February 2016 Green Fire Times by Sun Publishing

News & Views

from the

S u s t ai n ab l e S o u t h w e s t

H e a lt h , W e lln e s s & the Healing A rt s February 2016

Northern New Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Largest Distribution Newspaper

Vol. 8 No. 2

Green Fire Times â&#x20AC;˘ February 2016

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Green Fire Times â&#x20AC;˘ February 2016

Can’t sell your home? Alan Ball, expert on Santa Fe real estate will help you

www.SantaFeRealEstateConsultant.com phone or text: 505-470-7153

AlanBall2@Gmail.com

• Free Initial Consultation at your location • Outstanding professional help Over 30 years of business success in Santa Fe Alan Ball is a licensed NM real estate broker and is affiliated with Keller Williams Realty of Santa Fe, NM • 505-983-5151

Green Fire Times • February 2016

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Vol. 8, No. 2 •February 2016 Issue No. 82 Publisher Green Fire Publishing, LLC

News & Views

Skip Whitson

Associate Publisher

Barbara E. Brown

Editor-in-chief

Seth Roffman

Art Director

Anna C. Hansen, Dakini Design Copy Editors Stephen Klinger, Susan Clair Webmaster: Karen Shepherd Contributing Writers

Camille Adair, Montserrat Valles Albesa, Juan Blea, William Clark, Erica Elliott, Daniel Gagnon, Maria Gallegos, David Gassoin, Susan Guyette, Jessica Jensen, Japa K. Khalsa, Alejandro López, Travis McKenzie, Seth Roffman, Dolores E. Roybal, Camilla Trujillo, Maureen Eich VanWalleghan, Catherine Wanek

Contributing Photographers Nina Freer, Anna C. Hansen, Japa K. Khalsa, Alejandro Lopez, William McCray, Clare Price, Maclovia Quintana, Seth Roffman, Catherine Wanek

PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT Cisco Whitson-Brown

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Skip Whitson 505.471.5177 skip@greenfiretimes.com Anna C. Hansen 505.982.0155 dakinidesign@newmexico.com Lisa Powers, 505.629.2655 Lisa@greenfiretimes.com Jennifer Miller: 505-603-4452, Jen@GreenFireTimes.com

from the

Sustainable Southwest

Winner of the Sustainable Santa Fe Award for Outstanding Educational Project

Contents

Health Is Wealth – Camilla Trujillo . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 7 Denes Antonio Luján – Montserrat Valles Albesa . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 8 The Ten Elements of Great Health – Daniel Gagnon . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 9 Self-Care for New Mexicans – Japa K. Khalsa . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 11 “Healer, Know Thyself” – Camille Adair . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 12 UNM to Study Native American Health Impacts of Abandoned Mines . . .. . .. 16 The New Mexico Health Equity Partnership: An Update. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 17 Undoing the Web of Addiction and Reweaving the Mantle of Caring y Amor – Alejandro López . . .. . .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 18 A Proposed Root Cause of Northern New Mexico’s Opiate Problem – Juan Blea 18 La Semilla Food Center, Las Cruces, New Mexico – Dolores E. Roybal . . .. . .. 21 The FARMacy and Food Is Medicine Workshops – Travis McKenzie . . .. . .. . 23 Healing with Honey – Erica Elliott . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 24 Everyday Green: Preventing Environmental Illness – Susan Guyette. . .. . .. . .. 25 Houses That Heal – Catherine Wanek . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 26 Book Profile: The EcoNest Home .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .27 New Nature Movement – Maureen Eich VanWalleghan . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 29 Op-Ed: Protect the Río Chama Watershed Now - William Clark. . .. . .. . .. . 30 Newsbites . . .. . .. . .. . .. . ... . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 9, 10, 13, 29, 31, 37 What’s Going On. . .. . .. . .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 38

Distribution

Linda Ballard, Barbara Brown, Susan Clair, Coop Dist. Services, Nick García, Niki Nicholson Andy Otterstrom (Creative Couriers), PMI, Daniel Rapatz, Tony Rapatz, Wuilmer Rivera, Andrew Tafoya, Skip Whitson, John Woodie

Circulation: 30,000 copies Printed locally with 100% soy ink on 100% recycled, chlorine-free paper

c/o The Sun Companies P.O. Box 5588, SF, NM 87502-5588 505.471.5177 • info@greenfiretimes.com © 2016 Green Fire Publishing, LLC Green Fire Times provides useful information for community members, business people, students and visitors—anyone interested in discovering the wealth of opportunities and resources in the Southwest. In support of a more sustainable planet, topics covered range from green businesses, jobs, products, services, entrepreneurship, investing, design, building and energy—to native perspectives on history, arts & culture, ecotourism, education, sustainable agriculture, regional cuisine, water issues and the healing arts. To our publisher, a more sustainable planet also means maximizing environmental as well as personal health by minimizing consumption of meat and alcohol. Green Fire Times is widely distributed throughout north-central New Mexico as well as to a growing number of New Mexico cities, towns, pueblos and villages. Feedback, announcements, event listings, advertising and article submissions to be considered for publication are welcome.

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Santa Fe City Council candidates for District 1. L-R: Artist Marie Campos, Skylight nightclub partner Kate Kennedy, Fiesta Tours owner Frank Montaño, New Mexico Community Foundation programs and community outreach director Renee Villarreal. Early voting starts February 10th at City Hall. The election is March 1st.

L-R: K’wani Raquel Cortés, Azul Cortés and Azulín Cortés (in stroller) on the annual Acequia Run in the South Valley of Albuquerque organized by the Center for Social Sustainable Systems (CESOSS) Photo by Seth Roffman COVER:

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Visit ProtectNewMexico.org

A website of Conservation Voters New Mexico Education Fund

Protect New Mexico is your source for environmental legislation at the New Mexico legislature.

As New Mexicans, we know that when we protect our air, land and water, we protect our economy, our communities and our future. Take the first step by visiting ProtectNewMexico.org

Green Fire Times â&#x20AC;˘ February 2016

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Health Is Wealth

Camilla Trujillo

hat I know about time is that it is fluid. And everything I need to know comes from people who were long gone by the time I came into this world. My grandmother Toñita, old when I was born, was my most beloved relative until she died at almost 100, when I was 26. Everything about Toñita was infused with the memory of generations of farming and ranching along the Río Nambé. In my formative years, daily reminders of ancestors, who not only helped form me but who still observed my life from somewhere not here, kept me on track. With that, it was understood that there was a heaven, not far off, where interested forebears could influence my actions and affect the outcome of my day-today intentions.

Wellness extended beyond the family to the home and its surroundings.

Growing up in north-central New Mexico in the 1950s and ’60s, many will remember grandparents who prescribed age-old methods of health maintenance. Upon entering my great-grandmother Camila’s kitchen, sometime in the 1970s, I encountered my great-aunt, Chonita, sitting at the table, cleaning green beans. On

Chonita’s temples were placed the twin halves of a dry pinto bean. I didn’t say anything. Another day soon after, I again visited “Mama-grande’s” home and encountered Chonita, this time with two blue tax stamps from cigarette packages, again stuck to her temples. “Dolor de cabeza,” she informed me, and I understood. She was treating a headache with acupressure! Wellness, I learned, extended beyond the family to the home and its surroundings, as well. If one lived near tall cottonwoods, it was not unusual to find various silver medallas, or medallions, attached to the old trees. The saintly images on pendants prevented lightning strikes. The hornos, or bread ovens, were also extended a consideration of protection and wellness, to ensure successful baking. Upon completion of an adobe horno, table salt had to be poured to form a small cross on the top of the freshly plastered oven. This would protect the oven from any jinx created by the “evil eye.” If your horno became inefficient, then a door made of lumber would be fitted and placed on the horno to protect it from becoming flojo, or lazy, during the times it was not in use. Brooms were to be used by the homemaker to sweep out not only dust and dirt but evil vibes as well. My grandmother’s small brooms were unusual and had no handle. They were made from the sleekest and most durable grass, not found in the Española or Pojoaque valleys. After her death, I learned that the grass had been harvested near Taos Pueblo’s Blue Lake. It wasn’t so long ago that one could visit Mr. Luján’s herb store on Galisteo Street in downtown Santa Fe. Necessary herbs, like chaparral, which treats body pain, alta misa, used to reduce fever, or osha, good for everything from sore throat to grief, could be purchased there. Although the shop closed after Mr. Luján’s death, interest in local herbs remains strong in Santa Fe.

El Curandero, Codex Mendoza (1535)

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One of the first books ever written in the New World was the Mendoza Codex. Antonio Mendoza was assigned by King

Toñita Romero de Rivera de Ortiz (1889–1982) married Procopio Herrera Roybal (1880–1978) in 1913. She was born and raised in Pojoaque/ Nambé. He was born across from San Ildefonso Pueblo in the Spanish Colonial homestead known as Pajarito. They settled in Pojoaque and were farmers and ranchers.

60th wedding anniversary, 1973

Around the same time, Cromberger Charles V to displace Hernán Cortés Press released another book. Dated and lead the Mexican colonies away 1535 and illustrated with numerous from the bloody conquest that defines woodcuts, over half of the book is Cortés’s illegal reign. Shortly after devoted to trees and plants, many of arriving in Tenochtitlán, in 1535, them medicinal. The rare-book dealer, Mendoza commissioned Cromberger William Reese Company, located in Press to relocate a branch of its New Haven, Connecticut, offers a rare renowned printing press from Sevilla, copy of La Historia General de las Indias, Spain, to México. Mendoza worked by Oviedo, for $225,000. with Bishop Zumarraga, who had witnessed the apparition of Our Lady of continued on page 32 Guadalupe in 1531, to create a gift book for King Charles that illustrated the traditional lifestyle of the indigenous Mexicans, including the medicinal use of native plants. This rare and wonderful book was stolen by French pirates while en route to King Charles and changed hands many times. The Codex Mendoza was eventually acquired by the Bod leian Library, the main research library of Oxford University, in England, where it resides today. Houses of the Healers, Codex Mendoza (1535)

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Denes Antonio Luján (1937–2004) A Legacy of Love and Healing Montserrat Valles Albesa

enes Antonio Luján, a.k.a. “Cheesy,” was born and grew up in Española, New Mexico, as the seventh in a family of nine siblings. After high school, he attended Highlands University in Las Vegas. However, he had such a great passion for horses that, in 1961, he decided to go to Ratón, and start a career as a horse trainer and jockey at La Mesa Park Racetrack. This job allowed him to travel to various cities with racetracks, in New Mexico, Florida, Nebraska and California. His was a long and difficult path of personal growth and self-discovery, but he had a very successful career. Denes became an excellent jockey because of his knowledge of horses and his ability to train and massage them.

In the early 1970s, he returned to his hometown, where he initially took a job as a meter reader for Jémez Mountains Electric Cooperative, until he decided to go to Dr. Jay Victor Scherer’s Academy of Natural Healing, in Santa Fe, in 1984. He graduated in 1985 but did not pursue his massage license because he decided to work as a sobador—a traditional, northern New Mexico massage therapist. He built an adobe studio, with a cozy wood stove, next to his house in Española. There, he started working, and his practice grew rapidly. He became popular throughout northern New Mexico for his wisdom and gift of being able to help people with all sorts of pain. People called him a healer even though he never called himself that. His life was completely devoted to helping people. He not only touched his clients’ physical bodies but also their hearts and souls. He

considered his work sacred, and he was accessible at all times. A normal day could start as early as 8 a.m. and end at 8 or 9 at night. As a sobador, he never charged anyone but accepted donations that sometimes came in the forms of food or favors. His specialties were la Sobada, which consisted of triggerpoint therapy, compassion, advice, humor, generosity, love, and his famous liniment, a healing tonic he made with different herbs. Denes was always reading and learning about different therapies and medical advances. He was knowledgeable of anatomy and diseases. He used funny nicknames for different muscles; for instance, he called the soleus muscle “Miguel Sole.” Among the people he helped heal, he was something of a miracle worker. For instance, there was a man from Taos, who had been in a car accident. Doctors told him he would never walk again. Denes patiently massaged him over time until he was walking again. There also was a woman from Española, who had been in a car accident when she was 24 and had lost feeling on her entire right side. Denes massaged her for a short time, and her ability to feel returned. He worked with a variety of conditions such as asthma, headaches, sciatica, incontinency and more. He trained many massage therapists and never charged them a fee. His only condition for doing this was that his apprentices

Green Fire Times • February 2016

use his teachings to help people, even if they did not have money to pay for their services. He built another massage studio next to his, where he allowed his apprentices to work with Denes Luján (center) on the set of “The Missing” clients for free. Next to the studios, he had a garden with sweet a horse trainer, he also trained cats grapes that he shared with his clients. and dogs. One of his clients came to see Denes because he was very sad. To make him happy, Denes commanded his dog Shiva to sing. The dog started singing and howling.

He worked as a sobador—a traditional, northern New Mexico massage therapist.

One of his apprentices, Roso Parera, came from Spain three years in a row, for two or three months at a time. She learned his trigger-point therapy method and is now a physical therapist in Spain. She recently published a book about all the different muscle sequences she learned from Denes. Denes organized workshops to teach families to massage their babies. He went to China to study Tuina massage, practiced at several Chinese hospitals, and was surprised to find that Chinese massage, acupuncture and herbalmedicine facilities there were much larger than the conventional health facilities. He volunteered at HOY, an addiction-recovery program in Española, and was a teacher’s assistant for Beth Paris, who taught triggerpoint therapy courses at Northern New Mexico College and the Scherer Academy. He had close friends from Santa Clara Pueblo and was a supporter of their art. His house was full of their black pottery, which he would give as gifts to clients. Denes was the funniest person I have ever met. He would come up with spontaneous, hilarious jokes and antics. Sometimes, in the middle of a massage, the client would laugh and finally relax. Humor was part of his daily life; he used it even in the most difficult moments of his life. Aside from being

He was also a natural actor and performed in plays in his junior and senior high school years. Because of his Indian appearance and acting ability, he appeared in featured roles in movies such as “Running on Indian Time,” “All the Pretty Horses,” “The Missing” and others, until his death in 2004. At his funeral, one of his best friends talked about his life and called him “a ladies’ man.” Women loved him because they felt his deep love for everything and everyone. One time he told me that he didn’t have a girlfriend until he was 21, and he joked, “Yo no sé si fue porque era un poco feo o no me lavaba mucho.” (“I don’t know if this was because I was a little ugly or I didn’t shower a lot.”) Denes was fluent in English and Spanish. I was blessed and lucky to meet Denes at the end of his life and to be one of his apprentices. I have written this article to show my gratitude for his teachings and for his generous contributions to make this world a better place. i Montserrat Valles Albesa is a sobadora, a licensed massage therapist specializing in trigger-point therapy, and a registered massage therapy instructor. montserratpali@ yahoo.com

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The Ten Elements of Great Health

Daniel Gagnon

Personal choice is the most important element in maintaining the health of the ecosystem. Who we are is the sum of the choices we make every day. We constantly choose what to eat and drink, whom to be with, what to talk about, which movies to watch, and so forth. All of these choices may seem insignificant when we make them one by one. But when we add them together, they have a tremendous impact on our bodies. For example, eating at a fast-food place occasionally does not have major health consequences. But when fast foods become our main food supply, our bodies become overloaded with fats, sodium and free radicals and starved for fiber, vitamins and minerals. Over a period of time, this type of diet leads to degenerative diseases. It may take years, but it will happen. Each choice that we make either adds up to “health enhancing,” in the positive column, or “health depleting,” in the negative column. Maintaining our ecosystem is a dynamic process. It is a little bit like being on a seesaw. As we move away from our center, our energy is sapped, so that we are

The University of New Mexico’s Center for Life

The UNM Center for Life (CFL) treats people with a wide range of health issues, using a vast array of ancient and modern techniques. This nonprofit, state-of-theart, integrative, intercultural center emphasizes prevention and wellness along with disease management. In addition to clinical services, the CFL provides medical education, research and community services. Integrative medicine is a healing-oriented practice that takes account of the whole person—mind, body and spirit—including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies. When a pediatric patient is fighting cancer and going through chemotherapy or radiation, there are components, such as chronic pain and nausea, that are not always addressed by conventional medical care. That’s where the CFL and integrative medicine come in. Through acupuncture, massage, healing touch and other CAM (complementary and alternative medicines) services, the center’s care providers are able to assist in supporting the whole person in his or her healing process. Unfortunately, these integrative services are often not covered by patients’ insurance benefits. That is why UNM pediatric oncologist Dr. Linda Butros and CFL director of advanced manual therapies David Lang created Kids Supporting Kids, an initiative to raise funds for integrative oncology services for children fighting cancer. The annual Kids Supporting Kids gala benefit fundraiser facilitates community engagement and allows young people to help support their peers fighting and thriving through cancer, especially through the sharing of performing and visual arts. This year’s event, which featured performances from more than 400 Albuquerque youth and adult artists, was held at the Hiland Theater, in Albuquerque, on Jan. 30. The CFL also receives support from UNM’s Department of Internal Medicine, Health Sciences Center, the New Mexico State Legislature and individual donors. For more information on the UNM CFL, call 505.925.7464, email CenterforLife@ unmmg.org or visit www.unmcfl.org

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s a human being, you are a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual ecosystem. It is important to understand that good physical health does not exist independently of the lifestyle decisions we make. We each exist in a personal and collective ecosystem within which our physical bodies interrelate with our internal processes and our external surroundings. No system of health care, herbal or otherwise, can cure a physical condition existing in an ecosystem that is out of balance.

more subject to extreme highs and lows. Conversely, the sooner we take measures to stay close to our pivot point of balance, the less energy we need to expend to stay healthy. This surplus energy can then be used for doing things in our lives that give us joy, happiness and contentment. Health is incredibly simple to attain and maintain. It is why most people miss the point; the obvious is often easy to miss. We have been taught to rely on experts to maintain and get our health back. A few pills, a little surgery. “Don’t do a thing,” say the doctors. “We’ll fix you.” There are some definite cases where surgery or medication will be the answer. But, by far, most of us get sick because we neglect the basics. Worse, doctors are neither trained nor alert to the neglect of the basics. Maybe that is because the 10 elements of health are so simple. It doesn’t require detailed scientific or medical knowledge. All that is required is that we make health-enhancing decisions on a daily basis in as many of the 10 elements as possible. Balancing and enhancing these 10 elements on a daily basis leads to good health and helps maintain good health.

