May 2013 Green Fire Times by Sun Publishing

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

S u s t ai n ab l e T o ur i s m May 2013

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Vol. 5, No. 5

Green Fire Times â&#x20AC;˘ May 2013

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Green Fire Times â&#x20AC;˘ May 2013

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Vol. 5, No.5 • May 2013 Issue No. 49 Publisher Green Fire Publishing, LLC

Skip Whitson

Associate Publisher

Barbara E. Brown

Managing Editor Seth Roffman Art Director Anna C. Hansen, Dakini Design Copy Editor Stephen Klinger Contributing Writers

Ursula Beck, Iginia Boccalandro, Maria Boccalandro, Felicity Broennan, Laura Carpenter, Victoria Erhart, Susan Guyette, Brent E. Hanifl, Fran Hardy, Allegra Huston, Alice Loy, Daniel Mirabal, Ray Powell, Seth Roffman, Arturo Sandoval, Claire Tiwald

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Ursula Beck, Delafield Dubois, Anna C. Hansen, Linda Lang, Jim O’Donnell, Will Panzer, Seth Roffman, Southern Exposure

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Contents

Developing Sustainable Regional Tourism – Santa Fe and Beyond. . . . . . . . . . 7 How to Develop an Effective Tourism Cluster in Santa Fe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Everyday Green: Effective Tourism Networks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Is Sustainable Tourism Possible When There Is Poverty and Unemployment? . 11 Sustainable Tourism Workshop – The Carbon Economy Series. . .. . .. . .. . 13 Creative Santa Fe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Santa Fe Creative Tourism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Santa Fe Watershed Association Brings True Green Change to the Hospitality Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Hotels Respond to the Green Tourist Market . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 19 People Do Care Where They Live!. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 20 High Peaks Deep Roots Cooperative Launches its Second Season . . . . . . . . 21 Reflections on the Rio Grande del Norte . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 23 Rising to Meet the Dawn . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Newsbites . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 37 Agritourism in New Mexico. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Taos Cultural Farm Visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The Earth Chronicles Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 What’s Going On!. . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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John Black, Barbara Brown, Co-op Dist. Sves., Nick García, Andy Otterstrom (Creative Couriers), Tony Rapatz, Wuilmer Rivera, Skip Whitson, John Woodie

Circulation 23,000 copies

Printed locally with 100% soy ink on 100% recycled, chlorine-free paper

Green Fire Times

Green Fire Times provides useful information for anyone—community members, business people, students, visitors—interested in discovering the wealth of opportunities and resources available in our region. Knowledgeable writers provide articles on subjects ranging from green businesses, products, services, entrepreneurship, jobs, design, building, energy and investing—to sustainable agriculture, arts & culture, ecotourism, education, regional food, water, the healing arts, local heroes, native perspectives, natural resources, recycling and more. Sun Companies publications seek to provide our readers with informative articles that support a more sustainable planet. To our publisher this means maximizing personal as well as environmental health by minimizing consumption of meat and alcohol. GFT is widely distributed throughout north-central NM. Feedback, announcements, event listings, advertising and article submissions to be considered for publication are welcome.

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Los Rios River Runners approach Power Line Falls, the steepest drop in the Taos Box on the Río Grande (800.544.1181, http://losriosriverrunners.com) • Story, page 23

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Developing Sustainable Regional Tourism Santa Fe and Beyond Maria Boccalandro and Daniel Mirabal What exactly is Sustainable Tourism?

A sustainable activity denotes “doing the right thing” for the people, the planet and the economy (the “triple bottom line”). Sustainable Tourism activities avoid damage to the environment, enhance the local economy, and— perhaps most importantly—responsibly promote the culture and natural resources of a location as tourist attractions.

What is the aim of Sustainable Tourism?

The aim is to ensure that tourism development becomes a positive experience for the local people and businesses that rely on tourism, and that it respectfully supports the richness of a location’s traditions and culture. The focus of sustainable tourism, therefore, is a city, town or rural area itself. Important to the success of these projects are the partnerships that must be created between businesses—such as hotels, resorts, tourist agencies, restaurants and transportation p ro v i d e r s — a n d locals, such as artists and craftspeople, farmers and healing arts practitioners.

When does Sustainable Tourism become viable for a community?

The Sustainable Tourism model takes into consideration and integrates the culture, natural resources, public infrastructure and touristic services of a location. A location’s natural resources may have beauty and magic, such as Santa Fe’s mountains and sunsets, but it must also have a community that cherishes its identity, its authenticity and its unique cultural diversity. Sustainable tourism becomes viable when a location is able to accommodate and facilitate activities for visitors. This means having the necessary green infrastructure for both locals and visitors, such as adequate water, electricity, transportation, health- and security services.

In short, we want tourist activities that respect and reflect the culture and heritage of a community and give the location a “brand” that attracts tourists. Just as importantly, the natural resources must be preserved and used in a way that highlights their uniqueness.

When do tourist services appear?

They appear when the inhabitants of a location want to share their culture, their way of living and their natural resources with others.

Is it possible for rural New Mexico to benefit from the economic success associated with the tourism of a city like Santa Fe?

Yes. In the city of Santa Fe, there have been partnerships among the local government, nonprofit cultural groups and entrepreneurs to create a welcoming destination for tourists. In terms of sustainable tourism and rural NM, the challenge is to develop partnerships with individuals and groups such as organic farmers, Native American tribes and entrepreneurs who can facilitate eco-friendly activities such as bike riding, hiking, trekking, paragliding, bird watching, healthy farming and cooking, traditional cultural performances, art and crafts, etc. And we must not forget “service learning” opportunities and the newly popular volunteerism—where a volunteer group sponsors a work project. This appeals to people who are supportive of a cause and would like to use their vacation time to do things such as improve the well-being of a local community by helping build a school or save local plants or animals.

What needs to happen once these partnerships are created?

The promotion and marketing of these sorts of rural activities have to be accompanied by green/sustainable practices and services to accommodate the tourists, such as recycling, water harvesting, regenerative agriculture, and clean transportation options, as well as healthy local food options and ecological lodging.

What about the risks to natural resources from tourism?

There are risks from the impacts of development and from tourists. However, the sustainable tourism model not only mitigates those risks by incorporating eco-friendly construction and operation guidelines, it also enhances the preservation of a community’s resources for future generations. What makes a location special? Is it not just a location’s architecture, artwork, cuisine, iconic figures, traditions or history; more than anything, it is identity. A community’s people and their diversity create this identity. continued on page 8

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Developing Sustainable Regional Tourism continued from page 7 Santa Fe’s identity is unique and unforgettable, with its cultural diversity, architecture and creative options for tourists, such as the plethora of art galleries, theater, dance, jewelry, spiritual activities, healthy food and outdoor recreation.

How to Develop an Effective Tourism Cluster in Santa Fe

less than a two-hour flight from Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Tucson, Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, Denver, Colorado Springs and Aspen? We want the populations of all these cities to recognize the possibility of spending their vacation in New Mexico. Because we are competing with the rest of the country and with the world, we have to promote a group of tourist-oriented activities and services that will inspire these folks to invest their dollars here. In each NM location, local people should propose or create innovative tourist-oriented solutions.

What recreation needs can Santa Fe satisfy for places such as Albuquerque, Río Rancho, Roswell, Las Cruces, Farmington, the South Valley, Clovis, Hobbs and Alamogordo? The cities in our region need recreational activities for their populations. Rural Santa Fe should be asking: What can I offer to citizens of these in-state localities that will induce them to want to see what it is like to live here? They might like to dance and listen to our music, to buy our arts and crafts, our produce. In other words, what will allow visitors to have an enjoyable and memorable experience at a price that they can afford?

What is a tourism cluster?

A tourism cluster is a group of activities that complement each other and make the tourism experience pleasurable as well as memorable and inspire the tourist to tell others about the uniqueness of the trip. This also fosters people’s desire to return to the location that has given them so much pleasure.1

What activities are involved with sustainable agritourism?

The idea is for a tourist to be able to experience being on an organic farm and learning how food is produced. In sustainable agritourism, it is important that the tourist understands the value of producing healthy local food—food that fosters the health of its consumers as well as the ecosystem from which it comes. Increasingly, these days, people are learning about the hidden costs of conventional agri-business, whose chemicals and pesticides impact the health of people, animals and land.

Is a major increase in tourism possible in rural New Mexico?

Rural areas of NM have lovely natural landscapes, cultures and traditions, which attract tourists, but if there are no public services, people will not come. Tourists come when the quality of life for the citizens is high; after all, who would spend their vacation in an inhospitable location? The tourist needs clean water, a place to eat and sleep, to feel safe, good roads, etc.

How can we create activities that inspire tourists to journey to Santa Fe for more than a day-trip?

The idea is to incorporate people and businesses that are not currently in the tourist business that much—such as farmers, Native Americans and their pueblos. It is a matter of connecting talented people in Santa Fe and the region to tourists, so that when the tourists return to their homes, they leave with an authentic experience as well as the unique goods of the region. This exchange can help support the rural areas of northern NM.

Who should we attract to Santa Fe?

The ideal would be a combination of visitors; those who come for a day’s recreation, but also those from a distance, for the latter naturally will spend more time and money. To attract these individuals, Santa Fe can focus on promoting daily activities for visitors of different ages. Did you know that if we look at a map of the US, Santa Fe is

Green Fire Times • May 2013

How can a local population benefit from hosting tourists?

Tourism can dramatically improve the economic life of a community’s citizens. These opportunities can encourage New Mexicans to stay in NM—designing and creating products and services for the visitors. This income generation can help make it viable for people to build families and to preserve cultures and traditions. In the case of agritourism there is additional income that can be used in the off-season to help in the operation of a farm. There are also opportunities for the local youth to be creative in offering new products and services to the visitors. When youth begin participating in being hospitable to visitors, they learn to be gracious hosts and value what makes their community unique; therefore, they will be inclined to preserve their culture and heritage.

How can we avoid the negative impacts that tourism can have on a community?

The only way is to be prepared for the demands of visitors who expect high levels of customer service and sometimes have extravagant or inappropriate desires. The local population has an educational role, and those involved in tourist-oriented businesses must be trained in customer service and oriented to how to deal with the expectations of some visitors. We do not want visitors to be abusive to native artists. They are not going to a yard sale. They are coming to a sacred land with time-honored traditions and art. They are paying for goods and services that are unique in the world. continued on page 12

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Sustainable Tourism

EVERYDA Y GREEN

Effective Tourism Networks

Considerations for Tourism Planners Susan Guyette

egionalism sets the context for effective tourism. Since visitors tend to spend several days and look for a variety of engaging activities and amenities, a connecting perspective on the part of tourism providers is essential. Providing information—before a tourist’s arrival, during the visit and after departure—on how local resources are linked for the vacation experience contributes to a visitor’s comfort level. Through a true partnership, both rural and urban communities in a region realize a gain by providing opportunities for visitors to expand itineraries and spend more time and money. Additionally, linked networks of smallscale businesses have the strongest resilience and adaptability in changing economic times. When regional linkages constitute a journey and are seen as collaboration, a powerful tourism network is formed. A region is one context within which individual businesses may thrive. Unifying for planning purposes assists communities in developing complementary services. Managing tourism according to sustainable criteria becomes easier when tourism seasons are extended with a range of activities and visitation numbers are more evenly distributed. Cultural Tourism Cultural tourism, such as that found in New Mexico, is a particularly sensitive type of tourism. Culturally diverse communities in rural areas, as well as urban neighborhood communities, are struggling to maintain their traditions and community identity. These communities need real economic benefits to teach and continue their way of life, and this is largely achieved by referrals to specific businesses. The difference between viewing culture as an “attraction” versus maintaining a “way of life” may become a serious cultural rub. Culture is a way of life for traditional communities, not something to be used for profit. Seri-

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ous tourism issues arise out of this difference in perception. Understanding such sensitivities in rural and culturally diverse communities requires a realization of the wide range of impacts created when groups are considered an “interesting attraction” for referrals. Indigenous communities tend to be concerned about privacy impacts that prevent the practice of culture. Setting clear boundaries about dates for community closure reduces impacts. For example, Taos Pueblo in northern New Mexico, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site offering tours (www.taospueblo.com), closes its traditional plaza to visitors for one month during the winter to allow for private religious practice. The issues surrounding tourism differ from culture to culture. Rural Hispanic communities tend to be concerned with the problem of exposure to outsiders, who then may want to buy land and “move in,” pushing out traditional agrarian lifestyles.

Entrepreneurial Niches

The starting place for understanding a regional tourism system is to assess the offerings, gaps in services and niches for potential development. Does the existing tourism system represent a good balance of services and attractions? Or are services missing, causing visitors to leave at critical points in the day or to leave dissatisfied? If individually owned businesses complement nonprofit and government services, a solid foundation is created for future tourism development.

Businesses that complement each other within a region form a strong economic system. An effective planning process asks participants to look at both the economy of the region and their local economy. This analysis identifies the gaps, called business niches. The hub concept for development—or a primary visitor intake point providing referrals to smallscale businesses—encourages local residents to see the niches available for entrepreneurship and to develop small businesses providing services and products.

Visitor purchases plus local purchases hold the potential for a sustainable market. There are two markets to consider in tourism: the internal community and those outside of the community or region. Tourism may bring a large enough supplemental market to a small community to justify basic services such as gas stations, convenience stores, laundromats, grocery stores and clothing stores. Combining external and internal markets therefore can bring increased benefits to the sustainability of a community. Additionally, service-oriented businesses tend to generate the highest multiplier effects from tourism. Frequently, rural communities do not realize what treasures their local culture and local economy are in the visitor’s eye. These are a part of local everyday life. Yet, a satisfying experience to the visitor is the everyday, the

authentic. Assistance from outside of the community may be useful in pinpointing these unique local strengths.

Agritourism

As an example, bed-and-breakfast lodging operations offer potential for the rural farmhouse or empty nest family. Staying with a family gives personal connection to the area, an opportunity for local interpretation and guidance to other links in the tourism network. Farm stays present fascinating experiences for travelers, and hold the potential for generating enough additional income to sustain the farm. When information about the farm or a “U-Pick-Em” experience is provided, “value-added” is perceived with the lodging experience. Link farm stays, and a fascinating itinerary is created. In Europe, considerable governmental assistance to farm stays has resulted in less farmland lost to development, in addition to a linked referral system. We need similar resources in New Mexico.

Creating the Tourism Network

Urban areas are adept at distributing a broad range of information on activities and amenities, linking their offerings. This principle of cooperation realizes the value of choice, since visitors have a broad range of interests. Rather than seeing each business in competition with each other, urban businesses realize the importance of providing enough variety and price ranges to hold visitors for extra days. These are valuable lessons in tourism for rural communities. continued on page 32

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Is Sustainable Tourism Possible When There is Poverty and Unemployment? Maria Boccalandro

Answer: Yes it is, and we have proof.

