Colorado Country Life November 2021 Grand Valley

RECIPES FROM COLORADO COOKS PG 12 / HOLDING HOLIDAYS CLOSE TO THE HEART PG 24 / KID’S BOOKS PG 30

GRAND VALLEY POWER

NOVEMBER 2021

BOOKS

THAT TAKE YOU AWAY 2021 BOOK REVIEWS

ELECTRIFY + SAVE

UPGRADE TO ELECTRICITY AND SAVE Make the switch to cleaner electricity with more efficient household appliances and systems. From heat pumps to electric vehicles, these proven technologies can run your home cleanly, efficiently and cost-effectively.

HEATING & COOLING WITH HEAT PUMPS According to the U.S. Department of Energy, when paired with proper insulation, an electric heat pump can save over 30 percent on your heating and cooling bills compared to conventional HVAC systems.

POWER UP YOUR GARDENING TOOLS Electric garden tools can last longer and are emissions-free, meaning you’ll smell the scents of summer, not the smell of exhaust. Plus, with modern technology, they are just as effective as gas-powered alternatives. Just charge the battery and go!

SAVE WITH AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) Sales of light-duty electric vehicles rose by 43% in 2020. On average, EVs have a lower cost of operation over their lifespan, and buyers are taking notice.

VISIT US AT www.tristate.coop/BE

Tri-State is a not-for-profit power supplier to cooperatives and public power districts in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Volume 52

Number 11

November 2021 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 advertising@coloradocountrylife.org 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 2021, 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 Cover NOVEMBER 2021

BOOKS

THAT TAKE YOU AWAY 2021 BOOK REVIEWS

Books by Colorado authors printed by Colorado publishers on Colorado subjects are featured in this year’s book review issue.

Illustration by Annie Herzig, based in Colorado.

coloradocountrylife.coop

“Snowy Mountains” by Benjamin Schneider of Colorado Springs, a consumer-member of Mountain View Electric Association. Benjamin was a third place winner in the 2017 CCL Photo Contest. Deadline for the 2022 “Life’s Expressions” Photo Contest is December 17. To enter, visit coloradocountrylife.coop/ 2022-photo-contest.

4 VIEWPOINT

5 LETTERS

6 ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT

7 YOUR CO-OP NEWS

12 RECIPES

14 NEWS CLIPS

16 COVER STORY

BOOKS THAT TAKE YOU AWAY

PINTEREST SNEAK PEEK COCountryLife pinned: Your family and friends will be anxious to dig in well before these slow cooker pork chops hit the plate. Try Linda Wolfe’s Colorado Pork Chops from Gooseberry Patch’s All-Time-Favorite Recipes from Colorado Cooks cookbook. Get the recipe at coloradocountrylife.coop.

20 ENERGY CONNECTIONS

22 GARDENING

24 OUTDOORS

26 CREATIVE CORNER

28 MARKETPLACE

29 YOUR STORIES

30 DISCOVERIES

FACEBOOK CHATTER Colorado Rural Electric Association posted: Thanks to CREA Energy Innovations Summit lunch speaker Tim Reeser of Lightning eMotors. His company is doing exciting things converting trucks and buses to electric vehicles.

Monthly Contest CONTEST ENDS DECEMBER 17 Have a great photo you want to share? Enter the 2022 photo contest for a chance to win cash prizes and have your photo on the cover of the magazine. For official rules and how to enter, visit coloradocountrylife.coop/ 2022-photo-contest.

INSTAGRAM PIC of the month Colorado Country Life posted: Dawn Betz captured this great scene from Longmont on a frosty morning, “Down the Line.” Dawn is a consumer-member of Poudre Valley REA. COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

3

VIEWPOINT

COLORADO’S ELECTRIC CO-OPS Working together as leaders for a sustainable future

BY KENT SINGER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

C

olorado’s 22 electric distribution co-ops provide electricity and associated services to nearly 70% of the state’s landmass but only about 25% of the electricity consumers in the state. This is because electric co-ops serve primarily rural parts of Colorado while the larger cities and urban areas are served by either municipal utilities or investor-owned utilities.

Each of Colorado’s 22 electric distribution co-ops are individual businesses that serve specific and unique parts of the state. They each have their own board of directors and staff and they each make decisions based on the specific needs and desires of the communities they serve.

There is probably no group of electric co-ops in the country that is more diverse than Colorado’s electric co-ops.

The state’s co-ops range in size from 2,500 consumer-members to 170,000 consumermembers. They range in customer density from 1.8 meters per mile of distribution line to 19.2 meter per mile. They serve loads (customers) that include farmers and ranchers as well as resorts and ski areas. They serve communities that range from small towns with only one stoplight (or none) to communities along the Front Range that have typical urban population densities.

Colorado’s co-ops have different geographies, demographics and political views. But despite these differences, Colorado’s electric co-ops still have a lot in common.

First, all 22 co-ops agree that maintaining reliable and affordable electric service will always be the primary objective of electric

4

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

co-ops throughout the state. Access to electricity at all times of the day and night is important for a modern, safe and healthy lifestyle. Electricity is a critical commodity that we can’t live without for long. It is the basis for all the comforts and conveniences we enjoy daily. Colorado’s electric co-ops provide this service day in and day out, working around the clock to keep the lights on.

Second, Colorado’s co-ops are leading the way in advancing innovative solutions in today’s energy world. Co-ops have been adding renewable energy resources to their power supply mix for years and have pledged to provide at least 80% carbon-free energy to consumer-members by 2030.

But, the innovations go beyond simply adding wind and solar power to the grid.

Co-ops have long deployed the latest technology to serve their consumermembers. Colorado’s electric co-ops have been installing automated meters for many years because they make sense in the vast territories served by co-ops. The co-ops save the cost of meter readers traveling throughout the service area, while reducing emissions through fewer miles traveled.

Co-ops were also early adopters of beneficial electrification, which is enjoying new life as the benefits of switching from other fuels to electricity are being acknowledged as another way to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Rebates and other incentives have encouraged co-op consumer-members to take advantage of the benefits of going electric. These have included switching diesel irrigation

KENT SINGER

motors to electric motors, going from gas water heaters to electric water heaters and installing ground- and air-source heat pumps rather than using propane to heat homes.

Colorado’s co-ops are leaders in promoting electric vehicles, including electric school buses and pickups, and installing vehicle chargers to promote the use of EVs in co-op territory.

Lastly, Colorado’s 22 co-ops all accept their responsibility to enhance their own communities’ resilience. This means electric co-ops think outside the box to develop new ways to provide service during emergencies.

Whether through the deployment of microgrids or the integration of customersited energy, Colorado’s electric co-ops do their best to keep the lights on during the storm.

So, while Colorado’s electric co-ops are individual organizations, each unique in the area it serves and services it provides, they are all working in their own way at: • Maintaining reliability and affordability • Advancing innovative solutions • Enhancing community resilience By fulfilling these core principles, Colorado’s electric co-ops are truly “Leaders for a Sustainable Future.”

Kent Singer is the executive director of CREA 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

FROM THE EDITOR Fill November days with gratitude

BY MONA NEELEY

EDITOR

N

ovember is here, but what does that mean for you? Fall MONA NEELEY has truly arrived? A time to honor our veterans? Time for hunting trips? The holidays will be here soon?

For me, it’s all of those things and thankfulness. For the last few years, I’ve posted something I’m thankful for on my social media channels every day from November 1 through Thanksgiving. And that has made November a special month for me.

