Earth Odyssey May 2009

‘Winecycling’: Entrepreneur fi nds treasures ‘Après Vin’ 7

Sustainable architecture strategies 8

An Educational Guide to Sustainability and Spiritual Well-being

Vol. 1, No. 9 May 2009

INSIDE:Ancient artistry products are Earth-friendly 12

Calendar of events 26

Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center to the rescue 6

Earth Odyssey • www.earthodysseyonline.com May 2009

New locations added every month!

Ash ForkAsh Fork Public Library

Anthem Anthem Public Library

Beaver Creek Adult Center Express Stop Gas Mart

Black Canyon City Office of Tourism

Camp VerdeCamp Verde Chamber of Commerce

Camp Verde Public Library Artisans Gallery and Bookstore

Chino ValleyChino Valley Public Library

Chino Valley Senior Center

Christopher CreekCreekside Restaurant

Double D Store, Café & Bar Kohl’s Ranch Tall Pines Market

CongressCountry Corner

Congress Library

Cordes JunctionArcosanti

Over the Hill Coffee Shop

CottonwoodCottonwood Chamber of Commerce

Cottonwood Public Library Habitat ReStore Mt. Hope Natural Foods

DeweyDewey Public Library

Dewey Senior Center

FlagstaffAnimas Trading Co.

Arizona Music Pro Coconino Center for the Arts

Coconino College, Lonetree Campus Crystal Magic Flagstaff Public Library Flagstaff Visitors Center Habitat ReStore Sacred Rites

Glendale Main Library Foothills Branch

JeromeFirehouse

Jerome Gallery Jerome Public Library

MayerMayer Chamber of Commerce

Mayer Mercantile Mayer Public Library Mayer Senior Center

Mesa Mesa ReStore

Paradise Valley Whole Foods

Payson Bashas’ Gila Community College Fiesta Business Products Fireside Espresso Café National Bank of Arizona Payson Area HFH ReStore Payson Center for Spiritual Awareness Payson Feed Store Payson Public Library Plant Fair Nursery Re-Runs Rim Country Chamber of Commerce Town of Payson Municipal Building Vita Mart

Peoria Habitat Home Improvement Store

Phoenix Phoenix ReStore

PinePonderosa Market

Public Library The Crystal Lotus The Herb Stop

PrescottCat’s Meow

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Library Habitat for Humanity Restore Hastings Books Music & Video Highlands Center for Natural History La Fonda Mexican Restaurant On The Mesa Pangaea Partners in Healthcare Prescott Chamber of Commerce Prescott College Library Prescott Public Library Raven Café The Art Store The Catalyst Wild Iris Coffee House Yavapai College

Prescott ValleyClaycomb/Rockwell Associates Inc.

Dippin’ Dots Healing Essentials Pony Expresso Prescott Valley Public Library The Honeyman Natural Food Stores Yavapai College

SedonaCrystal Castle

D’lish Vegetarian Café Ravenhart Café Ringing Rocks Foundation Sedona Arts Center Sedona Center Sedona Public Library

Scottsdale Civic Center Library Mustang Library Whole Foods

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Skull Valley Skull Valley General Store

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Tonto Basin Aunt Becky’s Restaurant Butcher Hook Store Jake’s Corner Market Tonto Basin Market

Tucson Epic Café Food Conspiracy Hippie Gypsie Joel D. Valdez Main Library The Other Side Third Eye Arts Tucson HabiStore Whole Foods Worldwide Wraps

WickenburgDQ/Jack in the Box

Ginny’s Vitamin Village Habitat ReStore Quarter-Horse Antiques Wickenburg Public Library

Wilhoit Wilhoit Public Library

WilliamsJD’s Espresso

Williams Public Library Williams Visitor’s Center

YarnellMcGerk’s Mercantile

Realty Executives Yarnell Public Library

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May 2009 Earth Odyssey • www.earthodysseyonline.com

Columns

Page 23

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Vol. 1, No. 9 May 2009

Page 29

Movies that won’t make you dumber

MovieReviews

by Jason Allen

By Mike DavisBy Mike Davis

By Christine Bollier

Local farmers grow community

Ferret-fi nding mission proves successful

UA grad students earn $75,000 with win

4

5

5

Cover Story: Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center to the rescue

6

ON THE COVER: Great Horned Owls are among the animals in for rehabilitation at the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center in Phoenix. Two of the

owls are slated for release back out into the wild. Story begins on page 16. Photo by Pia Wyer

News and Features

Jackass Acres K-9 Koral: An oasis for desert dogs

16

Columns and Entertainment

19 Nutrition News by Charlyn Fargo

22 What in the World is Happening? by John Hall

22 Sustainable Living by Shawn Dell Joyce

23 Yes! You Can Recycle That by Patricia Melchi

24 Puzzle Pages

26 Calendar of Events

28 Antiques or Junque by Anne McCollam

30 Staying Healthy the Natural Way by Leilah Breitler

32 Green Minute by Jim Parks

7

8

15

20

30

‘Winecycling’: Entrepreneur fi nds treasures ‘Après Vin’

Sustainable architecture strategies for layman and professional alike

Fiber artist plies her trade in the Rim Country

Top 10 green projects named by AIA

Aural historian Jack Loeffl er to speak at Prescott College

Always available at www.earthodysseyonline.com

12


Our MissionTh e mission of Earth Odyssey is to encourage

individuals to develop sustainable lifestyles and

healthier well-being by providing educational

information needed to make wiser choices.

We envision an extended community of

individuals who care passionately about their

environment and their own spiritual well-

being and recognize the symbiotic relationship

between the two.

Magazine StaffPublisher/Editor Ann Haver-Allen

Photographer, Photo Editor,Web Master and PR Director

Pia Wyer

Advertising Art DirectorDistribution Manager Jason Allen

Advertising RepresentativesBill Allen

Kelly Shattuck

Pia Wyer

ContributorsJason AllenLeilah BreitlerMike DavisCharlyn FargoJohn HallShawn Dell JoyceMike MarinoAnne McCollamSarah McLeanPatricia MelchiWes OzierJim ParksChristopher J. PeacockJill RussellDominique ShillingPia Wyer

An educational guide to sustainability and spiritual well-being

Earth Odyssey is published monthly

by Pinon Pine Press LLC and is available

online at earthodysseyonline.com.

Send comments and suggestions to:

[email protected]

OR via U.S. mail to:

Editor

1042 Willow Creek Road

Ste A101-PMB 486

Prescott, AZ 86301

Phone: (928) 778-1782

Th e opinions expressed in this publication

are not necessarily those of the publisher

or advertisers. Copyright © 2008. Pinon

Pine Press LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction, in whole or in part, is

prohibited without written permission.

For photo reprints, contact Pia Wyer at

[email protected].

Printed by Prescott Newspapers Inc.8249 East State Rt. 69Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

Earth Odyssey is printed on recycled paper using soy inks.

By Erin Lingo

Earth Odyssey Contributor

While most of us are just

starting to enjoy the

slightly warmer weather

here in Central Ari-

zona, our local farmers

are already out in their fields planting for the

upcoming season. Beets, carrots, turnips and

kale will be ready to be harvested by mid-

May, just in time to find them at the Prescott

Farmers’ Market, which opens May 16.

All of the farmers in the local farmers’

market grow locally on a small scale, on no

more than 20 acres. Most use less than five.

Because of this, their livelihood depends on

selling directly to the consumer through the

Farmers’ Market and Community Supported

Agriculture programs.

This year’s market offers farm-fresh, lo-

cally grown produce, meat and dairy, honey,

baked goods, tamales and BBQ, agricultural

crafts, gourmet foods, starter plants, advice

from local growers, chef demos and samples,

live music, special events and much more! To

celebrate, the first 100 customers will receive

a reusable PFM shopping bag!

Each year, more than 3 million consumers

shop, and more than 30,000 farmers sell, at

U.S. farmers’ markets—a $1 billion nation-

wide direct-marketing industry. Between

1980 and 2004 the number of farmers’ mar-

kets in the United States more than doubled,

from less than 1,500 to more than 3,700!

These farmers’ markets play a very impor-

tant role in strengthening local food systems

by providing a market for small farms. Small

family farms not only reconnect a commu-

nity with the source of its food, but also they

are much better for the environment than

industrial-scale farms.

Farmers who grow on less than 100 acres

are much more likely to farm bio-intensive-

ly—that is, to get the most amount of yield

possible from their small farms, which, when

done properly, enriches the soil, strengthens

the fields’ resistance to pests and viruses and

prevents soil erosion.

Other sustainable practices frequently

implemented include: efficient water use;

focus on heirloom, or climate-appropriate

produce; fair labor practices and the rejection

of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Each farmers’ market sets its own rules and

guidelines. The Prescott Farmers’ Market

maintains high expectations for its vendors

because this is what the community expects.

While farmers are not required to be certified

organic or use any specific practices, they are

required to sell only those produce items that

they grew within the state of Arizona.

No re-selling is permitted, so customers of

the market can trust that anything they see

is grown by the person who is selling it, and

that any questions they have can be answered

honestly. The Prescott Farmers’ Market also

provides a Community Booth for “backyard

gardeners” who find they cannot eat all they

grow.

Vendors selling prepared food or craft

items must use a percentage of locally grown

agricultural products in their goods.

Each year, more consumers realize the

benefits of eating fresh, locally grown fruits

and vegetables. The simple practice of buying

vegetables from the farmer who grew them

can be incredibly rewarding as the consumer

starts to reconnect with the time-honored

tradition of knowing from where one’s food

comes.

The local Farmers’ Market runs Saturdays

7:30 a.m. to noon, May 16, through Oct.

10, this year, and will once again take place

in the main parking lot of Yavapai College,

1100 E. Sheldon St. The Chino Valley Farm-

ers’ Market runs Thursdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

June 4, through Oct. 1, at a location to be

announced. You can find out more about the

Prescott Farmers’ Market, or how to become

a vendor, at www.prescottfarmersmarket.org.

Erin Lingo is a recent graduate of Prescott College, where she studied the relationship between the health of societies and the produc-tion and consumption of food. She serves as the coordinator of the Prescott Farmers’ Market and the local Community Supported Agricul-ture Program. She can be reached at [email protected].

Local farmers grow community

Courtesy photo

Th e Prescott Farmers’ Market opens Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 a.m. in the main parking lot of Yavapai College, 1100 E. Sheldon St. Th e Chino Valley Farmers’

Market opens Th ursday, June 4 at a location to be announced.


Ninety-two people braved

the cold weather and long

nights for an opportunity to

call in: “We’ve got one.”

The dedicated volunteers

joined Arizona Game and Fish Department

personnel for five nights in the Aubrey Valley

to spotlight for the elusive, nocturnal, endan-

gered black-footed ferret.

In all, the group caught 33 ferrets, 24 of

which were unique individuals, meaning

they are wild born and had never before been

trapped. Two of the ferrets captured were

first documented in 2006, displaying longev-

ity in the wild.

“I’m excited about the numbers,” said Jeff

Pebworth, wildlife program manager for

the Game and Fish Department’s Kingman

office. “You think about this one spotlight-

ing effort and compare it to where the ferrets

once were and you can’t help but be pleased.”

The black-footed ferret was twice thought

to be extinct until a small population was

discovered in 1981. After a disease outbreak, a

mere 18 of the black-footed ferrets remained

in the world. Those final 18 were captured

and captive breeding efforts began in 1985.

In 1996, Arizona’s Aubrey Valley was

selected as a reintroduction site. It was five

years before the first documentation of wild-

born ferrets.

“From where this animal was to where it

is now is a testament to dedication of Game

and Fish personnel and the volunteers who

have braved the cold and long nights to bring

this animal back from the brink of extinc-

tion,” Pebworth said.

The latest spotlighting effort, which in-

volves backpack-spotlighting from dusk until

dawn, was a success, in large part, because of

those willing to volunteer their time.

“Volunteers have played a critical role in

the reintroduction process since Day One,”

Pebworth said. “Without their dedication,

I’m not sure we’d have as good an under-

standing of where we stand in this reintro-

duction effort.”

A fall spotlighting effort will take place in

October. Anyone interested in volunteering

should contact the black-footed ferret field

station at [email protected] to receive more

information.

Photo courtesy Arizona Game and Fish

Two black-footed ferrets poke their heads out of a burrow. Th is photo was taken at the preconditioning

pens. Once released into the wild, black-footed ferrets are rarely seen during the day. Th ey are nocturnal

and live in prairie dog burrows, which is why dusk-until-dawn spotlighting eff orts are necessary to the

recovery eff ort.

Ferret-fi nding mission proves successful

Reintroduction effort continues uphill climb

A student-led research

team from the Uni-

versity of Arizona is

among the winners of

EPA’s annual People,

Prosperity and the Planet (P3) com-

petition.

The P3 award competition en-

courages college students to apply

technology in innovative ways to

tackle global environmental challeng-

es. P3 designs must be economically

profitable, which is why each winner

receives funding up to $75,000 to

commercialize their designs.

“Scientific innovation has long

been a driving force behind the U.S.

economy,” said Lek Kadeli, acting

assistant administrator for the Office

of Research and Development.

“The ingenuity displayed by this

year’s People, Prosperity and the

Planet award winners shows that

we can look forward to a bright

future where economic growth and

environmental sustainability go hand

in hand.”

The University of Arizona’s project

is titled “Development of Sustainable

Integrated Aquaculture Systems With

Assessment of Environmental, Social

and Economic Implications.”

The UA team sought a technology to help

agriculturalists maximize their use of plant

nutrients, whether they are rural cultivators

or farmers managing vast tracts of crops.

The system combines field production

with hydroponics to create a technology

where farmers can grow fish in large basins,

and then use the water and nutrients from

those basins to feed surrounding plants.

The team is assessing fish and plant growth

rates, water nutrient chemistry, soil quality,

and resource economics to determine the

conditions that promote economically viable

and environmentally sound food production.

About 40 teams took part in this year’s P3

competition. Also winning were:

• Columbia University—Multifunction

Energy Platform Pilot

• Drexel University—Syntactic Selective

Near Infrared Scattering Architec-

tural Coatings

• University of South Florida—Water

Awareness, Research and Education

in East Tampa: A Pilot Collabora-

tion Involving USF, Young Magnet

Middle School and the East Tampa

Community

• Massachusetts Institute of Tech-

nology—A Novel Solar Thermal

Combined Cycle with Bio-methane

Carbon Capture for Distributed

Power Generation

• University of Tennessee at Knox-

ville—The New Norris House:

A Sustainable Home for the 21st

Century

The P3 Award competition was held

at EPA’s Annual National Sustainable

Design Expo on the National Mall in

Washington, D.C., April 18 to 20.

Each year, the expo showcases innova-

tive, cutting-edge technologies designed

by the P3 teams along with sustainable

policies and technologies developed and

implemented by government and state

agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Support for the competition includes

more than 40 partners in the federal govern-

ment, industry and scientific and profession-

al societies. This year’s expo was co-sponsored

by Beyond Benign, a nonprofit organization

that educates people on green chemistry.

Photo courtesy U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Th e UA award-winning team members are, from left, graduate students Mauricio Torres-Benavides, Rafael Martinez

and Kyle VanderLugt with Kevin Fitzsimmons, professor and extension specialist in the College of Agriculture and Life

Sciences.

UA grad students earn $75,000 with win


By Debra J. White


A solar powered dog park sliced

out of the Arizona desert?

Jackass Acres K-9 Koral, the

nation’s first and only all green

dog park, celebrated a one-year

anniversary recently in New River.

First conceived by Anthem Pets—a

nonprofit group that brings people and

pets together—and its leader Barbara Ward

Windgassen in early 2007, the two and a half

acre park took about a year to build.

Nearly all materials are recycled, reused

or donated. Take the flagpole for example.

Windgassen said it’s an old TV antenna. Our

Stars and Stripes flaps in the wind, greeting

visitors as they cruise into the parking lot.

Water fountains, lights and the gate operate

from solar power. Tables and chairs are made

from fallen tree limbs.

Some areas have turf that’s recycled from

the NFL. A member donated a fire hydrant

he found at a dump. Once it was cleaned up

and painted, it made a fine addition to the

park’s canine decorum. Metal animal sculp-

tures are created from recycled automobile

parts. A local group donated a storage shed.

When Anthem Pets took over the property,

volunteers removed weeds and brush by hand,

careful not to disturb native vegetation. Mes-

quite trees provide shade from the powerful

Arizona sun. The park is sloped so that pre-

cipitation from the summer monsoons swoops

into a drain and doesn’t cause flooding.

Desert landscaping is used. Not only does it

conserve water, there’s no monthly utility bill.

“We ordered small stones so they’d be easy

on the dogs’ paws,” Windgassen said. “The

landscaping hasn’t slowed down any of our

canine members. They run around, chase each

other and dash after Frisbees as if they were

scampering on grass.”

Windgassen is often asked about the park’s

name—Jackass Acres—and where it came

from.

“The area used to be called Jackass Acres,”

she said. “Everyone around here knows the

name, so we decided to stick with local tradi-

tion.”

Jackass Acres is a membership only park.

Costs are minimal but everyone has to pay.

Dogs must be licensed and current on vac-

cinations. Each member is expected to clean

up after their dogs. Poop bags made from re-

cyclable material are scattered about the park.

Do park users like Jackass Acres? Jim

Bander and his 8-year-old daughter Lauren

said “yes.” They bring their 8-year-old Shep-

herd mix Bodie.

“We love it here,” Dad said. “Bodie seems

happier. It’s a good chance for him to social-

ize and meet new dogs. And we get to meet

our neighbors.” Lauren said she likes to play

with all the dogs.

Colleen Kettenhofen agreed.

“I love coming here with my dog Joy,” she

said. “It’s always clean and well maintained.

And it’s a great place for Joy to meet dogs

and for me to talk to people. I enjoy that.”

Joy is a mixed breed dog.

Like Bander and Kettenhoften, Kurt

Grutsch, who takes his three Labrador Re-

trievers to Jackass, said he loves the park be-

cause his dogs have room to burn off energy.

He also supports the environmental aspects.

“Instead of being in a landfill, these tables,

chairs, fire hydrants are here. And that’s a

good thing.”

A poodle named Maxim recently celebrat-

ed his first birthday at Jackass. His owners

invited about 20 guests, including their dogs

of course, and handed out pupcakes, chew

bones and squeeze balls. Anthem Pets ap-

proved the party in advance.

Cities and towns maintain municipal dog

parks. Jackass is private so they’re on their

own.

“We hold fundraisers throughout the

year to defray our costs,” Windgassen said.

“There’s our annual auction and golf tourna-

ment. And if we think of something else

that’s clever, we do that, too.”

“We wanted a park that we could be proud

of, that would be viable for dogs and their

owners, and that our community would be

proud of,” Windgassen said.

Anthem Pets surely accomplished their

goal.

Photo by Debra J. White

Jim Bander and his daughter Lauren take Bodie to Jackass Acres K-9 Koral for some family fun.

In addition to operating Jackass Acres

K-9 Koral, Anthem Pets holds vaccination

clinics, raises money to for spay/neuter

operations for low-income residents and

reunites lost pets with their owners. They

also try to find homes for unwanted dogs

and cats in the Anthem area. To contact

Anthem Pets call their hotline at (480)

257-3542 or visit them on-line at www.

anthempets.com.

