Below is a short list of sustainability-related resources in La Plata County, CO, with links to relevant websites and contact information. We've also provided a brief list of recommended reading on sustainability issues.
Contents
La Plata County
City of Durango
Fort Lewis College
Energy and Climate
Food and Agriculture
Gardens
Health and Wellness
Sustainable Business
Transportation
Miscellaneous
Recommended Reading
La Plata County
Baseline Greenhouse Gas Emission Profile and Forecast (April 2008). Contracted by the Community Development Department, the profile developed Aggregate County Emissions grouped by energy, transportation, land-use activities, waste, and other sources. This profile established a starting point for developing the Climate and Energy Action Plan.
Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP): The County was one of the founders and financiers of the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE), which has facilitated a climate and energy action plan now undergoing public review.
County Compass: La Plata County has embarked on a mission to create its Comprehensive Plan, the first to be adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. The Compass to guide the way was passed in 2008 by the Board and today the County is working on creating the policies and goals of the new plan. Sustainable Development plays an important role. It is one of the six elements in the Plan. The others are Economic Vitality, Transportation, Healthy Natural Environment, Healthy Communities and Housing, and Organization Excellence. A Working Group has been established and meeting since July 2009 to develop the language for the goals and policies.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Financing Opportunities Public Information Worksession (held 6/23/09): This worksession was designed to inform the public of available rebates, discounts, tax incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The slides from this presentation are still on the County website.
Energy Management and Resource Conservation Team: Created to conduct technical energy audits of 10 county facilities. The audit revealed that county facilities produced an estimated 3,987 tons of CO2, which improvements already made will reduce by 21.7%. The county has adopted energy performance contracting.
Engine Idling Policy: Limits the amount of time vehicle engines are allowed to idle after start up or after the vehicle arrives at its destination. By idling vehicle engines less, La Plata County employees can play an important role in improving air quality, reducing fuel consumption and the County’s overall carbon footprint.
EPA’s ‘Climate Showcase Communities’ grant program: The County has applied to this program, with the goal "to create a replicable model of sustainable community action that will generate cost-effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions while improving the environment, economy, public health, or social conditions in the community."
Green Purchasing Policy: Aims to encourage and increase the use of environmentally preferable products and services in La Plata County.
La Plata County Children, Youth, and Family Master Plan: La Plata County, its three municipalities, and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe partnered to sponsor a year-long process in which county citizens worked together to develop the master plan. The county and the three municipalities committed to becoming communities in which thriving families and children are of primary importance.
Living With Wildlife Advisory Board: Made up of qualified volunteers that serve in an advisory role to the La Plata County Commissioners on issues involving wildlife damage in La Plata County. The goal of the LWAB is to reduce conflict between wildlife and residents of La Plata County. While sustainability itself is not mentioned, that is the effect of this program.
"New Energy Communities" Grant: The county sponsored a CO Dept of Local Affairs grant of $1.2 million to assist other local governments and school districts in ‘greening’ public facilities.
Recycling/Waste:
- The County has a number of recycling and collection programs, usually held jointly with other organizations. These include: semiannual computer and electronic collection; free yard waste collection at a convenience center during the summer, including availability of wood mulch; annual hazardous waste collection (household battery recycling has been discontinued due to prevalent recycling opportunities in local retail stores).
- County Facilities Recycling Policy that requires County employees to recycle cardboard, paper, aluminum and metal cans, plastic bottles, clear, brown and green glass, and single-use alkaline batteries at all county-owned buildings.
- Pilot Rural Recycling Program to serve the Marvel, Red Mesa, and Kline communities located in the western area of La Plata County.
- In 2008, successfully partnered with City of Durango, 4CORE, and La Plata Electric Association to hold the community's first-ever Scrap Metal Recycling Event, which included old refrigerators and freezers.
State-wide Special District: The County supports creation of a state-wide special district for solar power systems and/or improving energy efficiency under HB 1350. The County has also placed grid-tied solar panels on the roof of the County Courthouse.
La Plata County
http://co.laplata.co.us/
County Manager, Shawn Nau
Sustainability Coordinator, Walter A. Serfoss
1365 S. Camino Del Rio
Durango, CO 81303
Phone: 970-382-6417
Fax:970-247-8279
serfosswa@co.laplata.co.us
**************************
City of Durango
Mission: (does not explicitly mention sustainability) "We the City, as representatives of the people, shall be accountable and effective guardians of the public trust and resources. We are committed to the provision of effective and efficient public services designed to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of our community. We shall conduct the affairs of our City openly and ethically and manage our growth and development in a manner that respects our environment and preserves the unique character and identity of our community. We view our citizens as our most important resources."