Right before the hectic, happy chaos of December, November has become a chance for me to take a minute each day to pause and think about all of the good things I have in my life.

I have a lot to be thankful for — a husband who loves me and lets me be me; healthy, happy, well-adjusted adult kids; amazing, brilliant grandkids; a home where I want to live; a great job with a dedicated, talented staff; and so much more. November is a month that helps me not take any of these blessings for granted.

What are you thankful for this November?

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.

NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES - DEADLINE DEC. 17

2022 PHOTO CONTEST expressions THIS YEAR’S CATEGORIES: • Hometown Pride • Awestruck • Pure Enjoyment • Nostalgia Enter for a chance to win cash prizes and have your photo on the cover of the March 2022 issue of CCL. Visit coloradocountrylife.coop/2022-photo-contest for official rules and to enter.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Happy Magazine Readers

I appreciated your editorial [on the divisions among us] (From the Editor, September ’21).

It needed to be said and I hope people take it to heart. Thank you for including my poem “Joy” and kudos to David Reynolds for his clever and fun poem [“Q and A”].

Carol Ehrlich, Denver Mountain Parks Electric consumer-member I really enjoyed the “Sensational September Streams” story by Dennis Smith (Outdoors ’21). Thank you from a novice fly fisherman.

Paul Staggers, Fort Collins Poudre Valley REA consumer-member Your September issue was particularly enjoyable. I loved the “Bent’s Old Fort” story. I always like reading about Colorado history. Your issues frequently have something for ever yo ne’s interests. I look forward to reading the last section (Funny Stories), in which “kids say the darnedest things.” Keep up the good work.

Bev Carson, via email Mountain Parks Electric consumer-member Thank you for your nice publication. We look forward to it each month. Nice stories so full of information and fun facts. You put hard work into it and we appreciate it so much.

Becky S. Lang, Atwood, Kansas Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

Question on Storm Response

Seeing the hurricane damage in southern Louisiana, I couldn’t help imagining how much worse it would’ve been if they depended on wind turbines for power. If giant windmills blew down in a storm, how much longer would it take to restore power to the storm victims?

Dan Sullivan, Colorado Springs 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 NOVEMBER 2021

5

ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT

Getting Charged Up About Electric Vehicles

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e’re hearing more buzz about electric vehicles in rural America, so it’s a good time to know more about EV batteries and charging options.

Batteries come in different sizes that provide different mileage ranges.

Most people charge their EVs at home, but if you take a cross-country trip, you can charge your EV at one of the rapidly growing number of charging stations around the country.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates there are currently 50,000 EV charging sites in the United States.

EVs will tell you how many miles remain before a charge is needed, and many models offer in-car navigation to the next charger. For EVs without this feature, there are many smartphone apps available to help you navigate to the next charging site.

We often refer to three levels of EV charging: A new EV comes equipped for Level 1 charging, which simply plugs into a regular electrical outlet. This is the slowest option for charging, but if you don’t travel many miles per day or your EV is a plug-in hybrid with a small battery, L1 charging will likely meet your needs.

Level 2 is the most common type of charging because it operates on 240-volt power, which nearly every home has. L2 can provide 100 miles of charge in several hours, and fully charge a large battery in eight to 10 hours.

Level 3 chargers, often called DC Fast Chargers, require much more current and are not installed in homes. L3 chargers are typically seen at specific EV charging sites and some gas stations. Some new EVs can accept 250 kW or more and charge a battery from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes. When selecting an EV, the amount of time it takes to get a full charge can be an important factor if you regularly head out on road trips.

“Vehicle to home” is an exciting new technology that enables EVs to power a home or shop during a power outage. Ford’s upcoming F-150 Lightning Pro (2022), Hyundai’s Ioniq5, Kia’s EV6 crossovers and the 2022 Volkswagens are slated to offer this option.

EV charging infrastructure is currently being built across the country. You may not see them in your area yet, but they’re coming, so get charged up about EVs. Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen of Collaborative Efficiency write on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn more about electric LEARN MORE ONLINE vehicles. Click on Energy Tips under the Energy tab.

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

THE CHALLENGE OF RISING COSTS

BY TOM WALCH

W

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

e can sum up our Grand Valley Power mission with just a few words: safely delivering reliable and affordable electric energy and great service to our consumers. While the words are easy to say, it can be difficult to execute this mission, day after day and year after year. This is especially true today, as families and businesses struggle to keep pace with a pandemic that stubbornly refuses to go away, and rising costs and supply chain challenges that seem to get worse with each passing day. Electric cooperatives, and the electric utility industry in general, are facing additional challenges, with fundamental changes due to state and federal regulations, and ever-growing grid resiliency and security concerns. These challenges require the leadership of our organization to maintain a laser focus on the fundamentals of our business, including the need to preserve our financial integrity.

Inflation is hitting all of us. According to a recent Forbes article, the year-over-year Consumer Price Index report reflects an increase of 5.3% over its level last August.

The core CPI is up 4% over the same period.

This is double the inflation rate targeted by the Federal Reserve. U.S. consumer prices for energy commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, gasoline and diesel continue to rise. The cost of fuel impacts prices across the supply chain — from production to transportation — and those extra costs ultimately filter down to consumers at the end of the line. The August 2021 CPI report for the Midwest region (which includes Colorado) concludes that excluding food and energy prices, which are considered volatile, there was an increase of 4.2% over the past year. Energy prices jumped 26.9%, largely the result of an increase in the price of gasoline. Food prices rose 4.6% during this period as well. The pandemic has led to recent supply issues as well, driving up prices for key commodities and increasing the cost of home construction. Lumber

costs, for instance, increased by 114% over the 12 months ending in May 2021 — the highest 12-month growth ever. Similarly, prices of iron and steel also increased by 73% over the prior 12 months.

The impact of these cost and supply chain issues is amplified for electric distribution systems like Grand Valley Power.

We are already facing shortages and limited supplies of equipment and materials, so we are looking to increase our inventory levels on critical items — stocking up to hedge against future shortages. Rising fuel costs hit us hard, as our operations team members travel all over Mesa County as they work to keep the lights on. And labor costs for our skilled workforce continue to go up.

To keep pace with rising costs and maintain good financial standing, our cooperative’s leadership must look at adjusting the rates our consumers pay for the electric energy we provide. This is not something we take lightly. The last time our rates were adjusted was 2015. That change was essentially a restructuring, as our monthly access charge was increased, and the variable charges for kilowatt-hour consumption went down. For our system as a whole, the 2015 rate adjustment was revenue neutral, which is to say our overall rates and revenue collected from GVP consumers didn’t go up or down. The primary purpose of the 2015 rate adjustment was to make our rates more equitable. The last time Grand Valley Power increased its rates was more than 10 years ago, when a 2011 rate increase hiked the average GVP residential bill by 8.2%.

With all this in mind, Grand Valley Power’s board and management staff are planning a rate adjustment that will go into effect in the spring of 2022. While we are looking at our rates, we will be examining ways to make them fairer and more equitable. We have engaged a cost-of-service consultant to assist us with this complex task. With the consultant’s assistance, we will determine our costs to serve each class

TOM WALCH

of consumers. Our enhanced metering system will enable us to analyze these costs more accurately and provide greater creativity and flexibility in designing rates that ensure that consumers bear the costs that they impose on our distribution system.

