Colorado Country Life June 2019 Grand Valley

GRAND VALLEY POWER

JUNE 2019

Discover the Unexpected

PLUS

PALATE-PLEASING FREEZER MEALS

12

FUEL FOR THE ROAD

22

BEST TIME FOR FLY FISHING

24

DRIVE ELECTRIC

The average electric vehicle can save a driver who drives 15,000 miles in a year about $850 annually on fuel. All-electric vehicles start to pay for themselves a long time before they reach the end of their expected lifespans, leading to signiďŹ cant savings over time.

-Fleet Carma

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CO-OP FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Number 06

Volume 50

June 2019 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Cassi Gloe, CCC, Production Manager/Designer cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org Kylee Coleman, Editorial/Admin. Assistant kcoleman@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING Kris Wendtland, Ad Representative advertising@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-902-7276 National Advertising Representative, American MainStreet Publications 611 S. Congress Street, Suite 504, Austin, TX 78704 | 800-626-1181 Advertising Standards: Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association.

Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216-1731. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. ©Copyright 2019, Colorado Rural Electric Association. Call for reprint rights.

EDITORIAL Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-455-4111 coloradocountrylife.coop | facebook.com/COCountryLife Pinterest.com/COCountryLife | Instagram.com/cocountrylife Twitter.com/COCountryLife | YouTube.com/COCountryLife1 Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.

SUBSCRIBERS Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Colorado Country Life. Cost of subscription for members of participating electric cooperatives is $4.44 per year (37 cents per month), paid from equity accruing to the member. For nonmembers, a subscription is $9 per year in-state/$15 out-of-state.

POSTMASTER Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216

On the JUNE 2019

Discover the Unexpected

PLUS

PALATE-PLEASING FREEZERS MEALS

12

FUEL FOR THE ROAD

22

BEST TIME FOR FLY FISHING

24

Cover Welcome to summer in Colorado. It’s time to explore the Centennial State.

“Spring in Sand Dunes” by Aric Althouse, a member of Mountain View Electric Association.

4 VIEWPOINT

5 LETTERS

6 ASK THE ENERGY EXPERTS

7 YOUR CO-OP NEWS

12 RECIPES

14 NEWS CLIPS

16 COVER STORY

COCountryLife pinned: Make Coconut Cashew Basil Curry Soup and enjoy it now or find directions to freeze it for a future meal at coloradocountrylife.coop

ROAD TRIPPIN’ 20 INDUSTRY 22 GARDENING

24 OUTDOORS

26 MARKETPLACE

27 CREATIVE CORNER

28 COMMUNITY EVENTS

29 YOUR STORIES

30 DISCOVERIES

FACEBOOK CHATTER Colorado Rural Electric Association posted: Colorado’s electric cooperatives believe there’s great value in raising the next generation of rural leaders in communities we serve. This June, 42 Youth Tour students, the state’s largest group ever, will visit our nation’s capital thanks to the support of #RuralElectric co-ops.

Monthly Contest Enter for your chance to win a copy of Seriously Good Freezer Meals. Be sure to try one of the author’s recipes on page 12 of the magazine or on our website at coloradocountrylife.coop.

For official rules and how to enter, visit Contests at coloradocountrylife.coop.

coloradocountrylife.coop

PINTEREST SNEAK PEEK

INSTAGRAM PIC of the month cocountrylife posted: Learning how to send even better messages to you on #socialmedia at the #nreca19 Legislative Conference. #coopsonthehill

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

3

VIEWPOINT

CO-OP COOPERATION

Colorado’s electric cooperatives ready to work with legislators

BY KENT SINGER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

S

hortly after I graduated from law school in 1984, I moved to Denver and began my legal career as a staff attorney for the Colorado legislature.

As an attorney in the legislative drafting office, my job, along with about 15 other lawyers, was to draft the hundreds of bills and amendments that are considered by the legislature each year. The legislative drafting office is now called the Office of Legislative Legal Services, one of the four nonpartisan staff agencies that support the work of the Colorado General Assembly.

As a legislative attorney, I worked with members of both the Colorado House and Senate, both Republicans and Democrats, to craft pieces of legislation to accomplish their policy objectives. This work often involved consultation with not only the members of the legislature, but also with lobbyists and other stakeholders whose clients or companies would be impacted by the proposed legislation.

Back in those days, it was unheard of for a member of the General Assembly to introduce a bill that would impact a particular business or company without first giving that business or company an opportunity to provide feedback on the bill. It was not at all uncommon for legislators to ask competing stakeholders to meet in a room and work out their differences.

Of course, when those differences could not be settled, the legislator sponsoring the bill would make the ultimate

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

decision on legislative language. Yet, it was unusual for bills to be introduced where little or no opportunity was given to those affected by the bill to provide input and feedback.

Times have changed. In the just-completed 2019 legislative session, many important pieces of legislation were introduced with little or no opportunity for input from those who would be affected by the new requirements. From legislation regulating the oil and gas industry to bills mandating all sectors of the Colorado economy reduce carbon emissions, bills that will significantly impact Colorado’s energy economy were written over a period of months behind closed doors and without the input of impacted industries.

This was certainly true in the case of HB 19-1261, a bill that will impact rural electricity ratepayers for many years to come.

Despite our requests to be included in the discussion of rational carbon regulation for electric co-ops, a plan was formed and imposed with little input from representatives of electric co-ops. This is unfortunate; we know our systems and facilities better than anyone, and electric co-ops should have had an opportunity to help design this legislation.

I’m fully aware that the majority party has the power to set policy direction in many areas; that’s how our system works.

I’m also aware that some will say, “Why should we talk to you? You’ll just say no.”

KENT SINGER

That may have been a valid criticism in the past, but I don’t think it is true anymore.

As a group, electric co-ops have recognized the changing energy industry and have taken responsible steps to generate more power from carbon-free resources while maintaining reliable service and affordable rates. While we continue to believe that our locally-elected boards should be the primary regulators of electric co-ops, we also understand that the power supply choices we make impact more than co-op consumer-members. We are working extraordinarily hard to make this transition in a way that focuses on continuing the economic vitality of rural Colorado.

I hope that a few legislators will read this column and consider inviting Colorado’s electric co-ops to the table the next time a major energy policy change is considered. I think you will find that we are interested in working together to find solutions to Colorado’s energy needs.

Kent Singer is the executive director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association and offers a statewide perspective on issues affecting electric cooperatives.

CREA is the trade association for your electric co-op, the 21 other electric co-ops in Colorado and its power supply co-op.

LETTERS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

FROM THE EDITOR

Green Eating Machines

Time for some Colorado adventures

BY MONA NEELEY

EDITOR

I

t’s June. Do you have weekend getaways and summer vacations MONA NEELEY planned? Since we live in Colorado, we don’t have to go far to experience amazing adventures. You’ll find some great suggestions in this month’s cover story.

One of the coolest (scariest) things my husband and I did last summer in Colorado was the Skycoaster at the Royal Gorge near Cañon City. You put on a harness, then they strap you into the ride — lying down — and pull you way back. Then it’s up to you to pull the rip cord that sends you down, down, down at 50 miles per hour and out over the canyon, 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River.

It’s exhilarating, heart-stopping, breathtaking and worth doing again. What Colorado adventures do you have planned for this summer?

Mona Neeley is the statewide editor of Colorado Country Life, which is published in coordination with your local electric cooperative. Its goal is to provide information from your local electric co-op to you, its consumer-members.

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It was disappointing to read about yet another large area of wind turbines altering the landscape of the Great Plains (March ’19).

As one who loves open vistas, wildlife and the history of the plains, it’s sad to see this environment further destroyed, ironically in the name of environmentalism.

In this age when there’s so much talk about minimizing our footprint, these things hugely expand it. I understand the plains aren’t Colorado’s cup of tea in general, but that shouldn’t be reason to further trash them with these huge eyesores that make the countryside look more like some kind of industrial park. They would never be put in the mountains or a rain forest.