Sustainability: The City of Durango is committed to improving public health and reducing the impact of its operations on our community and the environment. Note: A reduction in city revenues due to the 2008/09 economic downturn has caused a cutback in personnel and sustainability projects, e.g., the city decided not to purchase green power in 2009, whereas in past years it had. Below are steps that the City of Durango has taken toward sustainability.
Department of Sustainable Services: Created in January 2009.
Energy Efficiency:
- Burn fleet-generated waste oil to heat warehouse
- Motion-detecting lighting at some City facilities
- Monthly meetings with La Plata Electric Association to audit power usage in City facilities
- Energy efficient office equipment
- LED lighting for some City facilities
- HVAC systems updated in yearly budget process
- Full-sized trucks replaced with compact trucks within City fleet when applicable
Water Efficiency:
- Water-efficient landscape ordinance
- Water-efficient fixtures at City facilities
- Draft storm-water ordinance
Reduce/Eliminate Waste:
- Recycling services provided to La Plata and surrounding counties
- Environmental Purchasing Policy
- Only paper products recyclable in Durango's program are purchased by City
- All City facilities participate in recycling program
- Home composting and digester bin sales
- Electronic distribution of internal City publications
- Requirement for multi-family complexes to provide recycling opportunities to tenants
- Requirement for new businesses to provide space for recycling bins
- Requirement for submittals to consist of recyclable paper only (no binders, plastics)
- Electronic distribution of City's Annual Report
- Electronic distribution of City's Annual Budget
- Automotive waste from fleet vehicles recycled
Reduce/Eliminate Release of Pollutants:
- Hybrid and Flex fuel (ethanol) fueled vehicles included in City fleet
- Stormwater runoff treated for removal of pollutants for City projects.
- Stormwater runoff treated for private projects over 1⁄2 acre.
- Storm sewer outfalls monitored for pollutants.
Renewable & Innovative Products and Processes:
- Methane gas converted to electrical energy at City's wastewater treatment plant.
- Digester to heat water for City's wastewater treatment plant building.
- Biosolids applied to agricultural lands.
- Synthetic oils used in City fleet.
- Purchase of environmentally preferable alternatives promoted.
- Recycled glass mulch used as bedding material for underground water lines and for landscaping.
- No idling encouraged for City vehicles.
Support Biodiversity:
- Bear-resistant refuse containers available to residents.
- Fruit trees allowed in City landscaping.
- 947 acres of Open Space.
Sustainable Development:
- Public library is registered under the LEED Green Building Rating System with Gold Rating
- New transit center and is registered under the LEED Green Building Rating System
- Green building techniques incorporated at police substation
- Walkable communities encouraged
- Extensive network of trails for pedestrians and bicycles
- Local purchasing of goods encouraged
- Installation of solar hot water panels on Recreation Center
- Draft chicken ordinance (to allow up to and including six hens to be kept for private use in areas now not allowing farm animals)
- Draft fair housing ordinance to ensure an inventory of affordable and attainable housing within the city available to households in those categories in order to maintain the diversity of the Durango community, considered a valuable asset.
Improve Employee and Community Health & Safety:
- Janitorial staff required to use green/safe products
- Co-sponsor household battery collection program for recycling
- Co-sponsor two computer & electronics recycling events annually
- Co-sponsor annual household chemical collection
- Maintain "Tree City USA" designation
- Annual health fair for City employees
- Recycling program for scrap metal
- Recycling program for fluorescent bulbs
Educate and Train Staff & Community About Sustainable Practices:
- Green Team U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
- City of Durango Comprehensive Plan
- Recycling informational booth at special events
- Green Business Roundtable
- 4CORE steering committee, board of directors & financial support
- Grassroots Visioning Team
- State Pollution Prevention Advisory Board Assistance Committee
- "Green Scene" in City newsletter
- FLC Presidents Advisory Council on Environmental Affairs
- San Juan Basin Recycling Association
- Water Information Program Steering Committee
- Stormwater pollution prevention brochure (Commercial & Residential)
- Curb markers for stormwater education
- Wetland education program at Three Springs
- Tours of the Recycle Center
- Waterwise gardening presentations
- Children's Water Festival
- Recycle drop-off site monitors
- Green Events Guide
Recycling/Waste Reduction:
- Wood and glass mulch ($10/cubic yard)
- Residential curbside collection commercial and multi-family collection drop-off sites
- Christmas Tree recycling: drop-off locations; curbside pickup for 3 weeks after Christmas
- Athletic shoe drop-off sites promoted (Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Program)
- Eyeglasses: drop-off site promoted (Shanta Foundation – Myanmar)
- Solid waste (trash) pickup, including spring and fall cleanup and special event service, bear- proof containers available.