Health is incredibly simple to attain and maintain. If you wish to optimize your health, minimize your health risks and increase your resilience. Or if you are confronted with a health problem, I suggest you examine how balanced you are in the 10 essential elements. What choices are you making? Do you need to modify or delete the parts of elements that are out of balance in your life? Start on the road to wellness today. Choose one of the following elements. Focus on that element each day for three months. Make the appropriate changes. Three months is often the amount of time it takes to create and solidify a new habit. Once the chosen element becomes an integral part of your life, move on to another one. Your rewards soon become evident: You have more energy, feel better about yourself and feel good about life in general. Your body has more energy to heal itself and to stay healthy.

Exercise: Are you exercising?

Exercise at least five times a week for 30 to 45 minutes. One of the best forms of exercise is walking because it is low-impact, cardiovascular and inexpensive. Often, this element is the most important in our recovery to health.

Rest: Are you getting enough rest?

Set aside time every day just to do nothing except relax and breathe, even if it is only for 15 minutes. Place a priority on getting enough restful sleep; sleep time continued on page 32

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Southwestern College Counseling Center Southwestern College recently opened Tierra Nueva Counseling Center, on Santa Fe’s south side, to serve individuals, couples, families and children. The center is currently serving as the training arm of Southwestern’s master’sdeg ree prog r ams in counseling and art therapy/ counseling. Services are provided on a sliding scale, and more than 75 percent of the clientele qualify as low-income. Southwestern is also planning to become a community mental-health center, which will accept insurance/third-party payments, including Medicaid. The process of getting fully credentialed could take up to a year. The center has already been drawing a lot of new clients, many of them Spanishspeaking. Southwestern College has offered graduate degrees since 1979 and provides training in holistic, integrative mental and behavioral health and art therapy. The college is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. For more information, visit swc.edu Southwestern College leaders (l-r) Ann Filemyr, Praxis Architects Gabriel Browne, Fernando, Katherine Niños and Jim Nolan

Green Fire Times • February 2016

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Self-Care for New Mexicans

Japa K. Khalsa

I turn to ancient medicine for healing, especially now because of the pressure of modern times that we live in. I invite you to expand your self-care for 2016. These tried-and-true self-care methods and ways of understanding our bodies can create balance for your body and harmonize your mind.

Ancient Ways to Heal

In Ayurvedic medicine, health is studied through the lens of unique body types composed of different elements. Anyone can take a quiz online and understand themselves and their body type more fully. Specific self-care techniques can be applied to help soothe the individual, but one way to start is to balance the Vata, which is strongly connected to the health of the nervous system and digestion. It is particularly susceptible to stress in our current pressurized climate. Overwork, poor food choices and a dry climate can be especially aggravating to Vata. When Vata is aggravated, there can be a sizzling irritation, which can drive the other elements out of balance, pushing the fire and inflammation in the body to increase or aggravate the mind, leading to anxiety and overthinking. Common ailments like PMS, headaches, depression and joint pain are all connected to aggravated Vata. So how do you calm or soothe Vata? First, let’s look to what creates Vata imbalance in the first place.

Modern Pressure on the Nerves

Our bodies over the last century have been placed under significant pressure through the inventions and developments of the times. A century ago there were no televisions, cell phones or even fast-moving airplanes. You were more at risk of being run over by a stampede of cows than a car. Life

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moved at a much slower pace, and the nervous system could adjust to stress as it had for thousands of years. Fastforward to 2016, and there is a huge amount of technology that, although valuable for humanity, takes a toll on the nerves and creates Vata imbalance, which is a negative spiral.

Create balance for your body and harmonize your mind. So how do you calm Vata, and what does it feel like to calm Vata? It can actually feel pretty boring or uncomfortable to rein in the nervous system. Self-care and balance are just not as exciting as staying up late and getting sucked into the rabbit hole of binge television watching, Facebook strolling or whatever fantastic capacity of overindulgence one has cultivated over the years. Ever yone relates to the current, technology bingeoriented culture in their own way, but Vata imbalance reveals itself and is perpetuated by these uniquely modern behaviors: • Driving in the car, talking on the phone and eating at the same time • Overspending on credit cards • O ver-connecting on Facebook, text messages or phone calls, with no time for the self • Staying up late and binge-watching TV shows or using multiple flatscreen devices at once

original cycles of our body and match nature’s cycles. Slow yourself down and give that beautiful juniper bush a long look, and maybe you will notice more subtle signs of nature that will be healing for you.

Dry Brush and Massage

The dry nature of New Mexico calls for extra self-love in the form of Abhyanga, or self oil massage. First, clear toxins f rom your lymphatic system by brushing with a dry brush or loofah over your entire body; start with the extremities, and brush towards the heart. Be sure to include all sides of your legs, arms and torso. Then, break out the almond oil bottle, and massage your whole body the same way, towards the heart. When you are glistening with oil and fully saturated in a self-love routine that takes a mere five minutes, hop into a warm shower and rinse off. The warm water opens your pores and the oil soaks in, creating a seal around your whole nervous system for the day. This is a way to soothe the nerves, release anxiety and calm Vata. Here are two simple spices you can add to your daily routine to help soothe the nerves and build and restore the nervous system:

how to prepare:

Wash the root in fresh water; then, use a spoon or veggie peeler to scrape off the outer brown skin and reveal the root. Chop this up, and boil for five minutes in a quart or so of water. Add a little sweetener to taste. Carry in a thermos, and sip all day long.

Flavor your coffee; rein in your Vata!

Cardamom is a spice that is an all-inone powerhouse. Besides the fact that it tastes delicious in food, boiled into a tea or blended into coffee, its medicinal properties are vast and potent. It supports digestive health, reduces inflammation and detoxifies tissues in the body. In coffee, its properties counterbalance the drying and acidic qualities of the popular morning brew. Just blend three whole pods as you blend your fresh coffee beans. New Mexicans, take the time to heal yourself this year in whatever creative ways you can find. Enjoy the desert nature of these enchanted lands, care for yourself daily and seek balance in your life always. i

Connecting to the self and taking time for self-care can counteract the perhaps negative drawbacks of these behaviors.

Nature to Balance the Nerves and Glands

One of the best ways to reconnect to the simple joys of life is to connect with nature. Standing with the feet on the earth for five minutes a day, even in the winter, is a way to ground oneself and clear the ner ves and meridians. This helps to reset the endocrine and nervous systems to the

try this, and see if it helps to reduce jangled nerves.

s I sit by my decidedly New Mexican woodstove, basking in my warm adobe house this winter, I feel the heat on my skin and remember how the amazing state of New Mexico has certain idiosyncrasies that call for extra self-care. The dryness and elevation unique to our state give it a quaint charm and beauty, as well as the gorgeous skies, but they can be hard on the body.

Ginger

In the wintertime, hot tea is specifically calming to the nerves and digestion because it offsets the weather and dryness. Ginger is a potent antiinflammatory and digestion restorative, and it is indicated in reducing bacterial growth in the body. Take a piece of fresh ginger, peel it, and notice the little white strings in the root. These look just like the strings of nerves that run throughout your entire body. So

Japa K. Khalsa, Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM), is co-author of Enlightened Bodies: Exploring Physical and Subtle Human Anatomy (enlightenedbodies.com). She teaches a weekly yoga class for people with chronic pain at Sacred Kundalini, in Santa Fe. She completed her Master of Oriental Medicine degree at the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine, in Chicago. She combines traditional acupuncture with herbal and nutritional medicine, injection therapy and energy healing. Her work with patients and students emphasizes optimal health and personal transformation through self-care and awareness of the interconnectedness of all life. www.drjapa.com

Green Fire Times • February 2016

“Healer, Know Thyself” A New Paradigm of Ethics and Healing in Health Care

ealth care is ready for a shift. A grassroots movement to humanize health care from within, through the people, is gaining momentum.

Research has shown that • Physicians have one of the highest rates of suicide of any profession. • Too often, nurses bully each other. • Health care professionals are challenged with self-care. • Health care professionals tend to isolate or silo and are often splintered through hierarchy and within professional groups. • New Mexico is losing its diverse, local workforce. The research is clear; changes in organizational culture come from leadership. And leadership is made up of people. Humanizing health care involves a two-pronged approach.

Health care is ready for a shift.

The first is to build capacity, resilience and emotional intelligence among health care leaders who can address organizational change and well-being. This applies to all employers of health care professionals and the schools that train them. The second is for each health care professional to take personal responsibility in implementing positive change. This includes reconnecting to free will, strengthening self-efficacy, personal agency and being responsible for choices made. This is how we begin to change the victim-perpetrator-rescuer dynamic that has been pervasive in health care culture and move to positions of strength and empowerment. Permaculture teaches that the solution is found within the problem, and in order to find the solution you turn the problem upside down. This proactive approach is helpful as we aim to humanize health care through relationships. What could it look like if we turned the problems upside down? • Physicians, nurses and other health care professionals prioritize and practice self-care, becoming leaders of their own well-being. • We develop emotional literacy by identifying how we feel, without judgment or self-criticism. When we name our feelings, the amygdala in the brain is deactivated and we move out of the reactivity of the fight-or-flight state. • We practice being present in the moment, allowing us to experience empathy and compassion for ourselves and others. • We take responsibility for our thoughts, feelings and actions. • We develop self-awareness and become aware of our own values. • We align our values with our intentions and choices. • We build relationships through kindness and inclusion. • We understand there is strength in diversity. • We pause in the face of challenge, becoming more proactive and less reactive. As human beings, we are wired to connect through relationships. The relationship we have with ourselves informs all other relationships. For health care professionals, the guidance to “know thyself ” is the foundation to “healer, heal thyself.” According to nurse-theorist, Jean Watson, “To be relational is to be ethical.” Perhaps the first step in being ethical is to know the self. As Victor Frankl explains in Man’s Search for Meaning, when we lose our “why” or our purpose, we lose our sense of choice. This leads to existential crisis. We all suffer. Suffering is part of the human condition. Making meaning of our suffering is what liberates us from despair.

reminded daily of life’s brevity. Patients have often shared with me their regrets of dreams unrealized…that life without balance has a steep price. This awareness became personalized when my father passed away early in his retirement. His death brought into focus my life-long dream…a single expedition that would challenge me to use all my outdoor experiences. Being in nature allows me to reach that innermost point of balance by becoming part of its rhythm. Traveling Under Human Power rejuvenates my soul and gives me a perspective like no other.” Karin Thron, hospice physician, is Darrell Gardner at Bennett Lake, part of the movement to Humanize Yukon Territory of Canada Health Care by bridging the gap between nurses and physicians. Supporting the nurses she works with through an interdisciplinary team is one of her priorities. Karin has also contributed to the development of emotional-intelligence skills, training and models inclusion, vulnerability and the value of play. Marie Manthey is considered the mother of Primary Nursing, focusing on the nurse-patient relationship and its potential for healing. She spent 25 years in hospital nursing, working from staff nurse to V.P. After that, she dedicated another 25 years to developing and running the consulting company, Creative Health Care Management (chcm.com), bringing relationship-based care to health care organizations. Marie began hosting monthly nursing salons in her home, creating relationships with other nurses, sharing food and conversation. We are fortunate that, in her semiretirement, Marie brings nursing salons to New Mexico, beginning Feb. 18, in Albuquerque. Camille Adair is a nurse at the forefront of the movement to Humanize Health Care. She is the executive director of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Living Bridges and the CEO of Sacradigm. In addition to her work as a filmmaker, consultant and coach, Camille is a candidate for the American Nurses Advocacy Institute Fellowship. She is the Healthy Nurse Specialty Interest Group Chair for the New Mexico Nurses Association (nmna.org). Camille Adair hiking with her grandson in the Camille holds a certification Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Emotional Intelligence and Family/Systemic Constellation Work and has formal training in mindfulness.

The following New Mexico health care professionals provide meaningful examples of empowered choice:

The list of mentors and leaders who have, in their own way, contributed to Humanizing Health Care is long. Some of them will be included in a new documentary film. i

Darrell Gardner, R.N., traveled 6,000 miles, alone, from Mexico to Alaska, over a nine-year period of time, hiking and using a canoe to cross water. On his website, UnderHumanPower.com, Darrell writes, “As a registered nurse, I am

For more information or to join the nurse salon with Marie Manthey, on Feb. 18, call 505.470.3838, email Camille@CamilleAdair.com or visit CamilleAdair.com and Living-Bridges.org

Green Fire Times • February 2016

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Northern New Mexico College Awarded National Institutes of Health Grant Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) BUILD grant, part of a $31-million nationwide initiative to increase the diversity of the workforce in the biomedical sciences. The college will partner with the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) in the spring of 2016 to offer students a new research course and biomedical research opportunities in the field of neurophysiology—the study of how the nervous system functions. The funding will allow for laboratory training, mentoring and professional development, as well as housing and travel to study with fellow students and faculty at UTEP. NNMC biology professor and grant director Ulises Ricoy said, “This project will allow our students to work closely with their counterparts at UTEP, exposing them to graduate school opportunities.” Students will learn core concepts using hands-on techniques in a rich science environment and gain the critical-thinking and scientific-reasoning skills required to solve advanced problems and prepare for independent research projects. In 2014, NNMC received support from the Grass Foundation to acquire the virtual software tutorial and basic equipment, Neurons in Action and Backyard Brains. The NIH BUILD award further will expand on students’ abilities to study and explore the inner workings of the brain and nervous system.

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Burrell Institute for Health Policy & Research Unveiled The Las Cruces, New Mexico-based Burrell Institute of Health Policy and Research was recently unveiled to an audience of regional business and healthcare leaders. The institute will offer a multi-disciplinary approach to the analysis of determinants of health and health disparities, health care delivery, health policies, public health and health-education programs. The goal is to aid in improving the health status of the United States-Mexico border population through research, education, policy analysis and outreach.