Pierce Pritchett, Yoder Mountain View Electric consumer-member

The author of “EVs Need to Pay Fair Share” (April ’19) claims electric vehicles do not pay to maintain Colorado’s roads because they pay no gasoline tax. Being an owner of both a Chevy Bolt and Nissan LEAF, I want to correct that viewpoint. In Colorado, EV owners pay an extra, annual $50 per car “plug-in electric vehicle fee” with license renewal.

Jim Gano, Fort Collins Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

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After reading the story “Pushing Efficient Ways to Mow your Lawn” (March ’19), I came to the conclusion I have found an even greener way to mow my fenced-in, four-acre, high-desert pasture. I switched from mowing to “homing” four llamas from my local animal rescue shelter that became homeless in the 2012 Black Forest wildfire. I pay for hay, feed, vet and shearer costs and keep the water supply full. In return, they keep the whole four acres cut down and it looks like green velvet all summer. To me, this is money well-spent instead of paying for gas, oil and upkeep of the riding lawn mower.

Brian Lackey, Peyton Mountain View Electric consumer-member

SEND US YOUR LETTERS Editor Mona Neeley, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or mneeley@ coloradocountrylife.org. Include name and address. Letters may be edited for length.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

5

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BY PAT KEEGAN AND BR AD THIESSEN

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Then we have to find out for ourselves if it lives up to the hype. Here are a few products we recommend to help you save energy:

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

SMARTPHONE APPS There are several energy apps available today, but two stand out. They’re free, easy to use, effective and available for both Android and iOS devices.

• JouleBug is a fun app that helps you save energy. You collect points for each energy-efficient move you make inside the home, on your daily commute and in daily life. The app helps you make changes and build ongoing energy-saving habits. It’s designed as a competition among friends and can help you and your family create an energy-efficient household together. The app also includes fun, educational videos and links to helpful articles.

• There are several energy cost calculator apps that help you identify where you use the most energy in your home. You can enter how many hours per day you use each appliance or electronic device and the rate you’re paying for power, which you can find on your energy bill. The app creates a total operating cost for that specific device.

SMART THERMOSTATS A smart thermostat connects to the internet and your computer and/or smartphone through your home’s Wi-Fi and could shave $50 off your energy bill every year.

Smartphones and other devices make it easier than ever to take control of home energy use.

Photo Source: Karolina Grabowska

Here are some features to keep in mind if you’re considering a smart thermostat: • Learning: A learning thermostat will figure out your habits and adapt — this is probably the best way to make the most of a smart thermostat’s energy-saving potential.

• “Geofencing”: This will detect when you leave home and return, and adjust the temperature up or down so energy isn’t being wasted.

• Additional features: They include remote room sensors and voice control.

Before you buy, learn what you can about the functionality of the smart thermostat’s app, and take a look at how easy it is to program the thermostat unit directly.

Finally, consider the installation. Some models are more difficult to install and may require rewiring.

Don’t forget to check with your local electric cooperative on additional programs and services designed to help you save on your energy bills.

This column was co-written by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen of Collaborative Efficiency.

LEARN MORE ONLINE Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn more ways smart technology can help you save. Look under the Energy tab.

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

RELIABILITY CHALLENGES IN AN IMPERFECT WORLD

BY TOM WALCH

D

CEO

o we provide power when you need it? That’s the fundamental test that the Grand Valley Power team must pass if we are to deliver on our mission: Empowering Lives with Hometown Service.

While we have a track record that is the envy of many utilities, during this time of year power outages seem to crop up with increasing frequency. Over the past few weeks our consumers have experienced outages resulting from high winds blowing a tree into our lines, a motorist knocking down one of our poles, an airplane striking our power lines and a squirrel that made the mistake of climbing on equipment in one of our substations. This summer we can expect more of the same, along with outages due to lightning, wildfires and equipment failures.

Since we live in an imperfect world, we can’t expect perfection when it comes to system reliability. Where do we stand?

Over the past five years, Grand Valley Power has finished either second or third among Colorado’s 22 cooperatives when it comes to reliability benchmarks. Our average service availability is 99.99% — a mark referred to in the industry as “four nines.” For a system as complex as our electric distribution grid, these are excellent results. This means our consumers enjoy uninterrupted electric energy 99.99% of the time.

Sustained performance like this does not happen by accident. It is the result of careful planning, continual investment in system upgrades and replacements, attention to detail in design and construction and prompt response to outages. Can we do better? While we can always improve, any significant improvement comes with a significant cost. At some point, there is a diminishing benefit from chasing greater service availability. Our challenge is to strike the right balance between reliability and affordability. The balancing effort includes a constant search for new and better ways to guard against the forces of nature

— lightning, wind, trees and all kinds of critters — that impact reliability.

Communications with consumers during big outages is also challenging.

During normal, day-to-day operations, our local, hometown character provides many opportunities for personal interactions with GVP team members. These communications enhance the consumer experience. I can’t tell you how many times our members have reached out and thanked me because we strive to personally answer all phone calls during business hours, instead of routing calls through a seemingly endless menu of voicemail options. This hands-on, personal contact becomes problematic when hundreds of consumers are trying to contact us at the same time for outage information. Since our resources to handle high call volumes are limited, callers will get the dreaded voice recording or busy signal in these situations. Again, we could address the problem by spending more money, but we have concluded that this kind of investment does not return the best value for our consumers.

Using modern technology that many of us have at our fingertips, will give consumers new ways to stay up to date on outage status.

Our communications staff provides the most current outage information available on our GVP website, Facebook and Twitter platforms. Soon we will be able to provide real-time updates with text messages and emails to consumers. As more consumers use these tools, phone lines will be freed up for more critical communications, and staff members will be able to devote full attention to outage restoration.

The enhanced metering infrastructure that we are currently deploying will also help us improve reliability. The data provided will enable us to identify and address weak spots, overloads and failing equipment before they ever result in a power outage.

When an outage occurs, it will notify us

TOM WALCH, CEO

instantaneously. It will also help us confirm when power has been restored.

The silver lining in the dark cloud of major power outages is visible when I see the way GVP team members come together during the restoration process. Everyone is pitching in so that our workers are kept safe and consumer inconvenience is minimized. Of course, our tone may change from friendly and accommodating to workmanlike and efficient during times like these. No matter the tone, believe me when I say that the focus of the team is always on providing the best service that we can for our members, and we will do everything we can to get the lights back on as soon as possible.

COMMENTS TO THE CEO You are a member of a cooperative and your opinion does count. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please let me know by writing to Ask the CEO, P.O. Box 190, Grand Junction, CO 81502, or send an email to me at twalch@gvp.org. Check out our website at gvp.org.

BOARD MEETING NOTICE Grand Valley Power board meetings are open to the members, consumers and public. Regularly scheduled board meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the headquarters building located at 845 22 Road, Grand Junction, Colorado.

The monthly agenda is posted in the lobby of the headquarters building 10 days before each meeting, and posted on the GVP website. If anyone desires to address the board of directors, please let us know in advance and you will be placed on the agenda.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS

Director Petitions Due June 24

There are three director seats up for election at the Grand Valley Power Annual Meeting in August. Nominating petitions are available at the Grand Valley Power office located at 845 22 Road. Signed petitions must be returned no later than close of business on June 24, 2019.

A few reminders for those running for the board: 1. To be eligible to become or remain a director, a person must be a Grand Valley Power member for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the election and receive electric service from Grand Valley Power at the member’s primary residence.

2. A director cannot be engaged in a competing enterprise or in other businesses involving a conflict of interest.

Grand Valley Power’s bylaws provide in-depth information on director qualifications, terms, elections, meetings and officers.

Election procedures for the board of directors are governed by Colorado statute.

The cooperative’s bylaws and election policy comply with statutory requirements. These bylaws and policies can be found on GVP’s website at gvp.org/direc tor-elections. Upon request, these written documents can be picked up at GVP’s headquarters or mailed to you.

