April 2012 Edition

Vol. 4, No. 4April 2012 NEW MEXICOS FIFTH LARGEST CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

NE W S & V I E W S F R O M T H E SU S T AI N AB L E SO U T H W E S T

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CULTURAL TOURISM

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

A couple of weeks ago, as I drove up through the Espaola Valley and across the Ro Grande I reected on my good fortune to be living in New Mex-ico. In the distance the Jemez Moun-tains sparkled with new snow; in the foreground low-lying adobe buildings pued out sweet-smelling pin smoke. I was on my way to Ohkay Owingeh to take a cooking class with Norma Nara-njo, owner of %e Feasting Place (www.

thefeastingplace.com). Norma and her husband, Hutch, live and farm on the Pueblo and oer classes on traditional Pueblo cooking. %ey have two enor-mous dome-shaped ovens, hornos, in their backyard, hand-built with river rocks and mud plaster by Hutch and his family. Inside, around an enormous dining table, Norma teaches guests how to knead bread by hand, molding it into perfect rounded balls that expand and become golden brown in the hornos. If

THE GLOBAL CENTER FOR CULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIPFOSTERING THE CREATIVE AND CULTURAL ECONOMY

ALICE LOY

you take a cooking class with Norma you are guaranteed an experience unlike any other youll nd in the Southwest.

Like many of you reading this article, I am a transplant to our enchanted state. I moved to New Mexico over a decade ago for three reasons: the rich cultural heritage, the awe-inspiring landscapes, and the green chile. A day with Norma brings all three of those beloved experiences together. New Mexico is distinct from any other placewed like to keep it that way. Fortunately, our uniqueness may prove a key economic advantage in the next economy: the creative economy.

%e creative and cultural economy is emerging at the intersection of human creativity, knowledge and technological innovation. People working in the cre-ative/cultural economy include artists, designers, chefs, lmmakers, publishers, artisan farmers, architects, craftspeople and performers. %e creative economy places a premium on sustaining natu-ral environs and enhancing diversity; it thrives where unique communities em-brace their culture and traditions and ap-ply these to markets, when appropriate.

Here in New Mexico the creative economy is emerging as a force for building thriving communities. Our goal at the Global Center for Cul-tural Entrepreneurship (GCCE) is

A cultural entrepreneur is a visionary who

combines cultural assets with innovation.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

CULTURAL TOURISMCultural Tourism involves experiencing or having contact with the unique social fabric, heritage and special character of places. It is an exchange of information on lifeways, customs, beliefs, values, language, views of the environment and other cultural resources. e challenge in planning for cultural tourism is to ensure that the exchange takes place as equitably as possible, in a manner seen as appropriate by members of the host community.

CREATIVE TOURISMCreative Tourism is directed toward an engaged and authentic experience, with participative learning in the arts, heritage or special character of a place. Creative Tourism can be a powerful economic development tool for cities, provinces, states and countries.

ECOTOURISMEcotourism is a form of responsible travel that oers authentic, engaging and ed-ucational experiences to travelers who want an o-the-beaten-path adventure that connects them with natural beauty and indigenous traditions. For the local com-munities it provides a rewarding and sustainable business model and enterprise. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of lo-cal people.

AGRITOURISMAgricultural Tourism is a commercial enterprise at a working farm, ranch or ag-ricultural plant conducted for the enjoyment or education of visitors. "is can include farm stands, farmers markets, U-pick, farm stays, tours, on-farm classes, fairs, festivals, pumpkin patches, orchard dinners, youth camps, barn dances, guest ranches and more. Agritourism is rapidly becoming a way to supplement farm in-come. NM has a special niche of combining agritourism with bio-cultural foods, Native American and Hispanic food events, traditional gardening demonstrations and nature guiding.

CULINARY TOURISMCulinary Tourism is the pursuit of unique and memorable eating and drinking ex-periences. As cuisine is a manifestation of culture, culinary tourism and agritour-ism are inextricably linked, as the seeds of cuisine can be found in agriculture. As culinary tourism is not limited to gourmet food, it is not necessarily pretentious and exclusive.

VOLUNTOURISMVoluntourism is a form of ecotourism that is undertaken in support of things such as environmental restoration or to improve the well-being of a local community. People also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun and for a variety of other reasons.

Sustainable Tourism creates economic growth in a manner that does not deplete the natural and built environment, while preserving the culture, history, heritage and arts of the local community. Here are six types of sustainable tourism:

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to strengthen New Mexicos abil-ity to successfully participate in the creative economy. Using Census and NAICS data, we have learned that 12% of New Mexicans already work in the creative/cultural economy (see the report on our website). It is a cor-nerstone of our economic foundation. New Mexico is uniquely positioned to leapfrog into the burgeoning creative/cultural economy, building economic opportunities for families and foster-ing local culture and traditions.

Previous research on cultural enter-prises have demonstrated signicant positive impacts on communities:

t$VMUVSBM FOUFSQSJTFT BSF PGUFO iHSFFOwand more environmentally sustainable;

t$VMUVSBM XPSL DSFBUFT EJHOJmFE JO-come opportunities for women;

t$VMUVSBM FOUFSQSJTFT CVJME TPDJBMbonds across diverse communities.

Je Mitchell, Ph.D. at the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at UNM, describes why the creative/cul-

tural economy oers positive opportunities for New Mexicans: i&DPOPNJD EFWFMPQ-ment strategies based on culture provide an escape from the wage race to the bottom. To avoid the race to the bottom, a community must provide some-thing that others cannot easily replicate, some-thing distinctive and sustainable. Culture and

other place-specic qualities BSFFYBDUMZUIJTLJOEPGBTTFUw%S.JUDI-ell goes on to explain that at the heart of every cultural enterprise is a cultural entrepreneur, a visionary who combines cultural assets with innovation.

At GCCE we are excited about work-ing with cultural entrepreneurs because we see that cultural entrepreneurs drive global change. ey create economic value and promote cultural preserva-tion and innovation. ey enrich our communities and the world. ey gen-erate self-determination and self-reli-ance. To support cultural entrepreneurs GCCE has a three-fold mission:

1. We support cultural entrepreneurs working to create and scale their enterprises.

2. We advocate for the importance of cultural entrepreneurship and the value of a culture economy.

3. We connect a global network of cultural entrepreneurs.

GCCE works with communities and

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SUSAN GUYETTE

REGIONAL TOURISM:RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: YYYYYYYYYYY A POTENTIAL STRATEGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Northern New Mexico is the home of hundreds of culturally interesting enterprises that sustain families and traditions on the land. Yet, most visitors never nd these gems. What can be done to assist both traveler and community? !e key to creating a win/win tourism benet is imbedded in rural and urban collabo-ration, for regional strengths comple-ment the potential of each and create a sense of discovery.

Tourism works on the basis of co-operation. By denition, a tour is a number of stops comprising a trip itinerary. Travelers tend to look for a series of interesting stops and need to know how to link them together. Be-cause visitors generally do not travel 500, 1,000 or 3,000 miles to visit one business, a vacation concept combin-ing interesting activities, comfortable lodging and unique dining experi-ences is sought in the process of plan-ning a vacation of a week or longer. !e discovery of these links becomes part of the adventure.

Choices expand regional market pos-sibilities and attract visitors. Learn-ers like to visit a cluster of museum or educational activities. Shoppers like to compare prices and quality on items, and are more likely to buy when a wider range of options are readily available. And information on authenticity builds visitor awareness of New Mexicos uniqueness. Given a set of choices, visitors also stay lon-ger, learn, and tend to purchase more, supporting our local economy. !e in-formed visitor, one who understands history, cultural etiquette, authenticity of cultural arts and local ecological concerns, is easier to guide. For these reasons, visitor education is central to the intriguing visitation experience.

SMALLSCALE TOURISM

Small-scale tourism requires methods much dierent than tourism in ur-ban areas, where increasing visitation numbers and expenditures are often the focus. !e point of community-based tourism is ensuring that all

groups involved in the linking process benet in an equitable mannervi-tally essential for culturally-diverse communities, small farms and other groups striving to maintain their life-ways tied to the land and place. Small communities must benet nancially in terms of jobs, business prots and tax income, as well as encouragement of cultural retention and environmen-tal protection, to oset the impacts of hosting visitors.

To maximize these benets, urban/rural linkages enhancing artistic and cultural education experiences are im-portant to dene; for example, a bene-cial project can explore ways in which museums and other urban cultural or-ganizations might become information dissemination nodes in a citywide net-work for rural cultural tourism. Since visitation trips require a broad range of services and amenities, a unifying per-spective is benecial.

