A second phase of action became necessary as WholeFoods, who had been purchasing nearly 50% of thelocal crop for sale in its New Mexico stores, decidedthat it could not continue to sell local tomatoes with-out clearance from the FDA. With hundreds of storesnationwide, the corporate policy was that they wouldonly sell tomatoes from states cleared as “safe” by theFDA. Though it was abundantly clear to local andregional officials that N.M. product was safe (after all,by that time the outbreak had spread to 16 states) and,given the risk and exposure, they needed to hold alltomato producers to the same standard.

Locals to the RESCUEIt was at this point that New Mexico Department of Agriculture(NMDA) really delivered. States with larger export-oriented toma-to businesses had been working with FDA to get their productscleared for sale. Arizona and Texas had successfully taken thisroute. Beginning on a Thursday morning the CDC was faced withthe loss of sales on all its tomatoes and about 1,500 pounds of NewMexico’s finest hydroponic tomatoes were about to go to waste.

By Friday afternoon, Larry Dominguez, Director of Industry andAgency Programs at NMDA, had tracked down the right peopleat FDA in Washington, delivered the necessary information, gath-ered with the cooperation of Steve and Kim Martin, and had NewMexico posted on the national, FDA website as a safe tomato pro-ducing state.

This remarkable feat was accomplished in a period of threehours on a Friday afternoon. Hats off to Larry for his will-ingness and ability to put all else aside, and work againsttime in DC, to get New Mexico product posted as “safe”.

Whole Foods was informed on late Friday afternoon that wehad secured FDA “safe status”, verifiable on their website,and delivery resumed with scarcely a noticeable interruptionin delivery. Just to make things more interesting, Cid’s in Taoshad also decided to voluntarily remove NM tomatoes fromtheir shelves. Rochelle Rex of Double A reminded them of thefacts: the short distance that our local tomatoes travel as com-pared to the wide geographic reach of the salmonella out-break, and further problems were averted.

The “message” about local food and its safety and accounta-bility has been a clear winner in this difficult situation. Thankyou to all who worked together to minimize the effect of thesalmonella outbreak on local tomato growers. And specialthanks to Larry Dominguez of the NM Department ofAgriculture for delivering the near impossible on a Fridayafternoon in June.

Consumption and INSECURITYCommunities often face similar pressures in decid-ing, say, between continued logging of decliningforests or loss of jobs. We see cities and states com-monly prostrating themselves in order to attractcorporate investment--because the consequences ofnot doing so are so severe: high unemployment, taxlosses, continued social breakdown, and, of course,negative political outcomes for incumbent govern-ment officials. For communities as for corporationsthe built-in system logic is obvious: it is simply amatter of "grow or die."

The same propositions unfortunately commonlyhold for many individuals as well. Consider the lifecycle of a typical middle-class American: one goesto college in order to get ahead and thereby incursdebt; paying off the debt requires accumulating asmuch money as possible; then it's time for a fami-ly, children, and if you're lucky, a mortgage.Parents come to realize that if they don't live in theright neighborhood, their child's education willsuffer, and they had better start saving for college;by the time that's over the question "Who will takecare of me?" in old age or sickness becomes central.

For the vast majority of Americans whatever secu-rity one achieves is fragile at best. In addition, sta-tus differences based on income and consumption--which are endemic to the system--exacerbate thedrive to consume. In a society of massive inequali-

ties and growing insecurity,and in which the media

BY GAR ALPEROVITZ

The need for a thorough re-thinking of the buildingblocks of a truly sustainable society has never beenmore urgent. There is a growing consensus that any polit-

ical-economic system must significantly reduce ecological stress,repair past environmental damage, and generate sufficient politicaland policy momentum so that environmental deterioration can behalted. Although precise definitions vary, many now recognize that"sustainability" requires both an institutional structure and a cul-ture with the capacity to achieve results in an ongoing fashion.

Confronting Current SYSTEMSIt has become increasingly obvious that neither of the two major"systems" of the twentieth century—capitalism and socialism, areorganized in a manner compatible with achieving these goals. Thisis not to say that modest and occasionally substantial goals cannotbe achieved within the existing systems. But if the larger judgmentis correct, then debate will obviously need to push much deeper toconfront the underlying design characteristics of these and othersystems to see if any are—or might be—sustainable.

In 1988 air pollution in more than a hundred cities in the formerSoviet Union was over ten times higher than legal standards. Sixty-five percent of Poland's river water was deemed too polluted evenfor industrial use, and large segments of the Polish populationwere not served by any waste treatment facilities. At the end of the1980s it was estimated that one out of every seventeen deaths inHungary was due to air pollution.

In Asia, eight Chinese cities are among the ten with the worst air pol-lution in the world according to World Health Organization studies.Acid rain, the result of sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide pollution,affects nearly one-third of the Chinese land area. Severe water quali-ty problems face the majority of the population, 700 million Chinesedrink water contaminated with animal and human waste. China alsofaces severe soil erosion, solid waste, and desertifaction problems.

The difficulties of the Soviet Union and China derive from devel-opment problems common throughout the world and the conse-

quences of militarized economies. However, the results canalso be traced to certain basic design features of the socialiststate system. Real world socialist systems have typically con-centrated the political power of the state while simultaneouslyweakening and suppressing civil society.

What about US? The World Resources Institute has recently noted that majorcapitalist industrial economies consume between 45 and 85metric tons of material per person each year. The U.S. con-sumes 333 kilograms of paper per person per year, comparedto approximately 15 kilograms per year in the developingworld. Deforestation worldwide has left only one-fifth of theplanet's original forests intact. (Americans also consume ahighly disproportionate quantity of the world's meat: 118 kilo-grams per year per person, in 1996, compared to just 24 kilo-grams per year in the developing world.

The trends are no more comforting when one looks at pollution.US yearly production of synthetic organic chemicals grew onethousandfold—from 150 million kilograms to over 150 billionkilograms—between 1935 and 1995. Confronted with suchdata illustrating the ecological consequences of our currentdevelopment path, a common response of many environmental-ists has been to emphasize the "greed" of corporate and othereconomic actors in generating such problems.

It is important, however, to recognizethat growth in capitalist systems is notmotivated simply by hunger for profitbut by fear that derives from the centrallogic and dynamics of the capitalist sys-tem: Companies for the most part mustcut costs if they are to withstand com-petition. They must externalize: If acompany willingly spends money on apollution reduction problem and thenmust raise its prices to cover the cost, itrisks finding its market share reducedor destroyed by a less conscientiousrival firm.

local growers and state and federal officials. Thecompetence and speed with which everyoneresponded and acted was a key factor in the posi-tive outcomes we experienced.

After Steve and Kim Martin of GrowingOpportunities called all of the TV stations to askthem to cover the story, Channel 7 News did afeature on the safety of local food as compared tomass-produced food (go to www.lamontanita.coop and click on the video link at the bottom ofthe home page to see the report). CDC staff pre-pared language and signs that were distributed toour Co-op stores and offered them to other storesthat are customers of the Co-op DistributionCenter and sell local tomatoes. We quicklynoticed more mainstream media reminding peo-ple to seek out local tomatoes to assure a safeproduct. It was a strong and effective message.

BY STEVE WARSHAWER, CO-OP ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

As part of the Enterprise Development programfor local food and farmers, the Co-op has beencultivating important, long-term relationships with

two New Mexico hydroponic tomato growers, GrowingOpportunities of Alcalde, NM, and Double A of Taos, NewMexico. In January the Co-op Distribution Center (CDC)became the distributor for Growing Opportunities, and inMarch for Double A. These distributor relationships are atthe heart of CDC efforts to enhance and expand opportuni-ties for New Mexico tomato growers and provide year-round quality food for local shoppers.

When the salmonella outbreak began in New Mexico andTexas in June, the first impulse of many retailers was topull all tomatoes off the shelves and issue dire warnings tothe public. Given the reach of the salmonella scare, (2states at first and then as many as 16 states reported caseslinked to tomatoes), and the fact that our local crops trav-el no more than 150 miles between field and fork, it wasclear that NM grown product was not part of the problem.

We knew that broad spectrum fear messages about toma-toes were likely to hurt local growers, even though theywere not part of the problem. And the timing of this situa-tion was pretty dire as both of our Food-Shed Projectgrowers were at peak production.

Taking ACTIONTo protect the interests of our local growers while assuringcontinued supply of safe tomatoes, Co-op staff worked tocoordinate and coach a variety of stakeholders, including

continued on page 2

Board of Directors’ Elections CalenderImportant Dates toREMEMBER

YOURCCOO--OOPP

wwaannttss YYOOUU!!

August 14: Nominations for Candidates for the Board of Directors Electionsopen. All Candidates must have been Co-op members as of July 1, 2008.Packets available at all locations.September 24: Nominations for candidates close. Members should be sureto update their addresses at their local Co-op Information Desk if they havemoved in order to receive ballots.October 25: Annual Membership Meeting. Candidates have an opportunityto introduce themselves to the membership. Gar Alperovitz, noted economistand author, will be speaking on “Cooperating for Community Wealth”.November 1-14: Annual Board of Directors Elections.

Salmonella Tomatoesand the Importance of Local FoodFood-Shed Update:

CO-OPSBuildSustainability!

WATCH YOUR MAILBOX FOR CO-OP ELECTION BALLOT. RETURN BALLOT IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.

TOWARD A COOPERATIVE ECONOMY: Ecological Sustainability

toward a cooperative economyA Community - Owned Natural Foods Grocery Store

La Montanita CooperativeNob Hill/ 7am-10pm M-S, 8am-10pm Sun.3500 Central SEAlbuq., NM 87106 265-4631

Valley/ 7am-10pm M-S, 8am-10pm Sun.2400 Rio Grande Blvd. NWAlbuq., NM 87104 242-8800

Gallup/ 10am-7pm M-S, 11am-6pm Sun.105 E. Coal Gallup, NM 87301 863-5383

Santa Fe/ 7am-10pm M-S, 8am-10pm Sun.913 West Alameda Santa Fe, NM 87501 984-2852

Cooperative Distribution Center 3361 Columbia NE, Albuq., NM 87107217-2010

Administrative Staff: 505-217-2001TOLL FREE: 877-775-2667 (COOP)• General Manager/Terry Bowling 217-2020terryb@lamontanita.coop• Controller/John Heckes 217-2026johnh@lamontanita.coop• Computers/Info Technology/David Varela 217-2011 computers@lamontanita.coop• Food Service/Bob Tero 217-2028bobt@lamontanita.coop• Human Resources/Sharret Rose 217-2023hr@lamontanita.coop• Marketing/Edite Cates 217-2024editec@lamontanita.coop• Membership/Robyn Seydel 217-2027robins@lamontanita.coop

Store Team Leaders: • Mark Lane/Nob Hill 265-4631markl@lamontanita.coop• John Mulle/Valley 242-8800jm@lamontanita.coop• William Prokopiack/Santa Fe 984-2852willpro@lamontanita.coop• Tim Morrison/Gallup 575-863-5383timm@lamontanita.coop

Co-op Board of Directors:email: bod@lamontanita.coopPresident: Martha WhitmanVice President: Marshall KovitzSecretary/Treasurer: Ken O’BrienWilliam Bright Lonn CalancaStephanie DobbieAriana MarchelloTamara Saimons

Membership Costs:$15 for 1 year/$200 Lifetime Membership

Co-op Connection Staff:Managing Editor: Robyn Seydelrobins@lamontanita.coopLayout and Design: foxyrock incCover/Centerfold: Co-op Marketing Dept.Advertising: Robyn Seydel Editorial Assistant: Kristin Whitekristinw@lamontanita.coop 217-2016Printing: Vanguard Press

Membership information is available at all four Co-op locations, or call 217-2027 or 877-775-2667email: robins@lamontanita.coop

Membership response to the newsletter is appreciated. Address typed, double-spaced copy to the Managing Editor, robins@lamontanita.coopwebsite: www.lamontanita.coop

Copyright © 2008La Montanita Co-op SupermarketReprints by prior permission.