MEMBERS PARTICIPATION REQUESTED! As a cooperative member, each Grand Valley Power eligible account holder or spouse has the right to vote for up to three directors to be elected. Members have only one ballot per election, regardless of the number of accounts with Grand Valley Power. Ballots will be mailed during the month of July. Members can return these ballots by mail or at the annual meeting.

The Annual Meeting of Grand Valley Power and the election of directors will be held on August 8, 2019, at Colorado Mesa University at 5:30 p.m.

REDUCE YOUR CLUTTER

REDUCE YOUR CLUTTER! Tired of sorting through junk mail and bills every evening? Take the simple step of signing up to receive a paperless GVP bill!

How to Go Paperless In your GVP SmartHub account: • Click My Profile • Click My Information • Find, Update My Paperless Settings • Turn the service ON We’ll notify you each month when your bill is ready.

Don't have a SmartHub account? Start one today!

It's FREE. Visit gvp.org/ways-pay for more information.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

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YOUR POWER OUTAGE PANTRY We do our best to avoid power outages, but unfortunately, Mother Nature occasionally has different plans. Stay ahead of the storm by stocking your pantry with a variety of non-perishable items.

Set these items aside for extended outages only, and your storm prep will be a breeze!

Don’t forget to stock up on disposable goods, like paper plates, napkins, plastic cutlery and cups.

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS

TEN WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME SAFER

BY CHRISTMAS WHARTON

Never use electrical cords that feel warm to the touch or are damaged in any way.

Safety starts with you. #NationalSafetyMonth

June is National Safety Month and a great time to take a look around your home to ensure that you are doing all you can to provide a happy and safe place for your family and loved ones. Kick off this important month by taking a few minutes to make 10 easy changes to your home for year-round safety.

1. Keep a list of emergency numbers in your cell phone, on paper and in your emergency kit. Include such numbers as emergency (911), poison control (800-222-1222), doctors’ numbers, parents’ numbers and other close relatives, neighbors or friends.

2. Check your home for furniture or devices that may not be stable, such as bookshelves, television stands and televisions.

You can purchase safety straps or hardware to secure these items to the wall to avoid any accidents.

3. Check any cords you may have, including blinds, phones and electrical devices. Cords can lead to a tripping accident or children can become tangled in them, so they should be tied up and out of their reach.

4. Get a pill organizer if you’re taking one or multiple medications on a prolonged schedule. It can be quite easy to lose track of your doses. Don’t put your personal health at risk.

5. Put together a first aid kit and keep it in your home for emergencies. Part of staying safe is being ready to take care of injuries quickly and appropriately. Make sure it includes adhesive bandages, gauze pads, a wound-cleaning agent, scissors, tweezers and adhesive tape.

6. Test your GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupters), which are outlets that have a red test button — usually in bathrooms, kitchens and outdoors. Plug in a nightlight and push the test button. If the power goes off, the GFCI is working. Press the reset button to restore power. If the power does not go off, replace the GFCI. 7. Keep your car keys next to you while you sleep. If you hear any suspicious noises in the middle of the night, you can turn on the alarm on your car to scare away any intruders.

8. Ensure fire extinguishers are on every floor and in locations where there may not be an exit.

9. Make sure your house number is clearly marked on your mailbox and on your house so it can be seen easily.

10. Check electrical cords for any frays or to see if they exhibit any warmth. If so, unplug them immediately.

Taking these quick steps now can do a lot to reduce the risks of potential problems later on. When you keep these items on your mind and review them from time to time, you will be sure to provide your family with a happy, safe home.

Find more tips online at gvp.org/safe-homes.

Grand Valley Power Takes Home COMMUNICATION AWARDS

G

rand Valley Power came home with four awards this year for excellent newsletter content. Colorado Country Life’s Excellence in Newsletters awards are given to organizations with outstanding articles and photography in four different categories: best safety article, best newsletter photo, best story on a community program and best article on an industry situation.

Each year, Colorado’s cooperative editors — from all 22 electric cooperative organizations — gather together and, during the meeting, award winners are

announced. Cooperatives have three divisions, which is dependent on the number of meters within each service area. GVP is a Division 2 cooperative.

“I was so surprised and elated to accept these awards for Grand Valley Power’s Colorado Country Life magazine,” said Christmas Wharton, GVP communications specialist. “Each and every day, whether it’s in print or online, my colleagues and I strive to be a source of information to our communities and members. Thank you to all who were involved in the selection, and congratulations to all the winners!”

Christmas Wharton is the communications specialist at Grand Valley Power. The awards were for the following 2018 newsletter photos and articles: First Place – Best Newsletter Photo (Lives Wires and Fires) First Place – Best Safety Article (Home Checkup) Second Place – Best Story on a Community Program (Women In Power) Second Place – Best Safety Article (Call Before You Dig).

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS

Avian Protection and Diverting Birds

BY CHRISTMAS WHARTON Two ospreys are now much safer from the possibility of striking a live wire thanks to a new nest platform.

Osprey wingspan can be upwards of 5 to 6 feet, according to National Geographic. New construction power lines (and retrofit of old line) take long wingspan into account to help large birds of prey avoid striking two points of contact on a live wire.

R

aptors, otherwise known as birds of prey that include osprey, eagles and owls, hunt high in the air and often perch on large pine or cottonwood trees.

When these natural perches are not available, these raptors unfortunately see utility poles as a great location. Grand Valley Power is doing its part to help mitigate that as much as possible. GVP has had an Avian Protection Plan for a number of years. The operations department is highly conscientious about protecting migratory birds in GVP communities (as well as other animals, such as raccoons and squirrels).

It’s an important set of guidelines that help reduce risks to bird species that can result in electrocutions and collisions with distribution lines. This can cause problems for both birds and GVP members.

These guidelines were cooperatively developed by the Avian Power Line

With the help of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Grand Valley Power constructed a large osprey bird nest from approved materials. Seen in the pictures is before and after final construction.

Interaction Committee (APLIC), EDM International, Inc. and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They are intended to provide a “toolbox” from which utilities can tailor a plan that will best fit their needs while furthering the conservation of avian species and improving system reliability and customer service. It’s not as easy as it may seem though. Within the mitigation plan, knowing what types of birds and what time of year bird nesting is high is just part of the legwork necessary. Grand Valley Power also works closely with local agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure all permits and regulations are met. Ultimately, if regulations are not followed, fines can be in the thousands of dollars.

Recently, we worked with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to partner on constructing a new home for a pair of ospreys that wanted to build a nest atop one

of our power poles in De Beque. With these guidelines on nest building, our linemen put together the base for a new home (see photos). The pole was set and we crossed our fingers that the pair would decide to nest there. Luckily, when we visited in late April our plan had worked —the ospreys were new homeowners!

“Many of our protection measures aren’t necessarily visible from the ground, and technology, like many things, keeps evolving to better protect our bird and animal population,” says Bill Barlow, operations supervisor. “When feasible, we place lines underground to further reduce the risk. We look at all avenues and decide accordingly.”

If you want to report a bird issue near GVP power lines or facilities, please call GVP’s main office at 970-242-0040.

On the Road to Retirement: Steve Don

BY CHRISTMAS WHARTON

After more than 27 years of working at Grand Valley Power, Steve Don, manager of engineering, retired.

“I was first drawn to work for GVP because I wanted to be with a smaller power company and directly involved in the day-to-day engineering of the system. I first started as a staff engineer and eventually moved into the manager role,” Don said.

For those of you who don’t know, electric engineers who work with electric distribution systems help design, plan and study it to ensure safe and

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

After 27 years of working in the engineering department at Grand Valley Power, Steve Don’s last day of work was April 10.

reliable service. They are the brains of the network and provide input for planning electricity needs for the future.

“Some of the best times I’ve had were working on challenges of maintaining and expanding the GVP power system,” Don reminisced.