Margarita is the largest island in the environment. That inforVenezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, mation could be shared e want to share a few examples situated off the northeastern coast in several languages with of how sustainable tourism is in the Caribbean Sea. Because it is a the help of the language being developed in Central and South tax-free port, the primary economic teachers and local govAmerica, because in many ways rural activities are tourism, fishing, conernment. This is an exNew Mexico has similar characterisstruction and commerce. El Tirano ample of a touristic clustics. New Mexico has beautiful natuis a traditional fishing village on the ter that came into focus ral environments, a rich and diverse isolated part of the island. Poverty and by creating an opportucultural heritage and a large volume of unemployment are the basic problems nity for the stakeholders tourists that visit the state’s major cithere. The Venezuelan Secreies. Even though these visitors spend tary of Tourism contracted money on products and services, semy husband and me to presvere socio-economic challenges for ent a series of workshops for the communities still exist. There is El Tirano’s community to poverty, school dropouts, petty crime identify new income opportuand lack of jobs for the youth, who nities for its citizens. In these end up leaving in order to be able to workshops the Fishermen’s support a family. So, the question is, Association saw an opporhow can tourism serve as an economic tunity to offer scuba diving development strategy for the local trips in partnership with a locommunity while preserving cultural cal diving school. Since many heritage and the natural environment? tourists are foreigners and need guided tours in different The solution is sustainable tourism languages, the local English Dugout canoes – Indigenous transportation for tourists at Canaima Park in Venezuela; that is committed to the triple bottom teachers, in collaboration with Windsurfing at El Yaque, Margarita Island line: people, planet and profit. It is no the municipal tourism office, longer enough to ask, “Will it make designed a basic course to teach fishto meet and share their expectations, from five major cities. In addition to money?” In order to start a business, ermen and scuba instructors how to needs and strengths, and discuss how water sports, campers were able to we must ask what the impact to the serve international tourists. They also they could offer products and services learn about the wildlife on the island people and to the environment will identified a need to educate visitors on to tourists. and how to preserve it. be as well. Here are some case studies ecological practices that protect the that illustrate the point: El Yaque, on the south of the island, Be it Isla Margarita or Santa Fe, the has constant ideal conditions for resources for sustainable tourism are windsurfing during six months of the already in place. Often what is necesWorld Tourism Organization Lauds Ecotourism year. This has made it a destination sary is education, training and develThe World Tourism Organization (www.UNWTO.org), a United Nations agency, for European tourists, especially from opment to put all the pieces together. is the leading international organization with a central role in promoting the deGermany. During those months the Along with the collection of pertivelopment of responsible and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global whole community works for the honent data, a series of process-oriented forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. Its tels and restaurants. When the wind workshops amongst all stakeholders membership includes 155 countries, seven territories, two permanent observers dies down, so does work; the hotels to identify the problems that must be and over 400 Affiliate Members. close their doors and people are laid addressed and the resources available Earlier this year the UNWTO supported a resolution sponsored by a record 105 off. In the community meetings we is crucial. The greatest success comes delegations, calling on member states to support ecotourism as a means to fight facilitated, a strategy was designed to when a large part of the community poverty. “The remarkable support that the resolution has received from all regions promote tourism from the main Venis involved in the development of the and across the development spectrum is a clear testimony that sustainable tourezuelan cities, as well as to engage the plan. This creates a sense of ownership ism has a vital role to play in a fairer and sustainable future for all,” said Secretarytourists already on the island during and a greater commitment to makGeneral of the UN World Tourism Organization, Taleb Rifai. the offseason. The local windsurfing ing things work. Each member of a school partnered with local bed-andcommunity has unique and important The resolution calls on nations to do more to support low-income communibreakfasts and offered a water sports contributions that can be indentified ties rich in natural resources to provide protection for those resources and to do summer camp for children. Because and used for the betterment of the more to promote them. It emphasizes that the environment and economic growth of the promotion by local tourism whole. through tourism “creates significant opportunities for the conservation, protecagencies to local tourists from other tion and sustainable use of biodiversity and of natural areas by encouraging local Another similarity with NM is that in parts of the island and Venezuelan citand indigenous communities in host countries and tourists alike to preserve and the south of Venezuela there are native ies, during the first year of operation respect the natural and cultural heritage.” Indians. The natural resources there are they had campers from Margarita and

continued on page 36

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Developing Sustainable Regional Tourism continued from page 8 In 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Santa Fe a UNESCO Creative City, the first city in the US to receive that designation. Visitors must respect and honor Santa Fe and the local communities. The first step to encourage this respect is for the local communities to value and respect themselves.

Can we begin to think outside the box? Can we develop a synergistic interdependent tourist cluster for the Santa Fe region?

Yes, we can. We need not only the commitment and engagement of travel agents and tour operators, we need the participation of the local government, educators, institutions, industry, food suppliers, property and maintenance suppliers, local retailers, healthcare and other services. And of course, we need the participation of the local community, many of whom may be part of the services offered to the visitor, and who may be a memorable part of the visitors’ experience. Many tourists want to meet and talk with real local folks, but don’t know how to do it. To support the tourism-based economy, the local population needs to generate the conditions that help make this interchange of cultural heritage possible. The encouragement of respect and appreciation from tourists helps preserve traditions and culture. In other words, doing the right things for the people, the planet and profit (economy) of the Santa Fe region is what it takes to become sustainable. As all of the community’s citizens should participate in a direct or indirect way in hosting the visitors, all should benefit from the revenue of tourism.

What other challenges does creating a Santa Fe tourist cluster have?

We all must change the way we have been thinking about tourism. Sustainable tourism means changing the business model of isolation to one of partnerships and changing the organizational culture of the institutions that regulate and promote tourism—from centralism to delegation. We need to recognize our influence in empowering local communities, as opposed to imposing our restrictions and control. At the end of the day, it means promoting new eco-tourism. We have to become comfortable with diversity and resist conforming to regulations and standards. We have to take higher risks, without blaming others for our lack of creativity and success.

We also have to change our mentality from quantity of products to quality of products and services.

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develop new attractions—activities and products that preserve and enhance the culture, heritage and unique environment of the region. The real question is: What is the cost of not doing all the above? How can Santa Fe’s total population of 68,000 people benefit from the 1.6 million visitors that come every year, while preserving its culture, heritage and unique environment? The answer is a comprehensive, sustainable tourism model that incorporates the farmers, the artists, the hotel and restaurant owners, the local authorities and public service providers. Many of these services and products exist, but there are many more that need to be invented, so Santa Fe and the region can welcome all types of visitors, not only the wealthy and older populations. Without losing its identity, a re-branding of Santa Fe must be conceived so that students, middleclass families, the handicapped and veterans can all have the opportunity of enjoying the magic that Santa Fe and northern New Mexico offer the world. i 1 “Tourism is an economic growth engine with particular focus at a regional level, but its national impact is also significant (Sharpley, 2002; Jackson et al., 2005). But, at a regional level this sector is presented as an essential tool in regional development and economic growth, believing to be one of the weapons to avoid desertification and regional economic stagnation, namely in the inner regions (Opperman, 1993). Given the great unanimity that clusters increase the competitiveness of a regional industry (Porter, 2002; Rocha, 2004) and given that tourism is a powerful instrument for regional development (Engelstoft et al., 2006), it is relevant and crucial to discuss the role of clusters in tourism.” Source: Regional Competitiveness of Tourism Cluster: A Conceptual Model Proposal (page 1) by João Ferreira and Cristina Estevão, University of Beira Interior (2009)

Maria Boccalandro, PhD is a sustainable urban planner, project manager and educator. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Maria married Daniel Mirabal, M.A in 1984 while both were studying urban planning at Simon Bolíivar University. Mirabal, an international consultant, was also born in Caracas; his family originally came from Spain. They moved to Dallas, Texas in 2007. Boccalandro and Mirabal run Arete Consulting Group, a firm that has designed sustainable development plans for local, national and international institutions and businesses that want to be guided by the “triple bottom line.” Email: maria@aretecg.com

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Education

Sustainable Tourism Workshop

The Carbon Economy Series Iginia Boccalandro

while impacting people, the environment and the revenue stream in a responsible way. The Sustainable Tourism workshop was also held in the interest of working with a model that can be a driver of economic and social development of rural/urban communities and businesses. Particular to the Santa Fe area and northern New Mexico is the tremendous amount of revenue that comes from tourism. But, tourism here fluctuates between high season and low season, making it hard to keep employees and to generate a stable income year-round. So what can be done to aggregate value over the long run?

Santa Fe is a showcase for many things, including art, culture and progressive ideas, such as sustainable living and local, organic food production. The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market is a perfect example of collaboration between farmers, businesses, the city and nonprofits, teaming up to produce a weekly cornucopia of fresh food, not to mention a great social experience. When people visit NM they have a chance to learn, experience and participate in a unique, rich milieu.

Maria Boccalandro, Daniel Mirabal

Carbon Economy Series workshops (eight this year) are based on “triplebottom-line” principles and practices designed to help the average homeowner, food gardener, farmer, rancher, landowner and landscape professional get more value from their practice—

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Ecotourism touches on the idea that we must reduce the negative impacts of the visitor on the place visited. This perspective is attractive to many people all over the world, particularly youth. When an industry like tourism commits to zero waste, the impact is enormous. Ecotourism is only the beginning however; we must go beyond ecotourism to sustainable tourism. About 1.6 million tourists come to Santa Fe each year, cross-pollinating ideas, customs and initiatives. A dynamic synthesis of innovation and creativity is one of the potential benefits of developing the area as a model of sustainable tourism. Some of the Sustainable Tourism workshop’s participants included: Glen, director of the Santa Fe chapter of the NM Green Chamber of Commerce (NMGCC), emphasized how

important the triple-bottom-line approach is in the development of green businesses. In association with the Santa Fe Watershed Association and other groups, his organization has been working with hotel managers to train employees to do their jobs in a more eco-friendly way—to rethink what is done with water, energy and waste materials. Maria, an educator from the farmers’ market with a degree in Environmental Science, wants to offer a tour to organic farms so that children can experience the importance of balance between development and nature. Sage and Stephanie, students from SFCC, expressed their interest in learning how they can contribute to the development of sustainable tourism so as to address the problems that tourism often brings into a city, such as traffic, pollution, abuse of alcohol/ drugs, etc. Lisa, a local landscape-business owner who has created edible gardens in million-dollar estates, wants to learn how her talent and experience can be used in conjunction with local organic farms to offer innovative products and services to visitors who, in many cases, may never have been on a farm. Alejandro, a language teacher and chef, wants to learn how his projects with troubled teens could be part of sustainable tourism, and how his young people can participate, thereby increasing their connection with the community. Poki, an urban organic farmer, shared his idea of putting together a bike trail linking his farm to other organic farm and garden projects so bike-riding tourists can experience a tour that is not only educational but also healthy and non-polluting.

cal families, it also goes a long way in building self-esteem and pride in a community’s tribal art and traditions. Michaela, a farmer with permaculture design training, wants to offer a quality bed & breakfast on her farm so that she can teach visitors how food can be grown organically, and how it is possible to create a balance between nature and farm activities, between the health of the land and the health of people. Xubi, a SFCC faculty member, shared his ideas of how alternative energy can be brought more fully into the economic sector by providing transportation with alternative fuels for ecologically minded tourists. Amanda, also a SFCC faculty member, touted the Energy Star collaboration the college is working on with the NMGCC and hotel operators. She pointed out the important role that educational institutions play, not only in training, but in research and development of indicators to measure the impact of tourism on local communities. i

hese articles by my sister Maria Boccalandro and her husband Daniel Mirabal were derived from a two-day Sustainable Tourism workshop held in January, 2013. Presented by the nonprofit Carbon Economy Series in partnership with Santa Fe Community College (SFCC), the workshop was opened by an introduction from Santa Fe Mayor David Coss, who spoke of the need to attract more visitors during the slower months, and of rebranding Santa Fe to highlight the natural beauty and health benefits of the area to attract a younger crowd.

Iginia Boccalandro is the director of the Carbon Economy Series. For more information, call 505.819.3828 or visit www. carboneconomyseries.com

Jeanne, a filmmaker, spoke of how she put together an educational program in Africa that helps communities offer products and services for safari tourists. The income from these visitors not only enriches the lives of lo-

May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

Green Fire Times â&#x20AC;˘ May 2013

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Community Development

Creative Santa Fe

Strengthening Santa Fe’s Creative Economy Laura Carpenter

n April of 2012, Creative Santa Fe (CrSF) hosted a workshop on creative and cultural tourism with special emphasis on the downtown Plaza. Tension arose when a member of a long-term Santa Fe family and a city councilor expressed strong conflicting convictions about whom the Plaza needed to serve. The long-term resident wanted Santa Fe to be the center of the town’s activities as it had been while she was growing up, and the city councilor emphasized the importance of tourism for Santa Fe’s economy. Both valid points. Then Eddie Friel, a visiting expert invited by CrSF to Santa Fe for the workshop, broke the tension. Born in Northern Ireland, Friel has spent more than 35 years in both the public and private sectors of the tourism industry in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. He is recognized as one of the key figures in transforming Glasgow, Scotland from a perceived decaying industrial city to a major tourist destination. As the first chief executive of Greater Glasgow Tourist Board, Friel developed the policies that helped transform Glasgow, once a world shipbuilding capital, into an arts and cultural center that has doubled its employment by shifting its focus from shipbuilding to tourism. Friel made such an impact on the local economy that he received designation as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, bestowed upon him in 2004 by Queen Elizabeth II for services to tourism in Scotland. Friel’s tension-breaker was the statement that cities needed to concentrate on making their communities places

that locals love. Tourists do not want to travel to see other tourists; they want to visit the spots that locals frequent. Everyone was in agreement. Friel spoke about the importance of pride within communities, and said that local pride can translate into making a city attractive for tourists. Creative Santa Fe’s mission is the strengthening of Santa Fe’s creative economy to enhance the quality of life for citizens and visitors through collaboration and innovation. CrSF is working to accomplish this by bringing together many of the great organizations and people that already exist in our community to solve complex problems and have fun in the process. One of CrSF’s major initiatives is the creation of an affordable live/work space for artists. CrSF has invited everyone to participate in the survey beginning on May 23 to determine what the center should contain. Visit www.creativesantafe.org or www. santafeacc.org for details. Another CrSF initiative is called Connect Santa Fe and works on two levels. One is a focus on infrastructure and the need for greater walkability in the downtown area, especially between the Railyard and the downtown Plaza. Scores of studies have proven that walkability is essential for vibrant community life and a sustainable economy. The distances in Santa Fe are short, but the sidewalks are often in disrepair, full of obstacles like telephone poles and fire hydrants—or the sidewalks themselves are simply missing. The city does its best, but the tax base in Santa Fe is not high enough to allow the city to get ahead of the problem. CrSF is working to bring

Creative Santa Fe workshop with Walter Hood

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attention to this issue and is endeavoring to develop public-private partnerships to work with the city. Santa Fe is one of the oldest cities in the United States, with a unique cultural heri- Creative Santa Fe director Cyndi Conn introduces Candy Chang tage and a unique built environment, but with a crumbling Renderings of possible walkability iminfrastructure and one of the most enprovements for the area between the dangered rivers in the country. CrSF Plaza and the Railyard will be featured believes there are potential funders for at FantaFe, in addition to detailed viSanta Fe outside the city if organizasuals showing the possibilities for the tions in our community collaborate on entire Santa Fe River Park (Parque projects and seek major grants for hodel Río), starting from Upper Canyon listic solutions. Road. The FantaSe name will continue to be used for a winter light/art/sciThe second focus of Connect Santa Fe ence/interactive/music festival starting is the mapping of Santa Fe’s social and in January 2014. economic networks—in effect, learning who is interested in working, in In sum, CrSF hopes to inspire creative what areas, and what they are seeking sustainable solutions for Santa Fe’s to accomplish. Despite the small size future development and believes that of our community, Santa Fe often has is the best way to attract tourists and several groups working on the same visitors to our wonderful community in problems while unaware of each other. the Land of Enchantment. i By mapping the networks, CrSF hopes Laura Carpenter is the creative director of Creto identify and bring organizations toative Santa Fe. 505.288.3539, info@creative gether. In addition, by collaborating on santaafe.org, http://creativesantafe.org/ marketing the excellence that exists in Santa Fe, our ability to attract tourists FantaSe Sponsors Avalon Trust and conferences will be enhanced. City of Santa Fe

FantaSe Celebration—June 15

Creative Santa Fe is coordinating an event call FantaSe on Saturday, June 15, 2013 in celebration of the completion of the first phase and re-opening of DeVargas Park. FantaSe will begin at 3:30 pm with skateboarders rolling to the park in advance of this year’s Rodeo Parade. The parade is taking a new route and stopping at the park to announce the upcoming Santa Fe Rodeo, parade participants and prizewinners. After the parade moves through, that block of DeVargas will be closed for the rest of the day and evening for celebrations that include skateboarding, seven bands, a sustainable fashion show, light shows, culinary treats and more, lasting until at least 10 pm. Currently there are almost 30 participating organizations (see sidebar).