The Co-op Connection is printed on 65% post- consumer recycled paper. It is recyclable.

make very visible the lifestyles of the affluent (both through adver-tising and the content of programming), it is hardly surprising thatthere is general adulation of the rich and secure in the system, orthat the capacity to consume so often becomes a measure of self-esteem and status.

Capitalist development undercuts individual economic secu-rity, increases inequality and undermines the basis of com-munity integration and support as a matter of course.

Companies come and go, jobs appear and disappear. Often as notthe social fabric is allowed to unravel, local culture disintegrates,the community fragments, and youngpeople leave. There is little "communi-ty" left to nurture a less materialist ori-entation and individuals must face thepowerful influences of our corporate-driven media largely alone.

Finally, and not least, there is the polit-ical power and culture which accom-panies advanced capitalist economies—and the impact both have on ecologicalpolicy-making. Countless studies—andcommon observation—indicate thatcorporate institutions wield dispropor-tionate political influence, manipulateregulatory agencies, thwart citizen action groups, and impact bothelectoral politics and legislation.

A recent study found that several polluting industries out-con-tribute all environmental PACs combined and also spend billionsa year on corporate advertising and "greenwashing." Largely inresponse to corporate pressures, the US government has regularlyintervened in the economy to promote ecologically inefficient anddestructive practices. Two examples among a multitude serve toillustrate: While allocating a pittance to the development of solarand wind power, the Federal government sank $100 billion intonuclear power between 1950 and 1990, and it continues to subsi-dize the fossil fuel industry with billions of dollars each year.Similarly, in what amounts to an indirect subsidy for privateautomakers, the government has lavished billions on the HighwayTrust Fund and created the interstate highway system, whileallowing public transit of most types to decay.

Distinguishing REALITIESIt is absolutely essential to discriminate among the following cate-gories of change: A. Reforms and gains which mitigate but donot end specific ecological problems; B. Reforms which include occasional break-throughs on a particular issue or substance(such as the complete removal of lead fromgasoline); and C. Significant, comprehensive long-term trendreversals in an entire category of ecological con-cern (such as a much hoped-for but littleaccomplished reversal in the generation ofgreenhouse gases to mitigate the consequences--of global climate change).

Will the next generation of environmentalproblems emerge from biotechnology, coldfusion developments, nanotechnology, spacejunk, attempts at desalinification, or anotherarea of technological advance? "Normal acci-dent" theory suggests that the various elementsof complex ecological and social processes are

likely to interact with each other—and with the very safety systemswith which we attempt to protect ourselves—in highly unpre-dictable ways.

The implications are not pleasant to consider. Whatever one thinksof the regulatory system's ability to handle ecological issues, a fur-ther question remains: Does the political-economic system gener-ate new problems at a faster rate than it generates the capacity tosolve them?

Principles of a Sustainable SYSTEMIT IS ESSENTIAL TO SKETCH AT LEAST SOME PRINCIPLES OF A SUSTAINABLE

SYSTEM. 1. Economic Security—A first principle of an ecologically sustain-able society is that it must provide economic security for individualsand communities. So long as most citizens are only a few paychecks

away from insolvency, and so long as they worry that theirincome may be taken away, economic expansion and jobcreation will be a higher political priority than environmen-tal protection for large numbers of people. At the commu-nity level, so long as localities remain dependent on uncer-tain investment decisions for their economic health, protec-tion of the environment will take a back seat.

2. Inequality Reduction—A second principle is reducingthe dominance of consumerism. This in turn requiresreducing the pressures of inequality-driven status envy,on the one hand—and building up sources of social andcommunity support for individuals that offer satisfac-tions from interactions with people rather than from con-sumption of goods on the other hand.

3. Work Time and Consumption Reduction—A long-term alter-native path would also include a reduction in work time, a con-comitant reduction in consumption, and an expansion of free time(or a shift to more intrinsically rewarding work). This is also clear-ly inextricably linked to the first principle (economic security):people are unlikely to seek any reduction in work time as long asthey face insecurity.

4. Polluters Pay—A fourth requirement of an ecologically sustain-able society is that producers who damage the environment shouldbear the costs of their damage. The true costs of production arenot reflected in the prices of goods on the market because compa-nies benefit by externalizing costs such as pollution cleanup (orlack thereof) to the public.

5. Increase Efficiency‚—Finally, and perhaps obviously, is simplythat growth no longer be a top priority. Economic growth per seneed not be eliminated entirely: One way to reduce resource use

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY

Gar Alperovitz, economist, teacher, author, activist isCOMING to New Mexico!HEAR HIM SPEAK ON:Cooperating for Community Wealth: Building a New Economy from the Bottom Up. Is there an AmericaBeyond Capitalism?FREE! Saturday, October 25th at the Lobo Theater,Albuquerque. DON’T MISS IT!

ECOLOGICALSustainabilitycontinued from page 1

Few Americans are aware of the steady increase ininnovative community wealth-building strategiesthroughout the United States. www.Community-

Wealth.org brings together, for the firsttime, information about the broad rangeof community wealth-building activity.

Their mission is to give practitioners,policy makers, academics, the mediaand activists the solid information andtools needed to help them understandand support the expansion of commu-nity wealth-building institutions.

A community wealth strategy aims at improving the abili-ty of communities and individuals to increase asset own-ership, anchor jobs locally, expand the provision of publicservices and ensure local economic stability.

Community wealth strategies are designed to draw moredollars into the community — by raising the financialassets of individuals, by increasing the level of “common”

assets within a community that are locally owned, and by leverag-ing the use of funds from institutions that are based in the commu-nity (such as city governments and universities) for community-

benefiting purposes.

Community-wealth.org documents the models for build-ing community wealth. All the models emphasize buildingassets or wealth as a way to contribute to the solution ofsocial and economic problems. These efforts provideincome, savings, direct services, jobs, and by building thelocal tax base, they provide support for needed publicservices. While there is no “one size fits all” approach, thevarious strategies do share some common values andoperating principles. They focus on building and anchor-

ing assets and capital in local communities, often broadly distrib-uting ownership among community members. They increase thelocal economic “multiplier effect” by recycling dollars within thecommunity in which they are based.

Go to www.community-wealth.org to learn moreabout the models.

BUILDING COMMUNITYWEALTH

2 august 2008

GAR isCOMING!!!!

continued on page 3

His book American Beyond Capitalismhas been inspiring the cooperative move-ment since its publication in 2005. He alsoauthored Rebuilding America, (Pantheon),Strategy and Program (Beacon) andMaking a Place for Community (withThad Williamson and David Imbroscio),The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb(Knopf) and Atomic Diplomacy (Simon &Schuster).

His upcoming book Unjust Deserts (written with Lew Daly)will be available in November 2008.

DON’T MISS IT! For more info contact Robyn at 217-2027, outside of Albuquerque toll free at 877-775-2667 orrobins@lamontanita.coop.

community ownership of resources

august 2008 3

Co-op ValuesCooperatives are based on the values of self-help,self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity andsolidarity. In the tradition of their founders, coop-erative members believe in the ethical values ofhonesty, openness, social responsibility and car-ing for others.

Co-op Principles 1 Voluntary and Open Membership 2 Democratic Member Control 3 Member Economic Participation 4 Autonomy and Independence 5 Education, Training and Information 6 Cooperation among Cooperatives 7 Concern for Community

The Co-op Connection is published by LaMontanita Co-op Supermarket to provide informa-tion on La Montanita Co-op Food Market, thecooperative movement, and the links betweenfood, health, environment and community issues.Opinions expressed herein are of the authors andare not necessarily those of the Co-op.

CO-OPYOU OWN IT

Valley

Gallup

Santa Fe

Gar Alperovitz lectures widely and has testified before numerous CongressionalCommittees. He is a Professor of Political

Economy at the University of Maryland, a former Fellow of Kings College,Cambridge University, of the Institute ofPolitics at Harvard, of the Institute forPolicy Studies, and a Guest Scholar at theBrookings Institution.

A founding member of the DemocracyCollaborative, his articles have appeared inThe New York Times, The Washington Post,The Los Angeles Times, Mother Jones, TheNation, The Atlantic and other popular andacademic publications. He has been profiled by TheNew York Times, The Associated Press, PeopleMagazine, UPI and Mother Jones and he hasappeared on numerous network television news pro-grams including (among many others): “Meet thePress,” “Larry King Live,” “The Charlie Rose Show,”“Cross-Fire” and “The O’Reilly Factor.”

GARALPEROVITZ

GAR is Coming! Saturday, October 25, Lobo Theater FREE!!!

Another emerging model for local-level governance,"civic environmentalism"offers additional possibilitiesfor future development. Locally negotiated, flexibleapproaches have been adopted in numerous areas asalternatives to traditional "command and control" reg-ulation in habitat preservation, forestry, toxic releasecontrol, green space preservation, land trusts, etc."Civic Environmental" experiments are those whichprovide for sustained citizen input into local corporatedecision-making.

Income, Wealth and CAPITALWealth and income inequality has increased dramati-cally over the past quarter century. Since 1973 the top5 percent of families have seen their share of nationalincome increase by more than 33.3% (from 15.5 per-cent to 20.7 percent). The top 20% has seen its shareincrease by 15 percent (from 41.1 percent to 50.4 per-

cent). Meanwhile, the share of every otherincome group has fallen: the rise in the top sharehas come at the expense of all households in the"bottom" 80%. If one removes equity inowner-occupied housing from the picture andlooks simply at financial wealth (which includesall forms of business ownership, bonds, realestate, etc.), the richest 0.5% of householdsalone possess 42%.