- Encourages "source reduction" on website.
- Plans to upgrade the 15-year-old recycling center, which serves more than just the city, and to offer commingled recycling.
Transportation:
- City's multimodal coordinator will coordinate the development of a comprehensive transportation plan that would mesh transportation systems. The plan is due to be in place by March 2010.
- New downtown transit center facilitates/coordinates public transportation, handling a variety of mass-transit options, including racks for 150 bicycles.
Solar Legislation: The city is drafting an ordinance that would set solar-energy standards for new construction and the historic district, with the aim of easing or eliminating the roadblocks green homeowners encounter.
Regional Green Business Incubator: Durango has applied to the Economic Development Administration for a grant to pay to build a regional green business incubator.
City of Durango
City Manager, Ron LeBlanc
949 E 2nd Ave
Durango, CO 81301-5109
Phone: 970-375-5000
Fax: 970-375-5098
info@ci.durango.co.us
Sustainability Webpage: http://www.durangogov.org/environmental.cfm green@ci.durango.co.us
********************************
Fort Lewis College
Campus Operations: Two new construction projects are LEED-gold and one LEED-silver. One, the addition to the student union, will include a solar thermal system, PV panels and a green roof. The physical plant uses an energy management system to reduce carbon footprint. The college is planning to undertake a performance contracting process, a cornerstone of the climate action plan. Among other things, a Environmental Health and Safety Officer position has been created to manage college-generated hazardous waste. The college has a campus garden and orchard and compost food waste from the dining hall. Students passed a sustainability fee of $.05/credit hour for student sustainability projects.
Center of Southwest Studies: As the major repository on the Western Slope, the FLC Center of Southwest Studies is the main institution actively collecting materials related to the Four Corners environment. The Center owns 37 collections that are useful to researchers who are studying environmental topics of the Four Corners. Topics range broadly but many relate to mining and water issues in the area.
http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/
Climate Action: FLC signed onto the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment in 2007. The commitment states that “we believe colleges and universities must exercise leadership in their communities and throughout society by modeling ways to minimize global warming emissions, and by providing the knowledge and the educated graduates to achieve climate neutrality.” Additionally, the commitment charges colleges and universities to develop a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality and initiate a list of suggested climate-friendly actions. Two of these actions that Fort Lewis is currently working on are (1) “establishing a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent,” and (2) “adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.
Community Action Workshop: Grassroots Solutions Leading to Sustainable Economic Recovery:A free 4-week class (workshop) to develop sustainable ideas for reducing waste that can be accomplished by individuals, neighborhoods, our community, and our nation. About 25 participants, including students, retirees, and everyone in between, attended the first class, which is ongoing.
Contact: FLC Office of Continuing Education, 970-247-7385. Instructor: Ali Sabeti
Engineers without Borders: Fort Lewis College hosts a chapter of Engineers Without Borders. For the past two years, student members have partnered with a disadvantaged village in Thailand. They've implemented sustainable projects that helped improve the community's quality of life. Students work throughout the year, organizing logistics, preparing technical designs, developing educational materials, fundraising and learning about the history and culture of the host communities.
Environmental Studies Major: The college has an environmental studies major, with 77 students, each of whom does a 150-hour internship with a community organization and participates in a group-solving course that tackles a pressing community issue or problem. Indigenous worldviews and tribal environmental issues are a part of the degree program. A number of classes focus on sustainability. The college also has a sustainable agriculture minor.
FLC Environmental Center: Has a coordinator and an intern as well as six teams of students that meet weekly: media and communications, education and outreach, climate action, zero-waste, local food, and sustainable business. The EC puts out a monthly EC Digest with calendars of EC events and community events relating to environmental issues and sustainability.