New Mexico Arts Commission Partners ARTsmart Axle Contemporary August Muth and The Light Foundry Center for Contemporary Arts Cowgirl BBQ Currents New Media Festival David Grey and Marco Lukini Eldorado Hotel Hutton Broadcasting Lululemon Meow Wolf National Dance Institute New Mexico Arts Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Commission Pocket Watch Press Rodeo de Santa Fe Santa Fe Arts Commission Santa Fe Botanical Gardens Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce Santa Fe Community College Santa Fe Culinary Academy Santa Fe Opera SF Railyard Community Corp. Santa Fe Skate School SF University of Art and Design SITE Santa Fe Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Suby Bowden + Associates Surroundings Wade Wilson Art Warehouse 21

May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

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Santa Fe Creative Tourism

anta

Fe Creative Tourism,

a program of the city of Santa Fe Arts Commission, works with artists and arts businesses to develop and promote workshops that allow visitors to experience Santa Fe’s unique culture in a hands-on fashion.

The program was created as a result of Santa Fe’s 2005 appointment to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and builds upon the successful 2008 Santa Fe International Conference on Creative Tourism, a first-of-its-kind effort that brought together a global community of tourism professionals, creative thinkers and UNESCO Creative Cities representatives to consider a redefinition of the travel experience. Over 375 delegates, panelists and speakers participated in a mix of intellectual and participatory events in the fields of folk art, crafts, design, music, gastronomy and literature. There were 33 Creative Tourism Experiences led by more than 40 artists in and around Santa Fe. Throughout, the conference was focused on the notion of balancing authentic preservation with innovation and emphasizing “Next Practices” vs. “Best Practices.” Did You Know?

The tourism industry, one of Santa Fe’s largest industries and employers, represents over $620 million in economic activity. More than 7,400 Santa Fean’s jobs depend on tourism. • T he average number of visitors in Santa Fe is 1.6 million annually. These visitors generate approximately $5.4 million in lodgers tax each year and provide a significant contribution to gross receipts tax revenues as well.

After the Creative Tourism conference, the website www.santafe creativetourism.org was repurposed to facilitate direct connections between visitors and artists. Since fall 2009 Santa Fe Creative Tourism has been directly linked to over $120,000 in workshop sales and artwork sold for artists listed on the site. The initiative also offers business development education for artists through a series of free evening classes and oneon-one consultations. The consultations are offered to artists and artisans interested in developing art workshops to be listed on the website. Classes include instruction on free or inexpensive online marketing tools, and are presented using a combination of lectures and demonstrations. All classes are held from 6–7 pm at the Santa Fe Community Gallery, 201 West Marcy St. Upcoming classes include: May 7: Creative Approach to the Business of Marketing Art with Sara Eyestone May 14: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus: Harnessing Social Media May 21: Slide Show 2.0: Promoting Your Work with Digital Video using Apple iMovie June 4: Slide Show 2.0: Promoting Your Work with Digital Video using Windows Movie Maker i

Encaustic Painting with Teena Robinson Encaustic is a process of using melted beeswax mixed with Damar resin (for hardening) and pigments to create a very versatile medium. Papermaking Workshops with Jacqueline Mallegni Handmade paper is an ancient art form. It is the practice of transforming raw materials into something tangible and useful. The art of papermaking is impermanent, yet consistent, visceral yet practical—magical. Painting with Julie Claire on Upper Canyon Road Painting large-scale using basic brushes and acrylic paints, these transformative experiences help women and men find freedom from the inner critic, learn to trust their inner voice and renew their playful spirit. Learn to Spin! with Santa Fe Buffalo Designs This workshop will teach participants how to prepare and spin raw wool into warm, delightful and beautiful skeins of yarn, ready to knit or weave. History of handspinning and use of different fibers will be discussed. Emphasis will be on the history and use of Navajo Churro wool, which was brought here by Don Juan de Oñate in 1598. Jane Shoenfeld’s Art Adventures in the Southwest These personalized art adventures are geared to your skill level and schedule. The art classes and workshops focus on the beauty of the Southwest landscape, from canyon sunsets to adobe architecture. Stoneware with Green River Pottery An experienced teacher and full-time potter, Theo Helmstadter teaches wheelthrowing, hand-building, glaze formulation and application, and firing techniques for cone 10 reduction, a kiln firing process. Tinsmithing with Sharon Candelario Spend the day with a family of artists at the beautiful tranquil village of Chimayó at Medina’s Chile Shop and Gallery. Enjoy the sound of music, the smell of home cooking and the inspiration of traditional art.

• T he Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) staff works closely with tourismrelated enterprises to promote the city as a culturally and historically significant visitor and conference destination. • Conde Nast Traveler Magazine consistently rates Santa Fe in the top three tourist destinations in the US. Santa Fe has 4,600 rooms in hotels, motels, spas and bed and breakfast inns. • Santa Fe has more than 300 restaurants, 250 art galleries, 70 jewelry shops, 13 museums and a world-famous opera.

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May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

Santa Fe Watershed Association Brings True Green Change to the Hospitality Industry

ore than one million tourists visit Santa Fe each year. They are welcomed and are an important part of the economy. However, they put considerable pressure on environmental resources— particularly water. “Our hotels are such an important economic driver in Santa Fe, but due to the nature of the business, there’s tremendous waste associated with the day-today operations,” says Felicity Broennan, executive director of the Santa Fe Watershed Association (SFWA). In a proactive response to those impacts, the association applied for and was awarded an 18-month grant (through March 2014) from the US Environmental Protection

The program has focused on increasing water conservation efforts and the reduction of chemical pollutants entering the Santa Fe River watershed. The initiative reflects the Watershed Association’s mission of improving ecological and economic resilience in the region by creating cross-disciplinary partnerships. “We really weren’t sure how many businesses would join because it’s an intense commitment; so when we hit our target, we were thrilled.” said Broennan.

SFWA contracted with Hospitality Green LLC (HG), founder of the nationally recognized Green Concierge Certification® program, to provide the training, coaching and individualized technical assistance that leads to third-party green certification. HospitalityGreen’s work in the Catskills in New York State resulted in measured environmental and financial outcomes. There, participating businesses diverted at least 2,640 tons of waste to reuse or recycling, saved approximatel y $324,900 in the first year and increased occupancy Members of the working group include: by 20–25 percent. • Santa Fe Watershed Association Certifying over 20 • Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau properties helped • City of Santa Fe Environmental Services Division legitimately brand • Santa Fe Lodgers Association the Catskills as • New Mexico Lodging Association • Santa Fe Community College Sustainable Technologies Center a green destina• New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce, Santa Fe chapter tion, resulting in increased tour• Inn of the Governors ism and local jobs. • La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa Similar results • La Fonda on the Plaza • Santa Fe Water Conservation Division are expected in Santa Fe. Agency for a pilot project: the Santa Fe The initiative launched in November Green Lodging Initiative. “The $50,000 2012 with a diverse cross-section of plus plenty of in-kind matching gave us lodging businesses representing almost enough seed money so that the lodging 50 percent of Santa Fe downtown hobusinesses that signed up have been retel rooms and 37 percent of all rooms ceiving all of the training for free, which in Santa Fe: La Fonda on the Plaza, is a huge help, especially for the smaller La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa, ones,” Broennan said. Old Santa Fe Inn, Inn on the Alameda,

Green Fire Times • May 2013

Silver Saddle Motel, Eldorado Hotel and Spa, Santa Fe Sage Inn, Hotel Santa Fe, Inn of the Governors, Ten Thousand Waves, Inn at Santa Fe, Inn of the Five Graces, Fort Marcy Suites and Casa Cuma Bed and Breakfast. By adopting streamlined sustainable practices, these local businesses will save money, upgrade their facility to meet growing market expectations and increase their competitive advantage in the expanding green hospitality marketplace. It’s projected that the initiative will save almost six million gallons of water in the first year. The training began with each of the 14 enterprises forming a “Green Team” comprised of management, food-and-bev- Top: Green Lodging Initiative coordinator Bette erage and housekeeping staff Booth (standing) and participants at a training; Hosmembers. The teams learned pitalityGreen training materials; (l-r) La Fonda Hotel’s the basics of sustainable oper- Shawn Murphy, HG founder Evadne Giannini and SFWA Executive Director Felicity Broennan ational practices including the undertake third-party certification asuse of environmentally friendly cleaning sessments. Lessons learned will be shared, products, reducing energy- and water and the next steps will be defined during use, and managing waste and recyclables. a Green Lodging Forum in early 2014. The Green Teams conducted assessments of their facilities and are currently Ultimately these lodging providers will developing implementation plans. measure how their newly adopted sustainable practices have impacted the enHospitalityGreen encourages a transivironmental indicators—hard numbers tion approach and to first go after the measured as gallons of water conserved “low-hanging fruit.” The teams reported and reduced tons of toxic chemicals rethat after the first day’s training they had leased into the river and landfills—as well made simple but concrete changes, such as dollars saved in operational expenses. as placing their first order of recycled paper, thawing food in bowls of water rathAnother important part of the initiative’s er than under a running spigot, phasing success is the inter-sector working group out Styrofoam™ cups and moving toorganized to support and promote the wards digital reservation management effort. The working group serves as the rather than printed. think-and-do tank that is developing cross-marketing strategies, sharing best From April-July 2013, the initiative will management practices, creating the lonconduct bi-weekly webinars on specific ger-term vision for future projects and sustainable operations topics. In August, networking of ideas, talents, resources HospitalityGreen will provided individuand contacts. i al coaching and technical assistance and in November each of the businesses will

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Hotels Respond

to the

Green Tourist Market

Victoria Erhart

When the national economy tanked in 2008 and the tourists stayed home, Santa Fe’s hospitality and restaurant industry took a huge hit. The Santa Fe Visitors and Convention Bureau estimates that, in 2011 (the last year for which statistics are available), tourism brought in $350 million to the local economy. The hospitality industry employs almost 16 percent of the total county workforce. Santa Fe is particularly alluring to educated outdoor enthusiasts—visitors who seek meaningful experiences and who not only have green, but are green. Two hotels are especially aware of the growing green tourist market: the venerable La Fonda on the Plaza, at the intersection of the Camino Real and Old Santa Fe Trail since 1922, and the five-yearold Hilton Buffalo Thunder Resort and Spa on Highway 84/285, a 15-minute drive north of town. Each hotel has instituted a number of green initiatives, both in response to guest inquiries and as smart business practices. A couple of months ago La Fonda broke ground on one of the most extensive renovations ever to its guest rooms. The hotel intends to meet or exceed the 37 Hospitality Green certification standards in the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, with particular attention to reducing energy- and water consumption. Careful attention is also being given to the preservation of the hotel’s historic cultural assets. La Fonda remains open during the renovations. No staff has been laid off. The goal is to welcome visitors to Indian Market in August with newly designed guest rooms. Under the direction of Santa Fe LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified architect Barbara Felix, the rooms are being returned as much as possible to the original vision of architect John Gaw Meem and Harvey House designer Mary Jane Colter. Felix is noted for her sustainable and economically viable designs. Thermal-pane windows, blackout curtains and pre-set thermostats are being installed in the 100 rooms facing Water Street, along

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with, in some instances, energy-efficient French doors. The hotel’s heating, cooling, plumbing and communications systems are also being thoroughly modernized. With 395 rooms plus a spa and golf course, the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Resort, a joint venture between Hilton Hotels and the Pueblo of Pojoaque, is the largest resort hotel in northern NM. Much thought went into designing environmentally conscious infrastructure systems. Low-E windows conserve energy by reducing heating and cooling demands. Sierra Pacific Windows, a participant in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, constructed exterior doors throughout the hotel complex. (Sierra Pacific grows more wood than its harvests each year.) Water use or misuse is a contentious issue in our arid region. La Fonda is hooked to Santa Fe’s municipal water and sewer system. Buffalo Thunder is responsible for its own water and sewer systems. The resort built its own wastewater treatment facility that can recycle up to 500,000 gallons daily. This greywater irrigates the golf course. Buffalo Thunder operates the second-largest laundry facility in the state. Using a specially designed “tunnel washer,” the laundry recycles as much of 70 percent of its rinse water for laundry reuse. After reuse, this water is diverted into the greywater treatment system for additional use. The resort estimates it reuses 5 million gallons of rinse water annually. To help accomplish this, cleaning and laundry products that will not contaminate the greywater system are used. Buffalo Thunder has also installed dryers with special extractors to reduce both gas consumption and emissions by as much as 50 percent. Even for those facilities whose budgets don’t allow for building to LEED standards or extensively retrofitting existing infrastructure, both hotels serve as models for green initiatives on a smaller, cost-effective scale that, over time, generate substantial positive environmental impacts. La Fonda and Buffalo Thunder have installed lower-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, as well as low-flow toilets. Water savings per guest room per day average one bathtub of water. Visitors to northern NM often talk about the beautiful natural light that has inspired so many artists. With that

Buffalo Thunder Resort and Spa in mind, natural lighting has been restored to La Fonda’s famous La Plazuela restaurant. In the hotel’s offices, guest rooms and public areas, CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs have been installed, which use 75 percent less energy and last considerably longer than incandescent bulbs, allowing for savings in labor needed to replace burned-out bulbs. LCD TVs and electronic signage installed at La Fonda also require much less energy. La Fonda Hotel and Buffalo Thunder Resort are proud of their ties to the surrounding communities. The hotel kitchens are committed to buying as many regionally sourced menu items as possible. However, while there is increasing availability of locally grown products, many area producers tend to be smallscale and seasonal, and hotel restaurants deal in economies of scale. In 2012, the food, beverage and catering unit of La Fonda served approximately 250,000 meals. The hotels are looking forward to a more varied and dependable local food supply chain. Both hotels have expanded recycling programs in operational areas and guest rooms. During its renovation, La Fonda is committed to recycling as much of the construction materials as possible. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a major beneficiary of this effort. As part of the hotel’s regular operations, the recycling program extends to guest rooms, where there are small bins or recycle bags for plastic bottles, glass containers and aluminum cans. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a home computer for three hours, and recycling aluminum cans is

ocals may complain about the crowds, lack of downtown parking and of out-of-state drivers who insist on trying to navigate narrow Upper Canyon Road in huge SUVs, but Santa Fe is a tourist destination.