Jackass Acres K-9 Koral: An oasis for desert dogs

Photos by Ann Haver-Allen

At Jackass Acres K-9 Koral animal sculptures are created from recycled metals and automobile parts.


By Jill Russell

Earth Odyssey Correspondent

After the grapes are crushed

and the wine is fermented,

what’s left is a sloppy goop of

grape skins, seeds and bio-

waste. But, you know what

they say—one man’s trash, is another man’s

treasure.

Eric Leber, chemist and Prosser, Washing-

ton’s newest wine country entrepreneur, has

been taking the bio-waste from local wineries,

and turning it into more than 50 products.

While teaching organic chemistry at Heri-

tage University, Leber has been able to use

this little seed to create things like wood stain

and ink…even corks. But six years ago after

founding his company, Après Vin—French

for “after the wine,” his premier focus has

been creating the ultimate line of culinary

cooking oil.

“In less than two years, the company has

gone from a tiny little enterprise, to a larger

one, but it still has a long way to grow,”

Leber said. “It’s still just beginning, but it’s

starting to catch on. Thank God for the

Internet.”

Everything about the company is infused

with the spirit of Washington’s wine country.

Almost all of the grape bio-waste comes di-

rectly from in-state wineries and the products

are produced locally by Prosser’s FruitSmart

Co.

Although FruitSmart is an organically

certified company, products by Après Vin

are not because they are not produced with

organic grapes. Leber said organic grapes are

difficult to come by, due to shortages of local

organic vineyards.

Certified or not, this has not seemed to be

a problem for the growing company. The fla-

vor-infused cooking oils have found a strong

niche market with the culinary crowds and

specialty foods shops. No order is too strange

or outlandish for Leber, who said Chef Frank

Magaña of Picazo 7 Seventeen restaurant

and wine bar in downtown Prosser regularly

orders vanilla chardonnay grape seed oil.

The actual production is a huge under-

taking. Wine pumice is collected from the

wineries, separated, dried and cold pressed

with a European press. It takes about 3,000

pounds of grapes—enough for 300 gallons

of wine—to produce the 75 pounds of dried

grape seeds needed to make just one gallon of

grape seed oil.

Leber explained although not a winemaker

by trade, a passion for the industry has been

in his family for more than 50 years. In

1956, Leber’s father, Ralph, teamed up with

his brother and professors of Washington

State University, to create “Associated Vint-

ners,” the first premium winery in the state.

Later, his father’s company became Columbia

Winery, which continues to function today

in Woodinville, Wash.

In July 2008, Ralph Leber, was inducted

into the 2008 Legends of Washington Wine

Hall of Fame. This annual function is orga-

nized and hosted by Prosser’s Walter Clore

Wine and Culinary Center.

Leber said by virtue of his father’s activities

he became aware of the industry and used

that knowledge during his time teaching at

Heritage University.

Upon receiving a grant by the Economic

Development Administration, as part of

the federal government’s Department of

Commerce, Leber and his students began

to examine the possibly of recovering value

from agricultural waste.

The group started with orchards, tran-

sitioned to dairy feed lots and then found

themselves at Apex Washington Hill’s Rich-

mond Winery, which at the time was located

in the old Dairy gold plant in Sunnyside.

“Pretty quickly, we discovered that there

is still a lot of value in the bi-products from

winemaking,” Leber said.

Over the next several years, the team

successfully concluded that there were more

than 50 potential commercial uses that can

be harvested from the grape bio-waste. Some

of the most impressive discoveries include:

writing ink, soap, a natural wood and shoe

polish and a chardonnay bio-fuel—which he

has kept in a small glass wine bottle for more

than six years.

“It’s still amazing, that after six years, it’s

still fresh,” Leber said. “I don’t think that

gasoline or diesel fuel would look that good

after six years.’

Besides heating homes and powering cars,

there have been numerous health benefits

associated with grape seed oil. Varietal

grape seed oils are a rich source of healthful

polyunsaturated oils, antioxidants and other

photochemicals.

Leber explained the oil also contains es-

sential fatty acids, such as Linolenic (LNA)

and Linoleic (LA) acids, which contribute to

cellular function and vitality. Additionally,

grape seed oil has a particularly high level of

heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats and half

the saturated fat of olive oil—Rachael Ray,

eat your heart out!

Currently, Leber focuses full time on

running the business, but has promised that

once his business becomes profitable, he will

create a scholarship for Heritage University

students to continue researching sustainable

uses for winery bio-waste. He also stays con-

nected to academia by giving lectures about

sustainable winemaking.

Meanwhile, he explained the newest classes

of innovators have continued the research his

former students began years ago. Leber said

it’s been incredible to watch the growth of

winemaking in Washington during the past

50 years.

Despite a shaky economy, Wine County

continues to blossom, keeping Leber knee-

deep in bio-waste and challenging him to

ponder new uses “Après Vin.” Après Vin prod-

ucts can be purchased at www.apresvin.com.

‘Winecycling’: Entrepreneur finds treasures ‘Après Vin’ ‘Winecycling’: Entrepreneur finds treasures ‘Après Vin’ More than 50 products made from wine bio-waste

Courtesy photos

Products made from wine bio-waste include, from top, grape skin paper, varietal grape-seed fl ours and

culinary cooking oil.


By Wes Ozier


In just the last few years, the aware-

ness of “green” design and the

buzzword “sustainability” has been

spreading like wildfire. It seems

that our society may finally be get-

ting it. Right now, due to the economy, no

one is building, but many indicators (and

some good old-fashioned hope) say that the

economy may turn around soon.

History shows us when economies turn

around there is an immediate spike in new

construction, and not just the same ole types

of projects going up. No, after recessions

society responds with a whole new wave of

architectural expression and exploration.

If this pattern holds true, then we can

expect a wave of new construction within the

next year or so, and all indications are that it

will be a green wave.

While many desire their new projects to be

part of this green wave, many have no idea

how to go about actually making a project

green. Many layman expect the architects to

know, yet many architects are too involved in

their current practices, projects and day-to-

day living to be able to afford the time or

money that it takes to acquire a good educa-

tion in green and sustainable design.

Whether you are a layman or an archi-

tectural professional, the goal of this article

is to provide you with a basic introduction

into some strategies in sustainable and green

architectural design that can be incorporated

into your next project. These strategies are

scaled for the residential project, but can still

be applied to larger scale projects as well.

In this article, we will define sustainability

as: development that provides shelter, posi-

tive air quality, the production of renewable

energy, the creation of healthy food supplies

and the maintenance of clean water systems,

for the current generation while maintaining

the security of the industrial, intellectual and

natural resources needed for future genera-

tions to do the same.

This all sounds well and good, but what

are the practical applications of this belief?

What would a sustainable building be made

of, and what would it encompass? Let us take

a look at different strategies that architects

can incorporate into your project to help

ensure our sustainable future.

Air Quality StrategiesArchitecture and Air PollutionWhen one thinks of air pollution what com-

monly comes to mind are gas-guzzling cars

and industrial smoke stacks spewing pollu-

tion. The lion’s share of the pollutants that

cause global warming, however, are attrib-

utable to architectural design. How would

architecture be responsible?

All homes require energy, energy to warm

them up, energy to cool them off, energy

for the lights, the TV, the appliances. All of

this energy comes from fuels being burned

somewhere. Every time you flip on a switch

in your home, turn up the thermostat or

the AC, somewhere, out there, far away,

a power plant chugs out smoke, ash and

carbon dioxide. The author of the “Passive

Solar Handbook,” Edward Mazria, calculates

that architecture consumes nearly half the

country’s total energy and is responsible for

46 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.

According to the calculations of the

Department of Energy, residential homes

cause more air pollution than automobiles.

To maintain our air quality, we need a new

science of architecture that consumes far less

energy. The architect’s responsibility, how-

ever, does not stop there.

Architects specify the materials going into a

home. The architect can specify materials that

have a high embodied energy or more natural

materials that have a low embodied energy;

the lower the embodied energy of materi-

als, the lower the energy consumption in the

construction of a home. Architects can also

specify materials from local sources, meaning

they don’t have to be shipped far, reducing the

amount of vehicle pollution produced getting

the material to a homesite. The less energy

consumed the clearer the skies stay.

Read on for the different techniques that

will help reduce the level of consumed and

embodied energy in your project.

PlantsAir quality can also be improved and main-

tained by using plants that are able to capture

excess carbon dioxide in the air and create

more breathable oxygen. The more plants

one uses in their designs the better.

Of course, the plants must be sustainabily

maintained as well. Plants can be used in a

variety of ways in a sustainable design. Keep

in mind that no matter what other function a

plant serves it still always contributes toward

air quality.

VOCsVOC stands for Volatile Organic Com-

pounds, which are chemicals that slowly

vaporize at normal room temperatures. Many

adhesives, solvents and paints used in home

construction have a high level of VOCs with-

in them and, over time pollute the indoor air

of your home with toxic chemicals.

Make sure that all of the chemicals used

in your home have low, or better yet, no

VOCs within them. The VOC content of

most chemicals is listed on the container

or you can ask at hardware stores or search

the Internet. Also check your carpets and

any composite woods—such as cabinetry or

doors—these things can often contain adhe-

sives with high VOC levels.

EnergyPassive solar designThis is the method of designing buildings

so they take advantage of the natural heat of

the sun during the winter and take advantage

of shading techniques to keep the building

cooler in the summer.

To design a passive solar building, an

architect must understand how to orient the

windows of the building to the south to gain

the maximum solar exposure. During the

winter, the sunlight can penetrate directly into

the structure, where a “thermal mass,” such as

a masonry tile floor or brick wall warms up.

During the summer, the building is

designed to keep 100 percent of the sunlight

out of the windows and off the exterior of

the walls so that the building isn’t warming

up from the sun’s rays.

Mazria wrote in his book that passive

solar designs can cut your energy bill by 30

percent. Architects skilled in the details of

passive solar can greatly increase this.

Jo Costion of Coconino Community

College said passive solar design is all about

“Orientation, insulation, glass and mass.”

Many manuals on this topic can teach this

design technique to an architect, or you can

also take classes on the topic with Costion at

CCC in Flagstaff, or the Ecosa Institute in

Prescott.

Plug In Solar PanelsOf course, you can’t have a discussion about

sustainability without someone asking about

solar panels. I am reluctant to do so because

solar panels can be expensive and difficult to

install.

Solar power is obtainable, however, with a

concept called Plug In solar panels. Several

companies produce them, but I specifically

recommend the plug in panel from Blue

Link Solar, but I’m sure more will come on

the market.

The Blue Link solar system comes folded

up; you simply unfold it and plug it in to

your house. The system has all necessary con-

verters already built into it so that it sends

power into your home’s electrical system. You

can place the array anywhere (that receives

good sun) and possibly even work it into

your landscaping designs, or other creative

uses.

So, with these systems, you could slowly

purchase an entire array over time, say one a

year or whenever you manage to save up, so

that the up-front cost of a full-sized array for

your home is not necessary.

Sustainable architecture strategies

Courtesy photo

Passive solar design is the method of designing buildings so they take advantage of the natural heat of the sun during the winter and take advantage of shading

techniques to keep the building cooler in the summer.


Solar hot water heatersOne thing Arizona has is plenty of solar ther-

mal energy all beating down on us constantly

from the sky. Another thing all homes need

is hot water, so why not take advantage of a

copiously free source of heat energy?

In varied climates around the country,

solar hot water heaters can provide up to 85

percent of your domestic hot water energy

needs. This includes places with cloudy

skies and cold winters. Imagine what a solar

hot water heater could do for you here in

Arizona! There are many systems of solar hot

water heaters, most of them flat panels that

connect to the roof. Of course, flat panels

could be used anywhere, as long as they are

not in shade and could even be used as archi-

tectural design elements. For more informa-

tion on solar hot water heaters, you can visit

solardirect.com.

FoodFor the most part, our society does not

imagine blending food strategies in with

architectural strategies. Once when I was at

Arcosanti, several architecture students even

took it upon themselves to skip the entire

agriculture portion of the Arcosanti seminar

because they couldn’t understand what agri-

culture had to do with them. Ample room in

architecture exists, however, for food strategy

considering that all architectural projects

already take into account extensive use of

landscaping for plants.

Well, to nature plant mass is plant mass, be

it edible or not and the opportunity for land-

scaping is an opportunity for food-scaping.

While locally produced food is important

to a sustainable future, not every one can

suddenly become a farmer, so how does the

architect design food production as a normal

part of the typical contemporary suburban

lifestyle?

CompostingBy composting, we can take food scraps and

Mar makes some very affordable units. For

more information, see sun-mar.com.

Organic LandscapingWith all the grey water flowing into your

yard, and the rainwater harvesting being

done by your berms and swails, there will

be far more water in your yard than in your

average patch of arid desert.

This creates an excellent opportunity for

food growth, and as you read in this article,

the production of healthy food is one of the

goals of sustainable design.

When it comes to the landscaping for your

home, don’t go to a landscape architect as a

consultant, instead go to an organic farmer.

Organic farmers know more about sustain-

able landscaping than a landscape architect

ever will. Watch out though: organic farmers

as a lot tend to think in terms of winning

prizes at the county fair and producing maxi-

mum yield, neither of which is your goal. So

when you go to the organic farmer for your

landscape consultation, tell them you want:

an aesthetically pleasing, desert appropri-

for the layman and professional alike

ate, self sustaining garden that will be fed by

domestic grey water sources. That request

should put them on the right track.

WaterGrey water systemsTom Watson, inventor of the Watson Wick

advises us to “treat wastewater as a land-

scape architecture opportunity.” Grey water

systems re-use water ejected from appliances

such as sinks, showers and laundry machines,

directing the water out into your surround-

ing landscaping.

Since the grey water systems are “plugged”

into your personal domestic habits you pro-

vide your gardens with water and nutrients

just by going about your normal household

activities such as showering, doing dishes or

doing the laundry. Remember it is imperative

that with a grey water system you use only

other organic detritus, and in a controlled

process of decomposition, turn that into

fertilizer for gardens. By composting, we lit-

erally return to the Earth that which we take,

emulating the cycle of nature.

Composting is a cornerstone of sustain-

able living, but many people find operating a

compost pile to be smelly and labor inten-

sive. Manufactured products, however, can

make composting easily obtainable by your

average Jane and Joe Sixpack.

To handle your kitchen scraps, you can

purchase a simple home composting appli-

ance. The Sun Frost Scrap Eater is a “home

composting appliance” that is simply a nice

looking wooden barrel with soil inside and

plants growing around the edge. In the

middle, is a metal chamber with a Plexiglas®

dome. You open the dome and throw your

food scraps inside and close it up; the food

scraps break down and feed the plants. For

more information, see sunfrost.com.

Another home composting appliance is

called the Green Cone. This is simply a large

green cone that sits upside down implanted

into a garden. You open the top, drop your

food scraps in, and they decompose into the

soil of your garden. The Green Cone is de-

signed to cleanly break down the food waste

from a family of four. For more information,

see greencone.com.

You can also replace your water flushing

toilet with a composting toilet. A composting

toilet takes your humanure (what many call

“poop”) and stores it in an airtight chamber

where it breaks down into a perfectly clean

and hygienic fertilizer that is not even recog-

nizable as having once been feces.

The final product can be tilled into your

organic garden. Once again, you will be

returning to the Earth that which you took

and feeding the local ecology. Not only that,

but the average toilet uses a little more than

25 percent of the water in a home. So replac-

ing your flush toilet with a composting toilet

cuts your water consumption dramatically.

Many makes and models of composting

toilets are available. A company called Sun

See Architecture, page 10

Courtesy photo

Th ermosyphon solar hot water heating is the most

dependable cost eff ective method of heating your

hot water. Th e unique heat transfer system, located

inside the tank above the collectors, enables you

to have instant hot water from your collector.

Water is heated by the collector and stored in the

storage tank during the day. When hot water is

desired, the cold water inlet fl ows thought the

heat exchanger whereby the water gets heated and

proceeds to fl ow to the hot water.

Courtesy photo

Th e Sun Frost Scrap Eater is a “home composting

appliance” that is simply a nice looking wooden

barrel with soil inside and plants growing around

the edge. In the middle, is a metal chamber with

a Plexiglas® dome. You open the dome and throw

your food scraps inside and close it up; the food

scraps break down and feed the plants.

Courtesy photo

Solar In A Box includes everything needed to install solar:* Fully modular units designed for rapid installation

* Patented mounting frame and brackets: NO measuring and cutting racking

* Solar modules pre-wired and grounded to NEC code

* Pre-installed micro-inverters: No more inverter installation or DC wiring

* Complete systems arrive ready to install and connect to the load center

* Simple system sizing

* Fast-track Permit pack

* Installation guide and training

* 15-year system warranty with 25 year panel warranty

* 5 years of module-level monitoring

The only thing you’ll need to provide is the wiring and conduit or Romex from the

roof to the service box, since that is site-specific. For more information about Solar In A

Box, contact Green Scene Solar at (928) 468-6484.


all organic cleaners and products in your

household!

One of the simplest and most effective

grey water systems is called a Branch Drain

Grey Water System created by a prolific

ecological designer named Art Ludwig. In a

branched drain system, you direct the flow of

“waste water” (a phrase I expect you to never

use again because no water is a waste) into a

pipe out into your yard. The pipe then splits,

sending the water to the left and to the right,

which forms the branches of the system.

You can then direct each branch to organic

gardens or fruit trees within your yard. The

total number of branches in the system

depends on how much water the appliance

ejects on a regular basis. The water drains

into a prepared hole that holds the water and

allows it to percolate into the surrounding

garden.

Kitchen sinks will inevitably have decom-

posing food in their water streams and need

more treatment than a branched drain system

could provide, which is why I advise a system

called the Watson Wick for kitchen sinks.

A Watson Wick is essentially a trench

containing an infiltrator, a sort of pipe that

holds water and then enables it to seep into

the ground, the trench is filled with pumice

stone, which is porous and coarse and helps

cleanse the water that flows through it. A

layer of topsoil over the Watson Wick holds

plants whose roots reach down and digest the

particles suspended in the pumice. Watson

Wicks have proven to be more than able to

deal with grey water from a kitchen sink.

For more information on these two ideas,

visit oasisdesign.net.

Rainwater HarvestingAll homes need water and we miss a major

source of water that literally falls from the

sky like manna from heaven: rainwater.

Perhaps rainwater is overlooked because

in our society’s current water consumption

levels, rain would not be able to provide for

all of our water needs.

When combined with all of the sustain-

able water strategies, however, rainwater once

again becomes a viable source of water for

your home. Your average 2,000 square-foot

home catches roughly 1,200 gallons of water

per inch of rain.

In Phoenix, the annual average is 7 inches,

in Flagstaff the average is 22 inches—you do

the math! While these levels are impressive,

they might not alone provide your needs, but

in combination with composting toilets, grey

water systems and water efficient appliances,

you are now looking at a significant amount

of water.

Rainwater can be easily captured from roof

run-off and stored in tanks where the water

can be kept year round and used for a variety

of purposes.