Contact: Marcus Renner, Coordinator, 970, 247-7091; envcenter@fortlewis.edu
- Farm-to-College project: An Environmental Center project that is working with local stores and farms and Sodexho, Inc., which provides dining services to Fort Lewis students, to integrate local food into cafeteria meals.
- Garden and Greenhouse: The Environmental Center manages a demonstration organic garden and greenhouse that gives students hands-on experience in growing, processing, and selling organic produce.
- Community Garden Collaborative: In 2008, the Environmental Center began working with the Manna Soup Kitchen, the Smiley Building, and Community Connections, Inc., which provides programming and enrichment opportunities developmentally disabled clients in the region. Together the groups are piloting a Community Garden Collaborative in which students provide labor and enthusiasm, Community Connections provides a four-season greenhouse, and the managers of gardens at Manna Soup Kitchen and the Smiley Building provide training and expertise.
- Food for Thought Program: Works to promote edible landscaping on campus by giving students experience growing and caring for fruit trees around the county as way to boost community food security.
- Zero-Waste: The Zero-Waste Team works on the front-end to ensure that Fort Lewis buys recyclable products and works on the back-end to keep what we do waste out of the landfill through recycling andcomposting. The Team also organizes an annual campus cleanup, a year- end, move-out collection program called Operation Dumpster Rescue, and offers education about how we can work together to make FLC a zero-waste campus.
- Sustainable Business List: In summer 2007, the Environmental Center created the list to allow businesses within the San Juan River watershed to highlight what they have accomplished in each of these areas. In addition to the Sustainable Business List, the EC also assists with planning the Green Business Roundtable hosted by the San Juan Citizens Alliance. The Roundtable is held on the third Wednesday of the month from September to May.
- Durango Green Map: produced in 2004 with support from the 1st National Bank of Durango.
- Visit the Environmental Center's SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCES PAGE.
- Fair Trade: Students at the EC have also been active promoting fair trade on campus and in the community. Students have worked with Sodexho to get fair trade coffee and teas on campus and for the past three years have attended United Students for Fair Trade conferences in Chicago, Denver, and Boston.
Habitat Conservation: In spring 2006, the Environmental Center began working with the Fort Lewis College Biology Department, the Office of Community Services (OCS), and the FLC administration on how to increase the use and enjoyment of the Buzzy Berndt Demonstration Natural Area located west of the College Union Building. All parties saw opportunities to showcase sustainable landscaping techniques and provide an outdoor classroom since the BBDNA is so close to the center of campus.
LIFE House: A component of the Environmental Center's education and outreach program, LIFE stands for Learning to Invest in the Future of the Earth. Participating students live together and share their diverse skills and perspectives on social, cultural, and environmental issues while working together to make a difference on campus and in the community. LIFE House is a Living/Learning Community in a residence hall that consists of first-year students. The mission of LIFE is to explore the ways in which a diverse group of people can come together to have a positive impact on our world, a mission achieved through student-designed programs and activities. Students elected to be part of the LIFE House because they have a passion for one or more of the LIFE themes: sustainability, community service, and cultural heritage.
Local Food Fellowship: The Environmental Center sponsored a Local Food Fellowship for two Fort Lewis College students in summer 2009. Local Food Fellows helped manage the Environmental Center garden and assisted with a number of local food projects around La Plata County, in addition to class work.
Local Foods Task Force: In February 2007, the Environmental Center hosted Homegrown: A Conference on Local Food. The conference brought 175 people to FLC to discuss how to ensure everyone in La Plata County has access to healthy, affordable, sustainably produced, and culturally appropriate food from local and regional sources. The conference gave birth to the FLC Local Foods Task Force, a group that began looking at how the college can support food production through land-use decisions, purchasing policies, academic coursework, and technical assistance.
SEEDS – Campus Ecology Club: The club recently received a Special Project Grant from the Ecological Society of America to do research and outreach on Horse Gulch, a local recreation area, including the publication of an interpretive guide to the area.
Sustainability Action Plan: Fort Lewis College has developed a Sustainability Action Plan to guide its activities around campus sustainability. This comprehensive plan includes sections on Performance, Education and Engagement, Service to the Region, and Institutional Leadership. A student committee worked with the President’s Council on Environmental Affairs (PACEA) to create a draft Sustainability Action Plan with goals, measurements, targets, timelines, and action steps. The action plan has six sections: Stewardship, Consumption, Climate, Education and Engagement, Service to Region, and Coordination and Support and includes a 50-year plan to reach carbon neutrality. The Plan was expected to be ready for the college president’s signature in January 2010.