For now, Don’s plans are to enjoy the great outdoors and fish more often. You’ll see him exploring more of the West. Grand Valley Power wants to thank him for his dedication not only to our organization, but also to each and every member.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

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RECIPES

AHEAD OF THE GAME Use downtime now to prepare meals for future fast-paced days

BY AMY HIGGINS

WIN A COPY

| RECIPES@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG Enter our contest to win a copy of Seriously Good Freezer Meals. Visit Contests at coloradocountrylife.coop for details on how to enter.

Palate-pleasing meals to freeze now and enjoy later.

“B

e prepared.” Yes, this is the scout motto, but it’s an adage that most could benefit from when it comes to meal planning. The recently-published cookbook Seriously Good Freezer Meals: 150 Easy Recipes to Save Your Time, Money & Sanity by Karrie Truman features palate-pleasing meals and details on how to make them immediately or how to freeze them appropriately for delicious meals at a later date. If 150 recipes aren’t enough for you, check out Truman’s website happymoneysaver.com for oodles more awesome recipes, tips and life hacks. In the meantime, get a little taste of what to expect from this helpful cookbook with this recipe:

Thai Beef Stir-Fry Makes 6 servings 2 pounds beef flank steak, sliced across the grain into 1/4-inch strips 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar 2 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon tamari sauce 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 1 1/2 red bell peppers, sliced To Serve 3 tablespoons vegetable oil Garnishes Chopped fresh cilantro, optional Sesame seeds, optional In a large bowl, combine flank steak, rice vinegar, water, fish sauce, tamari sauce, brown sugar, hot pepper flakes and garlic.

Make It Now In a wok or large skillet, heat vegetable oil over high heat. Add beef and marinade; cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink inside. Add onion and bell peppers; cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, until tender.

Remove from heat and sprinkle with cilantro and sesame seeds, if using.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

Make It a Freezer Meal Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Spread sliced onion and bell peppers on baking sheet, separating them as much as possible. Place in freezer for 30 to 45 minutes, until onion and peppers are frozen solid.

Transfer to a gallon-size freezer bag. Pour beef and marinade into another gallon-size freezer bag. Seal, removing as much air as possible, and freeze bags together as a kit.

Thaw and Cook Place meat bag in refrigerator for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours to thaw (leave vegetable bag in freezer). In a wok or large skillet, heat vegetable oil over high heat. Add beef and marinade; cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes, until meat is no longer pink inside. Add frozen onion and peppers; cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, until tender. Remove from heat and sprinkle with cilantro and sesame seeds, if using.

If you’re looking for more great freezer meals, try

Coconut Cashew Basil Curry Soup or French Dip Sandwiches.

Get the recipes at coloradocountrylife.coop.

A team of representatives from local electric co-ops will ride in the 2019 Pedal the Plains bicycle tour of the eastern For more information plains of Colorado. This three-day tour takes riders on and to make an over a 160-mile adventure highlighting three unique, small online donation, visit communities: Lamar, Holly and Springfield. poweringtheplains.coop Help sponsor the team and raise money for Energy Outreach Colorado.

Send your check to: CEEI/PTP, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216.

ARE YOU ONE OF THE 90% OF DISCOURAGED PEOPLE WHO HAS A MISDIAGNOSED THYROID? SYMPTOMS: FATIGUE, INABILITY TO LOSE WEIGHT, BRAIN FOG, GUT PROBLEMS, INSOMNIA, DEPRESSION COMMON DIAGNOSIS: HASHIMOTO’S, GRAVE’S DISEASE Dr. J. Jimenez, D.C. (Licensed in TX), is a graduate of Cleveland University-Kansas City. He has spent over 20 years studying the Thyroid-Gut connection. He is also a national speaker and a leading wellness expert in his successful holistic center in San Antonio, TX, where he offers services via phone or Skype throughout the nation and overseas.

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DO YOU HAVE A GREAT RECIPE?

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If you have a recipe you want us to try, send it our way to recipes@coloradocountrylife.org.

Text and photo from Seriously Good Freezer Meals

by Karrie Truman. Text copyright © 2018 Karrie Truman.

Photographs by Charity Burggraaf. Published by Robert Rose, Inc. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

ImagineWellnessCentre.com COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

13

NEWS CLIPS

New Legislative Rules Curb Greenhouse Gas

C

olorado’s electric cooperatives will be reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted from their power supplies to meet new requirements stemming from Colorado’s 2019 legislative session. HB 19-1261 established a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions statewide from 2005 baseline levels by 26% by 2025, by 50% by 2030 and by 90% by 2050.

Those are the goals. How they will be accomplished will come from the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, which has been given the authority to oversee the process. Electric utilities with power plants and retail sales may submit a clean energy plan to the AQCC and the Public Utilities Commission designed to achieve 80% reductions in greenhouse emission by 2030.

This provision allows for Xcel Energy’s already submitted clean energy plan. It could also be used by Black Hills Energy, an investor-owned utility, and electric co-ops Holy Cross Energy and Intermountain

Rural Electric Association, both of which own part of a coal-fueled power plant.

The provision for submitting a clean energy plan instead of having the AQCC determine how the reduction in greenhouse gases will be accomplished is not available to co-op power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission or the state’s other electric distribution cooperatives. They will have to wait for the AQCC to write the rules.

Electric utilities are expected to have higher percentages of required greenhouse gas reduction than other industries, according to Geoff Hier, director of governmental relations. Utilities are easier to regulate and power plant emissions are easier to measure, he noted.

Other New Bills HB 19-1314 on transitioning from a coalbased economy creates the Just Transition Office (JTO) in the state government.

Electric utilities proposing to retire a coal-fueled electric generating facility

Clean Water for Guatemala Colorado’s electric cooperatives are raising money for water filters for Guatemalan families. When the Colorado-Oklahoma international team heads to Sillab, Guatemala, in August to wire the village of Sillab for electricity, CREA is hoping to send enough money with the team to purchase water filters for each of the 60 households in that mountain village.

CREA’s nonprofit Colorado Electric Educational Institute is accepting donations for “Eco Filtros” manufactured in Guatemala.

These 5-gallon filters last two years.

The filters are $35 each plus $9 shipping. To donate any amount, visit crea.coop/community-outreach/current-causes or mail a check made out to CEEI (with Clean Water Fund on the memo line) to CREA, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

must submit a workforce transition plan to the JTO at least 90 days prior to the retirement. The plan must identify the number of employees being offered other employment within the company, expected retirements and employees being laid off.

The JTO coordinates grants to affected communities to diversify the local economy.

The bill creates job training programs and a fund to assist displaced workers for up to three years.

SB 19-236 followed the required “sunset” review process for the Public Utilities Commission and approved the continuation of the PUC’s authority to regulate public utilities with some changes, two of which affect electric co-ops directly.

First, Tri-State G&T is now required to submit electric resource plans to the PUC for approval. The second item requires the PUC to investigate the costs and benefits of all Colorado electric utilities participating in either an energy imbalance market, a regional transmission organization or joint tariffs. If the PUC finds joining one of these options is in the public interest, it must, by July 1, 2022, direct utilities to participate in the best option.

In other legislative action, bills regarding the oil and gas industry, taxes, employment law and other areas of business were passed before this year’s legislative session ended.

These will also affect your local electric co-op.

We’re more than doubling our emissions-free solar energy

By soaking up the sun At Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, nearly a third of the electricity used by consumers within our cooperative family comes from renewable resources. We are the number one solar generation and transmission cooperative in the nation. The 100-megawatt Spanish Peaks Solar Project, located in southern Colorado, will power 28,000 homes and more than doubles our solar resources.

Together, we generate possibilities. |

www.tristate.coop/renewables

Road Trippin’

Summer Fun Close to Home

It’s summer — or will be soon.

Everyone is looking for fun and interesting places to visit.

Here are five suggestions for sites in Colorado that will make for a fun day trip or a memorable stop on a longer getaway.

