New Mexico scored 57 out of a possible 100 on the index. The No. 1 state is California, which scored a 95.3. California’s clean-energy industry attracts more venture capital than the rest of the states combined. The top 10 are California, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Washington, New Mexico, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Vermont.

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“If the U.S. is going to be a leader in renewable energy, we have to have a skilled workforce that is trained and ready to get to work,” Luján said. “This bill not only expands training opportunities across the country, but it will also help those community colleges that already offer renewable energy job training to stay on the cutting edge of the clean energy industry.”

Fifty percent of the annual $100 million authorization would be used to create community college programs that focus on the renewable resource industries in a given region, allowing students to train in fields that impact their own communities. The other 50 percent goes toward upgrading existing programs throughout the country that are already providing this type of job training and education.

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Newly appointed Environment Secretary David Martin has shifted four regulatory civil servants in the state Environment Department out of their areas of expertise. The shake-up includes Mary Uhl, Air Quality Bureau chief, who is being transferred to Occupation Health and Safety; James Bearzi, who, after 12 years of leading the Hazardous Waste Bureau, is headed for the Surface Water Bureau; Steve Zappe, who has been monitoring the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) near Carlsbad for 17 years, is now in the food inspection office; and Marcy Leavitt, a 20-year veteran, mostly in water quality programs, is now with the Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau.

The four officials have nearly 70 years of combined experience in their respective fields. They have been responsible for hundreds of annual permitting actions related to oil and natural gas operations and other industries.

“Degrees of Change: NM’s Climate Forcast” – NM Natural History Museum Exhibit

A new exhibition at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science has opened. The exhibit focuses on climate change and how it will affect people, landscapes and ecosystems in NM. Climate Science is used extensively in the exhibit to consider the interrelationship of atmosphere, oceans and other water bodies, the land surface, snow and ice, and the biosphere, along with the energy input from the sun.

Museum chief scientist and co-curator Spencer Lucas studied NM fossils and rocks to learn about the past 500 million years of climate changes.

In the next 100 years, temperatures are predicted to climb 6 or 7 degrees, making Albuquerque feel like El Paso. Less precipitation is expected, although the actual numbers are uncertain. This year Albuquerque and much of NM has recorded the driest start to a calendar year on record.

The centerpiece of the exhibit is a huge globe called “Magic Planet,” onto which video images are projected to show the evolution of the entire global climate system.

“Degrees of Change: NM’s Climate Forecast” is open from 9-5 daily at the NM Museum of Natural History, 1801 Mountain NW in Albuquerque. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors 60 and over, and $4 for children 3-12.

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The fellowship provides a stipend, communications support, trainings, and travel opportunities as part of a program intended to increase the strength of local food systems and community health. The fellowship is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Woodcock Foundation.

Bustos was named Farmer of the Year in 2006 by the NM Organic Commodity Commission, and the Leyendecker Agriculturist of Distinction by NMSU in 2005.

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More than 80 sound recordings were taken from five different hives during February through June 2009. A cell phone was place in the hives near the bees. When the phone was off or on standby mode, the bees were not disturbed. When the phone was turned on, the effect was dramatic: within 25 to 40 minutes the sounds made by the bees increased in intensity and frequency, producing the “worker piping signal,” which is usually produced by bees getting ready to leave the hive in a swarm.

If the cell phone was turned off immediately, the bees calmed down within 2 or 3 minutes. If it was left on for 20 hours and then turned off, the piping signal continued for up to 12 hours. The effect was consistent and repeatable.

Favre refers to another study recently done in India. In that study, when a mobile phone was kept continuously on near a beehive, it resulted in collapse of the colony in 5 to 10 days, with the worker bees failing to return home.

Here is the link to Favre’s study: http://www.kokopelli.asso.fr/documentation/favre.pdf

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ALBUQUERQUE

Through Sept. 17

Beekeeping Workshop Series

Open Space Visitor Center, 6500 Coors Blvd NW

Certification classes with Les & Heather Crowder held on the Saturdays. Cost: $675 or $100 per class. 505.897.8831, www.fortheloveofbees.com, www.cabq.gov/openspace/visitorcenter.html

June 1, 11:30 am – 1 pm

Tapping Into Ground Source Energy

MCM Elegante, 2020 Menaul NE

USGBC luncheon speaker Matthew Higgins, Energy Engineer. $25 members, $30 non-members, $18 Emerging Professionals. Open to the public. www.usgbcnm.org.

June 8, 14, 11:30 am-1 pm

Energy & Atmosphere Webinar

USGBC-NM series. LEED EB O&M. Earn 1.5. CE hrs. $10 members, $15 non-members. More info: karenr@dpsdesisgn.org. Register at www.usgbcnm.org

June 9, 6-7:30 pm

‘Burque Bioneers

Natl. Hispanic Cultural Center, Conf. Rm. 113

Planning for October Bioneers’ event. becky@beckytomato.com

June 10, 6-9 pm

GreenBuilt Tour Kick-off Reception

Corrales (private home)

Awards presentation, live music, food & drink. $30 USGBC member/$35 non-member. More info and to register: www.usgbcnm.org

June 11, 10 am-noon

Xeriscape Seminar

Cherry Hills Library, 6910 Barstow NE

Principles, plant selection, design strategies, drip irrigation, Water Authority rebate for conversions. Presented by Albq./Bernalillo Water Authority. 505.768.3655, www.abcwua.org

June 11-12, 10 am-2 pm

Chicken Coop and Garden Tour

June 11 – all stops No. of Central Ave., June 12 – all stops So. of Central Ave. Free, family-oriented tour includes gardens and livestock. See what is possible in urban backyard farming. 505.508.0131, scouty_d@yahoo.com, www.albuquerquecooptour.com

June 11-12, 10 am – 4 pm

GreenBuilt Tour

Showcases more than 20 homes in Albq., Santa Fe and beyond, with elements of sustainable design, including solar and wind power, innovative materials and techniques. Guidebooks available. 505.227.0474, usgbcnm.org. Cost: $1 per person, per home.

