infiltration and provides protective environments for seedlings. Young plants further shade the soil surface and continue the positive feedback loop. More moisture - more plants, more plants - more moisture. This is true until the area reaches its equilibrium of water storage and water use, its carrying capacity.

An area of barren gravel xeriscaping can become a dense stand of native grasses without any supplemental irrigation. If you lay down native grass and wildflower seeds and cover them with a thin layer of gravel mulch, leaving out the weed barrier altogether, you can end up with a very low maintenance, naturally xeric meadow that is dense with diverse species of drought tolerant plants. Once a year in late winter you can mow the area with a string trimmer to disperse seeds and add organic matter to the soil. Eventually most of the gravel will disappear under the cover of grasses and wildflowers and become incorporated into the soil. For those who desire a more manicured look, the same technique can be isolated or even retrofitted into existing landscaping by removing small areas of weed barrier, seeding and replacing the gravel while leaving the rest in place. In this simple way you too can make water from rocks. On a slope you can achieve great results by using one-rock dams – these are made with stones laid on contour to trap debris, seed and eroded soil. One-rock dams are in essence small and very simple terraces, very effective in curtailing erosion on gentle slopes and starting the revegetation process. Soon after one of these is in place, life will return even to the most challenged landscape, with young seedlings colonizing moist protected soil under the rocks. Between May 11 and 16th, The Permaculture Drylands Institute will be offering a 5-day Applied Watershed Restoration workshop with Craig Sponholtz, where one can learn first hand the art of making water with rocks in situations ranging from home-to landscape-scale applications. To read more about this educational opportunity, visit www.permaculture.org Craig Sponholtz earned an M.A. in Agro-Ecological Restoration from Prescott College and studied permaculture at Tagari Farm in Australia. He has had extensive training and hands-on experience in water harvesting, erosion control and stream restoration. His business, Dryland Solutions, Inc. designs and implements watershed restoration projects throughout the Southwest. Craig teaches a wide variety of techniques that foster beneficial relationships between people and the watersheds they live in.

Harvest dew, rainfall and runoff!

SHOP CO-OP AND SAVE BUY LOCAL SHOP CO-OP AND SAVE

cheese actually contained much if any dairy anyway. Still, it’s encouraging that Kraft, Starbucks and Kroger Foods are all responding to the consumer’s voice that rBGH/rBST-free products are made available. Meanwhile, Kevin Holloway of Monsanto went on record to say that “We're not aware of any consumer demand for this type of product. It is just a marketing effort to differentiate and charge more.” E.U. P.U. The European Union’s famous stance against GM crops seems to be slowly eroding. EU attorneys have blocked Poland’s bid to ban all trade and planting of GMs within their borders. They say Poland (or any EU member country) must be GM crop-specific in ban requests and have solid reasons backed by scientific study. As any GM company will tell you, GM crops are the most studied crops in the history of agriculture. Two things they fail to mention: (1) the studies focus on GM development and not safety, (2) most of these studies are funded by the GM companies themselves and (surprise!) find little fault with their products. BIOTECH WALKOUT The three-year collaborative International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (in a nutshell, how to feed the world while improving rural livelihoods) did not encourage the use of GMs but instead pointed out ecological and economic risk. Monsanto, Syngenta and BASF (the world leaders in GM technology) all withdrew from the project. Apparently, 4,000 participants (including scientists) from 110 countries didn’t offer GMs as the answer. These biotech companies claim they have the answer but they don’t appear to be listening to the questions. “RESISTANCE IS FUTILE” Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, is a naturally occurring bacterium that has long been cultured in the lab and used to kill crop-devastating caterpillars by both organic and non-organic farmers alike. The bacterium has been genetically engineered (by our old friends at Monsanto, among others) into crops that then produce their own Bt, whether there is a caterpillar infestation or not. Its well known among pesticide developers that pests eventually develop resistance to pesticides if they are used ubiquitously. A 2003-2006 study in Mississippi and Arkansas conducted by University of Arizona scientists found the first bollworm population to evolve resistance to the Bt cotton plant. Worldwide, 400 million acres of Bt cotton and Bt corn have been planted, comprising what the scientists’ report calls “one of the largest selections for insect resistance ever known”. Bt versions of apple, broccoli, cabbage, tobacco, tomato and soybean have been developed but have yet to be released.

