New Mexico, A Hot Bed For The Emerging Green Economy
New Mexico is a “Hot Bed” for the emerging Green Economy. It’s a garden bed nurturing the seeds of change to fruition. I have been on a job search for five months in the Land of Enchantment, and during this time I have found a myriad of self employed people and businesses built on the foundation of sustainability. My searches have been focused primarily in Albuquerque and the surrounding region, and my Google searches have brought me to people and businesses through out the entire state. For the first time I have experienced a land filled with the desire to become Earth based - not plastic based. I assume this is because of New Mexico’s deep roots in Earth Buildings. With Adobe, Rammed Earth, and Natural Plasters as the back bone of traditional building materials is it any wonder that New Mexico has organizations like:
- Adobe Association South West - www.adobeasw.com
- South West Solaradobe - www.adobebuilder.com
- Northern New Mexico Colleges’ Adobe Construction Department - www.adobecollege.com
- Eco-Nest Builders - www.econest.com
- American Clay: Makers of fine clay plasters - www.americanclay.com;
Just to name a few!
The magic is only just beginning there though. This land is also filled with many environmentally conscious and down to earth organic farmers with CSA’s, and permaculturalists with training institutes and landscape companies. Here are a few:
- Santa Fe Permaculture: A permaculture based landscape company - www.sfpermaculture.com
- Permaculture institute - www.permaculture.org
- Soilutions: permaculture based landscape, and recycling company - www.soilutions.net
- Permaculture Credit Union: A great idea! - www.pcuonline.org. The dedication and support for fresh, locally grown, organic food is eye opening - I love it!
- The Gardeners Guild is a great resource - www.gardenersguild.org
- Erda Gardens is another beautiful looking educational center and CSA - www.erdagardens.org, and I am looking forward to becoming a member of a CSA when we get established. I have found a few that have caught my eye and I am leaning towards -www.lospoblanosorganics.com.
The City of Albuquerque’s “Sustainability Page” has been a tremendous resource and a great insight into this areas commitment for a fertile future - www.cabq.gov/albuquerquegreen.
I have loved reading about all of Albuquerque’s green works and future goals. I can see a wonderful future laid out. The New Mexico Solar Energy Association has been indispensable in my job search, and an educational powerhouse of information - www.nmsea.org. New Mexico’s U.S. Green Building Council Chapter was the ground breaking site in my job search with their green business directory, and they have kept me excited about networking and social opportunities at their Green Drinks and Salon events. Albuquerque’s social network, Duke City Fix -www.dukecityfix.com ( It’s Green Social network started by Sustainable New Mexico - www.sustainablenewmexico.org) has been a great support in our establishment here in the Land of Enchantment.
I know I have only brushed against the tip of the iceberg in this article. New Mexico’s focus on sustainable energy and water conservation is vast enough for me to keep writing articles in this blog in days and years to come, and my focus is to be able to work with and experience many of these good people and businesses first hand. Look forward to highlighting people and businesses in future posts on The Knipfing Report, featuring those who are digging their way out of the Petroleum-based Economy and into a brighter way of living.
