stories."

increasing light in the spring, Brook and Rose LeVan at Sustainable Settings spray biodynamic preparations to stimulate the intelligent life forces of the season. Brook quietly explains, “The intent to heal is about building quality relationships.” He continues, thistle is a living being with a purpose; its job is to come into a disturbed area and hold the soil. As soil heals, the aliveness in the earth increases — thistle retreats and is replaced in a succession of plant species. Timing is important and measuring soil aliveness each year tells us how much the soil is healing. Herbicides deaden the micro-life in soil. Our intention is to heal. We trust that intention. Rose added, “We are committed to a living world, we turned our lives around and came here with an intent to heal the land. This is our story.”

Katrina, alive in her lifelong journey with plants, asks the rhetorical question, “How do we go about maintaining a sense of balance in a given field where thistle has proliferated?” First, we need to accept it; however, thistle will change. Thistles are early succession plants. Their presence acts as a guarding, the prickles keep more disturbance away. After they have had their heyday of glory being at the helm of the field, they will be naturally balanced by nature.

Over time, as the soil heals, we witness a diversity of plants come in. Sometimes berry bushes come or different perennials will start to take hold, and there are ways we can assist that process going a little faster. We start to see the resonance of all species and how important they are. We can amplify the goodness and quality of life for all — even the turtle family.

The second story is about spraying. Staff are trained to identify a “noxious” weed and chemically kill it. Results are immediate: thistle turns brown and dies. If I perceive this to be a battle and the identified enemy, thistle, goes down — I feel like I am winning. What is not immediately visible is the collateral damage.

The spray is toxic and a huge disruption to the life in the soil. After spraying, less aliveness in the soil is measurable. This is the reason people who spray report having difficulty getting native grasses to take root and grow. If the soil is less alive, it is less able to support a native grass seed sprouting this spring. The adverse impact on pollinators and other creatures is only visible to a sensitive eye and more difficult to measure. Spraying prolongs disturbance; healing is delayed or may never return to the soil. In our arrogance, we introduce harm and destruction through our lack of understanding plants and functional watersheds. To my knowledge, we do not know whether these chemicals are endocrine disruptors. Humans are powerful and clever. We can dam and divert water, we can kill and forget the harm and destruction which follows. Water dries up, animals, plants and pollinators disappear.

Early in the 1960s, endocrine disrupting chemicals were identified spiraling down the drain, entering Colorado rivers, and all across America. There are now almost 100 chemicals regulated in Colorado drinking water. As of 2020, I was told we have not added one chemical to the regulatory list in 25 years. Reassurances of low toxicity by manufacturers have been of no benefit to those adversely affected by glyphosate.

We become our stories.

Katrina explains, “When we go out into nature and get immersed, our vitality benefits, whether it is calming our nervous system, or realigning and balancing our hormones, or just providing a source of energy. Being connected to wild lands contributes to health.”

I asked, “Are you telling me the health of nature benefits my personal health?”

“Absolutely, and I think that is something that we probably have all experienced,” Katrina responded.

We share the same source water from the mountain flowing into the Nettle Creek drainage under the same sky, the same sun and moon. We are all in this together with the ptarmigan, ouzel, bighorn, deer and elk.

I had occasion to see a friend this week when there was enough spaciousness to ask him a question I had wanted to ask for a long time.

“What can you tell me about your last name?”

After a pause, he began, “My father was from Northern Ireland, near Belfast, and there are a lot of people there named Turtle. When he was 17 years old my father came to America. When I was young, I hated my last name.”

I sensed he no longer held this resentment and inquired, “You made peace with it?”

“Yes”

“Making peace with Turtle is big medicine,” I said.

With a certainty which comes with maturity, he quietly nodded. Are we aware?

When visiting Turtle Lake Refuge in Durango I was aware of a lovely melody resonating from the farm and people there.