June 11, July 9, 10 am-noon

Xeriscape Seminars

Cherry Hills Library, 6910 Barstow NE

Focuses on principles, plant selection, design strategies, drip irrigation, and Water Authority rebate for turf conversion. Presented by Albq./Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. Reservations not required. 768.3655, www.abcwua.org

June 12, 3:30-4:30 pm, July 9, 10:30-11:30 am

Water Smart and Drip Irrigation Classes

Anderson-Abruzzo Intl. Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum Dr.

Water Smart class completion offers $20 credit on water bill. Drip Irrigation class June 12 is 2-3 pm and July 9-10 am. Reservations not required. Presented by Albq./Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. 768.3633, www.abcwua.org

June 14, 11:30 am-1 pm

NM Bio Luncheon

Learn about the latest in biofuels technology. RSVP to nmbiobaker@gmail.com. Info: www.nmbio.org/news_events/0522081211481171.evnt

June 25, 9 am-4 pm

Upper Cedro Creek Gully Restoration Workshop

Tijeras Canyon

Free hands-on workshop with Steve Carson and Bill Zeedyk. Group will build two Zuni bowls, six rock rundowns, 11 one rock dams, four baffles and two log rundowns. Questions: tegadzia@quiviracoalition.org, To register: http://quiviracoalition.org/Land___Water/Restoration_Workshops/index.html

July 13, 19, 11:30 am-1 pm

Indoor Environmental Quality Webinar

USGBC-NM series. LEED NC. $10 members, $15 non-members. Earn 1.5. CE hrs. More info: karenr@dpsdesisgn.org. Register at www.usgbcnm.org

Saturdays 7-11 am

Los Rancho Arts & Crafts Market

6718 Rio Grande Blvd. NW

Handmade items by NM artisans. Music, demos, vegetables and gifts

2010 Edible Gardens ABQ

Help register edible gardens (169 so far) 2011 Edible Garden Tour July 30. Inspire more people to grow some of their own food, support food security and healthy nutrition. info@abqbackyardfarms.com http://2012abqgardens.ning.com/

Albuquerque Backyard Farms Collaborative

A group of organizers who lead gardening and farming education organizations are coordinating efforts in teaching how to grow and eat healthy foods and herbs, and live a more sustainable lifestyle. Groups include: The Gardeners Guild, Mother Nature Gardens, Mid Region Council on Governments, Sunstone Herbs, Albuquerque Backyard Farms, The Source, Girls Gone Green, Transition Towns NM, UNM Sustainability Studies, San Jose Elementary School Gardens, Zia Elementary School Community Garden, and the Albuquerque Chicken Coop Tour. For more info, visit www.abqbackyardfarms.com/ABQ_Collaborative.html

Beneficial Farms CSA

Now accepting members. Weekly distribution at La Montanita Co-op Warehouse, 3361 Columbia Dr. NE. 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 sustainable chemical-free methods.

Rio Grande Community Farm Opportunities

RGCF is a nonprofit, certified organic farm in Albq’s North Valley. Their mission is to connect people, earth, water and wildlife in an urban setting by farming sustainably, enhancing wildlife habitat, and providing fresh, certified organic food to diverse populations in Albq.

The RGCF offers many opportunities for qualified volunteers. Programs include: Sustainable farming on 50 acres of Los Poblanos Fields Open Space, Community Garden, Education programs & gardening workshops, Americorps program (farmer training), Share the Harvest (donations to food banks), Farm-to-School (APS), Farm-to-Restaurant, Annual Maize Maze, Wildlife habitat program, Community partnerships and special events. For more info, contact Stephanie Dobbie: 505.256.4343, stephanie@riograndefarm.org or visit www.riograndefarm.org

SANTA FE

June 1, 5:30 pm, June 4, 2 pm

Healthy Food Cooking Classes

How to shop for and cook organic and local on a budget. Tips on nutrition, meet farmers. Presented by Slow Food SF, Kitchen Angels and the SF Farmers’ Market Inst. $10/class. 471.7780

June 1-3

Cultural Tourism Workshop

Inst. of Amer. Indian Arts CLE

Business promotion & entrepreneurial strategies in Indian Country. Contact Hayes Lewis: 505.424.5701, hlewis@iaia.edu

June 3, 6:30-8 pm

Herbalist Doug Simons Lecture

Wild Oats/Whole Foods Community Space, Cordova Rd.

Free. Info: 360.643.3951, herbworkshops@gmail.com

June 4-5

Herbalist Doug Simons Workshop

“The Perch,” Randall Davey Audubon Center

Info and registration: 360.643.3951, herbworkshops@gmail.com

June 3 –5

Workshop – What is Truly Mine To Do?

Academy for the Love of Learnings, Seton Village

Recognizing what calls us into action, with founder Aaron Stern and Isoke Femi. When the call to be of service is compelling, can you discern what’s yours to do – and what is not? Working sustainably requires understanding how we are personally touched by our aspirations. A powerful, collaborative experience of opening to yourself, your vision, and inner wisdom. $250. To register: programs@aloveoflearning.org or 505.995.1860. www.aloveoflearning.org.