What can you expect from us as we embark on this process? We will strive to limit the amount of any rate increase. We will try to make it fair. Within these limits, we will try to keep the rate design as simple as possible (but no simpler). And finally, we pledge to communicate with our members about what we are doing at every step along the way. Stay tuned to the pages of this magazine and our web page and social media outlets over the next few months for current information about the upcoming rate adjustment.

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, CO. 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 by calling 970-242-0040 and you will be placed on the agenda.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

7

3

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

REASONS TO APPLY FOR

YOUTH TOUR

Hey, High School juniors and seniors! What are your plans for next summer? Maybe sleep in until noon, clean your room, or binge-watch your favorite Netflix series. While that all sounds great, we bet you can top that by attending a free trip to Washington D.C. with 2,000 of your closest co-op friends. Get ready to pack your bags and make monumental memories because your flight departs soon! Don’t worry; GVP has three (pretty awesome) reasons why you should board that plane.

1.

It's free, just apply.

3.

Yes, you read that right. The Washington D.C. Youth Tour is an all-expenses-paid trip sponsored by national and statewide associations plus your family here at Grand Valley Power. FREE airfare, FREE hotels, FREE meals, and FREE attractions.

YOU GET TO TRAVEL. Remember that travel bucket list you made? Check off Washington D.C. cause

You will spend eight

your dreams are about to become true.

days exploring Washington D.C.'s

..L LO OO OC CS S''T TII

2.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

most historic destinations including the Lincoln Memorial, National Air and Space

YOU CAN APPLY TODAY! gvp.org/youth-leadership-programs

Museum, Library of

Applications can be found online at

Congress and more!

gvp.org/youth-leadership-programs

Plus, you’ll get to

or at high school counseling offices.

enjoy an award-

Students are required to submit a 500-

winning play at the

word essay and completed application

Kennedy Center.

by January 12, 2022.

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

GIVING THANKS TO OUR TROOPS

BY DANA POGAR

S

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

ome of my most cherished memories as a child occurred around the dinner table — and it wasn’t just the mountains of mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving was a time when my family would gather to exchange smiles and stories about the good ol’ days, which was my grandfather’s favorite tangent. One year I asked my grandpa to tell me about his time serving in the United States Marine Corps. Within seconds, I was sitting in my grandfather’s lap fascinated by his dedication to our country, and I had no interest in a second helping of mashed potatoes. Instead, I was eager to hear more war stories. From there on, each Thanksgiving holiday my family has made it a priority to recognize my grandfather, veterans and active military members for their sacrifices that allow us to gather freely around the dinner table each year.

This harvest season, we at Grand Valley Power are giving thanks for our

troops by partnering with Operation Interdependence, a nationwide 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing military care packages and support to active military members overseas and veterans at home. We encourage our members to join us in giving back to our hometown heroes by participating in the following fundraising efforts: CARE PACKAGE SUPPLY DRIVE Grand Valley Power is an official drop-off location for care package items for the armed forces. Please consider supporting Operation Interdependence by donating care package items from November 1 to November 23. All donation items can be brought to the main office Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For an extended list of suggested donation items, please visit gvp. org/hometown-partnerships.

THANK YOU NOTES GVP encourages members to give thanks by writing a thank you note, card or picture

Operation Interdependence sends over 50,000 kits each year. Support our troops and donate today!

Drop off items through Nov. 23, 2021.

Visit gvp.org/Ho eto n Partnerships for a detailed list and drop off location.

DANA POGAR

to troops. All notes will be included in care packages that will be sent to U.S. war heroes overseas from Operation Interdependence.

Coloring sheets will also be available online and in GVP’s main lobby for mini members who would like to express their gratitude in a more creative way. Notes and coloring pages can be delivered to the main office until November 23, 2021. For additional letter guidelines, please see the “Do’s and Don’ts” document by visiting gvp.org/ hometown-partnerships.

DONATE TODAY! Ever y little bit helps. Operation Interdependence is accepting donations toward purchasing care package supplies, shipping materials and postage to send care boxes to troops overseas. To donate, please visit www.oidelivers.org.

DONUTS FOR DOG TAGS In honor of our hometown heroes, we invite all veterans to join us on Wednesday, November 10, from 8 to 11 a.m. in the GVP main lobby to receive a FREE donut and coffee. During this time, GVP employees will also be delivering donuts to soldiers at the Grand Junction VA Medical Center in observance of Veterans Day. From everyone at Grand Valley Power, we thank you for helping us recognize our troops by giving thanks this holiday season.

We encourage our members to follow us on Facebook and Twitter @GVRuralPower or by searching “Grand Valley Power” for more information and updates on our community impact project.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

9

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

ASSISTANCE AND HELP FOR WINTER BILLS Resources are available to keep you warm all winter long

BY CHRISTMAS WHARTON

I

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

f you find yourself in need of help to pay your electric bill this winter, there are resources to help alleviate some financial cost and programs that can improve your home’s efficiency for year-round savings.

CO-OP RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS POWERMYWAY PREPAY BILLING PROGRAM Grand Valley Power just launched a new program called PowerMyWay, which is a prepay program. Similar to the way you purchase food, gasoline or groceries, PowerMyWay billing allows you to pay for electricity how and when you choose. You can “fill up” your PowerMyWay account much like you would your car’s gas tank.

When your account gets low, add money any time of day or night. Your account is right at your fingertips, either through the GVP app on your smartphone or on your computer.

What are the benefits? PowerMyWay program members have no late fees, no monthly bill, no due dates and no disconnect or reconnect fees.

Please visit gvp.org/prepay or call 970-242-0040 for more information.

BUDGET BILLING Grand Valley Power offers budget billing to members who prefer consistent bills to budget appropriately across a year. The monthly billing amount is calculated for an 11-month payment cycle based on the average of last year’s usage. The 12th month of the year is used as a settlement month in which GVP evaluates total use and issues a credit or debit.

This plan is only available to those consumers who have established an active account at the same location for a year or more.

Please visit gvp.org/energy-assistance or call 970-242-0040 for more information.

SMARTHUB: ENERGY YOUR WAY SmartHub is an account management tool that enables you to manage all aspects of your GVP account. In addition to paying

10

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

your bill, you can view your hourly energy usage data, report an outage and set up customizable alerts to stay in the loop with power restoration updates and bill notifications. You can also download your usage data, past billing and payment history.

It’s available 24/7. The portal is available through the web, or through Apple and Android app stores.

Please visit gvp.org/SmartHub or call 970-242-0040 for more information.

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS GRAND VALLEY CATHOLIC OUTREACH Grand Valley Catholic Outreach is a compassionate center where people in need can access emergency services, including clothing, financial aid for rent or utilities, food and housing. According to Grand Valley Catholic Outreach, it has halted an average of 350 evictions and assisted in restoring 650 utilities for families each year.

“We’re here with open hands, open doors and open hearts,” stated Scott Montgomery, Grand Valley Catholic Outreach’s financial aid director.

Please visit catholicoutreach.org or call 970-241-3658 for more information.

COLORADO LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LEAP) The Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program is a federally-funded program that helps eligible hardworking Colorado families, seniors and individuals pay a portion of their winter home heating costs. LEAP works to keep our communities warm from November through April by providing assistance with heating costs, equipment repair and/or replacement of inoperable heating tools. While the program is not intended to pay the entire cost of home heating, LEAP aims to help alleviate some of the burdens that come with Colorado’s colder months.

CHRISTMAS WHARTON

Please visit colorado.gov/cdhs/leap or call 1-866-432-8435 for more information.

