The County celebrated Earth Day 2023 on April 22nd this year following the national cry to lead by making actionable investments the focus; "act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably). Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet." 

The RainCatcher, Inc. and the Santa Fe Extension Master Gardeners worked together with the County's Sustainability Division to host this special community event at the County Fairgrounds.  Despite the noticeable chill in the air, there were plenty of smiling faces in attendance to celebrate the Earth and a new raingarden!  A great deal of learning opportunities, from guest speaker, Reese Baker, about the many benefits of fungi inoculated logs and rainwater harvesting, Santa Fe Extension Master Gardener projects, as well as composting tips, were enjoyed by all in attendance.  Before and after images shown above reflect the beautiful raingarden and work of art now installed at the grounds.  The green stormwater installation (GSI) will capture hundreds of gallons of water with each rain event.  Form meets function as the cascading water is slowed down from the facility rooftops and parking lot and directly channeled in Zuni bowl gravity design, to infiltrate the soil while irrigating the rose garden and new plantings.  The centerpiece, next to the animal barn, also serves to clean surface water from the Fairgrounds parking lot with mycorrhizal fungi inoculated logs that increase the scrubbing of surface water contamination and provide a nutrient network for the root systems now surrounding the raingarden borders. 

Numerous groups and organizations were represented at the gathering including, County Commissioners Hansen, Hughes, Hamilton, and Bustamante, and their fabulous, hard working service provider (seed bomb crafting) liaisons, the Santa Fe County Open Spaces, Parks and Trails, City of Santa Fe Water Conservation and Sustainability Divisions, Santa Fe Botanical Garden, Railyard Park Conservancy, Positive Energy Solar, Institute for Applied Ecology, Santa Fe Extension Master Gardeners, and the Native Plant Society.  The festivities were accompanied by tunes performed by the Wildcat Rock Band of El Camino Real Academy.  Check out the video here and the Santa Fe Master Gardener Newsletter featuring the event here!   

Special thanks to all of the helpful hands and coordination provided by so many and especially to the County's Sustainability and Public Works Facilities and Maintenance staff, for ensuring the event was a smooth and successful community celebration! 

Sustainability staff, along with Commissioner Hansen, of District 2, were honored to represent Santa Fe County in the Cities Summit of the Americas held in Denver during the last week of April.  The gathering of nations and leadership from throughout the Western Hemisphere was truly an inspiring, collective effort and presented a wonderful model of the scaled up power potential of collaboration and partnership!  Speakers and presenters hailed from Canada all the way to the Southern tip of South America.  The agenda highlighted sustainability and equity concerns, economic development, as well as solutions found within the many diverse cultures and the tying binds of the concerns humanity as a whole share: dedication to fostering healthy ecosystems and conservation of natural resources, for equitable life and a thriving planet.  

Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, Jose Fernandez, led a number of sessions, and the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, was in attendance. Many dignitaries, mayors, local government decision makers, as well as significant leadership from indigenous groups, all shared their experiences and resources in a peer-to-peer learning environment.  The networking and rich exchange provided through the event, though only for a few days, will keep staff moving toward a future of best practice solutions and cooperative planning for the sustainable betterment of our community, and the development of deepening relationships and knowledge building, for many months to come.   

There are many degrees of involvement in which each and everyone of us can engage whether it is signing up to be a part of a larger advocacy group, like the Climate Reality Project or through changing habits such as choosing to walk, or ride a bike to work. Youth can find a voice and the power to influence decision makers through organizations such as the Climate Change Leadership Institute, YUCCA, or the UN Youth in Action Advisory Group.  The UN lists nine action steps anyone can take:

Big or small, we can all make a difference and as spring heralds new green sprouts of life and we celebrate nature's creation, the Mother of all Mothers, our Earth calls upon each of us to join the cause!