June 3, 5-7 pm

Heart Gallery of NM

Gerald Peters Gallery, 1011 Paseo de Peralta

Opening Reception. Portraits of NM foster children waiting to be adopted. Silent and live auction. Free. www.heartgallerynmfoundation.org

June 4

National Trails Day

Help the SF Conservation Trust with work on the Windsor Trail from 9-1. To register, go to www.trailsallianceofsantafe.org. 11-2: Outdoor gear raffle at Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works in support of SFCT. 4 pm: Group hike and mountain bike ride. www.sfct.org

June 4

Eldorado Area Gardening Tour

Starting point and maps at La Tienda, Ave, Vista Grande

Self-guided tour includes seven private residential gardens and the Eldorado School Community Garden and Outdoor Classroom. Hardscapes, xeriscapes, cactus, native grasses, perennials, water management strategies, planting strategies, trees, shrubs, vegetables and herbs. Gardeners will answer all your questions. $5 donation to benefit the Outdoor Classroom. JWO1959@aol.com, subject: “Garden Tour Questions”

June 8, noon

Academy of the Love of Learning Tour

Seton Village

LEED-registered, built adjacent to the ruins of Seton Castle. Participants will hear about the Academy’s innovative programming for individuals, community leaders, organizations and teachers. Free. RSVP required. 505.995.1860 of melissa@aloveoflearning.org, www.aloveoflearning.org

June 9, 6-9 pm

Green Living Project Film Premiere

Jay Etkin Gallery, Artyard – Railyard District

Ecotourism in NM and other global sustainability films. Learn about conservation efforts underway including protection of wilderness areas, wildlife and preservation of traditional cultures. Speaker: Larry Burke, CEO of Outside Magazine. Raffle, live music. $12 donation requested. events@greenlivingproject.com, www.greenlivingproject.com/santafe11

June 10-12

Goddess Weekend Retreat

Dream Catcher Ranchito Retreat Center

Meditation, Mantra, Gentle Yoga & Transformation with Kamala Easton, Ph.D. 505.983.0108, kamalaeaston@gmail.com, www.embodyingthegoddess.com

June 11

Ampersand Open House

Sustainable Learning Center in Cerrillos

10am to 3pm – volunteer project, 3pm – site tour, 5:30 potluck

Free. Donations appreciated. Come for a couple hours, the whole day, or camp out with the crew and stay Sunday too. 505.780.0535, ampersandproject@yahoo.com, www.ampersandproject.org

June 11, 3-5 pm

Zen Birding Book Talk

Ark Books, 133 Romero St.

Discussion with local author Susan Guyette on kinship with animals, Eastern and Native American spirituality, birdwatching, and the importance of habitat conservation. 988.3709, arkbooks.com

June 13, 12-12:45 pm

Robert Gaylor, Videographer

NM Museum of Art

Gaylor will talk about his work and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

June 13, 6-8 pm

Tim DeChristopher Talk

Greer Garson Theater, SF Univ. of Art & Design, 1600 St. Michael’s Dr.

10 days before his sentencing for bidding against oil & gas developers for sensitive lands, Environmental activist DeChristopher will speak publicly. $10 suggested donation. Info: 505.469.4060, http://www.democracynow.org/2011/3/4/environmentalist_tim_dechristopher_found_guilty_of

June 16, 5-7 pm

Imagination Conversation

Warehouse 21, 1614 Paseo de Peralta

A free panel discussion about imagination and education. Panelists include people working in the arts, science, business, and education. This is part of the Lincoln Center Institute’s 2-year project throughout the U.S., culminating in America’s Imagination Summit at Lincoln Center in NYC, July 21-22. Presented by the city of SF Arts Commission. More info: www.SantaFeArtsCommission.org

June 15, 7 pm

An Evening with Djwhal Khul

17 Bisbee Court, Unit B

Kathlyn Kingdon, who has presented Djwjal Khul’s message around the world for 25 years, will offer a free talk on developing inner peace in a chaotic world. The Vajra Flame Foundation: 303.554.9881, admin@vajraflame.org

June 18, July 16, 23, Aug. 27

Beekeeping workshops

Eldorado

Helen Hastings, organic grower and permaculturist. $120 for the series or $45 each class. 505.920.2234 or jandeligans@aol.com

June 24-26

Zero Waste Community Planning

6/24, 7-9 pm: Free lecture on sustainability and green jobs; 6/25, 9:30-4:30: Intro to Zero Waste and Resource Mgmt, workshop; 6/26, 9:30-4:30: Communities and Businesses Building a Zero Waste Economy, presented by Gary Liss. www.carboneconomyseries.com/workshops/zero-waste

July 16, 7 pm

James A. Little Theater

Be Aware Benefit Concert

Author/musician G a b r i e l o f U r a n t i a and the 11 – p i e c e B r i g h t & M o r n i n g S t a r B a n d p r e s e n t C o s m o P o p ( r o c k , j a z z , C e l t i c , w o r l d , m a n t r a , c o u n t r y a n d m o r e) in s u p p o r t of i n t e r n a t i o n a l s t u d e n t s , r e h a b p r o g r a m s , a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l i n t e r n s h i p s at Southern AZ nonprofit ecovillage/farm. T h e c o n c e r t focuses on e n v i r o n m e n t a l , s o c i a l a n d sustainability i s s u e s . Tickets: $20 advance/$25 door + kids price. 505.988.1234, ticketssantafe.org. More info: http://beawaretour.org

June 19, 5-10 pm

Women’s Summer Solstice

Rancho de Las Golondrinas, La Cienega

Hillary Smith, R&B gospel vocalist and her band will headline. $15, Tickets: sdp22daboyz@netzero.comngitana@gmail.com or at Café Ole, 2411 Cerrillos Rd. Booths available. Sponsored by the Albq. Center for Peace and Justice. More info: 316-0512 or lunar@cybermesa.com

June 25, 9 am

Organic Pest and Disease Control

Milagro Community Garden, Rodeo Rd. and Legacy

Jannine Cabossel, Master Gardener, will share her tips. $5 suggested donation. Presented by Home Grown NM and the Community Garden. info: 473.1403, homegrownnewmexico@gmail.com

June 28

Community Homesteading Pot Luck

SF Complex, 632 Agua Fria

Monthly event. Grow, raise, cook, preserve, teach, mentor, share. Suggested donation: $5. Presented by the SF Complex and Home Grown NM. More info: 473.1403, homegrownnewmexico.com

June 30

Kim Müller Benefit

Rio Chama Restaurant

Hors d’oeuvres, informal dinner from fine area restaurants, raffle and a silent auction to raise funds for the convalescence of Chef Müller, who is awaiting a kidney transplant. Auction donations welcome. www.mullerbenefit.com

June 30

Lunafest National Film Festival

James A. Little Theater

Promotes women filmmakers, raises awareness of women’s issues and supports worthy women’s nonprofit organizations including Girls on the Run Santa Fe and Breast Cancer Fund. Raffle drawing. Contact meganmarieperkins@yahoo.com

Saturdays, 4 pm

Green Talk Radio

KTRC – 1260 am

A weekly show with Faren Dancer. At a time when our culture is requiring a major shift in how we relate to the Earth and our fossil fuel-based economy is poised for transition to a renewable future, awareness and knowledge are keys to true sustainability. Each show explores the issues, politics, science, and the evolution of consciousness impacting the balancing of life on our planet.