La Fonda on the Plaza 90 percent less energy-intensive than manufacturing new cans. Both hotels have reduced paper consumption by using digital receipts and email to communicate with guests and vendors. Paper recycling and shred bins are in offices and guest areas. Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 carbon-absorbing trees, 3,800 gallons of oil, 4000kw of energy and 7,000 gallons of water. Using scrap paper instead of purchasing $1,000 of new copy paper prevents the emission of 3,373 lbs. of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Switching to cloth napkins and tablecloths has also allowed the hotels to reduce paper consumption. La Fonda’s discarded sheets, towels, pillowcases and tablecloths are donated for reuse by local shelters or charitable groups. Some of Buffalo Thunder’s laundry and housekeeping discards are donated to the Espanola Valley Animal Shelter. Any business, regardless of size and age, can initiate or expand on these sorts of initiatives. There is no limit to the creative re-uses for common household or business items. We can all play a part by using less and re-using more. i Victoria Erhart, a freelance writer and wouldbe farmer in the Nambé Valley, teaches at UNM-Los Alamos and writes on topics related to spirituality, sustainable lifestyles and companion-animal welfare issues.

May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

People Do Care Where They Live!

Ray Powell, M.S., D.V.M. New Mexico State Land Commissioner

eople do care where they live. Because of this, the quality, health and accessibility of the natural world have a significant intrinsic and economic worth to local communities. Combined with the value of the natural services provided to a local community by the surrounding environment, we have a strong economic base that will help ensure a viable and vibrant local economy over generations.

tegrity of this special place. In addition, we will be looking for opportunities to leverage our State Trust Lands for ecotourism and agritourism. This collaborative effort will focus on protecting and enhancing the health of these special lands, creating new jobs and increasing the revenue for the local and state economy, while generating additional revenue for our public schools, hospitals, universities and other State Land Office beneficiaries. This past year the working State Trust Lands generated $653 million. This is about $850 that each of our families didn’t have to pay in additional taxes.

In New Mexico there is a long and proud tradition of being connected to the land. Our citizens take pride in their agricultural roots and their shared daily interactions with the natural world. Our Río Grande del sovereign tribal naNorte offers a tions and traditionprime opportunity al Hispanic comto bring together munities have been public and private connected to the entities to work land for hundreds with local entreof years, and their The Rio Grande near Embudo, NM preneurs to develop spiritual foundations businesses that benefit them, their are based on their connections to specommunities and the long-term health cial places where their families have of the land. Some of the potential opharvested crops, wildlife and the sacred portunities we are exploring in the Río water that has sustained them. More Grande del Norte area include phorecently, residents from around the tography, bird and wildlife watching, globe have been drawn to the beauty guided hikes, hunting and fishing opand grandeur of these special places portunities, rafting, horseback riding, and have settled here to raise their rock climbing, and partnering with our families and make their livelihoods. agricultural lessees for special handson agritourism opportunities. This is why we in New Mexico celebrate special locations like the Río This kind of ecotourism and agritourGrande del Norte in Taos County. ism effort is part of the One Health This beautiful and unique location initiative that I recently launched at was declared a national monument by the State Land Office. One Health President Obama in March, 2013. The is a program that recognizes that the boundaries of the new monument inhealth of animals, the environment clude about 45,000 acres of working and people are linked and uses these State Trust Land. interconnections to make sound land management decisions that sustain As New Mexico’s State Land Comthe quality of life for our local commissioner, I look forward to workmunities and provide real opportuniing collaboratively with the Bureau ties for our children’s futures. of Land Management (BLM), local communities and sovereign tribal The bottom line is: when we take care of nations to identify lands suitable for our lands, our lands take care of us. i exchange to protect the long-term in-

Green Fire Times • May 2013

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Arturo Sandoval

Truchas, Northern New Mexico

ast month the High Peaks Deep Roots (HPDR) Ecotourism Cooperative in Truchas, New Mexico launched its second season with a medicinal plant tour guided by curandera Sabinita Herrera. Now in her 80s and slowed a bit by various ailments, Herrera nevertheless was eager to share her knowledge of wild, locally grown herbs and plants used for centuries by Nuevo Mexicanos to heal illnesses, aches, cuts and bruises. An eager throng of 15 people crowded around her tiny shop, attached to her home on a high mesa in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Herrera learned about the healing power of herbs from her father, who in turn had learned from his mother. Among the many plants she uses are oshá, yerba del manso, Flor de Santa Rita and plumajillo.

guides teach about the Spanish names for peaks and valleys in the Pecos and tell stories of how their ancestors used wooden tools to carve acequias out of the mountains to water their fields. The guides, having taken numerous safety courses, have learned to use special equipment for winter tours, including snowshoes, shoe grips and other equipment to ensure their guests are safe while enjoying the landscape. The guides have also taken classes on birding, flora and other relevant topics. “HPDR was incorporated as a for-profit cooperative in 2011 by seven land grant herederos (inheritors), family members,” said HPDR President Sammy Córdova, Sr. “The overarching goal is to create economic benefits through the Cooperative Development Center of New Mexico’s (CODECE) Sustainable Communities Model.” According to Córdova, there are two revenue-generating areas: sustainable tourism and forest contracts. HPDR has identified two key markets: those who are part of the LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sus-

Sabinita Herrera, Truchas curandera

The ecotour also included the home of the nationally acclaimed artist Isabro Ortega. Under construction for 30 years, his home, with its detailed woodworking, is an incredible artistic work that was featured in The New York Times last winter. HPDR offers a full slate of halfday and full-day trips, and has several four-day, three-night horseback trips deep into the Pecos Wilderness already booked this season. HPDR

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tainability) demographic (from the 1.6 million annual visitors to Santa Fe), and Nuevo Mexicanos, primarily from Taos, Santa Fe and Albuquerque markets.

Special Events While the focus of HPDR’s ecotourism business plan is to create a sustainable base for the Outdoor Services Cooperative, an equally important objective is to benefit local community members and help create healthy, sustainable communities. Some of the events HPDR presents (or is planning to present) clearly have this second objective in mind: Storytelling Festival With the history of oral storytelling within the Native American and Hispano cultures, the HPDR initiative provides an ideal backdrop to promote the tradition as part of a storytelling festival that incorporates the area’s history. This event features local and professional storytellers and musicians. Community Potluck Storytelling Event This offers an open invitation to all community members to a night of potluck food and storytelling. People can share local stories about the colorful history of the Land Grant. This reminds people of their rich cultural roots and sometimes leads to discussions about the current forces of social change and how to meet these challenges. Matanza HPDR has prioritized having a monthly traditional cookout (matanza) from May through September. These traditional meals include a slow-cooked sheep or goat, Exploring Truchas side dishes like chicos and beans, and other fresh, organic produce. The co-op is considering a format of every third Sunday for the meal, plus an optional cultural

day on the prior Saturday to harvest vegetables and prepare the animal. A full slate of half-day and full-day trips for potential clients is then offered. Co-op members believe it is important to create a consistent schedule to establish a new destination to stimulate the hotels to recommend the Truchas initiatives to their guests. Local Wine and Beer Festival New Mexico is the oldest wine-growing region in the US. There are a multitude of wineries and microbreweries, and there is a long land-grant tradition of making local fruit wines—e.g. chokecherry wine. HPDR’s Outdoor Services Cooperative, in conjunction with the Farmers’ Cooperative, is investigating growing organic hops and barley to create its own organic microbrew. “We think a local beer and wine festival, a matanza and a full slate of half- and full-day trips will be extremely appealing,” Córdova said. Place-Based Alternate Reality and Truchas History Games Another proposed activity would use existing game platforms to create an interactive place-based game. Actual historical events, photographs and documentation would be woven into an engaging game. Participants would arrive at the cooperative and download the Truchas Game App to their smart phones. Then, based on strategically placed QR codes, they would go through a series of tasks and rewards. Ultimately, a winner would emerge at the end of the day. “The flexibility of this activity makes it feasible and attractive,” says Córdova. “Games can be set up with a ‘Farmville’ theme, history theme or nature-based theme. This technology could also assist local guides in interpretive walks and will also allow self-guided tours loaded with historical and current information.” continued on page

May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

High Peaks Deep Roots Cooperative Launches its Second Season

On Paseo de Peralta (next to Kakawa Chocolates)

Green Fire Times â&#x20AC;˘ May 2013

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Reflections on the Río Grande del Norte

Claire Tiwald and Allegra Huston

he wild and beautiful Río Grande del Norte, designated one of the nation’s first Wild and Scenic Rivers by act of Congress in 1968, officially became part of the Río Grande del Norte National Monument on March 25, 2013. Rising in the San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado, it runs through New Mexico into Texas, México and finally into the Gulf of México. Yet only 6 percent of the river crosses the Colorado state line.

A huge tourist industry thrives off the waters of the Río Grande—thrilling in places, mellow in others. Tourism is a $5.7-billion industry in New Mexico (according to the NM Water Resources Research Institute), and 66 percent of that comes from fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation. The world-famous Taos Box, a 16-mile stretch of river running through the rugged wilderness of a spectacular 800-foot-deep gorge, offers fantastic Class IV whitewater, bringing tourists from across the US, Latin America, Europe and beyond to northern NM. Sadly, they are often disappointed because the river is so drastically depleted, even during the spring snowmelt. During peak tourist season, July and August, the Taos Box is rarely runnable—an unnatural situation that dramatically impacts the tourist-driven economy of Taos County, one of the poorest counties in the nation.

“Water dries up in arid country, but controversy over it, never,” wrote Sam Bingham in The Last Ranch. Water levels in the Río Grande are determined according to a compact drawn up in the 1930s—which bears no relation to today’s economy, population centers or water use. The decade of the 2010s is bringing drought—caused by human-induced climate change, some say, or by millennial weather cycles. Whatever the reason, the fact is plain and harsh. There is less water to go around. The Río Grande is being sucked dry.

New Mexico river guides have had to be inventive. Guevara recalls another epiphany: the moment when he created a low-water funyak adventure in a remote section of the Río Grande Gorge called the Middle Box (upstream of the Taos Box), with no road access. The rapids there are much smaller and don’t require so much river flow. Funyaks could be carried down the trail on horseback or on specially rigged bicycles—an idea taken from the tactics of the Viet Cong, who transported rocket launchers across similarly rugged terrain in this fashion. “There I was,” Guevara says, “a macho river guide, stuck with little boats and lower water and smaller rapids. But this part of the canyon is so isolated, so pristine, so beautiful. The power and magic of this is just as great as the big stuff. It’s just a different kind of adventure.”

Coming into Souse Hole, the last rapid of the Racecourse

Cisco Guevara, founder and president of Los Ríos River Runners, NM’s oldest and largest rafting company, recalls the time he sprained his knee swimming Power Line Falls, the steepest drop in the Taos Box. “We realized that with the water not getting as high as it used to get, we would have to run lower water levels if we wanted to stay in business. So we perfected some pretty daring moves. At the top of Power Line, at low water, a little rock pokes out at the very lip of the falls. We’d park the boat on it and have the people scramble out and huddle together on a larger flat rock while the guide dragged the boat over the obstacle, then anchored it by sitting directly over the rock. The people would jump back in, and they’d bounce the boat off the rock and shoot off down the cascade. Then plastic boats became popular because they slid so easily over the rocks. The first time I took a plastic boat, I had to do this move, but the boat didn’t stick. I yelled to the people to jump—two did and two didn’t. So now the boat was unbalanced and we flipped and swam the falls, getting pummeled and pounded on the way down. I was on crutches for weeks, though I did throw them away for a night to dance at the party for my son’s christening.”

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Laws governing the use of Río Grande water date back to 1906, when a treaty between the US and México made Río Grande river flow an international issue. The Río Grande Compact, an agreement between Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, was ratified in 1938. Favoring Englishspeaking areas over Spanishspeaking and Native-populated areas, and driven primarily by agricultural imperatives, the compact from its inception took no account of northern NM; the Río Grande, at the bottom of its spectacular gorge, was unusable for agriculture there and therefore its waters were deemed irRafts launching at Quartzite relevant. For 27 years Colorado ignored the compact, until finally the Supreme Court ordered Colorado to deliver the agreed amount of water to NM. Unwilling to allow the Río Grande to flow through the San Luís Valley and away south across the border, Colorado chose to comply by drilling a hole through the Continental Divide, to bring

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May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

At the time of writing, 94 percent of the Río Grande goes to irrigate crops in the fertile San Luís Valley of southern Colorado, an area of over 600,000 acres—the size of Rhode Island. The primary crop is hay, much of which is trucked south, on roads parallel to the Río Grande, to dairy farms in southern NM. The dairy industry is one of the most heavily subsidized industries in the US, and it flourishes in areas near the Mexican border due mainly to cheap labor and lax regulations. In fact, one of the world’s largest cheese factories is located in Clovis, NM.