One of New Mexicos greatest strengths in relation to tourism is a highly developed system of markets, allowing rural and tribal entrepre-neurs to benet from the high urban visitation. Linking these markets to-gether more eectively would assist all in promoting the authentic market experience, particularly in Santa Fe.

Identifying, linking, promoting and managing are part of the tourism de-velopment and management process. Directories are needed, with specic details such as: 1) business name, 2) service or product, 3) contact informa-tion/manager, 4) hours of operation. !is is essential for forming a cohesive tourism network. !e principle is basic: in order to increase local expenditures, specic information on businesses, in-

cluding entrepreneurs, must be easy to nd. In contrast, general-ized promotion tends to primar-ily benet larger, easier-to-nd businesses.

Additionally, linked networks of small-scale businesses have the strongest resilience and adaptability in changing eco-nomic times. By linking and partnering local interests, the tourism draw is increased through extended opportuni-ties for enhanced itineraries. Planning is useful for reducing negative impacts and increasing positive benets to small com-munities, thus reducing man-agement stress and facilitating cooperation in a local tourism network. When tourism seasons are extended and visitation numbers be-come more evenly distributed, then tourism according to sustainable cri-teria can more easily be managed by smaller communities.

STRENGTHENING

THE NETWORK

What is needed for the New Mexico tourism industry to foster a unique and adventurous vacation experience, while supporting cultural retention and increased earned livelihood?

Unication of oerings and visibility would increase visitor awareness of New Mexico entrepreneurial busi-nesses and products. Visitors need a centralized source of information to make trip planning easy for them.

t"O 0OMJOF *UJOFSBSZ #VJMEJOHToolallowing small businesses visibility in vacation planning. !is should include businesses, entre-preneurs, attractions, lodging, food service and driving times. Hands-on and interactive are more interesting to the potential visitor.

t$VTUPNFS 4FSWJDF 5SBJOJOHUSB-ditional New Mexico value-based, allowing for unique expressions of hospitality;

t*OUFSOFU 4LJMMTFTTFOUJBM GPS XFCbased marketing and presenting cul-tural interpretation;

t%JSFDUPSJFTPG&OUSFQSFOFVSTXJUIspecics on products and contact in-formation;

t*OUFSQSFUBUJWF 0QQPSUVOJUJFTMPDBMpeople telling their stories;

t*OGPSNBUJPO "CPVU UIF "SUT BOETraditionsto increase awareness of authenticity and understanding of the cultural and historic nature of items and foods;

t7JTJUPS FUJRVFUUFT DPNNVOJUZEF-veloped to increase respectful be-havior (as dened from dierent cultural viewpoints) and minimize environmental impacts;

t-PDBUPS .BQTUP mOE UIF TNBMMlocally-owned businesses and entre-preneurs.

Several New Mexico agencies and orga-nizations are beginning to address these needs. !e New Mexico Tourism De-partment now posts brief, multiple-day itineraries (www.newmexico.org); the city of Santa Fes Creative Tourism Pro-gram oers hands-on workshops for vis-itors and a grant program for organiza-

NMS TOURISM INDUSTRY

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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Urban/Rural linkages enhancing artistic and

cultural education experiences are

important to define.

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tions (www.santafecreativetourism.org); the Santa Fe Alliances Local Guide, on-line business directory and Buy Local Campaign (www.santafealliance.com) point the way to creating local economy.

New Mexicos Own oers an excel-lent start on a directory of entre-preneurs and a trade show (www. newmexicosown.com); the Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship (www.culturalentrepreneur.org) of-fers training for entrepreneurs and an on-line resource center; the Center for Southwest Cultures CODECE pro-gram is developing a regionally-based sustainable tourism model integrating organic agriculture, cultural tourism and aordable housing (www.cen-terofsouthwestculture.org); the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center oers visitor education and serves as a hub for re-ferrals to New Mexico tribes (www.indianpueblos.org); and the Poeh Cul-tural Center and Museum at Pojoaque Pueblo oers visitor education through museum exhibits, and trains tribal members from over 50 tribes in the arts and in entrepreneurial skills (www.poehmuseum.com). ese are a few of the excellent eorts in motion to assist both visitors and communities.

MOVING FORWARDWhat other resources are still needed?

Communities need resources to de-velop and manage tourism, such as planning assistance to decide whether they want to engage in tourism, to what extent, and ways of managing. More training in customer service and marketing that is cultural-value

basednot standard textbookwould increase locally-owned market-ing eorts. And specic directories of entrepreneurs are essential to guide visitors in their purchases. Assistance to urban locations, such as museums and visitor centers, to serve as hubs for disseminating information on linked urban and rural experiences would benet both urban and rural.

is is a potential strategy for invest-ing in New Mexicos locally-based economy: Continuing to identify the locally owned and oering cultur-ally based support services to small-scale existing enterprises increases our existing strengths, supports cul-tural retention and increases earned livelihood. Assisting local businesses to grow and tell the story of New Mexicos uniqueness to the world, as our model for sustainability and re-silience in changing economic times expandsthat is true adventure in contemporary times! orn

Excerpts are from Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Small-Scale Practical Solutions by Susan Guyette, to be released in the summer of 2012.

Susan Guyette, Ph.D. is Mtis (Micmac Indian and Acadian F r e n c h ) a n d a planner specializing in cultural tourism, c u l t u ra l c e n t e r s , museums, and native foods. She is the author of Planning for Balanced Development (www.santafeplanning.com) and has worked in the tourism field with culturally diverse communities for 25 years.

REGIONAL TOURISM

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Zuni Pueblo, a growing community of 10,000 mostly A:shiwi residents, located about 45 minutes south of Gallup in north-west New Mexico, has paradoxically often found itself on both the fringe and at the cen-ter of happenings. Historically this was cer-tainly the case in 1540 when a massive expedi-UJPOPG4QBOJBSETBOEi.FYJDBwBMMJFTGPMMPXFEstories of fabled wealth to arrive and begin to claim the larger Southwest region for Spain. !e regional Zuni community that attracted initial attention soon found itself on the re-mote fringes of this emerging New Mexico.

Native American communities in recent years have themselves sought an elusive wealth via the vehicle of tourism. !e most direct approach has been through the now-ubiquitous casino that too often has become synonymous with Indian Country. Other tribal communities have centered their nancial quests upon their own cultural uniqueness.

Zuni, with perhaps up to 90% of its workforce involved in some aspect of the traditional arts, falls rmly in this second camp. !e Zuni arts of silverwork in WBSJPVTTUZMFTNJOJBUVSFTUPOFiGFUJTIwDBSWJOHBSFTVSHFOUQPUUFSZQBJOUJOHBOEmany other art forms are recognized worldwide for their excellence. During the heyday of a stronger economy, eight separate arts trading posts located along the main State Highway 53 through the community competed for sales. However, nancial challenges in recent years have pared the number down to six. And the most recent economic downturn has made a challenging nancial situation a severe one for the community as a whole.

Zuni is a village of artists. !ough the arts have been central to Zunis economy since the mid-1940s, no specic program had sought to promote or market this LFZiJOEVTUSZwVOUJMFPSUTJOUIFMBUFTUPEFWFMPQB;VOJUPVSJTNJOJUJBUJWFAdvice from consultants and two federal grants helped to establish a bonade tourism program based around cultural heritage and the arts. !ese eorts have at least provided a buer to minimize impacts of the recent recession. And de-spite the apparent successes of casinos for other Indian communities, Zuni has GPSBOVNCFSPGSFBTPOTSFTJTUFEUIFUFNQUBUJPOTPGUIFDBTJOPiDBTIDPXw

Tourism at Zuni Pueblosimilar to other tra-ditional Native American communitiesis an ongoing negotiation between promotion and mitigation. We actively promote visits to Zuni to support our existing arts-based economy; however, it is equally important to properly educate and direct our visitors to not interfere with the traditional cultural and religious ac-tivities that happen throughout the year. !is is the delicate balance of welcoming our visi-tors as guests but also ensuring that they un-derstand the occasional limitations of visiting such a traditional communityincluding the two times a year that all businesses are closed GPS GPVS EBZT PG iGBTUJOHw ;VOJ 1VFCMPT SF-moteness once again nds a central place in the current story. Early on, the Pueblos dis-tance from active Spanish-era and later Anglo

presence enabled it to retain intact most if not all of its critical cultural traditions and practices. With the coming of the mainstream cash-based economy, Zuni tribal members needed hard cash to purchase the necessities of daily life. How-ever, the Pueblos remote location has provided constant challenges for how to obtain cash for goods and services.