President’s Advisory Council on Environmental Affairs (PACEA): Has developed a policy on Environmental Issues with the goal of minimizing the environmental impact of the institution and promoting greater environmental awareness through all of its activities.
*************************************
CarbonZERO: A carbon offset and alternative energy company that aims to neutralize the impact of greenhouse gases through locally based programs that trap or decrease the release of carbon into the atmosphere. Programs include tree planting, carbon credit purchases, light bulb replacement, and a community solar grid demonstration project. CarbonZERO analyzes the monthly electricity usage of local business partners to establish the number of 100 kW hours needed to power each business with green power from La Plata Electric Association.
www.carbonzerocolorado.com
Discovery Museum: Located in Durango’s historic Powerhouse, this science and educational center has sustainability demo labs and provides education outreach and summer camps. The interactive science and energy center is for curious minds of all ages.
www.durangodiscovery.org
Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency: Promotes resource conservation, energy efficiency, and the use of clean, renewable sources of energy in order to decrease the emission of pollutants, protect public health, and strengthen the economy in La Plata County. The county and City of Durango tasked 4CORE with providing an opportunity for local municipalities, utility companies and business to collaborate to create and deliver a regional Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) by December 2010. The CEAP provides a way for concerned citizens to volunteer and get involved in identifying the many ways that our community, individuals, governments, businesses, and other groups can reduce greenhouse gases throughout La Plata County.
www.fourcore.org
La Plata County Energy Tour: Takes place annually in conjunction with solar tours sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society in over 3,000 communities across the U.S. The 10th annual La Plata County Energy Tour included homes and building powered by solar, wind, and geothermal energy, including a bike tour of homes and buildings with the City of Durango.
La Plata Electric Association Green Power Program: By purchasing renewable power through LPEA's Just One Block campaign, customers can help fund local renewable energy projects – and more. LPEA’s power supplier, Tri-State Generation & Transmission, purchases renewable energy and its attributes from wind-generating facilities across the western United States.
San Juan Bioenergy: San Juan Bioenergy's model utilizes local, abundant sources of raw material (crops, ag waste, biomass waste, grease, municipal solid waste, etc) to create the most practical forms of energy (food, feed, heat, electricity, fuel, etc.) for the local community.
www.sanjuanbioenergy.com
Solix Biofuels Inc.: Located on Southern Ute Indian tribal land, Solix is working to harness the properties of pond scum and turn it into biofuel. They are growing algae and producing oil through the process of photosynthesis. When ready for commercial use, it is estimated that the facility will be able to produce 2,000 to 2,500 gallons of oil per acre per year.
www.solixbiofuels.com
Zero Emissions Research & Initiatives (ZERI) Workshops: Taught in Durango by Professor Dick White. The concept of ZERI views waste as a resource and seeks solutions using nature’s design principles. Local businesses are looking at ways to use the waste from their processes to provide a resource for another business. It has prompted a local discussion about an Eco-Park development.
*************************************
Cyprus Café: An example of almost a dozen Durango restaurants and cafes that support local food producers. They use locally raised vegetables when available and natural meats and local cheeses, assuring that every meal is fresh, healthy, and delicious.
www.cypruscafe.com
Durango Compost Company: Uses locally available waste such as coffee grounds from the Durango Coffee Company to make compost using worms. Castings from the earthworms’ digestives process are alive with beneficial soil organisms, some of which produce plant growth hormones and/or protect plants from diseases.
Contact: jenny@durangocompost.com
Durango Farmers Market: A venue for local agriculturalists and artisans to meet to share their harvests and talents with the Durango community. It represents farmers, ranchers, gardeners, herbalists, and artists and includes eateries that provide ready to enjoy treats, volunteer musicians, and a children’s education booth. Vendors at the Market are required to actually grow or produce their goods for sale within the surrounding five-county region. The majority follow organic growing methods. The Durango Farmers Market participates in the Food Stamp program and strives to provide outreach to make healthy local foods available to everyone in our community. It provides an opportunity to strengthen community by promoting our ties to agriculture by supporting sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring the preservation of open space, educating consumers, reducing hidden costs associated with conventional food sources, and by supporting our local economy while providing healthy locally grown food that is fresh and delicious.