A small number of privileged Americans nowhave sufficient wherewithal, financial and psy-chological, to personally attempt to live lives of

"voluntary simplicity." However, as Jerome Segal hasargued, a key requirement of any serious approach toreducing the work week for the vast majority is theprovision of a stream of income unrelated to work.

The basic fact is that the productive potential of the USeconomy is already massive: If the output of theAmerican economy today were to be divided equallyamong all families (or groups) of four, each wouldreceive over $125,000. Indeed, the work week mightwell be trimmed to half the current norm or less as fam-ilies enjoy the same or greater economic abundance.

Constructing a Sustainable SYSTEMNew patterns are necessary to control the ecologicalthrust of any large-scale economic entity and make itaccountable to the public. But their developmentrequires that citizens have the time and income to par-ticipate in democratic oversight. If the "virtuouscycle" inherent in the relationships described can beachieved community-by-community larger societalstructures can potentially be organized in a systemati-cally sustainable manner.

The United States is so large today that it is extremelydifficult to generate a social consensus in favor ofexpanded or specific ecological protection. If we agreethat the size of a polity has implications for consensusbuilding, then we ultimately need to look to entitiesthat are smaller than the continental national govern-ment: states or groupings of states within a region.Smaller-scale and semi-autonomous regional politieswith increased powers and responsibilities vis-a-visthe national government are ultimately likely to beanother important element in a reconstructed ecologi-cally sustainable system.

At the very least, a reconstructed system would needmechanisms at the state or regional level to ensure thatone community does not pollute another. There wouldalso need to be a planning mechanism to help allocatesufficient capital to each community to guarantee local-level economic stability and to help communities adjustwhen some industries decline due to market shifts.

and pollution is to cut production and shrink the economy. Another is tomake productive systems more efficient. If the nation decided to hire moreelementary schoolteachers—and at the same time to buy fewer sports util-ity vehicles—ecological damage would decline even as the size of the econ-omy stayed roughly the same.

A Systemic RESPONSE A first-stage systemic response proceeds on several levels beginning byemphasizing the fundamental need to rebuild—and add to—the basis ofenforceable ecological norms. This in turn involves several issues:• Achieving greater local, economic stability; • Nurturing local civic environmental culture; • Building new forms of embedded and democratized capital; • Altering the larger structures of inequality and time availability; • Address the matter of scale.

Facilitating Local ECONOMIES

What can be done, concretely, tofacilitate the further evolution ofstrong ecological norms starting at

the local level? A first step is to increase indi-vidual and community economic stability.One set of strategies involves traditional local,state, and national tax, loan, regulatory, pro-curement, and other efforts to keep jobs incommunities and to reduce the pressure ofglobalization and destabilizing trade.

A second line of defense involves the development of "anchored" commu-nity industries, which inherently increase stability. These include commu-nity-owned firms, small businesses, cooperatives, employee-owned com-panies, community development corporations, non-profits in business, etc.The key characteristic of such firms is that they are owned by local peopleand are much less likely to "get up and go."

A third strategy is to enhance local "multipliers," i.e., the number of times adollar re-circulates within a particular local economy. "Buy local" strategiesand enhanced local supplier networks also tend to increase local stability.

A slow build up at the local level requires rooting capital in communitiesso that there is community responsibility for the consequences of econom-ic activity—and wherever possible, some form of local democratized own-ership. One of the most important developments occurring just below thesurface of public awareness is the growth of economic institutions whichdemocratize capital and which are potentially more capable of being madeaccountable to community ecological concerns. For instance, currentlyfunctioning in the US alone there are:

• Some 3,500 to 4,000 Community Development Corporations;• More than 48,000 cooperatives generating over $120 billion in annualeconomic activity. (The *National Cooperative Bank estimates that one-third of all Americans, roughly 122 million, are directly served by at leastone type of cooperative.);• More than 15,000 significanlty worker-owned firms whose employeesown 9 percent of corporate equity in the US.

The remaining three categories are less well developed and less wellknown. They are: • Some 120 community land trusts in 32 states and the District ofColumbia—the vast majority of which have gotten off the ground in thepast 15 years. • A wide range of municipally-owned enterprises—from the 2,000 munic-ipally-owned utilities to municipal-owned recreational facilities and trans-portation systems to less traditional ventures as cable television, Internetprovision, retail stores, hotels and baseball teams. • More than 350 community development finance institutions (includingcommunity development banks, community development loan funds, andcommunity development credit unions).

BIOGRAPHY

TOWARD A COOPERATIVE

ECONOMYcontinued from page 2

for more informationwww.lamontanita.coop

continued on page 12

community

holy harvest august 2008 4

BLACKBERRIES: FOR HEALTHY EYES AND HEART

Food-Shed Update:

Ahhh berries! It’s that time and the Food-Shed Project is pleased to be bringingfresh delicious New Mexico-raised black-

berries to your table. Once a special summer treat,though now you can get blackberries from China andSouth America all year long at the big box stores, onceyou taste these fresh local berries—you willunderstand why local food is just plain better.

Last month we were pleased to feature anarticle written by one of our Food-Shedpartners Walt and Betty Lea of CottonwoodLane Orchards. This month you will be ableto enjoy their delicious blackberries. Don’tmiss this special treat.

Bring on the BramblesBlackberries and raspberries, often termed"Brambles”, are part of one of the most diversegroups of flowering plants in the world. Closelyrelated to strawberries Rubus (genus) has hundredsof species in 12 subgenera. Blackberries are nativeto Asia, Europe, North and South America and aregenerally cultivated in each region from indigenousspecies. They have been used for eating, medicinalpurposes and as privacy and protection hedges inEurope for over 2,000 years. Their close cousin thered raspberry is indigenous to the Caucasus moun-tains of Asia Minor and to North America.Historically they were gathered by the people ofTroy near the foothills of Mt. Ida around the timeof Christ. Records of domestication were found in4th century writings of Palladius, a Roman agricul-turist, and seeds have been discovered at Roman

forts in Britain. The British horticulturalists popu-larized and improved raspberries throughout theMiddle Ages, and exported the plants to New Yorkby 1771.

Berries have recently been pinpointed as containingsome of the highest levels of phytoestrogens in fruit,valuable in the prevention of both breast and cervical

cancer, with blackberries lead-ing the berry pack. Aboundingin antioxidants, the antho-cyanin pigments, responsiblefor their purplish-black color,takes blackberries to the top ofthe chart as one of the leadingdisease-fighting foods.

They contain high levels ofVitamins C and E, folate,potassium, manganese and

magnesium. Their ellagic acid, a potent antioxidant,helps to fight cancer and is known as an anti-agingsubstance. Cooking does not seem to destroy ellag-ic acid, so even blackberry jams and desserts retainellagic acid’s health benefits. Interestingly, blackber-ries are a natural source of salicylate, an active sub-stance found in aspirin. Because of their many tinyseeds, blackberries are a rich source of soluble fiber,such as pectin and other fibers that help reduce therisks of diverticulosis, diabetes and obesity. One ofthe few fruits that contain heart-protective vitaminE, berries also strengthen blood vessels, protectingeyesight and reduce heart disease risk.

by Kristin White

Freezing and canning are two methods for preserv-ing and savoring summer fruits and vegetables allyear long. Freezing vegetables, in particular, is quick

and convenient and maintains most nutrients when done soonafter harvest or at their peak of ripeness.

Selecting Vegetables to FreezeSelect vegetables that are ripe, fresh and tender. Wash andrinse, then remove stems and leaves and trim bad areas.

MaterialsYou’ll need: a large pot (minimum capacity 2 gallons), a colan-der, wire basket or net bag, large pans, ice cubes or ice blocks, cut-ting board, knives, hot pads, plastic freezer bags or other containers,and a timer or a clock with a second hand.

BlanchingBlanching is the scalding of vegetables in boiling water or steam fora very short time. Blanching slows or stops the action of enzymes invegetables that cause them to grow and mature and preserves theircolor, texture, flavor and nutrients. Blanch vegetables, with theexception of onions and green peppers, before freezing. Use one gal-lon of water for each pound of prepared vegetables. Summer vegeta-bles, such as eggplant, summer squash and zucchini taste better ifbriefly sautéed in oil or butter before freezing.

To blanch vegetables insert the wire basket or mesh bag containingthe washed and trimmed vegetables into a pot of vigorously boilingwater. Do not add so many vegetables that the water stops boiling.Cover and begin timing once water returns to a rolling boil.Blanching times vary (see Table 1 at this website: www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_e/e-320.pdf). Be careful not to overblanch, as flavor, color,texture and nutrients will be lost.

Plunge vegetables immediately into iced water for the same amountof blanched time. Drain the vegetables thoroughly. Residual waterwill create too many ice crystals.

Packing VegetablesFill the plastic bag or rigid container to the expansion line to reducethe amount of air in the container. If using a freezer bag, press out allof the air from the unfilled portion of the bag. Leave 1/2 inch ofheadspace, so that the food can expand when frozen, and seal.

For more specific information on freezing veg-etables, go to: cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_e/e-320.pdf OR http://hgic.clemson.edu

CANNING FRUITFRUITSelection and Care of FruitFruit should be ripe, firm, free from blemishes,bruises or diseases. Remove dirt and sand from thefruit. The preserving process will be most effectiveif the fruit is thoroughly cleaned. Do not allow fruitto soak in water or it will lose flavor and nutrients.

Materials and PreparationTo can fruit, you will need Mason jars with self-sealing lids. These jars come in 1/2 pint, pint, 1 1/2pint and quart sizes. Larger sizes are not recom-mended for home canning.

Examine the jars and discard any faulty ones withnicks, cracks or rough edges. Wash jars in hot soapywater and rinse thoroughly, or clean in the dish-washer. Keep them hot, in the dishwasher, a sinkfilled with hot water or warm in the oven, until theyare filled. Inspect lids for signs of rust or dents anddiscard the badly corroded or dented ones.

Preserve Natural Color and FlavorPreserve fruit’s natural color and flavor by limit-ing exposure to air, hot packing into jars, pro-cessing quickly and storing correctly.

Create a solution of 3 grams of absorbic acid (3000milligrams or one level teaspoon) powder to 1gallon of cold water to prevent the discol-oration of apples, apricots, nectarines, peach-es, white cherries and grapes. Dip the peeled,sliced, pitted or stemmed fruits into the solu-tion. Vitamin C can be used as a substitute forabsorbic acid; use six, 500-milligram tablets.