Santa Fe Creative Tourism Initiatives

Artists and craftsmen who offer workshops and classes within SF County are invited to list their offerings with Santa Fe Creative Tourism at www.SantaFeCreativeTourism.org. See “Get Involved” tab to list. This service is free and provided by the city of SF Arts Commission.

Save A Ton Recycling Campaign

The city of Santa Fe and the SF New Mexican have launched a campaign to double recycling in Santa Fe in one year. Santa Feans score way below state and national averages. For a city with its own recycling facility that envisions becoming a Zero Waste community, we can do better! Find info on the Save A Ton campaign at www.sfnewmexican.com and click on Green Line or on Facebook. Contact Regina Wheeler, SF Solid Waste Director: 505.955.2209 or e-mail rawheeler@santafenm.gov

Sustainable Growth Management Plan for SF County

Hard copies $20, CDs $2. Contact Melissa Holmes, 505.995.2717 or msholmes@santafecounty.org. The SGMP is also available on the county website: www.santafecounty.org/growth_management/sgmp and can be reviewed at SF Public libraries and the County Administrative Building, 102 Grant Ave.

HERE & THERE

June 4, 5-10 pm

Keep the Campfires Burning Benefit

Dragonfly Café, 402 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos

Benefit for the summer camp at the Sangre deo Cristo Youth Ranch. 5-7: Wine and hor d’ouvres ($25); 7-10: Dining and presentations (Full evening with 5-course dinner $150/$250 couples) Tickets: 575.737.5859. More info: 575.613.6808, info@localogy.org, www.localogy.org/camp

June 6-7

Clean and Green Investment Forum

Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA.

Opal Financial Group’s forum will bring together experts from throughout the country to discuss cleantech and greentech. Attendees will represent pension funds, endowments, and trusts, as well as utility companies, federal and state agencies, and energy equipment companies. More info: 212.532.9898, ext. 0., feedback@opalgroup.net, www.opalgroup.net

June 6-10, 9 am-3 pm

Greenhouse Lab

UNM-Taos

Season extension is critical to increase local food system capacity. Students will design and build a greenhouse as a food-growing classroom. Lessons include 4-season growing strategies. $25 fee. 575.770.5670, www.taos.unm.edu.

June 10-12

4th Annual Celebrando las Acequias

Mission Building, Downtown Dixon, NM

Free event on the importance of the acequias as a cultural patrimony, and their role in local food production web, cultural tourism and the local economy. Presentations and workshops with Ron Rael, Dr. Robert Hunt, Dr. Jose Rivera, Dr. Sam Fernald, Lois Ellen Frank, Dr. Enrique Lamadrid, Peter Warshall, Catherine Harris, Erin English, Brad Lancaster. Sponsored by Embudo Valley Acequia Assn., Arid Land Inst. of Woondbury University, Center for SW Cultures, Acequia Inst., Earthworks Inst., Cuatro Puertas, Rio Arriba County and NM Acequia Assn. More info: 505.579.4027, estevan_2002@yahoo.com. For documentation of the 2010 Celebrando, go to: http://aridlands.woodbury.edu/public_programs/celebrando_2010.html

June 11-12, July 30-31

Queen Honeybee Breeding & Rearing Workshop

Truchas, NM

Two sessions with Mark Spitzig and Melanie Kirby of Zia Queenbee Co. at their home farm. Course designed for experienced beekeepers, covering the complete process from selecting and establishing breeders to the art of grafting and mature harvest of mated queen bees. $200 for one and a half day hands-on practicum. More info: 505.689.1287, www.ziaqueenbees.com

June 11-12, 10 am-4 pm

Rag Rug Festival & Design Collective

Hubbard Museum, Ruidoso Downs, NM

Handcrafted rugs and other home furnishings, fashions and personal adornments. A Women’s Cottage Industries program. Free. 505.983.6155, www.nmwf.org

June 13-18, 9 am-5 pm

Organic Farming Workshop

UNM-Taos

Learn about compost, green manure, CSA’s, tracking & measuring, soil ideas and non-toxic pest controls while working as interns on a different Taos farm each day. Breaks for discussion and demonstrations. Students will design their own 4-season food-growing plans. 575.770.5670, www.taos.unm.edu

June 15, 30 Application Deadlines

Rural Energy for America Program

USDA grants and loan guarantees for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency systems and renewable energy improvement projects. Renewable energy feasibility study grants and energy audit and RE development assistance grants. Call 505.761.4953 or 505.761.4952, e-mail: jesse.bopp@nm.usda.gov.

June 16-18

Rainwater Harvesting Workshops

Moriarty, NM

American Rainwater Catchment Systems Assn. is offering an Introductory workshop June 16 and a 2-day Accredited Professional workshop June 17-18. Course descriptions and to register: www.arcsa.org. Questions: 505.577.8899, education@arcsa.org.

June 18, 1:30–3:30 pm

Driving Through Time: A Roadside Geology of Taos

Taos Public Library, 402 Cam. De La Placita

Free lecture by Bill Balsam, Professor Emeritus, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas, Arlington. More info: 575.758.3063 or www.taosgov.com.