Find what interests you, and get out there and enjoy summer.

COVER STORY

STOP BOATING THROUGH BLACK

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CANYON OF THE GUNNISON

southwestern region

BY SHARON SULLIVAN

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Morrow Point Boat Tour in Curecanti National Recreation Area is a spectacular way to experience western Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It’s a monumental place, described by the National Park Service as having “some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rocks and craggiest spires in North America.”

A park ranger pilots the 42-passenger pontoon boat through the stunning scenery surrounding Morrow Point Reservoir, while an interpretive ranger shares fascinating stories about the canyon’s geology, wildlife, early inhabitants and the narrow-gauge railroad built in 1881-82.

“I’m a historian who loves the history of the railroad going through the canyon,” says Paul Santellan, lead guide for Curecanti and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which shares a boundary with the national recreation area. During the 1880s, rock hounds from Denver often rode the train to look for rocks. These geologists noted the canyon’s 1.8 billion-year-old rocks, which led to the establishment of the national park.

Boat tours happen throughout the summer, at 10 a.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. Although reservations are required, it’s typically easy to book seats for this little-known park service gem.

The tour begins at the Pine Creek boat dock, accessed from Pine Creek Trail at Highway 50, milepost 130 (35 miles east of Montrose).

From the parking area, visitors descend 232 stairs — there are handrails and benches along some portions — before coming to a trail that parallels the old narrow-gauge rail bed. (The tracks and railroad ties were removed in 1949.) The trail leads three-quarters of a mile to the boat dock.

Remember to bring a camera to capture the gorgeous views you’ll find on this NPS-led outing.

➵What is the cost?: $24 adults; $12 children 12 and under (children

must be 35 pounds or heavier). All passengers 13 and under must wear a personal flotation device provided.

Check ahead of time: Reservations begin May 15 for Morrow Point Boat Tours that begin as early as June 1 — depending on snowpack spring runoff and upstream water releases from Blue Mesa Dam. End dates also vary, but typically run through Labor Day weekend, and sometimes beyond.

Contact: 970-641-2337 ext. 205; www.nps.gov/cure/ planyourvisit/boattour.htm; or stop by the Elk Creek Visitor Center (15 miles west of Gunnison off of Highway 50).

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Vintage vehicle photo by Kelsey Peters Photography.

Photos by Sharon Sullivan.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

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COVER STORY

STOP COLORADO’S STARRY SKIES ARE FOR GAZING #

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south central region

BY KYLEE COLEMAN South central Colorado’s Westcliffe community offers an opportunity to see something you may not have seen in a while: the night sky.

The wonder of stargazing can bring even the most seasoned and, perhaps, unimpressed night sky spectator to a place of awe-inspired delight. Whether viewing the annual Perseid meteor shower in late summer, catching the tail of a single shooting star or simply introducing the seven stars of the Big Dipper to grandkids, everyone can enjoy something new at Smokey Jack Observatory in Custer County.

Westcliffe and next-door Silver Cliff, together, are the home of the first Dark Skies

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Photo by dlaphoto.

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What is the cost?: Free, public star parties held monthly: www.darkskiescolorado.org When to visit: Closed for winter from November 4 through March 2020.

When to book: Book a private star party at www.darkskiescolorado.org/smokey-jackobservatory.

Don’t miss: Best viewing of the Milky Way is as late as 10–10:30 p.m. from June to mid-August.

Contact: 100 Adams Blvd., Westcliffe; 719-398-1284.

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SUMMER DANCERS LIGHT UP SATURDAYS

southeastern region

BY GAYLE GRESHAM A stop-worthy collection of Native American art, pottery and textiles is housed in the Koshare Museum in La Junta in the southeastern corner of the state. But the real draw to this large adobe building on the Otero Junior College campus is the dancers who perform Saturdays in the summer.

The adobe Koshare Kiva is home to the Koshare (pronounced ko-shaar-a) Dancers.

Modeled after the kivas of the Anasazis, the museum building was built by La Junta Boy

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designation in Colorado and the highest elevation Dark Sky location internationally.

Smokey Jack Observatory is a popular spot for taking in the night sights. Located at Bluff Park on the west end of Westcliffe, SJO hosts monthly, free public star parties to celebrate various astronomical events.

The June 7 public star party observes the rise of Jupiter and the July 5 public star party marks Saturn’s first 2019 appearance in the night sky. You can book a private star party led by a trained Star Guide. The best months to visit the observatory are May through September, but remember your warm layers as temperatures still drop during the starviewing hours of the night.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

Scout Troop 232, which was established in 1933. The Scouts studied Native American lore and dances and began performing interpretive dances in costumes they created themselves. The tradition continues today.

Using the money they were paid for performances, along with a grant from the town of La Junta, the Scouts built the Koshare Kiva in 1949. The building has the world’s largest self-supported log ceiling structure and is registered with the Colorado Historical Society as an historic state site.

The Koshares (which means “clown” or “delight-maker” in the Hopi language) began purchasing artwork from the Taos Art Colony Founders and Santa Fe Art Colony Founders, along with ancient artifacts from the Plains and Pueblo tribes with proceeds collected from a pop machine and the donation basket, which became the foundation of the museum collection.

➵What is the cost?: Adults $5; students and seniors $3; children 6 and under free. ➵When to visit: Noon–5 p.m., 7 days per

week, June 1–August 30; late hours: noon– 10 p.m. Saturdays in June and July.

Don’t miss: During the summer, the Koshare Dancers perform at 7 p.m. on Saturdays in June and July, beginning on June 8.

Contact: 115 W. 18th St., La Junta; 719-384-4411; koshares.com.

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STOP MAKE TRACKS FOR

4 FUN IN GREELEY north central region

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BY CYNDY KLEPINGER All aboard! Get ready for your journey through the incredible Colorado Model Railroad Museum. It’s just a hop from real railroad tracks that run on a north-south route through the northern Colorado town of Greeley.

Your self-guided tour of one of the world’s largest HO scale model railroads starts with a lumber and ag community in southern Oregon. The 5,500-square-foot layout re-creates the logging operations of the 1970s and the defunct Oregon, California and Eastern Railway. As you wander along the scenic layout of more than 20 scale miles of track, you will be enchanted by breathtaking vistas featuring 15 bridges, towering trestles, 12 tunnels and one of the tallest HO scale mountains in the world.

Scenery details include 16,000 fir trees, 8,000 deciduous trees and 4,000 aspens — all handmade. There’s more than just

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majestic scenery; you can take a peek at how the timber industry operated through clever replicas of a sawmill site, a town and a logging camp. A model train can take up to two hours to navigate the route from start to finish. Museum volunteers have a choice of more than 2,000 train cars and 150 locomotives to create 20-plus trains of up to 130 cars each.

You can also discover more than 1,000 railroad-related items, such as timetables,

railroad lanterns, a semaphore and more.

Another highlight is a red 1919 Colorado & Southern wooden caboose where you can visualize what life on the rails was like.

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What is the cost?: $10 for adults; $8 for 65 and over; $5 for 12 and under; free for 3 and under.

When to visit: June–August: Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sunday 1–4 p.m.

Contact: 680 10th St., Greeley; 970-392-2934; cmrm.org.

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VIEW VINTAGE VEHICLES IN RANGELY

northwestern region

BY SHARON SULLIVAN Love old cars and motorcycles? Head to Rangely and enjoy Bud Striegel’s unexpected, out-of-the-way museum.

Striegel began collecting automobiles in the 1940s at age 12, when he says you could purchase an old car for as little as $2. As he got older, his collection of cars grew to include Cadillacs, Cords, Auburns, Franklins, Packards, Stutz, Kissels, Studebakers and Brewsters.

Most of the cars are classic. To be a classic, it had to be built between 1925 and 1948.

Three years ago, 77-year-old Striegel built the Rangely Automotive Museum to store all his vehicles. He currently owns 11

motorcycles, 48 cars and a few vintage bicycles. “I rotate them out — so the exhibit changes periodically,” Striegel says. A rare 1948 Crocker motorcycle recently returned from another transportation exhibit in Roanoke, Virginia.