clean inside & OUT

APRIL 2008 14

HEALTHYand SAFE SPRING

There are many fine non-toxic products that can be substituted. The Co-op carries several lines. Or make your own cleaning products, which saves money and puts you in charge of what’s in the home.

CLEANING

Natural Air Fresheners Keep the home well ventilated, and if possible, keep windows open when you can. Good ventilation keeps air pollution levels low.

BY AILEEN O’CATHERINE he asparagus has sprouted and the forsythia is in bloom. Spring has sprung. Spring cleaning can’t be far behind. But how safe are your household cleaning products? Before pulling the old standbys off the shelves, it might be a healthy idea to take a closer look. Standard cleaning products found on grocery and drug store shelves can contain toxic ingredients, which when exposed to over long periods of time, keep us from optimum health.

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When it comes to cleaning products, it’s important to become a label reader. Although many cleaning products do not list their ingredients on the label, look for the following SIGNAL words, and avoid products that contain them on the label: CAUTION, WARNING, or DANGER. Here’s the meaning of the signal words, according to the National Safety Council: CAUTION: The lowest level of potential harm, this word indicates exposure to the product is not likely to produce permanent damage if first aid is immediately given. WARNING: indicates you could become seriously ill or harmed. Also used to identify products that easily catch fire. By law, these products are required to be in child-resistant packaging. DANGER: The highest level of potential harm. Accidental exposure to the eye or skin could produce tissue damage. Swallowing the product could result in damage to mouth, throat, stomach or even death. Product could explode if exposed to flame. Required by law to be in child-resistant packaging. Often contain a skull and crossbones symbol and the words “Danger-Poison.” A systemic poison. Although it would be wonderful to have cleaning products with no warning labels, many commercial products carry a CAUTION label.

Postural Corrections W orking Deeply from the Inside Out Fun and Varied approach to Movement Studio and Home Visits

Michele Whitteker Certified Pilates Instructor

Help maintain a home’s air quality by using plants. Spider plants and golden pothos help remove carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from the air. Benzene, a known carcinogenic, can be removed from the air with Chinese evergreen, peace lilies, Marginatas and English ivy. Benzene is found in paints, pesticides, adhesives, dry cleaning products and lubricants.

Choosing healthier alternatives A WARNING or DANGER label requires rubber gloves and good ventilation. It might be a good idea to search for healthier alternatives. A Matter of Protection Using healthy cleaning products isn’t just a matter of protecting ourselves and our indoor environment. Many of today’s household cleaning products produce toxic pollutants. Poured down drains, they pass through the local wastewater treatments plants and find their way into local waters, to ultimately harm fish and wildlife. Although wastewater treatment plants are designed to remove the toxins found in common household products, they don’t remove them all. Next time you think drain cleaner, think twice. The Fix The good news is the fix is as easy as switching to safe, environmentally friendly cleaning products. Healthy cleaning products. First, evaluate the products being used in the home. Either use up what is already in the home or dispose of it in a safe manner. Then switch to using healthy, natural cleaning products. And while working to maintain a healthy home, watch out for air quality as well.

Keep the air clean by storing air pollutants outside in a shed, away from the house and garage. Common solvents such as toluene, found in degreasing materials and alcohol, should all be kept outside and well away from indoor air. Healthy Cleaning Products Baking soda, mixed with water: for countertops, cabinets, stovetops and other general areas. Hydrogen peroxide, instead of bleach, to disinfect and wash. Distilled white vinegar is an excellent cleaner, especially on glass and tile surfaces, and to remove any residue from baking soda cleaner. Lemon juice to remove grease, and as a general cleaner. Toothpaste, for cleaning silver, or a mixture of water and leftover fireplace ash. Castille or other vegetable soaps, diluted in water, are good as an all-purpose cleaner. Borax is an excellent disinfectant. Use it to remove toilet bowl stains (be careful not to come into contact with eyes). Use a pumice stone to remove any hard rings. Essential Oils add a pleasant fragrance to your homemade cleaning formulas.