ZUNI MAINSTREET BALANCING THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

TOM R. KENNEDY

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CULTURAL TOURISM

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cultural entrepreneurs across New Mexico through a variety of programs that are designed to work with indi-vidual entrepreneurs, communities and regions. Tom Aageson, GCCE Executive Director, explains why this BQQSPBDI XPSLT i$VMUVSBM FOUSFQSF-neurs need support in reaching new markets. Sometimes, the support they need is a new skill, like product de-velopment or Internet skills. However, sometimes the support they need is their community leadership working collaboratively to reduce barriers to NBSLFUTPSmOBODJOHw!e Northern New Mexico Cul-tural Corridor, an idea Tom Aageson brought to the fore, is a good example of how GCCE works regionally. !e Corridor is being developed as a re-gional cultural tourism collaborative that will share marketing resources to bring more tourists into our commu-OJUJFT i(FPUSBWFMFST XBOU UP FYQMPSFour cultural and natural destinations, they want to shop locally, eat locally, WJTJUPVSGFTUJWBMTBOEPVSGBSNTwTBZTSelena Marroqun, GCCE agritour-ism program manager. Tom Aage-TPO BEET i*G PVS MFBEFSTIJQ EFDJEFTto work regionally, collaboratively, to rebuild New Mexicos brand in the tourism marketplace, we can com-pete against neighboring states that have huge budgets; if not, our tour-ism market share will continue to EFDMJOFw/PSNB/BSBOKP TBZT PG UIF$VMUVSBM $PSSJEPS i*U XPVME SFBMMZhelp me connect to new customers. If I market my business by myself I dont have as much credibility. !e Corridor program would help me reach more people than I ever could as just one CVTJOFTTPOFWPJDFwSimilar to the Cultural Corridor proj-ect, GCCE is organizing an Agri-tourism Corridor along the northern 3P (SBOEF 7BMMFZ i1FPQMF XBOU UPexplore our agricultural heritage, our small farms, our wineries and road-side farm stands. So, we are collecting information on all the places people can visit, and well be publishing this information and also supporting our small farms who want to participate JO BHSJUPVSJTNw FYQMBJOT 4FMFOB &J-leen Reinders, co-owner with her husband Richard Reinders, of Estrella del Norte Vineyards in Namb, was eager to get engaged in the agritour-JTNQSPKFDUi8FBMSFBEZEPBHSJUPVS-

ismbut we could do more! In April we hosted a community planting day, and people from Albuquerque to Taos helped us plant ve acres of new vines. !en we had a big barbecue for every-POFw &TUSFMMB EFM /PSUF IBT RVJDLMZbecome a leader in New Mexico wine sales. Eileen says it is in part because of the numerous award-winning wines they produce. But Selena chimes in, i*UTBMTPCFDBVTFUIFZHJWFCBDLUPUIFcommunity. People love the farm, so UIFZMPWFUIFXJOFUPPwOther GCCE programs include the Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative (SNCC), founded by Jamie Blosser, noted architect and so-cial entrepreneur. !e project recently received EPSCOR support, through the National Science Foundation. Ja-NJF TBZT PG 4/$$ i8PSLJOH XJUItribes, we saw more and more oppor-tunities to build cultural enterprises in the planning, design and building elds. !is partnership with GCCE and Enterprise Community Partners is VOJRVFJOUIFOBUJPOwFQBSUOFSTIJQwill provide Native entrepreneurs and tribal housing authorities knowledge and tools to build sustainable, cultural-ly sourced buildings and developments.

GCCE also works one-on-one with cultural entrepreneurs to develop their marketing and operations plans, apply for nancing, and build their business into new markets. Last year GCCE trained over 500 cultural entrepre-neurs to use Web 2.0 technologies to build their businesses. !is spring we launch a partnership with the Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Century-Link to bring our training program, PoweredUp!, to Albuquerque. Pow-eredUp! provides artists, craftspeople, artisan farmers and other creatives with hands-on training in building and using low-cost website design, so-cial media and online sales tools. !e trainings are oered in English, Span-ish and Din (Navajo). orn

Alice Loy is co-founder a n d d i r e c t o r o f programs at the Santa Fe-ba s ed Globa l Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship. 505.263.5180, [email protected] r g , w w w .culturalentrepreneur.org The Feasting Place s website is : www.thefeastingplace.com.

GCCE


CONSERVATION


A NEW MEXICO TREASUREe Columbine Hondo Wilder-ness Study Area (WSA) is a pristine 46,000-acre Rocky Mountain para-dise located in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Taos County. Managed as Wilderness by the Car-son National Forest, the Columbine Hondo is a public wildland treasured by residents and visitors alike, and is an important source of surface water for downstream agricultural commu-nities. e springs and streams of the Columbine Hondo comprise valuable headwaters of two major tributaries of the Upper Ro Grande, the Red River and the Ro Hondo.

Situated between Taos Ski Valley and Red River, with the Wheeler Peak Wilderness to the south, and the Latir Peaks Wilderness to the north, the Columbine Hondo WSA sits nes-tled among some of the tallest peaks and most rugged country in New Mexico. e areas prominent geologic feature is a massive horseshoe-shaped massif that encircles the Columbine watershed, with a ridgeline that stays consistently above 11,000 for over 13 miles. e agship peaks of the Col-umbine Hondo WSA are Gold Hill (12,711) and Lobo Peak (12,115), and are dening elements of the Taos viewscape.

e lush subalpine forests of the Col-umbine Hondo are home to an abun-

COLUMBINE HONDO NEW MEXICOS FORGOTTEN WILDERNESSSTUART WILDE

dance of Rocky Mountain wildlife, including mule deer and elk, black bear and mountain lion, wild turkey and ptarmigan. Above tree line, NMs prized herd of Bighorn Sheep can be seen grazing in true alpine tundra ecology. e Columbine boasts over 75 miles of trails for hiking, backpack-ing and horseback riding, and is a fa-vorite destination for sportsmen and anglers, wildlife viewers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts of all kinds.

NEW MEXICO - THE BIRTHPLACE OF WILDERNESSNew Mexico is considered to be the birthplace of modern wilderness pro-tection. Aldo Leopold, the father of wilderness protection and wildlife conservation, was the rst Supervi-sor of the Carson National Forest, as NM entered statehood a century ago. Leopolds old cabin still stands, behind what is now the Tres Piedras 3BOHFS 4UBUJPO BOE JT B iNVTU WJTJUwfor anyone interested in the history of wilderness protection and public lands conservation in NM.

In 1924, Leopold established the Gila Wilderness as the rst designated wil-derness in the world, here in NM. Leo-pold and the founders of the Wilder-ness Society became the framers of the Wilderness Act. Passed by Congress in 1964, the Wilderness Act was the rst legislation on the planet to address human beings spiritual need to have

wild places to reconnect and commune with the natural world, free from the encroachment of development and mechanization. Here in NM, the Wil-derness Act designated the Gila, Pe-cos, San Pedro Parks and the Wheeler Peak Wilderness Areas. As a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, Wilderness Areas are the most highly protected parcels of land within our public lands system.

THE 1980 NM WILDERNESS ACTIn the 1970s the Forest Service was tasked to identify Roadless Areas and potential Wilderness Areas, as part of the R.A.R.E and R.A.R.E II in-ventories. Out of the R.A.R.E. pro-cess, New Mexicans began to look at areas deserving of future wilderness designation, and after a long struggle between wilderness advocates and anti-environmental groups, Congress passed the New Mexico Wilderness Act (Public Law 96-550) in 1980.

e Act established the Latir Peaks, Cruzes Basin, Dome, Bandelier and Aldo Leopold Wilderness Areas, among others. e Act also estab-lished the Columbine Hondo as a Wilderness Study Area (a temporary designation), to be managed by the Carson National Forest. It also man-dated that the Secretary of Agricul-ture report back to Congress and the President, no later than January of 1986, with recommendations for or against wilderness designation. More than 30 years later, the Columbine

Hondo is still in legislative limbo.

REDEFINING CONSERVATION IN NMIn 2008, a local coalition formed for the purpose of seeing the Columbine Hondo WSA permanently protected as a designated Wilderness Area. Made up of local residents and con-cerned citizens, grazing and outtting permittees, land grant heirs and ace-quia members, ranchers and sports-

men, along with regional and national conservation organizations; the Col-umbine Hondo Wilderness Coalition is a broad based, bipartisan group of individuals and organizations, work-ing to redene conservation in NM.

Not too long ago, it would have been unheard of to have ranchers, hunters and land grant communities standing together in solidarity with environ-mentalists and conservation groups on wilderness protection issues. e Col-umbine Hondo Wilderness Coalition is creating a new model for conserva-tion in the West by coming together as a community across the cultural

A FEW STATISTICS New Mexico has the lowest percent-age of wilderness (2 percent) of all the western states. e Carson Na-tional Forest encompasses nearly 1.5 million acres on both sides of the Ro Grande watershed, with only 6 percent protected as wilderness.

