Tee Off for Autism
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Saturday, May 5 Fox Run Golf Course Come out to Fox Run Golf Course on Saturday, May 5 for a day of golfing to support a great cause. Autism is a neurological disorder that affects communication, social skills and behavior. One in every 110 children born today will be diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Tee Off for Autism is a golf event, the proceeds from which will help support the New Mexico Autism Society (NMAS). The proceeds from this event will support the New Mexico Autism Society’s (NMAS) many programs throughout the year, such as: host workshops that bring educational topics to families, educators, professionals and community members; publish the NMAS newsletter six times a year; maintain the information autism website through the NMAS; host social events for New Mexico families in the autism community; grant stipends to parents and educators to attend autism workshops and conferences; provide funding for “field trips” for classes with students with ASD; present professional speakers on autism through the Ruth Miksovic Lecture Series. The cost for the event is $240 per foursome, which includes 18 holes, a golf cart, lunch and prizes. The tee-off is a 9 am shotgun start. For more information, contact Jennifer Wells (505 488-8050) or Christine White (480 299-5449).
COMPOST! . . . Replenishing the Earth for Generations By Betsy Windisch International Compost Week is May 6-12. The theme Compost! . . . Replenishing the Earth for Generations reminds us that even recycling our vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, old bread, dryer lint, newspaper, saw dust, leaves, tree branches, grass clippings, and more, has an impact on the quality of life of future generations. We should be more cognizant of the wisdom Chief Seattle of the Suquamish shared over 150 years ago, that “all things are connected . . . Man did not weave the web of life – he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web he does to himself ” (1854). Heavy thoughts for a beautiful spring day, but indeed composting replenishes the soil and recycles nutrients that are needed by all living things. Composting takes place in nature continuously. Making compost is part of the lifecycle. In our contemporary “throw away” society we have lost the “art” of making compost. However, with the growing number of backyard gardens, so are the number of backyard composting sites, spurred on by rising prices and an interest in sustainability. Just as seeing something grow in a garden is life affirming and satisfying, so is seeing your table scraps and other organic materials decompose and make soil. What is compost? Compost is simply decayed organic matter that breaks down, enriching the soil. For a fuller explanation of the science involved, go to the Stewardship Gardening web site. Worms, those squiggly composting machines, eat and digest the scraps, and in the end, literally, produce great waste which is humus. Little children (and big children, too) will love watching the worms do what they do best. Feed them vegetable leftovers, coffee grounds / tea bags, spoiled food from the fridge, fruit rinds. The no-nos for all compost are non-biodegradable materials, pet litter and manure, vegetable oils, fats, and meat.
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Why compost? Adding compost helps your garden AND it is beneficial to the environment by reducing the amount of organic material headed to the landfill. There the waste is wasted. Composting can reduce yard waste that lands in the landfill by 50-75%! Composting lowers greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollutants, saves money, energy, and those nutrients a fate of existence in a dark hole with no escape. There are many ways to compost (bins, piles, holes) for which I’m going to suggest the reader check out a number of web sites to find out which one is best for you. Time, economics, and end results will determine your choice. In Gallup-McKinley County we have tough soil and growing conditions, but making compost and growing a garden is possible and worthwhile. In addition to the garbage reduction you will see, working with the soil may also be good for your spirit and psyche. Check out the following web sites for more detailed information on how to get started. You can compost all year round, it isn’t just a spring thing. Though, there is something about spring that makes us want to get our hands dirty and commune with nature. Help her out – Compost! Websites: carecycle.ca.gov/organics, compost101.com, compostcouncil. org, eartheasy.com, ehow.com, epa.gov/waste/conserve, gardening.wsu.edu/ stewardship, vegweb.com For more information about backyard composting and vermiculture, call the county extension agent (863-3432) or the author, to be directed to knowledgeable individuals in our area. An internet search will refer you to many additional sites for backyard composting. If you are interested in a local backyard composting workshop contact Betsy at 722-9257 / betsywindisch@ yahoo.com.).