Of course, your rainwater collection

system will have to include a filter to clean

out the water, and it should be stored in a

lightproof container, which will stop algae

from growing.

Not only can you catch the rain from your

roof, but also your landscaping can use mi-

cro-basins, berms and swails to keep the rain

that falls onto the ground on your site and

direct it to your organic gardens and edible

xeriscaping, providing a rich water source

completely free.

I recommend the book “Rainwater

Harvesting For Drylands and Beyond” by

Brad Lancaster. You can also visit ci.tucson.

az.us/water/harvesting.htm to see the code

approved methods and design of rainwater

harvesting allowed in Tucson.

XeriscapingGaining in popularity in Arizona, xeriscap-

ing is a landscaping technique that uses less

water than standard gardens. At the heart of

xeriscaping is the concept of using regionally,

desert appropriate plants, which are adapted

to the low-water levels of an arid environment.

Many people only think of spiky cacti

when they think of desert appropriate plants,

but that is far from the truth. There are hun-

dreds of varieties of desert appropriate plants

from wildflowers, to trees and shrubs, to

varied grasses and yes, the iconoclastic cactus.

Xeriscaping is not only choosing the right

plants, but also preparing the ground prop-

erly to conserve water by using micro-basins

dug out to hold the plants, and rich mulches

to help the plants conserve water. Drip irriga-

tion systems are usually needed in the early

years of a xersiscape to help the plants grow

and develop into healthy adult forms. Once

the plants are fully grown, many xeriscapes

don’t need any water whatsoever.

Not only can xeriscapes be beautiful, but

also they can be productive. More than 500

varieties of edible plants grow in the desert,

so ask your landscaper about creating an all

edible xeriscape for your home.

StructureConstruction MaterialsThe materials in your building should

be composed of resources that are either

recycled or are rapidly renewable. There are

many options out there for sustainable ma-

terials, such as earthen construction, e-crete,

papercrete, recycled products and strawbale.

To determine which is best for you is a

balance of such factors as cost, distance from

your site and ecological impact.

Given all the choices though, I recom-

mend SIPS as the main material, which

stands for Structural Insulated Panel Systems.

SIPS are made of insulating foam “sand-

wiched” between two wall boards and held

together by load bearing beams and posts.

SIPS panels provide excellent insulation,

which reduces the energy needs of your

home. You send your plans to the SIPS

manufacturer; they pre-design your panels

at the factory, which are shipped to your site

ready to be tilted up and quickly assembled.

The panels themselves can be made from a

variety of different materials, blending rapidly

renewable and recycled industrial products.

With the savings in labor, SIPS cost about as

much as conventional construction but pro-

vides many sustainable benefits. To learn more

about SIPS, visit sips.org

Architecturecontinued from page 9

Courtesy photo

Rainwater can be easily captured from roof run-

off and stored in tanks where the water can be kept

year round and used for a variety of purposes.

Courtesy photo

Xeriscape landscaping uses regionally appropriate plants that have adapted to the low-water levels of an

arid environment.

Courtesy photo

Structural Insulated Panel Systems, or SIPS, are

made of insulating foam “sandwiched” between

two wall boards and held together by load bearing

beams and posts. You send your plans to the SIPS

manufacturer; they pre-design your panels at the

factory, which arrive at your site ready to be tilted

up and quickly assembled.


Once you have the main structure

constructed with SIPS, you can then use

other alternative materials such as strawbale,

papercrete or local on-site stone as material

highlights and accents to give your project

that hard green sustainable look.

What I prefer to call vegetated roofing, or

living roofs, is the technique of growing

plants on the roof of your building. Green

roofing provides extra insulation for your

home, as well as protects the material of your

roof, greatly extending its lifetime. Not only

that, but also the plants help water quality,

produce fresh air and can provide some bird

and insect habitat.

Many designers approach green roofs as

they would pretty ornamental gardens. I

believe that approach is a HUGE mistake.

Remember, the real “work” of the green

roof is actually accomplished by the soil; the

plants are mainly erosion controllers to keep

the soil in place.

Plant choices should be simple and ap-

propriate to your environment, with low

water requirement and no need for pruning

or other plant maintenance. Don’t worry if

they don’t look lush and green, or sometimes

brown—plants do that, as long as their roots

are strong your roof will be fine. You can

learn more about how to green your roof

from greenroofs.com.

LEEDLEED is an acronym for “Leadership in

Environmental and Energy Design” and is

a set of benchmarks and standards for green

projects developed by the U.S. Green Building

Council.

Since its inception in 1998, there have

been more than 14,000 LEED projects built

in the United States and abroad and the

number of LEED-certified projects is steadily

increasing.

Under the guidance of Tony Floyd (an Ar-

cosanti alum and associate faculty at ASU),

the City of Scottsdale was the first city in

America to commit to having all municipal

buildings achieving a LEED Gold certifica-

tion. LEED-certified buildings usually have

lower utility bills and lower maintenance

costs.

Businesses run out of LEED-certified

buildings report a demonstrable increase in

worker productivity.

To become LEED certified, a project gains

a certain number of points for achieving

various quantified standards. There are 69

total points that can be achieved covering

quantified levels in sustainable sites: water

efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials

and resources, indoor environmental quality,

and innovation and design processes.

Depending on how many points your

project is awarded, it receives a distinguished

rating: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

To achieve LEED certification, a project

must have a LEED Accredited Professional,

abbreviated LEED-AP, who is able to consult

all members of the project team, including

architects, engineers, contractors, and even

owners.

With their understanding of the LEED

rating system, the LEED-AP is able to out-

line for each team member the criteria they

have to achieve to obtain the points necessary

for certification.

LEED sets the benchmarks a project needs

to reach, but be careful, it does not do the

work for you; you still have to be good at your

job. This is why it is so important to have

a LEED-AP who understands concepts in

sustainability. Your LEED-AP needs to under-

stand how to translate between “green speak,”

“LEED speak” and the “establishment.”

For more information on LEED, visit

www.usgbc.org.

Passive solar designThis concept was expanded on earlier in the

Energy Strategies section, however it must be

re-iterated in the Structural Strategies section.

Passive solar designs will impact the struc-

tural form of your project. The whole struc-

ture must be shaped, oriented and finished

correctly to take maximum advantage of the

sun’s rays. There are still many aesthetic op-

tions in how a passive solar designed building

can look and feel.

Permeable PavementWe take pavement for granted, not real-

izing the immense effect it has on our local

environment. For example, nearly 60 percent

of Phoenix’s surface area is paved and this can

have a great effect (all negative) on ground

water quality and cause a “heat island” effect.

In the natural system, rainwater lands on

the ground and percolates through the soil,

back into aquifers; the soil providing cleans-

ing for the water.

When water falls onto human-made pave-

ment, however, and then drains into storm

drains, the water picks up many contaminants

and washes them directly into the storm drain.

This not only deposits contaminants into

our water systems, but also the water is not

returned to our local natural aquifers.

Permeable pavement is any system of

pavement that allows the rain water to run

through the pavement and return to the

ground. This way, we have flat surfaces to

move on, but the natural cycle of cleansing

and aquifer recharge is maintained, and a

reduction of the heat island effect is a result.

Many options on how to create permeable

pavement are available, including block pav-

ers, grid systems, porous asphalt and porous

concrete.

My friend Adam Nordfors re-used busted

up concrete chunks to create a permeable

pavement walkway for his house. Permeable

pavement can be used in home design for

driveways, walkways and any other flat paved

surface.

Combined, these strategies are for the most

part, affordable, professionally accessible and

code approvable. Together they will make a

beautiful sustainable home. Whether you’re a

professional or not, many excellent programs

out there can provide a quality education on

sustainability and ecological design for you,

such as Coconino Community College and

the Ecosa Institute.

As a layman, you are able to drive the

professional world by asking, if not demand-

ing, that your professionals be green in the

designs and products they make. You have

to be an educated layman, however, to know

what to ask for. So learn!

The final design and form of a sustainable

building all depends on your philosophy

and exact goals of sustainability and lifestyle.

Your sustainable home can truly be as unique

as you are.

So if you see a sustainable home and it

doesn’t have an organic garden that’s OK,

or if you meet someone who believes that

all sustainable homes should be made from

strawbale, that’s OK.

There is really no one right or wrong

answer. The ecology of our planet is very

complex, and our solutions as to how to live

with it will be just as complex.

Hopefully, this article has pointed you

toward some ideas and educational resources.

While we did cover a lot, so many things go

into a sustainable home that it all cannot be

covered in any one article.

As I always say, education is the key,

education of the professional, as well as the

education of the layman.

Wes Ozier is a LEED-AP, formerly of Arco-santi and the Ecosa Institute. If you have any questions, e-mail him [email protected] or join the MySpace eco-community.

Courtesy photo

Living roofs is the technique of growing plants on the roof of your building, which provides extra insula-

tion and protects the roof material, greatly extending its lifetime. Th e plants help water quality, produce

fresh air and can provide some bird and insect habitat. Green roofs have long been popular in New York

City. Pictured here is the rooftop garden of Rockefeller Center.

The High Country Xeriscape Council of

Arizona is sponsoring a Free Waterwise

Seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., May

30, at Gila Community College, Payson

Campus, Room 301, 201 N. Mudsprings

Road, Payson.

Speakers and topics include Bart

Worthington, “Plants for Waterwise

Landscaping & Gardens;” Bruce Wales,

“Rainwater Harvesting” and Mary Irish,

“Agaves and Yuccas for Cold Areas.”

Lunch will be available at a nominal fee

and exhibitors will be available to answer

questions and demonstrate products.

Door prizes will be awarded throughout

the day.

For more information, see www.xeri-

scapeaz.org/waterwise_seminar.htm.

Free Waterwise Seminar slated


By Mike Marino


lvis on velvet? It’s what garage

sales are made of. OK, so maybe

it’s not high-brow fare found in

the Louvre, but, after all, art is

in the eye of the beholder, and

this particular genre is certainly

part and parcel of the “velvet

underground” that can trace its roots of fiber

artistry to the 14th century in the Far East.

Elvis may have left the auditorium decades

ago, but, fiber arts is here to stay in the earth-

friendly hit parade of arts and crafts. It is a

discipline, but such an individualized one it’s

a freeform, free-spirited craft, more similar

to improvisational jazz than to a structured

symphonic piece.

No one can deny the fact that fiber arts

and artisans provide the punch for one pow-

erful ecological art attack. It’s a green craft

that has weaved itself throughout the fabric

of history as it was woven and spun by hand

and loom. One individual, Gandhi, was

not only a proponent of homespun cloth-

ing as the simplest of statements (politically

and ecologically), but also this simple man

brought an empire clothed in full battle dress

to its knees, while he himself was clothed

only in homespun coverings. Now, that is

what I call a homespun victory.

Today, this diverse and specialized craft is

pursued by purists around the world, and the

old methods are meeting the eco-needs of the

new world as some are taking trash and hard-

for-Mother Earth-to-digest materials—such

as garbage bags and discarded audio and video

tapes—to transform these recyclable materials

into rugs and textiles from salvaged plastics

from the landfill Louvres of the world.

An artist I know in Ann Arbor takes tossed

away and donated men’s ties, then fashions

them into artistic handbags, purses and

wallets. She has mastered the art of turning

neckwear into head-turning attractive, hand-

sewn green fashion statements. Some samples

of her craft are even on display in some un-

usual places, including an off-beat dive diner

in downtown Ann Arbor, where burgers and

beer meet fiber and art in a head-on urban

collision.

Fiber art is not an easy arena in which to

define parameters. Just as the mandala holds

numerous illusions, the art of fiberists is a

diverse discipline defined by the choice of

material used. Today, that choice is simply

that. Choice.

The history of fiber art, however, shows that

it was at times, a sociological weapon to sepa-

rate the masses by class distinction, defining

breeding pedigrees to show off their place in

the societal food chain.

In the days of yore, before the industrial

revolution in small towns and villages, the

art form was used to tell stories and tales to

preserve folklore and the history of a people.

Looking back to Neanderthal days of pre-his-

tory, cave carvings and later petroglyphs by

native peoples preceded the woven weaving

of tales to tell their stories.

Clothing was one of the first forms of

fiber arts in practical use, and depending on

the purpose, it could be quite distinct and

attractive. In the 1300’s, Europeans began a

love affair with “tapestries” that served multi-

purposes. Some experts follow the theory

that the tapestries replaced paintings on the

wall as an art form. That is true, however,

in some of the larger drafty castles of Jolly

Olde England, the larger wall hanging prob-

ably had something to do with temperature

control in a minor, yet attractive sense. Art as

a weatherization tool, much like insulation,

although not on that large of a scale.

While the Europeans were mastering the art

of fiber wall hangings, in the Middle East the

Persians were perfecting the art of rug making.

These rugs did not tell tales, tall or small, but

used symbols and designs as art in a form

referred to as Ardabil made from wool.

If you’re a fan of “Antiques Roadshow,”

you know at least once a week you’ll find the

inclusion of quilts, a distinctively American

folk art form of fiber art. Quilts are decora-

tive and are collected by aficionados today to

display in the home gallery. Early Americana

is depicted in a lot of the older pieces and

some regions, like Appalachia, are known for

the art of quilt making and are highly sought

after treasures.

Lest you think fiber arts are a politically in-

correct, gender specific art form, think again.

It’s no longer a portrait of ladies on the loom

for hours upon hours. It’s a craft pursued by

men and women, and although the females

still out number the males, the guys are mak-

ing inroads into the world of this craft.

As a matter of fact, I have collected West

Virginia quilts of varying ages for years when

traveling through Appalachia.

Fiber arts aren’t limited to the giant

tapestries or Islamic rugs either. Other forms

of the craft include the smaller scale, and per-

haps more practical practices of knitting and

macrame. Let’s face it, all of us at one point

or another has received a welcome handmade

knitted scarf or hat for winter wear. The fact

that it was handmade and not store-bought,

gave it that extra warmth.

Fiber arts is about as organic an art form as

you will find. Although synthetics have been

on the marketplace for quite awhile, the

purist opts for that derived from plants or

animals in a nonintrusive manner.

Silk is the east-meets-west material and

highly desirable, while others prefer linen,

wool or cotton. In the realm of exotica, al-

paca is awesome as North America takes this

endearing creature to heart in most states of

the union. The suri alpaca is the most prized

for fabric.

In the world of alpacas, there are two

breeds: the huacaya and the suri. The hua-

caya produces a springy, warm fiber while the

erstwhile suri has a fiber that looks more like

silk than wool and it is cool and smooth to

the touch, which appeals to artisans and high

fashion designers alike.

The suri looks like a rastafarian with its

long dreadlocks, mon. It’s popularity is ex-

ploding according to Jennifer Ely, an alpaca

breeder in Washington state.

“Demand for alpaca products continues

strong throughout the fashion and home

accessories markets,” she said. “With steady

growth in alpaca herds outside South Ameri-

ca, the precious fiber is more readily available

Photo by Jennifer Ely

Alpaca is warmer, softer and stronger than wool and is compared to fi ne cashmere in its appeal and wearability. Alpaca fl eece contains no lanolin and can usu-

ally be worn next to the skin by those who cannot wear sheep wool.

Fiber Arts


for alpaca and alpaca blend garments. Once

reserved for Incan royalty, now everyone can

enjoy this luxurious fiber.”

Like all products, there are strengths and

weaknesses to alpaca. Ely has been doing this

for awhile and is cognizant of both factors.

“It is warmer, softer and stronger than

wool,” Ely said. “Alpaca is compared to fine

cashmere in its appeal and wearability. Alpaca

fleece contains no lanolin and can usually be

worn next to the skin by those who cannot

wear sheep wool. With 22 natural colors,

alpaca fiber is eco-friendly. It blends beauti-

fully with other materials. Many fine Italian

designers consistently use some percentage

of alpaca fiber in their fabrics to improve the

softness and warmth of their garments.”

It comes in colors and shades to create

a fiber arts kaleidoscopic rainbow of hues

from black and browns to maroons, peach,

grays and whites and can be blended into

a technicolor coat of many colors. It’s also

one of the best fibers to take and retain dyes

without loosing its sheen. It is lanolin free,

lasts for a long time and is easy to care for.

Its insular values are legendary and it doesn’t

retain water and can resist solar radiation.

Keep in mind too, supply and demand. It

ain’t cheap, and that, according to Ely, drives

up costs.

“Availability in the United States is a weak-

ness,” she said. “We only have about 120,000

alpacas in the U.S. right now. It would take a

national herd of more than 1 million animals

to support one full-time fiber mill.”

I’ve confused alpaca’s with llamas in the

past and there is a difference, Ely said.

“Llamas and alpacas are both members of

the Camelid family,” she said. “Llamas are

larger, and enjoyed as livestock guardians

and for packing and carting. Alpacas are

primarily fiber-producing livestock. They are

considerably smaller than the llama, weigh-

ing 150 pounds on average. Alpacas have

a straight shaped ear; llamas are known for

their banana shaped ears—an easy visual dif-

ference in addition to their size.”

Another natural, but plentiful product is

good old-fashioned hemp. Happy hempsters

note that fiber artists have known for a long

time that hemp is more ecologically sound

than all the cotton grown deep in the heart

of Texas. Hemp is a prosperous cash crop

elsewhere in the world, while it is preposter-

ously illegal to grow the green in the dark

soils of the red, white and blue.

It is also one of the most versatile and

durable fabrics supplied by Mother Earth.

Its history in the United States dates back

to the founding fathers who not only grew

hemp themselves, but also the material made

from it was sturdy enough to be used as sails

in the great ships of the 17th, 18th and 19th

centuries.

When the fledgling country decided to

expand ever westward, the pioneers plowed

forward in wagon trains across the Santa Fe

and Oregon Trails, and many a Conestoga

covered wagon was covered with hemp cloth

as it is one the sturdiest materials on the

planet. The reason for its widespread use was

its overwhelming durability factor as a fiber.

It has a high breathability factor and,

therefore, is great in humid climates and

won’t mildew. Lightweight hemp is great for

clothing from skirts to shirts, and the heavier

weaves are good for furniture coverings and

such. It’s also used for making bracelets,

necklaces and other accessories for jewelry.

The eco-bennies? Fertilizer and pesticide use

is near zero as it can grow like a weed, unlike

the constant chemical condiments required

by King Cotton, so planet poisoning is non-

existent, and it grows plentiful left to its own

natural devices.

Of course, it’s illegal to grow hemp in the

United States, so like our childlike depen-

dence on foreign fossil fuels, so too, do we

depend on the production of hemp grown

overseas. Maybe that will change someday,

and natural fibrists will shout from the

mountaintops, hemp, hemp, hooray.

I am not a fiber artist myself, but I have dis-

covered natural dyes to enhance clothing that

could use a little artistic flair. Nature offers

an abundant palette of hues and colors for

material that screams for a little dash of color

and personality.

One discovered by accident is the sumac

fruit that grows abundant in the Midwest,

where I am from. The Native American

tribes in the Great Lakes region, among

others, used the reddish fruit of the sumac to

make a cold Koolaid®-like drink by boiling

the fruit and straining it through cloth to

remove seeds, stems and other imperfections.