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Rising to Meet the Dawn Victoria Erhart

ew Mexico’s Albuquerque International Balloon Festival is known around the world. Another, lesser-known opportunity is the almost silent experience of ballooning over the canyons and arroyos north of Española. Floating across a landscape absent of human habitation, separated by the thinnest of membranes from the birds, rabbits and coyotes witnessing the flight, is a meaningful and memorable experience. Ballooning was invented in the 18th century. Johnny Lewis, owner of Santa Fe Balloons, has been around since the beginnings of modern recreational ballooning in the mid-1960s, and has taken people over the graced landscape of northern New Mexico for many years. Traveling at a stately 7-8 mph, balloon riders take in incomparable views and gain appreciation for the austere and fragile beauty of the high desert without leaving a single footprint. Hot-air ballooning is environmentally friendly and about 10 percent the cost of keeping a helium balloon afloat. Johnny has certainly progressed from his simple, small homemade balloons in the 1960s to the $65,000 rigs he flies today. The balloon itself weighs 300 pounds. When fully inflated it expands to 120,000 cubic feet, as tall as a 9-story building. It is first laid out on the ground and filled with air, using large fans run off a portable generator. Once it is sufficiently inflated, a propane burner attached to the top of the gondola basket heats the air and allows the riders to ascend and stay afloat. Each 90-minute trip requires a load of 50 gallons of propane in the gondola tanks, with the FAA-mandatory one-third load of fuel remaining upon landing. Johnny considers himself more than just a balloon jockey. As he sees it, his job is “to make people’s wishes come true using a balloon.” He tells the story of taking a blind teenaged girl up for a ride. In order to give her the sense of flight, he deliberately elevated and sank the balloon much faster than on a normal flight and brushed the gondola against vegetation near the ground so she could hear and feel the movements. Once back on the ground, Johnny asked her what else he could do to make her day special. At sixteen, the girl’s friends were learning to drive. Not an option for her. Yet she told Johnny, “I want to drive.” Looking around at the unused dirt road where the chase truck was parked, surrounded by acres of scrub vegetation and gullies, he thought, “What’s to hurt?” So with the girl in the driver’s seat and Johnny riding shotgun, off they drove through gullies and over rocks, whooping and honking the horn. Circling the truck back around to her waiting parents, Johnny ducked out of sight. The girl turned her face towards her parents and waved her arm outside the driver’s window as they drove past. Her proud papa took her picture. Her mother cried. Clearly, balloon rides give rise to increased imagination. Johnny and Santa Fe Balloons fly from May through October (weather and wind conditions permitting). Winds are calmest at sunrise, so riders need to be at the launch site to meet the dawn. Additional information is available from the company’s website: www.SantaFeBalloons.com or by phone: 505.699.7555. i Johnny Lewis of Santa Fe Balloons Victoria Erhart, a freelance writer and would-be farmer in the Nambé Valley, writes on topics pertaining to spirituality, sustainable lifestyles and companion animal welfare issues. She teaches business technology courses at UNM–Los Alamos.

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NEWSBITEs Albuquerque Makes Fodor’s List of Top 25 Places to Go

Fodor’s Travel has named Albuquerque among the Top 25 Places to Go in 2013. Fodor’s editors chose the city as a recommended travel destination because of its high value for visitors. The editors say the city is an affordable getaway for nature lovers and families. Fodor’s spotlights the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the ABQ BioPark and two local lodging properties—Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, and the Hotel Andaluz. Fodor’s also mentions the Luminaria Tour at the holidays as a special time to visit. Albuquerque’s visibility on the AMC show “Breaking Bad” has also helped elevate the city’s travel profile. In selecting the cities, Fodor’s senior editorial team began with an initial list of 75 global travel spots, and after heated internal debate, narrowed them down to the final 25 locales on the Go List. To read Fodor’s story, visit http://www.fodors. com/go-list/2013/

Albuquerque is Pet-Friendly for Travelers

The travel booking site Priceline.com has named Albuquerque as America’s best city for visitors traveling with pets. The top-10 list is based on the number of petfriendly hotels, off-leash dog parks per hundred-thousand residents and the city’s walkability. Portland, Ore. was ranked No. 2, followed by Tucson, Ariz., Tampa, Fla., Indianapolis, Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas.

Southwest Odyssey Trails

A Santa Fe-based regional geotourism company— Southwest Odyssey Trails— was launched last year. The company’s director, Peter Hughes, and his staff offer in-depth introductions to the region. The company conducts day excursions and multi-day expeditions on designated routes year-round in four-wheel drive vehicles, each escorted by a professional guide. The outings focus on the history, arts, culture and landscapes. The company also hosts travel photography workshops and other customized trips between Santa Fe and Las Vegas, Nev. A typical day might include a visit to a local Pueblo and lunch in the home of an accomplished potter, jeweler or other artist; a visit to an agricultural site; cruising back roads; or stops at historic sites. Southwest Odyssey Trails has a number of tourism industry partners and providers. For more information, call 855.297.5673 or visit www. southwestodyssey.coms

Chama River Adventure: Writing Down the River

Ghost Ranch is presenting a weeklong workshop, June 17-23, which offers a chance to explore the Chama River on many different levels. Expert river outfitter, guide and naturalist Steve Harris will assist participants in discovering the Chama through being on the river and by thinking about what the river means to the region. The course will include journaling, sketching and/or photographic explorations. Harris has devoted himself to both the history and natural history of the rivers of the Southwest. He has served as a river- and flood-rescue instructor for various local, state and federal agencies, and works with Far Flung Adventures (www. farflung.com), a NM raft and kayak outfitter. For over 55 years Ghost Ranch has offered educational programs on diverse topics such as the arts, sustainability, spiritual growth and culture. It began in 1955 when Arthur and Phoebe Pack gifted Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú, NM to the Presbyterian Church. Ever since, Ghost Ranch’s mission has been grounded in providing educational programs, reverence to nature and hospitality to people of all faiths. For more information, call 505.685.4333, ext. 4105, email lindas@ghostranch.org or visit www.ghostranch.org

Seven Directions Tours: The Land, its People and its History

Seven Directions Cultural and Sustainable Tours has launched “Adventures with an Expert and Back Roads Discoveries,” one-half to three-day eco- and cultural adventures that offer opportunities to visit unique, pristine and culturally rich locations of New Mexico and the Southwest. The tours are led by native New Mexicans or long-time residents who are highly knowledgeable of the land, archaeology, wildlife and the natural processes that have shaped the Southwest. Locations include the recently designated El Río Grande del Norte National Monument, wilderness areas of the state, cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon and the historic El Morro, as well as a variety of agritourism sites. For information call 877.992.6128, email info@sevendirections.net or visit http://www.sevendirections.net/english/adventures-expert.html

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Green Fire Times is also available at many locations in the metropolitan Albuquerque / Río Rancho area! For the location nearest you, call Nick García at 505-304-2638

Jim Kentch, Lawyer 215 W. San Francisco Street # 202-C Santa Fe, NM 87501-2164 505-660-9160 jimkentchlawyer@gmail.com www.JimKentchLawyer.com

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Agritourism

New Mexico

Alice Loy

griculture has always been a precursor to culture; the soils, topography and precipitation of a region have long anchored the seasonal traditions and flavors of a region’s people. Historically, we were grounded, culturally, socially, communally, in the soils of our places. Today, having mostly commoditized our food, we now find ourselves unmoored: we are free to buy oranges in August and tomatoes in January. We can purchase kiwis from New Zealand and beef from China. Grocery store shelves across the country are alike; sameness has come to dominate our agriculture. And increasingly, we yearn for that which is unique— the places, people and stories that surprise and delight us.

that creates adventures for visitors seeking authentic experiences in northern NM. Four sites were visited: Purple Adobe Lavender Farm (www.purpleadobe lavenderfarm.com),The Feasting Place (www.thefeastingplace.com),CentinelaTraditional Arts (www.chimayoweavers.com), and Estrella del Norte Vineyard (www. estrelladelnortevineyard.com). The tour provided a sampling of what tourists can experience in NM and generated ideas about partnerships and market opportunities.

Being that food is one of the most accessible traditions of any region, travelers are drawn to regional cuisine as a doorway into the cultural traditions of a place. Visitors to New Mexico seek out and delight in our green chile, crisp apples and blue corn. And as tourists discover the stories behind the flavors on a plate, farmers in our state are answering the call to host people on their lands. Farm dinners and cooking classes are just the top of the agritourism iceberg. Agritourism is growing by leaps and bounds. According to national agritourism expert Jane Eckert, “Agritourism is the crossroads of tourism and agriculture: when the public visits working farms, ranches or wineries to buy products, enjoy entertainment, participate in activities, shop in a country store, eat a meal or make overnight stays.” The most recent USDA Census (2007) reports 23,350 farms offering agritourism and outdoor activities, totaling $566 million in annual revenues for farms. This number is expected to grow as the heritage- and culture tourism market expands. On average, heritage and cultural travelers spend 30 percent more and travel five days instead of three. This means that people who are likely to enjoy agritourism activities are also more likely to spend more. Combining these data with the increase in travel by car suggests that agritourism will continue to prove a viable strategy for rural and urban communities determined to maintain their agricultural heritage. States vary in their agritourism activities, policies and levels of support. However, states are becoming more organized and more competitive in this emerging market. In several states, departments of agriculture and tourism are collaborating to provide funding and policy support to agritourism operators. Colorado passed C.R.S. 38-13-116.7 in 2011, allocating $300,000 annually to support agritourism; Oklahoma has enacted legislation approving an Agritourism Revolving Fund. States are passing legislation that define agritourism operations, set appropriate liability limits for operators and improve road signage. Overall, 26 states have passed agritourism legislation that will strengthen their competitiveness in the marketplace. New Mexico is not one of these states, yet. The Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship (GCCE), the MRCOG AgCollaborative, Bernalillo County, USDA and RDC/REDI have partnered to build a core group of agritourism sites that will attract people to north and central NM. Our partnership aims to 1) build economic opportunities that align with our cultural values, 2) support local food production, and 3) increase revenue opportunities for farmers. The project first worked to reach out to farmers, producers and organizations engaged in or interested in agritourism. Over the past year we have spent over 3,000 hours on farms, at farmers’ markets, and talking with organizations supporting farmers. GCCE has visited over 50 farm and/or market sites along the Río Grande Valley, from Taos to Las Cruces. To gain an in-depth understanding of the needs of growers and market venues we conducted outreach, surveys and research into current national agritourism trends and data. We hosted a FAM (familiarization) Tour to engage local tourism and policy leaders in a realistic agritourism tour. The daylong trip was hosted by Santa Fe Walkabouts (www.santafewalkabouts.com), a top-rated walking-tour company

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FAM TOUR – The Purple Adobe Lavender Farm in Abiquiú

The questionnaire we sent out to farmers, producers and others provided a sense of both the current activities available on farms and the opportunities for new agritourism enterprises. 160 people responded. They fell into self-selecting categories: • 63 respondents = “I am a farmer/rancher and/or I produce goods with agricultural products.” • 19 = “I work for a market venue, farmers’ market, restaurant, winery, CSA, Co-op, other.” • 78 = “I work with an agency or organization that supports farmers and food businesses, or I’m an individual supporter.” Of these Farmer/Rancher/Producer groups, 33 currently offer agritourism activities, while 22 more would like to offer agritourism on their farm or ranch. The wide array of experiences for tourists ranges from outdoor activities to community engagement to traditional culture. Here is a sampling: • Explore progressive orchard practices • See radical sustainability and subsistence horticulture • Tour a cattle ranch • Visit American buffalo and Himalayan yak herds • Volunteer at “farm-for-food bank” • Purchase heritage poultry, feather crafts • View 500 varieties of iris • Discover 85 historic fig tree types • Walk in sunflower fields • Eat fresh chile at festivals • Join planting parties in the spring • Taste a wide variety of unique fruit • Milk a goat • Grind blue corn • Canning and jam-making • Community acequia activities • Rent a casita on a farm • Eat authentic traditional Pueblo food • Feel community cheer at Farmers’ Markets continued on page

Agritourism sites in New Mexico

May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

2885 Trades West Road (off Siler) Santa Fe, NM 87505

910

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Taos Cultural Farm Visits

Ursula Beck

here is no doubt that the experience of living in northern New Mexico is unique and is of interest to visitors from all over the world. In 2007 a diverse group of neighbors— small farmers, ranchers and cultural entrepreneurs—got together and formed an association: Taos Cultural Farm Visits (TCFV). Their intent was to offer multi-dimensional immersion experiences for visitors who are sincerely interested in the history and ways of life of northern NM. The visitors are treated as guests, not merely tourists.

While TCFV honors the individuality of its members, the group also wants to take advantage of their synergy to accomplish three goals: marketing, sharing and legalizing.

TCFV has since evolved into a consortium with over 30 members—all land-based farmers with at least three acres under cultivation. They do not simply offer agritourism, which sometimes mostly emphasizes products; TCFV provides a multi-generational view of farming with a focus on culture and deep respect for the land.

Northern New Mexico agri-tour

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An Arabian horse with a one-month-old Mammoth Donkey colt during a children’s farm visit

a large garden to pick fresh produce. Their tour culminated at a neighbor’s kitchen, where the produce was used in a cooking class, ending in a sunset

tive changes the group thinks would be beneficial to this sort of initiative. Below are some of the activities and experiences TCFV is currently offering. New activities are added each year. The group says members have as much fun thinking up and offering the activities as their guests do experiencing them. TCFV’s commitment to each other as a group spills over into a joy of sharing with their guests. Cultural Farm Stays: Beautiful landscapes and traditional farms attract visitors to come and stay for a week with a local family.

For the farmers, opening their farms to visitors creates a “new crop,” an additional source of income. TCFV’s website allows members to place a description of their site, the activities they offer and contact information. Thus, each member can offer what suits his or her particular situation. Viewers can choose what interests them and contact the farm directly. The farmers set their own prices and collect their own revenue. None of the money goes to TCFV. It has remained an important benchmark for the group that it is structured as a “bottom-up” organization run by the farmers themselves rather than by someone who is neither from the area nor an active farmer.

• Sharing has become an essential benefit for the group’s members, who quickly found that there is much to learn from each other, such as: when to plant, who has extra chickens, which garden had a good crop this year, whose mare is due to foal in time for

• Marketing a farm or ranch as a site for visitors is simply beyond the means and skill-set of most of the farmers. Being able to place ads in national publications as a group and pay for memberships in organizations such as Farm Stays US, International Agritourism and WWOOF-USA (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) benefits all of TCFV’s members.