With or Without SugarSugar and syrups do not prevent fruits fromspoiling, but they do help fruit to retain color,flavor and shape. Less sugar yields lightersyrup with fewer calories. Ten percent is clos-est to the natural sugar content in most fruit.Honey may be substituted for up to half of

the sugar in the syrup. Prepare enough syrup tofill the jars in one canner load.

Sugar is not necessary for canning fruits. Substituteplain boiling water, unsweetened apple, pineapple,white grape juice, or a combination of these. Sugarsubstitutes should not be used in canning.

Hot Packing FruitsHot packing is the process of heating foods to theboiling point, simmering for 2 to 5 minutes, andimmediately filling hot jars loosely with the boiledjuice, syrup or water. Hot packing removes airfrom food, increases vacuum seal, prevents foodfrom floating in the jars and increases shelf life.

General Canning InstructionsFill hot jars with fruit, allowing headspace (forhome-canned fruit it is typically 1/2 inch, but mayvary.) Carefully insert a plastic or wooden spatulaalong the inside of the jar in order to remove airbubbles. Add food or liquid to achieve the recom-mended headspace. Wipe the top rim of the jarwith a clean damp cloth or paper towel. Place lidon rim and tighten screw band until jar has beenprocessed and cooled.

For more detailed information got to:www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_e/e-319.pdf, orwww.canning-food-rec ipes.com/canningfru i ts .htm#Syrups

FREEZING AND CANNING FOODFOODPRESERVING the Summer Harvest

BLACKBERRIES:

SEASONALDELIGHT

TRY SOME NEW MEXICO BLACKBERRIES

SAVOR summerflavors allYEAR LONG

holy harvest august 2008 5

Defy Monsanto for LOCAL AUTONOMY!

Saving seed has become a revolutionary act akin todumping tea in Boston Harbor. Both acts commit-ted in defiance of power and greed. We have a similar

opportunity today. Monsanto, the chemical company thatbrought us dioxin, Agent Orange, PCBs and a host ofsuperfund sites across the nation and contaminated sitesaround the globe, has spun-off its chemical division, nowcalled Solutia. Monsanto is now a “life sciences” compa-ny with an eye toward control of world food supplies andagriculture. While their new branding is doing its best positive spin,their profit-at-any-cost tactics remain the same.

They will aggressively litigate or try to intimidate any farmer they sus-pect of saving their genetically modified (GM) seeds (and many whoaren’t) with all the power at the international corporate giant’s dis-posal. Percy Schmiser, the Canadian canola farmer whose fields werecontaminated with Montanto’s GMO canola was the opening salvo.The Center for Food Safety documents 112 lawsuits in 27 states inthis country alone.

And though it’s easy for us, small New Mexican farmers and garden-ers to say, “well who would want to plant their damned GMO seedsanyway,” few know that when Monsanto bought the seed companySeminis for $1.4 billion in 2005 it gained control of 40% of the U.S.lettuce, tomato and other vegetable and fruit seed market. (VanityFair, July 08).

Defy Monsanto, SAVE SEEDSaving seed is a time honored agricultural practice. Here is some basichow to info for traditional and hybrid seed saving borrowed andadapted from www.seedsavers.org and www.victoryseeds.com. 1. Only save seeds from healthy plants whose fruit exhibit the traitsdesirable and expected for the variety. 2. Make sure that you have a good population of a specific variety oryou may weaken the line by not preserving the genetic diversity. 3. During the growing season maintain appropriate isolation toensure that cross-pollination does not occur within a species.

4. Thoroughly dry your seeds before storage.Place seeds on a glass or plastic plate or screen;do not use paper as they may stick. Dry out ofdirect sunlight for a few days.5. Store seeds in clearly labeled, airtight glass ormetal containers in a cool, dark place. The cold-er, the better. Basements are good places but soare refrigerators.6. Seeds need to be kept in an environment thatmaintains dormancy.

Special Tips for Specific SpeciesBeans: If not grown together, beans do notreadily cross-pollinate. Thanks to our long grow-ing season and dry climate you can wait for thebeans to fully mature and let the pods dry on theplant. Up north pull up the plants, and hangupside down in a garage or barn, avoid damp-ness and mold. Then break the pod open, removethe seeds and let them finish drying. When com-

AN ACT OF AGRICULTURAL

FFFFRRRREEEEEEEEDDDDOOOOMMMM

SAVING SEEDSby Robyn Seydel

pletely dry place them in the freezer for 72 hours to killany insects. Then place in a container and keep in acool, dry place.

TomatoesCross-pollination between modern tomato varietiesseldom occurs, except in potato leaf varieties whichshould be separated by the length of the garden. Donot save seeds from double fruits or from the firstfruits of large-fruited varieties. Pick at least one ripefruit from each of several plants.

Cut a ripe tomato in half, scoop out the seeds andpulp, and place in a jar with a little water and coverwith plastic wrap. Stir the seeds a few times a day forthe next 2 or 3 days. During the fermentation process,the good seeds will separate from the gelatinous cov-ering and sink to the bottom after which time you canpour off the liquid junk. Rinse the seeds with cool,clean water. A fine mesh strainer or even coffee filterswork. Dry seeds thoroughly before storing.

CucumbersUse the same process as tomatoes, but allow them toripen past the eating stage, then use the fermentationprocess outlined above.

Melons and SquashAt the ripe stage, cut open, scoop out seeds and dry.Some varieties may benefit from the fermentationprocess used for tomatoes.

FOR COMPLETESEED SAVING INFOGO TO: www.seedsavers.org • www.victoryseeds.com NOT WEB ACCESSIBLE: write or call Seed Savers Exchange3094 North Winn Rd, Decorah, Iowa 52101 Phone: (563) 382-5990 and Fax: (563) 382-5872

anagriculturalTRADITION

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Tijeras Organic Alchemy Abq., NMCrimson Clove Hair Revitalizer, 4 oz. Sale $10.99.Additional Tijeras items also on sale

co-op news august 2008 6

LOCAL SALE ITEMSSHOP LOCAL & SAVE

BY LONN CALANCA, BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

Every year for the past 52years the Consumer Co-operative Management As-

sociation (CCMA) has hosted a con-ference to bring together co-ops fromall over the country. It is the largestnational event of its type bringingtogether more than 400 cooperatorsfrom 32 states, 2 countries and 71cooperatives. It is a valuable opportunity to network,share information and implement unified strategicvision in support of the 6th cooperative principle (Co-operation among Co-operatives). If you ever wanted toput your finger on the pulse of the national cooperativemovement, this is the place.

This year marked my third time at the conference rep-resenting La Montanita as a board member and had meanticipating its many workshops and networkingopportunities. I found that in years past it was easy to be somewhat over-whelmed with information. So this year I determined that instead of try-ing to grasp every detail I would just pick the most profound thing Icould and really explore it.

As it turns out the first keynote speaker provided me with this year’s mostprofound insight and visionary discussion. For instance, the cooperativemovement is often thought of as a small fringe of marginally profitablenatural food stores without any real political clout to influence the worldoutside of its community. But according to Dr. David Korten, nothingcould be further from the truth. Did you know that over 60% of adults inthe US belong to cooperatives? Did you know that Co-ops generate over30 billion dollars in revenue annually in the US and internationally gener-

ate 963 billion dollars(nearly one trillion dol-lars)? So what does thismean? This means thatthe cooperative businessmodel is extremely suc-cessful. This also meansthat the cooperative busi-ness model may just be thesolution to the economic

crisis currently unfolding in the world.

Dr. Korten’s presentation related the urgentneed of the world’s population to graduateto a more sustainable and equitable form ofmonetary resource management. He demon-strated how the current economic climateprovided an opportunity for co-ops to pres-ent themselves as the viable alternative eco-nomic model to what he calls “the global

suicide economy”. This is largely due to the factthat a cooperative model operates using what is

called the double bottom line. This in effect, takesthe supply and demand marketplace and allows forthe well- being of the consumer to be taken intoaccount as a tangible way to monitor the success ofa business. This offers a high level of accountability,integrity and an emphasis on mutually equitablerelationships. Traditionally corporations have beenconcerned only with the single bottom line. Thistranslates squarely into making maximum profit atany cost. This cost, unfortunately, is the slow painfuldemise of the environment and world economy thatwe see today.

So there it is, the idea that the same business prac-tice that has lead to the success of my local co-opcould also provide a viable solution for the long-term sustainability and mutually beneficial man-agement of the worlds resources. I am pleased tosay that within the cooperative community thistype of practical yet visionary dialog is abundant. Irealized that if this was the only concept I walkedaway from CCMA with, it certainly had beenworth the trip. I am still attempting to grapple withthe scope of such implications and can’t help butwonder what a cooperatively-run world wouldlook like.

AUGUST SPECIALSWANT TO SEE YOUR LOCAL PRODUCT ADVERTISED HERE?

Contact Angela at angela@lamontanita.coop

OWNERSHIP

VALID IN-STORE ONLY from 7/30-9/2, 2008:NOT ALL ITEMS AVAILABLE AT ALL STORES.

MEMBERSHIP IS

weather conditions. The winter cover is madeof UV-treated greenhouse plastic and trapsheat from the sun during the day, keeping theplants safe and warm throughout the night.Many features, sizes and options are availableto suit a variety of needs.

Chuck has recently been working with LaMontanita’s School Partners Garden Project in Gallup, New Mexico, to construct sixVeggie grower Gardens for two elementary

schools. He has also col-laborated with a num-ber of schools in Albu-querque to establishgardens and teach gar-dening skills to theirstudents. Students learnhow to plant seeds andlearn where their foodcomes from.

I asked Chuck what he enjoys most about hisjob: “I enjoy helping people grow some of theirown food. It is very satisfying to provide peoplewith a food production system that they can useall year long to feed themselves.” The more Ilearn about these user-friendly and efficient gar-dens, I am reminded of the ways in which foodbrings people together on the most fundamentallevel. Whether it’s children discovering, and tak-ing an active part in, gardening for the first timeor friends and family sharing a homegrownmeal together, eating well is healthy and pleas-urable and connects us to the natural world.

Mr. O’Herron-Alex has been a Co-op memberfor ten years and appreciates the fact that theCo-op is close to his home and store. For moreinformation on Veggiegrower Gardens, pleasevisit the website at veggiegrower.net. To receivemore detailed information or order a garden,call Chuck at 217-5110 or send an email toveggiegrower@att.net. Veggiegrower Gardensis located at 3211 Silver Ave. SE.

BY KRISTIN WHITE

W hat started out as a hunger reliefproject for families in Juarez,Mexico, has now grown into a flour-

ishing business for president and founder ChuckO’Herron-Alex of Veggiegrower Gardens of NewMexico. As I sat listening to Chuck in his smalloffice and workshop on Silver Street, I admiredhis ability to create a successful business andremain a true humanitarian. His gardenssupport a diversity of people, from privateclients to organizations like St. Joseph’sCommunity Health Services, who havepartnered with Chuck to implement an edu-cational and applied program for individu-als with diabetes.