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The institute, a division of the newly formed Southwest Osteopathic Foundation for Education and Research, is based at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) at New Mexico State University. “There is a huge need for population health research that will assist decision- and policy-makers in facilitating health policy changes for improving the health status of our population,” said Dan Burrell, chairman of BCOM. “New Mexico now will be a laboratory for dealing with the health population issues that face us over the next 50 years. It’s perfect to be in Las Cruces, because the population of the area is exactly how the U.S. population will look in the future.” The institute will sponsor a permanent physician Fellow to work with his or her counterpart from Mexico. Mexico’s Ministry of Health will likewise place a permanent Fellow at the institute. The institute will also collaborate with local, regional, national and international researchers to analyze health conditions, evaluate programs and health care practices and conduct programs to improve local capacity.

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Green Fire Times • February 2016

Brazos Peaks in the Tusas Mountains, part of the San Juan Range. ÂŠ Anna Christine Hansen

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Green Fire Times • February 2016

UNM to Study Native American Health Impacts of Abandoned Mines

Tribal communities’ traditional diets, lifestyles and customs often create direct contact with toxic metal mixtures from unremediated mines.

Nearly half of the Native American population in the United States lives in 13 western states among an estimated 161,000 abandoned hardrock mines, more than 4,000 of which are uranium mines. These mines left behind vanadium, arsenic, copper, lead, manganese, nickel and other metals in soil and water. Such mines have received increased national scrutiny since August 2015, when 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater were accidentally released from the

Gold King Mine, an abandoned gold mine in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. “With hundreds of thousands of these abandoned mines, we need to know how they affect this population,” said Johnnye Lewis, Ph.D., director of the UNM College of Pharmacy’s Community Environmental Health Program. “The Gold King Mine spill that released mixtures of heavy metals is a prime example of why it’s critical that we understand the health and environmental impacts of these abandoned mines to Native American communities at risk from exposures.” In earlier research on the Navajo Nation, Lewis revealed a link between kidney disease and direct exposure to uranium and associated metals during the period of active mining. Her research also showed a higher risk for cardiovascular and autoimmune disease and immunesystem dysfunction for those with chronic ongoing exposures to waste.

he University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy has landed a $3.5-million grant to study the exposure of Native American communities to metal mixtures from unremediated, abandoned hardrock mine sites. The award from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities will enable UNM researchers to form the Center for Native American Environmental Health Equity Research (Native EH Equity), which also will provide training and community environmental health workshops in collaboration with tribal colleges throughout the western United States.

Uranium miners call attention to their issues at the New Mexico state capitol.

isolated locations, Lewis says, have been linked to disparities in health. But despite the potential for greater exposure and the potential sensitivity to the toxic effects of these metals resulting from risks such as these, the toxicity to tribal populations has not been well studied. Assumptions on toxicity are based on studies that haven’t represented tribal populations and yet have become the basis for cleanup decisions on tribal lands.

Tribal communities’ reliance on natural resources to maintain traditional diets, lifestyles, customs and languages often creates direct and frequent contact with toxic metal mixtures from unremediated mine sites,according to Lewis.This contact can happen through multiple pathways, including dust inhalation, drinking water and ingestion of food sources contaminated by migration of the wastes. Disparities in infrastructure—especially drinking-water supplies—exacerbate these exposures. Social inequities like poverty, limited access to resources such as regulated drinking water in rural and

Lewis and UNM Associate Professor Melissa Gonzales, Ph.D., are leading the Native EH Equity research team, which includes community members, scientists and tribal staff from the Navajo Nation, Crow Nation and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, with support from Pacific Northwest Coast tribes (Micah and Nisqually), which will be actively involved over the next two years. Native EH Equity will provide research partnerships to answer tribal questions and infrastructure to link training to tribal colleges and mentorship of junior faculty and students working on these issues.

A major goal of the Center is to provide access to technology resources that will enable the participating tribes to work in partnership, not only collecting samples but also analyzing and interpreting the results. At the same time, the tribal partners are working with academics to improve academic understanding of tribal perspectives on health and the importance of tribal ecological knowledge in ensuring a more holistic approach to the protection

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Open pit mining in Navajo country

of health. The result of the collaborations should build not only stronger and more respectful partnerships, but also a better understanding of how to integrate useful methods in Western science with traditional knowledge and culture to build a science capable of answering the many and complex challenges to protecting the health of tribal populations. The Center’s work is based on longstanding partnerships among the academic and tribal partners. In the Southwest, Lewis’s team, including the continued on page 28

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The New Mexico Health Equity Partnership An Update

he environments in which we live, work, learn and play have a lifelong impact on our health. Governments and organizations make decisions to create and enact policies that, to a large extent, determine the qualities of our environments and how they impact us. Thus, it is imperative that health considerations are embedded into decision-making processes across a broad array of sectors. The New Mexico Health Equity Partnership (NMHEP) is an initiative of the Santa Fe Community Foundation. Its mission is to help strengthen the capacity of New Mexico communities to advocate for systemic and policy changes that support healthy children and families. NMHEP team members Jessica Jensen (left, end), Jinelle Scully and David Gaussoin (right, end) and Maria Gallegos (kneeling, To accomplish this, the partnership front) congratulate HIA Technical Assistance providers, Human Impact Partners staff and HIA coordinators at Santa Fe reception works to address structural, cultural and been working for 10 years to bring attention to the health effects of radioactive institutional inequities based on race, class, gender and geography. fallout from the Trinity test. For many years, TBDC has partnered in this endeavor To strengthen community leadership skills and effectively advocate for healthwith Joni Arends of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Holly Beaumont of equity policies, NMHEP collaborates with a diverse network of New Mexico Interfaith Worker Justice–NM and Dr. Maureen Merritt of Physicians for Social communities, organizations and decision makers. This includes 30 state and local Responsibility. organizations, four core community based partners, and a team of four staff. In 1990, the U.S. government set up a fund called the Radiation Exposure Human Impact Partners and the National Collaborative for Health Equity provide Compensation Act (RECA) to compensate people who lived downwind of the technical support. The Santa Fe Community Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Nevada Nuclear Test Site and had become sick. For five years, Sen. Tom Udall Foundation provide funding. and others have introduced amendments to RECA that would include New The NMHEP is committed to 1) solidifying a health-equity network and Mexican “downwinders” in the program. TBDC and its associates are providing developing a statewide policy agenda; 2) recruiting partners and decision makers data collected through the HIA to inform decision makers as to why New Mexico to ensure health is considered in policy making; and 3) strengthening community should be included in the program. capacity and leadership to conduct health impact assessments (HIAs) in rural The HIA at Santa Fe Indian Health Services is focused on the federal Indian and tribal areas, training local HIA technical-assistance providers, facilitating Health Services budget and, specifically, the impact of the Santa Fe Indian Health community peer learning and advancing community-based health-equity efforts. Service Hospital. Until now, there has been little documentation of the effectiveness of the underfunded IHS facility. The HIA will quantify the extent to which Santa Fe’s urban Indian community is impacted by chronic illness and other conditions that require specialty care not eligible for contract health payment. The research and documentation will inform future budgetary proposals. In January 2016, more than 30 participants came to the National Educational The HIA training in January 2016 was led and facilitated by the first cohort Association building, in Santa Fe, for a two-day HIA training and reception. The of New Mexico trainees currently participating in NMHEP’s HIA Technical training served as a work session and kickoff for three HIA teams that were recently Assistance Training Program. They are from Doña Ana, McKinley, San Miguel awarded funding from the NMHEP to support their work in rural and tribal and San Juan counties. They are trained to provide culturally appropriate assistance communities in New Mexico. These were the McKinley Worker Justice Coalition, to New Mexico’s rural and tribal communities. the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium (TBDC) and the University of continued on page 28 New Mexico, in partnership with the Santa Fe Indian Center.

Addressing inequities based on race, class, gender and geography

The McKinley community’s PLACE MATTERS is partnering with Somos Un Pueblo Unido and Somos Gallup to conduct the McKinley Worker Justice Coalition Wage Theft HIA. The assessment includes an effort to strengthen capacity across cultural differences of low-wage workers. It is not unusual for these workers to encounter wage theft, which, when unreported, impacts families because workers are misclassified, not paid overtime or the minimum wage, or not paid at all. The second HIA was awarded to the TBDC to evaluate the potential impact of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act amendments on the health of the people of New Mexico. On July 16, 1945, the U.S. government tested “the Gadget,” the first nuclear device, at the Trinity Site in south-central New Mexico. TBDC has

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Health Impact Assessment training session

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Undoing the Web of Addiction and Reweaving the Mantle of Caring y Amor Alejandro López

orthern New Mexico’s incidence of substance abuse, especially among its minority-classified but numerically significant Indo-Hispano and Native American youth, is endemic—at least, five times the national average in many communities. Few are the families not affected by this scourge, which, since the 1970s and '80s, has prematurely taken the lives of countless individuals and left a path of destruction in its wake. Within my own immediate family, there remains more than one gaping hole left by those who succumbed to this disease.

No real consensus as to the root causes of this problem exists, even among experts, although studies by researchers such as anthropologist Angela García, Ph.D., point to the loss of land and a land-based way of life. W. Azul La Luz, Ph.D., who has conducted extensive research, describes a kind of collective suicide on the part of an entire promising generation of young, ethnic males. On the other hand, anthropologist Michael Trujillo, Ph.D., turns the conundrum on its head and suggests that addiction among Nuevo México’s minorities is in

some twisted way a creative process of transcending the banality, harshness and impossibility of adapting to modern American society by its most marginalized people.

How do we find our way back to a sane, healthy and beautiful life? For those of us who have lived here all our lives and have observed the dramatic changes that have taken

“After the historically isolated indigenous peoples of Tierra del Fuego, Chile, South America, were decimated in the late 1800s and their cultures disrupted by waves of invading Europeans, the surviving population succumbed to alcoholism.” – The Pearl Button, a documentary film on the indigenous peoples of Tierra del Fuego (2015)

place over the last few decades, it is not difficult to identify other probable causes that intersect to create a sort of psychic, social, cultural, economic and physical “spider’s web” that many young people get trapped in. It is the weaving and knotting up of multitudes of forces that for some make drug addiction nearly inevitable. To be sure, among these forces are the dissolution of the extended family continued on page 19

A Proposed Root Cause of Northern New Mexico’s Opiate Problem

Juan Blea, M.Ed., LADAC

hile it can be difficult to uncover the root cause of northern New Mexico’s pathological relationship with opiates, there are two facts that provide strong clues about the potential origin of said relationship: 1) opiates are commonly used in the medical domain to treat pain; and 2) language mediates between humanity’s inner and outer experiences. These facts allow me to place my crosshairs upon what I believe is at the core of northern New Mexico’s opiate problem: the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

generations for an immigrant family to lose its primary language and adopt the language of the country to which it emigrated. However, in New Mexico, hundreds of families lost both their land and their language, which made mediating their inner and outer realities nearly impossible. Loss is cumulative; when a person can no longer take any more, that person must look for external means of coping. I suspect that the loss of land coupled with the loss of language was simply too much for a region to overcome.

Heroin has been vilified in the region and perhaps rightfully so. However, to look at the drug without understanding its usage creates a red herring that, to me, is at the heart of the War on Drugs. The idea is a basic supply-side myth. That is, if the larger community could get rid of heroin, then perhaps we could reclaim Río Arriba County. However, heroin is nothing more than a symptom of the underlying trauma that the entire region of the southwestern United States suffered as a result of land loss that came about from the enactment of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, on Feb. 2, 1848.

In her groundbreaking article, “The Elegiac Addict” (University of CaliforniaIrvine, 2008), Angela García discusses the “Hispanic ethos of endless suffering.” I suspect that generations in northern New Mexico have lived through the veil of this ethos and turned to both alcohol and heroin to cope with generations of suffering. While many people were able to assimilate into the value system that the United States presents, many were not. As a treatment provider, I have long seen clients who were simply the next generation of heroin users in their respective families. García discusses this same phenomenon in her article, albeit from an anthropological perspective. From a treatment perspective, as a region we must treat the region’s longstanding history of trauma and pain and find—or create—new ways to mediate the region’s cultural experience.

Heroin is a symptom of the region’s underlying trauma.

Across the entire southwestern United States, hundreds of governmental bodies arose in the aftermath of the treaty’s enactment that challenged private landownership claims in land that had previously been under the jurisdiction of the Mexican government (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California). The vast majority of cases of property loss involved those of Spanish-speaking descent. In California alone, approximately nine million acres of land were lost to the U.S. government in court cases. The same tactics were used repeatedly across the region. Thousands of people became immigrants in their own land. What was worse, as the United States took over New Mexico, in 1850, government that had been conducted in Spanish was now being done in English. Anthropologists have long postulated that it takes approximately three

Green Fire Times • February 2016

If we can’t regain our land, and if it’s too late to reclaim our language, then we must find avenues of cultural capital that we can use to regain our identity. Until we do, we will continue to bury our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers and friends who died as a result of opiate overdoses. Heroin is not the problem; rather, it is the symptom that should awaken the region to the need to heal the generational trauma that resulted from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. i Juan Blea holds a master’s in education and is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor who lives and works in Santa Fe. He blogs at http://jblea1016. com and can be emailed at jblea1016@hotmail.com

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saloons were present on many corners. Bar owners were all too eager to collect miners’ wages, when on payday, after working in suffocating and dangerous conditions all week, they sought relief and distraction from lives of drudgery. In time, many of these people returned to live in New Mexico with the habit etched into their psyches.

But the real problem that we continue to experience emerged in the ’70s and early ’80s, when both New Mexico and the United States underwent radical social changes. The counterculture of the late ’60s had opened northern New Mexico, for all time, to the complexities and contradictions of American society. Hippies brought with them the gospel of back to the earth, communal living and free love, as well as a penchant for smoking marijuana and dropping acid. Many local young men and women joined the bandwagon and went on “trips” of their own, especial l y at rock concerts, which became something of a second religion, after Catholicism. During the same period, Nuevo Mexicano men signed The Sorrowful Mother by Manuel López of Chilí, NM. up or were drafted into Earth pigments on canvass, 2015 the armed forces. Many The painting depicts “a northern New Mexican woman were sent to Vietnam mourning the death of her son on the cross of addiction. and some were allegedly The triple markings at the top of the cross signify the ‘three given narcotics by strikes and you’re out’ approach to dealing with transgressors commanding officers of the law due to substance abuse or trafficking of illegal to get them to go into substances. The nails represent the way in which the local battle. Upon returning populace is nailed to poverty, while the flowers represent to New Mexico, these the possibility of hope that this scourge can be lifted.” men knew two things: The imposition of a capitalist industrial that their lives were cheap and that society and a highly institutionalized relatively inexpensive drugs and alcohol, culture on simple, pastoral, holistic at times, could mask the gnawing pain cultures is yet another basic source from their experiences and wounds. of conflict and turmoil. Prior to the Prior to this time of radical change, 1980s, traditional, age-old farming northern New Mexico had been, for one communities of northern New Mexico or two generations, a generally healthy, were, for the most part, sound, although stable and thoroughly multilingual, there was, in nearly every village, the multicultural region that still depended occasional wino or marijuano. The significantly on small-scale farming. problem of alcohol more than likely was People enjoyed the rewards of hard introduced from the north. In the first work on the land, close family ties and half of the 20th century, there was an allthe self-confidence that came from out exodus of Nuevo Mexicanos to the knowing who they were. They enjoyed mining towns of Colorado—Mintern, modest wage-earning jobs and buying Salida, Grand Junction, Red Cliff, power, as well as various degrees of Leadville, Pueblo and others—where

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and proliferation of single-parent households, the high incidence of poverty and violence, and the, at times, subtle but real devaluation of New Mexico’s original peoples, as reflected in a lack of economic opportunities and the trampling and obliteration of their cultures by a toxic, all-pervasive commercial pop culture. Yet other contributing forces that should not be overlooked include the generally spiritless and dispiriting compulsory educational process, the often rapacious economic system, the f requently unfulfilling and frustrating workplace and the dysfunctional criminal justice system.