Contact: Peg Redford, 970-375-6401
Farm-to-School Program: Putting healthy food on the plates of students in Durango and Ignacio. Durango schools plan to buy 1,500 pounds of beef from James Ranch and 4,000 pounds of ground beef from Fox Fire Farms. Ignacio schools plan to buy 4,000 pounds of ground beef from Fox Fire Farms. It gives a boost to local farmers and ranchers and keeps taxpayers’ money circulating in the community.
Contact: Jim Dyer, jadyer@frontier.net
Fox Fire Farms: Located near Ignacio, CO, and known for its certified organic and certified grass-fed lamb, goat, and beef as well as its pasture-raised pork and eggs. They also boast the first and only commercial vineyard operation in La Plata County and production of organic wines. Their products can be found at local natural grocers and four local restaurants.
Healthy Community Food Systems: An organization that provides the local community with whole systems models as well as the strategic planning and implementation tools needed for effective development of healthy community food systems. Local projects include Farm to School systems planning, local foods event planning, strategic planning for the Farmers’ Market, and Farmer-Chef programs.
www.mesaverdefood.org
Contact: Jim Dyer, jadyer@frontier.net
High Desert Foods: A Main Street bakery that offers “gourmet comfort foods” using local organic ingredients such as wheat grown in Dove Creek, flour milled in Cortez, beef from Sunnyside Meats, lamb from Foxfire Farms, and locally grown fruits used in pastries.
www.highdesertfoods.com
Homegrown Festival: An annual October event in Durango, the festival combines free Living Local Workshops, a Family Celebration of Harvest, and an opportunity to Share Our Fruitful Abundance. In 2009, workshops covered food preservation, urban beekeeping, mushrooms, beer brewing, selecting fruit trees, and preparing local wild foods. The event also includes music, apple pressing, fruit-pie sales, apple dunking, pumpkin painting, and a fall brews beer garden with local foods. People are encouraged to bring their backyard apples and other fruit and offer them free to anyone who needs them. During Harvest Week, downtown restaurants feature specials that include three locally sourced ingredients.
Home Slice Pizza: Purchased electric cars to deliver their pizzas and reduce their carbon footprint. www.durangomenu.com/menus/homeslicepizza/homeslicepizza.html
James Ranch: Goes beyond organic in production of grass-finished beef, milk, artisan cheese, eggs, whey-good pork, and vegetables. In their operations, they consider how their decisions affect the land, ecosystems, animals (both wild and domestic), families, communities, customers, and future generations. They build wildlife habitat, contribute to open space, manage livestock to enhance and protect wetlands, practice low-stress livestock handling, practice rotational grazing, and do not feed their cattle grain. They sell their products at the local farmers market, on the Ranch, and to local restaurants.
La Boca Center for Sustainability: Their mission is to sustain a working farm using integrated and agroecological principles and supply food for the community. They also provide training and education in these techniques to farmers, apprentices and community members.
Linnaea Farm: Raises goats to make cheese sold at the Farmers Market and to local restaurants. Additionally, they sell cut flowers and heirloom tomatoes and offer education tours on the farm. Although not certified organic, they avoid pesticides, herbicides, and standard fertilizers and are experimenting with different types of irrigation and plastic used for weed control.
Manna Soup Kitchen: Serves meals seven days a week to the working poor, individual, families, children, the elderly, and the homeless in Durango. Manna, working in cooperation with various local merchants and churches, offers vouchers for food, clothing, gasoline, haircuts, Wal-Mart, bus tokens, emergency temporary housing, prescriptions, and other forms of temporary assistance. Free clothing and other necessities are also available. The community can contribute food and/or money and volunteer their time.
Sunnyside Farms Market: Offers locally grown, all natural beef that is hormone, steroid, and antibiotic free. The business acts as an avenue to supply the finest all-natural meats from local growers to households and restaurants in the community.
Turtle Lake Refuge: Promotes sustainable practices in the connection between personal health and wild lands. They grow and prepare local, wild food for the community, drive a vegetable oil-run vehicle, utilize solar dehydrators, use a bicycle powered blender and wheatgrass juicer, and educate about the value of wild foods and wild lands in the school systems. They hope their growroom and three greenhouses will significantly increase the availability of locally grown produce year round.
verypersonal*chef: Offers “Farm-to-Table” cooking classes and explores entertaining using local seasonal foods including organic produce, farm-fresh eggs, Colorado meat/game, freshwater fish, and artisan cheeses.