What was left was a tasty, fruity drink that

when cooled would offer up a thirst quench-

er par excellence. Being an avid outdoors

See Fiber Art, page 14

Photo by Jennifer Ely

With 22 natural colors, alpaca fi ber is eco-friendly. It blends beautifully with other materials. Many fi ne Italian designers consistently use some percentage of

alpaca fi ber in their fabrics to improve the softness and warmth of their garments.


person and experimenting with natural foods

found in the wild, I decided to make some of

this tempting elixir.

During the process, I managed to spill

some on my T-shirt, one of those plain white

no-message, no-nonsense shirts. It stained it

a light reddish pink in a spot, so I decided to

stain the whole shirt and the results were a

delightful light red color that took to it. So,

I learned that day, that one person’s stain, is

another person’s dye.

Most of nature will give you a Lucy in the

Sky kaleidoscope of dyes, including ber-

ries, leaves and bark, grapes and mulberries,

rose and lavender and lichens. You name it,

nature provides it.

Native Americans who first migrated to

the region of northern New Mexico quickly

found how to extract dies from desert plants

and cacti. When the Spanish arrived, they

brought dye imports such as tropical indigo.

These imports were quickly assimilated into

the whole enchilada by Native fibrists who

produced a wealth of art that was indicative

of their history and culture, and that tradi-

tion has been handed down generation after

generation to keep the native culture alive in

a world of technology and science.

The oldest traditions of Southwestern fiber

artistry are still carried on to this day. There

are basket weaving, which dates back to

the time of the Anasazsi (pre-700), and

two later art forms called sash weaving and

embroidery. Mostly ceremonial undertakings,

Pueblo embroidery is almost entirely created

from wool, and the yarn tightly respun to

give more definition to the stitching. New

Mexican weaving is world renowned, and

most familiar is that of the Navajo people

whose lands extend the length and breadth of

the Land of Enchantment while their reputa-

tion extends worldwide.

The Southwest is the world cham-

pion heavy-weight when it comes to native

peoples’ fiber art, and in New Mexico it is

celebrated with art galleries, showings and

festivals, and along with the Fiber Arts Trail

system developed by the New Mexico De-

partment of the Arts in Santa Fe, it’s a foray

that weaves itself throughout the history and

back country of the state.

Art galleries of all types and stripes are

plentiful in New Mexico, however, one

stands out as one of the most unique. It’s

called the Double Six Gallery in Grants, and

is located on the main drag through town,

lovingly known as The Mother Road, or

Route 66, hence the Double Six moniker.

It’s funded in part by the Cibola Arts

Council and features local and statewide arti-

sans in all disciplines from sculpting to writ-

ing to painting to pottery. Last year saw the

inclusion of a Fiber Arts Show, and accord-

ing to gallery director, Robert Gallegos, the

response was well beyond his expectations.

“We hold many showings here and events

from music, film competitions, pottery and

one of our favorite events, the Lilliputian

show that was various art forms in miniature,”

he said. “We also feature student art monthly,

but when we had the textile and fiber arts

showing, the crowds simply packed the gal-

lery as there is such an interest in it in New

Mexico. The fact that we lie in the shadow of

Mt. Taylor, a sacred mountain of the ancient

ones, is probably not a coincidence for our

success with that particular event,” Gallegos

laughed. “You just never know.”

For more information about The Double

Six Gallery and Cibola Arts Council, see

their Web site at http://www.cac66.com/.

The Fiber Arts Trail at last count included

more than 200 artists in 70 plus locations.

These include galleries and private studios

tucked away off the beaten arts trail path

where you can talk with the artists and watch

them at their craft. The idea of the trail was

inspired by a similar project in North Caro-

lina and its purpose is to showcase a purely

unique cottage industry that is a source of

tourism for the state, and dollars for the art-

ists themselves.

The Trails are divided into three geo-

graphic segments of the state and most will

take you on a journey to not only the arts,

but also past stately volcanoes, old lava flows,

caves, massive rock outcroppings, Ponderosa

pine forests that all have ample hiking, bik-

ing and camping opportunities on your road

to fiber discovery.

To find out more about the New Mexico

Fiber Arts Trail, you can contact them in

Santa Fe at (800) 879-4278.

So, the next time you see an Elvis on

Velvet at a local garage sale, look at it differ-

ently. Perhaps it’s a result of basic urban arts

evolution in the field of fiber arts, and not a

mutant piece of pop culture kitsch.

Maybe, just maybe, too, you can close

your eyes and picture ancient peoples at

looms or by hand weaving and embroidering

to leave a lasting legacy for posterity as they

pass this form of art down, generation after

generation.

Photo courtesy Cibola Arts Council/Double Six Gallery

Th e Gallery Tapestry display in New Mexico.

Fiber Art continued from page 13

Photo by Mike Marino

A recent quilt show in Washington.


By Ann Haver-Allen

Earth Odyssey Editor

Fiber artist Georgianne Smolenski

describes herself as a fiber fiend.

She works with fibers spun from

alpacas, goats, llamas, rabbits,

dogs, cotton, bamboo, hemp,

rayon, tencel and soy silk. Smolenski has

been weaving wearable art for more than 25

years.

“I am always looking for yarn,” Smolenski

said as she demonstrated her craft. “After 25

years, I still spend hours experimenting and

creating fabrics that no modern factory could

produce. Every item of wearable art that I

design and weave is one of a kind.”

Smolenski took up weaving after seeing

another weaver at work and being amazed at

the “incredible patterns and colors” she saw.

Her father purchased her loom for her after

she won her battle with cancer.

“He offered to take me on a trip to Europe

when I recovered,” she said. “Then, when I

did recover, it was dinner at Red Lobster. I

said what I really wanted was a loom.”

Smolenski said the loom unwittingly

contributed to her post-operative therapy

because it arrived in five boxes and required

assembly.

“Each piece of wood had to be sanded and

oiled,” she said. “I set it up in my living room

and—with one arm—got it together.”

Assembling the loom turned out to be

all the physical therapy she needed. After

completing the task, she had full movement

of both arms.

“I have been weaving ever since,” she said.

“You can create anything you want.”

Smolenski plans all her pieces before weav-

ing begins.

“I can weave up to five feet, but because

I don’t want to waste anything, I plan my

articles ahead of time and set the loom up for

that,” she said. “I can’t waste anything—not

at these prices.”

Speaking of prices, Smolenski’s wearable

art is very affordable—from about $130

to $400. She weaves short and long vests,

dresses, ponchos, skirts and many other

items. Additionally, she makes throw pillows

out of her “leftovers.” The pillows sell for

$25 to $50. And if there’s still small scraps

left, she tosses those out for the birds to use

as nesting material.

“Prices are determined by how much weav-

ing went into the article, what the content of

the fiber is and how much hand work I put

into the sewing,” Smolenski said, adding that

it can take up to two weeks to take the yarn

off the warping board, transfer it onto the

loom and get the threading set up.

“It generally takes 15 throws of the shuttle

to make one inch of fabric,” she said. “One

skirt will require 1,080 throws of the shuttle.”

Smolenski works in her home studio,

which is located in the Tonto National For-

est between Pine and Payson. Her work is

available in Sedona at Isadora’s Handweaving

Gallery in Tlaquepaque Village, in Fountain

Hills at Sellzy’s and in Payson at Artists of the

Rim Fine Art Gallery. She plans to be on the

Fiber artist plies her trade in the Rim Country

Web site Etsy soon.

“I just love creating so much,” Smolenski

said. “There are thousands and thousands of

colors and patterns. People buy my products,

so they help pay for my addiction.”

And, she added, that once you own a

hand-woven article, you’ll come back for

another.

“People really take notice,” she said. “You

don’t see these articles coming and going.”

Smolenski can be reached via e-mail to

[email protected].

Photos by Pia Wyer

Georgianne Smolenski sits at her weaving loom in her home-studio in the Tonto National Forest. Below, a sampling of the handmade fabrics she designs and

weaves.


By Ann Haver-Allen

Earth Odyssey Editor

Humans have a lot to learn

from wildlife and it’s Sandy

Cate’s job to expedite that

educational process. Cate

is the coordinator for the

Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, operated

under the auspices of the Arizona Game and

Fish Department.

The Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center

is the facility where injured or abandoned

wildlife is temporarily housed. Adobe Moun-

tain has federal and state permits for taking

animals in, assessing their condition and

determining a course of action.

“We put the animal through an evaluation

process and then we do weights and mea-

sures,” Cate said. “We identify the animal by

putting leg bands on.”

All the animals at Adobe Mountain Wild-

life Center fall into one of three categories:

animals who function as foster parents, ani-

mals in recovery, or animals that participate

in the center’s education programs.

Foster parents come into play when baby

animals—usually birds—arrive at the center.

“About 80 to 85 percent of our animals

come from urban settings,” Cate said. “We

have a few animals who came from outlying

areas, such as Prescott, Williams, Flagstaff,

Page or Kingman. But most come from

urban areas and that’s what’s so amazing.”

Cate said that people generally do not

realize how much wildlife shares their urban

habitat. They may notice songbirds or fence

lizards, but they have a tendency to think

that other animals belong out in the desert or

in the mountains.

She said that many of the animals who

arrive at the center have been injured. The

ultimate objective of Adobe Mountain is to

rehabilitate and release its patients back into

the wild.

That’s frequently easier said than done,

because many factors play into that deci-

sion—even the time of year.

“A Swainson’s Hawk came here last year

and we had to winter it over,” Cate said.

“Swainson’s Hawks leave Arizona in about

October for the tip of southern Argentina.

If we released it then, it would not survive

because all the others had already gone. We

will be releasing it up in Peach Springs in the

next few weeks because that’s the area it came

from. Hopefully, it will find a mate and go

into the breeding process.”

Desert tortoises also pose challenges

because they must be released back into their

home territory.

“You can’t really relocate these guys,” Cate

said. “Their habitat is totally programmed.

They know where their den sites are, where

the food sources are and where the water

sources are. For an animal that lives in such

a harsh environment and can’t just migrate

away, specific habitat is critical.”

Cate said spring is a very busy time at the

wildlife center.

“At this time of the year, we get in a lot of

babies—or what we call fledglings,” Cate said.

“Sometimes they have fallen out of the nest.

Sometimes something is wrong and the parent

bird instinctively throws it out. Or, they were

blown out in the high winds we have here.”

Cate tries to place the fledglings with

foster parents.

“That way, they imprint on the foster par-

ents instead of looking at humans as a source

for food,” she said. “Foster parents help

them learn that they don’t want to be around

people and they don’t habituate to people.”

If foster parents are not available, then

Cate calls upon her volunteers.

“We have volunteers who are under

permits,” she said. “Some specialize with

songbirds. We have three different volun-

teers who specialize with bunnies. And if an

animal comes in and I don’t have a specialist

for it, I network with other rehabilitators. We

move animals around to people who either

specialize with those animals or have special

training for certain types of injuries or they

have foster parents available.”

Some animals are more mature when they

arrive at the Adobe Mountain Center.

Montana, the bald eagle, was 3-years-old

when she arrived. Her left wing is damaged

and she cannot survive outside captivity. Mon-

tana was found on the Navajo Army Depot

and had been hit by a car and possibly shot.

“We did find a pellet in one of her toes,”

Cate said, adding that Montana had a U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service leg band, which

revealed she had hatched just outside Boze-

man, Montana, on the Missouri River.

“Because of her wing injury, she will never

make it back,” Cate said. “We have had her

for five years. She’s a really great bird.”

Adobe Mountain is also home to two

golden eagles—a male and a female. Both

have wing injuries and the male is blind in

one eye.

“They get along really well,” Cate said.

“With most birds of prey, the female is larger

than the male and that’s easy to see when we

have both here.”

Cate said that only three species of birds of

prey have a color variation between the male

and female: the American kestrel, the Merlin

and Northern Harrier.

“The kestrel is the smallest falcon in the

United States,” she said. “The Merlin is just

a little bit larger than the kestrel. Merlins

migrate here in the winter months, but they

are not nesting birds. Northern Harrier males

tend to be grey and the females are tan and

brownish colors.”

If an animal’s injuries are so extensive that

it cannot be released back into the wild, it be-

comes a foster parent or enters the Game and

Fish education program—if it has a suitable

Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center to the rescue

Photos by Pia Wyer

Barn owls are among the patients at Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center.

Photos by Pia Wyer

Sandy Cate, coordinator for the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, feeds globe mallow to a prairie dog.


Photos by Pia Wyer

At right, Montana is a bald

eagle with a damaged left

wing. She had been hit by a

car or shot. Below is a bobcat,

a ringtail—Arizona’s state

mammal—and an opossum.

temperament.

These are the animals that visit schools and

wildlife fairs around the state. Montana stays

home, but the golden eagles are frequently

out and about. So are the burrowing owls.

Additionally, Cate plans to do on-site

education programs and have an open house.

She explained that the facility had been

slated to relocate, but because of budgetary

issues, that would not happen.

“We want to fix the place up, make some

major changes,” she said. “Recently, we did an

outdoor classroom and it went really well.”

Much of the Adobe Mountain facility has

been built by volunteers—especially boy

scouts who have built a number of the pens.

“We rely heavily on donations to help off-

set costs,” Cate said. “We rely on volunteers.

In fact, I am the only paid person. Everyone

else is a volunteer.”

The quail pen, one of the newest structures

on site, was built as an Eagle Scout project.

The Dobson High School welding class built

the area that houses the bald eagle Montana.

“The golden eagle pen was made possible

by a family donation that helped purchase

the materials,” Cate said. “One of our volun-

teers welded everything together. Then, one

of the Game and Fish guys spent a couple

of weeks assembling it. Finally, a boy scout

came in and did all the sanding and painting

and put up the shade structure.

“When you consider the care of the animals

and going out and doing all the environmen-

tal education and outreach that we do, it’s just

phenomenal what it takes to run a facility like

this,” she continued. “Then, when you realize

that it’s only one paid person and everyone

else is a volunteer, it’s really amazing.”

Cate said she is getting ready to put two

new pens up, but does not yet have the fund-

ing. One pen will house raccoons and the

other will be multipurpose.

Cate dreams of the multipurpose pen,

where she hopes to establish a cohesive habi-

tat: prairie dogs, desert tortoise, box turtle

See Wildlife, page 18


The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

is an agreement between the United States

and Great Britain (for Canada). The United

States subsequently entered into similar

agreements with Canada, Mexico, Japan

and Russia to protect migratory birds.

The statute makes it unlawful to pursue,

hunt, take, capture, kill or sell migratory

birds. The statute does not discriminate

between live or dead birds and also grants

full protection to any bird parts—including

feathers, eggs and nests.

Any person in possession of a migratory

bird—or bird parts—without a permit may

be convicted of a misdemeanor and fined

not more than $15,000, six months in

prison or both.

If a person engaged in a knowing violation

with the intent to sell, offer to sell, barter or

offer to barter a migratory bird, that person

can be convicted of a felony and fined not

more than $2,000 and imprisoned for not

more than two years, or both.

Currently, more than 800 species are

on the protected list, including

Barn-Owl

Western Bluebird

Cardinal

American Crow

Mourning Dove

House Finch

Lesser Goldfinch

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Scrub Jay

Common Raven

American Robin

Rufous-sided Towhee

Turkey Vulture

Gila Woodpecker

Cactus Wren

For the complete alphabetical list of

protected birds, see earthodysseyonline to

download the PDF.

and other animals living in an environment

similar to their actual habitat.

“It would be really nice for us to show

the outside setting in an inside situation,”

she said. “That way, people stop, think and

ask questions. It just opens everything and

provides more opportunity for education and

building interest for wildlife.”

One facet that is not very well known is the

prohibition against possession of any part of a

migratory bird. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act

covers all migratory birds, not just raptors.

“You need a special permit to possess a

feather, egg, nest or anything,” Cate said.

“Even if they dropped it. Even if you find a

feather while out hiking, it’s illegal to posses

it. This applies to all migratory birds, not just

raptors. You can be fined if you have any-

thing from a listed bird in your possession.”

Cate said feathers from game birds—quail,

doves, pheasants and turkeys—are legal. See

box below for a sampling of birds listed in

the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

It’s not just her job to educate the pubic

about wildlife and surrounding issues, it’s her

mission.

“I have been doing this since 1985,” Cate

said. “Game and Fish is the first state wildlife

agency to take on a component of rehabili-

tation and education to the degree that we

have. Our funding is about $15,000 per year.

So I totally rely on volunteers and public

donations.”

If you are interested in being a volunteer

or contributing to Adobe Mountain Wildlife

Center, see www.azwildlifecenter.net.

Wildlife continued from page 17

Photos by Pia Wyer

At left, baby barn owls gather for a photo. Above, this desert tortoise was rescued from a swimming pool

where it had fallen in. Its companion did not survive. Below, a black crowned night heron wonders if the

camera is edible.


In one of David Whyte’s many won-

derful poems, he has a line “whatever

does not bring you alive is too small

for you.”* What does it mean to be

fully alive, as opposed to getting

through the day? Fully alive, with all senses

taut and expectant, open and present?

Many of us find navigating everyday life is

easier with varying amounts of dissociation.

We leave aspects of our true selves behind at

home when we go to work or engage with

others until something catches us by surprise,

a song, the wind, an act of kindness. The

moment when our soul rushes in to grab

our attention and asks what happened to all

those other days, years even, when we were

on auto-pilot?

Being fully alive brings us into recognition

of the fathomless mystery and co-creativity of

our existence, of the exquisite beauty of each

creature on earth.

When we fall out of our anthropomorphic

ivory towers and realize once again that we

are as much a guest in the dance of being

as any other species. And what a joy it is, to

release our minds from the pressures of self-

preoccupation and shed the masks given to

us by someone else.

Spirituality is about authentic presence,

it is about awe. Awe is a whole body experi-

ence. It is what the mystics tried to convey,

what we are born to encounter, what religion

could be if it were not so preoccupied with

conformity and branding. Awe is not a head

trip, intellectual posturing or the concretiza-

tion of myth. It is the gift of being broken

open into grace in the presence of wildness, a

power more luminescent than our minds can

contain.

To experience awe is to be simultaneously

humbled and exalted, to recognize how silly

it is to believe we are masters of the universe

or have a divine mandate. It shatters cyni-

cism and the myopic consumption of goods

and other people’s dreams. It releases us from

the Sisyphean experience of struggle and

futility, allows us to appreciate the mountain

rather than the effort of rolling the stone

upwards, only to have it tumble back down

again.

For every convenience there is an ex-

change. Our modern world offers us many

benefits over humanity’s hunter-gatherer

days and fledgling civilizations, but we have

traded our vulnerabilities for weakened per-

ceptions and the illusion of immortality. We

live in a world of our own creation and too

often worship deities of our own projection.

So how do we experience awe? We cannot

command it, purchase it, manipulate it or

contain it. We can, however, clear a space

for it to enter and invite its presence. Awe is

feeling the breath of divinity on our face and

filling our heart, to be overcome by a sense

of joy and wonder. It can be sparked by any

number of things.

An example for me was being in the pres-

ence of owls last week. During Ann’s and my

visit to the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center

in Phoenix for our article in this issue, I was

allowed into the Great Horned Owl enclo-

sure to take photographs.