While in Rangely, visit the nearby Rangely Outdoor Museum. It’s a collection of historical buildings (including a 1913 schoolhouse as well as the town’s original jail) and artifacts that provide a glimpse of the town’s Native American, pioneering and significant oil resource development history. Enjoy smalltown fun at the museum’s annual ice cream social on Labor Day weekend. Visit rangelyoutdoormuseum.org for more information.

Photo by Kelsey Peters Photography.

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What is the cost?: Adult $5; free for children 12 and under, seniors 65+ and military veterans.

When to visit: Open May–October: Wednesday – Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday, noon–4 p.m.

Contact: 128 S. Stanolind Ave., Rangely; 970-675-8222; rangelyautomuseum.com.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

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INDUSTRY

Fuel for the Road As electric vehicles surge, so do co-op charging stations

BY AMY HIGGINS

| AHIGGINS@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

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ith the proliferation of electric vehicles, it’s becoming a priority to ensure these drivers can stay “fueled” when traveling.

Range anxiety is a term used to describe the concern an EV owner has about the vehicle’s battery running out of charge before reaching a charging station. A recent AAA study showed that 57% of people are unlikely to purchase an EV because of range anxiety.

To lessen that unease, more states are offering incentives for local consumers, businesses and utilities to install EV charging stations. There are currently more than 21,000 EV charging stations in the United States, 701 in Colorado as of mid-May. Many more are in the works and Colorado’s electric cooperatives are in the mix.

Powering the Public With offices in Nucla and Ridgway, San Miguel Power Association has a lot of experience with EV drivers. The first EV charging station in the cooperative’s region in southwestern Colorado was powered in 2014 at the Gondola parking garage in Mountain Village above Telluride. Since then, more public and semipublic charging stations have popped up in the area, some of which SMPA helped with financially, including the Ridgway charging station.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

In November 2015, Gunnison County Electric Association installed its first EV charging station. It currently owns and operates six stations and is looking for a location to install a DC (direct current) fast charger in its territory. GCEA Member Relations Supervisor Alliy Sahagun explained, “We see that as an opportunity to decrease range anxiety even further and give EV drivers in our area an opportunity to travel longer distances, as well as encourage visitors to bring their EVs to our area when they come to enjoy all the recreation the Gunnison Valley has to offer.”

Pueblo West-based San Isabel Electric Association partnered with Charge Ahead Colorado, the Pueblo City-County Library District, Pueblo County, Bank of the San Juans and the Pueblo West Metro District to install its first EV charging station in December 2018. The Pueblo County Energy Office received grant money through Charge Ahead Colorado and then all the organizations invested their time, energy and expertise to raise the additional funds.

“This really wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the community coming together to get this done,” said SIEA Communications Manager Paris Elliot.

Conveniently located at the Pueblo West Library along the Highway 50 corridor, the

new charging station has both a Level 2 and Level 3 charger. Additionally, SIEA is installing two more charging stations at its office: one for public use and the other for employee use.

La Plata Electric Association currently owns two Level 2 charging stations installed at the cooperative’s headquarters in Durango, and there are several private stations in the area to which the cooperative sells power, including at the Smiley Building, Mercy Medical Center and the city of Durango Transit Center. In January 2019, the Pagosa Springs Town Council approved installing a Level 2 charging station at Pagosa Springs’ Centennial Park. New DC fast chargers will be installed in Durango and Pagosa Springs within the next year.

As more drivers switch from gas to electric, more electric co-ops are taking a “test drive” of EV charging stations of their own. Fort Collins-based Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association as well as Monte Vista-based San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative each installed a charging station at their headquarters’ parking lots to test demand.

White River Electric Association in Meeker, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association in Buena Vista and Yampa Valley Electric Association in Steamboat Springs are among

INDUSTRY recent recipients of grants awarded for EV charging station installations through Charge Ahead Colorado. SDCEA’s project went on line in April 2019; YVEA’s station will be running this July; and WREA’s is in the works. In addition, Holy Cross Energy, with offices in Glenwood Springs, Avon and Gypsum, is installing stations in Basalt, Vail and Eagle County.

Driving the Cause In 2013, a partnership between the Regional Air Quality Council and the Colorado Energy Office formed Charge Ahead Colorado to encourage EV adoption by providing grants for EV charging stations. As of January 2018, the program awarded grants to more than 600 stations across Colorado, according to the Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan.

Charge Ahead Colorado funds up to $9,000 for Level 2 chargers and $30,000, or 80% of project costs, for DC fast chargers, according to Program Manager Zachary Owens. The remaining balance is the responsibility of the applicant.

EV drivers pay a $50 annual registration fee for their road usage charge and gas tax; $20 of that fee goes to Charge Ahead Colorado to build charging infrastructure.

“The idea of that is folks driving conventional vehicles are paying a gas tax,” Owens explained. “The registration fee was designed so that EV drivers are paying their fair share as well.”

Fueling the Economy?

EVs are touted as more environmentally friendly than conventional vehicles and, depending on what type of charger you have and where it is located, could also have economic benefits for the community. If the charger is located near a shopping center, for example, EV drivers can spend time and money at the shops and restaurants while their vehicle charges.

Two of the electric co-op charging stations you can see around Colorado.

The upcoming Centennial Park Level 2 charger project in LPEA’s territory is “an optimal location for those utilizing the service to shop, walk and dine in the area,” LPEA Energy Management Advisor Nancy Andrews explained. A Level 2 charger can take up to a few hours to charge an EV, which makes an area such as this desirable to EV owners as they bide their time.

While some electric co-ops do not own an EV charging station, some are helping others in their community to do so. For example, Granby-based Mountain Parks Electric’s Green Power program contributed to charger installations in its community.

Also, SMPA made a donation of $2,000 for the Ridgway project; the co-op has $4,000 allocated every year for this purpose.

Several Colorado co-ops offer significant rebates for EVs and/or EV chargers, including PVREA, SIEA, SMPA and LPEA. Although Cortez-based Empire Electric Association does not own any EV charging stations, its board has approved rebate opportunities and EEA will market the program as soon as the campaign is finalized.

“Another creative idea we have is to promote our EV home charger rebate with property management companies and homeowners associations to offer EV charging as an amenity for those booking stays in the short-term rentals,” Sahagun said. “This will benefit the consumer-members by taking advantage of the rebate in their efforts to draw more people to their rentals and be a point of distinction in their offerings.”

The forecast shows that EVs are here to stay, and all of Colorado electric co-ops are taking notice and getting involved in whatever ways work best for each local co-op.

Some co-ops don’t have the population to support a charging station. In other areas the charging stations are maintained by other entities. Each co-op is learning and moving forward in a variety of ways. All of Colorado’s electric co-ops are planning for the future and working to lessen the range anxiety for their consumer-members while meeting their electricity needs.

Amy Higgins is a contract writer for Colorado Country Life magazine.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

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GARDENING

RASCALLY RABBITS Ways to ward off the invasive garden predators

BY VICKI SPENCER

MASTER GARDENER | GARDENING@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

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ears ago I was deeply moved by the movie “Rabbit-Proof Fence,” which is based on a book by Doris Pilkington. The movie features three mixedrace girls who were removed from their Aborigine homes and sent more than a thousand miles away to a government school to learn how to fit into modern Australian society. The girls missed their families and decided to run away. They believed they could find their way home by following the rabbit-proof fence, which ran from coast to coast and crossed their homeland. When watching the movie, I focused on the role the fence played in guiding the girls home.

Now that rabbits are devastating my garden, I have been reflecting on the significance of the fence for farming in the Outback.

Is it really possible to build a rabbit-proof fence?

Garden stores advertise rabbit fencing, but it won’t do any good unless it is installed properly.