Acequias: Tours of New Mexico’s unique acequia heritage. Hallie Rane, from California, enjoys the Río Grande where two rivers meet. Visitors are often delighted by this experience in the high desert of northern New Mexico.

a group of photographers, and much more. As a result, three years ago they started offering visitors opportunities to see more than one site. For example, last year a group from Texas was easily coordinated to visit three sites tailored to their interests. First they walked along an acequia at a vineyard. Then they strolled across a hayfield to a second site with

feast in a meadow. What fun! By having each site offer what was unique and authentic to their farm and putting it together in a package, TCFV was able to offer its guests an inimitable experience. • TCFV makes sure that all of the enterprises are operating legally and safely. The group’s status as a nonprofit organization is in process. Regulations for hosting visitors can be a complex labyrinth. Some of TCFV’s members are actively researching the ins-andouts to share with everyone. A group of members has even formed a committee to contact officials in order to make suggestions concerning legisla-

Farm-to-Frame: This is an opportunity for artists to experience first-hand where their materials come from. For example, fiber artists can visit a working sheep ranch, see the unique Churro breed, purchase pelts and then enjoy a traditional feast. Potters can dig their own clay and fire their finished work in a traditional dung pit. Children’s Camp: This weeklong experience introduces children to the source of their food. Peas do come from pods, and potatoes live underground, awaiting small hands to harvest them. There are cows to milk and eggs to gather. It culminates with a bonfire feast and “some-mores.” Equine Tourism: Horse-riding enthusiasts seek beautiful places to bring continued on page

May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

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The Earth Chronicles Project

An Intersection between Art, Environment and Culture Fran Hardy

y work as an artist has always been about the magic and mystery of the natural world. I have felt that important sustaining influence throughout my childhood. The last four years of challenging economic times, and watching places in the natural world that I have loved changing beyond recognition, have made me want to find a way to speak up about what we can do creatively to preserve ecology and culture. I have collaborated with my husband, filmmaker Bob Demboski, to create documentaries. The Earth Chronicles Project has taken us on a challenging, collaborative and rewarding trajectory into the worlds of environmental artists, people and groups that work within the realms of art, ecological sustainability and cultural preservation. In a world where there is a barrage of bad news, we focus on people and groups who are finding a way to make a difference in their world, instead of being overwhelmed by the enormity of the task at hand. Our aim is to inspire others to think about what they can do to preserve art, ecology and culture and to show how intimately intertwined they are. Our Earth Chronicles Project, The Artist’s Process: New Mexico, takes the viewer across the state to visit fascinating people and places that make NM’s art, ecology and cultures unique. We received a grant from the New Mexico Arts Council. The project was also made

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possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts and private donations. The documentary (l-r) Filmmaker Bob Demboski and Fran Hardy prepare to interfeatures the work view Mark Winter at Toadlena Trading Post of artists across photographer who has brought attention the state, who reveal what NM’s cultures to the plight of ancient junipers in the and environment mean to them. It inCejita Blanca badlands. My own art focludes Toadlena Trading Post and the cuses on the native plants and trees of the Navajo weavers of the Two Grey Hills places we visit in the documentaries. i region; The Nature Conservancy’s Gila and Mimbres Riparian Preserves; Irvin To learn more about the Earth Chronicles Trujillo, Chimayó/Río Grande weaver Project and the filmmakers, visit: http://www. earthchroniclesproject.com. To follow their travand NEA National Heritage Fellow; els and the process of creating the documentary Bill Gilbert, environmental artist, Lanand exhibition, as well as to get in-depth innan Endowed Chair and founder of the formation about the people and places in the Land Arts of the American West defilm, visit: http://www.earthchroniclesproject. partment at University of New Mexico; blogspot.com. For more on Fran Hardy and her Catherine Harris, artist and landscape work, go to http://www.franhardy.com architect, faculty of UNM Art and EcolThe Earth Chronicles Project ogy program; Lauren Camp, fiber artdocumentary and accompanying ist and poet; Rulan Tangen, founder exhibition will be at the Santa Fe of Dancing Earth Intertribal Dance Art Institute (1600 St. Michael’s Company; Stacey Kay Neff, founder and Drive) through May 17, 9 am-5 pm. In collaboration with the New executive director of the Experimental Mexico Nature Conservancy, the Glass Workshop; Judith Phillips, writer still-in-progress documentary and landscape designer who specializes will be screened on May 13th at in drought tolerance and xeriscaping; 6pm. For more information, call Rourke McDermott, landscape archi505.424.5050, email info@sfai.org tect at the Valles Caldera National Preor visit sfaiblog.org serve; and Michael Richie, journalist and

May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

Everyday Green continued from page 32 Extending length-of-stay is a focal concept in tourism, since visitors staying longer tend to spend more money in a local economy. When the stay is not only longer but also engaging, these visitors will recommend the trip to their friends and relatives. Word-of-mouth is the most effective and the least expensive way to market in the tourism industry. Where are the largest economic benefits? The providers of lodging and food service garner the larger share of tourism dollars. For this reason, moving toward the development of small-scale or appropriate-scale lodging and food service keeps the income from tourism local. Some traditional communities (such as Picurís Pueblo) have made the decision to keep lodging separate from the community (as with the Hotel Santa Fe) to minimize cultural privacy impacts. Tradeoffs concern economic gain versus maximum cultural privacy. Carefully considered, the solution determines the balance between the two, fitting the comfort level of the community. One means of extending visitors’ stays is to provide locally unique lodging and food service. Visitors need to have food service available when hungry. Otherwise they leave a community by mid-day and spend elsewhere on shopping and activities where food service is located— commonly where they lodge. Do rural

communities then lose? A great deal, but not entirely, for services lacking locally but present regionally hold the visitor in the region— offering the potential of a pleasant vacation and a repeat visit. For referrals from urban areas to occur effectively, rural communities must first identify their businesses—with detailed information available in a brochure or visitor guide. The principle is basic: visitors must be able to find businesses easily to be a customer. Expenditure levels tend to be planned ahead of the visit, targeting known businesses. Urgent situations exist in NM, where geographic and/or cultural survival depends upon job creation. For example, tourism projects may result in the jobs created by renovation of historic properties, conservation of fragile ecosystems and protection of sacred places. Informed partnerships support sustainable benefits.

Sustainable Tourism Development

For rural and traditional communities, economic development cannot be quantified in dollars alone. Paradoxically, the shift that must occur for NM’s traditional communities to benefit in regional tourism is away from the profit motive, and toward the community motive. This does not imply a lack of profits or jobs—only that profit is not the driving

Agritourism continued from page 27

Currently, the majority of agritourism visitors in the region come from locales within our own state. This likely reflects the fact that the majority of farmers/ growers/producers market themselves through local farmers’ markets. This means there is lots of room for us to grow into agritourism opportunities! Advertising and marketing campaigns that target visitors from outside the region will likely increase the number of tourists visiting our sites from neighboring states and beyond the Southwest. Advertising in Southwest-region food and wine publications, development of Google and Facebook ads and implementation of a geomapping-based application or website is essential to reach beyond our current market to tourists passionate about food and farms, authentic experiences and regional cultures. Over the last three months, GCCE has provided training and technical assistance to 25 farmers and producers, built a Core Mentors Group with outstanding agritourism entrepreneurs providing support and advice to emerging agritourism entrepreneurs; and created online marketing activities to promote agritourism destinations in our region. Support Farmers Need Most

Green Fire Times • May 2013

To become a customer, visitors must be able to f ind businesses easily.

factor in tourism at the expense of culture, environment and community cohesion. Small-scale development carries less financial risk. The lower the capital investment needs—and the stronger reliance on “cultural capital” as knowledge of working within the local ecosystem and with cultural skills—the greater resilience the enterprise is likely to have in economic and seasonal fluctuation. Linking regionally for collaboration strengthens the shift. When a development project is envisioned as a hub, connected regionally to a broad range of rural and culturally diverse communities, the economic impacts will be far-reaching. A community’s enterprises will benefit overall from the interest generated by participation, and a broader range of fascinating, handmade or locally grown goods for sale. The notion of full-time, largeenterprise employment in relation to quality-of-life is fast fading, compared to the recognition that small-scale, sustainable development will have resilience and be adaptable to changing economic conditions.

Wisdom is the time-tested, community-accumulated and shared-value insightfulness that has maintained a community lifeway over many generations. Knowledge, in contrast, is a specific skill set learned in the immediate timeframe.

If not imbedded in cultural values, continuity of the practice is not likely. Bridging the gap between knowledge and wisdom requires understanding the underlying values of a community and traditional ways of assessing current conditions, making decisions, and involving a whole community for moving forward. This is the sustainable development process needed to retain and support traditional NM cultures. Has NM tourism seen its peak? Preserving local, rural cultures is central to broadening visitor experience, the key to repeat visitation. Ironically, if small-scale, sustainable methods are not increased, the very traditions that now draw visitors to New Mexico will be eroded. i Susan Guyette, Ph.D. is Métis (Micmac Indian and Acadian French) and a planne r specializing in New Mexico cultural tourism, cultural centers, museums and native foods for the past 27 years. She is the author of Sustainable Cultural Tourism: SmallScale Solutions; Planning for Balanced Development: A Guide for Native American and Rural Communities; co-author of Zen Birding: Connect in Nature, and the author of several texts for Native American Studies. www.susanguyette.com

Recommendations to Support Agritourism:

1. New Mexico should create an online marketing initiative to reach tourists through targeted advertising in food and culture publications; 2. New Mexico’s state departments of Tourism and Agriculture should increase their investments into outreach, training and mentoring for agritourism entrepreneurs; 3. Regional leaders should form an Agritourism Leadership Group to provide guidance and vision to the state decision-makers and entrepreneurs; 4. Research should be conducted to explore the best strategies and returnon-investment for agritourism ventures in NM; 5. Local policy leaders should become more informed about importance of agritourism so they can support these businesses in their region or district; 6. O ur region’s marketing approach should be aligned and regional differences be highlighted through targeted advertising to market segments; 7. Farmers and producers should collaborate to shape strategic compilations of products in given regions instead of competing with one another. For more information, contact Selena Marroquín at selena@ culturalentrepreneur.org i Alice Loy is the Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship’s director of programs. The GCCE is a nonprofit organization based in Santa Fe that is dedicated to supporting cultural entrepreneurs. For more information, visit www.culturalentrepreneur.org

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May 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ GreenFireTimes

JAIN STUDY CIRCULAR THE JAIN STUDY CIRCULAR HAS BEEN POSTED AT WWW.JAINSTUDY.ORG.

Please go our website and study the articles presented in the new issue. We welcome your comments and suggestions.

Green Fire Times â&#x20AC;˘ May 2013

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Taos Cultural Farm

Appointments in the comfort of your own home. Dr. Audrey Shannon, DVM, has training in both Western veterinary medicine and in traditional Chinese veterinary medicine. Her integrated holistic approach focuses on acupuncture and acupressure, with nutritional and herbal therapy to ensure your animal’s optimal health and well-being. Treatment is available for dogs, cats, and horses.

www.animalacupuncturevet.com

505.820.2617

their horses on vacations. Riders can stay with their horse and ride in the surrounding mountains. The local national forest trails are a much underutilized resource.

Farm Internships: Guests can stay with local families while assisting in the work of keeping the lands productive. This is a movement called “woofing.” Photography Tours: Taos offers aweinspiring mountains, beautiful rivers, charming villages, wild backcountry and more to entice photographers. Horse Boarding: Small boarding facilities near the mountain riding trails encourage participation in the hard work of maintaining the hay fields. Art Classes: Art classes are offered on a limited basis for visitors. People can spend time on a farm to paint. Patchwork fields here have attracted artists for many generations. The Taos Art School has continued this tradition for 23 years. Winery Tours: This is also a destination for wine lovers, who can tour vineyards in northern NM and enjoy the high-altitude sensation. Traditional Northern New Mexico Cooking: Stay on a small farm and learn to cook unique and delicious regional foods from the people who have been doing it for generations. Food Preservation: Lessons are offered on drying, freezing, canning and the benefits of a root cellar. These were essential skills only a generation ago. Gardening at 7,000 feet: This is a real challenge, but northern NM has been doing it for centuries and has lots to show. These valleys used to be the breadbasket of NM, growing winter wheat.

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continued from page 29 Gift making: Visitors can spend a day on a farm creating gifts such as herbal vinegars, lavender soaps and cornhusk dolls to take home as presents. Flower pressing for note cards and bookmarks: Starting in early spring with the first “Johnny-jump-ups,” there are flowers to pick. Learn how to press and dry to preserve the color. Birdwatching: One farm currently has a pair of nesting eagles. Eighty other species have been identified in the area. Natural Dye gardens: Many plants that grow on our farms can be used for dyeing wool and other materials. Learning to use the right mordant (fixing agent) and temperature can be demonstrated in an afternoon. Cornfest and Bonfire: For one week in late summer, heirloom corn is at its peak. Guests can pick their own and enjoy them at a bonfire roast. Specific Events Such as Country Weddings or Themed Children’s Parties: One of the farms recently featured a beautiful white Arabian horse at a wedding. He was in all the photos, led by the bride, also in white. Galleries/Studios: Purchase unique agricultural art from small home studios. For more information, call 575.758.0350, email taosfarmvisits@newmexicoagri tourism.org or visit http://taosartschool. org/ecotour.html i Ursula Beck, a parciente on the Acequia del Monte ditch, was the founding director of the Taos Institute of Art. She currently heads the Taos Arts School, the Taos School of Equine Arts and Taos Cultural Farm Visits.

May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

Sustainable Tourism very beautiful but also very fragile. The national park of Canaima in Bolívar state is home of the highest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls, which international tourists visit year-round. Most of the tourism products and services offered there have not been helping the economic development of the local communities. Local tourism authorities have made regulations to help the Indians become providers for the tourists. The Indians can only operate transportation for tourists with their dugout canoes, the Indians’ main means of transportation. The challenge was that the canoes did not meet safety standards, and the Indians were not able to communicate with the international tourists. The Association of Tour Guides negotiated with the German Embassy to provide German classes and with a nonprofit to train the local guides in safety procedures so they can offer safe services in the tourists’ language. One of the Indian guides could not master the German language. He decided to contact the Japanese Embassy and went to one of the main cities of Bolívar state to learn basic Japanese. He is now the guide who can work with Japanese tourists. Another example of how the sustainable tourism model has been applied is at Vargas state on the coast of the Caribbean. The beaches and warm water offer a great tourist attraction, but there are few recreational activities, so the tourists would swim, eat and leave. The only businesses benefiting were food-and-beverage vendors and the hotels. The local tourism authority

High Peaks

continued from page 21 “We are in this for the long term,” Córdova said. “We know it will take time for all of this to work, but we are really committed to our success.” i Arturo Sandoval is the executive director of the Albuquerque-based Center of Southwest Culture. CODECE is the center’s rural economic development initiative. 505.247.2729, http:// CenterofSouthwestCulture.org

continued from page 11 asked my husband, Daniel, to design a series of workshops to assist the community in identifying recreational activities that they could provide. They were asked to identify their vocation and unique, innovative products and services they could offer on the beaches. The premise was that with minimal investment, employment could be created for the youth who were leaving for the big cities, seeking employment. This is in contrast to the fact that often when we think of tourism generating jobs, we only think of hotels and restaurants, which require large capital investments.