Contact: lauren@verypersonalchef.com; 917-841-4242
2007 Colorado Tree Farmer of the Year. The State Tree Farm Committee selected Ken and Lois Carpenter of Bayfield for this award. They developed a forest management plan for their 157-acre tree farm in 1995 and became certified members of the American Tree Farm System in 1997. During the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire, some of their property received beneficial effects associated with a low-intensity surface fire while other portions were subject to high intensity crown fire. They responded with increased forest management efforts for massive soil erosion, sediment, and debris flows.
***********************************
Escalante Campus Greenhouse: Located at Escalante Middle School, the greenhouse is powered by a photovoltaic system and allows students in a “greenworks” class to display their energy production data and environmental credentials on the Internet and compare their campus system with others. The comparisons they make test their ability and knowledge of mathematics and geography. A similar photovoltaic system was installed at Bayfield Middle School in 2008.
Outdoor Learning Garden: Located at Animas Valley Elementary School, the garden is teaching students agriculture, several sciences, and mathematics in addition to providing healthful snacks.
The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado: Provides resources and services to schools and organizations interested in starting or enhancing a garden program. Services include program facilitation, on-site consultation, sharing tools and educational materials, and general support services. Garden programs include building raised beds and compost bins, transplanting seedlings, mending the soil, companion planting, and the infamous "bug day." Their mission is to create a healthier community through the facilitation of educational and therapeutic garden programs and the promotion of a sustainable local food system. The Garden Project has provided educational and therapeutic garden programs to La Plata County’s community since 1998. Over 1,200 youth and 300 adults have been directly served through gardening and food programs in the past 10 years. Since inception, The Garden Project has facilitated programs at over 12 school and community gardens, serving a key role in the start up of eight community and school gardens.
Contact: Shari Fitzgerald, Program Director, 970-259-3123.
**************************
Health and Wellness
Citizens Health Advisory Council: A group of concerned health care providers, community leaders, and volunteers that provides input and guidance to the Community Health Care Capacity Project in partnership with the Health Service Steering Committee. They play an integral role in helping develop the La Plata County Health Care Strategic Plan, set to be completed by the end of 2010. This plan will address access to preventive and primary care, and strategies for integration of health care services across La Plata County.
Healthy Lifestyle La Plata (HLLP): A coalition of health and wellness professionals who are working under the Southern Ute Community Action Program (SUCAP) to create a healthy, active, and sustainable community for its citizens and visitors. Their mission is to improve the health of the community by providing opportunities, developing programs and establishing policy on healthy eating and active living. The coalition is trying to empower La Plata County residents and visitors to become the healthiest community in America by sponsoring events such as the Iron Horse Chef competition at the Durango Farmers Market, the Tour de Farms Bicycle Ride in August each year, and the Farm to Chef “speed dating” event, where two dozen restaurant representatives met with a dozen food producers. One result of the speed dating was that Durango School District 9-R will use a local beef producer. HLLP received LiveWell Colorado grant funding starting in 2006 that will continue until 2013. This funding has enabled HLLP to set in motion goals based on healthy eating and increasing physical activity among target populations, namely the working poor, men aged 45-64, children/youth and seniors.
Contact: Jeanine Justice, 970-749-5630
Mercy Regional Medical Center: The anchor of Three Springs, Southwest Colorado’s first traditional neighborhood development. Three Springs is comprised of five neighborhoods with over half the 620-acre valley dedicated to open space, parks, schools, and recreational use. Trail systems tie into the locally famous Telegraph Trail System. It is served by the City of Durango public transportation system, and the entire project is being built according to a master sustainability plan which includes green building practices.