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Tucked away west o the road between Abiqui and Tierra Amarilla is one of New Mexicos best-kept secrets. With towering pink, yellow and white sandstone walls striped like Neapolitan ice cream, old-growth ponderosa pines and ower-strewn meadows, the wilderness canyon of the Ro Chama is a corner of paradise. Roads cannot reach this magical place; the only way in is to oat down the river. For three days, you can leave the rest of the world behind.

It was my good luck to discover Los Ros River Runners, New Mexicos oldest and largest rafting company, the rst summer after I came here from London 12 years ago. Agua es vida water is life. $eres something extra-delicious about being on the water in a dry climate, and the Ro Grande, with its thundering rapids, and the Ro Chama, with its majestic beauty, are arteries that bring nourishment to the spirit as well as the body. $eres no cell phone signal in the Chama canyon, no motors nothing but the sounds of wind, water and human voices. At night, the canyon walls frame a wide swath of star-lled sky, crystal-clear or splashed with moonlit clouds.

On my rst Chama trips I perfected the art of relaxation. I called it the Cleopa-tra rig: thick sleeping pads transform the raft into a oating chaise lounge, with squashy drybags (clothes and sleeping bag inside) rigged into a fantastically com-fortable backrest. Trailing my toes in the cool river water, I would track the wheeling eagles and swooping herons overhead as the spectacular scenery unrolled around every bend. $e guide did all the work. Watching other rafters paddle themselves in funyaksinatable miniature rafts that you maneuver kayak-styleId think maybe next time, and sink deeper into the comfort zone.

ONE OF NEW MEXICOS BESTKEPT SECRETSALLEGRA HUSTON

Finally, I built up my courage and got into a funyak. $is was the real delighttuning in to the owing water, nding my own harmony with nature. I was amazed at how stable I felt, zigzagging between rocks and keeping straight through what I consider impressively big waves. $e funyak gods are benevolent, placing most of the Chamas rapids at the end of the trip so theres plenty of time to practice.

Every year when the snow melts, my son starts begging to go on the Chama. He and his friends run a circuit, soak in the hot springs and then oat down the river. $ey play hide-and-seek among the trees and explore an abandoned horse thief s hideaway; they compare their own hands and feet with the fossilized di-nosaur footprints hidden up a sandy wash that only the guides know about; they funyak the calmer water; and nally, exhausted, they roast marshmallows and listen to stories around the campre. Its the childhood I used to dream of, living in the suburbs and reading stories about kids who went on adventures. Finally Ive found it and best of all, my son and I can enjoy it together. orn

Allegra Huston is the author of the bestselling Love Child: A Memoir of Family Lost and Found.

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A number of folks who live and work in Taos and other locales in northern New Mexico are featured in the Green Living Projects fascinating TIPSUmMNi&DPUPVSJTNJO/FX.FY-JDPwFNJOVUF TFDPOEmMN JTnow online for an international audi-ence to see. (http://www.greenliving-project.com/projects/new-mexico/)

People proled in the lm include Stuart Wilde, owner of Taos Wild Earth Llama Adventures; Francisco i$JTDPw(VFWBSB PXOFS PG -PT3PTRiver Runners; Porter Swentzell, a guide at the Puye Cli Dwellings of Santa Clara Pueblo; April Winters of Taos Pueblo; and Adriana Blake of Taos Ski Valley.

gram for a multitude of reasons, one of which was the readiness of the com-munity they stepped up and showed just what theyre about. $eyve been doing ecotourism for generations be-fore it even had a name. Our guides and outtters here in New Mexico bring everything to life; theyre such BHSFBUHSPVQPGQFPQMFUPXPSLXJUIwSome ecotourism-related adventures in northern New Mexico:

tWILD EARTH LLAMA ADVENTURES - hiking adventures with minimal-impact llamas through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains help teach travelers about conservation eth-ics and wilderness protection. Visit

GREEN LIVING PROJECT FILM DOCUMENTS NM ECOTOURISM ADVENTURESi*N EPJOHXIBU *N EPJOH UPNBLF Bdierence here and I really hope that these experiences touch people in a way thats going to bring something special CBDLUPUIFJSUPEBJMZMJWFTBUIPNFwTBJE4UVBSU8JMEFi*UTUIFDPOUSJCVUJPOof ecotourism back to the local commu-nity that were very excited about and Im IBQQZUPCFBQBSUPGUIBUwTBJEi$JTDPw(VFWBSBi#FJOHBCMFUPPQFOVQBMJUUMFbit of my home to people and allow-ing them to come and experience who we are rsthand rather than read it in a book we feel its important to give that TFOTFPGPVSIJTUPSZwTBJE"QSJM8JOUFSTSandy Cunningham of Eco New .FYJDP TBJE i5BPT XBT DIPTFO BT Bpilot program for our ecotourism pro-

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NM ECOTOURISM

and political spectrum to protect their natural and cultural resources for future generations.

OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE UNDER ATTACK!ere is currently legislation before Congress that seeks to remove exist-ing wilderness protections from Wil-derness Study Areas like the Colum-bine Hondo. H.R.1581 and S.1087, LOPXOBTiF8JMEFSOFTTBOE3PBE-MFTT"SFB3FMFBTF"DUPGwXPVMEremove wilderness protections from more than 60 million acres of Wilder-ness Study Areas and Roadless Areas across America. Similar legislation could cause the Columbine Hondo to lose its current wilderness protection, and result in the area being opened up for roads and motorized use, timber sales, mineral and energy exploration,

and other forms of development.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!e fate of the Columbine Hondo is hanging by a thread. It has been more than 30 years, and if the area is not permanently protected soon, it will likely lose its wilderness protections. Senator Je Bingaman, who has been a champion for NM public lands con-servation, is in his nal year in Con-gress. It is critical that Sen. Binga-man introduce wilderness legislation for the Columbine Hondo before his time in Congress runs out.

HOW YOU CAN HELPYou can help by calling, writing or emailing our elected ocials and urge them to support wilderness designa-tion for the Columbine Hondo. To learn more about the issue, and to take

action to permanently pro-tect this magnicent wilder-ness area, please visit www.columbinehondo.org. orn

Stuart Wilde is the Director of Wild Earth Llama Adventures (www.LlamaAdventures.com), and a member of the Columbine Hondo Wilderness Coalition. He is a Carson National Forest Permittee, and leads interpretive wilderness ecology trips in the Columbine Hondo WSA.

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llamaadventures.com for informa-tion or call 800.758.5262.

t LOS ROS RIVER RUNNERS raft the world renowned Taos Box or oat through the Ro Chama canyon with an experienced rafting com-pany. Visit losriosriverrunners.com or call 888.544.1181.

tOJO CALIENTE MINERAL SPRINGS RESORT AND SPA regarded by Na-tive Americans as sacred, Ojo Cali-ente mineral springs has been heal-ing for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Enjoy a signature Milagro Wrap, a massage, or soak in heal-ing waters and stay at the newly renovated resort. Visit ojocalien-tesprings.com or call 800.222.9162.

tFAR FLUNG ADVENTURES - from first time rafters to adrenaline junkies, experience a Southwest wilderness adventure on a raft. Visit farflung.com or call 800.359.2627.

tTAOS PUEBLO - Taos Pueblo, con-tinuously inhabited for over 1,000

years, is the only Native American community designated as both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Land-mark. Visit taospueblo.com for special events and fees or call 575.758.1028.

t PUYE CLIFF DWELLINGS AND PUEBLO RUINS home to 1,500 Pueblo Indians since approximate-ly 900 AD, ancestors to the Santa Clara Pueblo. Visit puyecliffs.com.

tMOUNTAIN SKILLS ROCK CLIMBING -Experience a panoramic view of Taos with professional rock climb-ing guides. Call 575.776-2222 or visit www.climbingschoolusa.com for details.

t PUEBLO BALLOON COMPANY - Float through the Ro Grande Gorge in a hot air balloon and experience Taos from a birds-eye view. Visit puebloballooncompany.com or call 575.751.9877.


How does a mobile food truck help a rural community inter-ested in promoting ecotourism?

!at idea sprang from the minds of the Cooperative Development Center of New Mexicos (CODECE) sta as a way to create linkages among three co-ops formed last year in the north-ern New Mexico villages of Truchas and Crdova. It was also a way to launch CODECEs eorts to see food preparation as a cultural activity.