What is happening in other parts of the world with similar conditions? Much of the population of the coast of Vargas state are descendants from Africa and have unique drum dances that are associated with Catholic holidays. These traditions were in danger of being lost because of the youth leaving for the cities. Traditionally, these fertile lands were used for coffee and cocoa farms. Once Venezuela became a petroleum-exporting nation, those traditional products were abandoned. A folkloric dance teacher and a traditional drum group decided to partner up and train the youth to play the drums and learn the traditional dances as group exercise classes. An artisan chocolate maker partnered with a massage school and created a

Reflections

The last example we want to show is in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, in a traditional part of the city called La Pastora. This was the original entrance to the valley where Caracas was founded by Spanish conquerors. The “Camino de los Españoles” was a winding road that connected the main port in colonial times with the valley of Caracas. La Pastora has a traditional colonial blueprint with the plaza surrounded by the Cathedral and important official historic buildings. Unfortunately, with the growth of the city, it has been surrounded by poverty-stricken ghettos, and many of the cultural and architectural treasures have been forgotten. Caracas, being the home of many corporation headquarters, banks and

government agencies, is known for corporate tourists. Other capital cities of Latin America have preserved the colonial parts of their cities; unfortunately, Caracas is known more for its modern parts. The Metropolitan Authority of Tourism wanted to develop products and services in the oldest part of the city to generate employment for the community. We coordinated a series of meetings with all the stakeholders with the objective of attracting tourism to La Pastora. It was a community-strengthening process where establishing security and information for tourists was key. A group of municipal police officers were trained to keep the tourists safe and well informed. A partnership between the historical society and the neighborhood associations gave birth to a local destination management company, a “one-stop” place where tourists can plan their visit. Since transportation through the small streets was an issue, an old tramway was restored and will provide transportation for the tourists. All these examples show how the solutions to poverty and unemployment can come from sustainable tourism. Yes this requires work; the local community must come together and discover their “niche” in the products and services offered. The projects to promote economical development through tourism are in the community members’ dreams and aspirations. The question is, how can we empower and collaborate with the local community so these ideas become sustainable tourism projects? i

continued from page 23

water that would ordinarily flow to the Pacific across into the Río Grande drainage. This massive undertaking, paid for with federal dollars, is known as the San Juan-Chama Project. The water, which is stored in Heron and El Vado lakes, flows down the Río Chama and joins the Río Grande at Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo north of Española—thus perpetuating the dewatering of the main stem of the river to the north of that point. The Río Grande del Norte, one of the great natural wonders of NM and the US

Green Fire Times • May 2013

cocoa-coconut cream for massages and spa treatments. The local tourism authority financed technical assistance to help them create business plans and find grants to start operating. Thirty drum/dance/therapy groups have now been trained, and local artisans have built traditional drums for the trainees to go to the beaches and offer exercise classes. This collaboration has helped revive and share their traditions while generating new sustainable jobs in the tourism sector. The new massage cream is in the process of getting the permits necessary to be produced as a marketable product. Funds to construct a manufacturing plant are being negotiated. Local masseuses are being trained, and portable massage tables will be bought with grant money for economical development.

as a whole, and our newest National Monument, is being robbed. The Río Grande Compact allows Colorado to take 75 percent of water flow in normal years and up to 95 percent in “drought” years. But what is normal, and what is drought? The 20 wettest years on record came at the end of the last century, so what seems like drought now is very likely to be the new normal. Will the Río Grande be drained down to 5 percent of its natural flow year after year after year?

And is agriculture—particularly agriculture that has ballooned in scale due to federal subsidies rather than genuine demand—really the only beneficial use of this natural resource, which should be shared by us all? i Claire Tiwald is a mixed-media artist and travel guide specializing in the US Southwest. Her work can be seen at www. clairetiwald.com. Allegra Huston, a writer and editor based in Taos, is the author of Love Child: A Memoir of Family Lost and Found, and writer/producer of the award-winning short film Good Luck, Mr. Gorski.

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NEWSBITEs The Fight Over NM’s Green Building Codes

Last month the New Mexico Court of Appeals overturned a 2011 decision by the state Construction Industries Commission to delete green building codes put in place by former Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration to protect consumers and the environment. The codes had been adopted after an 18-month comprehensive public process that included input from a variety of different interests. The court said the commission failed to provide reasons for changing the construction standards and ordered the case to be returned to the commission, appointed by current Gov. Susana Martinez, for reconsideration and a new vote. The Martinez administration, as part of its agenda to make NM more “business-friendly” has said that the building requirements, which impact energy conservation, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems, were too expensive for developers and property owners. New Mexico Regulation and Licensing, which includes the Construction Industries Commission, responded to the court’s ruling by saying that the state will continue to enforce the 2011 codes because the Court of Appeals only ordered reconsideration, a new vote and a statement of reasons for the vote, and did not address the merits of the codes. The NM Environmental Law Center has asked the court to hold the Construction Industries Division in contempt. “I have never seen a situation in which somebody, anybody, has announced in a press release that they were going to violate a court order,” said NMELC executive director Doug Meiklejohn. The commission may take the case to the NM Supreme Court.

Green Building Tax Credits Extended through 2016

The NM Energy Conservation and Management Division has extended the date for sustainable residential and commercial tax credits through 2016. The fund for residential tax credits already reached its $5 million cap before the end of 2012. As a result, $1.9 million in residential applications were rolled into this year. The tax credits that are approved this year will be rolled into the 2014 fund made available by the legislation signed by Gov. Martinez last month. The tax credits encourage energy-efficiency and are an incentive for building higher quality buildings.

National Green Job Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that since 2010, green jobs have grown into a $290 million industry, four times faster than all other industries combined. Green jobs accounted for 2.6 percent of all jobs nationally, totaling over 3.4 million. The BLS defines green jobs as those that produce goods or services “that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources,” or jobs “in which workers’ duties involve making their establishment’s production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources.” • Growth in the organic food sector outpaced conventional food – 238 percent vs. 33 percent over the past decade. • Consumption of renewable energy grew 456 percent while energy from non-renewable fuels fell 3.8 percent. • Green Building expanded during the recession; conventional building shrank by 17 percent. • More than $3 billion has moved out of Wall Street banks and into community banks and credit unions. • Fair Trade certified foods grew 1,442 percent over the last decade. Further data on green jobs may be lost due to budget cuts incurred as a result of the sequestration. The BLS has discontinued its reporting on employment in green goods and services to reduce expenditures to protect core programs.

Santa Fe Launches Mobile Ap for Low-Impact Living

The city of Santa Fe’s Sustainable Santa Fe Program has launched a new kind of tool for the city: JouleBug, a mobile app that makes a game of low-impact living. Inspired by software executive Grant Williard’s own experience trying to understand and apply the thousands of ways to go green, JouleBug is designed to provide simple tips for acting responsibly and saving money. The app, available on all smart phones, is a free download. Members can watch videos and see cost-savings estimates to learn the benefits of actions such as riding the bus to work or school. Once an action is completed, users can “Buzz It” to compete with friends and earn points toward local contests. There is also a scoreboard that displays Santa Fe’s green champions. A contest has been launched on the campuses of Santa Fe Community College, Institute of American Indian Arts and St. John’s College to encourage students to use this app. The contest runs until May 10. The student with the most points will receive a $50 gift certificate to the campus bookstore or an iPod Shuffle. The college with the most players signed up by May 10 will receive a $400 donation to its sustainability club for campus improvement projects such as community garden

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installations, recycling outreach and energy-efficient renovations. The city plans to host more competitions among the wider community. For more information, visit www.joulebug.com/santafe

Self-Care Bliss Weekend in Santa Fe • June 20-23

“Self-care is the true health care” is the motto of the Self-Care Revolution, presented by Santa Fe Soul Health & Healing Center. The holistic and preventative medicine center, directed by Robyn Benson, is hosting a live “SelfCare Bliss Weekend,” June 20-23, as part of its yearlong educational series. Self-care coaches and the center’s practitioners, along with world-renowned speakers, will offer workshops, films and demonstrations. The opening ceremony is on June 20, followed by “Beyond Acupuncture: Healing with Bliss” by Dr. Norm Shealy and a screening of the film Redwood Highway by James Twyman. For registration information, call 505.474.8555, email info@ jointheselfcarerevolution.com or visit www.jointheselfcarerevolution.com/ self-care-bliss-weekend-2013

2013 BizMIX Competition

Applications are being accepted from aspiring entrepreneurs through May 16 for the Santa Fe BizMIX 2013 Business Plan Competition. The annual competition awards finalists a cash prize, as well as business consulting services for companies that will benefit Santa Fe. Last year several companies were launched and four finalists were chosen out of 70 applicants. Winners included PlanitMapper, a mobile app for outdoor enthusiasts; Pants Off, a local silkscreen company; Soapbox Kids, a school fundraising company; and The Way We Grow, an agricultural product business. Visit mixsantafe.com for more information.

Mora County Becomes First in the US to Ban Extraction of Oil and Gas

On April 29, at a special meeting called by the Mora County Board of Commissioners to vote on a “Community Bill of Rights,” Mora became the first county in the US to permanently ban the extraction of oil and gas. The Commission released the following statement: For years, Mora County has been threatened by “hydro-fracking,” along with other forms of oil and gas extraction. After enacting a temporary moratorium on oil and gas drilling, the County Commissioners adopted a local bill of rights that permanently bans the extraction of oil and gas within the County. In doing so, they follow the lead of over three dozen municipalities on the East Coast—including the city of Pittsburgh—who have adopted local bills of rights to ban “fracking” and other extraction. The Community Bill of Rights—known as the “Mora County Community Water Rights and Local Self-Government Ordinance” – establishes the right of Mora residents to unpolluted water for agriculture, the right to a sustainable and renewable energy future, and the right to self-government. It also recognizes that ecosystems and natural communities – that could be damaged by oil and gas extraction – have a right to exist and flourish. It then prohibits corporations from extracting hydrocarbons, engaging in the sale of water for energy extraction, or constructing pipelines or other infrastructure to distribute oil and gas. To protect the enforceability of the ordinance, the law also refuses to recognize that oil and gas corporations possess constitutional and other legal rights within the County of Mora, nullifies state and federal permits issued in violation of the ordinance, and imposes strict liability on corporations engaged in oil and gas operations in neighboring municipalities. John Olivas, the Chairman of the Mora County Commissioners, declared, “It’s time for all communities to do what we’ve done – announce the end to extractive activities that threaten our land, our water and our way of life. If the federal and state government won’t do it, we must. The people and lands of our communities must come first, not the profits of gas and oil corporations.” Alfonso Griego, Vice Chairman of the Mora County Commissioners, explained, “We’re prepared to fight for this ordinance – it’s the only thing standing in the way of oil and gas corporations. Redefining the rights and powers of those corporation —so that our residents have more rights than corporate decision makers—is an essential part of our local Bill of Rights.” Olivas and Griego both called on the New Mexico Legislature to adopt a bill that would protect NM counties that adopt similar legislation. A new organization, the NM Coalition for Community Rights, was created last year by residents of several communities across the state to support that effort.

May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

What's Going On! Events / Announcements

Attend gourd art classes and exhibits, vendors, gourd art competition and a kid’s scavenger hunt. 505.891.8925

May 31, 6-10 pm Trailblazers en el Camino National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th St. SW

ALBUQUERQUE

May 3, 5:30-7:30 pm Culture’s Night Out Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Pottery Room, 2301 12th St. NW

Learn about the groundbreaking work of young Native artists. Food, art activities, door prizes and more. Party on the Patio afterward. 505.724.3539, indianpueblo.org

May 4 Exhibition Opening Curanderismo: Healing and Ritual Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, UNM Campus

Exhibit focuses on the traditional healing practice, which began in México and spread to the Southwest. 5/4, 1-4 pm: Annual Food and Life program with herbalist Tomás Enos and curandera Tonita Gonzales. Free.

May 4, 2-3:30 pm Intro to Food Forests Open Space Visitor Center 6500 Coors Blvd. NW

Traditions Garden Lecture Series #1. What can we learn from natural forests to create more sustainable farms, gardens, local communities and support wildlife? Presented by permaculture diplomat Patty Parks-Wasserman. Free. Reservations: 505.897.8831

May 4, 4-8 pm Opening; Through June 8 SEEDS: A Collective Voice Downtown Contemporary Gallery, 105 4th St. SW Multimedia arts exhibit brings together over 60 artists, poets, storytellers, farmers, activists and others from around the world to raise awareness on seed preservation and GMO issues. 505.771.3166, info@avokado.net

May 8, 9-10:30 am Funding for Local Food Entreprneurs

MRCOG Agri-Collaborative 809 Copper Ave. A panel of 5 local experts will share opportunities for NM growers and value-added food producers to access grants and loans. Info: 505.724.3617, asimon@mrcog-nm.gov

May 10-11 NM Film & Media Industry Conf. Embassy Suites

Presented by the NM Film Office. info@ nmfilm.com

May 11, 7 am-12 pm Native Seeds/Search Plant Sale Los Ranchos Growers Market Los Ranchos

Heirloom and landrace varieties of annual fruit, veggie and flower starts.

May 22-23 Celebration of Gourds Fest. Expo NM Fairgrounds Hispanic Arts Bldg.

Honoring Hispanic Legacies of Hispanic Supreme Court Justices in NM. Keynote speaker: Justice Edward L. Chavez, 2013 honoree: Justice Dan Sosa Jr. 505.766.9858, www.nhccfoundation.org

May 31, 7-8:30 pm Eating for Your Health ABQ Peace & Justice Center Corner of Silver & Harvard SE

Presentation by Susan Clair, MCRP/ MPA on healthy lifestyle and plant-based nutrition. $5 suggested donation. Info: 505.321.8649, clair@nmia.com

June 5, 5:30-7:30 pm Green Drinks Hotel Andaluz, 125 2nd St. NW

Network with people interested in local business, clean energy and other green issues. Hosted by the Albuquerque & Río Rancho Green Chamber of Commerce. Info: 505.244.3700, lindsay@nmgreenchamber.com

June 8-9 New Mexico GreenBuilt Tour

Albuquerque to Taos. 505.410.7703, http:// www.usgbcnm.org (See ad on page 31)

June 10-13 Developing Tribal Energy Resources and Economies Sandia Resort and Casino

Tribal lands make up about 5 percent of the land in the US, but hold up to 15 percent of the nation’s energy resources. Conference topics: right-of-way negotiations with utility companies, self-generation of energy for tribal communities, and deep shale exploration and development. $495. 505.924.2820, www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default. aspx?EventID=1155048

Through Oct., 9:30 am-2:30 pm Xeriscape Garden Club

ABQ Garden Center, 10120 Lomas NE Families are invited to visit the Wildlife Habitat Garden. Hands-on activities for children to learn about wildlife habitats and the importance of pollinators. Free. www. xericgardenclub.org

SANTA FE

Through Jan. 5, 2014 New World Cuisine: Histories of Chocolate, Mate y Mas Museum of International Folk Art

Exhibit focuses on the mixing of food cultures in the Americas. 505.476.1200, internationalfolkart.org

Through March 16, 2014 Cowboys Real and Imagined NM History Museum

This exhibit explores NM’s contribution to the cowboys of both myth and reality from the 1600s to the present day.

May 3, 8 pm; May 4, 1 & 8 pm SeeSaw - An Outdoor Spectacle SF Railyard Park

Green Fire Times • May 2013

Acrobatic, dance and aerial performance presented by Wise Fool NM in collaboration with local visual artists, DJs, sculptors and choreographers. Free (donations accepted). http://www.wisefoolnewmexico.org/seesaw.html

May 8, 5:30-7:30 pm Santa Fe Green Drinks Hillside Market, 86 Old Las Vegas Hwy.