Native New Mexican youth weaving a crepe paper mantle symbolizing healthy land and water systems and healthy communities at a New Mexico Acequia Association gathering

participation in the larger Englishspeaking world, which, at the time, seemed to make some sort of sense. Many individuals had gone to college, taken up professions and joined the American middle class or otherwise excelled in some honest pursuit, even if it was growing apples or hauling wood. S o o n t h e r e a f t e r, t h o u g h , t h e relationship that New Mexicans had had to their land, languages, cultures and traditions, which predated the founding of the United States, began to weaken and crumble as a result of dramatically increased interaction with dysfunctional elements of the dominant culture. As an example, the alienating public school—or boarding school—educational process, when imposed on two or three generations of Nuevo Mexicanos, ultimately succeeded in undermining almost all interest, knowledge and memory of the land that communities had nurtured for hundreds of years. No doubt, the imperative of having to hold down a wage-earning job in what had once been a barter and subsistence economy, together with the assault of media peddling every sort of merchandise, from cigarettes to instantaneous housing in the form of mobile homes, also contributed to this process of alienation. Thereafter, people oftentimes sold their land for a pittance. For many, it became, at best, but a scenic backdrop and, at worst, a receptacle for beer cans, syringes and old, defunct cars. Capable men and women, who had once been producers of their own homes, beautiful weavings and an abundance of food, became avid consumers at the local

Walmart or appendages to hypnotic gambling machines that, in their unceasing racket, promised deliverance from a constricting and unnerving economic system. In other words, some strong and stable cultures of great integrity, though materially modest and even poor, upon contact with the dominant culture of the United States, succumbed over time to a near-total meltdown.

A set of dynamics and relationships continue to usher unsuspecting young people toward the same end. Schooling did much to obliterate the native languages and thus the cultural memory and understanding. As a result, deeply satisfying and informative “soulconversations” between grandparents and their grandchildren, who now spoke different languages, were no longer possible. Instead, vacuous and vapid television watching took its place. With the failure of schools to engage the whole person in meaningful, culturally relevant ways, many local youths’ interests drifted to cars, phones, clothes, cosmetics, tattoos, popular music, sex, drugs and alcohol. These fixations inevitably led to lives of futility, crime, incarceration and, ultimately, untimely deaths. “How,” we might ask, “do we find our way back to the sane, healthy and beautiful experience that life once was and which could yet be again?” Dr. Gabor Maté, in a recent issue of Yes! continued on page 32

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Green Fire Times â&#x20AC;˘ February 2016

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La Semilla Food Center

las cruces, new mexico

Dolores E. Roybal

oña Ana County is a large, rural county with widespread communities. Many residents have difficulty getting to a full-service grocery store that sells fresh, affordable food. Even in the city of Las Cruces, a poor neighborhood near the heart of downtown doesn’t have a grocery store within a mile of residents’ homes. Seniors often rely on relatives for rides and get to a store infrequently, making it challenging to buy produce, which can spoil. To get to the closest store, one man in his late 70s carries a basket and walks two miles roundtrip, sometimes in 100-degree temperatures.

“Access to healthy food is an issue of equity and social justice.”

This scenario isn’t unique in New Mexico, where many of our communities are farflung. But here on the southern border of New Mexico, promising changes are happening. We could all learn from how La Semilla Food Center is bringing together residents, policymakers, public officials and other nonprofits to find sustainable solutions to the common problem of poverty and isolation. La Semilla is working with residents and local organizations to make it easier for people to buy healthy food when they want it. With a grant from the Con Alma Health Foundation, the center is focusing on broad policy changes and specific proposals for two neighborhoods: the historic, high-poverty district of Mesquite near downtown and Vado-Del Cerro, a village 15 miles south of Las Cruces

where the closest grocer is a mini-mart about two miles away. Con Alma’s support for La Semilla’s vision and its ability to partner with others is a natural fit for the state’s largest private foundation dedicated solely to health. Con Alma is distributing $500,000 this year to help nonprofits work toward health equity in which everyone has an equal chance at being healthy, regardless of a person’s zip code, race or income. “Access to healthy food is an issue of equity and social justice. La Semilla is a model and at the forefront of making sure that everyone in Doña Ana County has an equal chance of obtaining fresh good food that is affordable,” said Denise Gonzales, Con Alma’s program director, who oversees grants. “Access to healthy food is the first step in preventative health care; both the health care system and underserved communities will benefit from the reduction of diet-related disease resulting from healthy food access.” La Semilla’s staff consulted residents to learn their recommendations for improving access to healthy food. After a meeting with Mesquite residents, El Calvario United Methodist Church followed up on an idea for a free, monthly market. “Our meeting was a catalyst, but this group did the work,” said Krysten Aguilar, food planning and policy advocacy specialist for La Semilla. A church committee started the Agape Free Market in October 2015, providing free, fresh produce, staple grocery items, cooking demonstrations, nutrition education and basic health and well-being information. The church

Mesilla Valley Food Policy Council inspects urban herb and produce planters

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Workshops familiarize families with new foods, recipes and cooking techniques.

solicits produce donations from farmers at the end of their market day and partners with a thrift store to give out children’s clothing. Mesquite residents also expressed interest in a mobile food cart that sells produce and offers gardening and cooking education, including ideas and places to garden in a neighborhood with small yards and vacant lots. To help make mobile carts a possibility, La Semilla first tackled policy issues by educating county officials about the prevalence of food deserts, the link between diet-related illnesses and healthy food access and how mobile markets are an economically viable way to address access problems. As a result, the county voted to allow food trucks and mobile markets to operate in Doña Ana. On a broader level, La Semilla has been working closely with city staff to create a Las Cruces Urban Agriculture and Food Plan, which includes recommendations and goals that support and incentivize urban agriculture and healthy food outlets. “This is everything from making sure zoning codes allow farm stands and mobile markets to pursuing something like double food bucks at farmers’markets and using vacant lots for farms,” Aguilar said. “We got such great support from city staff and the council. That’s a big policy piece.” La Semilla is also advocating that local government create a Healthy Food Financing Initiative Fund based on successful models elsewhere. With a pool of public funds and matching money

from foundations, small businesses or entrepreneurs could get low-interest loans or grants to operate a business around healthy food in underserved areas. A corner store could get a loan to add cold storage for fresh food, or a person could get financial help for setting up a mobile food cart. In addition to these long-term policies, La Semilla secured a federal grant to launch a mobile food truck that will visit about eight places, including Mesquite, each week between Las Cruces and El Paso, Texas. The truck will start its route in April. In Vado-Del Cerro, people were also interested in mobile food outlets, as well as a community garden, a particularly challenging task for an area that doesn’t have access to water. To assist both neighborhoods, La Semilla staff developed funding plans, budgets and a funding database. La Semilla recognizes that it wouldn’t have accomplished much on its own. Partnerships have been key, a philosophy Con Alma considers crucial when investing in nonprofits. “Everybody wants their community to be healthy,” Aguilar said.“People have been incredibly generous with their time and their networks and willingness to open up to us. Letting the community be the guide is the only way to have any kind of sustained change.” i Dolores E. Roybal is executive director of Con Alma Health Foundation. Conalma.org

Green Fire Times • February 2016

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The FARMacy and Food is Medicine Workshops Growing a Healthier Health Care System in Albuquerque’s South Valley Travis McKenzie

“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine thy food.” – Hippocrates

resh, local, organic food heals our minds, bodies and souls. Foods and herbs have been used to heal and sustain our lives for a long, long time. It is only recently in human existence that we have been forced to deal with a bombardment of cheap, processed, industrial junk food that is poisoning people and creating health disparities for low-income communities while creating big profits for huge corporations. It is only in recent times that we have been devaluing and losing our connection to traditional medicines, replacing them with pharmaceutical and synthetic products. For thousands of years, food and agriculture were dependent on community efforts, and medicine was more than pills. Now, more than ever, with our fast-paced, changing world, we need to rediscover our traditional knowledge of food as medicine and cultivate healthy, organic food.

and meaningful learning experiences for people suffering from chronic pain and illness? The workshops are part of a broader ongoing effort to create an array of diverse interventions and engage people in their own healing processes.”

Bringing farmers, educators and health care workers together

Doña Dora Pacias helped lead Food Is Healing Medicine workshops as a result of the knowledge and wisdom she achieved through her personal journey. “I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2001,” she said. “I was prescribed medication and advised to go on a diet. The medication lowered my blood sugar but came with side effects. After many years of frustration, I decided to try to get off the medication. I stopped eating processed foods, ate as

FARMacy” at UNM Hospital’s Southwest Mesa Clinic

envisioning a healthy community and what the community would like to see offered at the clinic. Seeking to strengthen the connection between farmers and the people of the Río Arriba and Río Abajo, and to expose participants to different approaches to health and nutrition, in 2016, thanks

to support from the Northeastern Regional Grant Fund of the New Mexico Community Foundation, the Food Is Medicine workshop series will be presented in Mora County. Farmers, who are setting an example through their holistic approach that incorporates traditional foods, values and cultural practices, will be featured, continued on page 28

NEW Mexico Organic Farming Conference february 19–20 in albuquerque

On Feb. 19 and 20, organic farmers, ranchers, market gardeners and researchers from around the Southwest will come together at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid for the annual New Mexico Organic Farming Conference. Thirty-six breakout sessions will range from soil building to biodynamic concepts, keyline design and woody plants, biochar, water harvesting, poultry on pasture, beeproduct production, management-intensive grazing, farmers’ market selling, organic insect management, growing stock gardens for propagation, mycorrhizae, seed saving, aquaponics, compost tea, organic egg production, mushroom production, creating habitat for beneficials and more. Forty-five exhibitors will present information on products and services. L-R: Travis McKenzie and Lorenzo Candelaria of Cornelio Candelaria Organics

In 2015, Cornelio Candelaria Organics, Grow the Future New Mexico, Arts in Medicine (a program of the University of New Mexico) and UNM Hospital’s Southwest Mesa Clinic together presented the Food Is Medicine workshop series at the clinic in Albuquerque. The topics included diabetes, obesity, parents and children,pain management and depression. Arts in Medicine’s director, Patricia Repar, helped bring farmers, educators and health care workers together to develop these workshops. Says Repar, “Who better than those who are deeply engaged in health and wellness through food, to facilitate practical

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many organic fruits and vegetables as possible, and exercised. Six months later, I was able to gradually stop taking the diabetes medication, and, soon after, I was off the prescription for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I am now off all prescription medications, and my diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure are all within normal ranges.” The final workshop of the series featured esteemed speaker Don Antonio Medina, a long-time health care activist from Mora and former president of the New Mexico Acequia Association. The event included a community conversation focused on

Four pioneers of organic farming, who have stuck to their vision of an agriculture rooted in a healthy ecosystem, will be keynote speakers: Ramón Alvarez of Alvarez Farms, La Unión (cotton, alfalfa, kamut, chile, pecans); Gary Gundersen of Mr. G’s Organic Produce, Santa Fe (vegetables); Sally Harper of Del Valle Organic Pecans, Mesilla Park; and Antonio Manzanares of Shepard’s Lamb, Tierra Amarilla (lamb and wool). Friday evening, from 6–8 p.m., at the Career Connection, conference participants will have opportunities to connect with organic farmers and ranchers who are looking for apprentices, interns and employees. The New Mexico Organic Farmer of the Year will be recognized at Saturday’s farmer breakfast, featuring local, organic food. Conference organizers include Farm to Table, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, and New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service. Event sponsors are La Montañita Co-op Food Market, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, Rocky Mountain Farmers’ Union, Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute, Skarsgard Farms, the Silver City Food Co-op and Soilutions. The conference schedule is online at www.nmda.nmsu.edu/wp-content/ uploads/2015/11/2016-Organic-Conference-proof-final2.pdf. Registration is $100. Questions? Call 800.841.9427.

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Healing with Honey

Erica Elliott, M.D.

uring my training as a young doctor in the early 1980s, a mentoring surgeon confided in me that, on rare occasions, he used raw honey on wounds that didn’t heal. From the conspiratorial tone of his voice, I understood I was not supposed to talk about home remedies to anyone. The mere mention of honey in connection with wound healing ran the risk of sounding ignorant and unprofessional. After stepping off the golden path of mainstream medicine and practicing on my own in the early 1990s, I had the freedom to practice medicine in a way that was more nurturing and more in alignment with who I am. With my newfound freedom, I was able to try out harmless home remedies with my patients before resorting to potentially harmful medications. Raw honey was at the top of my list. Jennie was an 80-year-old woman with nonhealing ulcers in her lower extremities related to venous insufficiency and diabetes. For over a year, she had been a regular patient at the local wound-care clinic, and yet the ulcerations persisted. She came to me as a last resort, desperate and willing to try anything, no matter how unconventional it sounded.

Many substances in raw honey play a role in killing pathogens and healing wounds.

“Jennie, would you be willing to let me put raw honey on your wound?” I asked. “Many years ago a surgeon told me raw honey was useful for wounds that don’t heal—even if they are infected.” “Honey? Really? Is there any chance it would make the sores worse?” “I think the worst that can happen is nothing. No change.” After hearing the reassuring words, she readily agreed to the experiment. I went into my kitchen and brought out a jar of raw Manuka honey. With a butter knife, I spread the honey on her oozing ulcerations then wrapped her legs with bandages and asked her to come back every day for her dressing change. To the surprise of both Jennie and me, the wound showed signs of healing after just 24 hours. After one week, the ulcerations had filled in with new, healthy tissue. We were both stunned at the results. A few years later, I read in a surgical journal about the benefits of raw honey for nonhealing lesions. The study was done with raw Manuka honey. I could hardly believe what I was reading in a mainstream journal. I wished my surgeon mentor were still alive, so I could show him the article and watch his reaction. After reading the article, I was less circumspect about talking with patients and colleagues about the use of raw honey in my medical practice. In fact, I’ve been talking about the wonders of raw honey with Ewen, the fourth-year medical student I’m currently mentoring. Ewen offered to do a search of mainstream medical literature to see what was written about the healing properties of honey. He found literally hundreds of research articles published in the last few years about honey. Below is a summary of Ewen’s exciting research findings:

• H oney has antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. • Honey promotes faster wound healing, including burns and nonhealing ulcers. • Manuka honey can treat some antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA. • Manuka honey has potential to interact with other foods in preventing H. pylori-associated disease. • Honey does not appear to produce resistant strains of bacteria, as is common for other antibiotics.