June 19, 9 am-5 pm

Zia Pueblo Arts & Crafts Fair

135 Capitol Square, Zia Pueblo, NM

A perfect reason for a drive through the beautiful Pajarito and Jemez plateaus. Silent auction, performances by traditional dancers, Native foods.

June 19, 2 pm

Zia Pueblo Potter Demo

Coronado State Monument, Bernalillo

Ulysses Reid will discuss his pottery method, innovative designs, and do a pottery firing. $5 admission. 505.792.4851, http://home.comcast.net/~friendsofcsm

June 20-24

EcoNest Clay-Straw Building Workshop

Near Pecos, NM

Learn how to efficiently wrap a building with a 12” blanket of dynamic insulation for health, comfort and building longevity. 541.488.9508, www.econest.com

June 22-24

Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability Forum

Boulder, CO.

A cross section of executives and decision makers interested in the LOHAS market segment. Workshops, presentations and networking. www.lohas.com

June 20-25

Na’ashjé’ii Biyiin: Chant of the Spider

Ned Hatathli Museum, Diné College, Tsailé, AZ, Navajo Nation

Lectures, panel discussions, exhibits and film screenings that explore the interconnected spiritual and technical processes of Diné weaving.

Takes place during the 15th Annual Sheep is Life Celebration. Free admission. Fees for workshops. Presented by Diné be’ iiná, Inc. Contact TahNibaa Naataanii, Project Director: 505.406.7428, info@navajolifeway.org, www.navajolifeway.org

July 3-9

Heart of the West Tour

Cimarron Rodeo, Santa Fe Trail, Taos Pueblo, Las Vegas, Pecos National Historical Park, private Santa Fe tour, a night at the opera (La Boheme), Intl. Folk Art Market early bird ticket. Presented by Cimarroncita Historic Ranch Retreat and Seven Directions Tours. $1,350 includes four nights at the ranch and two nights in Santa Fe. More info: 1.877.992.6128, http://www.sevendirections.net, www.cimarroncita.com

July 3-15

Indigenous Sustainable Communities Design Course

Star School, Flagstaff, AZ.

Hands-on course on traditional agriculture, women in agriculture, organic methods, seed saving, Permaculture, natural healing, water harvesting, land restoration, more. Info: 505.983.4047, Clayton@tnafanm.org.

July 23, 1:30-4 pm

Importance of Acequias: Local Lessons that Serve the World

Taos Public Library, 402 Cam. De La Placita, Taos

Lecture by Miguel Santistevan. Agriculture in the New and Old World. Environmental, cultural and political aspects of acequia survival. Contemporary issues in agriculture, land tenure, and changes in food systems. Free. More info: 575.758-3063, www.taosgov.com

Aug. 5-7

The Art of Seeing, The Way of the Tracker

Circle A Ranch, Cuba, NM

Permaculture designer Joel Glanzberg and tracker John Stokes guide this immersion experience in the art of seeing, a deep exploration of Nature, its patterns and expressions. $250. More info and to register: 505.898.6967, thetrackingproject@earthlink.net

Through October

The Heart and Science of Resiliency

Custom hikes, workshops and retreats. Move beyond “bouncing back!” Put yourself on Nature’s side and navigate the turbulence of today’s world into a future worth dreaming into being. Permitted with the USFS since 1989. 505.466.1813, larry@wildresiliency.com, www.wildresiliency.com

Raffle for the Rio

Win a week’s trip for two including airfare to Akumal Bay on the Mexican Riveria or Pisac Inn near Machu Piccu in Peru. Tickets are $25 each. Drawing June 23 on KTAO Solar Radio 101.9 FM. Call Amigos Bravos: 575.758.3874 or online at amigosbravos.org.

Vallecitos Mountain Ranch

World class wilderness venue located in one of the most beautiful alpine regions of the Rocky Mtns. Majestic old growth forests, mountain lakes, historic log cabin lodge. Conferences, workshops, trainings and retreats. May 18-22: CLE Mindfulness Training for Lawyers with Grove Burnett. See schedule for all retreats at www.vallecitos.org, 575.751.9613. Available for event and group rentals.

Veterans Green Jobs Academy

Northern NM College, Espanola

Workforce training and specific degree programs to support military veterans in fully accredited academic certificate and degree programs in areas of environmental science related to renewable energy, hazardous materials response, forestry, sustainable agriculture, wildland fire science, construction trades and others. A partnership with the NM Dept. of Veterans Services. For more info, call Dr. Biggs at 505.747.5453 or visit www.nnmc.edu/vetacademy.htm.

NM Green Chamber of Commerce

The NM Green Chamber of Commerce, with chapters around the state, has a business directory that is a great resource for conscious consumers looking for locally owned and environmentally friendly businesses in their area. Contribute to a sustainable future by supporting businesses in your city/town that are striving to be leaders in green business practices. Info: 505.859.3433, info@nmgreenchamber.com, http://nmgreenchamber.com/members?page=2

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The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized green building certification system. LEED provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed to maximize energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. The minimum requirement for LEED Platinum certification (the highest level possible) is 80 points. Villa Alegre will receive 92 points.

Villa Alegre is an infill project on previously developed land with community resources within walking distance. Landscaping utilizes drought-tolerant plants and a zoned drip-irrigation system. The project has been built using efficient off-site panelized construction, which minimizes waste. Environmentally preferable products have been used wherever possible, including concrete made with 30% fly-ash from the Four Corners power plant to replace Portland cement, and blown-in fiberglass insulation with 25% pre-consumer recycled content. 75% of the construction waste, including asphalt, cardboard, wood, metal and plastic has been recycled during construction.

Solar photovoltaic supplys approximately 40% of Villa Alegre’s electricity, with 1120 Schott Poly 230 solar panels, each producing 280-300 KWH/year. Although it is difficult to predict exactly how much energy each residence will use, the assumption is that Villa Alegre will use 20% less electricity than an average NM home. LEED points are also given for using products close to where they’re manufactured, and the Schott panels, manufactured in Albuquerque, also qualified for ARRA funding and Buy-American provisions. Villa Alegre is also the only public housing project in the state that utilizes geothermal energy, with individual ground-source heat pumps for heating, cooling and domestic hot water.