Veggiegrower Gardens look like a garden ina box. The frame, made of pine, holdseverything together. Holes are drilled around thelower part of the perimeter of the frame to allowdrainage. Lava rocks are placed on the bottom ofthe box with a layer of semipermeable materialon top. The material acts as a weed barrier.Veggiegrower Gardens are perfect for urban gar-dening. They can be placed on any type of sur-face—cement, dirt, gravel or grass, without thethreat of invading grasses, weeds or tree roots.Chuck has even built a garden on the rooftop ofa school in Bronx, NY! Blocks or other sturdyobjects can be placed underneath the garden toraise it up for easier accessibility.

All of the Veggiegrower Gardens come with twoprotective coverings, one to use during thewarmer months and the other for winter. Thesummer cover is a heavy garden fabric, or rowcover, made of polypropylene. It allows waterand ninety percent of sunlight through whileprotecting the garden from pests and harsher

Veggie Grower Chuck O’Herron-AlexMember Profile

A Garden in a B O XB O X

TAKING THE PULSE OF THECO-OPCO-OP MOVEMENTMOVEMENT

Profound InsightandVisionaryDiscussions

August 14: Nominations for Candidates for the Board ofDirectors Elections open. All Candidates must have beenCo-op members as of July 1, 2008. Packets available atall locations.September 24: Nominations for candidates close.Members should be sure to update their addresses attheir local Co-op Information Desk if they have moved inorder to receive ballots.October 25: Annual Membership Meeting. Candidateshave an opportunity to introduce themselves to the mem-bership. Gar Alperovitz, noted economist and author, willbe speaking on “Cooperating for Community Wealth”.November 1-14: Annual Board of Directors Elections.

SSAAVVEE theDDAATTEESS!!

Watch your home mailbox for your Co-op Election Ballot. Return ballot in the envelope provided.

EELLEECCTTIIOONN CCAALLEENNDDEERR

Your CO-OPwantsYOU!YOU!

Classical HomeopathyVisceral Manipulation

Craniosacral Therapy

MARY ALICE COOPER, MD

St. Raphael Medical Center204 Carlisle NE Albuquerque, NM 87106

505-266-6522

co-op news august 2008 7

CO-OPS: A Solution-Based System A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons

united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social andcultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and

democratically-controlled enterprise.

Calendarof Events

I’m pleased to announce that our Gallup loca-tion has posted positive numbers for this quar-ter. It’s been a true team effort toachieve this goal. We acquiredthe Gallup location in 2005from Wild Sage Co-op. Afterhelping the Wild Sage Board payoff their debt, Wild Sage closedfor several months as we founda new location, bought equip-ment and hired and trainedstaff. Food-Shed Project trucksbegan weekly deliveries of fresh bread, meat,cheese, produce and other local products in 2007.

The Gallup Co-op is unique in many ways. In termsof size, it is only a thousand square feet. The opera-

tional challenges of this small space are many.We are optimistic this is just the beginning ofour progress in Gallup. We have begun sever-al outreach projects in Gallup and are excitedto be part of this community. I personally feelwe have an opportunity to share the co-operative values with this community and Iintend to do everything possible to foster thisrelationship. I would like to congratulate ourStore Team Leader Tim Morrison and his

great staff of Alisha Olguin and Raphael Sam. Greatjob on this achievement, we are proud of you.In cooperation, Terry

8/14 Board of Directors Candidate Packets available at all Co-op info desks

8/19 BOD Meeting, Immanuel Church, 5:30pm8/25 Member Engagement Committee, CDC, 5:30pm TBA Finance Committee Meeting, CDC, 5pm

THE INSIDE SCOOP

SHOP CO-OP AND SAVE BUY LOCAL SHOP CO-OP AND SAVE

BY ROBIN SEYDEL

The School Garden project, at two Galluparea elementary schools is comingtogether nicely. Chuck was busy building

the Veggiegrower intensive gardens during themonth of July. They were picked up on July18th, and delivered to Gallup on our weeklyFood-Shed Project truck on the 23rd and30th of July for David Skeet and Juan deOnate schools respectively. Chuck will bepresenting a Veggiegrower Garden Tutorialto all the participating teachers from bothschools at Juan de Onate on the afternoon ofAugust 6th. After that he will be available toanswer any questions or deal with problemson an ongoing basis.

Gallup Co-op members are encouraged to volun-teer helping out with the gardens. The usual 18%Co-op discount will apply. To volunteer or learnmore about how our Co-op volunteer programworks contact Robin at 877-775-2667 or e-mailher at robins@lamontanita.coop.

Community SupportOne of the most wonderful things about this proj-ect has been the community support it has received.Local agricultural businesses have been most gener-ous, donating some of the other materials neededfor the project. These generous donations havehelped the school garden project move forward.

Getting enough good soil to fill the gardens was oneof the big issues. Purchasing the over 100 cubic feetof potting soil and compost was beyond the meansof the teachers and the schools. Jim Brooks, WalterDod and the rest of the fine folks at New MexicoCompost Products stepped in to save the day. Theykindly donated three pallet loads, 180 cubic feet, ofNew Mexico Commodity Commission approvedcompost for the project. Some of the compost willbe used during the August planting and some willbe saved for use during the January planting.

A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO JIM BROOKS,WALTER DODS AND ALL THE FINE FOLKS ATNEW MEXICO COMPOST PRODUCTS FOR THEIRMOST GENEROUS DONATION OF COMPOST TO FILL

THE GARDEN BEDS.

Then there was the problem ofthe seeds. Thanks to BotanicalInterests for their generousdonations of seeds. Many Co-op members know Botanical In-terests seeds as the fine organicseeds we sell at all Co-op loca-tions. They have excellent ger-mination rates and are a small

family company at the outer reaches of our Food-Shed area in Broomfield, Colorado.

A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO CURTIS JONES OFBOTANICAL INTERESTS FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TOSUPPORT THE GALLUP SCHOOL GARDEN PROJECTWITH A VARIETY OF VEGETABLE SEEDS.

Eddie Albert, stage and screen actor, and Ian TAllison, merged their efforts in 1982 to create thenon-profit organization, The Seed Corps. Theirobjective was to fulfill the theme “If you teach aman to grow a garden you feed him for the rest ofhis life,” with the corollary “People who are wellfed rarely engage in rebellion and war.” From theirexperimental gardens and headquarters in SantaRosa, California, they deliver free seeds to commu-nities worldwide. They focus on non-hybrid vari-eties to encourage seed saving by participating gar-deners. They sent us a wonderful box of veggie andflower seeds. For more information about thisorganization contact them at 707-575-3707 orinfo@pumpkintools.com.

A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SEED CORPSFOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATION OF SEEDS.

GALLUP SCHOOL PARTNERS UPDAUPDATETESchool Gardens Get Going!

CO-OP SPONSORS SOUTH VALLEYCOOKING CLASSESThe South Valley Economic DevelopmentCenter, the Co-op and local chef CherylTravers are pleased to be offeringHealthy Harvest Cooking Classes onTuesday, August 12th, and Tuesday,August 16, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Cheryl hasdecades of experience cooking healthyfoods and local specialties.

The classes will show how to use the foodsyou are harvesting from your garden or finding atthe farmers’ markets, helping participants developseasonal recipes and build connections to localfarmers. The class is also perfect for folks wantingto learn to eat healthier, lose weight, are diabetic

or are interested in a more heart-healthy diet. Learnto take traditional food favorites and make them as

healthy as they are delicious.

These classes are $15 per person,and will be held at the SouthValley Economic DevelopmentCenter, 318 Isleta Blvd. SW. Thereis a limit of 15. A meal of thefoods that have just been pre-pared is included. Please wearcomfortable shoes and clothes

and come open to add a fun, healthy new twist toyour life with FRESH, LOCAL and ORGANIC food.

For more info, menu and reservations callCheryl at 505-239-0909.

THE HARVEST! COOKING

Postural CorrectionsW orking Deeply from the Inside OutFun and Varied approach to Movement

Studio and Home Visits

Michele WhittekerCertified Pilates Instructor

North Valley

michelelee613@hotmail.com Phone: (505) 345-0149Albuquerque, NM

11th AnnualPoets and WritersPICNICSat., Aug. 23rd noon to 5pm the historic Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair, NM

FREE For more info contact HOST DALE HARRIS 505-242-4930 poetdale@yahoo.com

Enjoy the summer’s bounty of localfruits and vegetables, many of whichare included in the recipes below. Localvegetables in season are bell peppers,beans (green, string, purple and wax),carrots, potatoes, eggplant, cucumbers,okra, onions, summer squash and toma-toes. Seasonal local fruits include black-berries, figs, melons and peaches.

(Key: C = cup, T = tablespoon, t = tea-spoon, lb. = pound, oz. = ounce, qt. =quart)

Roasted Pepper and TomatoSalad

3 or 4 ripe red bell peppers3 or 4 ripe green bell peppers2 ripe tomatoes1/2 C thinly sliced sweet white onion1/3 C extra virgin olive oil4 T sherry vinegarkosher salt to tastefresh ground black pepper to taste3 cloves garlic, finely minced2 T chopped parsley or basil

Cut the peppers in half, core and placeskin side up on a tin foil-covered bakingsheet. Brush with a little olive oil androast in a 425˚F oven until charred,about 30 minutes. Cool in a coveredbowl, and then peel and cut into strips.

Cut tomatoes in half and grate on a boxgrater, discarding the skins. Mix thetomatoes, peppers, onion, olive oil andvinegar together in bowl. Season withsalt to taste, and a crack of fresh groundpepper. Let stand for an hour to allowthe flavors to develop.

summer harvest august 2008 10

Serve in a shallow dish with the garlicand herbs sprinkled over top, and somegood bread for sopping up the juices!

Grilled Eggplant and Peppers

3 small eggplants2 red bell peppers2 green bell peppers1 medium yellow onion2 New Mexico green chiles1/2 C extra virgin olive oil2 cloves garlic, roasted and mincedsalt to taste

Preheat a charcoal or gas grill. Rub theeggplants, bell peppers, onion and chileswith a tablespoon or so of olive oil in alarge bowl. Grill over medium/hot heatuntil the eggplants are soft (about 10minutes), the skins of the peppers areblistered and charred (about 20 min-utes), and the onion is soft (about 30minutes). Remove the vegetables fromthe grill and let cool.

When they are cool enough to handle,peel, stem and seed the peppers andchiles, trim the eggplant and peel theonion. Then cut all the vegetables intothick slices and put them in a mediumbowl. Add 1/4 cup olive oil and mincedgarlic and salt to taste.