So how does raw honey heal? Many substances are found in raw honey that play a role in killing pathogens and healing wounds, including an enzyme that causes the release of low levels of hydrogen peroxide when the honey has contact with the wound. Hydrogen

Green Fire Times • February 2016

peroxide kills pathogens. Healthy cells have enzymes that can degrade the hydrogen peroxide into water. The unhealthy cells do not have that capacity. If the honey is heated or pasteurized, the enzymes are destroyed. Raw honey also draws fluid away from the wound due to its high sugar content, making the wound incompatible with infection, while allowing the wound to stop oozing. Most of the formal studies have been done with Manuka honey, made with pollen gathered from the flowers of the Manuka bush grown in New Zealand. Compared to other types of honey, Manuka has an extra antimicrobial factor called methylglyoxal that appears to play a major role in healing and can effectively eradicate more than 250 strains of bacteria, including resistant varieties such as MRSA. Medicinal honey must be raw and unpasteurized. Cheap, pasteurized supermarket honey is useless for medicinal purposes. It’s akin to high-fructose corn syrup and should never be used on wounds. Raw honey has literally been a life-saver in a few cases in my practice. Several years ago, a patient came to me with a serious case of MRSA on his legs after a penetrating injury. He had tried multiple rounds of antibiotics without success. To our dismay, the infection was spreading rapidly throughout his body. I was concerned the patient might lose his life. Since we had nothing to lose at that point, we tried Manuka honey on the lesions. You can’t imagine the relief we both felt when we saw the lesions retreating. The patient is alive and well to this day—and grateful for the healing power of honey. Consider including a small jar of Manuka honey in your first aid kit, along with honey-impregnated bandages from the drug store. The potential uses are manifold and include both prevention and treatment of wound infections, burns and nonhealing lesions. Honey has been used throughout history for healing. When drugs became the first line of treatment in mainstream medicine, the ancient remedies were dismissed or forgotten. It’s heartening to see the resurgence of raw honey for medicinal purposes. This marvelously effective bee product comes without the risk of potential side effects and the exorbitant cost of pharmaceutical drugs. On a parting note, the bees are in grave danger with declining populations. Toxic chemicals, like pesticides, along with genetically engineered crops are the main suspects. What can you do to help the bees? If you have a garden, consider planting flowers that attract bees, and be sure to avoid using toxic chemicals like RoundUp and other herbicides and insecticides. You will often be told a substance is nontoxic without that being the case, based on ignorance of what is toxic and what isn’t. If you’re not sure about the toxicity and can’t find answers, here’s my mantra: “If in doubt, leave it out.” For a list of New Mexico local beekeepers see www.nmbeekeepers.org/buy-newmexico-honey. Here’s to your good health. i Dr. Erica Elliott is trained in both family practice and environmental medicine and draws from a wide range of healing modalities. She has been nicknamed “The Medical Detective” for her ability to find the underlying causes of illness rather than simply treating symptoms. She co-authored the book, Prescriptions for a Healthy House, used nationally as a guide for creating a healthy living environment. At www.ericaelliottmd.com is a link to subscribe to her weekly posts. Her blog site is www.musingsmemoirandmedicine.com

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EV ERY DA Y GREEN

Preventing Environmental Illness

Susan Guyette

t can happen to anyone—and does. It happened to me, even though I considered my lifestyle healthy. This article focuses on the most common form of environmental illness, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, commonly known as MCS. MCS results from toxic exposures causing neural or nervous-system damage and is a life-changing, 24/7 illness. The earlier the diagnosis, the more reversible the illness is. For this reason, recognizing early symptoms is essential for protecting yourself.

The occurrence of MCS is rapidly increasing—now at 11 to 16 percent of the United States population—in varying stages of the illness. (Source: Rocky Mountain Environmental Health Association.) How is this happening? The proliferation of synthetic chemicals, pesticides and toxic emissions is responsible for most exposures. Today, there are over 20 million chemical compounds, with the number increasing by more than one million each year. Synthetic chemicals manufactured in the United States number over 80,000, and estimates are that less than 2 percent have been tested for toxicity, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products at Natural Grocers

Signs that MCS from chemical exposure is developing in an individual include nervous-system reaction to chemicals, impaired sleep, fatigue and becoming ill from eating, breathing or absorbing small amounts of pesticide. Adverse reactions to cigarette smoke or perfume are often early symptoms.

Remember that blood vessels in the skin carry toxins into the bloodstream. See www.ewg.org for an extensive list of safe beauty products. Nails absorb chemicals in nail polish and nail-polish remover. High-chemical soaps and fabric softeners can also be absorbed into the skin.

Toxic burden, or load, builds in the body by cumulative small exposures, or, in some individuals, a large exposure can precipitate the illness. MCS is not an allergic condition—a common misperception. The EPA estimates an average U.S. daily household exposure of over 432 synthetic chemicals and that indoor air can be up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. Children are at the greatest risk because their nervous systems are still developing. How can you protect yourself? You can avoid building toxic load by paying close attention to what you eat, what you breathe and what you put on your skin—the primary ways toxins enter the body. A path of conscious green living is your best bet. Here’s a quick guide:

What You Eat

AVOID: pesticide-laden food, including coffee and tea; preservatives and additives; processed or fast foods; feedlot animals and farmed fish raised with fungicides; soft drinks, nonorganic fruit juices and unfiltered or chlorinated water. CHOOSE: organic foods, filtered water, organic tea and coffee.

What You Breathe

AVOID: new paint and new construction unless LEED-certified; harsh cleaning chemicals, mold, dry-cleaning and perfume; pesticide-coated buildings (bug spray); new cars and new synthetic curtains, carpets, pillows, bedding and synthetic clothing (polyester, acrylic, acetate, etc.); gas fumes and herbicides for gardening. Workplace chemicals include printer fumes, permanent markers, chemical cleaners and other industry-related chemicals. CHOOSE: zero- or low-VOC paint, tile or green carpet; natural-fabric clothing or used synthetic clothing that has outgassed (smell gone); natural fabric bedding, curtains and rugs; and used furniture. See Prescriptions for a Healthy House by Paula Baker and Erica Elliott for guidance.

What You Put on Your Skin

AVOID: mainstream cosmetics and lotions (a virtually unregulated industry), acetone in fingernail polish remover, fingernail polish, perfumes, scented soaps and shampoos (formaldehyde is used to preserve the scent); synthetic clothing; and insect repellent. CHOOSE: evaluated-as-safe cosmetics, soaps and shampoos.

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Besides the Danger to Mother Earth

A few daily green choices can prevent this serious illness and avoid the cumulative effects on Mother Earth. Often, the next question for the shift is, “How can I afford better quality products?” Conscious spending and finding affordable organics helps the budget. Small, daily choices make the critical difference. For example, buy fewer material possessions and of better quality; find whole, organic foods instead of processed or fast foods; buy the better detergent sold at natural food stores, and skip the fabric softener; buy a used car; and buy used clothes or furniture that have outgassed. Some choices that are widely available in New Mexico save money and compensate for the more expensive, less toxic. You can make the shift on the same budget, and often for less.

Pay close attention to what you eat, breathe and put on your skin.

Many of us who have experienced neural damage assumed government protection, or that someone was monitoring or at least warning us of toxic danger. But that is a false assumption. Corporate interests heavily influence the lax U.S. standards of regulation. If you want to keep up with chemicals that are being banned, check out the Canadian and European—particularly German—news on this. Corporate interests in the United States frequently block efforts to educate physicians on the illness, leading to misdiagnoses and prescribing of drugs that only exacerbate the condition. Use the clues in this article to detect early MCS symptoms, and seek assistance from an M.D. with a specialty in environmental medicine, a clinical ecologist, or a naturopathic doctor (N.D.). There is no “pill” to get well. Remember: The nervous system and the immune system are linked, so addressing the early signs are essential to maintaining overall good health. Other early clues relate to poor immune function such as increased allergies, arthritis and frequent colds. When MCS is diagnosed and treated through detoxification, these additional illnesses tend to disappear. Health-maintaining steps recommended by physicians specializing in treating MCS are 1) avoid toxic exposures, 2) detox regularly to reduce toxic load, and 3) lead a green lifestyle as free of additional exposures as possible. Look for directories of continued on page 32

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Houses That Heal

Catherine Wanek

f some buildings make us sick,can some buildings make us healthy? For many years, this question has motivated the personal and professional lives of architect Paula Baker and builder Robert Laporte. Their collaboration—the evolution of which they call an “econest”—provides an affirmative answer. As conceived by the Baker-Laportes, an econest is a crafted timber-frame structure with straw-clay infill, earthen plasters and nontoxic finishes. The house is carefully designed for its occupants, is placed mindfully on the site, and follows a healthy building process that includes educating the construction crew about alternatives to potentially toxic materials and techniques. Paula’s path to healthful building began with chemical sensitivities that she developed nearly 25 years ago while living in a mobile home. At that time, medical science knew little about multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), so she went from doctor to doctor without addressing the cause of her symptoms. Years later, her own doctor became sick from chemical and pesticide exposure at her clinic, and Paula discovered they had the same illness. The light bulb went on in Paula’s head. “During my research into the concept of the healthful home, I realized what was going into standard home construction— xylem, formaldehyde, pesticides and phenols, to name a few. I decided to find a way to design more healthful homes for my clients,” says Paula. After a decade of study and practical application, she put her research into the book, Prescriptions for a Healthy House.

Robert’s journey to a house that is good for its occupants and leaves a light footprint began with inspiration. As a skilled timber framer, he found joy in his careful craftsmanship, but when it came time to wrap the wooden frame in synthetic foam insulation panels, his good mood disappeared.

“I accept the challenge of sustainability, but I think we can do better and regenerate. Sustainability speaks of survival, but regeneration is like thriving.” – Robert Laporte His search for an alternative led him to Europe to study historical timber framing. In Germany, he discovered the traditional infill techniques of fackwerk (wattle and daub) and leichtlehmbau (literally, “light clay building”). Robert was inspired and stayed on in Germany to study this time-tested technique. The Germans also have a rich tradition of creating durable plasters from clay and straw. In fact, Baubiologie, the German school of healthy building, endorses clay plasters as beneficial to human health. The hydrophilic clay absorbs excess moisture vapor in the air, balancing t h e h o m e ’s humidity and temperature.

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Clay has also been shown to have a purifying effect on the air. Returning to Canada, Robert began building with and later teaching these timetested techniques.

I n 1 9 9 4 , P a u l a Adobe arch being coated with a plaster made from clay, sand and chopped straw. Earth-based building materials are nonsigned up for one toxic and dirt-cheap. For longevity, they require adequate roof of Robert’s “natural overhangs to protect them from wind-driven rain. house” workshops, and The house feels very private, with an entry somewhere among the wood, straw gate and covered walkway leading to the and clay, a personal and professional front door. The landscape walls define collaboration was born. Eventually, he a Japanese-inspired courtyard, which moved to Santa Fe, where Paula was connects the main house and the casita, a working as an architect, and founded self-contained guesthouse.The sheltering the EcoNest Building Company. His green steel roof matches the sage green of quest was to utilize as much as possible the high-desert landscape. unprocessed natural materials in his buildings. The interior also has a Japanese feel. Rice paper panels diffuse the light from two Robert and Paula have designed, built skylights in the metal roof. Shoji screens and lived in several econests themselves, slide into pockets in the walls, lightly refining the design each time. “Many separating private and public spaces. The features we first tried out on ourselves proportions are elegant, yet modest. have now become standard in our clients’ homes,” says Paula. In every location, they Classic timber-frame joinery exposed strive for the integration of indoor and to the interior creates the structure of outdoor spaces, to enhance the residents’ both the main house and guesthouse. connection to their natural surroundings. Foot-thick straw-clay walls wrap around the outside of the frame. Inside and out, In recent years, they have made the most the smooth-troweled earthen finish has of a steep hill property north of Santa a texture and solidity, yet seems perfectly Fe by creating a compound of buildings polished. The effect is serene. to live and work in. It includes an office for Paula, a And the econest is constructed to provide spacious comfort for a century or longer. Four-foot workshop roof overhangs and a stone wainscoting for Rober t, protect the walls from all but the most two smaller severe weather. Slate countertops, tile econests and and other durable finishing materials their current require minimal maintenance. And after home.

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the home has served its useful life, the timber frame can be taken down and reassembled elsewhere, while the walls melt into the landscape. Perhaps they might eventually sprout into a grainfield. The stone and tile floors contain radiant heat, but it is rarely used. Instead, Paula and Robert stoke up their wood-thrifty masonry stove to supplement solar heat. A 12,000-pound soapstone work of art made in Finland by Tulikivi, the highmass heater offers each room a view of the roaring fire and includes a baking oven. Eschewing air conditioning, the Laportes make use of cross-ventilation and nighttime cooling. Even during midsummer in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, overnight temperatures are significantly cooler. Opening windows, encouraging air exchange with fans, and storing the coolness in the mass materials work to keep the home’s interior comfortable in the high-desert heat. Plus, the fresh air is naturally beneficial. “A natural house can prevent illness, but if someone is sick with multiple chemical sensitivities, I may not recommend a straw-clay house. First, they need to get well. Mold spores will always be present,”

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says Paula. But for her, the answer is an econest. “It’s been six years now since I began living in straw and clay houses. Sometime during those years, almost imperceptibly, I have made the transition from illness to wellness to vitality—a state that I’m convinced is the result of living in a beautifully healthful house,” says Paula. In 2005, the couple wrote EcoNest: Creating Sustainable Sanctuaries of Clay, Straw, and Timber, which explores their healthful handcrafted dwellings built to serve many generations. After 27 years as a builder, Robert sees their design/build work expanding to villages, clusters and integrated communities. The ultimate goal is “to wake up every day and to feel like you are a part of this phenomenon of nature,to feel like you are a part of the weave,” says Robert. i Catherine Wanek is the author/photographer of The New Strawbale Home and The Hybrid House: Designing with Sun, Wind, Water and Earth. She also co-authored The Art of Natural Building: Design, Construction, Resources. Wanek owns and operates the Black Range Lodge, an ecological bed & breakfast in southwestern New Mexico. www.blackrangelodge.com

The EcoNest Home: Designing & Building a Light Straw Clay House By Paula Baker-Laporte and Robert Laporte 320 pages, New Society Publishers (2015)

An EcoNest is not just a home; it is a beautiful structure that nurtures health and embraces ecology, bringing together time-honored traditions and modern innovations for the best of both worlds. This unique approach to construction combines light straw clay, timber framing, earthen floors, natural plasters and other natural techniques with the principles of Building Biology to create a handcrafted living sanctuary. The homes have all the comforts we’ve come to expect, but they sit lightly on the land and will do so for a long, long time. The EcoNest Home is a complete, theoretical and practical guide for prospective designers and builders, including a detailed explanation of the nature-based science behind EcoNests; fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions to guide you through construction; and dozens of inspiring photos of completed projects. A comprehensive North American resource on light straw clay construction, written by its leading proponents, The EcoNest Home is a must-read for anyone considering building their own healthy, affordable, environmentally friendly, natural home. Paula Baker-Laporte and Robert Laporte are the creators of the EcoNest concept. Paula, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, is considered one of the leading proponents of healthy building in North America. After struggling with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and regaining her own health, she became deeply interested in creating the most health-enhancing built environments possible. Paula has worked as the architect for the EcoNest Company for nearly two decades and is the primary author of Prescriptions for a Healthy House. Robert has built more than 50 houses using the EcoNest system, in climates ranging from the semiarid high deserts of New Mexico to the frigid cold of Manitoba. He has trained hundreds of professional builders and aspiring owner-builders in using EcoNest techniques.

Green Fire Times • February 2016

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Paul Smith, Owner 505-204-2580 paul@radonpronm.com

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UNM Study

continued from page

Southwest Research and Information Center (SRIC), has worked for more than two decades with Navajo communities and partners at Navajo Nation Department of Health Community Health Representatives (CHR) program to investigate the impacts of uranium exposures on Navajo community health. Currently, they are extending their research to determine impacts to future generations through the Navajo Birth Cohort Study, which also includes Navajo Area Indian Health Service and funding from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at CDC.This study is ongoing, and, while health impacts won’t be clear for some time, the results already show evidence that exposure still occurs, even in newborns and infants where uranium found in urine can exceed that found in 95 percent of the U.S. adult population. These early findings underscore the importance of working to build tribal research capacity. The last uranium mines on the Navajo Nation closed in 1986, and, although the Nation has banned future mining, pressure remains to reopen mines. More than 500 abandoned mines remain, as well as more than 1,100 associated waste sites that are most often unsigned,unfenced and adjacent to Navajo communities. Yet it has taken decades for the first health investigations to begin. Team collaborators in the new Center also include research experts from the UNM School of Engineering and Earth and Planetary Sciences, the University of Washington, Montana State University and SRIC. i

Health Equity continued from page

The New Mexico Health Equity Partnership’s work is a call to action in response to increasing inequalities,inequities and injustices reported in many communities. By engaging communities, organizations and individuals, the partnership hopes to achieve a “Health in All Policies”framework that can be adopted within policy agendas statewide. i The New Mexico Health Equity Policy team, Tularosa Basin Downwinders HIA team, Jordon Johnson, executive director McKinley Community Place Matters, and Emily Haozous, Ph.D., contributed to this article.