!rough an innovative grant from the USDA, CODECEa project of the Albuquerque-based Center of South-west Culturereceived funding for a mobile food truck. !e truck is part of CODECEs Sustainable Commu-nities Initiative, which is underway in collaboration with the Truchas Land Grant. To date, CODECE has formed three cooperativesOrganic Farmers, Outdoor Services, and Arts & Cultureall under the High Peaks Deep Roots branding strategy.

So why a mobile food truck? CO-DECEs sustainable tourism director .BSL 8JMMVIO TBJE i8F TBX WFSZquickly the rich culinary traditions on the land grant and were surprised by the variety and high quality of food from the rst matanza (traditional Hispano community celebration where neighbors process a large pig, HPBU PS TIFFQ MBTU ZFBSw )F BEEFEiJTQVUVTPOUIF USBDLUPVTFDVM-tural heritage through food as a driver GPSUIFTVTUBJOBCMFUPVSJTNFPSUTw!e grant was awarded based on alter-native marketing channels for local or-ganic farmers. So instead of greasy burg-ers and the traditional junk food truck, CODECE embraced the national trend of innovative mobile food trucks and is developing organic healthy traditional GPPETUIBUXJMMBQQFBMUPiIFSFEFSPTwJO-heritors) as well as tourists visiting New Mexico for the rst time.

4BJE8JMMVIO i"T UIJT JEFB CFDBNFreality, we realized we had the perfect

integration vehicle, because in addi-tion to oering meals, the truck can also go to farmers markets and be a draw for selling produce from the organic farmers cooperative, create jobs for the members of the Arts & Culture Cooperative, while promot-ing sustainable tourism packages (y shing, horseback rides and hiking) on the land grant for the Outdoor 4FSWJDFT$PPQFSBUJWFwSome interesting ideas are being de-veloped around having a traditional matanza on the land grant two Sun-days a month, starting in June. CO-DECE sta and co-op members are jointly exploring having this become an optional two-day activity where participants can come to the land grant on Saturday morning and ob-serve the preparation of the borrego or cabrito. !e full experience will include seeing how land grant mem-bers fully utilize all of the butchered animals parts, going to the elds and helping co-op members harvest the vegetables used in the meals prepara-tion, and learning how the full tradi-tional process is carried out.

i0ODFUIFBOJNBMJTSPBTUJOHQBSUJDJ-pants can enjoy activities on the land grantstar gazing in the evening, early morning bird-walk, a half-day trail ride and other recreational ac-UJWJUJFTw8JMMVIOTBJEiFGPMMPXJOHSunday afternoon they can partake in one of the most succulent meals they MJLFMZXJMMIBWFFWFSIBEwi0VSDSFBUJWJUZJTSFBMMZPVSPOMZMJNJUw8JMMVIOTBJEi-PPLJOHBMJUUMFMPOHFSterm, the mobile food truck has the potential to be the catalyst for reinvig-orating traditional estas in the com-NVOJUJFTPG5SVDIBTBOE$SEPWBw)F

BEEFEi8JUIBNPCJMFGPPEUSVDLXFcan draw tourists to specic areas and manage impacts. We will make sure the specic areas are appropriate, will-ing and ready. Its really an interesting tool (the food truck) from a managing tourism impacts perspective, since we can move it to specic sites for a specif-ic period of time and prevent areas be-ing overrun and over-loved by visitors. It really allows the land grant members UPDPOUSPMUIFJSPXOEFTUJOZwWilluhn said that while this is all very exciting, the increasing complexity of social media and marketing a mobile food truck is a bit overwhelming. To support Truchas Land Grant mem-bers, CODECE has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Uni-versity of New Mexico Global Busi-ness Students Association. !ese graduate business students visited the land grant in March to learn about the dierent cooperatives and to develop a marketing plan using the mobile food truck as creatively as possible. !ey are looking at strengthening each cooperative as a stand-alone entity, while understanding how intercon-nected all the eorts are. Dr. Manuel Montoya, a Rhodes Scholar and cur-rent professor at the UNM Business School, is guiding the students eorts. !e UNM connection is a key ally in CODECEs eorts to create collabo-rations as a critical part of long-term sustainability for the co-ops it is help-ing to create across New Mexico.

Other entities working with CODECE in Truchas and elsewhere include the Chimay Youth Conservation Corps, Agri-Cultura Network, New Mexico Womens Foundation, the Truchas Land Grant and Ro Arriba County. orn

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ZUNI


THE MAINSTREET OPPORTUNITYEven today, with ecient roads and modern trans-portation, attracting visitors to Zuni remains a chal-lengecompounded by weak global economic sys-tems and rising gas prices. Out of this tough situation is emerging a promising opportunityto become the First Native American MainStreet site, not only in New Mexico but also in the United States!

e MainStreet program in New Mexico is administered by the states Economic Development Department to promote community-based economic development in its small-town downtown areas; many of which across the country have also fallen on tough times and need a support structure to become revitalized. New Mexico has participated in the program for over 27 years and can boast 22 active sites. Technical assistance as well as occasional access to specic funding enables participating communities to turn these often-blighted areas into active neigh-borhoods of improved prosperity and living. us far, however, no other Native American community has met the criteria or chosen to participate.

Zuni Pueblo is somewhat unique as a Native community by being bisected by BTUBUFIJHIXBZUIBUBMTPTFSWFTBTJUTiNBJOTUSFFUwBMPOHXIJDIBSFMPDBUFEUIFmajority of the local businesses and arts trading posts. In an eort to improve Zunis local economy, the current tribal leadership has enthusiastically embraced becoming the rst Native MainStreet as the best strategy to achieve this goal. In discussions and planning with NM MainStreet, this prospect has evolved over

the past year to the current nalizing of wording for the formal proclamation and identifying dates for a public signing by Governor Susana Martinez, hope-fully in May here at Zuni Pueblo. Sta from the national MainStreet oce in Washington, DC and many of our Congressional delegates have also expressed interest in attending this historic occasion.

Zunis tradition of innovation sees the potential to adapt this opportunity.

On the ground in Zuniand with the active involvement of the Tribal Council our preliminary steps are fast moving forward to birth this initiative for the com-munity. Our recently selected steering committee, made up of key business, arts and community members, had its second meeting not long ago. State MainStreet leaders attended to provide a more detailed orientation for this emerging program

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AGRITOURISM

Along the Ro Grande, pockets of green have beckoned thirsty, hungry, road-weary travelers for centuries. Today, these same pockets of green invite fami-lies and tourists, foodies and farm lovers to explore our agricultural historyand future. Agritourism, dened simply as farms host-ing visitors and oering farm-based activi-ties, has caught on across the nation, and now farmers in northern New Mexico are getting involved. Agritourism is a value-added product that helps keep farmers on the land, while inviting the community to share in the bounty of local food and the enjoyment of food production.

Selena Marroqun works with the Glob-al Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship and is leading an eort to build an agri-tourism corridor. She has been reaching out to farmers and viticulturists to survey agritourism activities going on in com-munities from Albuquerque to Chama. After hosting a table at the New Mexico Organic Farming Conference in Febru-BSZ4FMFOBFYDMBJNFEi4PNBOZGBSNFSTBSFFYDJUFEBCPVUUIJTQSPKFDUwAgritourism experiences along the Ro Grande Valley range from U-Pick berry farms to pumpkin patches to cooking classes on local farms. At the Hubbell House in south Albuquerque visitors can take classes on drip irrigation and composting. Located along the Camino Real, the historic Hubbell House is situ-ated among the tall cottonwoods of the

Bosque. With a backdrop of ten acres of cultivated land, visitors step back in time and can imagine the hacienda as it once was. In Namb, the community will gather at Estrella del Norte Vineyard on April 14th to plant ve new acres of vines, continuing the tradition of com-munity planting. Just outside of Taos at Talpa Gardens, Je Cochran and Tania Melasco invite visitors to explore their intensively farmed one-acre garden. With over thirty crops, the garden dem-onstrates how high altitude gardens can feed a village.