There were four owls there that day and

two of them took off suddenly in flight,

soaring over my head with such breathtaking

beauty the sight of them caused me to cry

out and have tears in my eyes. What a gift,

to be in the presence of such magnificence.

How lucky I am to work on Earth Odyssey and have these opportunities.

Owls live in forests all over the world.

There are many kinds, and glimpsing one is

rare. That we are not conscious of them is

probably their fortune, yet our loss.

There are so many wonderful creatures,

so much mystery and grace just waiting

for us to rediscover our child-like curiosity

and vision. Yes, we can create many things,

houses, cars, computers, medicine, books,

weapons, but who among us could create a

living, breathing owl from nothing but our

imagination?

It is this humility that opens the space for

awe and the presence of divinity.

* David Whyte “The Heart Aroused” www.davidwhyte.com.

Originally from England, Pia lives in Payson, Arizona, and has been a part of Earth Odyssey since the beginning. She has a master’s degree in Culture and Spirituality, and most recently graduated from the Sacred Art of Living’s Anamcara Project. She can be contacted through Earth Odyssey and her free-lance photography business, Animist Arts ([email protected]).

Owls, awe and ivory towers

Photo by Pia Wyer

Grab a JavaHere’s some reassuring news for coffee

drinkers: A study by Finnish and Swed-

ish researchers found that people who

drink three to five cups of coffee a day in

midlife are at a 65 percent reduced risk

for dementia and Alzheimer’s. The study

was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and in Tufts University Health &

Nutrition Letter in April.

Researchers followed 1,409 individu-

als from the Cardiovascular Risk Factors,

Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study

over an average of 21 years, at the end

of which the subjects ranged in age from

65 to 79. At midlife, participants’ coffee

and tea consumption was assessed using

a food-frequency questionnaire. Coffee

drinking was categorized as low (zero to

two cups daily), moderate (three to five

cups) and high (more than five cups a

day). Tea consumption was broken down

by tea drinkers (one cup or more a day)

and non-tea drinkers.

A total of 61 cases of dementia were

identified over the course of the study,

including 48 with Alzheimer’s disease.

Both the moderate and high coffee drink-

ers were at lower risk than those drinking

little or no coffee, with moderate coffee

drinkers the least likely to develop demen-

tia or Alzheimer’s. Tea drinking was not

associated with the risk of dementia or

Alzheimer’s, one way or the other.

Most Americans, by the way, average

more than three and a half cups of coffee

a day, while the worldwide average is a

cup and a half daily.

Researchers said the findings add to a

growing body of evidence that coffee may

benefit the brain. To read the abstract, go

to www.j-alz.com/issues/16/vol16-1.html.

-- Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter.

Q & AQ: Are corn tortillas a healthier choice

than flour tortillas?

A: Corn tortillas are generally lower in

sodium than flour varieties. A corn tortilla

tends to have no more than 10 milligrams

(mg) of sodium, whereas a six-inch flour

tortilla may have about 200 mg, and the

larger sizes range from 400 to 700 mg.

Finally, calorie content is a consider-

ation, and the larger the tortilla, the more

calories it contains.

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian in Springfield, Ill. For comments or questions, contact her at [email protected].


Have you ever had a day or

two when you felt com-

pletely in harmony with

yourself and life?

Perhaps you woke up

feeling great, you had a chance to meditate,

pray, journal or whatever your morning ritual

is. Your needs were being met before you

even thought of them.

Your intuition was right on; you got per-

fect parking spaces wherever you went; and

you ran into the right people right when you

needed to connect with them. Everyone you

met gave you a compliment (and you believed

them); you saw the good in everyone and time

flowed perfectly.

You were never late or rushing to go some-

where; your creativity burst at the seams; you

expressed yourself easily; and you felt like you

were smiling from the inside out.

This happened to a client of mine. She de-

scribed how she felt in the flow of life, where

she saw everything and everyone, including

herself as luminous, peaceful, powerful and

whole—full of potential.

Then, after a few days of bliss, unexpect-

edly, she woke up one morning and the

feeling of lightness and perfection was gone.

She described her self-talk as going some-

thing like this: “You can’t follow your dream,

who do you think you are?” “You aren’t good

enough.” “You need to do A LOT more than

you are doing.”

She was left deflated and discouraged.

What happened? Why didn’t that lightness

of being last? There could be many reasons,

and hers was that she was overworking.

The effects of the physical stress were what

blocked her mind and body’s ability to main-

tain that good feeling.

What is stress really? If you were to ask a

dozen people to define stress, or explain what

causes stress for them, or how it affects them,

you would likely get 12 different answers.

What is stressful for one person may be plea-

surable or have little effect on another. And,

we all react to stress or stressors differently.

It can go like this: something doesn’t go

your way, and then stress occurs. Are you

bored with your job, and you wish it were

more interesting? Stress. Do you desire a bet-

ter relationship with someone and all you do

is argue with them? Stress.

Do you desire a pain free body and you

have pain? Stress. Do you desire a peaceful

world, and you keep hearing about war and

violence? Stress.

Stress can also be caused when we don’t

get enough sleep, eat food that isn’t good

for us, say “yes” when we mean “no,” or

“no” when we mean “yes,” or when we don’t

live in tune with nature’s daily, seasonal or

lifecycle rhythms. It can accumulate due to

toxic environments, undigested experiences

or emotions or painful relationships.

Stress affects everyone, both physically and

mentally. You can ignore the feeling of stress

or temporarily wish it away, drink it away, or

watch TV to forget about it. Once the mask-

ing effect ends, however, the stress is literally

still there, blocking your creativity, whole-

ness, bliss, health and peacefulness.

Left unchecked over time, stress can cause

tension, anxiety and panic, high blood pres-

sure, chronic pain, headaches, respiratory

problems such as emphysema and asthma,

sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal distress,

fatigue, skin disorders, mild depression and

irritable bowel syndrome.

Your birthright is to experience yourself as

blissful, joyous, energetic, creative, peaceful

and loving. We start out that way—just look

at a young child, full of energy and bliss. As

we get older the stress compounds in our

nervous system, and if we don’t get rid of

it, it masks our fullest expression of who we

really are.

Most of us cannot go through life com-

pletely avoiding stress, it is just not possible.

Yet, there are a few effective ways to deal with

it. Sleep is one way, meditation is another.

Meditation is proven to be the perfect

antidote to stress. It counteracts the physical

and mental component of the flight or fight

syndrome.

Did you know that the purpose of yoga

and meditation is to reduce the stress in your

nervous system so you can experience and

maintain higher states of consciousness and

experience your full potential?

This is good news. As we meditate and the

stress dissipates, we become healthier, hap-

pier and able to realize greater self-awareness.

People who practice meditation regularly

report that they experience greater intuition,

more creativity, increased mental abilities,

improved memory and a decreased need to

visit a doctor compared to before they began

to meditate. They are “tapping in” to the

intelligence that pervades our world.

Studies have even shown that meditation

can reduce or reverse cardiovascular disease

and improve the ability to cope with chronic

illness.

Although there are many different ways

to meditate, I recommend that you try a

meditation that isn’t about imagination or

affirmations. We teach simple mantra medita-

tion techniques, including Deepak Chopra’s

Primordial Sound Meditation, to train your

awareness to transcend thought.

It then relieves the effects of stress. The

meditation techniques we teach help you to

reconnect with the part of you that is most

real and most true. Eventually, through

meditation, you’ll find that you can maintain

a sense of balance and peace no matter what

the outside world is up to. And when you do

it, you too can experience your true lightness

of being.

Join a meditation class or a free introduc-

tion to meditation. Or if you already know

how to meditate and have been taking a

break from it, here’s your reminder to begin

your practice again.

Sarah McLean is the director of Sedona Med-itation Training & Retreats and is certified and recommended by Dr. Deepak Chopra. She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected], phone at (928) 204-0067 or fax at (866) 654-1705. You can also visit online at http://www.SedonaMeditation.com.

Lightness of being: Stress-free living through meditation

The top 10 examples of sustain-

able architecture and green

design solutions that protect

and enhance the environment

as selected by The American

Institute of Architects were honored at the

AIA 2009 National Convention and Design

Exposition, April 30 through May 2, in San

Francisco.

Selected projects showcase excellence in

sustainable design principles and reduced

Top 10 green projects named by AIAenergy consumption and are the result of a

thoroughly integrated approach to architec-

ture, natural systems and technology.

These buildings make a positive contribu-

tion to their communities, improve comfort

for building occupants and reduce environ-

mental impacts through strategies such as

reuse of existing structures, connection to

transit systems, low-impact and regenerative

site development, energy and water conserva-

tion, use of sustainable or renewable con-

struction materials and design that improves

indoor air quality.

The winners are:

• Charles Hostler Student Center, Beirut,

Lebanon

• Chartwell School, Seaside, Calif.

• Gish Apartments, San Jose, Calif.

• Great River Energy Headquarters, Maple

Grove, Minn. (Pictured at left)

• Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation

(JRC), Evanston, Ill.

• Portola Valley Town Center, Portola Valley,

Calif.

• Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature

Center, Orange, Texas

• Synergy at Dockside Green, Victoria, Brit-

ish Colombia

• The Terry Thomas, a commercial office and

retails space in Seattle, Wash.

• World Headquarters for the International

Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Yar-

mouth Port, Maine.


Read your Sun, Ascending, and Moon sign. An astrologer can help you find all of the planets places on the day that you were born.

a Aries—March 21–April 19Mars is in your sign now. By the middle of

the month, Mars and Venus join for ro-

mance. Others respond to you in a positive

way. It could be easier to get what you ask

for. Lessons at work help you to become

more valuable. Speak up for something that

you want.

b Taurus—April 20–May 20The best way to attract good things is by

focusing on the wonderful things that you

already have. You may find that you are

learning more about creativity and/or ro-

mance at this time. Some of you will travel

far away, and others find a new understand-

ing or direction in spiritual beliefs.

c Gemini—May 22–June 21Turn your daydreams into plans that could

make them happen. Lessons or concerns

about the recent past can be rewarding if you

pay attention. You are able to solve a problem

as well as attain something you desire.

d Cancer—June 22–July 23Your focus could be on the kind of dreams

that you know can become real. Learn from

your current situation. Trust your own feel-

ings about what to communicate and what

to keep quiet about. Some things are better

left unsaid.

e Leo—July 24–August 23Opportunity comes when you focus on

what makes you valuable. Saturn in your

solar house of money could force you to use

discipline in order to make your dollars go

farther. Friends, family and other relation-

ships keep you busy this month.

f Virgo—August 24–September 23Learn about yourself by how others respond

to you. People will be as kind to you as you

are to yourself. Focus on what you like about

the work that you do. Lessons around your

work will bring information that could help

you improve your situation in the long run.

g Libra—September 24–October 23Recent past has lessons that can help you im-

prove your day-to-day life. Changes possible

around your health. The outcome depends

on how well you have been taking care of

yourself. Our bodies are our connection to

earth. Emotions can manifest as physical

signals.

h Scorpio—October 24–November 22 Your creative ability can get something you

have been wanting. Intuition gives clues to

solve practical problems. Relax. A help-

ful lesson comes from an acquaintance or

friend’s situation. Just watch and you’ll learn.

Changes possible in area of romance.

i Sagittarius—November 23 –December 22Work and health are the focus this month.

Challenges met will be rewarded. Focus on

career and reputation, could bring oppor-

tunity to learn more and improve in these

areas. Your creative abilities are enhanced.

Make something or use it to solve problems.

Trust your feelings.

j Capricorn—December 23–January 20Money could go up and down. Worry can

hinder positive outcomes. Keep an open

mind and trust your feelings. Take time just

for yourself. Deal with situations as they

come up. Take advantage of opportunities for

fun and adventure this month.

k Aquarius—January 21–February 19Your home and feelings about security are

highlighted now. Venus and Mars to-

gether help you ask for what you want in

a congenial way. Mars puts force behind

your intention and could help you to take

action to fulfill a need or desire.

l Pisces—February 20–March 20Take notice of—and acknowledge—what

you have accomplished so far. This is a

good time to take action regarding your

money and security. Pay attention to your

close relationships. See what you have and

how you can make it better. Practice makes

perfect!

May is the month of

Taurus the Bull. The sun

went into Taurus last

month on the 20th. It

will complete its journey

through this constellation on the 20th of this

month. Taurus is an Earth sign, so people

born under this sign can be very practical.

The sign of the Bull is known for loyalty,

patience and stability. They can also be de-

pendable, artistic, conservative and sensual.

Lower vibrations of the Taurus character can

include stubbornness and possessiveness.

Taurus rules the throat, neck, ears, vocal

chords, thyroid, tongue, mouth, tonsils and

lower teeth.

Taurus is the second astrological sign in

the zodiac, originating from the constellation

of Taurus. In western astrology, this sign is

no longer aligned with the constellation as a

result of the precession of the equinoxes. In

astrology, Taurus is considered a “feminine,”

negative (introvert) sign.

It is an Earth sign and one of the four fixed

signs. Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus

(which also rules Libra).

Being the second sign of the zodiac, Taurus

has been associated with the astrological

second house.

The Greeks saw Taurus as Zeus in disguise.

The story is that Zeus fell in love with Eu-

ropa, the daughter of Agenor, who was king

of Phoenica.

One day while she was playing by the

water’s edge, she caught sight of a magnifi-

cent bull grazing amongst her father’s herd.

When she approached the bull, it knelt down

and let her get on its back. Once she was on,

it sprang to its feet and took off to the sea in

Crete where Zeus made her his mistress.

This constellation also represents the white

bull that sired the famous Minotaur with the

wife of King Minos of Crete.

The bull was sent to Minos as a sign

that he was the rightful heir to the throne.

However, Minos did not sacrifice the bull

to Poseidon like he was supposed to, so

the ever-vengeful sea god caused his queen

Pasiphae, to fall in love with it.

Later in another myth, Theseus of Athens

goes to Crete and slays the dreadful Mino-

taur, which was reported to be a man with a

bull’s head that could breathe fire.

This month’s Retrograde Planets: Mercury

goes retrograde at 1 degree Gemini at 9:55

p.m. MST on the 6th.

It will be at 22 degrees Gemini when it

goes direct again on the 31st. Saturn started

into retrograde motion on Dec. 31 in Virgo

and will continue retrograde motion until

May 16.

Neptune starts its backward motion at 26

degrees Aquarius on the 28th at 5:11 p.m.

MST. Pluto is still in retrograde. It starts the

month at 3 degrees of Capricorn and will

end the month at 2nd.

It will not go direct again until Sept. 10.

When it starts to move forward again it will

be at 0 degrees Capricorn.

May 2nd’s Venus Aries square Pluto Cap-

ricorn fosters the desire to have things out

in the open and to reveal or bring things to

light rather than keeping them hidden.

Tuesday the 5th’s Sun Taurus trine Saturn

Virgo is good for getting things done that

require discipline and organization. This also

a great time to put energy into or to start

work on long-term goals.

The next day, Mercury starts retrograde

motion at 01 Gemini. We have the full moon

at 18 Scorpio on the 8th.

Scorpio turns us inward, heightens our

curiosity and helps make it easier to focus

and investigate.

This would also a good time to deal with

challenges, and to recycle anything that you

no longer use, need or want.

On the 13th, Mercury goes into Gemini,

the sign of the twins. We have a lot going

on for Saturday the 16th. The sun in Taurus

square Jupiter Aquarius suggests that we wait

for another day to make plans or decisions. Ju-

piter tends to overdo and make things bigger.

With the sun Taurus sextile to Uranus

Pisces, you may notice more physical energy

as well as enhanced creativity. With sun

Taurus square Neptune Aquarius today is not

the best day to make big decisions. Wait for

another day when it will be easier to be more

practical. Saturn goes into direct motion at

14 degrees Virgo.

Tuesday, the18th, has Venus joining the

sun in Taurus. The sun’s light shines on

Venus to strengthen her positive qualities of

generosity and serenity.

This could be a great day to spend time

with a loved one or friend. It does not matter

if you spend time with others or take this as a

day for yourself. Overall, it is easier for us to

feel good about ourselves, and people seem

to work together well.

Wednesday the 20th we have another busy

day with the planets. The sun enters the con-

stellation of Gemini. With Mercury Taurus

square Neptune Aquarius things may not be

as clear or straightforward as they seem.

Take your time and be patient in order to

avert possible misunderstandings.

Later in the evening, we have Mercury

Taurus square Jupiter Aquarius. This place-

ment could lend to exaggeration, over think-

ing things and/or being impractical.

Mercury Taurus sextile Uranus Pisces helps

us to be able to adapt to new ideas. Mercury

is about communication and Uranus is about

the unusual or surprises, so you could hear

from someone unexpected.

New moon is in Gemini at 5:12 a.m. MST

on Sunday the 24th.

Gemini is beneficial for communication,

ideas and writing. This is also a good time

for negotiating, and for rearranging things.

Gemini is a master of change! Tuesday the

26th, Mars Aries sextile Jupiter Aquarius,

enhances physical energy and brightens the

mood to have people feeling more optimistic.

This is also a good aspect for plans or deci-

sions about career and life purpose. Overall,

it is easier to be enthusiastic and many of us

will be looking for adventure on this day.

Mars Aries sextile Neptune Aquarius

piques the imagination. People could be

more drawn to fantasy and the mystical.

On Wednesday, Jupiter Aquarius con-

junct Neptune fosters spiritual inspiration,

universal love, and generosity. Neptune

stations retrograde at 26 degrees of Aquarius

on the 28th.

Monthly horoscope from Dominique

Dominique Shilling, MAFA, is a counselor and astrologer with a practice in the Valley. For an appointment, contact her at Way to the Light Within, (602) 279-2941 or check out her Web site at www.way2light.com.

Dominique takes an in-depth look at the stars


What in the world IS

happening? It’s all

happening right now.

The economy is on the

forefront of the minds

of many of us. Our worries are exacerbated

by all the fear the mainstream news media

is projecting upon us. AND we have Earth Odyssey columnists (Moi) researching and

reporting on various environmental catastro-

phes of which we should all be aware.

This can tend to create additional fear in

our hearts about the nature of the planet we

are leaving behind to our children’s children.

Fear, fear, fear—enough already.

When we learn about certain catastrophes

(such as the economy, global warming or

species extinction) and do not readily foresee

viable solutions, we can choose to receive

the information in love—with no fear. Rest

assured that there are no problems (environ-

mental OR economic) that are insurmount-

able.

In last month’s “What in the World is

Happening?” article, I briefly discussed

some of the huge geo-engineering proposals

intending to help solve some of our biggest

environmental concerns. I mentioned that

many of them are pretty far-fetched and dan-

gerous. We don’t want to unsettle the delicate

balance of our planet.

And I mentioned that we should be chang-

ing our ways to accommodate Mother Earth.

However, there ARE some really great think-

ers out there coming up with many great

ideas about healing the planet.

It is important to corral the scientists in

with economists and (dare I say it) politi-

cians in “Think Tank” format in order to get

a well-balanced solution to be implemented.

All of Earth’s socio-economic-environmental

issues are connected. So we need a connected

series of solutions that can be phased into

action in a most efficient way.