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Farmacy

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along with acequia-grown produce. The New Mexico Acequia Association, Cornelio Candelaria Organics and Grow the Future New Mexico will coordinate the workshops, in partnership with Mora Valley Community Health Services and the Mora County Health Council. After the first workshop series was completed in Albuquerque, the FARMacy was created as a way to bring fresh organic fruits and veggies to the Southwest Mesa Clinic to inspire and educate the community about the importance of healthy eating and working together on the journey toward health.The FARMacy was initially set up at a clinic flu- shot event. It was a huge success. Having a plethora of fresh organic fruits and vegetables right in the lobby was quite a transformation. It was truly inspirational, giving hope for the future of community health and our health care system. The clinic has invited the FARMacy to be there on a regular basis and has also invited the farmers to create a garden at the clinic, so that patients, staff and the community can learn how to grow food, cook healthy meals and be reminded that food is medicine and medicine is food. The Food Is Medicine workshop collaborators want to continue building partnerships in order to launch a program in which families or individuals with diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other ailments could be prescribed a weekly share of fresh organic fruits and vegetables grown at a local farm. Patients could also be brought from the clinic to the farm to experience the healing that comes from working with land, water, plants and earth. Imagine edible landscapes in our hospitals and clinics, schools and libraries, affordable housing units and parks, so there is an abundance of healthy organic food, along with widespread cultivation of a consciousness that cares about our sacred Mother Earth and future generations. i For more information, call 505.331.6390 or 505.382.5447, email growthefuture@ yahoo.com or visit www.growthefuturenm. org or www.candelariaorganics.com Travis McKenzie is devoted to planting seeds for community needs. He is cofounder of Lobo Gardens, Project Feed the Hood, Grow the Future, and a member of the Rooted in Community National Advisory Council and the New Mexico Acequia Association’s Sembrando Semillas Intergenerational Network. McKenzie is currently farming at Cornelio Candelaria Organics in partnership with Lorenzo Candelaria and Dora Pacias.

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New Nature Movement Richard Louv at the Lensic Feb. 21 Maureen Eich VanWalleghan

love of nature can at times reveal a love of the wild—of places that are unkempt, untamed. There is something so amazing and enthralling to see a waterfall, the power of which is mesmerizing. Or to ponder the thick underbrush just off the trail, a tangle of branches, flowers and plants rustling with little scurrying sounds of unseen creatures. Looking at a sunset over land that is free of the manmade and listening to the nightfall sounds taps into a human heart. It beats faster as adrenaline circulates and the fringes of the wild move closer. Nature is about the untamed. So much of modern life is in the tamed, the orderly, the controlled, the manmade machine, the efficient. Something about the notion of efficiency has so completely permeated Western culture. Humans are not efficient. Machines can be efficient. Using technology can feel efficient. Raising children is not efficient. It is, in fact, downright messy, no matter how much technology one employs in the process. If one wants to teach a child to do something, the task will take twice as long and will most likely include a

great deal of mess-making, Childhood is messy. It is the frontier of wildness. Or it once was. On the surface, the world looks like a child-friendly place.There are kids’menus that can be colored with crayons provided by restaurants. There are organized sports of every type and for every age of child. There are play structures in most parks in cities across the country. Kidsized anything can be found at major department stores. REI has kid-sized outdoor gear that is just like the grown-up kind and just as pricey. Children are the target audience for TV, movies, books, games, computers, even food, and the list goes on and on. But where is the child in all this? When is a child most happy? Let a kid go outside to run wild with a pack of other kids, and one finds an exhausted, smiling child who doesn’t want to come inside when playtime is done. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, is worried that kids aren’t getting outside enough to play, explore, touch, smell and generally get dirty in the environment. And that this lack of outdoor connection and playing is impacting the future of the planet. The Santa Fe Waldorf School is sponsoring an event on Sunday, Feb.

Trees Benefit Human Health

The journal Scientific Reports published a paper last year that makes a case for the impact of trees in neighborhoods on human health. Building on earlier research, the study used detailed data compiled by the city of Toronto, Canada, which categorized urban trees by species, location and tree diameter, supplemented by high-resolution satellite measurements that quantified the amount of green space in residential areas. Researchers analyzed health records for Toronto residents, as well as a survey of peoples’ self-perception of their health, which, while subjective, did correlate strongly with objective health measures. The study took into consideration factors that could affect health, such as age, family income, education and diet. The conclusion? Even though affluent families are often healthier, “living in a greener area can compensate.” For cardio-metabolic conditions (heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and more), an increase of 11 trees per city block was comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $10,000 and moving to a neighborhood with $10,000 higher median income or even being seven years younger. The study’s results cannot definitively identify the exact mechanism by which the trees seem to enhance human health and quality of life, besides adding beauty, shade and sound absorption. One possibility is that they improve air quality by pulling ozone, particulates and other pollutants into their leaves, thus protecting people from them. Another possible benefit is that people seem to experience some degree of stress reduction when they are around greenery—a psychological effect that may inspire exercise and have physical benefits.

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21, at 7 p.m., at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, where Louv will be discussing this issue, which he refers to as Nature-Deficit Disorder. So where are kids right now? Starting as babies, they are contained. In chapter 3 of Last Child in the Woods, Louv discusses the work of Jane Clark, a University of Maryland professor of kinesiology (study of human movement): …“containerized kids”…spend more and more time in car seats, highchairs…When small children do go outside, they’re often placed in containers—strollers—and pushed by walking or jogging parents.

Louv refers to this issue as Nature-Deficit Disorder.

This containment is done for safety and is widespread beyond the borders of the United States, flowing even into rural European landscapes. But this containment is taking the wildness out of childhood. On the surface, the efficiency factor looks like parents are keeping their children safe. Hooray for efficiency; but, really, in the long run, the situation is dire. Who will become the future stewards of the planet if there is no connection to it? Chapter 3 also examines the criminalization of activities that were once parts of childhood, without question. In the name of safety, orderliness and manmade aesthetics, childhood has been conquered. Fort-building, dam-making, kite-flying and even making a tree house in one’s own private backyard can be illegal. So, where have the children gone? They have migrated to the last domain offered: indoors, where they are plugged in and gamed out in a virtual world. Louv, through his writing, has started a movement: “No Child Left Inside.” Many studies are supporting the notion that childhood needs the wildness of the outdoors; that is, exploration in the natural landscapes that actually involve getting dirty, climbing trees, possibly picking a few flowers and catching some lizards.

The research coming out now supports this in many ways. The New York Times and National Public Radio (NPR) have recently featured articles about the new—but really old—forest classrooms and kindergartens that support educational opportunities for early-childhood students to encounter the natural world in ways that create lasting connections to the Earth. Louv has reviewed many studies, which readers can find in his note section for each chapter, that highlight how important time in nature is to human health, psychology and development. If you love nature, ask yourself, “Why?” If you feel good when you go for a walk, ask yourself, “How come?” If you think taking care of the planet is an important endeavor, then consider that, most likely, you can recall experiences in childhood where a bit of the wild side crept into your soul. Getting kids back outside exploring and playing, as Louv notes, is essential for the health of the Earth. He says, “How young people respond to nature, how they raise their own children, will shape the configurations and conditions of our cities, homes—our daily lives.” Growing up shouldn’t be a drive-by viewing of the world—look, but don’t touch. Instead, “No Child Left Inside” needs to become the new mantra of the sustainable environmental movement that keeps our untamed human spirits longing for and protecting wild spaces. i Maureen Eich VanWalleghan is a filmmaker and writer living in Santa Fe. Her work can be found on the Santa Fe Waldorf School blog and on the Motherhood Later Than Sooner blog.

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Op-Ed: Protect the Río Chama Watershed Now

William Clark

he Río Chama Watershed, east of the San Juan Basin, is a platform that rises up from the Continental Divide and extends east into the Tusas Mountains. It is the largest contributor to the Río Grande Watershed—the source of water for more than 60 percent of New Mexico. The Chama Watershed sits within the political boundary of New Mexico’s Río Arriba County. The confluence of the Río Chama with the Río Grande is just north of Española. It is this geological formation that creates a microclimate and recharging zone for the greater Río Grande Watershed. Within this zone lies the capacity to hold snow, rain and runoff that drains into the Río Chama, Anything that affects the Río Chama Watershed affects all life downstream, including the people and communities that are dependent upon water from the north. Río Arriba County uses approximately 10 percent of this water. The other 90 percent is adjudicated by entities such as the city of Albuquerque and various pueblos, along with the New Mexico acequia systems. The history of exploration confirms the potential for oil and gas development in the Río Chama Watershed is low, at best, or nonexistent.*

Río Arriba County government has had a defining role in the sustainability of the Río Chama Watershed. The 2009 Oil and Gas Ordinance separated the county into two Energy Resource Districts: the Development District and the Frontier District. The Development District, west of the

Continental Divide, is in the San Juan Basin. The Frontier District, east of the divide, makes up the Río Chama Watershed. The New Mexico Legislature put forth House Bill 366 in its 2015 session to prohibit the ability of local governments to regulate the oil and gas industry. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, “Under House Bill 366, sponsored by Rep. Nate Gentry (R-Albuquerque), the state would have exclusive authority over oil and gas well siting, drilling, processing and storage—effectively restricting the ability of local governments to regulate the industry. The measure passed 6–5 on a straight party-line vote, with Republicans in favor of the bill.” At the present time, the bill sits tabled in the Senate Conservation Committee. Bill 366 would end not only the 2009 Oil and Gas Ordinance, in Río Arriba County; it would also put an end to the Frontier District. Without the county’s authority, the citizens of Río Arriba lose the right to create their own ordinances based on community input. The oil and gas industry is working diligently to centralize decision making to the state level. In January 2014, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office indefinitely deferred the sale of 16 parcels—approximately 13,300 acres— from its oil and gas lease sale in Cebolla, in the heart of the Río Chama Watershed.

Cumbres & Toltec Railroad, Chama, NM

Green Fire Times • February 2016

The BLM deferred it so it can reevaluate the potential return on investment for oil and gas and identify potential environmental risks. The Taos Field Office requested a geologic review. Joseph R. Hewitt of the BLM Farmington District Office wrote the study, which separates the area into two study areas, north and south. Cebolla is in the south study area. In that area, only 11 wells have been drilled since 1915, without any productivity. In the northern area, 132 wells have been drilled since 1915, and only 12 have reported production.The report concludes that the south Chama Basin has low potential for oil and gas development because all of the oil and gas test wells are dry holes with no oil or gas. There is a question about whether any of the rock formations are “thermally mature,” meaning capable of producing oil and gas. The north study area has a low-to-moderate rating, with zero out of 132 wells now producing at levels far below drilling costs. The primary threat to the bioregion is hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking. All 143 wells have been conventionally drilled vertically. Unconventional drilling is also termed horizontal drilling. Horizontal drilling and fracking are the methods the industry wants to employ in the Río Chama Watershed. Unfortunately, contamination of both surface water and groundwater aquifers appears unavoidable if fracking were to occur. It is of critical importance to note that the Río Chama Watershed differs geologically from the San Juan Basin. Potable water aquifers sit directly below the targeted Mancos Shale, Dakota Sandstone and Greenhorn Limestone formations that the industry wants to develop.This kind of exploration is known

Abquiú Lake, New Mexico

as shallow-shale fracking. Instead of the targeted Mancos and Dakota formations sitting thousands of feet below the aquifers, the two formations in the Río Chama Watershed are located above the Morrison Formation, which contains drinkable water. This is all due to the fact that the watershed is a raised platform above the San Juan Basin.The BLM Taos Field Office has stated that “unknown risks exist.”

Contamination of both surface water and groundwater aquifers appears unavoidable.

Contaminants are a critical threat to the Río Chama Watershed. In order to effectively drill horizontally, all fracking operations use what the industry refers to as slick water. Slick water includes poisonous chemicals that could permanently contaminate the water. The 2005 Energy Policy Act exempts hydraulic fracturing from the Clean Air and Clean Water acts and provides the oil and gas industry the opportunity to ignore inconvenient facts and present “inconclusive evidence.” And drillers [or companies] are not required to reveal proprietary business practices. A key component of the 2005 Energy Policy Act is the Halliburton loophole, which exempts oil and gas exploration companies from many EPA regulations that require disclosure of chemicals used in fracking. Many of these chemicals are extremely dangerous. Such additives include acids to dissolve minerals and open up rock fractures, biocides to kill bacteria and prevent corrosion, gels and other agents to keep the fluid at a consistent level of viscosity at different temperatures, substances to prevent clays

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EPA Study: Fracking Impacts Drinking Water

Preliminary findings released in June of a landmark Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study were repudiated last month by the agency’s own science advisors. The EPA’s Science Advisory Board, a panel of 31 scientists that ensures the integrity of major studies by the agency, says that the main conclusion—that there is no evidence fracking has led to “widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water” —requires clarification. Taking the entire water cycle around fracking into consideration—from obtaining water supplies to disposing of wastewater—the agency documented instances of failed wells and above-ground spills that may have affected drinking water.

Horses grazing in a field near Los Ojos in the Chama Valley, New Mexico

from swelling or shifting, distillates to reduce friction, and acids to solubilize and release toxic and carcinogenic metals. Researchers have assembled a list of over 2,500 chemical “cocktails” and examined their properties. There is very little data about the health risks generated by onethird of these chemicals; an eighth of them were toxic and carcinogenic to mammals, including benzene and uranium-238. New York State has banned high-volume fracking due to known health risks from all these chemicals. New Brunswick and other Canadian provinces have followed suit. The Halliburton loophole was initiated by Dick Cheney, who was CEO of Halliburton before becoming vicepresident.The bill was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush. This loophole in the Clean Air and Clean Water acts is now the law of the land. In spring 2015, New Mexico’s congressional delegation approved legislation to keep the loophole in force indefinitely. Considering the health risks, those of us who live in the watershed should be very concerned about keeping the river free of contaminants. Once ground and surface waters are compromised, the consequences can last for centuries. People who live downstream from the Río Chama Watershed would all be affected. As they became aware of the imminent dangers, residents organized the Río Arriba Concerned Citizens (RACC), which has successfully supported indefinite deferral of the Cebolla BLM oil and gas leases. In late March 2015, the Obama administration issued the first major federal regulations for fracking. These rules establish new safety standards for the 100,000-plus oil and gas wells on public lands. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said the changes to outdated rules would allow “responsible development while protecting

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natural resources. As we continue to offer millions of acres of America’s public lands—your lands—for oil and gas development, it is critical that the public has confidence that robust safety and environmental protections are in place.” Unfortunately, these new regulations do not take into account the unique geology of the Río Chama Watershed. Clean-water aquifers sit right below the targeted oil and gas strata, without thousands of feet of impermeable rock separating the aquifers from oil and gas development.

The board’s recommendations will likely reignite the debate over the need for more regulation of fracking, a commonly used method of releasing oil and gas from dense rock formations by pumping water, sand and chemicals through underground fissures. Industry lobbyists and trade groups are disputing the science panel’s assertions. The EPA is not required to correct the report’s findings to reflect the panel’s recommendations, but a spokesman said that the agency will “evaluate” possible changes to the report.

The source of water for more than 60 percent of New Mexico One important key to the future of protecting safe water is innovation. The global economy is calling for innovation f rom entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, governments and, most importantly, individual citizens. One person can change the world. Consider the impacts of Albert Einstein,Rachel Carlson, Erin Brockovich, Bill and Melinda Gates, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. The Río Arriba Concerned Citizens continues to inform residents affected by drilling in the Río Chama Watershed and to advocate putting protective measures in place to guarantee pure water for future generations. For more information and to get involved, go to www.rioarribaconcernedcitizens.com or email info@rioarribaconcernedcitizens.com i *Source: Geologic Review of the Oil and Gas Potential in the Southern Portion of Chama Basin, North-Central New Mexico; Eastern Río Arriba County by Joseph R. Hewitt. William Clark is president of Río Arriba Concerned Citizens. cebollabill@ gmail.com

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Ten Elements continued from page 9

Goals: Are you mentally stimulated?

before midnight is the most beneficial. Taking naps during the day is recommended and also an option.

To thrive, everyone should have something, whether it’s doing volunteer work, spearheading a project or working toward a goal that demands brain activity. We all need direction and a sense of purpose in life. Goals give meaning to our lives.