Katrina explained, “Yes, it is a beautiful community of people aligned with the mission on this land. When people come to live here, they actually make a commitment. Basically, we are stewards of this land, students of the wisdom of nature. We commit to the community vision of health for ourselves, each other and the planet.”

I asked her, “Can you tell me more about the feeling of resonance I experience when I visit Turtle Lake Refuge?”

“The main intention is to create this feeling of belonging, belonging to this land, to this place, all the elements, to each other and to our greater community. Our efforts are going toward increasing the quality of life and health of everyone in the community,” Katrina responded.

I asked her, “What effect do toxic sprays have on that sense of belonging?”

“That is a huge distraction and silencing of the subtle voices of the life in the soil, plants and all the critters. It is a kind of deadening and truly a harmful vibration,” Katrina explained.

I realized, “So this issue of toxic spraying is still a big deal, Rachel Carson wrote about this in her book, “Silent Spring,” about the absence of bird and insect songs in the dawn chorus. That is a story no one wants in their town.”

“No,” Katrina said. “And that is beautiful to remember, that this is not new. We are not backed into this corner for the first time as a human community. This has happened before and we don’t have to take that same pathway and learn the hard way. We are killing the very things we find so precious. Whether it is the songbirds, the butterflies, the bees, the soil or the earthworms. We do not need to find that out after the fact we have already gone down that road and learned, ‘No this is not the way to go.’”

She continued, “It is important to remember and respect those people in the town government who may have good intentions but actually do not know what to do. When they see more thistles, they may feel afraid. The fact they have hired the Bee Happy Lands team expresses a willingness to learn. When we don’t know what to do, it is better to go slow like the turtle rather than rush into a risky and toxic decision made from feeling cornered. It is okay to wait and watch. Nature goes slow. Healing happens slowly and steadily. Thistle is slowly replaced by other plants. We can help this happen. Trusting the process is part of our essential wisdom and core understanding. Sometimes it is best to be a grateful witness to the unfolding. If we want to participate, we can add to nature’s living story by supporting life enhancing practices. In the long run, these efforts will heal and create abundance.”

We have an inherent “right to be.” There exists within each of us a peaceful, calm, aware state of being

— present right now. Are we aware enough to remember our story and consciously make peace with Turtle?

If we aspire to heal our soil, we will need a healthy connection to our watershed and strength enough to hold our balance with the paradox of these two perspectives of thistle.

Eric Brendlinger, the Town of Carbondale Parks and Recreation Director, reports “we are holding off on the spot spraying of chemicals” and have contracted with Katrina and her team to train the park staff and members of the community in this perspective and organic weed management skills on May 12 at the Nature Park. To attend, email ebrendlinger@coloradoco.net or call 970-510-1271.

On Dandelion Day, May 13, Katrina will also have a table and be teaching at Sopris Park. For our land to become Bee Happy Land, we as a community need to slow down enough to listen, to understand, and to remember we have been gifted a living world story.

THURSDAY, APRIL 20

CRMS OPEN HOUSE

Colorado Rocky Mountain School hosts its Spring Open House from 9:30 to 11:30am. Visit www. crms.org for more info.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Connect with fellow caregivers of Alzheimers and cognitively impaired patients and family members at the Basalt Library at 10:30am.

YOUTH FILM

Enjoy films by youth for free at the Carbondale Rec Center from 1 to 3pm, courtesy of 5Point.

BOOK CLUB

The Third Thursday Book Club discusses "The Last Kingdom" by Bernard Cornwell at the Carbondale Library at 2pm.

PALLIATIVE CARE

Dr. Shane Lieberman presents “Understanding Palliative Care” at Sopris Lodge at 3pm. To RSVP, call 970-456-6871 or visit soprislodge.com/events

SPACE DETECTIVES

Ever wonder about what else is out there? Investigate space with fellow detectives at the Basalt Library at 4pm. All ages are welcome. Visit www. basaltlibrary.org for more info.

HARM REDUCTION

High Rockies Harm Reduction provides fentanyl test strips, peer support services and more at The Meeting Place from 4 to 6pm.