Set aside to marinate at room tempera-ture for at least one hour; refrigerateovernight. Serves 4 to 6

Garden Fresh Frittata

2 to 3 C fresh vegetables (such as red ororange bell peppers, onions orwhatever’s ripe), chopped into bite-size pieces2 T olive oil, preferably lemon ororange flavored

2 T butter6 to 8 eggs1 medium tomato, thinly sliced3 to 5 cloves garlic, sliced2 to 3 scallions, finely sliced2 large green chiles, roasted, peeled andseeded2 t roasted whole cumin seeds1/3 C finely sliced and mixed marjoram, bronze fennel and cilantro,salt and pepper to taste1/3 C grated provolone or hard cheese

Toss the vegetables with the olive oil,place on a cookie sheet and roast at 400degrees F for about 20 minutes, checkingfrequently, until caramelized. Heat theoil and butter in a skillet over mediumheat. Carefully arrange the chopped veg-etables evenly, covering the bottom ofthe skillet, and place a lid over it. Reducethe heat to low and cook the vegetablesfor 5 minutes. Preheat the oven to 450degrees F.

Whip the egg mixture well until frothy.Uncover the skillet and pour the eggsevenly over the vegetables. Shake the pangently, allowing the ingredients to blend.Arrange the sliced tomatoes evenlyaround the skillet and do the same withthe mixture of garlic, scallions, greenchiles, cumin seeds, marjoram, fennelfronds, cilantro, salt and pepper. Sprinklethe grated cheese on top. Again, shakethe pan gently. Cover the skillet againand cook for 15 to 20 minutes over low-medium heat until the egg mixture startsto set and puff up. Remove cover.

Carefully place a potholder mitt on thehandle and slide the skillet under thebroiler, leaving the broiler door openand the skillet handle outside. Broil 10to 12 minutes, checking frequently. If itis browning too fast, lower the heat orcover with aluminum foil and continue

enjoy summer’sBOUNTY

cooking. Remove from the oven whenthe frittata is browned and puffy. Serveimmediately while it is puffy for themost dramatic effect. It will set and set-tle, collapsing as it cools. Serve withsalad and garlic bread for a light dinneror brunch. Serves 3 to 4

Note: Frittatas freeze beautifully. Tofreeze, place the cooled frittata in a piepan, cover first with wax paper and thenaluminum foil, slip into a plastic bagand seal. To reheat, allow the frittata tocome to room temperature. Remove thewax paper and recover with foil. Placein a preheated 300 degrees F to 350degrees F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Cottage Cheese Pancakes withFresh Fruit CompoteMake the compote ahead of time.Change ingredients depending on what’sin season.

FRUIT COMPOTE3 C diced fruit (whatever’s in season;overripe or frozen fruit will also work)1 C juice (fruit nectar, fresh orangejuice, or Grand Marnier)1/4 C raw honey1 banana (optional, for a thicker version)1 to 2 T buttersprinkle of spices to taste (cinnamon,nutmeg, ginger, orange zest, anise)

PANCAKES6 eggs, separated2 C small-curd cottage cheese2/3 C flour (use Sangre de Cristo orother local flour if possible)2 t sugar1 t salt1 t cinnamon1/8 t cream of tarter

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For the compote, place all ingredients togetherin a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat,stirring often, until reduced and thickening,about 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off heat and cover.

For the pancakes, beat the egg whites until stiff.Beat the egg yolks together and add remainingingredients. Fold the whites gently into the eggmixture. Don’t overwork it. Ladle batter ontopreheated large frying pan to desired size pan-cakes. Fry the pancakes covered for best results,turning once. Drain cooked pancakes on apaper towel if necessary. Serve topped withwarm compote. Serves 4

Green Beans with Almonds

2 1/2 lbs. green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces1/2 t sea salt1 t ginger, grated1 T lemon juice3 T almonds, slivered and roasted4 T parsley or cilantro, minced

Combine green beans with salt and ginger.Steam, or cook by a waterless method. Tosswith lemon juice. Sprinkle with almonds andparsley. Serves 4 to 6

Grilled Potato Salad Try chopped jalapeno, cilantro and toastedsesame seeds to top off this dish. Use lettucethat is local and in season (if possible).

10 medium-sized new potatoes, unpeeled and quartered3 to 4 small yellow summer squash, cut in half1 bunch of green onions or spring onionssplash of olive oil2 lemons, cut in half1/4 C rice vinegar1/4 C olive oil1 clove garlic, mashed and choppedfew drops of toasted sesame oilsalt 1/2 head of lettuce, washed and cut into bite-size pieces

Toss the potato wedges, squash and greenonions with a bit of olive oil and a pinch ofsalt. Place them on a medium-hot grill. Placethe lemons on the grill as well, cut side down.Grill for 10-20 minutes or until golden andcooked through–moving around the grill, ifneeded, and flipping to get color on all sides.The squash will likely cook faster than thepotatoes. Remove pieces and place on a platterwhen they are done grilling.

While everything is grilling, whisk together therice vinegar, olive oil, garlic, sesame oil and acouple pinches of salt. When the onions comeoff the grill, let them cool for a couple minutesand then cut into 1/2-inch segments. Set aside.

Toss the lettuce with a splash of the dressing,and turn it out onto a large platter. Toss the veg-etables (but not the lemons) with a big splash ofthe dressing and arrange it on top of the lettuce

sprinkled with the reserved grilled green onion seg-ments. Garnish with the lemon or squeeze oversalad just before eating to give a slightly tangy fla-vor that goes great with the potatoes. Serves 6

Su no mono (Japanese Cucumber and Noodles)

1/4 C sake 1 1/2 oz. cellophane noodles (mung bean thread) 1/3 C mild rice vinegar 2 T tamari soy sauce 2 T mirin (Japanese sweet cooking wine) 2 medium cucumbers 1/2 t salt 2 oz. cooked crab meat OR 4 T chopped redbell pepper

Bring about 1/4 cup sake to a boil, immediatelyremove from heat and cool. Reserve two table-spoons of boiled sake. Cook the bean threadsaccording to package directions (usually, boil for3 minutes). Drain and place the noodles in a bowlof cold water. Run more cold water over the noo-dles until they are completely cool.

Combine two tablespoons of the sake with thevinegar, soy sauce and mirin. Cool. Peel the cucum-bers, cut in half lengthwise, remove the seeds andslice as thinly as possible. Place in a bowl, sprinklewith salt and allow to sit for a few minutes.Squeeze the salted cucumber slices. Rinse well,squeezing out all of the excess water after rinsing.

Place the noodles and cucumbers in a nice servingbowl. Sprinkle on the crabmeat or bell pepper.Pour the marinade over all and serve.

These recipes have been adapted and reprintedfrom the following sources:http://ediblesantafe.com/Recipe_Index/Artisan Farming: Lessons, Lore and Recipes byRichard Harris, Lisa Fox and Trent EdwardsHealing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditionsand Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchfordwww.101cookbooks.comSundays at Moosewood Restaurant by TheMoosewood Collective

summer harvest august 2008 11

localorganicMELON!

GETITat yourCO-OP!

For the full STIR schedule visit www.harwoodartcenter.org

The Harwood presents...

Wordstock, a verbal extravaganza

Joy Harjo and her band Arrow Dynamics

Publishing workshops and Youth Slams

Panel discussions & much much more!

September 12th - 14th, featuring:

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE & BODYWORKNARA SHEDD

NTS, CLMA, LMT 5917

CORE SYNCHRONISM ~ POLARITY ~ REFLEXOLOGYSWEDISH ~ MYOFASCIAL RELEASE

MOVEMENT ANALYSIS

505.975.4823WWW.BODYTELLINGSTUDIOS.ABMP.COM

Personal Growth

Childhood Trauma • Illness

Drugs/Alcohol • Loss

Women’s Issues

Louise Miller, MA LPCC NCC

Psychotherapy

louise@louisemiller.org Phone (505) 385-0562

www.louisemiller.org Albuquerque, NM

Body-CenteredCounseling

Integrated Counseling,Therapeutic Bodywork

and Movement

Penny HollandM.A., L.P.C.C, L.M.T.

505-265-2256LPCC Lic. 0494, LMT Lic. 1074

JACK OF ALL TRADES

MASTER OF

DRIPIRRIGATION

345-9240

LONG TERM SYSTEMS CHANGE FOR ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY

aqua es vida august 2008 12

BY MICHAEL JENSEN, AMIGOS BRAVOS

The Middle Río Grande (MRG) from the AngosturaDiversion south to the Rio Puerco fails to meetwater quality standards set for it by the New

Mexico Environment Department (NMED).

This information is contained in a public draft report from theSurface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB), the 2008 - 2010 Stateof New Mexico Clean Water Act §303(D)/§305(B) IntegratedList (http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/swqb/303d-305b/2008-2010/documents/PublicDRAFT303dlist.pdf).

Over an 8-year rotation, the SWQB attempts to monitor thestate’s rivers, streams and lakes. The MRG was included in the cur-rent 2-year cycle and was monitored in four reaches (pages 238 and279-281 of the report): Cochiti Reservoir to the Angostura Diversion(the start of the irrigation ditches and drains that run throughAlbuquerque); Angostura to Alameda (non-Pueblo); Alameda toIsleta Pueblo (northern boundary); Isleta Pueblo (southern bound-ary) to the Rio Puerco. The NMED does not monitor where PuebloNation lands border a water body.

Each reach has specific “Designated Uses,” which means the activi-ties expected for that body of water and the corresponding standardsthat have to be met. Uses can include Irrigation, Livestock Watering,Wildlife Habitat, a number of different Aquatic Life uses, Primary orSecondary Contact (how people use the water) and many more.

The study reports whether each Designated Use is supported(“Attained”) based on problems that might show up in the monitor-ing. The study also lists “Probable Causes” for any failure (termed“Impairment”) to attain one or more uses, and a list of “ProbableSources” of the impairment of that water body.

The three reaches associated with the Albuquerque area – Angosturato Alameda (site of the drinking water diversion infrastructure),Alameda to Isleta (through the City), and Isleta to the Rio Puerco – failto support Wildlife Habitat, Marginal Warmwater Aquatic Life, andSecondary Contact; they support Irrigation and Livestock Watering.

By contrast, the northern reach of the MRG from Cochiti Dam to theAngostura Diversion fully supports Irrigation, Wildlife Habitat,Secondary Contact, and both Coldwater Aquatic Life andWarmwater Aquatic Life; Livestock Watering was not assessed forthis reach.