May 4, 10 am Grow a Tomato Garden Milagro Community Garden corner of Rodeo & Legacy

Informal networking event for people interested in local business, clean energy and other green issues. Presentation by Robin Seydel of La Montañita Co-op on the cooperative business model. Free. Green Drinks meets the first Wednesday of each month at different locations. Hosted by the SF Green Chamber of Commerce. 505.427.9123, Glenn@nmgreenchamber.com

May 4, 10 am-12 pm SF Citizens Climate Lobby Natural Grocers Community Room

May 9, 10 am-7 pm Celebrate Santa Fe Tourism Expo SF Community Convention Center

Maximize harvest with master gardeners Duskin Jasper and Jannine Cabossel. $5 donation. milagrogarden@yahoo.com

Monthly meeting with guest remote speaker Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. maria@myearth prints.com, http://citizenclimatelobby.org

May 4, 1:30-2:30 pm Basic Drip Irrigation/Drip & Grow Workshop The Firebird, 1808 Espinacitas St.

Drip & Drip to Go is a raised bed gardening kit. 505.983.5264, sales@thefirebird

May 4, 4-6:30 pm Native Plant Hike Cerrillos, NM

With Amanda Bramble. $15. www.ampersandproject.org

May 4-12 National Women Build Week

Habitat for Humanity’s 6th annual event of women building projects. No construction skills necessary. To volunteer or donate, call 505.986.5880 or email rob@santafehabitat. org or visit www.santafehabitat.org

May 5, 1-4 pm Net-Zero Energy Cost Home Open House 711 Don Cubero Alley

Learn how you can get into the next generation energy-efficient home anywhere in Santa Fe. 505.316.0449

May 5, 6 pm Sustainable Design for Community Abundance Mineshaft Tavern Outdoor Theater, Madrid, NM

A presentation and community discussion with author/teacher Brad Lancaster. He will talk about how his Tucson neighborhood has become an oasis of storm water harvesting, wild food gardens and shared community spaces. Learn about Madrid’s assets and possibilities for a green revival. www.ampersandproject.org

May 5, 6:30 pm Farm to Restaurant Benefit Old House Restaurant, 309 W. San Francisco

Chef Tony Smith will prepare a fresh locally sourced dinner. $85. 505.310.7405, nina@ farmtotablenm.org

May 7, 5-9 pm Greek Night Plaza Café Southside

Live music with Nacha Méndez. Benefit for Project Hope for Greece. 505.424.0755

Businesses and organizations will showcase their activities, events, attractions and visitor services. Opportunities for businesses to increase their knowledge about Santa Fe and how to best serve visitors. Presented by the SF Chamber of Commerce along with hospitality and tourism businesses. Free. 505.955.6212, cmdelgado@santafe.org, www.SantaFe.org

May 11, 10 am Solar Cooking Frenchy’s Community Garden Osage & Agua Fria

Learn about solar cooking with Amanda Bramble. Free or $10 donation. 505.473.1403, homegrownnewmexico@gmail.com

May 11, 10 am-3 pm Community Day The Plaza

Fun, free event with local talent performing on the bandstand from noon-10 pm. 10 am-3 pm: nonprofit and govt. agency booths. Organizations are encouraged to register now. 505.955.6979, bjmossman@ci.santa-fe. nm.us, www.santafenm.gov

May 11-12, 10 am-4 pm Kindred Spirits Open House 3749-A Hwy. 14

K.S. provides end-of-life care to dogs, horses and poultry in a serene country setting. Demos of Senior Wellness Care Program and educational talks. Artworks donated for sale. 505.471.5366, www.kindredspiritsnm.org

May 13, 6 pm Earth Chronicles Project SF Art Institute

Screening and Q&A with the filmmakers. $10/$5. Co-presented by the Nature Conservancy. Free exhibition runs through 5/17.

May 13-17 Bike-to-Work Week

Get out of your car and onto a bike. Bike workshops, tune-up stations and giveaways, culminating with a gathering on 5/17 at the SF Railyard. Info: 505.955.2507, imgonzales@ santafenm.gov Details: 5/13, 6-7:30 pm at the Railyard Community Room behind Site SF: Workshop on overnight bike touring. Info: info@pedalqueens.com; 5/14, 5-7 pm at Bike Maintenance Repair at Rob & Charlie’s, 1632 St. Michael’s Dr. Info: 505.471.9119; 5/15, 5:306:30 pm tube change and bike safety checks at Spin Doc, 628 Old Las Vegas Hwy; 5/16, 6-7 pm On-the-fly adjustments on the trail or roadside, SF Mtn. Sports, 1221 Flagman Way; 5/17, 4-6 pm giveaways, live music, food, quick bike fixes by local bike shops and more at the SF Railyard. Info: 505.955.2507; 5/18, 9:30 am to 12 pm Community Cruise starting at Railyard Plaza. Info: Timro@hotmail.com.

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May 14 Registration Opens Climate Masters Course

What’s your Climate IQ? Ten-week course plus 30-hour community service project. Learn to reduce your carbon and water footprints from experts in energy conservation, consumption and waste, food and water. Hosted by the SF Watershed Assn. $160. 505.820-1696, www.santafewatershed.org

May 15, 5:30 pm SF Water Awareness Group Natural Grocers, 3328 Cerrillos Rd. Gary Schiffmiller, who monitors surface waters and water contamination for the State of NM, will discuss his work.

May 15-21 Rivers Run Through Us

5 Days, 5 Sites, One River. An exciting series of events in, on and along the Santa Fe River. Poetry, music, performance, stories, picnics, art walks, guided hikes and more. 5/15, 1 pm: Nature walk and native species performance at the Randall Davey Audubon Center with teachers and students from Río Grande School; 5/16, 11:15 am: The Reimagining of Bishop’s Pond and the Río Chiquito, a walking performance with stories and song along Paseo de Peralta and north of E. Alameda; 5/17, 6 pm: EastWest Intersecting with artists Sydney Cooper and Edie Tsong walking the riverbed, followed by Once Upon a Time There Was Water with poets Jazz Cuffee, Jamie Figueroa, Valerie Martínez and Shelle Sánchez; May 18, 9 am: Guided hike up the SF River Canyon to the Village of La Bajada’s water system and spring. All ages. Free. Info: 505.988.9244, Heartistdm@aol. com, www.littleglobe.org

May 17, 8 pm Evoke! World Music & Dance Concert Unitarian Universalist Church 107 W. Barcelona

Renowned artists including flautist/percussionist Suzanne Teng, master drummer Sofiba Fofana and West African master dancer Alhassane Camara. International marketplace. $25./$20 benefits scholarships for Golden Acorns Summer Camp (www.goldenacorn camp.org). Tickets: 505.795.9079 or at the door.

May 17 Deadline Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Award

First place scholarships of $1,000 in each of two age groups (13-18, 19-26) will be awarded and second $500 second place awards will be given by NM Voices for Children for commitment to improving communities and the lives of others. Details and application form: 505.244.9505, ext. 114, burban@nmvoices.org

May 18, 9:30 am Santa Fe Green Café La Tienda, Eldorado

Sam McCarthy and Tierra Encantada Charter School students on composting. 30-40 percent of solid waste disposal can be eliminated by composting. Info: ksweeney99@yahoo.com

May 19 Santa Fe Century

Venue: St. Vincent Regional Medical Center 15-, 50- and 100-mile routes during SF’s classic bike race’s 28th year. $25. 505.982.1282, santafecentury.com

May 19, 9 am-2 pm Trails Project Workday/ Celebration Borrego/Bear Wallow Trail

Annual celebration of trails and public lands. Info: 505.733.7331, jasublett@fs.fed.us

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May 19, 10 am-4 pm Solar Cooking and Passive Solar Design Cerrillos, NM

Class taught by Amanda Bramble. $60. www. ampersandproject.org

May 20, 7:45 am-5:15 pm Española Basin Technical Advisory Group Workshop SF Community College Jémez Rooms

Theme: The Lower Santa Fe River and the Vision for Water Sustainability in SF County. Oral and poster presentations on watersheds, geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, geophysics, hydrology, etc. $10. http:// geoinfo.nmt.edu/ebtag/workshop

May 22 Community Support Day for the SF Watershed Assn. Whole Foods Market (2 locations) May 22, 7 pm Edible City Screening SF Farmers’ Market Pavillion

Film follows activists that challenge the current food system, growing a model for a system that is healthy and sustainable. $12/$10/under 18: free. 505.983.7726, www.farmersmarketinstitute.org

May 25 Ampersand Sustainable Learning Center Open House Cerrillos, NM

Sustainable systems including permaculture, land restorationm organic gardening, passive solar, wise water techniques. 4 pm site tour: $10, 5 pm potluck. 505.780.0535, Ampersandproject.org

May 25-26 Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival SF Convention Center

Kicks off with Friday opening party. More than 200 Native American artists. A portion of sales go to the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. www.nativetreasures.org

May 27-Aug. 9 Summer of Awareness Riding Day Camp Galisteo

Summer day camp. Daily riding and ground training lessons for children 6-18. emmi@ spanishmustangfoundation.org

May 31, 7 pm talk; June 1-2, 9:30 am-4:30 pm workshop Gardening like the Forest Santa Fe Community College

9 am-4 pm daily except Weds. Community Farm Project 1820 San Ysidro, Village of Agua Fría Volunteers of any age needed. 80 percent of the produce is given to the Food Depot and distributed to 120 organizations. sfcommunityfarm@ gmail.com, www.santafacommunityfarm.org

Monday and Wednesday, 9 am12 pm and Sunday, 11 am-2 pm Urban Farming at Gaia Gardens

Learn to build soil, compost, transplant, build structures, tend chickens and ducks and help make a small farm hum. 505.796.6006, http://gaiagardens.blogspot.com

Saturdays, Approx. 2 pm Meet Your Farmer Joe’s Dining, Rodeo & Zia

A lunch experience. An opportunity to ask questions about farming, enjoy a local meal and meet farmers who grow NM foods. Vendors from the farmers’ market have an aftermarket lunch and meet the community. Info: Sheila@joesdining.com

Beneficial Farms CSA

Weekly distribution at five Santa Fe locations. This CSA works with up to 40 regional farms each year, and offers abundant, affordable shares of fresh fruit and vegetables and other local and regionally produced foods year round. All produce is grown with organic and sustainable methods. 505.470.1969

Paul Arendt leads this moderately difficult hike. Free. 505.662.0460, Programs@Pajarito EEC.org, www.PajaritoEEC.org

May 17-19, 10 am-7:30 pm Taos Lilac Festival Taos Plaza, Taos, NM

10 am pet parade and costume contest, live music and dancing, children’s carousel, food & crafts vendors. 575.751.7722, www.taos lilacfestival.com

May 18, 9 am-12 pm Travel and Nature Journaling for Kids Pajarito Environmental Education Center, Los Alamos, NM

Annual event includes a parade, live music, street dance, marketplace, chainsaw carving, educational booths. 575.354.2748

May 20-21 7th Annual National Native American Economic Development Conference Las Vegas, NV.

May 3-4, 9 am-3 pm Smokey Bear Days 118 Smokey Bear Blvd., Capitán

May 4, 2 & 7 pm Wild & Scenic Film Festival Taos Community Auditorium, Taos

A diverse selection of 16 short environmental films. Door prize drawings. $8/$5. 575.758.2052, Presented by the Western Environmental Law Center, www.westernlaw.org

May 4, 18, June 1, 10 am-3 pm Stream Team Jémez Mtns., SF Natl. Forest Valles Caldera

Plant trees, restore, sustain. 505.988.9126, ext. 0 or aespinoza@wildearthguardians.org

May 4-5, 10 am-6 pm Wind Festival Wildlife West Nature Park Edgewood, NM

75 artists. Contemporary and traditional painting, prints, photography, sculpture, fiber art, more. 505.554.1638, www.corralesartists.org

May 4-6, 10 am-5 pm Corrales Art Studio Tour

May 5, 11 am-6 pm Yraceburu EarthWisdom Learning Center Opening 119 Mira Sol Dr., Las Vegas, NM

Environmental education, alternative healing presentations, Jemez Pueblo performers, ceremonial dedications. info@yraceburu. org, www.yracburu.org

May 6, 6:30 pm Somewhere in New Mexico:

Focus on economic diversification. 201.857.5333, http://nativenationevents. org/conference/seventh-annual-nationalnative-american-economic-developmentconference/

May 24-26 Riverfest Berg Park and Animas Park, River Reach Terrace, Farmington, NM Area rivers will be celebrated with a festival of music, fine arts, food, entertainment, a 10K and 5K run & walk, riverside trail walks and raft rides. 505.599.1140, www.river reachfoundation.com

May 26 Application Deadline Positive Energy Solar and Renesola PV Grant

June 1-2 Spring Festival and Children’s Fair El Rancho de las Golandrinas La Cienega

Lois Harvie will teach how to use your vegetables. Free or $10 donation. 505.473.1403, homegrownnewmexico@gmail.com

May 11, 9 am-2 pm Pajarito Mtn. to Valle Canyon Hike Pajarito Environmental Education Center, Los Alamos, NM

HERE & THERE

Bring a kite or learn how to make one onsite. Free. Native wildlife zoo admission $7/$4. 505.281.7655, www.wildlifewest.org/ windfestival.shtml

June 2, 1-3 pm Outdoor Cooking SF Community Farm Agua Fría & San Ysidro Xing

Independent film about Dr. Guy McPherson, one of the builders of an off-the-grid permaculture homestead. Grant County residents are interviewed in the film. McPherson will answer questions and sign copies of his memoir after the film. 575.574.8497, geofemme4@gmail.com

Terry Foxx and Katy Korkos lead this class. All materials and supplies provided. $25/20. Registration: 505.662.0460, Programs@ PajaritoEEC.org, www.PajaritoEEC.org

Workshop explores the vision, theory, design and practice of ecosystem agriculture using the temperate deciduous forest as the model. Presented by Dave Jacke of Edible Food Forests. Friday talk: $10, All three days: $300. 505.819.3828, www.carboneconomyseries.com

505.471.2261, www.golandrinas.org

Before the End of Time Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3845 N. Swan St., Silver City

Nonprofits across NM are encouraged to apply for a 2.5 kW solar system. The first step is to create a video about how having solar power would benefit your group. Email Karen@Positive EnergySolar.com or go to Facebook https:// www.facebook.com/PESPvGrant or go to http://positiveenergysolar.com/pv-grant/

June 3, 21 Application Deadlines Con Alma Health Fndn. Grants

Grants to nonprofits that promote health equity in NM. 6/3: Grant cycle for Small Grants, 6/21: Northern NM Health Grant Group. Details: http://conalma.org

June 17-23 Chama River Adventure Abiquiú, NM

Writing Down the River workshop with guide Steve Harris. Info: 505.685.4333, ext.4106, lindas@ghostranch.org, www. ghostranch.org

May 2013 • GreenFireTimes

40 Fire Green Fire• Times • May 2013 Green Times May 2013