5POINT CONCERTS

This year, 5Point offers three free community concerts outside the Carbondale Rec Center. On Thursday, iZCALLi performs latinrock, Brothers of Brass takes the stage on Friday and The Davenports rounds it out on Saturday. All concerts are from 4:30 to 6pm.

EMPOWERED HEALING

Holistic nurse Julie DeVilbiss leads an online conversation about psychedelics and healing at 6pm. Find the Zoom link at www.bit.ly/DEVILBISSAPRIL20

REDSTONE BINGO

Bingo Night at the Redstone Inn begins at 6:30pm.

OPENING NIGHT

The adventure begins with 5Point’s first film program at the Rec Center from 7 to 10pm. The fun continues through Sunday, find tickets and more info at www.5pointfilm.org

GOBLIN & FAY

Kate Goblin and Mugsy Fay perform “a feminist fantasy folk freak frolic” at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

5POINT LAUGHS

5Point’s first “Late Night Laughs” event brings stand-up comedians to the Black Nugget at 10:30pm.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

5POINT YOGA

Today and tomorrow at 8am, 5Point offers free community yoga classes at True Nature.

SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE

CMC’s seventh Sustainability and Ecosystem Science Conference will be virtual this year, from 9am to noon, with Beatriz Soto providing the conference’s keynote address. Learn more at coloradomtn.edu/ sustainabilityconference

JOB SEARCH SUPPORT

Gain strategies and insight to support your job search at the Basalt Library at 1pm. This is a bilingual event.

PRESCHOOL FUNDRAISER

Blue Lake & Little Blue Preschools hosts its “Sip. Savor. Support.” fundraiser at The Orchard in Carbondale from 6 to 10pm. The evening will consist of a silent auction, food, desserts, drinks, dancing and more with childcare available. Tickets at www.bluelakepreschool.org

VAUDEVILLE SPRING SHOW

The Glenwood Vaudeville Revue’s spring Show is underway every Friday and Saturday at 6pm. Tickets and more at www.gvrshow.com

VITA NUOVA

The Center for Human Flourishing presents Italian scholar Andrea Villa introducing Dante’s “Vita Nuova” and love lessons for modernity at the Third Street Center from 7 to 8:30pm. Tickets at www.tcfhf.org

FRANKENSTEIN

Sopris Theatre Company presents “Frankenstein: The Monster/The Man?” at 7pm tonight and tomorrow and on April 23 at 2pm CMC Spring Valley. For tickets visit www. coloradomtn.edu or call 970-947-8177.

HISTORY OF COMEDY

The Reduced Shakespeare Company performs “The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged)” at TACAW at 8pm. Come early for dinner at 6pm. For tickets and more info, visit www.tacaw.org

FRETLINERS

The Fretliners play bluegrass at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

5POINT 5K

The 5Point 5k, another first for 5Point, is today! Registration starts at 8am at Independence Run and Hike and the race begins at 8:30am. For more info and to preregister, visit www.5pointfilm.org

LOVE LESSONS

Italian scholar Andrea Villa leads a daylong workshop at the Third Street Center, from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Participants will have had to attend Friday’s introduction. Tickets at www.tcfhf.org

TAPESTRY WEAVING

Lindsay Latva teaches tapestry weaving at The Art Base from 10am to 4pm. Register at www.theartbase.org

EARTH DAY

The Farm Collaborative celebrates Earth Day with festivities for all ages from 10am to 4pm. Register online at www.thefarmcollaborativeblog.org

RESISTANCE CLIMBING

Thunder River Theatre hosts a special 5Point film screening, free to the community. Catch “Resistance Climbing” and meet the filmmakers from 10:30am to noon.

SEEDS OF INTENTION

True Nature hosts an introduction to biodynamic seed bathing and labyrinth walk from 1 to 3pm. To sign up, visit www. truenaturehealingarts.com

A WILD AFTERNOON

The PSS Wildlife Foundation presents about local wildlife, including a tutorial on how to address an injured wild animal, at the Carbondale Library at 2:30pm.