North Valley michelelee613@hotmail.com Phone: (505) 345-0149 Albuquerque, NM

MAKE YOUR OWN

CLEANING PRODUCTS

M

aking your own nontoxic cleaning products takes little time, keeps your home naturally clean, and saves money. Be sure to label bottles and jars, and keep out of the reach of children.

BASIC INGREDIENTS TO KEEP ON HAND Baking soda Washing soda (also known as sodium carbonate, sal soda or soda ash) White distilled vinegar Castille or other liquid soap or detergent Tea tree oil ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER Pour 2 cups of hot water into a spray bottle. Add a dab of liquid soap and 1/2 tsp. of washing soda. Shake until the washing soda has dissolved. After applying, wipe clean with a rag. DEODORIZER Nothing works as hard as vinegar to deodorize. Keep a spray bottle of 5 percent vinegar in your kitchen to deodorize cutting boards, cabinets and countertops. It works well on toilet rims as well. Just spray on and wipe clean. Vinegar works well to kill mold too; spray it onto moldy bathroom areas and let set overnight before wiping clean. DISHWASHER DETERGENT 1/2 cup Castile saop 1/2 cup water 1 tsp. lemon juice 1/4 cup white vinegar 3 drops tea tree oil extract baking soda Mix all ingredients in a squeeze bottle, except the baking soda. Use 1 to 2 Tbsp. in the automatic soap dispenser for a standard dishwasher. Sprinkle baking soda over the dirty dishes and on the bottom of the dishwasher to add a cleaning and deodorizing boost. FURNITURE POLISH Mix 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice in a jar. Add 1/2 tsp. olive oil and mix well. Dab the solution onto a soft rag

and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the jar and the solution can be stored indefinitely. OVEN CLEANER Most oven cleaners use caustic lye, a known carcinogenic. Try this cleaner instead, which reduces the work. Generously cover the bottom of the oven with water. Cover with baking soda until the area is completely white. Sprinkle the soda with water. Let it sit overnight. The grease and grime should wipe up easily the next morning. Once the mess is cleaned, put some liquid soap on a sponge and wash any residue from the oven. SOFT SCRUB Put 1/2 cup of baking soda in a bowl and add liquid detergent. Stir and continue to add detergent until the concoction reaches the consistency of frosting. Place some on a sponge, and scrub. Then wash the surface. This cleaner rinses well and doesn’t leave grit. To make ahead, place the mixture in a glass jar and add 1 tsp. of vegetable glycerin. Seal and store. WINDOW CLEANER Pour 2 cups of water into a clean spray bottle. Add 3 Tbs. vinegar and 1/2 tsp. of liquid detergent. Shake and use. MOLD KILLER The wonders of tea tree oil never cease, a little goes a long way. Place 2 cups water in a spray bottle, add 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil and you’ve got an effective mold killer. If you do an inventory of household cleaning products and find yourself ready to box old, volatile chemicals away, the Environmental Protection Agency has some tips. Visit their website at www.epa.gov/epaoswer/nonhw/muncpl/hhw.htm to learn how you can safely dispose of those products.

community

forum

APRIL2008 15

The Child’s Garden:

WALDORF EDUCATION

E

arly childhood is the foundation for lifelong learning and success! Waldorf schools give this time of childhood, between the ages of birth and seven, special care and consideration. We know the needs of young children include warmth and love. They also include appropriate physical opportunities with free, unstructured movement.Children learn by doing and ask for meaningful work (“Mommy, may I wash the dishes?”). They need adults to imitate, adults worthy of imitation, and other children to imitate. Healthy sensory impres-

5MOI /ZMMV[

70

sions are like food for the soul as well as for the growing body. Beauty, play, imagination and creativity are vital. Rhythms, repetition and reverence for nature are nourished in a Waldorf school. If nature and these qualities are of value to you, you can find out more about the new Tierra Madre Waldorf School opening in Albuquerque by calling 244-3433 or attending an informational meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 from 7:008:30 at the Center for Action and Contemplation, 1705 Five Points Road SW. TMWS will be offering mixed-aged programs for children ages 2-7.