24/7 Fitness Solutions: Durango’s only 24-hour gym has gone totally green. In an effort to reduce, re-use, and recycle, their new facility is dedicated not only to the health of the people in the Durango community, but also to the environment. Some of their sustainable efforts include solar electric, no VOC paint, recycled carpet, low-E windows, recycled paper products, recycled rubber flooring, low-flow toilets/showers, biodegradeable equipment wipes, recycling (paper, plastic, cardboard), motion sensitive lighting, rechargeable batteries, and a giant ceiling fan.
www.fitnesssolutions247.com
*****************************
Sustainable Business
4 Corners Green Living Expo: An annual exhibition of the latest and greatest green products and services. The inaugural 2009 expo hosted over 50 exhibitions and featured informative workshops and seminars, a bike recycling program, a clothing swap, a local café and beer garden, music, and a green economy forum.
www.4cornersgreenliving.com
Green Business Incubator: The City of Durango has applied for funds to construct and operate a Regional Green Business Incubator in conjunction with the expansion of the Durango Recycle Center. The proposed project will service the entire Southwestern Colorado region and offer low-cost leases to sustainability-minded businesses as well as to environmental research and development groups.
Green Business Roundtable: Provides networking opportunity for every business and individual interest in sustainability in Durango and the surrounding area. The monthly luncheon is prepared using local foods prepared by the Strater Hotel’s chef. Guest speakers are local and out-of-town experts on subjects ranging from Cap and Trade vs. Carbon Tax to Zero Waste to Solar Potential and Case Studies. It is sponsored by local businesses and the parent organization, San Juan Citizens Alliance.
www.sanjuancitizens.org/air/greenbusiness.shtml
Contact: Tracy Daniels, tracy@sanjuancitizens.org
Local First: An organization of local business owners, non-profit organizations, and motivated volunteers that help locally owned, independent businesses and organizations increase the percentage of customer spending on locally owned products. The organization also raises awareness about the benefits of supporting locally owned, independent businesses and helps them thrive by providing training, resources, and support. They also produce the Be Local Coupon Book, a marketing opportunity for independent businesses.
www.local-first.org
Sustainable Business List: Allows businesses within the San Juan River watershed to highlight what they are doing to create a more sustainable and just work. The list proves information to potential customers to help them make informed choices about where to spend their money and encourages businesses to communicate with each other about successful and sustainable practices. The Fort Lewis College Environmental Center developed and maintains the list. www.fortlewis.edu/community_culture/envcenter_projects/biz_list.aspx
Eco Logic Events. A professional event-planning service that strives to create unique, fun events that are environmentally friendly. They specialize in environmentally sound event practices and sourcing sustainable alternatives for all elements of producing special occasions.
www.ecologicevents.com
******************************
Bike Paths and Lanes: Biking is a popular mode of transportation in Durango. The town has a walking/bike path along the Animas River running six miles the length of Durango. Most existing streets have bike lanes and new streets and those being upgraded are engineered with bike lanes.
Durango Transit Center: Located in downtown Durango, it serves as the multimodal regional transit facility for all of Southwest Colorado, including linking services of the Ignacio Road Runner and Greyhound. It is the hub for the Durango T buses which have regularly scheduled bus stops, by request stops for those unable to walk to the bus stops, Animas River Trail connections, and bike racks for those tired of pedaling.
www.durangogov.org/transit/
Durango Wheel Club: A cycling institution in Durango since 1895, when it formed as an advocacy group for better roads. Their goal is to be an inclusive group providing a more structured relationship with the community. They provide group rides, sponsor local races, work with the Multi Modal Master Plan committee, assist the Durango Development (DEVO) team for younger riders, and guide city planners with the City of Durango’s Land Use and Development Code.
www.durangowheelclub.com
Contact: Spencer Compton, durangowheelclub@gmail.com
Road Runner Transit: Connects the east side of La Plata County with medical services, jobs, education, and shopping in Durango, the county seat and primary commercial center. This is a public transit system, available to anyone.
www.sucap.org/roadrunner/
*******************************
Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado (SASCO): An organization committed to incorporating the concept of sustainability into all the workings of the local communities of Southwest Colorado. They focus on food and agriculture; education and outreach; local and regional policy; smart energy; and sustainable local economic development.
www.sustainableswcolorado.org
Women’s Resource Center: Advocates for the personal empowerment and economic self-sufficiency of women and girls in La Plata County. For women and families in crisis or transition, the Center provides a road map of resources to help them reach a place of emotional and financial stability.
www.wrcdurango.org
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired By Nature, by Janine Benyus
Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming, by Paul Hawken
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, by David Bornstein (read a review)
In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, by Richard Louv
Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution, by L. Hunter Lovins, Amory Lovins, and Paul Hawken
State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World, by Worldwatch Institute
This list is provided with research support from the League of Women Voters of La Plata County. Updated January 2010.