Nutrition: Is your diet fully supporting your body?

Mutual support: Are you giving and receiving love in your life?

Eat a variety of whole grains, vegetables and fruits—all organic. Include at least one portion a day from the following green leafy vegetables: Swiss and red chard, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, parsley, mustard greens, turnip greens, chicory greens, dandelion or beet greens, spinach, cabbage, watercress, purslane, okra, broccoli, or any sprouts, including alfalfa, sunflower and soybean. Vitamins and minerals are helpful in supplementing your diet and metabolism, even if you are eating organic foods. Take a full-spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement every day. Drink about eight glasses of water to stay hydrated. Don’t forget to take your herbs.

Nature: Do you spend time outdoors?

Nothing can replace being in nature when it comes to balancing yourself. Devoting time daily to getting fresh air and sun is critical to the overall health of your personal ecosystem. This is best achieved when you go for your walk (see element 1).

Creativity: Do you have a creative outlet that keeps you active physically and mentally?

Creative outlets can range from work to that hobby you never seem to have time for. Working creatively in a domain you like, in moderate amounts, is nurturing, self-affirming and rewarding. Staying active and in contact with the rest of the world is integral to good health.

Emotional balance: Are you emotionally healthy?

Do you have repetitive episodes of anger, fear or grief that keep you out of balance? There is nothing wrong with having feelings. Emotional imbalance becomes an issue when feelings are either repressed or allowed to rule us irrationally. If either of these extremes is true for you, take measures to identify and change your emotional patterns. Choose to cultivate joy and sense of humor to nourish your ecosystem.

Having a loving and accepting support system is critical to healing and staying healthy. Ecosystems, by their very nature, are dependent upon relationships. Giving and getting support and love from your family, friends or support group are essential to good health.

Faith: Do you regularly communicate with your higher self or your higher power? Many a wise soul has said that we must feel connected to a higher power to feel balanced and fulfilled in life. Make time daily for this aspect of yourself.

Choice: Do you take personal responsibility for your life?

A critical step in your self-creation of a healthy body and a healthy life involves taking responsibility for your actions. It is such an important element that, by itself, it accounts for 40 percent of healing. At any given moment, you have choice. Taking personal responsibility is the key that unlocks the door to integrating and balancing all of the other elements of healthy living.

Maximize the effects of herbs.

Herbs truly have the ability to assist you in making significant shifts in both chronic and acute physical conditions. You can further maximize the healing effects of herbs by bringing yourself into a more complete state of balance suggested by the elements above. Is there anything missing in your life? What does your personal ecosystem need? Remember that the daily choices you make give you the power to shape your life. i Daniel Gagnon, owner of Herbs, Etc. and acting director of the Botanical Research and Education Institute, in Santa Fe, has been a practicing medical herbalist since 1976. Gagnon is the author of Liquid Herbal Drops in Everyday Use and the updated Practical Guide to Herbal Medicines. He teaches herbal therapeutics, both nationally and internationally. www. herbsetc.com

Health is Wealth

Undoing the Web

Everyday Green

One of my fondest memories is of my grandparents figuring out how to treat my grandfather Procopio’s hearing loss. Together, they ground dry ruda de la sierra and rolled it into a cigarette. Toñita stood at Procopio’s side as he sat, and she blew the smoke of the herb into his ear. We know now that it is the Mediterranean rue that breaks up congestion in the head, not the native ruda de la sierra. Yet, some ancestral memory prompted my grandparents to use the native herb, lovingly, as their ancestors in Spain had.

Magazine, states, “We human beings are biopsychosocial creatures whose health or illness reflects our relationship with the world we inhabit—including all the variables of family, class, gender, race, political status and the physical ecology that we are a part of.” The answer then, I believe, can be found in the deliberate weaving by everyone of a protective, life-enhancing mantle that can be wrapped around our youth as they grow up and around those who have lost their inner compass. The mantle’s threads might be the loving, open arms of an understanding parent and the presence of supportive circles of friends, family and community. Other threads might include the possibility of a modest but comfortable home, the availability of nourishing food and opportunities for open, honest and sustained conversations with other people. A life-affirming mantle would also include a dynamic and compelling educational process, meaningful work with decent wages, exercise, engagement with nature as well as a validating relationship with the world at large. i

providers on the Internet. Take these steps early to avoid a debilitating, ongoing illness. People with advanced MCS often cannot work in a standard workplace, go out to public places or participate fully in life.

continued from page

Camilla Trujillo has been he rb-crafting for 35 years and sells her herbal body products at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market. She lives in Española. Toñitasbestbalms.com

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Health is wealth. Herbs are mystical plants. The longer I work with herbs, the more I realize that I work for the herbs. i

Alejandro López worked for several years as an assistant to therapists from México who employed wholistic, experiential and culturally relevant approaches to healing individuals wanting to free themselves from the web of substance abuse.

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Together, our cumulative daily decisions affect the overall health of the planet. Follow the conscious green path to vibrant health. i Susan Guyette, Ph.D., is of Métis heritage (Micmac Indian/Acadian French) and a planner specializing in cultural tourism, cultural centers, museums and native foods. She is the author of Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Small-Scale Solutions; Planning for Balanced Development; and coauthor of Zen Birding: Connect in Nature. susanguyette@nets. com

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Green Fire Times • February 2016

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Green Fire Times • February 2016

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Green Fire Times • February 2016

Feathered Friends of Santa Fe Wild & Exotic Bird Seed & Supplies

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Green Fire Times • February 2016

Green Fire Times is available at many locations in the metropolitan Albuquerque / Río Rancho area! For the location nearest you, call Nick García at 505.203.4613 www.GreenFireTimes.com

NEWSBITEs New Mexico’s Teen Birthrate Drops

New Mexico dropped from many years of being the state with the highest teen birthrate to fourth place—tying with Texas—in 2014, according to the state’s Department of Health. New Mexico had more than 50 percent fewer births by teens than in 2000. Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward credits the lower teen birthrate to giving teens access to free or low-cost birth control and the impact of medical providers and educators informing teens about intentional parenthood. There are 73 familyplanning services across the state. They include public health offices, primary-care clinics and school clinics, as well as the state’s outreach program for youths in grades six to 12. The state also offers a text-messaging program, BrdsNBz, which teens and their parents can use to get medically accurate answers to sexual health questions. Ward cites teen parenthood as a “primary driver of generational poverty” and a contributor to poorer health and lower educational attainment for teen mothers and their children. She says that children born to teen parents are more likely to become teen parents themselves. Teen parents cost taxpayers $103 million in New Mexico in 2010, according to information reported by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

Algae Foundation Collaborates with SFCC to Offer Degree Program

The Algae Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about the biology, ecology, cultivation and commercial potential of algae, has been awarded a three-year grant from the U.S. Dept. of Energy to develop a college degree in algal biology, technology and cultivation, as well as an aquaculture training program.

The foundation has formed the Algae Technology Educational Consortium (ATEC), a partnership including universities, community colleges, national research laboratories and industry leaders charged with the development of a two-year college degree and the implementation of a comprehensive algal-focused curriculum. The consortium’s programs are designed to strengthen the industry’s workforce capabilities by focusing on the skills needed to support the commercialization of micro- and macroalgae. The initial community college partner institution is Santa Fe Community College. The ATEC curriculum, developed in partnership with SFCC faculty, will be offered for the first time in September 2016. The new effort is centered on the development of courses covering biology, biotechnology, inoculation, cultivation, harvesting and processing skills and led by SFCC’s Luke Spangenburg and Stephen Gómez. Additionally, significant collaborative efforts have been led by Thomas Dempster of Arizona State University and Wendy Stegman of the University of California at San Diego.

New Mexico Joins Lawsuit Against EPA’s New Ozone Rule

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has joined four states in a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alleging that the federal government’s new ozone rule is unfair. “Our state has background ozone conditions, which are not effectively and equally addressed by the EPA’s autocratic ozone standards,” NMED secretary Ryan Flynn said in a statement. States with higher elevations have more difficulty attaining standards because air monitors can detect ozone pollution that drifts in from other states or—in the case of New Mexico—from México, a country that produces relatively high levels of emissions. New Mexico officials also argue that the new ozone rule will hurt the economy of the state, which relies heavily on oil and gas revenues. The Clean Air Act statute is intended to protect public health. “High ozone levels pose a serious risk for New Mexicans in the form of lung disease,” said Steve Michel, chief counsel for the clean-energy program for Western Resource Advocates. “The health impacts do not vary based on geography, so neither should the standards.” EPA officials say the new rule for ozone, which essentially covers smog coming from tailpipes and smokestacks, gives individual states plenty of time to comply to avoid facing potential fines. Nationally, from 1980 to 2014, average ozone levels have fallen 33 percent, while the economy has continued to grow. By 2025, the EPA projects that existing rules and programs will bring the vast majority of remaining states into compliance.

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Excerpt from New Mexico 2050 (2015, UNM Press) Health Care Services and Social Assistance

Health care and social assistance have continued to grow in New Mexico in good times and bad, and today the industry employs over 140,000 people, most of them working within the private sector and including doctors, nurses and other health practitioners; health technologists and technicians (practical nurses, lab techs, dental hygienists); and home health aides and others in health-support occupations. There are growing numbers of New Mexico jobs in community and social service assistance occupations and in related management occupations, as well as in office and administrative support and other nonhealth occupations in the industry. Editor’s note: Fifty-six percent of all new jobs in New Mexico from July 2014 to July 2015 were health care related, according to the state Department of Workforce Solutions. The health care sector of the state’s economy continues to see broad-based growth in 2016. A portion of the jobs is related to newly insured patients under the federal Affordable Care Act. A shift in consumer focus from emergency to preventive care is also helping.

Harvard Study Links Air Pollution to Autism

Harvard School of Public Health researchers say that women exposed to high levels of air pollution during their third trimester of pregnancy may be twice as likely to have an autistic child. The researchers’ study, started in 1989 and involving more than 100,000 nurses from across the United States, provides strong evidence for a causal effect. The study was published in the December 2015 Environmental Health Perspectives. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability, now affecting one in 68 children in the United States. Recent studies suggest that it may begin when genes are corrupted as a result of a gene-environment interaction, and brain cells fail to properly mature in the womb. Autism is often diagnosed after behavioral changes start to develop before the age of 5.

Eleven New Mexico Community Colleges Collaborate on Workforce Education

Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) is the state’s lead institution on a nearly $15 million grant aimed at putting more New Mexicans to work in healthcare careers. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor has been distributed among 11 of the state’s community colleges to provide education and training directly to unemployed or underemployed workers. SFCC is serving as grant coordinator. “Working in concert with our college partners, SFCC developed a winning proposal to focus squarely on curriculum development and job training, where it matters most,” said Randy Grissom, SFCC’s president. “We are all deeply committed to helping students get what they need to succeed in today’s economy.” Grissom noted that partnerships with employers such as CHRISTUS St. Vincent Hospital and other providers have been strengthened through the initiative. “We at SFCC have been able to approach employers with strategies to match their needs in training workers specifically for careers, health information technology or emergency medical services. We are focusing on accelerated pathways to reduce the time to completion and increase the completion success rate. We want to put students in the field as soon as possible.” The education and training grant is particularly timely. New Mexico is expected to be fourth in the nation with a population of 65 or older by 2030. The Health Services and Resources Administration has designated almost the entire state of New Mexico as a health professional shortage area and medically underserved area. In addition to SFCC, the following colleges are participating in the initiative: Central New Mexico Community College San Juan Community College Eastern New Mexico University, Roswell Eastern New Mexico University, Ruidoso New Mexico State University, Alamogordo University of New Mexico, Taos University of New Mexico, Valencia University of New Mexico, Los Alamos University of New Mexico, Gallup Mesalands Community College

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Green Fire Times • February 2016

What's Going On! Events / Announcements Feb. 5-6 NM Beekeepers Assn. 2016 Conf. So. Broadway Cultural Center 1025 Broadway SE

ALBUQUERQUE

Feb. 3, 17, 24, 9-10 am One Million Cups Fat Pipe ABQ, 200 Broadway Blvd. NE

Network with local entrepreneurs and hear their stories. 505.227.8802, fatpipeabq.com

Feb. 3, 5:30-7 pm Green Drinks Hotel Andaluz, 125 Second St. NW

Network with people interested in doing business locally, clean energy alternatives and creating sustainable opportunities in our communities. Presented the first Wednesday of each month by the ABQ and Río Rancho Green Chamber. info@nmgreenchamber. com, www.greendrinks.org

Feb. 4, 5:30-7 pm Water in the Contemporary Pueblo World Indian Pueblo Cultural Center 2401 12th St. NW

First of a 4-part discussion series curated by Pueblo scholar Daryl Lucero on the role of water in Pueblo life and sovereignty. Part 1 focuses on water through the lens of art. Other lecture dates in the series: Mar. 3, Apr. 7, May 5. Free. 866.855.7902, www.indianpueblo.org

Feb. 4 – March 3, 3-4:15 pm Veteran Farmer Project Classes Bernalillo County Extension Office classroom, 1510 Menaul NW

2/4: Soil Preparation; 2/11: Planting for Pollinators and other Beneficials; 2/18: Holistic Orchard Strategies; 2/25: Seeds: Growing, Saving and Why Organic. Sponsored by La Montanita Co-op. Reservations/RSVP: 505.217.2027 or robins@lamontanita.coop

Feb. 4 – March 31 Natural Forces – The Wild South Broadway Cultural Center 1025 Broadway SE

Photography exhibition by Stan Honda, Ken Spencer, Charles Medendorp, Rush Dudley and Vance Ley. 2/4, 5-8 pm: opening reception. 2/6 and 3/7, 10 am-12 noon: “Meet the artists.” 505.918.2964, rdudley@flash.net

Feb. 5 Recycled Heart Exhibition Harwood Art Center

Features mixed media and recycled art from artists of ArtStreet, a program of ABQ Health Care for the Homeless. www.harwoodartcenter.org

Feb. 5 Application Deadline Indigenous Health Leadership Institute

Takes place April 1-3. Learn about American Indian and Indigenous perspectives on health from community leaders, traditional healers, healers-in-training and health professionals. Topics include historical trauma, intersection of traditional and Western medicine, skill-building workshops. Presented by the Native Health Initiative. $90. 505.340.5656, Shannon@loving service.us, www.lovingservice.us/2016_ihli

Keynotespeaker:MarkWinston,authorofBeeTime: Lessons from the Hive. 2/5: 12-4 pm, 2/6: 9 am-4 pm. Free. info@nmbeekeepers.org, http:nmbeekeepers. org/nmbka-conference-schedule/

Feb. 6, 3-8:30 pm Leonard Peltier Solidarity Day First Unitarian Church 3701 Carlisle NE

Potluck and panel discussion with Radmilla Cody, John T. Nez, Jean Whitehorse and others about clemency efforts. 505.217.3612, contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info

Feb. 6, 2-3:45 pm; Feb. 27 Clarifying Meditative Work Wat Center, at Madison NE & Copper

Workshop for people from any meditation tradition. $2 donation. Also meets April 2 and May 21. NM Center for Meditative Inquiry and Retreat. 505.281.0684, https:// meditationnm.wordpress.com/

Feb. 11-12, 9 am-3 pm How to Open an Early Childhood Business CNM Workforce Training Center 5600 Eagle Rock Ave. NE

Free workshop. Learn essential business aspects of running a quality daycare center, get trained in first-aid and CPR, learn how to earn a degree or certificate. Presented by Santa Fe Community College’s Early Childhood Center of Excellence. Sponsored by the McCune Charitable Foundation. 505.428.1256, Geraldine.harris@sfcc.edu

Feb. 13, 1:30-2:30 pm Composting with Worms Open Space Visitor Center 6500 Coors NW

Food scraps and paper products make up about 30 percent of our garbage. Use red worms to turn organic waste into high-quality compost and reduce the volume of waste you send to the landfill. Free. Registration: 505.897.8831 or register@nmcomposters.org

Feb. 17, 7:30-9:30 am Reinventing Our City 3.0 ABQ Convention Center,401 2nd St.NW

This event will address the major themes affecting ABQ’s economic growth. Presented by ABQ Business First. www.bizjournals. com/albuquerque/event/146042

Feb. 17-19 4th Intl. Meeting on Indigenous Women’s Health Embassy Suites Hotel

Pathways to cultural wellness and rural maternity safety. Innovative health model and community-based public health approaches for Native women and their families. UNM Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development Dept: 505.272.3942, CMEWeb@salud.unm.edu, http://som. unm.edu/cme/2016/imiwh.html

Feb. 19-20 2016 Women’s Health Conference Embassy Suites Hotel

“Creating a culture of patient-centered care and safety” features national and local experts. UNM Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development Dept: 505.272.3942, CMEWeb@

Green Fire Times • February 2016

salud.unm.edu, http://som.unm.edu/cme/2016/ pdf/2016-whc-brochure.pdf

Feb. 19-20 NM Organic Farming Conference Marriott ABQ Pyramid North 5151 San Francisco Rd.