The 15th Annual Meeting of the United

Nations’ Climate Summit is being held in

Copenhagen this year. I think it is a very

fitting locale, showcasing a country which is

setting a good (GREEN) example for the rest

of the world.

Traveling from the airport to their hotel

rooms, the attending governmental officials

will be seeing some impressive arrays of the

wind farms, which provide (countywide)

approximately 10 percent of the power used

in Denmark. When the officials visit the city,

they will witness thousands of commuters

using bicycles, as approximately one-third of

all urban transport within Copenhagen is via

this form of transportation.

The Climate Summit Meeting will, of

course, be addressing the status of the Kyoto

Protocol. This is an agreement, relative to

each of the participating countries, where le-

gally binding commitments have been made

toward the reduction of specific greenhouse

gases. Each country has individual goals

based on the unique conditions they are

facing locally. The United States of America

is not participating because our Congress has

not yet ratified the agreement.

There will be representatives from 170

countries at this climate conference, along

with nongovernment organizations, journal-

ists, scientists and others. An estimated 8,000

people will be attending over the course of a

few days, and it is considered to be an essen-

tial milestone for further worldwide efforts

toward reasonable climate changes.

They plan to establish what will be termed

the Copenhagen Protocol, to extend further

into the future than what was established

in the Kyoto Protocol. It is hoped that this

Summit will spark the United States to ratify

an agreement to limit the greenhouse gases

within our shores, and follow some of the

good examples set by other countries, such as

Denmark.

Perhaps our representatives will step up

and set some goals that will be a model for

others to follow.

What do you think?

Hey, let’s be careful out there. But don’t be

fearful. Be confident in our humanity. We’ll

get to where we are all going, and it’s going

to be divine perfection. Our world, our

planet, our society is already in perfect divine

order. Believe it!

John Hall is a co-owner of the Crystal Lotus Gallery and Spiritual Life Center, located on Highway 87 in Pine, Arizona. Telephone (928) 476-3410.

My young son likes to sing

at the top of his lungs:

“Dirt, you made my

lunch! Thank you, dirt!

Thanks a bunch!”

How poignant that this boy gets what so

many of us adults are missing: A basic under-

standing that we owe our very existence—the

food we eat, the clothes we wear and the air

we breathe—to dirt!

One heaping tablespoon of the stuff

contains more microorganisms than there are

people on the planet, points out author Har-

vey Blatt in “America’s Environmental Report

Card.” Those soil microbes are critically im-

portant for healthy plants and crops, which

in turn are critically important for healthy

humans and other species. Also contained in

that tablespoon are the minerals and organic

matter that take carbon from the atmosphere

and “fix it” into the soil, helping to store

moisture and carbon safely in the soil.

In our culture, “dirt” is a derogatory term,

for instance, “dirt-poor,” “dirty” and “soiled.”

Yet, if we look back to the Dust Bowl during

the 1930s, we see how important dirt really

is. In the 1930s, the prairie grasses were

plowed under to grow crops. After several

years of intense drought, the soils dried out

and no crops or native grasses survived to

hold the topsoil in place. Winds whipped the

topsoil into huge dust storms, causing many

families to become evacuees and causing the

loss of more than 5 inches of topsoil from

almost 10 million acres, according to the

United Nations.

Five inches may not sound like much, but

it takes nature up to 500 years to produce 1

inch of topsoil. We are depleting our topsoil

at a rate 10 times greater than nature can

replenish it, according to several studies.

Topsoil loss is three times worse in heavily

populated countries, such as China. Chinese

topsoil can be found in Hawaii during the

spring planting season. It’s blown in the wind

to the islands after tilling is done. African

topsoil can be found in Brazil and Florida,

according to a USDA report. American top-

soil often winds up in our rivers and streams

as silt. Many rivers are now brown from

topsoil erosion, including the Hudson River,

which is in my region.

Our diet and farming practices are the

main culprits behind topsoil erosion. Corn

is one of the most environmentally devastat-

ing crops to grow. The soil must be tilled,

which keeps it loose, dry and vulnerable to

erosion. Most of this corn is fed to animals

or shipped overseas. For every pound of beef

(fed with corn), we lose 5 pounds of fertile

topsoil, according to a Harvard School of

Public Health study. This adds up to more

than 2 million acres of topsoil lost every year.

On top of this, we lose another million acres

to urban sprawl.

“Land degradation and desertification may

be regarded as the silent crisis of the world, a

genuine threat to the future of humankind,”

said Andres Arnalds, assistant director of the

Icelandic Soil Conservation Service. “Soil

and vegetation is being lost at an alarming

rate around the globe, which in turn has

devastating effects on food production and

accelerates climate change.”

Soil impacts climate change by storing

twice as much carbon as can be found in the

atmosphere. Also, soil with organic matter in

it holds moisture longer, so it needs less water

for irrigation.

Already, 43 percent of the Earth’s vegetated

surface has been degraded by soil depletion,

desertification and loss of forests, said author

Dale Allen Pfeiffer in his book “Eating Fossil

Fuels.” Pfeiffer also noted that 10 million

hectares of land are added to that figure every

year as more lands become degraded.

“At the same time, 5 million hectares must

be added to feed the additional 84 million

humans born each year,” he added. What will

we do in 2050, when it’s projected we’ll have

an additional 3 billion mouths to feed?

“The questions we must ask ourselves now

are, how can we allow this to happen, and

what can we do to prevent it?” Pfeiffer said.

A highly effective tool to conserve topsoil is

the Conservation Reserve Program, accord-

ing to Lester Brown of the Earth Policies In-

stitute. Under the program, farmers are paid

to plant trees or “cover crops,” such as clover,

on highly erodible farmland. Reducing tillage

is also encouraged. These techniques reduced

U.S. topsoil loss from 3.1 billion tons in

1982 to 1.9 billion tons in 1997.

Here are a few things you can do to reduce

topsoil loss:

• Compost fall leaves and vegetable trim-

mings. Use the compost to enrich the soil

in your yard or garden.

• Eat only pasture-raised local meats and

avoid corn-fed factory-farmed meats.

• Don’t buy or support biofuels made from

corn.

• Buy direct from small farmers, who are less

likely to use large-scale cultivators.

• Teach your children to sing “Dirt Made My

Lunch!”

Shawn Dell Joyce is an award-winning sustainable activist and director of the Wallkill River School in Orange County, N.Y. You can contact her at [email protected].

By Shawn Dell Joyce

Be confi dent in humanity—not fearful

The world is increasingly becoming dirt poor

Courtesy photo

One heaping tablespoon of dirt contains more

microorganisms than there are people on the

planet,” said author Harvey Blatt in “America’s

Environmental Report Card.” American soils are

losing their fertility at an alarming rate because

chemicals in the soil are killing soil microbes.


The bad news is everywhere.

Layoffs. Foreclosures. Bank

failures. Bailouts. Some ex-

perts say that we are doomed

because of the nature of this

economic downturn and the crumbling of

Wall Street. Other experts say we are doomed

because of the actions of the government.

Still others say it is the end of the “American”

way of life.

But however one characterizes it, this is

unquestionably one of the worst recessions

we have had in decades. I was born after the

Great Depression, (and don’t let anyone fool

you into thinking this is even like then). But

I have suffered through every recession since.

The best advice I think I could give is to

turn off the news, stop reading the paper,

and don’t discuss these things with anyone!

Bad news is contagious and worry and fear

feed upon each other. Optimism and hope

really are superior ways of living and acting.

But if you have recently lost your job or

are struggling to stay out of foreclosure, such

advice hardly seems practical. Since I teach

economics, I am not able to take my own

advice, either, and I often struggle to just

gather facts and not react emotionally. So, I

offer this perspective, a spiritual one, in the

hope that it might just bring a moment of

comfort, or even better, may light the way for

a more positive approach to these uncertain

times.

A spiritual perspective, you ask? In this

mess? Yes, and a deeply personal one. For our

nation is trapped in the psychological arche-

type of “victim.” We are all collectively look-

ing around wondering “why me” and “who

did this to me?” Blame comes easily, and

depending on one’s perspective, it is George

Bush or the government or selfish bankers or

greedy corporations who are at fault.

We judge them all. And we judge them

severely enough that we begrudge the bailout

and lament that we personally aren’t getting

more. Yet, rarely do any of us accept blame

or take responsibility. The system is at fault.

None of us see any good in this, or offer

any solutions. All we desire is to punish the

“wrongdoers.”

That is the hallmark of the victim, and it is

just as unhealthy a viewpoint for nations as it

is for you and me.

From the individual’s perspective, stepping

outside of the victim mentality and taking

full responsibility for one’s own life and deci-

sions is incredibly empowering and uplifting.

No longer seeing life as something that is

“done” to us allows us to shift from blame to

right action.

In A Course of Miracles, illness and sick-

ness are attributed to decisions born of the

mind through unconscious guilt. “There

is no form of sickness that could not be

cured at once…. For with this recognition

is responsibility placed where it belongs; not

with the world, but on him who looks on

the world and sees it as it is not….The world

does nothing to him. He only thought it

did.”

Thus, it is our reaction to the events of our

life that determines whether they are negative

or positive, not the events in and of them-

selves. Change your reaction and you will

change your life.

So how does one do this? Well, a good

place to start is to take stock of what is

important to you, really important. The old

saying that we take nothing with us is, of

course, literally true.

Have you defined yourself by the size of

your house or your paycheck? Does the loss

of a job strike at the heart of your self-esteem

and create doubt and images of failure? Are

you living in fear of what might happen? Or

of what others think of you? Or of letting

down your family?

A Course in Miracles suggests that this

physical world is but illusion, the projec-

tion of our divided mind. From a spiritual

perspective, it is all meaningless. And the felt

harm from its loss is directly related to the

value we placed on its acquisition. Change

what you value and value the difference. And

there is no time like an economic crisis to do

so.

But there is more to do than just value

your “things” less. Begin to see your life

in spiritual terms. This means viewing the

“negative” moments just as positively as the

moments of “triumph.” Difficulties in life

can easily be viewed as valuable feedback on

the direction and purpose of your life.

Rarely do we make needed changes in

times of plenty. If we begin to see the good

in life’s negative feedback, and embrace our

experiences, good or bad, we can accept

every event of our life as a blessing. And we

can learn to eagerly anticipate the unforeseen

benefits that will surely come our way.

Assuming we can step out of the victim

mentality, we can change our story, even the

ending. So can a nation.

Some spiritual traditions teach that we

plan and choose our life challenges long

before we arrive here. Thus, every bad situa-

tion, every unforgiveable act, every moment

of suffering, is for a higher purpose, our

soul’s purpose. Since we confuse this world

with reality, we give it meaning far beyond

the place of learning—the school—that it

really is. And in the process we ascribe great

importance to our own choices and actions

here, as if they have real significance, as if

somehow we are in control.

If this is true, then, we need to look to the

future with great anticipation, both individu-

ally and as a nation, even in the midst of

great turmoil. If we can step out of blame

and judgment, and look for the higher good

in whatever befalls us, perhaps we will find

the silver lining that lies beneath the fabric of

our experience. The future is ours to choose,

after all, since it is our reactions that write

our story. Even in an economic crisis.

Mike Davis is CEO of Energy Medicine Foundation and a member of the Mountain Spirit Co-Op in Prescott. He is the creator of Vibrational Realignment, a unique approach to spiritual healing, and can be reached at 928-862-0594 or at VibrationalRealignment.com.

Our reactions write our story—even in economic crisis

By Mike DavisBy Mike Davis

Recently, I moved

to the Rim

Country, which is

incredibly beauti-

ful. So let’s work

together to keep it that way. I

have only been here a few short

months and realized the need

for more recycling, reuse, etc.

I have been researching within

the smaller communities to see

what can be done to make it

easier for people to recycle their

junk. Guess what? I have great

news.

I met a gentleman in Payson

who is making a great difference

on our planet—one truck load at a time. His

name is Andy Pearson and he has taken over

where Scrappy Pappy left off. Andy’s recy-

cling service is a solution to a big problem.

Andy has an all-free service that is in

phase I, which consists of picking up scrap

metal, aluminum, appliances, car batteries,

damaged books, plastic bottles #1-7, card-

board, newspaper and office paper.

Phase II is on its way and will consist of

picking up TVs, computer monitors, glass

and heavy plastics with the symbol Δ.

Last year, Andy saved a local business $400

by just picking up their cardboard for them.

So, here you have it, a win-win situation to

support a small business in your community,

get rid of your junk, keep toxic waste out of

the landfills and make a big difference on our

planet.

Andy will pick up anywhere above the

North Rim, below the Tonto Basin, Prescott

Valley, Strawberry, Star Valley, Beaver Valley

and everywhere in between. If you and your

neighbors can create a flatbed load and you

are outside Payson,

Andy only asks for

a gas stipend for

traveling excess

miles. It would be

worth it for you

and your neighbors

to do some spring

cleaning and call

him to haul it away.

You can reach Andy

by calling (928)

970-1999 .

Also, in most

WalMart parking

lots you can drop

off paper and card-

boards for recycling. And you can find a bin

by the courthouse in Payson for more paper

product recycling. I have heard that the

Town of Payson is working through codes to

set up more recycling bins in town.

I suggest listening to KMOG 1420 AM ra-

dio news for any future progress with the city

involvement in recycling. This radio station

offers free radio advertising on their trades and

sales program for your old new or used things.

You can call (928) 474-2427 Monday through

Friday between noon and 1:30 p.m. You can

also find other used items on their Web site.

I recently made it to the First Friday Art

Walk in Payson, which takes place the first

Friday of every month.

I found so many creative recycled products

it made my heart pound. Some of the local

artists had recycled wood into incredible

pieces of art, some artists recycled paper in

collages, others in metal. The list goes on,

so we are making a difference one day, one

person at a time.

Then there are Rusty’s bird houses. I found

him set up on the side of the road between

Strawberry and Pine on the weekends. What

a clever person to recycle everything and

anything to create magnificent bird houses.

If you are ever driving up to the Rim

Country this summer look for him on the

side of the road and don’t forget to stop. His

prices are more than reasonable and his art is

beautiful. Also think about the First Fridays

of every month in your town and don’t forget

to support the artists who make a difference.

Oh yeah, don’t forget to plant one tree this

month. There is no time like the present.

Patricia Melchi is a writer, artist and avid recycler who lives in Pine. She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

Andy Pearson happy to help with recycling


Sudoku!Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains numbers 1

through 9. Th e puzzle has only one solution. Th e solution is on page 28.

Word Power

AllergiesAprilBeeBlossomsBudButterfly

DaffodilDandelionFlowersGardenInsectsJune

Find 24 words relating to Spring

LeavesMarchMayPlantsPollenRain

SeedsShowersSoilSpringThunderstormWindy

Talisman (noun) Pronunciation: [‘tæ-liz-

mên] Definition: An object with magic

apotropaic powers, a charm to ward off evil

and attract good fortune.

Usage: A talisman may take almost any form,

but an amulet is a charm worn around the

neck to protect against evil and misfortune.

The power of a talisman is talismanic and the

person who carries a talisman is a talisman-

ist. Since the ending is coincidental, the

plural of this month’s word is “talismans” and

NOT “talismen.” Suggested Usage: Most of

us have some sort of talisman in our posses-

sion: a four leaf clover, a rabbit’s foot, a saint

standing on the dashboard. But many other

objects may be taken as talismans, “Everyone

took the copy of Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince’

on Nosewaith’s desk as a talisman to keep

all do-gooders at a distance.” Just apply your

mind creatively.


Solution on page 28

Birding Spree 2009

Highlands Center for Natural History1375 S. Walker Road, Prescott, AZ 86303

• Phone: (928) 776-9550 • Fax: (928) 776-9530 • Web: highlandscenter.org • E-mail: [email protected]

Participants have the months of May and June to observe at least 20 of the 31 birds on the list. Once a bird has been

observed, check if off by entering the date and location on the form provided. When you have reached the minimum

number of 20 observations, you have achieved the status of Highlands Center Birder. This entitles you to a unique 2009

Highlands Center Birding Spree pin.

The Spree will “Kick-Off ” with a special event on May 2 at 8 a.m. in the Highlands Center

Kiwanis Amphitheater. The details of the Spree will be explained, and Eric Moore, owner of

Jay’s Bird Barn, will give a short presentation on the basics of bird identification.

For more information, call the Highlands Center office at (928) 776- 9550.

The Highlands Center for Natural History, in partnership with the Prescott Audubon Society, is launching its first annual Birding Spree

Samantha, Julia, Mackenzie, Dylan, Sean

and Christopher each wrote a report on a

different planet (Uranus, Earth, Neptune,

Saturn, Mars and Pluto).

Figure out which planet each person studied.

Assume Pluto is further from the sun than

Neptune.

1. Mars is closer to the sun than Mackenzie’s

planet.

2. Christopher’s planet has rings.

3. Mackenzie’s planet is the seventh planet

from the sun.

4. Pluto is further from the sun than

Mackenzie’s planet.

5. Christopher’s planet is further from the

sun than Mackenzie’s planet.

6. Julia has the largest planet.

7. Samantha’s planet is further from the sun

than Christopher’s planet.

8. Earth is closer to the sun than Mackenzie’s

planet.

9. Saturn is closer to the sun than Macken-

zie’s planet.

10. Mars is closer to the sun than Christo-

pher’s planet.

11. Dylan’s planet is the fourth planet from

the sun.

12. Uranus is further from the sun than

Sean’s planet.

Solutions on page 28

Riddle Me ThisYou are lost and alone in the woods. You stumble across an old cabin and decide to stay there

for the night. You want some heat and light, but the only things you find in the cabin are a

candle, an oil lamp and a wood burning stove. You look in your pocket but you only have one

match left. What do you light first?


Energy Medicine Conference Postponed

Due to a variety of factors outside our con-

trol, we have had to reschedule the Energy

Medicine Conference. But the good news in

all of this is that it will now be held on Sat-

urday and Sunday Nov. 6 and 7. Additional

details can be found at EnergyMedicine-

Foundation.org. Mark your calender for this

event! For more info, contact Mike Davis at

(928) 254-0775.

Recurring EventsCeliac (gluten free) Support Group now in

Payson! We will provide important resources

and information for people on gluten-free di-

ets. Snacks will be provided from Gluten Free

creations bakery in Phoenix! Contact Chris-

tine for more information (928) 595-2379.

Monday nights, 7 p.m.—Self Search/Chan-

neled Readings, The Way To The Light

Within, Phoenix. This class has been going

on for more than 12 years now. In the first

part of the class, Dominique uses her psychic

ability and StarWheel™ tiles to give each par-

ticipant a mini reading. Bring your questions

about anything you want to know, because in

the second part of the class, Dominique con-

nects to her own as well as your guides, to get

answers and guidance for you. Dominique

is also a medium and can connect with and

give you information from departed loved

ones or friends. $20, Call (602) 279-2941 to

reserve your place.

Thursdays—Vibrational Realignment, a

unique form of spiritual healing, with Mike

Davis at Mountain Spirit Co-Op, 107 N.

Cortez St., Suite 100, Prescott. For more info

or an appointment, call (928) 862-0594.