HOUSING RESOURCES OF WESTERN COLORADO Housing Resources of Western Colorado is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with a mission to provide housing and housing services that create stable, sustainable western Colorado homes. HRWC builds stronger communities by providing attainable housing, energy efficiency, education and renovation programs to the residents of western Colorado.

Prog rams include wo o dstove replacement, critical home repair and weatherization to name a few. The weatherization program offers free energy-efficiency and health and safety services to income qualifying residents who own or rent their home. The program makes cost-effective, energy-efficient home improvements that reduce energy bills, while providing a more comfortable home year-round.

For more information on current programs, visit hrwco.org or call 970-241-2871.

WESTERN COLORADO 2-1-1 2-1-1 Colorado streamlines services and provides one central location where people can get connected to the resources they need. With a database that is updated daily, 2-1-1 Colorado can connect you to critical resources simply by dialing the three-digit number. Whether you are searching for a shelter availability, child care, utility or rent payment assistance, 2-1-1 can connect you to available resources in your community.

Please visit 211colorado.org or call 970-244-8400 for more information regarding available support. You can also text your zip code to 898-211.

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RECIPES

Grateful for the Plateful

WIN

Nosh on food from neighbors’ recipe boxes

BY AMY HIGGINS

A COPY

| RECIPES@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Delicious Colorado Cooking

T

here’s a feeling of comfort when you get meal ideas from your friends and neighbors, and while the cooks featured in Gooseberry Patch’s All-Time-Favorite Recipes from Colorado Cooks may not be next door, their recipe submittals bring that feeling of home. With 145 assorted recipes from all over the Centennial State, these delicious downhome ideas are bound to awaken your Colorado pride.

Enter our contest to win a copy of All-Time-Favorite Recipes from Colorado Cooks cookbook. Visit Contests at coloradocountrylife.coop for details on how to enter.

Hearty Hominy Beef Stew

Recipe submitted by Rita Morgan, Pueblo 1 onion, chopped 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cubed 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 green pepper, chopped 3 carrots, peeled and sliced 3 stalks celery, sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes 1 cup beef broth, divided 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 (15-ounce) can hominy, drained and rinsed Place onion in a lightly greased slow cooker; top with beef. Sprinkle with salt. Add green pepper, carrots, celery and garlic to slow cooker. Pour tomatoes with juice and 3/4 cup broth over all. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 hours. In a bowl, mix together cornstarch and remaining broth until smooth; stir into slow cooker during the last 15 minutes of cooking. Stir in hominy and heat through.

Courtesy of Gooseberry Patch, All-Time-Favorite Recipes from Colorado Cooks

Orange Cinnamon French Toast

Add Some Oomph “We like to top our soup with some sliced avocado for extra flavor and a little more creaminess,” says Rita Morgan of Pueblo.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

Who says French toast is just for breakfast? Filling and flavorful, you can amaze your family with this toothsome meal any time of day. Get the recipe at coloradocountrylife.coop.

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NEWS CLIPS Lightning eMotors CEO Tim Reeser shares how his company is electrifying small buses and passenger vans during lunch at the CREA Energy Innovations Summit.

Co-ops Focus on Innovation

C

hanges in the electric industry, new technologies, beneficial electrification and more were the focus of the CREA Energy Innovations Summit, Monday, October 11. About 300 electric co-op directors, managers/CEOs and staff members gathered with other representatives from the electric industry to talk about the innovations that will affect the electric industry in the future.

The day opened with Tri-State Generation and Transmission CEO Duane

Highley and Xcel Energy President Alice Jackson talking about how the industry is coping with change. Luncheon speaker Tim Reeser, CEO of Lightning eMotors in Loveland, shared how his company is electrifying small buses, passenger vans and other medium-duty vehicles.

The day also included panel discussions focused on energy storage, hydrogen as vehicle fuel, carbon capture usage and storage, distributed generation, beneficial electrification and more.

Tri-State CEO Duane Highley, Xcel Energy President Alice Jackson and CREA Executive Director Kent Singer discuss how the electric industry is coping with changes during the opening panel of the CREA Energy Innovations Summit.

CREA, the trade association for Colorado’s 22 electric distribution co-ops, and its power supply co-op have presented the summit each year since 2010.

Lifelong Learning Helps Co-ops Continue to Serve Electric cooperative employees must continually learn new skills to keep pace with rapidly changing technology and satisfy consumer-members’ ever-changing needs, said National Rural Electric Cooperative Association President Chris Christensen at a recent annual co-op event.

“Our members receive our services for their basic needs, but also for internet access, to run their 3D printers, and to charge their electric cars. New products and services will continue to emerge, and if we want to continue to improve the quality of life for our members and meet their expectations, we must prepare ourselves and our co-ops,” he said.

Christensen, a cattle rancher from Montana, urged co-op leaders to embrace lifelong learning for themselves and their employees. The most valuable employees are the ones who never stop learning, he added.

CREA, the state trade association for Colorado’s electric co-ops, provides a variety of educational opportunities, both to co-op board members and to co-op employees. In 2021, the statewide association provided 26 webinars for board members, co-op employees and youth, and 14 in-person classes.

Classes included a variety of topics: hands-on instruction for outside employees, leadership training, the safety programs, IT, cybersecurity sessions, finance classes and much more.

A recent NRECA poll shows 97% of co-op employees say opportunities to participate in education and training contribute to their job satisfaction.

“When we focus on investing in ongoing learning and the preparation of our people, we accomplish three things,” Christensen said. “We identify and prepare future co-op leaders. We nurture a governing body that represents the best interests of the co-op. And we improve our co-op culture, creating a unified, knowledgeable and aligned organization that can effectively navigate the future.”

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

4 Solar Energy Trends to Watch The efficiency of solar energy is improving through innovations and advancements.

Here are four trends to watch: • New materials for solar cells being developed are more efficient, durable and cost effective.

• Batteries are improving to store energy from large-scale installations so it can be used more efficiently.

• New business models like community solar allow participation in solar programs without the hassle of installation and maintenance.

• Solar tracking makes solar panels more efficient with motorized systems that keep panels pointed toward the sun throughout the day.

NEWS CLIPS

Summer Heat Pushes Usage To Record High

W

hen it got hot this past summer, electricity demand in the lower 48 states of the

U.S. jumped.

It soared to 720 gigawatt-hours on Thursday, August 12, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

That is the highest level of demand going back to July of 2015, the EIA said in a report. On that day, much of the country saw temperatures above 90 degrees, which meant air conditioners, fans and other cooling equipment were operating.

CCL Earns National Recognition Colorado Country Life, your local electric cooperative magazine, won three national awards in this year’s National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Statewide Editors Association’s Willie Awards.

Competing with 32 other electric cooperative magazines from states across the country, CCL won an Award of Excellence and two Awards of Merit.

The Award of Excellence was for a 2020 Outdoors column by CCL Outdoors columnist Dennis Smith on a special dog named Moses that was remarkably gifted.

An Award of Merit was presented for having the Best Magazine Design among the magazines in 2020. Judges said: “Excellent work. Love the cover photos, especially April’s.

Loved the contents page, too; very well done.”

The magazine also won an Award of Merit in the Best Personality Feature category for the February feature story “Mapping a Mountain’s Magic” by freelance writer Eugene Buchanan on Colorado’s own James Niehues, who maps ski resorts around the world.

