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Not to be Missed!
Saturday, April 5th 10am-3pm
Hooray! Its planting time! And time for the Co-op’s
9th Annual North Valley Garden Party. As always
the Co-op has what you need for a successful growing
season in our arid southwestern climate. You’ll find the finest in
organic seeds, veggies, flower seedlings and native plants and
the most up to date information on how to successfully garden
and landscape in our dry climate; including composting, pruning,
growing organic, mulching, water catchment, drip and
other conservation based watering systems and so much more!
Some of our region’s most dedicated farmers have already confirmed
including: certified organic Bethany Farms, Becky Thorpe
and her native plants and medicinal herbs, erda Gardens CSA and
Learning Center, South Valley Academy’s Dragon Farm, Lloyd
Kreitzer, a.k.a. “The Fig Man,” with his extensive variety of heritage
New Mexican fig trees, tree health education from Divine
Earth, Botanical Arts, the Bee Collaborative and so much more.
In addition to supplies there will be some of our community’s
most knowledgeable people on hand to answer your how-to
questions. Again this year we are honored to have Joan Quinneducation coordinator for the New
Mexico Organic Commodity Commission,
our state’s organic certification
agency. A walking, talking
natural resource, she can tell you
everything you need to know on
how to grow it organically, how to
get certified organic or how organic
farming and gardening supports
healthy food production and longterm
environmental health.
It’s our great pleasure to spotlight
some of our community’s wonderful
local musicans. Enjoy the angelic voice of singer songwriter
Shelley Barrett, the toe tapping bluegrass of The
Squash Blossom Boys, the “Alt” country music of Fast Heart
Mart and the African dance groove of Kubatana Marimba.
And for children of all ages, the Loren Kahn Puppet and
Object Theater (see the schedule on this page).
And of course there will be great Co-op food. Sit down at
an umbrella-shaded table with friends and neighbors and
enjoy delicious lunch specials from the Co-op Deli. For the
children there will be a jolly jumper as well as other children’s
activities.
Hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate and bless us with
a beautiful spring day, but as early April weather can be
unpredictable, even by New Mexican standards, the weather
date is Sunday, April 6th.
Earth Fest!
It’s that time again! People all over Albuquerque and
throughout the state are getting ready for the 19th
Annual Celebrate the Earth Festival.
You can expect the same wonderfully inspiring day filled with
information and education booths from dozens of environmental,
social and economic justice organizations, local farmers,
seedlings, drought-resistant plants, beautiful art from fine local
artists and crafts people, inspiring music and dancing by some of
our favorite local performing artists and, of course, great Co-op
food. The expansion of last year’s festival was a big hit. So we
will once again fill the two blocks behind the Nob Hill Shopping
Center from Carlisle to Tulane on Silver Street.
Get your Green Tags
Again this year we are partnering with Green Energy New
Mexico to green tag our event. Our purchase of green tags for
all the energy we use at the Festival is an investment in alternative
energy source creation here in New Mexico.
Everyone who comes to the Festival will have the opportunity
to “green tag” their energy use to
invest in renewable solutions developed
in our state.
The Alternative Transport Area was
popular last year with bicyclists of all
ages. To combat global warming and due
to the higher costs of gas, many people
have taken to the streets on two wheels.
We will be partnering with The City of
Albuquerque’s main bike man Chuck
Malagodi, Bike ABQ and the Albuquerque
Police Department on a Kids
Bike Safety Rodeo, bike safety training
classes, bike maintenance classes and all things to do with
bike transport. Special thanks go out to Commander
Murray Conrad, of the Southwest sub-station, for the participation
of our Nob Hill Bike officers. Watch for more
information in our April Co-op Connection News on
Alternative Transport happenings.We look forward to having groups as diverse as:
Hawkwatch, New Mexico Green Tag Project,
Bethany Organic Farm, Citizens for Alternatives to
Radioactive Dumping, 1,000 Friends of New Mexico,
the Sierra Club, Conservation Voters Alliance, New
Mexico Organic Commodity Commission, Habitat
for Humanity, Stop the War Machine,
No Cattle Farm, Animal Protection of
New Mexico, Albuquerque Open
Space, Thorpe Family Farm, Divine
Earth Gardens, Bernalillo County Extension
Service, Sparrow Hawk Farm,
Roots and Shoots, ABQ Bio-diesel
Project, New Mexico Wilderness
Alliance, Albuquerque Birth Network,
Plants of the Southwest, Charbyda
Farm, Desert Woman Botanicals, to
name but a few of the many wonderful
organizations confirmed at press time.
As always you can count on seeing some of our community’s
fine local artists and crafts persons and hearing
some of your favorite musicians and thrilling performances
from our gifted local performers. Some festival
favorites are coming back. More information on
which great local bands will be playing and the full
entertainment schedule coming in the April Co-op
Connection News.
Please reserve your booth space early. We do give first
priority to environmental, social and economic justice
non-profit organizations and farmers and farming
organizations. Join your friends and neighbors as we
educate and inform ourselves at Albuquerque's
favorite spring gathering.
Get a FREE Tree at the
Garden Party!
Global Warming Solutions: Plant a Tree We have 100 trees to give away FREE at the Valley Garden
Party. As a member of the Arbor Day Foundation, the Coop
is pleased to be working with them to re-tree our world.
This year we will be offering FREE Live Oaks and Thornless
Honeylocust trees.
The following are some statistics on just how important trees are;
gathered from the sources noted by the Arbor Day Foundation. • The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten
room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.
—U.S. Department of Agriculture
• One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four
tons of oxygen. —U.S. Department of
Agriculture
• Trees properly placed around buildings
can reduce air conditioning needs by 30
percent and can save 20 - 50 percent in
energy used for cooling. —USDA Forest
Service
• The planting of trees means improved
water quality, resulting in less runoff and
erosion. This allows more recharging of
the groundwater supply. Wooded areas
help prevent the transport of sediment
and chemicals into streams. —USDA Forest Service
• In laboratory research, visual exposure to settings with trees has
produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes, as
indicated by changes in blood pressure and muscle tension. —Dr.
Roger S. Ulrich, Texas A&M University
Thornless Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis)
A fast-growing tree with fragrant spring flowers, its open silhouette
lets grass grow underneath. This tree is pollution, salt and
drought tolerant. Adapts to a wide range of soils. Prefers full sun
but will grow in partial shade. Water while getting established.
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