Fridays, May 8 and 22, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.—Law of Attraction/Vision Board

Workshop with Patti Stanley, Soul Coach®, A

Vision board is a road map of the goals you

wish to create in your life. Using images and

graphics from magazines and photos, you’ll

create a personalized collage poster as a con-

stant reminder of your increasing abundance.

Participation in this 3½ hour repeating class

will change your life. Cost is $35. 1706 N.

17th Ave. Phoenix. Out of town housing

available. For more info, call (602) 568-4458

or see www.soul2sole.us.

Saturdays, May 9 and 23, 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m.—Law of Attraction/Vision Board












Sundays, May 10 and 24, 12:30 p.m.- 4 p.m.—Law of Attraction/Vision Board












Sundays through May, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.—

Go Green Farmer’s Market, Scottsdale. This

market features artist demonstrations, guided

meditations, yoga, music and story time in

the adjacent Kiva Courtyard. For more info,

call, (623) 848-1234 or see http://arizo-

nafarmersmarkets.com/pageScottsdaleGo-

Green/ScottsdaleDTGoGreenSun.htm__.

Nonrecurring EventsMay 1-3, 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.—Payson Art

League Annual ’Neath the Rim Studio

Tour—13 individual studios throughout the

Payson—featuring the work of 26 artists in

a variety of media— will take part. Media

includes oil, acrylic, fiber art, bronze sculp-

ture, batik, hand-crafted jewelry, weavings,

stained-glass and mixed media works. Tickets

Earth OdysseyEarth OdysseyCalendar listings in

$10are

Send info to: [email protected]. Provide a telephone number or other contact information. Put “calendar submission” in the subject line. The deadline is the 20th of the month for publication the following

month (May 20 for June publication). Payment, which is due at the time of submission, can be made online via PayPal, or mail a check to: Editor, 1042 Willow Creek Road, Ste A101-PMB 486, Prescott, AZ 86301.

for five or fewer lines.

May 2, 7:30 a.m.—The 2009 Annual Open Space Conference of the Agua Fria Open Space Alliance (AFOSA)

presents a free public program at Arcosanti in Cordes Junction. The “Best of the Basin” Rare Plants, Animals and

Habitats of the Agua Fria River Basin of Central Arizona, opens with an Audubon Society-led bird walk with

Chuck Richards of the Sonoran Audubon Society. Presentations include “Sustainable Planning for the Prescott

National Forest” by Sally Hess-Samuelson; “Open Space Planning, the Prescott Experience” by Walt Anderson;

and “Flora of Agua Fria National Monument” by Andrew Salywon, Dixie Damrel and Wendy Hodgson. The day

concludes at 1:15 p.m. with a hike of the Agua Fria River near Acosanti led by Cliff Hersted. For more info, call

or e-mail Garry Rogers at (928) 925-7191 or [email protected].

Photo by Garry F. Rogers

Th e Agua Fria River runs south through a broad basin from its beginning just east of Prescott to its

confl uence with the Gila River west of Phoenix.

& & Call for artists & &Prescott Fine Arts Association Gallery cel-

ebrates summer with the art exhibit, “Un-

der Western Skies.” Paint, photograph

or create objects based on our beautiful

Arizona and Western skies. Arizona is well

known for fantastic cloud formations,

sunsets, mountain silhouettes, diverse

wildlife and lifestyles. Capture the essence

of our panoramic views in both 2-D and

3-D. All mediums are welcome—painting,

wood, fi ber arts, glass, basketry, jewelry,

collage, metalwork, etc.

Seize this opportunity to be included

in a juried show in the Prescott Fine Arts

Gallery along with other fi ne artists.

Open to all Arizona artists. $10 entry fee

per entry. All entries will be juried and

must be for sale. Cash awards total $250.

Entry deadline is Saturday, May 30.

Show dates are June 19 through July 26.

For more information, contact Cyn-

thia Vidal at (928) 445-2435 or e-mail

[email protected]. For an entry

form and all entry requirements, see

earthodysseyonline.com.


and brochures (including a map of the

studios) can be obtained at the individual art

studios, the Rim Country Chamber of Com-

merce and the Payson Library. For more info,

contact event co-coordinator Diana Garrity

at (928) 474-5102.

May 2, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.—CAZREN Green

Business Forum, Moving Toward a Greener

Economy at the Hassayampa Inn, 122 E.

Gurley St., Prescott. Bringing together

private business, industry, community and

government to focus on moving toward a

green economy. For more info, contact Derk

Janssen, CAZREN executive director, at

(928) 778-2828 or [email protected].

May 2— SRP Night Run for the Arts,

7 p.m.—Three-Mile Fun Run/Walk; 8

p.m.—8K Race; 9 p.m.—Award Ceremony

and Concert with Big Nick and the Gila

Monsters at the Scottsdale Civic Center

Mall Amphitheater, 75th St. and Main St.

in downtown Scottsdale. Register through

www.scottsdalenightrun.org or at Scottsdale

Running Co., 6941 N. Hayden Road, Ste.

B-4, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

(480) 948-4436.

May 3, 4 p.m.-7 p.m.—Jazz in the Stacks

VI in Prescott’s downtown library. Back by

popular demand will be entertainment by the

Buddy Moeck Swing Band with Charleah

Allen. We’ll provide wine and other refresh-

ments along with tasty hors d’oeuvres. Stop

by for pre-dinner beverages and snacks, or

for post-dinner dessert and dancing. Still

only $25. Tickets can be purchased at the

Downtown Library or Prescott Gateway

Branch Library. For more info, call Susan

Crutcher at (928) 777-1521 or e-mail to

[email protected].

May 5-7, 8 a.m. daily—Prescott College

hosts a horsemanship clinic through Centaur

Leadership Services and Chauncey Ranch

YMCA, at Chauncey Ranch YMCA, Old

Sycamore in Mayer. For more info, contact

Jayna Wekenman at (616) 890-8273 or jwek-

[email protected].

May 9, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.—Scottsdale’s Elec-

tronics Recycling Day. Scottsdale residents

can recycle unwanted electronics at the city’s

Corporation Yard, 9191 E. San Salvador.

Items accepted include computer, office and

entertainment equipment. For a complete list

of acceptable items, see www.ScottsdaleAZ.

gov/recycle or call (480) 312-5600.

May 9 and 10, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.—Papermak-

ing with Desert Plants Workshop at Oracle

State Park in Oracle, Ariz. Instructor Val

Bembenek has been making paper from

desert and garden plants for many years. $20

includes the park entrance fee. Space is lim-

ited! Reservation required: (520) 896-2425.

May 9, 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m.—Meditation

101 at Yoga Breeze in Cave Creek. Learn a

lifelong meditation practice in only 2 1/2

hours! We’ll review a variety of meditation

techniques and you’ll learn to use an ancient,

universal, silent meditation technique as a

vehicle to release stress and truly experience

inner peace. To register, or for more info, call

(928) 204-0067, or e-mail to info@sedona-

meditation.com.

May 9, 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.—Deepening Your

Intuition Through Meditation with Sarah

McLean and sponsored by Yoga Breeze in

Cave Creek. Dispel the myths and mis-

conceptions of meditation. Tips on how

to honor your own wisdom and intuition.

Donation requested. Space limited. For reser-

vations or more info, call (480) 595-2855 or

e-mail [email protected].

May 10, 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m.—Meditation 101

in Sedona. Learn a lifelong meditation prac-

tice in only 2 1/2 hours! We’ll review a vari-

ety of meditation techniques and you’ll learn

to use an ancient, universal, silent meditation

technique as a vehicle to release stress and

truly experience inner peace. To register, or

for more info, call (928) 204-0067, or e-mail

to [email protected].

May 14, 5:30 p.m.—“What is Body Talk?”

Prescott Public Library. Come join Mike Da-

vis as he demonstrates Body Talk, an exciting

energy medicine technique, on members of

the audience. Free. For more info, contact

Mike at (928) 862-0594.

May 14-16, 8 a.m. daily—Prescott College

is hosting a workshop on natural hoof care

through Centaur Leadership Services and

Chauncey Ranch YMCA at Chauncey Ranch

YMCA, Old Sycamore in Mayer. For more

info, contact Jayna Wekenman at (616) 890-

8273 or [email protected].

May 17, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.—Primordial

Sound Meditation workshop, Sedona. For

more info, see www.meditateinsedona.com

or call (928) 204-0067.

May 29-31—Women’s Yoga of Writing

Retreat in Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona.

For more info, see www.meditateinsedona.

com/SedonaWomensWritingRetreat.html. To

register, call (928) 204-0067 or e-mail info@

sedonameditation.com.

May 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.—Sedona Women’s

Expo, Wyndham Sedona Resort, 1500

Kestrel Circle, Sedona, AZ 86336. Featuring

25 to 30 vendors consisting of health and

wellness, fashion, arts and crafts, metaphysi-

cal, and anything else of interest to women.

For more info, call (928)300-3195 or e-mail

[email protected].

June 6, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.—Meditation

101 in Sedona. Learn a lifelong meditation

practice in only 2 1/2 hours! We’ll review a

variety of meditation techniques and you’ll

learn to use an ancient, universal, silent med-

itation technique as a vehicle to release stress

and truly experience inner peace. To register,

or for more info, call (928) 204-0067, or e-

mail to [email protected].

June 6 and 7, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.— Journal-

making Workshop at the Kannally Ranch

House at Oracle State Park in Oracle, Ariz.,

taught by Val Bembenek, local papermaker

and book artist. Learn to make different

styles of stab-bound journal notebooks.

Participants take home three unique journal

notebooks. Reservation required, space is

limited. $30 includes the park entrance fee.

(520) 896-2425.

June 11, 5:30 p.m.—“What is Psych-

K?” Prescott Public Library. Psych-K is

a technique designed to re-program the

subconscious. Come join Mike Davis and

learn about these fascinating tools to banish

phobias, quit smoking, etc. There will be

hands-on demonstrations. Free. For more

info, contact Mike at (928) 862-0594.

June 19-July 26—Prescott Fine Arts As-

sociation Gallery celebrates summer with

the art exhibit, “Under Western Skies.” This

show will commence with an opening recep-

tion Friday, June 19, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and

will run through Sunday, July 26. Arizona,

specifically Prescott, and the surrounding

areas are well known for their beautiful cloud

formations, sunsets, sunrises and mountain

silhouettes. The essence of our panoramic

views will be captured in both two-dimen-

sional and three-dimensional art forms. This

is a show you will not want to miss! Prescott

Fine Arts Association is located at 208 N.

Marina St., Prescott, Arizona 86301. The

Gallery and Gift Shop entrance is on Willis

Street. For more info, call (928) 445-3286 or

visit: www.pfaa.net.

International speaker Ron Ballard

is a practitioner and teacher of

Christian Science healing and a

member of the Christian Science

Board of Lectureship

FREE TALK

Prayer and the EnvironmentSpiritual Solutions for a Healthy Planet

2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 16, at the Highlands Center for Natural History

1375 S. Walker Road, Prescott(2 miles south of Hwy. 69, near Lynx Lake)

Ballard said: “I have found in my own experience that the environment is not so much a thing as a process — it’s constantly changing. Prayer enables us to take a look at the mental climate that constitutes our environment. This dynamic prayer invites us to learn more about God and impels us to act on this knowledge, resulting in spiritual solutions for a healthy planet.”

For more information, call Janet Lovelady

(928) 445-1710Sponsored by the Christian Science Church

Earth Odyssey donates a free quarter-page ad each month to a nonprofit organization. To be considered, send e-mail to [email protected]. Put free nonprofit ad in the subject line.

in Wellness Arts Suite Very reasonableCentrally Located

in SedonaContact

Siobhan Danreis

(928) 204-1172

Small office for RENT


Logic Puzzle Solution: Christopher’s planet is Neptune, Julia’s planet is Saturn, Samantha’s

planet is Pluto, Dylan’s planet is Mars, Mackenzie’s planet is Uranus and Sean’s planet is

Earth.

Riddle Solution: You light the match first.

Puzzle Solutions

by Anne McCollamCreators Syndicate

Face cream ad proves to be profi tableQ: This is a photo of an advertisement

for face cream. The original frame’s overall measurements are approximately 27 inches long by 7 inches wide. It was made by the Pompeian Manufacturing Co., which was located in Cleveland. On the back of the picture is information for men and women about the advantages of their cream. There are also instructions on how to order their 1914 calendars for 10 cents each. It be-longed to my mother, and both my brother and I can remember it when we were children. What can you tell me about my advertisement?

A: You have a nice example of a Pompeian

Beauty Art yard-long advertising print. The

prints measured approximately a yard long,

thus the name. Yard-long lithograph prints

were published from around 1900 to the

1930s. They often were framed behind glass

and had a metal hook for hanging.

Your 1914 framed print would probably

be worth $275 to $300.

Q: I have drawn the mark that is on the bottom of a cardinal figurine. The cardinal, a deep red color, is perched on a green base. The overall height is 6 inches and it is in mint condition. The number “3544” is also included with the mark. The figurine belonged to my grandmother, who always kept it in her china cabinet.

When I was little, if I promised to be careful, she would take it out and let me hold it. A few years ago, she told me she wanted me to have it. I would never part with it, but would like to know more about my treasure.

A: Stangl Pottery was located in Trenton

and Flemington, N.J., from 1929 to 1978.

They made dinnerware, art pottery and a

line of pottery birds. The number “3544” is

the model number, and it was made around

1940. Stangl birds are highly collectible and

your cardinal would probably be worth $150

to $225.

Q: I have a service for a 12-set of dishes; it is marked with the letter “E” and the words “Bloch and Co.—Eichwald—Czechoslovakia.” The set includes all the

serving pieces, and each dish is decorated with multicolored flowers against a white background. I hope you can provide some information on the manufacturer, age and value of my dishes.

A: B. Bloch and Co. made porcelain and

pottery in Eichwald, Bohemia, from 1871 to

1945. Your dishes were made around 1930

and the set would probably be worth $500

to $800.

Q: I have acquired a porcelain tea set consisting of a teapot, creamer and sugar bowl, plus six each of cups, saucers and dessert plates. The set is decorated with hand-painted scenes of mountains and a gold trim. When held up to the light, a geisha girl can be seen at the bottom of each cup. Each piece is marked “Hayasi—Fine China—Japan.”

Any information including the price would be most appreciated.

A: You have a set of Geisha Girl porcelain

dishes. The images seen at the bottom of

the cups are lithophanes; they are created by

varying thicknesses of layers of porcelain.

Even though Hayasi porcelain can be easily

found in antiques shops and on eBay, there

is not much information available on the

manufacturer.

Your tea set was made around 1950 and

would probably be worth $225 to $275.

Q: An antique pitcher and matching tumblers have been in my family since around 1900. The glass is a dark purple and the scrolled pattern is embellished with gold. My mother told me the set was given to her grandmother for her wedding; it is in perfect condition. Anything you can tell me about my set will be greatly appreciated.

A: You have a pressed-glass water set with

the “Croesus” pattern. McKee and Brothers,

located in Pittsburgh, made it around 1900.

Croesus was available as a complete din-

ner table line in amethyst and green. Spoon

holders, bowls, butter dishes, cake stands,

cream pitchers, sugar bowls, water pitchers

and tumblers are just some of the pieces.

“Croesus” was also made by Riverside

Glass Works in Wellsburg, W.Va., only in

clear glass. Your water set would probably be

worth $800 to $900.

Q: We have a white covered dish with handles, which we have been using for mashed potatoes for more than 30 years. My wife says it belonged to her grandmoth-er. It is oval and about 14 inches long.

How old is it and is it worth anything?A: Edward Clarke Pottery made your

covered dish. They were located in Tunstall,

Staffordshire, England, from 1865 to 1877.

Their dishes marked as “Opaque Porcelaine”

were white granite; they were intended for

the American market and to compete with

French porcelain.

Your covered dish was made around 1865

and would probably be worth $75 to $125.

Q: I have a pair of Mies Van Der Rohe black side chairs with the model No. 256CS. Constructed of cantilevered shiny tubular steel with a leather back and seat, they do not have leather laces on the backs nor any indication that any were ever there. The chairs are in excellent condition.

What can you tell me about my chairs?A: Mies Van Der Rohe designed a series

of cantilevered chairs in 1931. Inspired by

19th-century curved Bentwood rockers, the

chairs were given a fresh modern design.

Leather was used for the seats and backs and

the frames were tubular steel plated with

shiny chrome. They were produced by Knoll

Products. The series included chairs with and

without arms as well as chaise lounges.

Mies Van Der Rohe was born in Germany.

He began his career working for his father’s

masonry business, served as an apprentice

with a Berlin architect, associated with the

Deutscher Werkbund and became the Direc-

tor of the Bauhaus.

In 1938, Van Der Rohe immigrated to the

United States where he established his busi-

ness in Chicago and became a citizen. Knoll

Products also made his famous “Barcelona

Chair.”

Your pair of chairs would probably be

worth $1,000 to $2,500.

Q: I have inherited a complete service for 12 dinnerware that my mother bought 58 years ago. Each dish is decorated with blue and white Currier and Ives winter scenes. Made by Homer Laughlin China Co., the pattern is “Homesteader.” Included with the mark are the letters and numbers: “A55N5.”

The set has sentimental value to me and I would never part with it, but I would like to know its history.

A: Homer Laughlin China Co. has been

located in East Liverpool, Ohio, since 1877.

The number shows your dishes were made in

January 1955 at plant 5. The value of your

set is in the range of $300 to $400.

Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters.

An advertising print for face cream, created by the

Pompeian Manufacturing Co., would probably be

worth $275 to $300.

Stangl Pottery produced items such as dinner-

ware, art pottery and a line of pottery birds. Th e

company was located in Trenton and Flemington,

N.J., from 1929 to 1978.


Movies that won’t make you dumber

MovieReviews

by Jason Allen

This month’s movie, “Why We

Fight,” covers the whys and

hows of how we are—and

have been—in a constant state

of war since World War II.

The main pivot point of the film is Dwight

D. Eisenhower’s farewell address of 1961 in

which he warns of the rise of unaccount-

able power and the grave implications of the

military industrial complex.

During his two terms, he saw the rise of

this machine, and was disheartened by the

fact that he was unable to control it. He

saw the beginning of an era where corporate

interests became more important than the

public interests.

Today, it has evolved into a system where

weapons manufacturers and the Pentagon

are the same people. The clever networking

of weapons production that ties every state

together under the equation that weapons

plants equals jobs—and hefty campaign con-

tributions—make our senators spokesmen

for the military industrial complex under the

guise of protecting our jobs.

Many weapons have pieces made in several

states, sometimes every state, so that the

discontinuing of said weapons is practically

impossible.

The story basically starts at WWII when

we decided that there should be only one

superpower in the world, and of course

that should be us. The world was split up

into several domains, each of which had a

U.S. general to control and make sure they

did not rise in power, which meant that we

would stay militarized permanently.

The infamous atomic decimation of Japan

was but a power play to keep Stalin in line

(who was the only other power in the world),

because Japan was surrendering all summer

of 1945.

But Truman was not listening. He had

made the decision to drop the bombs and

nothing was going to change that, and in

August he did so, which Eisenhower strongly

disagreed with.

There are propaganda film clips from the

Red Scare era, saying that if we aren’t vigilant

that Communists could attack some single-

family home in Iowa and it could be yours!