CAPTAIN POW

Captain Pow returns for Earth Day to protect the world from pollution. Catch the comedy show, hinting at a real-world problem, today at 2:30pm. For more info, visit www.tacaw.org

PITCH FEST

Watch adventure filmmakers pitch their ideas for free at the Thunder River Theatre from 3 to 4:30pm.

EARTH DAY CONCERT

Beyond Beyond performs at the Third Street Center from 6:30 to 8:30pm with special guest speakers and performers. Donations will be accepted at the door.

PRIMORDIAL

Celebrate the new moon with an ecstatic dance and cacao ceremony hosted by The Rhythmystics at 13 Moons Ranch, south of Carbondale, from 6 to 9pm. More info at www. bit.ly/April22Primordial

THE KNOW BODIES

The Know Bodies Band performs “working class music” at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

FAMILY YOGA

True Nature hosts a playful workshop for children 5 and older and their chosen adult, from 9am to 11am.

FAMILY FILM

5Point wraps with a free family film program at the Rec Center from 2 to 3:30pm, followed by an ice cream social.

RANDOM CONVERSATIONS

Carbondale Library hosts

The Lost Art of Random Conversations from 6 to 7:30pm.

An Evening Of Broadway

The Glenwood Springs Community Concert Association brings Broadway actor Gary Mauer to Glenwood Springs High School’s auditorium at 7pm. Visit www. gsconcertassn.org for more info.

R&B

R&B artist Morgan James performs at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

MONDAY, APRIL 24

LIBRARY WEEK

The Garfield County Public Library District celebrates National Library Week with parties throughout the district, including all day today at the Carbondale branch and at 1pm tomorrow, April 25, at the Glenwood Spring branch. There will be cake!

PLANT�BASED POTLUCK

The Center for Human Flourishing hosts a potluck for vegans at the Third Street Center from 6:30 to 8pm. Questions? Email info@tcfhf.org

TUESDAY, APRIL 25

TINKERGARTEN TRIAL

“Tinkergarten with Shannon” is every Tuesday beginning May 2, but kiddos and parents can test it out today starting at 10am at Veltus Park in Glenwood Springs. Visit www. getnourishedbynature.com/natureclasses-for-kids for more info.

DÍA DEL NIÑO

Glenwood Springs Library celebrates Día del Niño with a special bilingual storytime at 10:30am. The Carbondale Branch Library will celebrate on May 4 at 10:30am. Visit www.gcpld.org for more information.

MINGLING MENTORS

The Buddy Program invites adults interested in becoming a mentor, or simply learning more about its programming, to La Raza, 580 Main Street, Carbondale, for happy hour, from 5:30 to 7pm.

MINDFULNESS IN RECOVERY

Beginning tonight, John Bruna will lead “Mindfulness in Recovery” every Tuesday at 6pm at The Meeting Place.

FELTING

AspenOUT presents Creations + Libations with an evening of felting from 6 to 8pm. Sign up at www.theartbase.org

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

JUSTICE, WHO CARES?

The Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist “Voices in Our Valley” series kicks off with Bill Kight, director of the Glenwood Springs Historical Society, at the Third Street Center at 6pm. For more info, email TRUU.office@gmail.com

CRYSTAL THEATRE

After a brief hiatus, the Crystal Theatre reopens with “Air” showing today and tomorrow at 7pm.

JONATHAN FOSTER

Steve’s Guitars presents Jonathan Foster performing at 8pm. For tickets, visit www.stevesguitars.net

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

LIBRARIES CLOSURE

All Garfield County Public Libraries are closed for a staff training day.

FINANCIAL WORKSHOP

Coventure hosts an in-person workshop, “Building Your Financial Runway,” from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Learn more by visiting www.coventure. io or calling 970-930-1223.

JUNE STAR

June Star performs at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

APRIL 2023 APRIL 2023