Arts, 108 Cathedral Pl.

Exhibition honoring the late Cherokee artist/educator/IAIA director and his work. Feb. 18, 5-7 pm: Opening reception. 505.983.1666, www.iaia.edu/museum. More events: indianartsandculture.org

An annual opportunity for farmers, ranchers and researchers from around the Southwest to share their experiences and expertise. 2/19: 7 am – 8 pm (6-8 pm: Agrarian Career Connection); 2/20: 7 am – 5 pm. Organized by Farm to Table, NM Dept. of Agriculture, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service and the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute. CEUs available. Online registration (www.farmtotablenm.com) closes 2/16. $100/$65. Questions: 505.841.9427 or jquinn@nmda.nmsu.edu

Feb. 3, 8 am-3 pm Food and Farms Day NM State Capitol

Feb. 19-20, 7 pm Winter Dance Escape The Hiland Theater

Feb. 3. 11:30 am – 1 pm Green Lunch SFAHBA Offices, 1409 Luisa St.

Feb. 20, 4-6 pm ABQ Hours Community Potluck ABQ Center for Peace & Justice 202 Harvard SE

Feb. 4, 9 am-4 pm Safety + Success: Birth to Career SF Community Foundation 501 Halona St.

National Dance Institute-NM’s Carnival of the Animals showcases NDI’s student dancers plus guests from the Boston Ballet and NM Ballet Company. $10/$8/$5. Ndi-nm.org

Learn how the community exchange service, based on a time banking model, works. Members share their experiences. 505.633.8108, abqhours@gmail.com, www.abqhours.org

Feb. 25-26 Land & Water Summit Sheraton Airport Hotel

Creating a new paradigm for living in arid lands. Guest speakers and workshops. Sponsored by the Xeriscape Council of NM. Info/ Registration: xquestions@xeriscapenm.com, www.xeriscape.nm.org

March 1 Application Deadline Summer Health Justice Internships

Takes place June 10-July 17. A chance for students to work in indigenous communities of NM/AZ. Focus is on community-driven, sustainable projects. Interns are assigned based on their interests and abilities. 505.340.5656, Shannon@lovingservice.us, www.loving service.us/2016_summer_internships

SANTA FE

Feb. 1-14 Fiber Rocks! El Museo Cultural 555 Camino de la Familia

Fiber Art Exhibition honoring the Mesa-Prieta petroglyphs. Sponsored by the Española Valley Fiber Arts Center. 505.747.3577, www.evfac.org

Feb. 1-29 Flashing on the Sixties El Museo Cultural 555 Camino La Familia

A trip back to the garden with Lisa Law. An exhibit of the Museum of the Sixties including 90 photographs, posters and displays of art by Wavy Gravy and Tony Price. Every day but Mondays, 1-5 pm; weekends 11 am-4 pm. Free. 505.992.0591.

Through July 31 Lloyd Kiva New: Art, Design and Influence Museum of Contemporary Native

Organizations and agencies will share information. 9-9:45 am: Farm to School Award ceremony and press conference. 10 am-12 pm: NM Legislature Policymakers will recognize individuals and organizations for their efforts in building food, farming and health initiatives. 12:30-3 pm: Roundtable discussion. 505.473.1003, www.farmtotablenm.org

Speaker: Dr. Mark Nelson of Biosphere 2 and Ecotechnics projects in NM and around the world. $20/$15. Reservations: 505.982.1774. Presented by the Santa Fe Green Chamber of Commerce.

A data scholar’s workshop on challenges facing SF’s youth. No charge but space limited. 505.988.9715, ext. 7017, www.santafeb2c.org/

Feb. 5, 10 am – 5 pm SF Soul Community Day & Open House 2905 Rodeo Park Dr., E #3

Integrative healthcare services. Meet the practitioners, tour the new Body Optimazation Studio. 505.474.8555, www.santafesoul.com

Feb. 6, 5 pm Cancer Foundation of NM 11th Annual Sweetheart Auction SF Community Convention Center

Dinner and desert buffet, silent and live art auctions, raffle of four vacation destinations. Admission: $75. 505.7931,ext.1,Cffnm.org/sweetheart-auction

Feb. 8-10 NM Hospitality & Tourism Trends State Conference Eldorado Hotel and Spa

Annual marketing and research conference. 505.506.8624, Agenda/registration: NewMexicoHospitality.org/2016TRENDS

Feb. 9, 5:30-7:30 pm State of the City SF Convention Center 201 W. Marcy

Presented by Mayor Javier Gonzales.

Feb. 10, Noon The AT&SF Railroad and the Pueblo Indians, 1880-1930 History Museum Library (Washington Ave. entrance)

Brainpower & Brownbags lunch lecture by professor/author Richard Frost. Bring a lunch if you like. Free. 505.476.5200

Feb. 11, 9-11:30 am El Agua es Sagrada Day Capitol Rotunda

9 am press conference and educational event

www.GreenFireTimes.com

sponsored by Sen. Linda López focused on the preservation of NM water resources, water rights and traditions. 505.304.8724, info@cesoss.org

Feb. 13, 10 am – 12 pm SF Citizen’s Climate Lobby La Montañita Co-op Community Rm., 913 W. Alameda

Working for climate change solutions that bridge the partisan divide, such as the Carbon Fee & Divident, which gives all revenue back to households. Meets the second Saturday each month. Visit the SF CCL Facebook page. santafe@citizensclimatelobby.org

Feb. 24, 6-7 pm New Perspectives on Old Traditions St. Francis Auditorium (NM Museum of Art), 107 W. Palace

Rancho de las Golondrinas Winter Lecture Series presentation by David Caffey. Free. 505.476.5072

Feb. 24 Winona Laduke with Mililani Trask The Lensic

March 12-13 SF Home Show SF Convention Center

Northern NM’s premiere home show. Innovative solutions for better living. Remodelers showcase, Lego competition. Admission: $5. 505.982.1774, www.sfahba.com

Saturdays, 8 am-1 pm Santa Fe Farmers’ Market 1607 Paseo de Peralta (& Guadalupe)

Northern NM farmers & ranchers offer fresh greenhouse tomatoes, greens, root veggies, cheese, teas, herbs, spices, honey, baked goods, body care products and much more. www.santafefarmersmarket.com

Feb. 13, 10 am – 12 pm Love Your River Day

Lannan Foundation Literary Series. LaDuke is an author, indigenous rights activist and proponent of sustainable development. Trask, a Native Hawaiian attorney, is a founding member of the Indigenous Women’s Network. $6/$3. 505.988.1234, ticketssantafe.org, www.lannan.org

Foundation of Herbal Medicine Course Milagro School of Herbal Medicine

Feb. 13, 1-4 pm Kindred Spirits Valentine’s Day Party 3749-A Hwy. 14, 87508

Feb. 25-26, 9 am-3 pm How to Open an Early Childhood Business Early Childhood Learning Center Agua Fría

Taos

Help clean up the SF River with the SF Watershed Assn. 505.820.1696 or stewards@ santafewatershed.org

Animal sanctuary that offers wellness care and hospice. Come visit the animals. 505.471.5366, kindredspiritsnm@earthlink. net, www.kindredspiritsnm.org

Feb. 16, 6-8 pm SF River Greenway Community Meeting Nancy Rodríguez Community Center 1 Prairie Dog Loop

County staff, acquisition team and others will discuss the greenway between Siler Road and San Ysidro Crossing. The project includes river restoration and construction of a multi-use trail. 505.992.9887, 505.820.6656

Feb. 18, 7 pm WildEarth Guardians Telluride Mountainfilm Tour The Lensic

Annual independent documentary-film festival celebrating outdoor recreation and environmental activism. $17. 505.988.1234, tickessantafe.org

Feb. 20, 9 am – 12 pm Make Ahead Meals SF County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall Kitchen, 3229 Rodeo Rd.

Healthy meals at home with limited time and budget. $12. Pre-register: 505.471.4711, cydney@ nmsu.edu

Feb. 21, 7 pm Restoring Human Relations with the Natural World The Lensic

Richard Louv will speak about the Nature Movement. 505.467.6426, www.santafewal dorf.org/louv (See ad pg 2 and article on pg.29)

Feb. 21-28 Restaurant Week SF

Numerous local restaurants offer a prixfixe dinner and specially priced two-course lunch. Nmrestaurantweek.com

Feb. 22 Entry Deadline ULI Open Space Awards

The Urban Land Institute is accepting entries for an award that recognizes outstanding examples of successful large- and small-scale public spaces that have socially enriched and revitalized the economy of their surrounding communities. To be eligible, the project must have been open to the public for at least one year and no more than 15 years. Details and entry forms: awards@uli.org, uli.org/awards.

www.GreenFireTimes.com

Free workshop. Learn essential business aspects of running a quality daycare center, get trained in first aid and CPR, learn how to earn a degree or certificate. Presented by Santa Fe Community College’s Early Childhood Center of Excellence. Sponsored by the McCune Charitable Foundation. 505.428.1256, Geraldine.harris@sfcc.edu

Feb. 26, 10 am NM Acequia Commission Meeting NM State Archives & Records Center (Yucca Room) 1205 Camino Carlos Rey

Enrollment is open for 250-hour intensive focusing on regional herbs and traditions. Course starts April 5. 505.820.6321, info@milagroherbs. com, wwwmilagroschoolofherbalmedicine.com

Feb. 17, 5:30-8 pm Taos Entrepreneurial Network Old County Courthouse 121 N. Plaza

Monthly meeting (every 3rd Weds.). Keynote and presentations by local speakers, exhibits of products and services. 575.921.8234, Melissa@taosten.org

Feb. 19-March 31 Fiber Rocks! Hacienda de los Martînez 708 Hacienda Rd.

Agendas: 505.827.4983 or www.nmace quiacommission.state.nm.us, Info: 505.603.2879, molinodelaisla@gmail.com

Fiber Art Exhibition honoring the MesaPrieta petroglyphs. 2/26, 4-7 pm: reception. Sponsored by the Española Valley Fiber Arts Center. 505.747.3577, www.evfac.org

Feb. 27 ARTsmart NM’s 25th Anniversary Gala Eldorado Hotel & Spa

March 15 Entry Deadline The Paseo Festival Streets of Taos

Dinner/auction in support of art programs benefitting SF youth. $175/adv. at artsmart.org

Feb. 29 Entry Deadline Fantase Fest Call for Artist Proposals

Multimedia interactive light festival with art installations, local bands, food truck and more on June 18, 6 pm-midnight. Artists throughout the state may apply for funding. http://nmarts.org/current-opportunities/

Feb. 29 Application Deadline Public Art Opportunity

Ignite supports innovative, public art installations to be completed by June 30 on city-owned property throughout SF. Contract amounts up to $10,000 are available to acquire small-scale permanent artworks. Funds may be used for artist fees, materials, supplies and installation costs. 505.955.6707, artscommission@santafe nm.gov, www.SantaFeArtsCommission.org

March 4, 8:30 am-2:30 pm Fruit Growers’ Workshop SF Fairgrounds Building

Irrigation, soil health, integrated pest management, planting, research updates. Light lunch provided. Info: 505.852.4241. Registration: 505.685.4523, http:rsvp.nmsu.edu/ rsvpfruitgrowers2016

March 7-8, 7 pm Banff Mountain Film Festival The Lensic

Adventure, environmental and cultural films. Hosted by the SF Conservation Trust. 505.988.1234, ticketssantafe.org

A festival on Sept. 23 and 24 dedicated to the art of installation, performance and projection. Stipends provided. http://nmarts.org/ current-opportunities/

July 11-14 Integrative Medicine Professionals Symposium Sagebrush Inn

7th biennial symposium on integrative health featuring many distinguished speakers and local practitioners. Presented by the UNM School of Medicine’s Section of Integrative Medicine, Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and Gaples Institute for Integrative Cardiology. 505.272.3942, http://som.unm.edu/cme

Ongoing Holy Cross Hospital Health Support HCH Community Wellness Center (lower entrance), 1397 Weimer Rd.

575.751.8909, mariam@taoshospital.com, TaosHealth.com

HERE & THERE Applications Due ASAP AmeriCorps Volunteers Northern NM

Join a nonprofit organization as a paid volunteer working on conservation projects in multiple locations. Earn a college scholarship. Young women and men ages 18-25 are sought for Rocky Mountain Youth Corps seasonal full-time positions. Details and applications: 575.751.1420, www.youthcorps.org

Through February, 8:30 am-5 pm Early Native American Easel Art Coronado Historic Site, 485 Kuaua Rd., Bernalillo, NM

Original watercolor paintings from the Dorothy Dunn collection of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in SF, including work by Jose Rey Toledo ( Jemez), Gilbert Atencio (San Ildefonso), Pablita Velarde (Santa Clara), Velino Shije Herrera (Zia). Free with entrance to the site. 505.867.5351, kuaua.com

Through March 9, 9:30 am-12 pm Resilience in NM Agriculture Locations around NM

Farmers, ranchers, processors, distributors, market organizers, policymakers and advocates are invited to participate creating a strategic plan for NM’s food and agricultural system. Presented by NMSU County Extension Service and NM First. A free lunch will be served. Regional meeting for Jicarilla Apache and northern pueblos on Feb. 10 in Abiquiú; Regional meeting Feb. 11 at the Taos County Agricultural Center; Farmington on March 2; Tucumcari on March 9. Reservations required. 505.225.2140, info@nmfirst.org, nmfirst.org/ events/resilience-in-new-mexico-agriculture

Through April 15 Seedling Sale for Spring

The NM State Forestry Division seedling program has more than 65,000 seedlings in 50 different species available for purchase. Containerized and bare-root stock. Distribution begins March 7 and ends April 22. Info: carol.bada@state.nm.us, To order: www.nmforestry.com

Feb. 10, March 15 Application Deadlines Heritage Preservation Awards

Nominations are sought by the Cultural Properties Review Committee and the NM Historic Preservation Div., Dept. of Cultural Affairs for achievements in architectural preservation, archeology and publishing. Awards recognizing organizations and individuals who have made a difference in saving part of their community’s past are presented in May. Feb. 10 is the application deadline for books and publications. NMhistoricpreservation.org

Feb. 11, 5 pm Application Deadline Seeds of Native Health Grants

First Nations Development Institute is accepting applications under its Native Agriculture and Food Systems initiative. The campaign supports Native tribes and organizations working to eliminate food insecurity, promote access to fresh, healthy foods and provide increased access to nutritional programs aimed at improving health of Native people and communities. www.first nations.org/grantmaking/2016SONH

Feb. 11, 6-8 pm NM Solar Energy Assn. Meeting Little Toad Pub backroom Silver City, NM

Monthly meeting of the NMSEA-Silver City chapter. Held every second Thursday. 575.538.1137, SCGreenChamber@gmail.com

Feb. 12 – March 18 (Fridays), 1 pm Diabetes Self-Management Presbyterian Hospital Chamisa Rm., 1010 Spruce St., Española, NM

Led by Becky Lovato-Gurule, this workshop is for people with any type of ongoing health condition, physical or mental health-related. Free. 575.613.5489

Green Fire Times • February 2016

Green Fire Times â&#x20AC;˘ February 2016