A primary goal was to reduce energy costs for residents by “sealing the envelope” to ensure that energy won’t leak out of the homes. Villa Alegre’s Home Energy rating (HERS) will be between 20 and 40. The lower the HERS rating, the more energy efficient. The mandated minimum HERS rating for NM is 60.

Indoor air quality is enhanced in each unit by using low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, caulking and other materials during construction. A mechanical ventilation system will run 24/7 at low cost, pulling moist, contaminated air out of the units and bringing fresh air back in, rather than re-circulating stale air. 90% of flooring will be low-emission hard flooring rather than carpet. The white TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin formulation) roofs reflect the sun rather than absorbing heat like most roofing materials, which also contributes to energy efficiency and maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures – cool in the summer and warmer in the winter. Windows, insulation and roofing all contribute to energy efficiency and comfort. All homes also have water-conserving appliances.

Another key component of the “green process” is manager- and tenant-training. There will be operation manuals for each home geared to the homeowner, with advice on green living, and a one-hour mandatory walk-through for each tenant. Tenants will also receive a starter kit of green cleaning products.

Since 1964, SFCHA has developed and managed affordable single family and multifamily communities. The Authority has created eight master-planned communities and owns over 1,200 units in the Santa Fe area. The Authority built the original Villa Alegre project in 1964 with 74 family units on the 9-acre site and 30 additional units four blocks east. As the years passed, the project deteriorated into a community claimed by a local gang and plagued by drugs, crime, and not surprisingly, high occupant turnover. Realizing it was time to start anew, SFCHA began to work with architects, neighbors and the city to develop a plan for a new community. To help finance the $24 million redevelopment, the Authority was awarded Low Income Housing Tax Credits administered by the NM Mortgage Finance Authority. The Authority also benefited from the Tax Credit Assistance Program and NM Sustainable Building Tax Credits. The project broke ground in June 2010 and has generated a significant number of jobs.

Ed Romero of SFCHA says, “Green building and the affordable market we serve align in a multitude of ways. We are now developing projects that are durable with little maintenance required, energy efficient so the renter’s utility bills are as low, and with indoor air quality that is healthier and can lower renters’ medical bills. All of this culminates in a happier, healthier household who can spend their limited funds on a better quality of life.”

Villa Alegre’s 50 senior units are already rented. Of the 60 family units, there are four public housing units and 48 two- and three-bedroom units, with eligibility at 50-60% of median income. Tenants will pay differing amounts of rent for those units depending on income. There are also nine family market-rate units available. For more information, contact Karlyn Mercado at Monarch Properties at 505.988.1116, or email karlynmercado@yahoo.com.

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Melanie Margarita Kirby

There are more beekeepers among us these days! A very good thing. However, there are several things to consider for those interested in learning how to become beekeepers (or better put: bee stewards) and integrate their interest into their surrounding communities in a healthy and respectful manner. Bee stewards can promote honeybees and native bees, which include bumbles, sweat bees, leaf-cutters, Blue Orchard bees and the many hundreds more. Bee stewards do not necessarily have to have their own bees – they can accommodate pollinator needs in a variety of ways. This article invites all community members to lend a little attention, as what happens to our bees will affect humans and life on Earth deeply. I will share what the current status of bees is and how we, as community members on this planet we call home, can assist in their protection and promotion.

Back in 2006, the world came to hear about CCD – Colony Collapse Disorder, in which bees across the U.S. and Europe had begun to “disappear.” There has been a lot of funding and research around the world looking for the “smoking gun.” While no single issue has defined CCD and no single remedy has been discovered, researchers, beekeepers, environmentalists, agronomists and farmers think that there are many culprits involved. These include new pathogens, pests, pesticides and chemical-farming practices, loss of habitat, human encroachment and development, weather/climate changes, genetically-modified seeds, and – most succinctly – compromised nutrition from available forage.

So where does New Mexico fit into this dilemma?

The valleys of NM beckon to all, from the birds and the bees looking for available forage to the people and roaches living off of the waterways that make agriculture, homes and communities possible. We all congregate at the same watering hole and share resources. This means that we must look to accommodate each other and establish positive responses and proactive approaches to everyone’s needs.

The very nature of our Land of Enchantment landscape keeps the beekeeping industry as a whole quite small. Our geography and limited water availability make it quite impossible for large-scale, industrial agriculture (including industrial beekeeping) to expand. There are a few of us New Mexican beekeepers who consider ourselves professionals; by this I mean that we rely on our beekeeping and our beloved winged angels of agriculture for our livelihoods. We provide for our bees so that they may provide for us.

How do we “provide” for them? First, beekeepers look to develop and promote sustainable methods and management of our winged livestock. Second, keepers and their bees offer valuable community services in the form of pollination, which in turn plays a very crucial role in our area food production and security. And third, most beekeepers serve as resources by sharing their fascination and educating the public. Let’s discuss these three points in a little more detail.

The first provision requires that area bee enthusiasts educate themselves on the current plight of bees and how to prevent its spread to our region. The increase in “recreational” or backyard honeybee beekeepers is on the rise. At first glance, this is great. However, this has meant a compromise in several areas.

Because our NM landscape is such and because NM beekeeping is limited by it, there are no large producers in the state. There are a few who produce local stock, but not enough to fill the demand. So folks have begun to import bees en masse from out of the region. The higher production zones for bees include California, Texas and several other southern states where their spring commences earlier. These locations are also where large-scale agricultural practices have radically changed the landscape, the water quality and the kind of food/forage produced, as well as the kinds of bees, including Africanized honeybees.