COMMON CAUSES OF POWER OUTAGES

PUBLIC DAMAGE

WEATHER

WILDLIFE

TREES

EQUIPMENT FAILURE

Damage by vehicle accidents or construction equipment can cause broken utility poles, downed power lines and equipment damage.

Lightning, high winds, and ice are common weather-related power interruptions.

Squirrels, snakes and birds can come in contact with equipment such as transformers and fuses and cause equipment to momentarily fail or shut down completely.

Outages are caused when trees interfere with power lines.

This is why our line clearance and right-of-way maintenance programs are so important.

The electric grid is a highly complex infrastructure with a lot of mechanical elements that can fail due to age, performance and other issues.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

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BOOKS

THAT TAKE YOU AWAY

2021 BOOK REVIEWS REVIEWED BY JULIE SIMPSON Welcome to Colorado Country Life’s annual book review issue. Here, you’ll find reviews of some of the many books we read over the past year that have taken us away to new places for new adventures.

It was no surprise that many of the books pulled us into Colorado’s famed Rocky

Mountains with stories of mystery and intrigue. Other authors imagined monsters and darkness lurking beneath the beauty of our majestic mile-high surroundings.

And, several writers in this year’s selection focused on memory and the idea that memory is identity, that the future is

powerfully shaped by the past, that the secrets of your hometown will always come back to haunt you.

See what we found in this list of great Colorado books and visit coloradocountrylife.coop for even more book reviews.

MOUNTAINS To the Mountain

heard stories about. Jace must grapple not only against the elements and time as he searches for Marshall, but also his demons of guilt and grief when it comes to his choices as a father.

A short, well-written story about the bond between a father and son, To the Mountain also thoughtfully addresses the fierce, unconditional and often painful love of a parent for a violent special needs child. For a beautiful, heartbreaking, inspiring read, find this book online or at your local retailer.

fatalities in Colorado. Together, Susan and Tasha embark on a mission to become the best canine search team in the Rockies.

The road isn’t easy, however. Training a willful puppy presents its own difficulties, in addition to the political hoops to jump through, certifications to receive and rules to follow in order to be called in for searches.

But Susan refuses to give up, spurred on by her desire to save lives. In the complexities of searches and life, Susan and Tasha get lost occasionally, but they always have each other to help them “go find.”

A beautifully moving and often humorous true story about the pursuit of a passion and the bond between a working dog and her human, Go Find offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of mountain search and rescue. Go find this great read online or at your local retailer.

By Erik Raschke

The world looks different for 11-year-old Marshall.

For one, he currently lives at a juvenile correction facility, where he is tormented by the other boys and dreams of a life he remembers with a mother and a father and a home. And his brain is different, full of rage and panic that threaten to take him outside himself beyond all control.

A well-meaning staff member takes Marshall for a car ride outside the facility, but they crash on the snowy mountainside during a blizzard. The driver is found near the van, but Marshall disappeared. Marshall’s father, Jace, knows that the boy will try to make it to the top of the mountain he once

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

Go Find

By Susan Purvis Su s a n P u r v i s w a s searching for something: a home, a place, a family, a dream. She found Tasha the puppy, and she learned about avalanche

COVER STORY Hanging Falls

By Margaret Mizushima Timber Creek, Colorado, police officer Mattie Cobb thinks taking a hike up to Hanging Falls with her K-9 partner Robo will be a great way to unwind. But, they find a body floating in the water and Mattie is again in the middle of a dangerous murder investigation right when she is supposed to be reconnecting with her long-lost family.

Mattie and Cole, her boyfriend and local veterinarian, identify the victim by his unique clothing as a member of a strict religious community living on the outskirts of town. While the group seems friendly, Mattie senses more beneath the surface. She and Robo have to use all their combined skills to solve this murder … and prevent another.

But how can Mattie focus on this case when the details of her own childhood abduction are coming to the surface?

Part of the Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries

by Colorado author Margaret Mizushima, Hanging Falls provides an entertaining whodunnit storyline with the promise of more Mattie Cobb stories to come. Find it online or at local retailers.

The Last Hurrah: A Phoebe Korneal Mystery

By Julilee Butler and GaGa Gabardi

This fun, quirky mystery story is set in Oresville, a high mountain community in Colorado. Phoebe Korneal, Green County’s newest deputy and detective (well, only detective) is leaving heartbreak and disillusionment behind and starting over close to childhood friends.

Then, one morning Old Al, the mining community’s resident gold prospector, is found dead. But why? Did he die just because he was old or was it murder?

Follow Phoebe and a town full of interesting characters as they work to solve Old Al’s mysterious death.

This is the first book in a three-book series for a couple of Colorado grandmas who spent last year’s quarantine time writing. The book was a finalist in the Colorado Author League awards.

MONSTERS Monsters, Movies & Mayhem Edited by Kevin J. Anderson

A zombie family watches their final movie marathon. The Toad Man sneaks up on unsuspecting theatergoers. Aliens stop by for pizza. Is this some kind of weird TV show?

No, it’s Monsters, Movies & Mayhem, a short story collection curated by the creative minds of the Publishing MA students in the graduate program in creative writing at Western Colorado University in Gunnison.

Whether you’re in to movies, the horror genre or just love a good story, this collection has everything it needs to make you laugh, cry and scream, sometimes all within the same piece. All the stories handpicked by the students relate to movies and monsters but, like all good literature, are really about what makes us human … even if we’re undead. For a great creepy read, find this Colorado Book Award winner at a local or online retailer.

Gone to Darkness

By Barbara Nickless After all the publicity of her previous solved cases, Sydney Parnell is promoted from railroad cop to star detective of the Denver Police Department. But the elevation of her circumstances also put a target on her back, both from other detectives looking for a mistake and from criminal elements looking to make her an example. All that has to be put aside, however, when a horribly mutilated body turns up in a refrigerated train car. As Sydney

and her K-9 partner Clyde follow the trail, they find themselves in a world of darkness they never knew existed. Will the strength of their partnership be enough to help them find their way back out into the light again?

Another graphic, page-turning Parnell story from Colorado author Barbara Nickless, Gone to Darkness is hard to put down until you’ve reached the terrifying conclusion. Pick up this and other books in the series at your local retailer or online.

MEMORY Memories in the Drift

By Melissa Payne

Claire Hines lost her baby girl and her shortterm memory 10 years ago … at least, that’s what her notebooks tell her. She knows some things about her “before” life, like how she lives in the remote town of Whittier, Alaska, with her father; that her mother Alice is an alcoholic who left her as a child; that her high school boyfriend Tate broke her heart.

But when the details of her notebooks don’t seem to explain things that are happening — like her dad’s absence, or her mother’s return — Claire’s control of her fragile reconstructed world begins to slip. What if there were things she left out of her own notes so she wouldn’t have to remember? And how much can she trust the people around her to fill in the blanks?

A beautifully crafted story about forgiveness and community, this novel by Colorado author Melissa Payne expertly weaves believable characters and their pieced-together storylines into a unique and moving book. Find this wonderful story online or at local retailers.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

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COVER STORY Winter Counts

By David Heska Wanbli Weiden Virgil Wounded Horse is the enforcer at the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. When the local authorities fail to enact justice, which happens often, Virgil brings the justice with his fists … and occasionally a baseball bat.

But when heroin comes to the reservation and almost takes his own nephew, Virgil might be over his head in his search for those responsible. From the rez to Denver cartels and back to the rez, the conspiracy of the drug running goes deeper than even his desire for revenge might be able to go.