.QVL 5MOI /ZMMV[ QV \PM 8ZWL]KM ;MK\QWV

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE & BODYWORK

NARA SHEDD NTS, CLMA, LMT 5917 CORE SYNCHRONISM ~ POLARITY ~ REFLEXOLOGY SWEDISH ~ MYOFASCIAL RELEASE MOVEMENT ANALYSIS

505.975.4823 WWW.BODYTELLINGSTUDIOS.ABMP.COM

LEARN to

and

LOCATE

Clarifying Meditative Work - A Fresh Look: A workshop for people from any meditation tradition or no tradition at all. We'll explore directly what meditative work is and how it sheds light on the concerns of our lives. Sat., 4/5 and 5/17 from 2-5pm at the Wat Center, 145 Madison NE, corner of Madison and Copper in Albuquerque. $2 donation. Reservations, info: Jay Cutts, New Mexico Center for Meditative Inquiry and Retreat, at 281-0684 http://www.cuttsreviews.com/jcutts/meditation/

identify

local plants A Plant Identification class with noted local herbalist Bert Norgarden will start April 23. The class will consist of 10 meetings, 5 classroom and 5 field trips. Classroom time will concentrate on learning Plant Characters and Plant Family Characteristics with a focus on the following families: Apiaceae (Parsley), Asclepiadaceae (Milk Weed), Asteraceae (Sunflower), Brassicaceae (Mustard), Fabaceae (Pea), Lamiaceae (Mint), Ranunculaceae (Buttercup), Roseaceae (Rose), Scrophulariaceae (Snap Dragon) and Solanaceae (Nightshade). Plant Family Characteristics allow you to quickly narrow your search when you are trying to identify a plant. For more information or to register for the class or summer herb walks call 345-9132 or e-mail: plant Anemopsis californica/ yerba mansa

works@mac.com.

The Art of Community Southwest

Conference at UNM May 30-June 1 • Join us for a three-day immersion into the world of Intentional Community and the Evolution of Sustainable Culture! We are gathering at the University of New Mexico to explore the intersection between community-building, sustainability and cultural change. Topics will include Residential Intentional Community and Guerilla Community Building, Sustainable Urban Regeneration, Permaculture & Ecovillages. We will explore Community as part of Peace and Social Justice work, Community as Spiritual Path, Consensus, Facilitation and other group dynamic topics.

The Art of Community Southwest will feature speakers, workshops, tabling and networking events, and a Saturday night banquet and benefit auction. Whether you currently live in community or not, we hope you will be inspired to bring this learning home and make your life more sustainable... and much more fun! Early registration discounts until April 21st. For information, contact Ma'ikwe at (505) 5148180, maikwe@solspace.net, or get tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/26402

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! GET A CO-OP DISCOUNT KSFR Santa Fe's Public Radio Station is looking for Phone Volunteers for their Fund- Drive April 1-15. Call Cheryl Davis at 660-4656. Co-op Members can get 18% Discount Shopping Cards for helping KSFR. Call Robin at 877-775-2667 for more info.

making srides against breast cancer THE NINTH ANNUAL AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BREAST CANCER WALK IS SCHEDULED FOR SUN., APRIL 27, 2008. IT IS A FIVE-MILE WALK TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND PROGRAMS.

PLEASE CALL THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AT (505) 262-6010 OR VISIT WWW. CANCER . ORG / STRIDESONLINE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

walk

april 27

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