Eileen Reinders of Estrella del Norte Vineyard says agritourism is important to their wine business and they love hav-JOHQFPQMFWJTJUi8IFOQFPQMFDPNFUPsee the farm they meet us and see how we grow the grapes, how we make the wine. When they take that bottle home with them, they are taking a remembrance of CFJOHIFSFPOUIFGBSNwFarm experiences like those oered by Los Poblanos in Albuquerques North Valley connect people to the historical and contemporary avors of the region. Matt Rembe, owner of the historical farm and hotel, has recently overseen an expansion of their guest rooms; today Los Poblanos oers luxury accommoda-tions amidst lavender elds and towering cottonwoods. Fodors calls the Los Pob-MBOPTFYQFSJFODFiDBTVBMDIJDw"OEXIJMFnot every farm you visit along the Ro Grande will pamper you or provide luxu-ry accommodations, every farm will give you a taste of farm life in New Mexico.orn

AGRITOURISM: A GROWING BUSINESS FOR SMALL FARMSALICE LOY

AGRI-TOUR OFFERS A UNIQUE EXPLORATION OF ART AND SUSTAINABILITY ART, AGRICULTURE, ARCHITECTURE AND DREAMS OF A HEALTHIER FUTURE IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENTExplore north-ern New Mexicos unique culture and striking land-scape. Discover the regions extraor-dinary blend of creativity and sus-tainability. Meet innovators, artists, farmers and chefs dedicated to creat-ing ecological and social transforma-tion. is is a rare opportunity to learn from and enjoy the company of a dynamic group of artistic change-makers whose visions and cre-ations are inuenced by the magnicent high desert environment, the challenges of modern reality and visions of a greener future.

Participants will be escorted by experts, stay at historic hotels, taste the distinctive regional and native cuisine and participate in a phe-nomenal cooking experience.

Each day will open a new window on a rich universe of ecological and social ideas. e nine-day trip ( July 20-28) features a Bioneers Dream-ing New Mexico tour of a highly diverse biodynamic Pueblo farm.

Trip highlights include: t"EBZXJUI#JPOFFST%SFBNJOH/FX.FYJDP

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dio works and jewelry

ere is only one 2012 departure: July 20. Prices start at $2,980 per person in a double room. e registration deadline is May 11. For inquiries and bookings, contact Seven Directions Cultur-al and Sustainable Tours: 877.992.6128, 505.820.3305 or info@ sevendirections.net, or visit www.sevendirections.net/art-sus.html

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CONTACTSTalpa Gardens: 4A Balsamo Lane, Ran-chos de Taos, NM 87557 (575.758.2513, [email protected])

Hubbell House Alliance: 6029 Isleta Blvd. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105 (505.244.0507, [email protected], www.hubbellhousealliance.org)

Estrella del Norte Vineyard: Nambe and Santa Cruz, NM (505.455.2826, [email protected], www. estrelladelnortevineyard.com)

Los Poblanos Inn & Cultural Cen-ter: 4803 Ro Grande Blvd. NW, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM 87107 (505.344.9295, [email protected], www.lospoblanos.com)

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and to help nalize the wording for the proclamation. Already members of the steering committee have begun work to secure relevant data on Zunis existing economy, explore opening a local Small Business Development Center, as well as initiating steps toward establishing a Zuni Chamber of Commerceand were not even ocial yet! Upcoming meetings within the MainStreet structure will focus on organizational development and establishing a vision for our Zuni MainStreet.

%FTQJUFUIFiGVMMTQFFEBIFBEwNPNFOUVNPVS;VOJ.BJO4USFFUTUJMMIBTBGFXcritical hurdles to overcome, in some areas that are unique to this Native commu-nity. To begin with, the Zuni community as a whole needs to be fully informed and comfortable with this concept. An initial presentation and broadcast at a public meeting in early January was met with a supportive response. Further pre-sentations in the Zuni language will be made over the next month or so.

CAUTIONS SURROUNDING TOURISM#e critical questionand often suspicionthat inevitably arises from this conservative community concerns the potential impacts on the year-round re-ligious activities. Will increased outsider trac adversely interfere with age-old traditional practices, which, as previously pointed out, resulted from the tribes historical remoteness? #e short answer is that this community-based eort can and will always ensure that adequate means exist to mitigate adverse intrusions into the cultural life of the community. #e more complicated larger point is that many unknowns will always exist in Zunis relationshipsdirect or via the Inter-netwith the larger world. As we move forward on our Zuni MainStreetand tourism eorts as wellthis consideration remains our constant concern.

For the immediate future, our Zuni MainStreet oers long-overdue support for our existing and emerging arts and service-oriented businesses. As these become established and generate revenue, incomes rise, quality of life improves and the whole Zuni community benets. Under the watchful direction of our local steer-ing committee and of tribal leadership, these changes will be carefully considered and by necessity, incremental.

Zuni Pueblo has the exciting and in many ways unique potential for great things done in culturally appropriate ways to result from this grassroots eort. One thing is for certain: the eyes of Main Streets and potential Native sites across the

country will soon be watching our progress and outcome. Stay-tuned for more late-breaking developments from Zuni MainStreet! orn

Tom R. Kennedy, Zuni Tourism Director, arrived at Zuni Pueblo 17 years ago and served as Director of the A:shiwi A:wan Museum for seven years. Since then he has worked directly for Zuni Tribal Government to develop a tourism program, establish the Visitor and Arts Information Center and now the Zuni MainStreet initiative. For more information, contact Tom at 505.782.7239 or P.O. Box 339, Zuni NM 87327.

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ALVARADO URBAN FARM GROWS FOOD & FARMERS FARM TOUR AND VETERAN FARMER PROJECT INFO SESSION APRIL 11e Alvarado Urban Farm is growing by leaps and bounds and is on its way to producing a impressive bounty in the coming year. e goal of the farm is to be-come a local food hub where Albuquerque residents and businesses can grow and purchase local food and learn about local food systems. e farm is also serving as a community space for events, lectures and classes. ese include the new Vet-eran Farmer Project, which is holding a series of workshops at the farm geared towards local veterans.

A free tour of the farm with Chris Goblet (Deputy Director of the Downtown Action Team) and an informational session regarding the new Veteran Farmer Project with Robin Seydel (La Montaita Co-op Membership Coordinator) and Joran Viers (Bernalillo County Extension Service Program Director) will take place on April 11 from 910:30 am. e farm is located at 101 Silver Ave., SW. If there is inclement weather, the event will be held at the Downtown Action Team Oces, 100 Gold Ave SW #204.


9TH ANNUAL EAST MOUNTAIN FIBER FARM & STUDIO TOURJUNE 2-3Enjoy a day at the farm, breathe fresh mountain air and enjoy the landscape of the East Mountain area for a fun and educational event. Only a short drive from Al-buquerque will bring you to this rural area where ber artists and ber animal breeders open their studios and farms one weekend every year.

On June 2nd and 3rd from 10 am to 5 pm, the areas ber art studios are providing an opportunity to visit with alpacas, sheep, camels, angora goats, llamas and angora rabbits, whose hair is sought af-ter for making ne yarn for hand weaving, felting, crocheting and knitting. In addition to introduc-ing your children to the source of the fabrics we all love to wear, you can meet the breeders and learn about the process of raising these prized animals. en, visit the stu-dios where artists turn ne bers into handmade fabrics for clothing and home use. ere will be many ongoing demonstrations, such as spinning, weaving, knitting and dyeing.

Fiber-related items will be for sale at each location, including yarn, roving, felted fabric, spinning wheels, looms, drop spindles, hand woven knitted and crocheted gar-ments, buttons, hand painted silk scarves and clothing, raw eeces, animal related jewelry, goats milk soap, lavender products, feathers and plants.

For information and a free bro-chure and map, call 505.286.8900, email [email protected] or visit www.perfectbuttons.com.

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SERVICE LEARNING

Since the beginning of time, human be-ings have cared for each other. Being human demands both being cared for and caring for others. It is an innate urge that we cannot resist. Whether loved ones, fam-ily members and friendseven strangers, or plants, animals, water and earthfor de-cades, individuals and groups have respond-ed to the needs of others and our environ-ment through service, both at home and afar.

As educational institutions have formal-J[FE UIJT DPNNJUNFOU BOE DPODFSO iTFS-WJDF MFBSOJOHw IBT CFDPNF BO PSHBOJ[FEand popular form of educational travel that is now common practice for schools and community organizations. Service learn-ing provides a valuable opportunity for stu-dents to learn while volunteering and to serve while engaged JOUIFFYDJUFNFOUPGiSFBMMJGFwFYQFSJFODFT8JUIPVUCPPLTBOEbeyond classrooms, service learners are immersed in communi-ties and engaged with real people.

VIA INTERNATIONALFor more than 30 years, California-based Via International has been strengthening community-driven sustainability initiatives with support from volunteer service groups. Over the years, Via has become a recognized leader in service learning trips for high school, college and university groups. In 2009, the organi-zation began sending groups to New Mexico. Volunteers have come from across the nation and the world to work on projects throughout northern New Mexico and Din-tah (the Navajo Nation), including Santa Fe, Tesuque, Chimay, Los Alamos, Taos, and the TseBitAi area (Shiprock). Via volunteers of all ages have assisted with water conservation and land restoration eorts, adobe and other natural building projects, habitat and national park preservation, home repair, organic planting, harvesting and farming eorts.