The widespread American practice of larger beekeepers taking their bees to California for the almond bloom pollination is akin to mono spreading around at summer camp: not everyone takes care of their bees the same way and thus illnesses and pests are spread to all. Many of these larger bee producers then make their hive increases in a compromised location – one laden with chemical inputs, and with bees in all stages of health communing. This means that the larger production zones for bees are compromised, making any bees produced in these regions susceptible and carriers of varied ailments. Bees imported from these regions have already had an adverse affect on beekeepers here in NM – from new viral issues to the loss of colonies throughout winter and the remainder of the year to unknown causes.

So for those interested in honeybee beekeeping and for providing varied bee pollinator homes and habitat, it is crucial to find regional stock that has not been overly exposed or produced in compromised areas. It works better for our agro-ecosystem and our bioregion to promote those bees that develop right here in our backyards and our wildways that are “localized” or regionally-fortified. The many new beekeepers with healthy hives will begin to have growth in their colonies and hopefully will share their bees with their neighbors. Local swarms can be transferred from unwanted locations to new abodes (with help from an established beekeeper). This will allow our communities to establish a reliable and hopefully sustainable resource within our tierra.

To find an area honeybee beekeeper, one merely has to visit virtually any farmers’ market. Contact area clubs. For the Santa Fe-based Sangre de Cristo Beekeepers, visit http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/SDCBeekeepers/. For the Albuquerque area, visit www.abqbeeks.ning.com and The NM Beekeepers Association at www.nmbeekeepers.org. The NM Bee Collaborative seeks to provide info and safe haven for declining bee populations (honeybees and 1,400 NM native species). Their projects are a great way to learn about bees, bee lore, wildlife habitat and water harvesting earthworks construction at their outdoor classroom site between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, off the Turquoise Trail. For more info on The NM Bee Collaborative & its sister project, Pollinator Nation, email Laurie Lange at botanicarts@earthlink.net or pollinatornation@earthlink.net.

There is also a newly formed organization entitled The NM Pollinator Project, which focuses on creating pollinator friendly zones through NM. The group will be working with beekeepers, farmers and gardeners, youth and parents and other citizens through education, outreach and capacity building in our communities. Their aim is to build local and regional policy to support healthy pollinator habitat on farms, gardens, school and community gardens sites and wild places. Loretta McGrath is directing and coordinating the development of the NMPP and can be reached at loremcgrath@gmail.com.

It is essential for our communities and wilderness areas to host a variety of pollinator species. The reliance on honeybees for much of American pollination has affected them greatly while also impacting other native and wild bee species. Providing secure habitat for area pollinators and planting pollinator-friendly plants can help add to our area food sustainability and security. For those interested in installing bee homes, visit www.pollinatorparadise.com and learn how to build your own native bee homes out of scrap wood.

Many of these native bees are short-lived with seasonal lifespans that accommodate a particular bloom and then fade out for the season only to return again at the following year’s bloom. Others are wide bloom visitors and can flourish in diversified areas. Planting a variety of blooms – several for each season of spring, summer, and fall – can really add to the overall forage and nutrition available for our bees. There are several great area resources for pollinator friendly plants across NM including Plants of the Southwest and Santa Fe Greenhouses/ High Country Gardens, both with locations in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

By offering diverse nutritional forage for our area bees, we will be helping to sustain them through the trials and tribulation of Mother Nature and Father Time. Bees reared on monocrop agriculture that has been exposed to pesticide and GMO threats are ultimately very different and disturbed creatures. Providing diverse habitat and forage means that our bees will be able to maintain their health and immunity response systems. They can then deal with the varied changes in climate and conditions and from introduced threats more readily than if they were fed “bread” alone.

Healthy bees are able to pollinate more efficiently and “economically” by being adaptive to our area cultivars. Pollination by bees produces over 30% of what we as humans eat, including stone fruits such as apples, cherries and apricots, as well as many of our vegetables and nuts. The percentage is actually higher, for without bees, we would be without beef and milk as well. Goats and cows rely upon alfalfa, and bees are needed to pollinate alfalfa. Unfortunately, “Montdiablo’s” recently government-approved, herbicide-resistant alfalfa will undermine organic farmers’ rights and also compromise our health and our pollinators’ health.

It really does take a community to raise bees! And the more we educate ourselves on the complex realities that we have allowed and have been confined by, perhaps the better we can determine what positive course to take. We can look to provide our area pollinator needs with attentive community members right here instead of looking outside for others to decipher and proclaim what we, as a society, should have done, could have done, and need to do.

It is a very splendid sight to see more folks in our communities becoming attentive to the nuances of bug life and how we can assist them during their plight and reverse negative conditions for them – and ultimately ourselves. The increase in backyard beekeepers in urban areas is flourishing. Keeping bees in the city and in rural environments will require respectful management. It is crucial to research the health and genetics of any bees one intends to import from out of the area. Having aggressive bees near highly populated zones may lead to municipality intervention. And having sick bees can spread and devastate area bees and their stewards.

There is much to learn when keeping bees. Working with each other for our pollinators will create a sustainable resource for our food and biodiversity needs. To conclude: not all bees are the same, and the best are those that are right here in your area – they have proven themselves to be able to handle the diversity and adversity of our enchanting lands of NM while minimizing imported threats. Established beekeepers can share their bees during growth and swarm seasons, and interested community members can learn more by joining the area clubs and networks and finding mentors.

Melanie Margarita Kirby is a native New Mexican from Tortugas Pueblo who keeps honeybees from Las Cruces to Taos. An aspiring bee breeder, Melanie operates Zia Queenbee Co. with partner Mark Spitzig. Their home bee farm in Truchas, NM supports regionally-fortified breeding projects with a focus on chemical-free, survivor stock bee breeding. Visit www.ziaqueenbees.com for more info.

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The subject of food and growing food is very political, and has social and cultural impacts. In New Mexico, although there are a number of organizations working on issues related to food systems, few have had the awareness to include social justice in their mission or to fully take into account the impact of their work on ranchers, farmers, distributors and consumers.

