Earth Works Institute

On Saturday December 1, Councilor Romero and Jansens will discuss how the Santa Fe community has contributed to the ecological restoration of open space and arroyos in the Santa Fe area and how they can continue to contribute to  further restoration efforts. Part of EWI’s “Stepping Stones & Pathways” series.

Date: Saturday December 18, 2010

Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Where: KTRC – Talk Radio, 1260 am

Tags: Earth Works Institute // Add Comment »

You’re invited to a fun afternoon in Santa Fe!

Sunday November 14, 2010 from 3PM to 5:30 PM

Joe’s Diner 2801 Rodeo Rd at the corner of Zia

· Mingle with the Wider Earth Works Institute Community

· Hear about how we Restore the Earth and Create Jobs

· Join Us as we Take Action in the New Green Economy

· Help Us thank our Supporters and find out how You Can Become One

We will have Door Prizes, “Farm Fresh” hors d’oeuvres and refreshments

The event is free of charge. You will have the opportunity to contribute to our work.

RSVP Now as Space is Limited!

(more…)

Tags: Earth Works Institute // Add Comment »

This workshop is your chance to learn land restoration first-hand from our innovative and experienced agro-ecologist Craig Sponholtz.

Craig will train us to implement the same locally-appropriate, ecological restoration techniques EWI uses for the healing of wetlands and streams throughout Santa Fe County.

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm.

EWI will provide lunch.

Location: Eldorado Community Preserve (second parking lot) off of Ojo de la Vaca Road (CR 51)

Registration fee $12 (includes Lunch)

Register Here!

This workshop will be offered in collaboration with the Eldorado Community Improvement Association and is funded through the State of New Mexico Environment Department – River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative.

Tags: Earth Works Institute // Add Comment »

Stories of the Land

You are invited to join us for a morning of investigation and discovery.

Tags: Earth Works Institute // Add Comment »

Down Country by Lucy Lippard
A remarkable tribute to the historic people of the Galisteo Basin

Your $50.00 purchase of this book supports EWI projects
and outreach in the Galisteo Watershed!
($22.50 is a tax-deductable donation to Earth Works Institute)

Renowned writer and Galisteo resident Lucy R. Lippard has synthesized a century of archaeological and historical research to create this landmark study ten years in the making. Acclaimed New Mexico photographer Edward Ranney contributes a portfolio of eighty documentary images of the Galisteo Basin’s ancient sites, shrines, rock art, and striking landscape.

Lippard, a supporter of Earth Works Institute, and the Museum of New Mexico Press have generously made the Down Country available to EWI as a fundraiser to support our work in the Galisteo Watershed. Your purchase of this book will fund our continuing efforts in wildways restoration, community outreach and youth training within in the Galisteo Watershed.

(more…)

Tags: Earth Works Institute // Add Comment »

Earth Works Institute (EWI) is launching its 2010 public outreach and education campaign with 4 themed series of events. The series include:

“Got Change?” events welcome people to witness our work and participate in dialogue about climate change and social change. Events will include gatherings that explore social and environmental change through green careers, collaborative community stewardship, and alternative media, such as poetry, murals, and other visual arts.

“Growing our Roots” will include residents in monthly field monitoring work days with community groups, erosion control workshops, work days for non-native plant removal, and trail building workshops at various project locations throughout northern New Mexico.

“Stories of the Land” will invite participants on guided walks of project sites, campfire story telling events, and public presentations and book signing events.

“Stepping Stones & Pathways” will offer people a series of community meetings, lectures/conversations, and conference presentations about wildlife habitat and corridors, wetlands, rangeland health research findings, and ecosystem services market opportunities in our region.

All events are free of charge unless indicated otherwise. At some events Earth Works Institute and/or its partners may make an appeal for suggested donations.

For more information, contact Kina Murphy (Conservation & Stewardship Director) at kina@earthworksinstitute.org or Jan-Willem Jansens (Executive Director) at jwj@earthworksinstitute.org or at 982-9806

(more…)

Tags: Earth Works Institute // Add Comment »

EWI is always actively engaging members of the community to become informed and participate in restoration and wildlife projects. Most of our work is performed in specific communities in Santa Fe County where the impacts of such work either directly or indirectly impact residents of the area. In the spirit of community stewardship, we often hold an informational meeting to recruit community members to inform them of the project details and invite them to participate in the maintenance after the initial work is performed. In the case of wetland restoration, newly planted trees need water and care, and invasive species such as tamarisk and Russian olive need to be removed continuously.

Thriving willows in the Arroyo Hondo wetland

In December, Kina Murphy, EWI’s Water and Land Health Coordinator held a meeting with members of the Arroyo Hondo community to discuss restoration work that began the week of January 25. The success of restoration work often largely depends on the participation of community members and willingness to learn about their environment. During the meeting, we discussed specific roles for people in the community to adopt, and maintenance tasks in which they would be interested. We also brainstormed ideas about wildlife habitat maintenance and the recruitment of students from area schools to participate in restoration maintenance. Not only would the land benefit, but the students would be educated on the fragile ecology of a wetland.

We were pleased with how many people attended the Arroyo Hondo Community Stewardship Team meeting, and how interested everyone was in taking on the variety of restoration maintenance tasks. It was an opportunity to meet neighbors, and to discuss ideas about land use, wildlife, and conservation. In northern New Mexico, we recognize that our land needs special care and the Arroyo Hondo community is ready to accept the challenge!

EWI strives to reach as many individuals as possible to inform them of our hard work and dedication to the health of the land and community in northern New Mexico. In future newsletters we will feature additional Water & Land Health projects beginning as the weather warms – stay tuned!

Tags: Earth Works Institute // Add Comment »

Most mornings, when the bright New Mexico sunshine pours through the south-facing windows at the EWI office, Dana Richards will be found at his computer with smile, a hug, and a temperament to match the sun’s warmth.

Dana helps a student install a bird box

Dana is full of humorous energy and has a talent for making everyone laugh. When asked to write a short autobiography, he composed this poetic snippet:
“Internationally unrecognized cowboy poet/haiku fusion artist, Dana brings to EWI a joie de vivre, a raison d’etre and a sine qua non. Dana’s desk is messy, his shirt is untucked and his truck is muddy (when it’s not in the shop for repairs).”

As Associate Director of Earth Works Institute, he developed 4C/Climate Change Conservations Corps, EWI’s green collar career training and youth environmental education program for the northern New Mexico community. With a background in education, Dana successfully founded two green schools, taught for 20 years at Berkeley High School and UC Santa Cruz (where, yes, the mascot is a banana slug), and remains dedicated to educating youth about the value of environmental conservation.

Some of the courses Dana taught were Ecoliteracy, Sustainable Economics, East Meets West, AP Environmental Science, AP Economics, Environmental Policy, Educational Philosophy, and the Berkeley-Yurok Educational and Cultural Exchange.

Dana is a dedicated father of two teenaged children, Sophie and Kodi. He is passionate about ecological education, green collar career development, teacher training, and community organizing toward building locally self-reliant, ecologically literate, economically vital sustainable societies.

Dana also coaches baseball and is building an off-grid cabin in the upper Pecos watershed.

Tags: Earth Works Institute // Add Comment »