Bearfest

This weekend brought a trip up north to Los Alamos for their annual Bear Festival.  Friday evening was the Eat Like a Bear dinner, which included a lecture by sister-in-law Doc Ramsay.  

Little Schlepp got to meet some old friends... 

and make new ones...

Along the way, we noticed a door off of the birdwatching area in the back of the Nature Center:  Herbarium.  We asked Jennifer, a PEEC volunteer, about it and she gave us an impromptu tour.  

It turns out they inherited the specimens from LANL and other sources back in 2005.  Since then, it's been growing as people add to the collection.  There are on the order of 3000 sheets stored in their herbarium.  

We didn't have much time to linger, but Jennifer has put me in touch with others involved in the PEEC herbarium.  I'm sure there will be opportunities to collaborate.  

Small (Green) Steps

Even small efforts to re-green urban areas can bring back lost species and fuel the entire food web... https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2688-8319.12259.  The NY Times even had a prime write-up on Miyawaki forests.  

Meanwhile, U.A.E. is stepping up ahead of COP27 being held in Dubai with a huge influx of funding... https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/18/united-arab-emirates-eye-popping-climate-fund-00111736.  

Pono

Pono is a Hawaiian word for “just, righteous and balanced.”  I just learned that today from a NY Times article written in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires and the loss of Lahaina.  It resonates deeply with me in terms of environmental justice and stewardship.  

Here's a passion flower to symbolize our faith that Maui will rebuild better, embracing the Old Ways yet bringing forth a sustainable future. 
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More breaking news on wildfire closer to home... Black Feather Fire in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness.  Haven't been there since 1970.  
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/adventure/beauty-under-fire-the-san-pedro-parks-wilderness/article_9f337542-3f7d-11ee-ae60-dbe5dd1c0315.html