Crew 3 Blog 06-30-2011

For the past two months our crew has been in the heat of the Tijeras mountains. We spent our time breaking through solid rock to install ATV barricades and giant information kiosks, as well as putting up thousands of feet of fencing. When we finished with digging holes for 10 hrs. a day we began work on cutting corridor for biking and hiking trails. YIPEE chain saw work again!!!
Finally this week we were once again slaying the White Fir dragons, in their unusually dry dwellings up in the La Jara mountains. Due to fire restrictions we ripped our selves out of bed at 4:00 AM so we could start sawing at first sunlight. We had to shut down at 10:00 am. After sawing in the morning we were able to eat lunch, take a nap, do a training and cook dinner. Thanks to Justin we where able to cook meals in his families cabin near by. Cutting would start at 6:00 pm and go until darkness once again fell on the land.
Unfortunately due to wild fires across New Mexico, Carson national park instituted stage III fire restrictions starting 12:00 on Wednesday night. This means all forest roads are closed and no chain saws in the mountains. So our future work schedules are in the wind. We will keep you in the loop as future projects present themselves.

Green Crew Blog 2/23/11

After the end of our project in Wagon Mound, the Green Crew had a summer intensive training week. The week consisted of hauling and splitting wood, camping and hiking at the sand dunes, and visiting a solar array. We also visited the Earthship visitor center, had a lecture about indoor air quality, and learned wilderness and remote First Aid training. Through the trainings and field trips we learned quite a bit about nature, solar energy, off-grid housing, toxic chemicals, and head, spine, and neck injuries.
This week the green crew is partnered with the Taos County Housing Authority. We've been working with recycled newspaper insulation. The work has been hard and rewarding. Working with non-toxic materials is nice. We have to break the insulation into fluffy pieces and feed them into the insulation blower machine.Two people must go into the hot, cramped attic spaces and blow a few inches of insulation over the existing insulation. The homes will save energy on heating and cooling because of the increased R-value of the insulation. Even though the materials are non-toxic, we still have to wear goggles and face masks to prevent the tiny particles from getting into our eyes and lungs. Wearing the proper gear does add to the heat factor and makes breathing and seeing harder. The work definitely makes for a good night sleep and a clear conscience.

June 20, 2011 - June 23, 2011 Blog! Crew #13

The first day of the third week was freezing cold. Everyone had the chills but at least everyone had a sweater to keep warm. In courtyard number two, we had to finish putting 3 yards of crusher fine. So, Ariana delivered two truck loads of crusher fines and we started to level the crusher fines. We were moving all of the excess dirt to the sagebrush and finished up moving all of the dirt. We started with courtyard number one and we were in teams laying and leveling pavers inside courtyard one. We took the pavers from the helipad area and transported them into the courtyard. Damian, Estella & Amber got plants and weeds from the hospital to decorate and put around the excess dirt. While we were doing our daily PT, a dog named Charlie took and ran off with Joe's lunch! Charlie from Crew #12 ran after the dog. But at least the dog only yook the sandwich bread. Estrella came up with a joke everyone enjoyed. When we can't find an answer or we're stuck at some point, Estrella simply says, "phone a friend, need a lifeline." As soon as we finished courtyard number one, we started in courtyard number three by pulling out weeds and digging a hole for the pond. We dug 6 feet wide and 2 feet deep, but unfortunately the people at the hospital don't want a pond anymore. So we filled up the pond with dirt and made it into a flower bed. We started to plant trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers as well.

TJ - Penasco Crew

In the last 2 weeks I've met new people, along with my crew members meeting new people. I have learned new tools and how the tools work. I have also learned about working as a team. We have been making and cleaning trails for people in and out of the community to use. Our work impacts the community because it makes some outdoor activities like hiking possible for people.

We have come across some challenges like deciding on one idea and a certain way to do something. There has been very very few miscommunications between crew members. We have overcome these kind of things. I am excited about working on new trails and making more paths possible for hikers.

June 13, 2011- June 16, 2011 Blog!

Our week at Crew #14 was fun and intense work at the Holy Cross Hospital. At the job site, we have three major projects. We started with courtyard number three and we mounded 2 1/2 tons of dirt! Then Damian and Estrella flatten the dirt to level it out. After we leveled it out, we plan to put crusher fines and sand to the next layer after the dirt. Finally, we will add the bricks that match the courtyard's bricks inside the hospital. Courtyard three will then be a patio and seating area for the hospital staff to sit and eat lunch. Also the barbque can be rolled out onto the courtyard for cookouts. We started working on courtyard two. We took out the red donor bricks and placed them in the dumpster. While we were digging at courtyard three, Cory, our supervisor, found a mole! The first mole was nice but the second mole bit Cory five times! Luckily there was no bleeding. Throughout the weekend it was exciting and fun.

Crew 1 blog by Jared Hazard

This week Crew 1 is on spike in Santa Fe. It is our crew's first back country spike. Packing light and hiking long distances was very challenging for our crew. It was rough losing Angi and Josh during the spike but even being two people short our crew finished three out of five properties! We also got lots of help from Lynn and Miles from the Forestry Service. We also did three crew trainings. First public speaking, second conflict resolution with Rosie, and last internal and external perception. We played an awesome game of football, which helped us with teamwork. The awesome spike was challenging and rewarding.

Wilderness is...

Wilderness is the land all around us. undiscovered. untamed. unnamed. - Alyssa Sampson

Wilderness is a place that is hardly touched by roads, earth moving vehicles, and technology. A place that people, animals, plants, and insects can be free and have peace. - Cody Allrunner

Wilderness to me is a place where anyone can go where the modern world doesn't impose. Where nature is able to be wild and undamaged by humans. Wilderness is a place where the environment can flourish. - Callie Miller

Wilderness is places that are untouched or as minimally exposed to man as possible. A place to reflect, work, build character and become completely subject to all the elements you can't control. - Karen Mirabal