To begin, hammer fence posts 12 inches into the ground at each corner of your garden area. Place additional posts about 6 feet apart between the corner posts. Adding a horizontal strip of wood along the top and bottom of the fence will provide additional strength.

Once all the posts are in place, dig a trench 6 to 12 inches deep along the garden boundary. Install vinyl-coated fencing or

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

RABBIT-PROOF FENCE SHOPPING LIST ❐ Hammer ❐ Shovel ❐ Fence posts ❐ 2x4 wood for rails ❐ #8 2 1/2-inch deck screws ❐ Coated vinyl fencing or chicken wire (1-inch or smaller mesh) ❐ soil ( optional) ❐ paving stones or rocks (optional) chicken wire (1-inch or smaller mesh) between the posts so that it extends down into the trench and at least 2 feet above ground. You can attach horizontal lengths of wood along the bottom of the fence for additional protection. Next, secure the wire tightly and cover the trench with soil. It’s important to bury the chicken wire or vinyl fencing underground so that rabbits cannot burrow into your garden.

If you cannot dig deep into the soil along the border, you can create a ground barrier by bending 12 inches of the fencing at a 90-degree angle. Place the 12-inch flap along the soil on the outside of the garden. Pin it down with stakes, and then tie the larger

section of wire tightly to the fence posts.

Cover the chicken wire or vinyl fencing on the ground with a thick layer of soil and top with rocks or paving stones.

Although the fence creates a barrier for the rabbits, it does not repel them. You can use liquid or granular animal repellent for additional deterrence. Commercial repellents commonly use putrescent egg.

It is odorless to us, but smells like rotting carcasses to rabbits. Since store bought repellents are expensive, you can try making your own. Mix 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper, 2 tablespoons garlic powder and squirt of dish detergent with 20 ounces of warm water.

Motion detector sprinklers are another deterrent. They provide bursts of water when movement is detected. This will startle rabbits and hopefully they will run away. But don’t forget to turn the sprinklers off before you garden or you might get an unexpected shower.

Although rabbits are annoying garden pests, with a little effort, you can still protect your vegetables and have an abundant harvest this fall.

Gardener Vicki Spencer has an eclectic background in conservation, water, natural resources and more.

LEARN MORE ONLINE Read previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Gardening under Living in Colorado.

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Texas Grandmother with Leg and Feet Problems Goes from Near Cripple to Walking Her Dog Daily You don’t have to suffer anymore. Doctors never tell you about these 7 natural herbs, yet millions of people in China have used them for relief of leg and feet problems for 3,000 years. In fact, they are guaranteed to relieve your problems and provide soothing comfort - or you pay nothing.

By Michael Plane — National Health Press Mary Lentz of Plano, Texas suffered for over twenty years from leg and feet problems. Doctors prescribed one prescription drug after another. Then electrical stimulation. Then surgery. But after all these treatments – her legs and feet actually felt worse.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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OUTDOORS

SUMMER SOLITUDE AND SCENERY

July 25-28, 2019

It’s the best time of year for fly fishing, many say

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BY DENNIS SMITH

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24

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

| OUTDOORS@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

I

t’s June, the beginning of “high summer” here in the Colorado Rockies. It’s also the beginning of what many consider the season’s finest fly fishing, and by finest, I mean classic, small stream fishing with dry flies. For some of us, anyway, this is the spiritual, if not the actual, heart of fly fishing. It embodies the most romantic and traditional tenets of the sport: dry flies, wild colorful fish, jaw-dropping scenery, solitude and, without getting too syrupy about it, that soothing balm of peacefulness you find in the ghostly quiet of wilderness. Truth be told, it’s more often the beauty of the places where wild fish are found that draws us to their environs than it is the fish themselves.

Unfortunately, most of our really good small streams are hidden away in the backcountry and can’t be reached until June, or maybe even July — it depends on how long it takes for the snowpack to melt and the forest service roads to dry out. So, we muddle through spring, fishing ice-out lakes and lowland canyon rivers with midges, nymphs and tiny dry flies while waiting for the backcountry to open up. We gamble with Colorado’s crazy spring weather, too, which can be menacing and wildly unpredictable — a magnificent stew of meteorological delights that includes everything from sunny, 80-degree days to tornado-like winds, booming thunderstorms and full-on, raging prairie blizzards, all in the same week.

Don’t get me wrong; ice-off and spring fly fishing have their charms, too, not the least of which is that winter’s finally over here on the flatlands and we can fish in “real, liquid water” as Colorado writer John Gierach once said. It’s satisfying — in that good-tobe-back-on-the-water-again way — and the fish are larger than those you typically find in the high-country creeks, too. So, there’s

that. Still, it seems somewhat drab and gray compared to summer in the high country.

A few summers ago, my friend Dave and I were brookie fishing in a national forest a few miles south of the Wyoming state line.

We were hopping from one little no-name creek to another, as well as beaver ponds we found along the way. We spent most of our time in the meadow stretches and glacial moraines of a high valley, but decided one day to take our four-wheelers up the mountain to check out an alpine lake we saw on the topographical map. The trail wound uphill through a dense forest of doghair pine before topping out in a meadow of wildflowers. A mind-boggling panorama of summer-colored mountains covered in spruce, fir and giant rolling stands of quaking aspens fell away before us, ringing a pastel valley of gold and green that stretched to the north as far as we could see. Vast banks of cumulus clouds overhead painted moving shadows over the land below. We sat there, staring quietly.

Finally, Dave said, “We should probably get back to fishing.”

Dennis Smith is a freelance outdoors writer and photographer whose work appears nationally. He lives in Loveland.

MISS AN ISSUE? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

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READER POETRY Raincloud

A wall of raincloud mounts the sky in the north edging the horizon’s peaks in black and grey and smoky pink.

It slides noiselessly toward me like a sheet of liquid spilling from a gaping inkwell.

It eats the mountaintop as it comes.

I watch without words and hold my breath expecting the worst.

If losing the sunlight were audible I would be hearing a dirge.

But even now in the gloom that envelops me I know in my bones that blessed water will soon fall on our parched earth, restoring life to all growing things.

I’ll breathe in humid air to ease the dryness in my throat.

Our flowers, our trees, our farms will wake and stand proud once more.

And tomorrow the sky will clear.

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Electric cooperatives in Colorado and Oklahoma are joining forces to bring firsttime electricity to a remote village in rural Guatemala later this year. Beyond providing the gift of light, the volunteer linemen going on this mission want to present each household with a 5-gallon water filter that lasts for two years.

To give online, visit: crea.coop/community-outreach/current-causes To send a check: Make it payable to Colorado Electric Educational Institute (CEEI) with Clean Water Fund in the memo.

Mail it to: Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216

Will you be a part of this mission by sponsoring a water filter for $35?

DO YOU WRITE POETRY? Send us your best work; we’d love to read it.

Submission: Submit your poetry, name and address via email to: mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org or mail poem, name and address to: Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St. Denver, CO 80216 COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

27

COMMUNITY EVENTS June 12-15 Craig

Whittle the Wood Rendezvous Loudy Simpson Park visitmoffatcounty.com

June 15 Boulder

1940s WWII Era Ball Boulder Airport 720-924-1945 • 1940sball.org

June 2019 Ride the Rockies June 9-15

Ride the Rockies is a seven-day, 445-mile ride through the mountains where racers will test their endurance ascending and descending elevations and passing through many beloved Colorado towns. The course will take participants over several iconic passes while they enjoy a multitude of magnificent views and landmarks. The race is a loop that starts and ends in Crested Butte. Visit the Colorado’s Electric Cooperatives booth at the EXPO on Saturday in Crested Butte and keep an eye out for co-op riders on day 1. For more information, visit ridetherockies.com.

