by Kris Holstrom
It always surprises me when the end of year sneaks up and taps me on the back. I’m convinced the speed of life accelerates annually. Regardless, the end of the year and end of a decade is an excellent time to look back at what was accomplished and to look forward to the work to come.
TNCC highlights in 2009:
by Kris Holstrom
The night was cold, but a small crowd gathered in Telluride at the east end of Colorado Avenue last night. Hot chocolate (the best!) was provided by Telluride Truffles. Conversations were wide ranging. What was this crowd gathered for? To spread the light.
Telluride downtown merchants have been meeting for the last several weeks and last night, the tangible result: lights. Merchants really wanted to see the town lit up for the holidays, because bright lights equal upbeat, cheery. And we’ve always had the beautiful big tree full of colored lights at the West End of the commercial district to set the mood. But what about the East End of town? Nothing, nada, zilch, until Monday night, thanks to many who are lending a hand: business owners, council members, and people on the street are donating to purchase and fund new LED lights on the town lampposts and newly lit trees on the East end of Telluride's Main Street. These lights, purchased both through Timberline Hardware and the Telluride High School Y.E.S. Club, are LEDs or Light Emitting Diodes, and highly energy efficient.
Friday, December 4, in the Program Room of Telluride's Wilkinson Public Library, The New Community Coalition presents "Systems Thinking of Green Building." The principal speaker is James Pittman of the Ecosa Institute in Prescott, Arizona. (Eugene Wowk of Integrated Home Design will be present online.)
James Pittman holds an MSc, with distinction, in Ecological Economics from the University of Edinburgh, an MA in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University, Seattle, a Certificate in Systems Renewal Consultation from the International Institute for the Study of Systems Renewal, as well as a BA integrating education and sustainability from Prescott College. His specialty is developing interpersonal and technological solutions to issues of ecological, social, and economic sustainability. As a consultant James Pittman's clients include the President's Council on Sustainable Development, the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future, the Mesa del Sol Eco-industrial Development Project at Cornell University, the EcoSage Corporation's SolarQuest Program, the City of Washington D.C., and the Wisconsin Public Service Power Corporation.
by Kris Holstrom
We have so much going on it’s hard to determine where to click for information and ideas. In the old days when print dominated the media landscape National Geographic Magazine was a standout. The incredible photography, fascinating subjects and universal reach brought the world to our mailbox.
While I still get and enjoy the paper copy of the magazine I’ve discovered the on-line National Geographic has resources galore. On a recent trip I had a bit of spare time and discovered one of their games I thought quite interesting. It’s called Plan It Green – and it’s a scaled down version of a simulation game where you can make decisions that affect your town – decisions from what kind of energy to promote and use to what kind of businesses might make a downtown area thrive.
With the assistance of Telluride's The New Community Coalition and April Montgomery of the Telluride Foundation, San Miguel County sent off a large grant request to the EPA on Tuesday for their Climate Showcase Community grant.The grants are for communities to apply for funds up...
by Kris Holstrom
(Editor's note: Tellurider/director/coordinator Kris Holstrom and The New Community Coaltion (TNCC), the change-agent charged with the greening of the Telluride region, are doing more than talking. TNCC is walking its talk, making a difference, only the changes it is affecting are not flashy and often get lost in the many meetings required to sort out details.
To set the record straight, this is the first in a series of posts to explain what the TNCC has accomplished to date. We begin from the ground up, starting with our kids interested in protecting their legacy.)
TNCC helped start the YES Club in the Telluride High School. That's Youth Empowering Sustainability. The YES Club projects have included: recycle your school supplies - a year end effort that resulted in the recycling of over 500 pounds of paper, 120 3 ring binder notebooks, and countless other school supplies. Usable supplies were saved and distributed to students at the start of the school year - saving money and diverting waste!
by Kris Holstrom
I’m in the middle of teaching a new class through the University Centers of the San Miguel. The charming director of UCSM approached me awhile back to brainstorm ways to spark student interest in sustainable ways and means. The class burst the seams of its first meeting room with 19 students packed in. ZERI – systems design for sustainability, PERMACULTURE – permanent agriculture (or is it permanent culture?) and RELOCALIZATION efforts are the lenses through which the class examines energy, food, water and waste – among other basic life necessities. This past weekend students chose between pruning and permaculture in McElmo Canyon and visiting the Buckhorn Garden Growing Dome near Colona. Some did both!
Battle Rock Farm has been producing fruit and food off and on for decades. In the past few years young blood and young fruit trees have taken root. Fresh ideas and enthusiasm are sprouting. It felt far too much like spring Saturday when students converged for a little pruning lesson and a farm tour. In my opinion, far too few folks know how a fruit tree grows or how to tell the difference between pear and peach. Who prefers what kind of “hair cut”. With sharpened pruners and lubricated loppers students translated verbal instructions by Lindsay Yarbrough and me, into action. It’s tough to make those first cuts, but as time passes and decisions made the process becomes a communication dance. “Step back and take a look and listen,” is good advice for pruning. After awhile the cuts are slightly easier to make – they begin to make sense.
A number of Telluride residents spoke to Beth Roberts of The New Community Coaltion about how to make Telluride, our region, and the world greener in 2009. On this video we hear from Giselle Winter, David Allen, Katie Klingsporn, Simon Collins, Andrew Dolese, and Nigel...