In order to save his nephew, Virgil will need more than bloody knuckles. He has to search deep within himself for the strength of his ancestors in order to win this fight for his family and his people.

A beautifully raw book, Winter Counts manages to weave together a story of identity, culture and crime-fighting — a difficult feat to accomplish. Colorado author David Heska Wanbli Weiden addresses a difficult conversation about what it means to be Native American in these modern times. Find this well-crafted, award-winning read through local or online retailers.

Complicit

By Amy Rivers Kate Medina still remembers discovering the burned body of the girl in a riverbed with her best friend Roman years ago. Now a forensic psychologist and back in her hometown, Kate feels compelled to investigate when another girl disappears and another terrified silence seems to gag the entire town.

How many horrible secrets can one

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

small town in New Mexico hide? Kate must reunite with the estranged Roman, now a police officer, to struggle against the powerful forces trying to keep the past and the present buried. But how far is Kate willing to go to protect people she doesn’t really know, especially when her search puts the people she loves at risk?

A haunting story of power, secrets and exploitation, Complicit is the first installment of a series by Colorado author Amy Rivers.

For a nail-biter of a thriller with an inspiring message of courage and perseverance, find this novel online or at local retailers.

OTHER NOTABLE FICTION Site Fidelity

By Claire Boyles

Against the fading backdrop of a dying world, women endure. A nun decides to sabotage a fracking site in order to protect the children of her town. An ornithologist must decide between the legacy of her rancher father and an endangered grouse. A farmer hides her chicken flock from federal agents during the bird flu. Women give birth to children and new definitions of themselves. Can they make the world new again, too?

A masterfully crafted and engaging collection of short stories by Colorado author Claire Boyles, Site Fidelity weaves the lives of women and the life of Earth through time and space, casting new light on an ancient narrative. For a wonderfully written and perspective-shifting read, find this book at online or local retailers.

READ MORE BOOK REVIEWS ONLINE Read more extensive reviews of these books and others at coloradocountrylife.coop.

Mercy Creek

By M.E. Browning A little girl mysteriously disappears on her way home from the county fair, and Detective Jo Wyatt is determined to find her before it’s too late. But in the small town of Echo Valley, Colorado, investigations are complicated by the fact that everyone knows everyone — and this case hits closer to home for Jo than most.

Can Jo wade through the mess of family drama, high school memories, old wounds and a web of lies in order to get to the bottom of the girl’s disappearance, or will she be forced to abandon the case because of grudges and department politics? Find this newest Jo Wyatt crime thriller online or at your local retailer.

All the Days Past, All the Days to Come

By Mildred D. Taylor

The award-winning Colorado author of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry has produced yet another moving novel with All the Days Past, All the Days to Come. The story follows the Logan family across the United States and through several decades, beginning in 1944 and concluding with the fight for racial equality in the 1960s.

The feisty heroine, Cassie Logan, sees her brothers go to and return from war, only to continue to be disrespected in Mississippi for being Black. Though she and her brothers seek better opportunities in Toledo, Ohio, the prejudices are the same. Can the Logan family find respect and happiness in the midst of these tumultuous times, or will they be beaten back like so many others who dared to speak up?

Another important and insightful story from Mildred D. Taylor, this book is both

COVER STORY emotionally moving and historically informative. Find it online or at a local retailer.

Wild Times & True Tales from the High Plains

By Matt Vincent

Army engagements, outrageous personalities, fatal misunderstandings — all are a part of Colorado author Matt Vincent’s new collection of historically-inspired short stories. Ride into battle alongside some of the last great Native American warriors. Hunker down against a surprise attack alongside other young soldiers. Chase a raiding party across the endless high plains.

Whatever your Western adventure, you can find it by looking up this book at local stores or online retailers.

Undercover Outlaw

By Gini Rifkin

Trinity didn’t think things could get much worse than her domestic enslavement back East. But just when she thinks she’s reached freedom in the wilds of Colorado, she’s kidnapped by a handsome rogue and brought to the attention of the gang that runs the town of Prairie Ridge.

The man who takes her off the stagecoach at gunpoint is only playing the part of a coldhearted ruffian, however. Jesse is working undercover within the gang in order to find the man who shot and killed his only brother. Even when he finds himself drawn to the beautiful Trinity, he has to stay in character, for his sake and hers. If anyone finds out who they really are, they’ll both be dead.

Can the budding love between Jesse and Trinity help them work together to free the

town, or will it be their undoing? Find out by getting Undercover Outlaw, the latest from Colorado author Gini Rifkin, online or from your local retailer.

Fleeing the Past

By Christopher LaGrone Layne Sheppard feels stuck in a dead-end life.

With few prospects on the horizon, he hangs his hopes on his admission to the Border Patrol Academy. But with shadows from the past continuing to follow him into the present, will he be able to pass the background check? And when the stress of the academy hits, will he be able to resist the temptation of bad habits?

Fleeing the Past is the first book in The Delta Tango Trilogy written by the late Christopher LaGrone and published posthumously by his mother, Sherryl LaGrone of Grand Lake. Handling difficult issues such as racism, the border conflict and alcoholism, the series presents a tragic story of an ambitious life haunted by addiction. Find this book and the rest of the trilogy online or at local retailers.

OTHER NOTABLE NONFICTION Spurred West

By Ian Neligh

Author of one of our previously acclaimed books, Gold!, Colorado journalist Ian Neligh has once again crafted his extensive research into a book that is both informative and entertaining with Spurred West. A fascinating and factual window to the past, it details the stories of some of the rogues, treasure seekers, bounty hunters and other “colorful characters” who shaped the identity of the Wild West.

WIN

A BOOK

Want a free book? You could win one of the books featured in this month’s magazine (pages 16-19 and 30) as well as additional titles featured exclusively on our website.

Visit coloradocountrylife.coop and click on the Contests tab to find out how to enter.

With an interesting twist, Neligh also looks into the lives of the many interesting people in present-day Colorado and beyond who keep the spirit of the Wild West alive. History may have moved forward, but real-life rogues, bounty hunters and treasure seekers continue to find their place in our wild and wide open spaces.

Find this book at your local retailer or online.

Game 163: The Epic ’07 Wild Card Tiebreaker, and the Rockies Team that Went to the World Series

By Denny Dressman

Renowned sports writer and historian Denny Dressman does it again with this in-depth evaluation of the most dramatic Rockies baseball year in history. From the makeup of the team, discussions by coaches and management, and a play-by-play breakdown of everything that came together to create the Rockies’ historic journey to the World Series, this book gives baseball fans that insider, behind-the-scenes look at the elements of a compelling underdog victory.

If you’re a Rockies fan or know one, be sure to pick up this book at a local retailer or online.

Julie Simpson grew up reading books on the Front Range of Colorado before earning her degree and becoming an English teacher deep in the heart of Texas.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

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ENERGY CONNECTIONS to train students in hydrogen technology and by researchers gathering cost and operational data as they work toward future hydrogen station deployment for commercial operators in Colorado.

Biofuel/Biodiesel

Fueling for the Future Researchers find potential in two low-carbon options

BY MARIA KENEVSKY AND MONA NEELEY

W

hen it’s time to fuel up your vehicle, you’re likely heading to the gas station or an electric vehicle charging station like most drivers in the U.S. But those might not be the only options in the future.

Research continues into alternative vehicle fuels, including hydrogen and biodiesel. This shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles comes with several benefits, including improving the country’s energy security and lowering vehicle emissions.