Over the next few months in a series of articles in Green Fire Times, I will explore this volatile subject: our traditional food systems vs. the predominant food system, within the context of sustainable agriculture. There are several areas of disagreement on what role agriculture or sustainable agriculture plays and how important it is to our food security in the region. How important is our local food, and to what extent do state and federal governments have influence over the food production?

I will discuss agribusiness and its food production methods. I think a review that compares this approach, which encourages a large and a centralized food system, with the alternative—a regional food or local food system—is in order.

There are many other relevant issues I will also discuss. There are divisions between traditional and new farmers. There are growing systems that clash with available water distribution. There are markets that don’t plan for growth, and large markets that don’t know how to support farmers in meeting the demand for their products. There are food safety issues that feel like an attack to eliminate small growers.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Police (IATP) Fellows Program, of which I am a member, is working to create a food system that strengthens the health of communities, particularly children. The IATP is focused on work that creates a just, equitable and healthy food system from its roots up.

Some of the areas I will touch on include:

• Displacement of traditional communities

• Network development as it relates to food systems and the aggregation of produce

• Inadequate resource distribution

• The devaluing of ancestral knowledge

• Economics

• The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture: how it affects NM, and how can we work to change federal policy

I know several high-level organizations that have attempted to improve local food systems, but as sometimes happens, the local communities were not well prepared. At the end of the project the communities are left in a less than ideal condition, with a sense of being used and disempowered. Well-meaning individuals sometimes attempt to do good things and “save” the local folks, who end up being left on the sidelines.

Considering that we live in a state with limited water, hundreds of years of displacement, gentrification, a sense of manifest destiny, and a continued history of not addressing issues, this may be where the conflict begins: not understanding cultural differences or respecting the wishes of indigenous communities.

Through this discussion and in addressing how our food is grown and by whom, we may not come up with the complete answer. But it may help us understand the deeper issues. It may also help us develop a method through which farmers and ranchers could participate to diffuse the tension between traditional agriculture and the new farming movement.

Don Bustos manages Santa Cruz Farms in northern NM. It is certified organic and grows several varieties of vegetables year round. Its vegan produce uses no animal byproducts. Solar energy is its major input. Contact: DBustos@afsc.org

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Money holds power. To the dismay of many social investors, this is still a true statement. To their delight however, there is a key component of Socially Responsible Investing or Sustainable Investing as it is now often referred to, that brings light to that power. That is the power of the proxy vote. By leveraging the economic influence of the more than $3 trillion invested by regular people like you and me, we can be a major catalyst for change.

Back in the ’80s we saw the force behind the deconstruction of apartheid in South Africa when millions of investors began the largest shareholder action campaign to date, forcing many companies to discontinue business with the government until equality was restored. In more recent times we have seen shareholder actions against companies to address issues of climate change, genetically modified food products, and the use of BPA in product packaging. The list goes on and on.

Shareholder advocacy is a simple strategy, yet we are bound by Federal Securities laws. These state that any action that goes to a shareholder vote must be for the benefit of all shareholders. Those mutual funds, investment advisors and individuals who file the actions to go to a shareholder vote believe that by initiating reforms we are creating better companies and enhancing the long-term viability of a company. The ultimate goal is the creation of massive systemic changes, which will result in a better world for us and our future generations.

The first step in this process is that one must own shares in the company that is doing the bad deed or where there is a concern about corporate practices. For many Social Investors this might preclude some of the more egregious offenders like oil companies, but it’s important to remember that change cannot happen without some dialogue. Once a shareholder has submitted a resolution two things can happen. If the company is against the resolution, the Securities and Exchange Commission allows the company to omit the resolution for 13 different reasons. (You can read these on the Sierra Club’s web site under Corporate Accountability Committee.) The SEC will then determine if there are grounds to file legal action against the company if it doesn’t allow the resolution. If there are grounds, the company will likely allow the resolution to go to a shareholder vote rather than deal with the legal issues.

The second and more desirable path of a resolution happens if the company doesn’t have any major issues or can’t determine if there are reasons to have it omitted. It will then allow the resolution to go to a vote. There are many occasions in this process when a company will ask the filer for a dialogue about the resolution to come to a consensus rather than have it go to a full shareholder vote. Having a corporation ask for dialogue is a huge step towards change as this means it is receptive. Many companies want to do what is right and feel that these changes are good for their bottom line as well. The reality is that they would like to avoid litigation and bad publicity that can accompany this process.

As You Sow is a nonprofit organization that works to increase corporate accountability and has filed hundreds of resolutions in conjunction with individuals and advisors for almost two decades. Their web site provides information on many of these, including some interesting actions in 2011. For example, they have filed a resolution with Starbucks, already a leader in the coffee industry in using fair trade coffee to increase their recycling efforts, as they lag behind their competitors considerably. Thus far in 2011, As You Sow has filed as many as six corporation resolutions on the financial risks of coal with companies like Xcel Energy and Duke Energy. These read, “Resolved: Shareowners request that Duke Energy’s Board of Directors, at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary information, issue a report by November 2011 on the financial risks of continued reliance on coal contrasted with increased investments in efficiency and cleaner energy, including an assessment of the cumulative costs of environmental compliance for coal plants compared to alternative generating sources.”

It’s time for all of us to get involved. There are companies who can help you vote your shareholder resolutions. One such organization is MoxyVote, and often times you can designate your Financial Advisory firm to do this as well. Just remember to check their web sites on their guidelines for voting proxies. Mutual funds will vote your stock proxies for you and are required to provide information on how they vote the proxies in an annual disclosure process.

With a greater understanding of the importance of proxy voting, you too can facilitate change in your little corner of the world. Vote your proxy today!

Kimberly Kiel is owner of Horizons Sustainable Financial Services in Santa Fe, an independent firm licensed in 20 states. Horizons offers securities through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker/dealer and member FINRA, SIPC. Email kim@santafesocialinvest.com, call 982.9661 or 877.321.3236.

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