$ese unique travel opportunities combine education, cross-cultural exchange and volunteerism, while directly supporting community de-velopment eorts to create self-reliance and sustainability. Volunteer groups can bring valued energy, resources and labor to community proj-ects or initiatives, while also opening a forum for dialogue, teaching and learning. Via orients these visitors to the intertwined cultural, economic and ecological worldviews in a community. $ey go back to their own families and communities with an enhanced view of land-based, sus-tainable relationships.

If you are coming to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you are coming because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. - I L

For visitors coming from large urban areas and big cities, experiencing the natural beauty of northern New Mexico is medicine for the spirit. Slowing down, being out-doors, touching the earth, planting a seed, or even just seeing stars is restorative and reawakens the senses. Working with others and using hands and body for manual labor can bring mindful awareness, purposeful action and practical skills to life.

EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL WITHOUT BOOKS AND BEYOND CLASSROOMS

JENNIFER CASE

Im no longer looking; I am seeing. I am no longer hearing; I am listening with my heart, not just with my ears. S L t

In addition to learning new skills, stu-dent volunteers have found themselves appreciating even the simplest tasks, such as learning how to chop wood, work with tools, shovel dirt, haul ma-nure, make a re, mix adobe, irrigate a garden, grow food, make compost, cook dinner, harvest vegetables, repair a roof, build a fence and even wash dish-es! During service learning trips, new realizations often dawn regarding use of water, plastic, waste and recycling, as groups learn to take care of each other and their surroundings while working with a community.

I have begun to think differently about

how I choose to live each day of my life. S

$rough interacting with educational travelers, communities tell their own stories and manage engagement with outsiders on their own terms. Dialogue and exchange generate valuable op-portunities to examine environmen-tal and social justice issues, re-explore understandings of history and culture, discuss sustainability and resiliency and work inter-generationally.

Such opportunities for engagement deeply embody and reect the world-views and values of the communities the volunteers visit. Visitors are often received as family, not strangers, and the bonds that emerge from living and working closely together can be very strong and enduring. $e service learn-ing programs cultivate responsibility and respect, and have eectively incor-porated the values and practices of liv-ing in balance, kinship and generosity.

Volunteer groups tend to travel lightly and are eager to work. $e groups are

typically small and stay overnight in community spaces like churches, schools, gyms, homes and farms, or even camp in tents. It is also common that groups prepare or assist in the preparation of their own meals. Buying and serving local, fresh, healthy food is a priority and another valuable opportunity for teaching and learning about nutrition, ecology and food security.

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ECOTOURISM

When I boarded a plane bound for Buenos Aires in Janu-ary, I had no idea what was in store for me in the wilds of Argentina. As president and co-founder of the Four Bridges Traveling Permaculture Insti-tute, I embarked on a mission to ex-plore opportunities to develop an eco-tourism segment for our non-prot organization.

While it is winter in Albuquerque, the summer sky is sizzling in Buenos Ai-res. I stepped o the plane in full win-ter gear to a sweltering 100 degrees. After an uneventful pass through cus-toms, I made my way to a taxi stand where a little yellow taxi whisked me o to Navarro, a village whose hidden jewel is the Ecovilla GAIA, a non-prot organization founded in 1992. Its mission is the promotion human settlements based on the practice of permaculture systems and methods.

I spent three glorious days at GAIA, housed in a lovely round pink adobe hut topped with a grass roof. e bathroom came complete with a com-post toilet, sink and shower with run-ning water warmed by the sun. e lights were solar powered. Everything in this village is sustainable and devel-oped within the permaculture model. e entire village consists of several private huts, a community kitchen and dining house and a large hut that is used for classes and community meetings. Several gardens and wood-ed areas are scattered throughout the property, with sustainable innovations that collect or transport water, create energy, provide food, oer shelter or pose entertainment opportunities.

Sylvia and Gustavo, co-founders of this wonderful organization, were my gracious hosts. While my co-founder and partner Emigdio Balln directed lessons in seed saving, plant diversity and permaculture to a class of 15 stu-dents, I spoke of spirituality in agri-culture and conducted a moon cere-mony by the light of a beautiful Luna de Amarilla.

From GAIA, we traveled back to Bue-

LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM EXPLORES ECOTOURISM OPPORTUNITIESKAHNERATOKWAS

nos Aires for a connecting bus to our next destination. e city is lled with historical sites, cultural activities and, of course, Tango halls. We spent two days and one night in the city before board-ing our bus for a 10-hour ride to Cr-EPCB UIF CJSUIQMBDF PG &SOFTUP i$IFw Guevarra. We rode all night long, arriv-ing just as the sun was rising on a new day. Unfortunately, there was no time to enjoy this charming city, as we had work to do, so we directly boarded a bus of lower means for a four-hour ride to our next destination, San Marcos.

e ride took us up in the moun-tains to a village of unpaved roads and modest architecture. ere is no terminal in this festive village; pas-sengers embark on a path in front of B TNBMM TIPQQJOHQMB[Bi)JQQJFTwBTthe locals call them, were performing, painting and selling their wares in the village square. We were immersed in a cloud of dust as the bus departed, and when it settled, we caught a glimpse of our friend Alejandro.

Ale was eager to show us the birth-ing center that his midwife sister,

Anna, was building up the road. It is a hopeful place, with lush greenery, rocky paths, a babbling brook and an unnished building begging to be completed. Mothers, ripe with child, are meandering about, sharing in their sisterhood of maternity, and enjoying this place of peace. It is a beautiful site indeed. We take notes and promise to return another day with whatever sup-port we can muster.

After twenty-four hours taking in the avor of San Marcos, we boarded another bus into the darkness for our nal participation in a permaculture course in Buda Traslasierra, near the village of Nono. Another charming eco-village, run by Ivan and Clarissa, Buda oers a jungle setting in the mountains blessed with amazing col-orful parrots, countless wild herbs and a refreshing waterfall.

Here we received as much as we of-fered to these people of the hills. Courses we provided were similar to those at GAIA, adding the strength of Alejandros ancient knowledge of the Andes and other regions of South

America. What we took away from Buda were strong new friendships and many ideas on sustainable practices. I learned how to make a ashlight from an old tin can, a candle and a piece of wire. I learned that petroleum-suck-ing hot water heaters can be placed outside to reap the benets of the sun. With the mechanical components re-moved, there is space to build a wood re to heat the water on cloudy days. An outside oven was built from an

old 50-gallon drum, adobe bricks and mud. Outside showers and compost toilets are easily built with some re-used plumbing supplies, a few well-placed stakes and bamboo panels.

After three days of sharing in this close-knit community, the time had come to return to New Mexico. Another 4-hour bus ride in the dark to a convenient hostel near the Crdoba bus terminal. As the morning dawned on my day of departure, I knew I was leaving behind a collection of new friends and fellow permaculturists. With scores of students ready to learn, I promised to return.

Four Bridges Traveling Permaculture Institute was established to address the needs of indigenous communities BSPVOEUIFHMPCF*OFTTFODFPVSiGPVSCSJEHFTwSFBDIPVUJOBMMEJSFDUJPOTUPestablish a network of people address-ing global issues in all of our commu-nities. We are accomplishing this goal by rst addressing the poverty and lack of healthy sustainable living prac-tices in these communities.


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If you asked your family, friends or colleagues where their food comes from, what do you think theyd say? !eres a good chance many would respond with the grocery store. As the world becomes more urbanized, people become further and further re-moved from the sources of their food and drinking water. In fact, in a 2011 national poll, 77 percent of Americans could not correctly identify their source of drinking water. !ats troubling.

For these reasons and more, !e Na-ture Conservancy is inviting people across the globe to join in the second annual Picnic for the Planet on or around Earth Day. !e picnic is a cel-ebration of the planet we live on, the bounty it provides and the people who work to protect it. In Santa Fe, the Conservancy is partnering with the Santa Fe Farmers Market for the sec-ond year in a row to host a local Picnic for the Planet on Saturday, April 21.

!is is a natural partnership, says Bob Ross, president of the board for the Farmers Market Institute. !e Farm-ers Market provides a venue to sell goods made by local farmers and pro-ducers while the Conservancy works to protect the land and waters they rely on. Our missions are aligned.

!is event will help connect people to the sources of their food in an easy and engaging way. Its also a way to get fam-ilies outside and foster a connection to the outdoors. Plus, it will provide an op-portunity to educate people about the connection between conservation and our food and water supply.

!e Nature Conservancy works closely with people around the world who produce our food farmers, ranchers and shermen. Here in New Mexico, the Conservancy works with produc-ers across the state by collaborating on funding opportunities and supporting

land improvements through restora-tion projects such as grassland recov-ery and watershed protection projects.