Hydrogen as fuel One of the alternative ways to power a vehicle is with hydrogen in the form of a fuel cell. This form of fuel is potentially emissions-free and can be produced using domestic resources, according to a panel discussion at CREA’s October Energy Innovation Summit.

Just as with all-electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles use electricity to power an electric motor. However, they use a fuel cell powered by hydrogen to create an electrochemical process to produce electricity. The hydrogen goes through an electrochemical process to produce the electricity, which then powers your car.

The only byproducts of this process are water and heat, emitted in the form of water vapor and warm air. Since the byproducts

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

are clean, vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells produce no tailpipe emissions and are classified as zero-emissions vehicles.

Extracting the hydrogen itself can be a carbon-free process, depending on the way it’s done. One way is to perform electrolysis is using water to extract hydrogen, which requires power from another energy source. Using renewable energy, such as solar or wind energy, to power electrolysis provides a carbon-free process to extract the hydrogen. (There are other hydrogen sources that are less sustainable, such as producing it from natural gas, which emits carbon dioxide as a byproduct.)

Advantages of hydrogen-powered vehicles include fast fueling, long cold-weather range and high cargo capacity. With hydrogen, drivers can refuel a vehicle in under five minutes and gain more than 300 miles of driving range.

However, there are currently only a limited number of hydrogen refueling stations in the U.S., and most of these stations are in California. Colorado’s lone public hydrogen fuel station was installed at Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 2020. It is maintained by the CSU Energy Institute at the Powerhouse Energy Campus on North College Avenue.

It generates hydrogen on-site and is used

Another form of alternative vehicle fuel is biofuel. Renewable biofuels are produced from biomass, which can be used in conventional gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles.

These fuels work in the same way gasoline or diesel does by fueling compression-ignition engines. Almost all diesel vehicles are capable of running on biodiesel blends, although vehicle owners should check their OEM engine warranty to ensure that higher-level blends of this alternative fuel are approved by the manufacturer.

One of the most common biofuels is ethanol, which is produced from sugars in corn or other grains, like sugar cane, sugar beets or rice. Sometimes biofuels can be blended with gasoline or diesel, or they can simply be used in pure form. Almost all gasoline sold in the United States includes 10% ethanol blended into the fuel, mostly from distilled corn. Scientists are currently working to find new ways to expand ethanol production by experimenting with different plants.

Biodiesel, a different form of biofuel, can be produced from vegetable oil, animal fats or recycled cooking grease, and can be used to power older cars that run on diesel. Since biodiesel is nontoxic and biodegradable, it is much safer than petroleum diesel if it’s released into the environment.

The most common sources for biodiesel production in the U.S. are soybean oil, corn oil and recycled feedstocks. There are several other nonmainstream biodiesel sources that can be manufactured from algae, municipal waste and wood chips. However, these options are much less common. The most common biodiesel blend is B20, which ranges from 6% to 20% biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel.

These alternative vehicle fuel options may not be mainstream yet, but as they come on line they can help lower our reliance on gasoline and diesel. As a bonus, these clean-burning options help to improve air quality and lower greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

There is great potential to see these alternative fuels expand over the years, and additional research efforts may help these fuels reach more individual consumers nationwide.

Maria Kanevsky writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Mona Neeley is the editor of Colorado Country Life magazine.

The components of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle are different from those of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle.

A biodiesel vehicle has all of the components of a conventional diesel vehicle but operates on a cleaner fuel.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

21

GARDENING

Join the Shrub Club Variety, beauty of shrubs will convince you to plant

BY VICKI SPENCER

MASTER GARDENER | GARDENING@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

S

hrubs are the foundation of a welldesigned landscape and should not be overlooked when planning gardens. They create privacy, serve as backdrops, define garden beds and add seasonal interest. Some blossom early in the spring; others blossom all summer long. My favorites are shrubs that burst with brilliant shades of red and gold in autumn.

Although many choices are available, selecting native shrubs that have adapted to our dry climate and require less water, fertilizer and pruning means less ongoing maintenance. More importantly, natives attract wildlife and contribute to our state’s biodiversity. Of course they must be sited correctly to reap these benefits. Become familiar with the different light, moisture and soil conditions in various parts of your yard and select shrubs appropriately. This will improve survival rates. Containergrown shrubs may be planted any time during the growing season, but the planting site may need to be amended with organic material.

Natives that are adapted to Colorado’s high altitudes include rabbitbrush, woods’ rose, mountain mahogany, wax currant, golden currant, three-leaf sumac, sagebrush, hoptree, false indigo, Apache

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

plume and chokecherry. Rabbitbrush attracts butterflies with yellow flower clusters at elevations up to 9,000 feet.

Woods’ rose has pink flower clusters that attract wildlife despite its reddish brown, prickly stems. Golden currant has a distinctive clove scent and bright yellow flowers that attract birds. False indigo grows at up to 6,000 feet and displays purple flowers and deep green foliage that turns bright yellow in fall. Apache plume, a showy native western shrub, grows well at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 feet.

Its wheat-colored branches are lined with green lobed leaves. White spring blossoms are followed by delicate, feathery white to pink fruit clusters making it a stunning accent to colorful perennials.

Fernbush is native to the Colorado Plateau, attracts pollinators and makes an excellent hedge border in difficult-to-grow dry areas. It’s an interesting shrub with aromatic leaves and naked buds, which give the appearance of the plant keeping its little leaves all winter. Viburnum (native to North America) is a classic border shrub providing an excellent habitat for small songbirds along the Front Range. Most varieties have showy, fragrant flowers.

Summer snowflake provides a magnificent

display from midspring throughout the summer and develops red fruit and stunning foliage in the fall.

Growing natives does not exclude planting nonnatives adapted to Colorado’s climate as long as moisture, light and soil requirements are met. For example, early amethyst (native to Asia) is a compact, rounded, deciduous shrub that tolerates most conditions and adds striking color to fall gardens. Its purple berries attract a variety of songbirds, yet deer rarely bother it. Planting in mass improves cross pollination and fruit production.

While it’s tempting to collect natives while enjoying Colorado’s natural landscapes, it should be avoided. Disturbing the soil creates spaces for invasive plants to take over and interferes with biodiversity of the natural landscape. It’s best to rely on local nurseries, which carry many native species and can help you select the best plant for your site.

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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CoQ10’s Failure Leaves Millions Wanting Use this pill to supercharge your brain and think better than ever.

Millions of Americans take the supplement CoQ10. It’s the “jet fuel” that supercharges your cells’ power generators, known as mitochondria.

age. In fact, the Mitochondria Research Society reports 50 million U.S. adults are suffering from health problems because of mitochondrial dysfunction.

As powerful as CoQ10 is, there is a critical thing it fails to do. It can’t create new mitochondria in your cells.

Birth of new mitochondria

As you age, your mitochondria begin to die. In fact, by age 67, you lose 80% of the mitochondria you had at age 25. But if you’re taking CoQ10, there’s something important you should know.

Common ailments often associated with aging — such as memory problems, heart issues, blood sugar concerns and vision and hearing difficulties — can all be connected to a decrease in mitochondria.