June 2019 June 7-9 Buena Vista

Collegiate Peaks Stampede Rodeo and Dance VFW and Rodeo Grounds 719-539-8345 janlmenj2014@gmail.com

June 7-8 Cortez

Cortez Literary Festival Cortez Public Library 970-565-8117

June 7 Grand Lake

“Sister Act” Theater Performance Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre 970-627-3421 rockymountainrep.com

June 7-8 Virginia Dale

Western Dance, Pie Auction, Open House, Craft Show Virginia Dale Stage Station virginiadalecommunityclub.org

June 8 Akron

Motorcycle and Car Poker Run Washington County Event Center john2nree@gmail.com

28

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

June 8 Denver

Trisha Yearwood’s Ultimate Tailgate Party Noble Energy Sports Legends Mall 3-6 pm • trishayearwood.com

June 8-9 Estes Park

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June 8-9 Hanover

Hanover Days Kirk Hanna Park 719-683-2319

June 8 Peyton

Country Fair and Market Front Street 9 am-4 pm tinyurl.com/PeytonCFM

June 15 Dolores

“The Mythical Realm of Agave” Lecture Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Visitor Center & Museum 2 pm • 970-560-1643

June 15 Durango

Farmers Market TBK Bank Parking Lot 8 am-12 pm • 970-749-1653

June 17-21 Pueblo

Raptor Camp River Campus & Raptor Center 9 am-3 pm • hikeandlearn.org

June 22 Durango

Durango Botanical Society Gardens on Tour Various Durango Locations 9 am-3 pm • 970-880-4841

June 22 Granby

Flying Heels Rodeo Flying Heels Arena 970-531-5465 • granbyrodeo.com

June 22 Lake City

San Juan Solstice 50 Mile Run Town Park 5 am-9 pm • sjs50.com

June 22 Meeker

June 23 Durango

Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering Rotary Park 5-8 pm durangocowboygathering.org

June 23 Grand Lake

Taking Steps for Cancer Spirit Polar Plunge Gene Stover Park 316-259-2503 mountainfamilycenter.org

June 28 La Veta

Watercolors Show Opening Reception La Veta Gallery on Main 5-8 pm • 719-742-3666

June 28-30 Palisade

Colorado Lavender Festival Palisade Veterans Memorial Park 970-270-2294 coloradolavender.org

June 28-30 Salida

Salida Art Walk Downtown Salida salidaartwalk.org

June 29-30 Colorado Springs and Surrounding Areas

Purely Ponds Parade of Ponds Various Locations 719-896-0038 • purelyponds.com

June 29 Granby

Doggie Dash Run/Walk Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA 9 am • 970-887-2988

June 29 Sedgwick and Sterling

Poker Run and Car Show Various Locations • 970-521-9965 blueskiesriding.com

MeekerPalooza Downtown Meeker meekerpalooza.com

June 9 Dove Creek

Dolores County Junior Rodeo Dolores County Fairgrounds 8:30 am • 970-677-2283

June 9 Las Animas

Hats, Hats & More Hats Tea Party John Rawlings Heritage Center & Museum 2-4 pm • 719-456-6066

SEND CALENDAR ITEMS 2 MONTHS IN ADVANCE

Calendar, Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; fax to 303-455-2807; or email calendar@coloradocountrylife.org.

Please send name of event, date, time, venue, brief description, phone number, a photo, if you have one, and email and/or website for more information.

YOUR STORIES

READERS’ PHOTOS

FUNNY STORIES We were driving up to a farm one

day to buy some produce with our 6-year-old grandson when we saw a large sign stating, “Kids for Sale.” All of a sudden our grandson’s eyes got really big and he yelled out, “Grandpa, you’re not going to sell me, are you?” He calmed down when we told him they were selling kid goats.

Richard Bongiovanni, Broomfield

One hot summer day, my wife and China gets a visit from Lyle and Shari Burton and Colorado Country Life. Lyle and Shari are consumer-members of Highline Electric Association.

Sarah and Grace, daughters of Jason and Lisa Bittle, visit Lady Liberty. The Bittles are consumermembers of Grand Valley Power.

I decided to take our 3-year-old granddaughter Harper out for ice cream. While we sat there enjoying the tasty treats, I noticed that Harper’s ice cream was melting all over the cone, so I asked my wife if she would clean it up. My wife looked over at Harper, grabbed her cone and started to lick it up. Harper, watching her, suddenly blurted out, “Whoa, Nana. You must be starving!” We had a great laugh.

Steve Vasquez, Akron

My 80-year-old father recently

Kim Thompson with sister and mom pose with CCL at the Grand Canyon. Kim is a consumer-member of Yampa Valley Electric Association.

Steve Jones poses with CCL and the Barbary apes (macaques) at the top of Gibraltar. Jones is a consumer-member of Gunnison County Electric Association, Inc.

called me and asked if I could help him with some tech support. I said, “Sure. What’s the problem?”

“Well, I am having a problem with my Hi-Fi,” he answered.

I started thinking about a record player turntable and was confused. Then, I had a good laugh when I realized he was talking about his “Wi-Fi.” Kelly O’Donnell, Masonville

My friend took her 4-year-old

grandson to Dairy Queen for a summer treat.

When she told him where they were going he asked, “Is the Dairy Queen married to the Burger King?”

Anonymous

White River Electric board, staff and spouses take CCL on a fun utility task vehicle ride to Cathedral Bluffs, southwest of Meeker, near Piceance Basin.

WINNER: Patrick and Danelle Disterhoft visit Ahu Tongariki on Easter Island, Chile. They are consumermembers of Poudre Valley REA.

Take Your Photo With Your Magazine and Win! It’s easy to win with Colorado Country Life. Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and email the photo and your name and address to info@ coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo each month to win $25. The next deadline is Monday, June 17. Name, address and co-op must accompany photo. This month’s winners are Patrick and Danelle Disterhoft. The two visited Ahu Tongariki on Easter Island, Chile. They are from Windsor and are Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association consumer-members. See all of the submitted photos on Facebook at facebook.com/COCountryLife.

We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine.

At the end of the year we will draw one name from those submitting funny stories and that person will receive $200. Send your 2019 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

29

DISCOVERIES

Gear Up for a Summer of Fun Impressive Colorado products for your next adventure Photo Credit: Tom Fowlks

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30

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2019

Where to find these Colorado companies we discovered 1

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ITEM 64432 64431 shown

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ITEM 64486 ITEM 64739 63483 shown

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ITEM 61858/69512/69445 shown

17999

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LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 10/1/19*

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6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV HORIZONTAL SHAFT GAS ENGINE NOW

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ITEM 61160/63456/46319 shown

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LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 10/1/19*

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*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 10/1/19.

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Blade sold separately.

ITEM 63763/64194/63444 shown

$

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PROFESSIONAL WOODWORKER MODEL: 51832 ITEM 63235/63292/97626 shown

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At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

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*DISH Network received the highest score in the Nation in the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study of customers’ satisfaction with their current television provider. Visit jdpower.com/awards Important Terms and Conditions: Qualification: Advertised price requires credit qualification and eAutoPay. Upfront activation and/or receiver upgrade fees may apply based on credit qualification.

7/10/19. 2-year commitment: Early termination fee of $20/mo. remaining applies if you cancel early. Included in 2-year price guarantee at $59.99 advertised price: America’s Top 120 programming package, local channels, HD service fees, and Hopper Duo for 1 TV. Available with 2-year price guarantee for additional cost: Programming package upgrades ($69.99 for AT120+, $79.99 for AT200, $89.99 for AT250), monthly fees for upgraded or additional receivers ($5-$7 per additional TV, receivers with additional functionality may be $10-$15). NOT included in 2-year price guarantee or advertised price (and subject to change): Taxes & surcharges, add-on programming (including premium channels), DISH Protect, and transactional fees. Other: All packages, programming, features, and functionality and all prices and fees not included in price guarantee are subject to change without notice. After 6 mos., if selected you will be billed $9.99/mo. for DISH Protect Silver unless you call to cancel. After 2 years, then-current everyday prices for all services apply. For business customers, additional monthly fees may apply. © 2019 DISH Network L.L.C. All rights reserved.

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