Green Fire Times

  Welcome to the Mythical Year… 2012

With all the massive hype aside, the buildup to this particular New Year, with all the uncertainty, loss of faith in our locked-down political system, economic woes, and the sobering, unedited news on the state of our climate, persons could get caught up in these proposed, “end of times.” From the infamous ramblings of the Mayan Calendar to the pessimistic premonitions of Nostradamus, the landscape has been riddled with dire perspectives that heighten the already unsettling sensations of change. It is often change itself that causes many to dip into a feeling of insecurity, and More >

The Cooperative Development Center of New Mexico

Seth Roffman

In early spring, members of the High Peaks Deep Roots Agricultural Cooperative in Truchas, New Mexico, will gather to plant organic vegetables as a team for the second season in a row.

Incorporated last year as a farmer’s cooperative, High Peaks Deep Roots consists of seven farmers and their families who hope to revitalize their community and help themselves economically. In its first year, the co-op was able to find and develop a farm site, create and implement a farm plan and join four farmers’ markets in northern New Mexico. They also were able More >

Isaura Andaluz

The chilly weather on Dec. 3rd was overcome by the energy of people marching along the streets of Albuquerque. Bundled up and sporting signs, they marched to call attention to the need to protect NM’s heritage chile from genetic engineering. The event was organized by Occupy Albuquerque, Save NM Seeds and others opposed to what they see as an international conglomerate’s efforts to own and control our world’s food supply. The march started at the downtown Alvarado Transportation Center, traveled down Central, around Civic Plaza, and ended at Roosevelt Park. The marchers were cheered on by a stream of cars, More >

L. Acuña Sandoval

Seed saving became even more important to me recently as a farmer when I came close to losing a particular corn variety in my seed stock. ‘Hopi Pink’ is an excellent flour corn that is extremely rare. I haf collected it at a seed exchange a few years back. I grew this variety only in an isolated part of my field in 2010 along with rare winter squash (‘Lakota’) and sunflowers (‘Tarahumara’). I harvested three bushels after sowing about a quarter pound of seed, then just put it aside and forgot about it. I started looking for the More >

Sasha LaPointe and Bonita Rickers

Piles of shredded paper and Christmas lights line the isle of the auditorium, leading up to the stage’s elaborate installation of discarded paper lanterns, crumpled newspaper piles and paper flowers. Behind the neatly arranged trash decor, aglow with coiled strands of tiny lights, is the post-apocalyptic wasteland of “The Road Warrior,” projecting a glowing scene of flaming cars, feathers and face paint. Outside the sound of newspaper skirts crinkling over the rustle of trash bags can be heard as the models line up at the door. David Bowie’s “Rebel, Rebel” comes over the sound system and More >

TV personality and home renovation expert Steve Thomas helped promote Habitat for Humanity’s “ReStore” resale outlets with a personal appearance in Santa Fe last month. Habitat’s ReStores, such as the ones in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, allow perfectly good items that are removed from houses under renovation to find uses in other construction projects, rather than being dumped into landfills. “By leveraging all the home improvement items available in these stores, people are saving money and are also building in a way that is environmentally friendly,” Thomas said.

“Habitat has got a worldwide model for sustainable housing development that addresses the More >

Grants Available for NM Centennial Gardens

The New Mexico Centennial has issued a call for proposals for the Centennial Gardens Program. Grants will be available to support school and community garden projects in 2012 at levels of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or nonprofit K-12 school that is developing or currently maintaining a garden project that will help communities engage with fresh fruits and vegetables. Garden projects may be at any stage of development: planning, construction or operation. Priority will be given to both limited-resource communities and to projects that demonstrate strong collaborations and More >

Susan Guyette

If your thoughts are turning toward how to feed a planet adequately on less food—or even how to feed yourself and your family on a shrinking budget—increasing intake of whole grains, seeds and legumes is likely the answer. Maintaining good health is the bonus.

There are many ethical reasons for eating more grains. If all the grain currently fed to livestock in the United States were consumed directly by people, the number of people who could be fed would be nearly 800 million (national population is currently nearly 300 million). The seven billion livestock animals in the U.S. consume five More >

SANTA FE

Jan. 4-Feb. 8, 12:30-1:45 pm

Genoveva Chavez Center, 3221 Rodeo Rd.

The Alexander Technique is a natural method of movement re-education. Marta Curbelo

teaches the ability to improve physical postural habits. Series cost: $30. Pre-registration at the Chavez Center required. 505.955.4009, lfgulotta@santafenm.gov

Jan. 4, 6 pm

Natural Grocers, 3328 Cerrillos Rd.

Documentary examines the possibility of controlling and even reversing degenerative diseases by making healthy plant-based food choices. Discussion and snacks will follow. Meetup.com/Santa-Fe-Veg

Jan. 7, 1 pm

Performance Exchange, Eldorado

See page 5 in this issue of GFT. Free screening. http://www.thrivemovement.com/the_movie

Jan. 14, 9 am-4 pm

Community leaders; city, county and More >