What does it MEAN?1. “Marginal Warmwater Aquatic Life” is the lowest level of protec-tion for aquatic life in rivers and streams. Since the reach above theAngostura Diversion, running down from Cochiti Dam, fully supportsboth Warmwater and the more stringent Coldwater Aquatic Life use,it is clear that problems for the river arise in the urban environment.(The Aquatic Life terms refer to relative water temperatures that dif-ferent species of fish prefer; bass are typical warmwater fish and troutare typical coldwater fish). The fact that the MRG is impaired for eventhe minimal designated use is an indication that the Rio Grande is aharsh environment for aquatic life, including the endangered silveryminnow, for which there is an ongoing recovery program.

2. It may seem slightly odd that “Wildlife Habitat” is a supporteduse, while Livestock Watering is not supported, since both involve

animals outsidethe river using its water. One possible reason forthe distinction is a concern in the Wildlife Habitatuse that some contaminants may bio-accumulate(build up over time in the body) in wildlife usingthe river. This may not be such an issue for live-stock, which are large animals and whose lifespanis often short.

3. The “Secondary Contact” results are particular-ly confusing, even for water quality experts.Secondary Contact means that people have inci-dental contact with the water, such as boating.However, several years ago, the state changed theDesignated Use of the MRG from Secondary toPrimary Contact. Primary Contact means activitiessuch as swimming (Amigos Bravos worked withcommunity groups and youth in the South Valley tohelp get this change). The MRG has continued tobe listed as Secondary Contact to discourage peoplefrom actually swimming in the river.

When the report says that the urban MRG doesn'tsupport Secondary Contact, we believe it meansthat the water doesn't support the standards forPrimary Contact. Unfortunately, we don't know forsure whether the report is saying that the unstatedbut actual Primary Contact use is impaired or if,indeed, it is the listed – and weaker - SecondaryContact standard that is not being met. AmigosBravos has raised this issue with the SWQB beforeand is raising it again with this new report.

As noted earlier, the Rio Grande above theAngostura Diversion fully supports all designateduses. It is clear, then – and reflected in the report –that it is primarily cumulative urban impacts to theriver that have resulted in the consistent impair-ment through Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Albu-querque and continuing south.

Urban IMPACTSThese urban impacts include stormwater runofffrom hard surfaces like streets and parking lots,municipal discharges, such as those from waste-water treatment facilities, septic systems in partsof the county without sewer connections, and petwaste. Impairment seems most clearly linked to

human and animal waste and waste treat-ment discharges as a source. The major causeof impairment, the presence of E. coli, is asure sign of this primarily urban (or semi-urban) impact. E. coli is normally present inthe large intestine of warm-blooded animalsand plays an important role in human diges-tion. However, some strains can cause illness,sometimes serious.

The report mentions that in the reach fromAngostura to Alameda, just above the diver-sion infrastructure for the San Juan-ChamaDrinking Water Project, one cause of impair-ment was “ambient bioassays – acute aquatic

toxicity”. Ambient bioassays assess the toxicity ofcontaminant discharges, usually after their dilutionby, for example, a body of water. “Acute toxicity”means there is an immediate or short-term responseof an organism to a chemical substance, usuallydeadly. However, it is even more important toknow what “chronic toxicity” might be. This refersto the effects, usually on growth and/or reproduc-tion, of contaminants on an organism after repeat-ed, long-term exposure. The chronic standards arestricter than acute standards.

Amigos Bravos is currently waiting for the fieldand lab data used to produce the study. This datawould show what substances the SWQB tested forand the results for each. These results can then becompared to existing water quality standards, if astandard has been set for the substance.

Monitoring such as this is extremely important andallows citizens to get a better understanding of thequality of their local waters. Unfortunately, theSWQB’s monitoring schedule is dependent uponsufficient funding for personnel and laboratoryresources. People need to encourage their legisla-tors to fully fund monitoring costs – not just for theSurface Water Quality Bureau, but for all regulato-ry agencies. Without adequate monitoring, theagencies cannot do their work and we cannot beassured of the quality of our environment.

Michael Jensen is responsible for Grants andCommunications for Amigos Bravos, celebrat-ing 20 years of protecting New Mexico’swaters. He can be reached at mjensen@amigosbravos.org and you can visit us atwww.amigosbravos.org.

Middle Rio Grande FFAILSAILSWATER QUALITY STANDARDS

ECOLOGICAL SUSTSUSTAINABILITYAINABILITY

SAVE THE DATE! On Sept 16th Agua es Vida Action Team andCitizens for Alternatives to Radioactive Dumping will hold afundraising dinner for Arjun Makhijani, world renowned physicist, at6pm at the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice.

Arjun’s group, the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research,has taken a leading role in the nationwide movement for more pro-tective drinking water standards: an especially relevant struggle forAlbuquerque and Santa Fe, as officials prepare to divert the RioGrande into these cities’ drinking water systems.

Suggested donation $10 The Albuquerque Center for Peaceand Justice is located at 202 Harvard SE. For more informationor reserations call 266-2663 or e-mail; contactus@cardnm.org

AGUA ES VIDA ACTION TEAMDrinking Water Protection FFuunnddrraaiisseerr

info:ccaarrddnnmm..oorrgg

continued from page 3It is possible, of course that no significant changes willoccur. On the other hand, it is not inevitable that all pos-itive change will be slow. An illustration of how ongoingactivity may erupt into new power is the largely unpre-dicted—explosion of efforts to limit sprawl. For decadeswasteful land use, transportation and other destructiveand unplanned urban development went largelyunchecked. Suddenly, a movement of surprising strengthemerged during only a very few years: In the fall of 1998

alone over 70 percent of 240 state and local ballot meas-ures were approved for "capital investments in green[anti-sprawl] infrastructure." Powerful new citizenactivities to limit growth are a phenomenon of impor-tance in their own right. They also suggest that long-term institutional and system change may possibly bemore open in the future than many now think.

For the full and footnoted article please go towww.bsos.umd.edu/alperovitz

Help assure theQUALITY of our ENVIRONMENT.

To learn more about our creative, innovative and hands-on Jewish education programs, contact:

Congregation Nahalat Shalom

3606 Rio Grande NW (Btwn Candelaria & Greigos) 343-8227 � www.nahalatshalom.org

*Sponsored in part by the Jewish Federation of NM

Preschool/Kindergarten*: 2 Saturday mornings/month 11am-12 noon

Elementary: Thursdays 4:30-6pm Bar/Bat Mitzvah Preparation Program

Hebrew School tuition for 2nd grader: $320.00

Learning to be a mensch. . . priceless.

life on the rio grande august 2008 13

Rio Grande RETURN:GIFTING RIVER RESTORARESTORATIONTIONR io Grande Return, the new online gift com-

pany, www.riograndereturn.com, offersGift Packages containing natural gift items

produced in the Rio Grande watershed. This giftexchange not only assembles novel giftpackages that are delivered directly tofriends and loved ones but each packagealso includes a gift back to the river in theform of a tax-deductible donation thatgoes to help fund carefully selected con-servation projects.

The catalyst for the creation of Rio GrandeReturn is the desire to get more peopleinvolved in funding river conservation, theprotection of wildlife habitat, open space and ourprecious agricultural lands. Such initiatives typicallydepend on charitable foundations and governmentprograms, and these funds are becoming increasinglylimited. Rio Grande Return’s goal is threefold: to pro-vide a holistic alternative to giving gifts and celebrat-ing special occasions, to provide additional fundingfor much-needed conservation projects, and to sup-port our local farmers and producers.

So far Rio Grande Return has generated funds thathave supported the following projects:1. The cleanup and restoration of the riparian areas atthe Buckman site, the only Rio Grande river access in

Santa Fe County. Rio GrandeReturn has helped fund the plansto cleanup and develop the recre-ation/educational capacity of theBuckman area alongside the RioGrande;2. Rio Grande Agricultural LandTrust, helping farmers and land-owners along the Rio Grande tokeep their lands intact and pro-ductive; and

3. New Mexico Water Dialogue, which endeavors todevelop and implement sustainable regional and statewater policies.

These are just a start. There are numerous other organ-izations working in different ways to protect our pre-cious rivers and watersheds, which Rio Grande Returnplans to help fund in the future.

To learn more about the Rio Grande Return, and toorder one of our unique conservation packages, pleasevisit our web site at www.riograndereturn.com.

give LOCALLOCAL PRODUCTSPRODUCTS

… and NOT JUST CORN BY STEPHANIE DOBBIE, RGCF BOARD

MEMBER

Did you know that RioGrande Community Farmis now selling organic pro-

duce, plant starts and flowers at the Los Ranchos Growers’Market? Did you know that morethan 40 families and individuals aregrowing food at the Rio GrandeCommunity Garden?

Did you know that some students in Albuquerque’s pub-lic schools may have a chance to eat locally grown, organ-ic vegetables supplied by Rio Grande Community Farm?Did you know that Rio Grande Community Farm is con-verting acres of flood-irrigated cropland into efficientdrip-irrigated cropland, serving as a model for other smallfarms in the area?

Rio Grande Community Farm (RGCF) is a donor-funded501(c)3 non-profit organization located at Los Poblanos

Fields Open Space. The total 138-acre farm was purchased bythe City of Albuquerque through a citizen-approved tax in1995 and is now protected and managed by the Open SpaceDivision. In 1997, RGCF was founded and undertook man-

agement of the farm, offering land stewardship, educa-tion and sustainable farming within an urban environ-ment. Eleven years of hard work have transformed theland into community gardens, enhanced wildlife habi-tat and certified organic croplands. These provide edu-cation experiences, community service projects, com-munity events, locally grown produce and low-impactrecreation, while honoring our agricultural history andprotecting the environment.

Currently, our farmers are busy operating a greenhouse, grow-ing field crops and sunflowers for sale, planting several acres ingrains and seed crops for migrating flocks of sandhill cranes,Canadian geese and other critters, and growing corn for the11th Annual Maize Maze.

Our Community Outreach & Education Coordinator has beenbusy developing the community garden program and member-ship participation, actively promoting RGCF at growers’ mar-kets and community events, and coordinating school andYouth Service-learning activities at the farm.

public land STEWARDSHIP

There are many opportunities for individuals whowant to help out on the farm. We are especially inneed of volunteers for the Maize Maze inSeptember and October. We also need help water-ing plants in the greenhouse, harvesting sunflow-ers and vegetables in the field and selling plantsand produce at the farmers’ market. If you areinterested in volunteering for the Maize Maze orat the farm in general, please call VolunteerCoordinator Abby Feldman at 999-1258.

Rio Grande Community Farm is growing itscapacity to demonstrate sustainable urban agri-culture and to provide the community with local,organic food at farmers’ markets, in grocerystores and in our public schools. The Board ofDirectors is made up of a dozen committed indi-viduals that meet every 2nd Monday at the LosRanchos Village Hall from 6:30-8:30pm. We areseeking additional board members to attendmonthly meetings and serve a 2-year term. Youare welcome to attend a board meeting at anytime. If you are interested in serving as a boardmember for RGCF, you may submit a letter ofinterest and a short personal biography toriograndecommunityfarm@earthlink.net. If youhave questions about becoming a boardmember, please call 345-4580.