It covers the most recent example of our

latest misguided escapade in Iraq in some

detail, but the real content of the film is the

underlying infrastructure of weapons manu-

facturing and industrial ties into the legisla-

tive and executive branches.

It covers several aspects of the Pentagon,

including a contract hearing for some new

fighter plane, and a weapons manufacturers

trade show, which is pretty scary, which leads

into the fallacy of precision guided weapons.

One fun but sad little fact is in the first

six months of the Iraq war there were 50

precision air strikes, and not a single one hit

its target. It also covers how businessmen go

into politics, like Cheney, making the eco-

nomic and political elite one and the same.

Another recent practice of using private con-

tractors—who have no accountability—to

do military jobs, which started with simple

food service, but has evolved to cover a wide

variety of tasks, including prisoner “inter-

rogation.”

Another important aspect covered is how

the American public is completely separated

from policy, we are just given a story with no

data, there’s a disconnected line of reasoning

between defending your nation and freedom

to traveling thousands of miles to occupy a

nation that presents no threats to even its

neighboring countries, let alone ours.

At the end it explains how the Senate com-

pletely failed to ask the proper questions and

hold the Bush and Cheney Administration

accountable for their countless deceptions,

because our elected officials (with very few

exceptions) are loyal to the military industrial

complex and not to us.

This is a very well done, concise and easily

followable film featuring interviews with the

right people who are in positions to know

what they are talking about.

Eisenhower foresees rise of military power


When I was growing up,

common, everyday

ailments and injuries

were treated naturally

with herbs by someone

in my family. My children were treated with

herbal remedies whenever they got hurt.

Most of the time I was the primary care giver,

even though my husband was a surgeon.

Most emergencies respond very well to

herbal treatments. Would you like to make

room for herbs in your medicine cabinet and

be prepared for situations that may come up

requiring first aid?

Here is a list of signs and symptoms of

common ailments and injuries. I have also

included some of my favorite and time-tested

recipes:

Abrasions: Wash and disinfect the area

with a solution consisting of eight drops

lavender essential oil and one cup of witch

hazel. If I need a stronger disinfectant, I

use Critical Relief® spray from The Herb

Stop.

Bleeding: Styptic herbs (herbs that stop

bleeding) may be applied, such as yarrow,

cayenne or yunnan bai yao. For internal

bleeding yunnan bai yao or shepard’s purse

have also been effective.

Bruises: Applying arnica oil or gel reduces

bruising and swelling due to injuries. It

also works well for muscle pain, includ-

ing fibromyalgia, back pain and whiplash.

Caution: For external use only! Do not

use on broken skin! St. John’s wort oil or

salve can help with pain and repair nerve

damage to extremities (finger tips, toes,

etc).

Burns: First cool the area with room temper-

ature water (you should never apply ice to

a burn; it can damage the nerve endings),

then treat with aloe vera gel, either bought

at the store or from a fresh aloe vera plant.

You may also use lavender essential oil to

heal and prevent scarring. I like to add a

few drops of lavender essential oil to the

aloe vera gel.

Diarrhea: Black tea or blackberry teas are my

favorite remedies for diarrhea. At the first

sign, drink ½ cup of tea every half hour

until symptoms subside.

Insect bites: I’ve found that lavender es-

sential oil applied “neat” (undiluted) works

extremely well. Lavender essential oil has

the capability of neutralizing poisons,

contains antiseptic as well as pain-relieving

properties, and is exceptionally effective for

stings/bites from mosquitoes, spiders, scor-

pions, poisonous fish and all other known

and unknown poisonous critters.

As soon as you notice you have been

stung/bitten, apply lavender essential oil

directly to the site of the sting. You can

re-apply the lavender every minute, or you

can simply place a few drops on a clean

cotton ball and leave it on the affected

area. For bee and wasp stings, make sure

to remove the stinger first before applying

lavender essential oil.

In addition, I take echinacea extract inter-

nally to stimulate my immune system to

assist my body in getting rid of the poison

and to prevent potential diseases transmit-

ted by insects. Native Americans have

another name for echinacea, “Snakeroot,”

suggesting the plants ability to neutralize

and eliminate poisons from the body.

Nausea: Ginger, either fresh or dried, is

excellent for nausea and motion sickness.

Taken at the onset of a meal it is helpful

for indigestion and gas.

Poison oak/poison ivy: Stings from plants,

such as stinging nettle, poison oak (in

the west) and poison ivy (in the east) can

cause intense itching. Wash affected area

as soon as possible with soap and water

and then apply compresses of witch hazel

and chamomile essential oil. Aloe vera gel,

plantain or Critical Relief® spray also work

very well.

Splinters: If you can’t get it out with

tweezers, try a clay poultice. Mix clay

with enough water to make a thick paste.

Spread onto the area and leave it on for

several hours or overnight.

Toothache: Rub clove essential oil on gums

and take valerian or white willow tincture

until the dentist can see you.

The above suggestions have worked very

well for many people, but if your situation

does not respond to these safe and simple

herbal treatments, please go to the hospital

or seek the help of a healthcare professional,

ideally one knowledgeable about natural

remedies.

The herbs discussed in this article can be pur-chased at The Herb Stop located in Pine, 4004 N. Highway 87. If you have any questions, Leilah can be reached at (928) 476-4144 or by e-mail at [email protected]

The FDA has not approved these statements. The information given is not meant to act as a prescription, medical advice or therapeutic ad-vice. Consult your healthcare professional prior to using botanicals discussed in this column.

Stock your herbal fi rst aid kit before needed

ack Loeffler, aural

historian, writer, radio

producer and sound

collage artist, will

present the keynote

address for Prescott

College’s Master of Arts

Colloquium on Saturday, May

10.

His talk, titled “Thinking

Like a Watershed: A Synthesis

of Philosophy, Myth, Science

and Grassroots Activism” will

begin at 5:30 p.m. Additionally, Loeffler will

present a workshop titled “The Practice of

Aural History” at 9 a.m. on Sunday May 10.

Both presentations are open to the public.

“Listening is possibly the most deeply

penetrating of the five senses,” he said. For this

workshop, Loeffler will demonstrate how he

records for posterity, how he uses recordings

for sound collages and radio programs, and

how he incorporates transcribed excerpts from

recorded interviews into his books and CDs.

He will address the necessity for expanding

our cultural purview far beyond the current

economically dominated paradigm, and

will refer to decentralist thinkers, including

Edward Abbey, Gary Snyder and Lao-tzu to

forward a possible point of view commensu-

rate with living in balance with the flow of

nature.

Loeffler will also speak of geo-

mythic mapping as practiced by

cultures indigenous to the Ameri-

can Southwest as a means of spiri-

tually affiliating with homeland.

Loeffler will use biogeography as

an example of practical science.

Loeffler recently completed a

four-year project that resulted

in a new 15-part radio series

titled “The Lore of the Land”

and a new book titled “Healing

the West: Voices of Culture and

Habitat.”

His work addresses the importance of

bio-mythic and geo-mythic perspectives

among indigenous peoples, and the lens of

mythic perspective as a means of maintain-

ing a healthy intuitive cultural understand-

ing of life on the planet. He is involved in

collaborative efforts with bio-scientists and

indigenous culture bearers in preservation of

lore vital to human understanding of home

habitat. He has been deeply involved in what

is now known as the counter-culture move-

ment since 1957 when he first witnessed the

detonation of an atomic bomb from a van-

tage point seven miles from hypocenter while

playing “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

More information and a complete collo-

quium schedule are at prescott.edu/students/

map/colloquium_current.html.

Aural historian Jack Loeffl er to speak at Prescott College


You may have heard the term

GMO or seen a label claim-

ing GMO free, but many

don’t know what it means. A

genetically modified organism

(GMO) is a man-made, patented, organ-

ism created in a laboratory through genetic

engineering.

It is created when a gene from a totally

unrelated species is shot into the genetic ma-

terial of another species. This is not the same

as hybridization, which is the cross pollina-

tion between different species or sub-species

in the same genus species.

Seventy percent of processed foods contain

(GMOs), but due to government regulations

(or rather deregulation) foods containing

GMOs do not have to be labeled.

The phrase substantial equivalence is given

to a relatively new concept used in the regu-

lation of “new foods,” specifically GMOs.

The concept is used to determine whether a

“new food” shares similar health and nutri-

tional characteristics with an existing familiar

food with an established history of safe use.

These food have not been tested before

hitting the market, essentially making us,

the American public, Guinea Pigs. Scien-

tists worldwide now admit that the rush to

sell genetically engineered products has put

people’s health, property and the environ-

ment at risk.

That’s why 30 countries have banned,

or propose to ban GMOs, including many

European countries. In the United States,

many companies, including Gerber and

Heinz baby foods, Frito-Lay, IAMS Pet

Foods, even McDonald’s and Burger King

are now refusing GMO corn, potatoes and

other ingredients.

One company that produces the GMO

seed claims “We apply innovation and

technology to produce more while conserv-

ing more.” Contrary to industry contention,

however, GMOs have increased pesticide use

and produced significantly lower yields than

natural varieties.

A 2003 report published by the journal

Science states “in the United States and Ar-

gentina, average yield effects (of GM crops)

are negligible and in some cases slightly

negative.”

The UN Food and Agriculture Organiza-

tion’s 2004 report on agricultural biotechnol-

ogy acknowledges that GM crops can have

reduced yields.

In other countries when as little as 5

percent of the population denounced the

consumption of GMO foods the government

banned them.

So what can you do? Cast your vote

against GMOs by purchasing foods that are

organic or labeled NON-GMO. Educate

your friends and neighbors about the use of

GMOs and the possible health risks.

You can go to www.responsibletechnology.

org to find out more about the Campaign for

Healthier Eating in America.

Ask your local health food store to distrib-

ute GMO Shopping Guides and Brochure

on GMO Health Risks. They can order them

for free from many natural foods distributors.

May is traditionally the month when

Americans dust off the BBQ and get ready

for summer.

This month I am going to share a recipe

that most people don’t think of when they

think of grilling, pizza! Preparing pizza on the

grill gives it that wood fired oven taste of your

favorite pizzeria without all the additives that

are typically found in processed foods.

We have made over this family favorite,

boosting fiber with a whole-wheat crust,

cutting fat and cholesterol by using healthy

toppings, such as low-fat turkey sausage and

vegetables.

The recipe can even be made into four or

six single serving pizzas for picky eaters who

want to choose their own toppings.

Pizza Recipe Ingredients3/4 C. marinara sauce

1/2 C. chopped bell peppers

1/4 C. sliced mushrooms

1/4 C. sliced onion

2 links uncured chicken and turkey sausage chopped

1lb easy whole wheat pizza dough (see below)

1C grated organic mozzarella cheese

Cornmeal for sprinkling on peel or baking sheet

Whole-Wheat Pizza Dough Makes 4-6 servings (1 pound pizza dough)

Ingredients ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons lukewarm water (105-115°F)

1 package active dry yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)

1 teaspoon honey

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 cup bread flour or all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting

To make dough1. Stir water, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl; let stand until the yeast has dissolved,

about 5 minutes. Stir in whole-wheat flour and bread flour (or all-purpose flour) until

the dough begins to come together.

2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead until smooth and elas-

tic, about 10 minutes. (Alternatively, mix the dough in a food processor. Process until

it forms a ball, then process for 1 minute to knead.)

3. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat. (Or see individual variation.) Cov-

er with a clean kitchen towel and set aside in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in

size, about one hour.

Individual variationThe dough can be turned into four or six personal-size pizzas. After kneading, divide

the dough into four or six equal balls. Brush with oil and place 3 inches apart on a bak-

ing sheet. Cover and set aside until doubled in size, about one hour. Roll each portion

into a 6-to-8-inch circle.

Whole-wheat pizza dough tips Prepare through Step 3, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to one

day. Or tightly wrap the unrisen dough in oiled plastic wrap and freeze for up to three

months. Defrost the dough in the refrigerator overnight. Let refrigerated (or previously

frozen) dough stand at room temperature for one hour before using.

To make pizza1. Preheat grill to medium-low. (For charcoal grilling or an oven variation, see below.)

2. Sprinkle cornmeal onto a pizza peel or large baking sheet. Roll out the dough and

transfer it to the prepared peel or baking sheet, making sure the underside of the

dough is completely coated with cornmeal.

3. Slide the crust onto the grill rack; close the lid. Cook until lightly browned, 3 to 4

minutes.

4. Using a large spatula, flip the crust. Spread marinara sauce on the crust, leaving a 1-

inch border. Quickly top with the cheese, veggies and sausage.

5. Close the lid again and grill until the cheese has melted and the bottom of the crust

has browned, about 8 minutes.

VariationsPizza on a charcoal grill: Light 6 quarts (about 1 large chimney starter full) of charcoal

and burn until the coals are mostly white, about 20 minutes. Spread the coals in an even

layer. Place a grate over the coals. Let the coals burn until they are about medium-low.

(If you want to grill any toppings for the pizza, do not chop veggies and grill while the

coals are burning down.) To test the heat, hold your palm about 5 inches above the grill

rack; if you can hold it there for about 8 seconds before you need to move it away, the

fire is medium-low. Transfer the crust to the grill rack, cover the grill and cook the crust,

checking once or twice, until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the crust, quickly

add the toppings, cover the grill and cook until the toppings are hot and the bottom of

the crust has browned, 5 to 8 minutes. If your crust browns faster than your toppings

are cooking, slide a baking sheet under the pizza to keep the crust from burning while

the toppings finish.

Pizza in the oven: Place a pizza stone on the lowest rack; preheat oven to 450°F for

at least 20 minutes. Roll out the dough and place on a cornmeal-dusted pizza peel or

inverted baking sheet, using enough cornmeal so that the dough slides easily. Slide the

dough onto the preheated stone and cook until the bottom begins to crisp, about 3 min-

utes. Remove the crust from the oven using a large spatula and place it uncooked-side

down on the peel or baking sheet, making sure the underside of the crust is completely

coated with cornmeal. Quickly add the toppings and slide the pizza back onto the stone.

Continue baking until the toppings are hot and the bottom of the crust has browned, 12

to 15 minutes.

By Christine Bollier

Consuming GMO foods not in our best interest


Earth OdysseyRegional Advertising Sales Representatives

for Earth OdysseyThe Regional Advertising Sales Representatives will:• Direct ad sales and service functions for print and online ads in their regions• Analyze marketplace and competition to determine new advertisers• Coordinate advertising strategies and schedules with editorial, art and design and production• Monitor past performance of advertisers and plan future strategies• Handle accounts by discussing advertising needs with client, providing directions to ad designer and proof to client

The ideal candidates must be experienced in advertising sales, possess top-notch people and communication skills and be motivated to increase market share and provide over-the-top customer service while maintaining a sense of humor. Generous commission. Send résumé to [email protected] or call (928) 778-1782 and leave a message.

• Tucson • Flagstaff • Phoenix • Sedona

• Prescott • Prescott Valley • And Others

Plans for arid landsZafar Adeel thinks outside the box when it

comes to the world’s arid places. He’s the

director of the UN University’s Interna-

tional Network on Water, Environment and

Health. With the results of his four-year

study, he outlines new ideas for survival in

areas where it’s predicted that water supplies

will be severely strained. This is important

because these areas are home to nearly a third

of the world’s population. His point is that

with a shift in practices, there are ways to

maximize even scant water supplies.

For example, the study points to a project

in Pakistan called “arid aquaculture,” which

uses existing salty water to create fish farms

that successfully sustain local residents.

Conventional agriculture can use up to 90

percent of available water, but this project

yielded more protein than using that same

amount of water to irrigate fields.

Similarly, a project in Inner Mongolia

found a replacement for cattle herding.

Instead of putting grasslands into cattle

meat, they decided it was better to put it into

chicken meat.

Social greenworkingSocial networks like Facebook and LinkedIn

provide people with an effective means of

staying in touch, so it’s no surprise that a net-

work organized around green knowledge and

green activities has sprung up on the Web.

Greenwala.com is set up to put green-

minded consumers in touch with the goods

and services that foster a sustainable lifestyle.

Chief “Wala” Rajeev Kapur noticed that

“online and offline green communities are

fragmented and disorganized.” He saw an

opportunity to create a delivery network to

showcase products and ideas—and where

“walas” could share their enthusiasm for a

sustainable world.

“Walas” can learn and brag about being

green as well as communicate their knowl-

edge and experiences. The site has features

like a blog called “Top 10 Things To Do

Instead of Going To The Mall” or classified

ads for the Kleen Kanteen and an upcoming

alternative fuel lecture.

Sampling the six channels the site offers,

we found videos on a new wind turbine, the

all-electric Aptera car and a strategy for turn-

ing fly ash into building materials.

Rock storageGeologist Peter Kelemen and geochemist

Juerg Matter have their eyes on a certain

rock—a rock that has the ability to turn

carbon dioxide into solid minerals. The rock,

called peridotite, is prevalent just beneath the

earth’s crust. The two scientists are envision-

ing a process to slow global warming by

increasing peridotite’s CO2-transforming

process a billion times and storing excess

carbon dioxide underground.

Many power companies are considering

ways to siphon carbon dioxide off of their

coal power plants and sequester it under-

ground, but Kelemen and Matter argue that

turning it into rock would be cheaper and

safe. They predict boring down into peri-

dotite and injecting it with hot water that

contains the CO2.

The technology is promising, but there’s

a snag: The scientists think they can store 2

billion tons annually, but every year human

activity produces 30 billion tons.

Solar all overTwo stories from Europe underscore how the

move toward alternative energy is finding its

way into some unexpected places.

In Santa Coloma de Gramenet, 124,000

people are crammed into 1.5 square miles.

There was no place left to set up solar panels

until somebody noticed the tops of the

cemetery’s mausoleums. Now 462 panels

produce the equivalent of 60 homes’ yearly

power use.

And on the roof of the Vatican’s massive

Nervi Hall, 2,400 photovoltaic panels have

been installed—but you can’t see them from

the street. The Vatican plans to supply 20

percent of its energy needs by 2020.

Last year, the pope said that we would risk

destroying the planet if we didn’t “listen to

the voice of the earth.”

Cuba Eats LocalWhen it comes to eating local organic food,

Cuba is miles ahead of the United States—

mainly out of necessity. Back in 1991, when

the Soviet Union collapsed and its food sub-

sidies for Cuba dwindled, Cuba responded

by setting up thousands of urban cooperative

gardens. Now, after a string of hurricanes de-

stroyed a third of Cuba’s crops, these gardens

are returning to operation.

These gardens are seen wherever there’s

an undeveloped spot of soil, such as empty

lots and rooftops—86,000 acres of land are

devoted to the gardens. Because the food is

grown near population centers, there’s no

need to truck produce over long distances.

Therefore, prices are stable and less carbon is

released into the air.

Another benefit: Fertilizing chemicals have

been replaced by natural manure, and benefi-

cial insects are used instead of pesticides.

How ironic that organic food in the

United States is pricier than conventional

food, while organic food in Cuba is more

affordable.

Questions can be sent to Jim Parks at [email protected].

Earth Odyssey May 2009

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Transcript of Earth Odyssey May 2009