!e global population will grow from six to nine million in a few decades, says Terry Sullivan, state director for the Conservancy of New Mexico. Conservancy scientists across the world are restoring our oceans, se-curing our water and conserving our lands to ensure we have food and wa-ter for generations to come. We en-courage you to do your part: choose local and eat sustainably. Its good for us and the planet. !e lower a food is on the food chain, the lower its impact on the environment. So, add more fruits, vegetables and grains to your picnic meal. Buying local also re-duces the distance a food item travels from the farm to your table, helping minimize greenhouse gas emissions and often reducing packaging, which creates less waste.

At this years picnic, !e Nature Con-servancys booth will oer informa-tion about the groups work, and a raf-e. Picnic baskets decorated by local artists and lled with items from the Farmers Market will be given away during the event.

So, the Nature Conservancy suggests that, on the 21st, from 8 am 1 pm, you can shop at the Santa Fe Farm-ers Market for a locally grown picnic. !en, head over to the Railyard Park, adjacent to the market, to enjoy your food and community. After your meal, you can head up to the 525-acre Santa Fe Canyon Preserve and enjoy some time in nature by hiking the 1.5-mile interpretive trail.

People across the state and around the world are encouraged to get involved. !e Nature Conservancy has created a website that oers information, ideas and tools for anyone who wants to plan a picnic: www.nature.org/NewMexico.orn

PICNIC FOR THE PLANET APRIL 21GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR FOOD IN A FUN WAY

ALBUQUERQUEAPRIL 21, 8:30 AM- 4 PMEARTH DAY ACTIVITIESCORONADO STATE MONUMENTMonument Rangers will conduct a hands-on demonstration of adobe plastering and con-struction with the Bernalillo Youth Conser-vation Corps. Storytelling and docent-led tours of the Painted Kiva and Bosque Trail. Free. 505.867.5351, [email protected]

APRIL 21, 9 AM 5 PMRECYCLED ART FAIROPEN SPACE VISITOR CENTER6500 COORS BLVD. NWAnnual event celebrating the creativity of upcycling. Workshops, artists, vendors, food, festivities. Free. Presented by Parks & Recreation Dept. 505.897.8831, [email protected], www.cabq.gov/openspace

APRIL 21, 10 AM-2 PMEARTH DAY CELEBRATIONBOTANIC GARDENS ABQ BIOPARK2601 CENTRAL AVE. NWVisit the zoo, aquarium, botanic garden and Tingley Beach to learn how our actions matter when it comes to helping animals and plants. Discovery stations and hands-on activities. 505.848.7187, www.cabq.gov/biopark

APRIL 22, 10AM-6PMEARTH DAY FESTIVALLA MONTAITA CO-OP, 3500 CENTRAL SEMusic, Arts, Crafts, Food, Vendors, com-munity and environmental groups, family-friendly fun for children of all ages (see ad on page 25)

APRIL 22, 11 AM-3 PMEARTH DAY WITH NM VOLUN-TEERS FOR THE OUTDOORSBachechi Open SpaceSlideshow of the groups past projects. Refreshments. Free. 505.314.3098, [email protected]

APRIL 29, 10 AM-NOONARBOR DAY CELEBRATIONBachechi Open SpaceLocal experts will run educational stations that address topics such as forest health and importance, tree identication and anatomy, and proper tree care. Free. 505.314.3098, [email protected]

SANTA FEAPRIL 20, 9 AM-3 PMGLOBAL YOUTH SERVICES DAYZONA DEL SOL BUILDING JAGUAR AND COUNTY CLUB12-1 pm: Sustainable Schools and Businesses awards 505.9893.6896, www.earthcarenm.org

APRIL 21, AFTERNOONPICNIC FOR THE PLANETSF Railyard ParkPresented by the Nature Conservancy of NM and the Santa Fe Farmers Market. (see story above)

APRIL 22, 9:30-5 PMEARTH DAY CELEBRATIONGENOVEVA CHAVEZ CENTER 3221 RODEO RD.9:30-11:30: Leave No Trace Games Fam-ily Fun Challenge; 11:30-12:30: West African music & dance (outdoors); 12-2 pm: Recycled

Earth Week Events art activities for kids; 12-2 pm: Residential recycling bin give-away; 12-2 pm: Whats Recyclable? (Learn about recycling.); 2-3 pm: BodyHoops with Diana Lopez; 3:30-5 pm: Free movieAn Inconvenient Truth. Free tree saplings. Info: [email protected], www.chavezcenter.com

APRIL 22, MADRID EARTH DAY ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVALMADRID, NM (25 MILES SOUTH OF SF)Former Congressman Pete McCloskey is a featured speaker. Entertainment, food, sus-tainable building demos. Free. [email protected] (see ad, page 27)

APRIL 28 10AM - 3 PMHONOR THE EARTH DAY LA MONTAITA CO-OP, 913 WEST ALAMEDAMusic, food, demonstrations, info booths. 10 am: Michael Combs & friend; 11 am: Zoltan Orkestra; 12 pm: Anthony Leon & !e Chain; 1 pm: Kumusha Marimba Band

HERE & THEREAPRIL 14, 10 AM-4 PMEARTH DAY CELEBRATIONCORONADO STATE MONUMENT 485 KUAU ROAD, SANDOVAL, NMActivities for all ages, including atlatl throw-ing contest, demonstrations, preparing the monument gardens for planting, and naturalist-led tours of the bosque. Free. 505.867.5351, www.nmmonuments.org

APRIL 20-22TAOS FIBER MARKETPLACETAOS CONVENTION CENTER 120 CIVIC DR., TAOS

An exciting exchange between artisans, vendors and customers of high quality ber arts. Weaving, spinning, knitting and crocheting of hand-spun, hand-dyed bers including wool, alpaca, yak, camel, cashmere, natural spinning -bers, quilt fabrics and more. Classes, workshops and tours. Friday and Sat-urday: 9 am-6 pm; Sunday 9 am-2 pm. Taosbermarketplace.com

APRIL 21, 10 AM 2 PMEARTH DAY FESTIVALTHE NATURE CENTER 3540 ORANGE ST., LOS ALAMOSBooths and displays where community groups will show their earth-friendly prod-ucts and practices, and provide information about the environment on the Pajarito Pla-teau. Entertainment includes Clan Tynker, the Hill Stompers and Wise Fool giant pup-pets. 505.672.9056, [email protected]

APRIL 23, 10 AM-3 PMEARTH DAY CELEBRATIONAZTEC RUINS NATIONAL MONUMENT505.334.6174, ext. 228

APRIL 28SYNERGYFEST LAS VEGASHIGHLAND UNIVERSITYS MELODY PARK LAS VEGAS, NMA Fiesta of SustainabilityNinth annual event, featuring displays, demonstrations, artisans, live music, food, vendors. Solar and renewable energy exhibits. Hands-on events for children sponsored by the Las Vegas Na-tional Wildlife Refuge. www.synergyfest.com


It is complex and demanding, however, for organizers and community members to tend to the needs of visitors and to handle working with volunteers who come with diverse perspectives, intentions and capabilities. Managing visitors and me-diating volunteer eorts requires time, energy, skill, attention and planning, which is critical to ensuring a positive and benecial experience for all involved, including the natural world!

Via International is committed to helping people, families and communities build Paths to Self-Reliance for an Interdependent World. In the last year, 1,478 volunteers participated in educational travel and service learning programs; 888 food gardens were created, 11,823 youth participated in environmental education, 16,180 family members attended nutrition and ecol-ogy classes, 215 micro-enterprise loans helped women and families start small businesses, and 52 women graduated from leadership training programs. Vias volunteer service learning and educational travel projects are also available in Guatemala, Belize, San Diego, San Luis, Appalachia and elsewhere.

When I got home, I realized something: I am more aware of my connection to the Earth, and ultimately my connection to everyone and everything. I used to make decisions based only on my own betterment, but now I know better. - High School volunteer

COLLABORATIONS MAKE IT POSSIBLECollaborations between organizations and individuals create the settings for learning and cross-cultural understanding. Special #anks to the New Mexico team and to all of the community supporters and organizations who have assist-ed in providing exceptional transformational learning experiences for students in the Southwest. #ese include:

Agua Fra Community Farm, Bandelier National Monument, BLUUhouse En-terprises, Casa del Toro Bed and Breakfast, Centro Comunidad, Din College, El Rincn Farm, Hamaatsa, Miranda Canyon CSA, Moonlight Springs Ranch, Mujeres Sin Fronteras, Four Bridges Traveling Permaculture Institute, IIIS In-ternational Institute

April 2012 Edition

Documents

Transcript of April 2012 Edition