Rio Grande Community Farm is GROWING

maize MAZEBY ABBEY FELDMAN

The Rio Grande Com-munity Farm (RGCF) willbe holding its 2008

Maize Maze, “Made in theShade,” this year from August30-November 2. This annual tra-dition is fun for the whole family.This year’s Maze will feature newattractions and special events along with all of theother activities normally available. RGCF is locatedon the Los Poblanos Fields Open Space inAlbuquerque on Montano 1 mile west of Fourth St.in Albuquerque’s North Valley. This location hasbeen used agriculturally by New Mexico’s indigenouspeople and Spanish Colonists for over 1,700 years.

The Maize Maze is open to the public on Fridayevenings from 6-9pm, Saturdays from 10am-9pm,and Sundays from Noon-6pm. Weekday-visitappointments for school groups, clubs, scoutgroups, family reunions, birthdays, company out-ings and team-building activities can be arrangedby calling 505-345-4580.

This year’s design features a giant cottonwoodtree with an owl in the shade and sunflowersgrowing beneath the tree. The Maize Maze willfeature several weekend special events. OnSeptember 6 we will host a Grand Opening cel-

ebration featuring presenters andspeakers, including a representativeof RGCF, community leaders andother dignitaries. On September 27,RGCF will host Farm and WildlifeDay, a special event featuring ani-mals, organic farming information,sustainability groups, communitybooths, wildlife groups and othervendors. The event will be from10am-2pm. On October 18, we willhost Art Day, featuring local artists

and crafts people. They will have many differenttypes of work for display and for sale. The eventwill be from 1-5pm. Both events are includedwith admission to the maze.

Additional event attractions include a straw-bale labyrinth, night sky telescopes, tractor hay-bale shuttle, moonlight mazes, discount days,farm products (hay bales, corn shocks and sun-flower seed heads), hot air balloons, HauntedMaze on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, and more. Pleasevisit www.riograndefarm.org or call 505-345-4580 for more information and forgroup reservations. We’ll see you at the2008 Maize Maze!

Made in the

Shade

community forum august 2008 14

networking for the future

AUGUST 1STJoin Pax Christi and the New Mexico Coalitionto Abolish the Death Penaltyfor an Evening with SisterHelen Prejean at 7pm, at ElMuseo Cultural Center, 1615Paseo de Peralta, in Santa Fe.

Sister Helen Prejean (www.prejean.org/) is an internationallyknown anti-death penalty activistand author. Her best-sellingbook, Dead Man Walking: An EyewitnessAccount of the Death Penalty in the United States,was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and was anOscar-winning movie. Her latest book is, TheDeath of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account ofWrongful Executions.

She is calling for the abolition of New Mexico'sdeath penalty as well as an end to Los Alamos'

“On many occasions General Dwight D. Eisenhower recalled thatwhen he was told the atomic bomb was going to be used he was con-scious of a feeling of depression... Japan was already defeated...dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary...”. The man whobecame President of the United States was clear that ...it wasn't nec-essary to hit them with that awful thing.”

“The vast majority of top World War II military leaders are on recordagreeing with President Eisenhower that the use of the atomic bombwas unnecessary. Even the well known “hawk” General CurtisLemay judged “the war would have been over in two weeks.”Admiral William Leahy, President Truman’s Chief of Staff, laterwrote: “[T]he use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima andNagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. TheJapanese were already defeated and ready to surrender... [I]n beingthe first to use it, we... adopted an ethical standard common to thebarbarians of the Dark Ages.”

“Most historians understand that one reason atomic weapons wereused instead of the readily available alternative was political, not mil-itary. US Secretary of State James F. Byrnes, President Truman’s chiefadviser was quite open in explaining that he saw the bomb as a wayto make the Russians more “manageable” on the Continent.”

Gar Alperovitz, is author of many works on the bombing ofHiroshima, including two widely cited books, Atomic Diplomacy;

Hiroshima and Potsdam and TheDecision to Use the Atomic Bomb.

The Decision toUse the Bomb Excerpts from the Writings of Gar Alperovitz

SEE GAR!SASAVEVE THETHE DADATETEOct. 25, Lobo TheaterFREEFREE talk

in commemoration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

WitnessforPEACE

nuclear weapons research and production thatput us all on a global, nuclear death row.

AUGUST 2NDThen on Saturday, August 2nd, join Pax Christifrom 10am-12noon for a “Non ViolenceTraining” at Santa Maria de la Paz Church in

Santa Fe, given by Keith Bierbaum.

At 2pm on August 2nd join PaxChristi's Annual "Sackcloth andAshes" Peace Vigil at Ashley Pond inLos Alamos to commerate the drop-ping of the atomic bomb onHiroshima and Nagasaki. SisterHelen will speak at 4pm. Burlapsackcloth and ashes will be provid-

ed. Please bring peace signs and banners.

For more info contact Pax Christi NewMexico, 202 Harvard Dr SE, AlbuquerqueNM 87106, Telephone: 505-264-2838, e-mail:info@PaxChristiNewMexico.org

EAT IT RAWAT THE NOB HILL DELI

let there bePEACE

RAW FOOD CHEF JESSE INVITES YOU TO TRYTHESE DELICIOUS RAW FOOD DISHES: AVOCADO QUICHE • LASAGNE • NUTTY GARDEN BURGERS • COBBLERS WITH LOCAL FRESHFRUIT AND CASHEW CREME TOPPING • CASHEW CREME CHEESE CAKE • FRUITAND NUT BALLS AND MORE

community forum august 2008 15

FF inally, after a number of years, andwith the volunteer talents of Mrs.Kim Sugden, a talented web

designer and animal breeder, there isnow an ‘official’ Navajo Sheep Projectwebsite.

NAVAJO SHEEPProjectWEBSITE

In addition to the basics and history ofthe NSP, all of their Sheep Sheets (edu-cational fact sheets) are in a pdf format,are on the site, for anyone to use.Eventually the electronic set up fordonations via PayPal will be up and run-ning. The NSP continues to function asa 501 (c) 3, and they appreciate any andall donations. For more info contact“Doc” Hastiin dibe’ at www.navajosheepproject.com

For the last year Mike Bochnia has been livingprimitively in the Pine Barrens of New Jerseyworking with Tom BrownsTracker School. Recentlyreturned to Albuquerque hewill be holding a series ofworkshops starting on Aug-ust 9th at 10am-noon. He willcover a number of subjects,starting with surviving anemergency situation to livingclose to the earth, how to find and make shelter,food, fire and water. No fee or age limit.

60 HIKES WITHIN 60 MILESOpen Space Visitor CenterAUGUST 23: Meet the Author of 60 HikesWithin 60 Miles: Albuquerque’s own Stephen

Ausherman, a local author who takes you toclassic trails and reveals less traveled paths in his

new hiking guide. Hikes lead to ancientpueblos, ghost towns, slot canyons,strange hoodoos and other treasures inthe heart of New Mexico, all just adaytrip or less from the Duke City.Ausherman’s book is available at theOpen Space Visitor Center bookstore.

Both events will be held at The OpenSpace Visitor Center, located east of Coors Blvd.at the end of Bosque Meadows Rd. which isbetween Montano Blvd. and Paseo del Norte.See www.cabq.gov/ openspace or call 897-8831 for more information about this andother activities at the Open Space VisitorCenter.

ALBUQUERQUE OPEN SPALBUQUERQUE OPEN SPACEACESurvival Skills: Living Off the Land

All artists, writers, poets, activists andinterested community members are invit-ed to the 2nd Annual Albuquerque

Cultural Conference, “Building aPeople’s Culture,” on Labor DayWeekend. Hundreds of people fromthe Southwest and across the coun-try are expected to attend this holi-day weekend of poetry events, pan-els and workshops on the state ofAmerican progressive culture, as it isand as it should be. The events willbe held at the South BroadwayCultural Center and Harwood Art Center inAlbuquerque, starting Friday evening, August 29through Monday morning, September 1.

Panels will look at the social, economic and cultur-al crisis of the present, as well as the history of cul-tural struggles, current forms of grassroots organiz-

ing and the uses of cultural memory and resilience.Poets and writers, organizers and activists will pres-ent their work and dialogue on confronting the

world, educating communities and doingcultural reporting.

Among the poets and artists featured on Friday, August 29, will be AnyaAchtenberg, Demetria Martinez, CherrieMoraga, Simon Ortiz, Charles Potts andLuci Tapahonso. Music will be providedby local progressive musicians in the mul-ticultural setting of the South Broadway

Cultural Center. A book and art display will accom-pany the readings.

Help create our common cultural future. Formore information, registration and conferenceschedule go to: ABQconference2008@yahoo.comor call Leslie at 220-9783.

2nd Annual Conference: Building a PEOPLE’S CULTURE

The second issue of the TRIal Balloon is now ready fordistribution! Pick it up at Newsland Bookstore, 2112Central Ave, SE, at Page One, 11018 Montgomery Blvd.NE. and at Bookworks, 4022 Rio Grande Blvd. NW or byrequest at our Post Office Box: TRIal Balloon, PO 35058,Albuquerque, NM, 87176-5058, or by calling RosamundEvans, 256-7381. Distribution by "network" is essen-tial and encouraged. It’s FREE!

The non-profit Friends of the Albuquerque Tribune wasformed in response to the demise of the 86-year-old

award winning daily newspaper. After 5 public meet-ings and enough contributions and volunteer efforts,the first edition called the TRIal Balloon was printedJune 1. 10,000 copies have been distributed by vol-unteer networking.

The goal is a bi-weekly, on-line publication.Community support and donations will determinethe eventual outcome. More information to FOAT,PO Box 35058, Albuquerque, NM, 87176-5058.

FRIENDS OF THE ALBUQUERQUE TRIBUNE:THE SECOND ISSUE

Sunday, August 2411am-4pm at the Albuquerque Garden Center 10120 Lomas Blvd. NE (at Eubank)

FIESTA!atomato

Get Tomato Growing Tips and Gardening Advicefrom the Experts! Heirloom Tomato Tasting • FreeKids’ Activities • Plant Clinic • Live Music. Tickets $5,Kids Under 12 FREE! For more info visit www.abqmastergardeners.org or call (505) 720-8278.

TRIal Balloon

Two Locations!Nob Hill

Acupuncture Center

Relief from stress, pain,digestive discomfort, colds & fluMost insurances accepted.

3415 Silver SE Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106P: 505-265-5087

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