----PO BOX 5588, Santa Fe, NM 87502-5588------(505-471-5177)-----www.TheSun-News.com

 August 2004

Vol.5. NO. 8 ......................................................Pages 10 and 11

EcoVersity Gears Up for
Earth-Vocations Certificate Course

Building on years of preparation and planning, Santa Fe’s own EcoVersity will formally begin their new certificate program in Earth-Based Vocations this month. A twenty-week course of study designed to turn regular people into “Sustainability Practitioners”, Earth-Based Vocations offers an interdisciplinary approach to tackling the unique challenges of sustainable design and building.

With a core teaching team of five faculty members, the course combines an introduction to the permaculture philosophy along with instruction in practical building techniques like straw-bale construction, renewable energy systems, land
& garden design, and art and activism.

“Permaculture is a design system for approaching sustainability issues in building and land usage,” said Amy Pilling, EcoVersity’s dean. “It addresses everything from the practical issues of where to build and what materials to use on your site,
as well as the more sublime considerations as to how humans, plants, and animals will interact with the land and the structures you put there.”

The course will combine the talents of all members of the core faculty, including Pilling, EcoVersity’s land and operations manager Nathan Houchin, renowned permaculture guru Scott Pittman, architect Alfred von Bachmayr, renewable
energy systems consultant Bristol Stickney, permaculture, food, land &gardens specialist Joel Glanzberg, along with local uber arts activist Chrissie Orr, who will address
the political and aesthetic concerns of alternative building.span>

“It is inherent within the approach of both permaculture in particular and alternative building and energy systems in general that we are engaging in something radical,” said Orr. “Our approach is to show that in addition to increasing energy efficiency and decreasing resource impact, the permaculture approach can also allow for an environment that incorporates healthier and more beauty-driven design aesthetics
as well.”

In addition to this comprehensive certificate course, EcoVersity is also offering a shorter stand-alone course in permaculture design, taught by Scott Pittman, as well as a full roster of workshops, lectures, and short courses throughout the spring and summer. Some of these will include a six-week course in BioDynamic Gardening beginning in March, a lecture on Water Harvesting by local water activist Jeremiah Kidd in April, and a three-day bicycle maintenance and skills workshop in May with local bicycle activist Lawrence Malone. and Ian Mion.

“Our intention with the certificate program is to build strong-minded Sustainability Practitioners who will be able to apply what they’ve learned with us to providing holistic solutions to the many issues involved in the art and science of site design,” said Pilling.

For more information about EcoVersity and its programs, please visit http://www.ecoversity.org, or call (505) 424-9797.

Children face another cycle of challenges with a new grade level, and although children can rack up the levels of difficulty on their GameBoy, racking up the levels of life is much more complex.  School requires a big team effort and you are cheerleader of the cheering team to support your child up the levels.

Here are some tips on how to be a great cheerleader:

Your child is the star; look for moments to cheer on their success.  Good cheer teams build up a spirit of celebrating successes.

Good cheer teams are resilient under adversity.  When your child is not doing well, they need more cheering, not less.

Good cheer teams survey the field before the match and position themselves so that their encouragement can be effective.  Meet with your child’s teachers and look at the curriculum they will need to cover. 

Good cheer teams build appreciation of the stars without comparing one star with another.  Build up your own team’s merits, but stay in touch with other cheering teams and stars.  Get to know parents of other children in the class so you can give guidance to their social development.

Good cheer teams offer an element of surprise and keep the game play fresh by adding new elements to their repertoire of praise. 

Good cheer teams turn up at practices to support the discipline it requires to perfect strategies, homework assignments, etc.

Good cheer teams help build character in the stars.

And most of all, good cheer teams enjoy the game and relish in the role they play.  Best wishes for the upcoming year.  Should your child begin to enjoy the game of life and education more than his/ her GameBoy, give yourself a pat on the back as a champion cheerleader.

Inside This Issue

Book Reviews .............. 15

"Check It Out"............ 15

Cheering In The
School Year .............11

COMEONHOME.BIZ .. 5

Digital Fine Art Society
of NM .................... 14

Dumb Buddy..............  9

Environmentally Friendly
Earth Plaster............ 1

EU Still Refusing U.S.
Frankenfood Exports 1

FOX "News" Unmasked 6

Important Movies Everyone
Should See............... 6

Letter to the Editor ...... 10

Movies Making in NM.... 8

New Business Helping
Companies Thrive .... 13

North Central NM Events 3

People With Too Much
Time on Their Hands  14

Stupid Human Tricks.... 13

Suicidal Faker Succeeds  6

The Governor's Cup Film
Festival ..................... 7

TFI Corporate Changes . 4

Weird News ................. 14

We Need To Learn
About Your ..............13

Where to find The
Sun-News .................  2

Who's Pulling the Strings 9

Why W. Won't Be 're'
Elected ......................7