Dr. Sears and his researchers combined the most powerful form of CoQ10 available Taking CoQ10 is not enough — called ubiquinol — with a unique, “There’s a little-known NASA nutrient newly discovered natural compound called that multiplies the number of new power PQQ that has the remarkable ability to generators in your cells by up to 55%,” says grow new mitochondria. Together, the Dr. Al Sears, owner of the Sears Institute for two powerhouses are now available in a Anti-Aging Medicine in Royal Palm Beach, supplement called Ultra Accel II. Florida. “Science once thought this was Discovered by a NASA probe in space dust, impossible. But now you can make your PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline quinone) stimulates heart, brain and body young again.” something called “mitochondrial biogenesis” “I tell my patients the most important — a unique process that actually boosts the thing I can do is increase their ‘health span.’ number of healthy mitochondria in your This is the length of time you can live free of cells. disease and with all your youthful abilities In a study published in the Journal of and faculties intact.”

Nutrition, mice fed PQQ grew a staggering Medical first: Multiply the “power number of new mitochondria, showing an increase of more than 55% in just eight generators” in your cells weeks.

Al Sears, M.D., recently released an energyThe mice with the strongest mitochondria boosting supplement based on this NASA nutrient that has become so popular, he’s showed no signs of aging — even when they were the equivalent of 80 years old. having trouble keeping it in stock.

Science stands behind Dr. Sears is the author of over 500 scientific the power of PQQ papers on anti-aging and recently spoke at the WPBF 25 Health & Wellness Festival Biochemical Pharmacology reports that featuring Dr. Oz and special guest Suzanne PQQ is up to 5,000 times more efficient in Somers. Thousands of people listened to Dr. sustaining energy production than common Sears speak on his anti-aging breakthroughs antioxidants. and attended his book signing at the event.

“Imagine 5,000 times more efficient Now, Dr. Sears has come up with what his energy,” says Dr. Sears. “PQQ has been a game peers consider his greatest contribution to changer for my patients.” anti-aging medicine yet — a newly discovered “With the PQQ in Ultra Accel II, I have nutrient that multiplies the number of tiny, energy-producing “engines” located inside energy I never thought possible,” says the body’s cells, shattering the limitations of Colleen R., one of Dr. Sears’ patients. “I am in my 70s but feel 40 again. I think clearer, traditional CoQ10 supplements. move with real energy and sleep like a baby.”

Why mitochondria matter

It works right away

A single cell in your body can contain Along with an abundance of newfound between 200 to 2,000 mitochondria, with the largest number found in the most energy, users also report a sharper, more metabolically active cells, like those in your focused mind and memory, and even younger-looking skin and hair. Jerry M. from brain, heart and skeletal muscles.

Wellington, Florida, used Ultra Accel II and But because of changes in cells, stress and was amazed at the effect. poor diet, most people’s power generators “I noticed a difference within a few days,” begin to malfunction and die off as they

NASA-discovered nutrient is stunning the medical world by activating more youthful energy, vitality and health than CoQ10. says Jerry. “My endurance almost doubled.

But it’s not just in your body. You can feel it mentally, too,” says Jerry. “Not only do I feel a difference, but the way it protects my cells is great insurance against a health disaster as I get older.”

Increase your health span today

The demand for this supplement is so high, Dr. Sears is having trouble keeping it in stock. “My patients tell me they feel better than they have in years. This is ideal for people who are feeling or looking older than their age… or for those who are tired or growing more forgetful.”

“My favorite part of practicing anti-aging medicine is watching my patients get the joy back in their lives. Ultra Accel II sends a wake-up call to every cell in their bodies… and they actually feel young again.”

Where to find Ultra Accel Il

Right now, the only way to get this potent combination of PQQ and super-powered CoQ10 is with Dr. Sears’ breakthrough Ultra Accel II formula.

To secure bottles of this hot, new supplement, buyers should contact the Sears Health Hotline at 1-800-731-4270 within the next 48 hours. “It takes time to get bottles shipped out to drug stores,” said Dr. Sears.

“The Hotline allows us to ship the product directly to the customer.”

Dr. Sears feels so strongly about this product, he offers a 100%, money-back guarantee on every order. “Just send me back the bottle and any unused product within 90 days, and I’ll send you your money back,” said Dr. Sears.

The Hotline will be taking orders for the next 48 hours. After that, the phone number will be shut down to allow them to restock.

Call 1-800-731-4270 to secure your limited supply of Ultra Accel II. You don’t need a prescription, and those who call in the first 24 hours qualify for a significant discount. To take advantage of this great offer use Promo Code UACO1121 when you call in.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. RESULTS MAY VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON. NO INDIVIDUAL RESULT SHOULD BE SEEN AS TYPICAL. OFFER NOT AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF IOWA COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

23

OUTDOORS

Holding the Holidays Close to the Heart Fellowship and feasting create fond memories

BY DENNIS SMITH

OUTDOORS@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

I

’ve been around long enough now that I’ve seen three quarters of a century’s worth of Thanksgiving holidays come and go.

That, in itself, is something for which I’m enormously grateful. After all, there is no gift more precious than life itself — unless it’s a long, happy, healthy one spent in the company of loved ones. And, thanks be to God; my parents, wife, children and grandchildren; and the marvels of modern-day medicine, mine has been exactly that so far — knock on wood.

When our family gathers around the Thanksgiving Day table these days, it’s traditional for all of us to name at least one thing we’re thankful for. Me? I’m just happy to be sitting at the holiday table again, surrounded by family and friends.

When you consider that, from the moment we’re conceived, each of us is pitted against an unholy alliance of deadly diseases, natural disasters, freak accidents and unseen tragedies, it seems remarkable that any of us live long enough to see our teenage years. To survive for seven-plus decades seems almost miraculous. Of course, I didn’t always think that way, but

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

when you’re 20-something, it’s perfectly clear you’re immortal; later in life, though, it becomes equally clear you’re not.

I have many warm memories of past Thanksgiving holidays. While all of them center on family gatherings and the traditional turkey feast, more than a few of them are inextricably tied to my father’s old deer camp in Mink Hollow.

In our neighborhood, deer hunting and Thanksgiving went together like mashed potatoes and gravy, and it was common for the men and boys to leave for deer camp immediately following the pumpkin pie and hot apple cider.

Our deer cabin was little more than a paint-worn, clapboard shack fitted with a potbelly stove, a makeshift kitchen, and two rows of double-decker bunk beds fashioned from peeled spruce logs. It sat in a meadow at the end of a logging road that climbed through 4 miles of hardwood forest. Beechnut, sugar maple, mountain ash and northern red oak dominated the flanks of the mountains, punctuated by fragrant stands of hemlock and pine.

Whitetails fed on the beechnuts and acorns

and bedded in the tangles of mountain laurel that crept across the slopes like a huge, green, serpentine carpet.

Much as I’d like to, I can’t take my two boys back there. The cabin is long gone and so is Mink Hollow. But we try to maintain the family tradition by planning a Thanksgiving hunting trip of some kind — if not for deer, then for ducks, geese or pheasants. And if not on Thanksgiving Day, then as close to it as everyone’s schedule allows.

It may not be exactly like it was back in the day, but it’s always fun and we’re enormously grateful to be together again making more Thanksgiving memories.

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.

Click on Outdoors under Living in Colorado.

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CREATIVE CORNER

READER POETRY Nocturnal Ether

Baseboard Heat

saturated in the grey of evening my color fades with the approaching dusk like the periwinkle skies fading into indigo the scattered clouds and my eyes turn dark

The room is cold … tic … tic … tic.

Click. I turn up the thermostat.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm …

Warmth, I embrace the warmth.

Tic … Tic … Tic …

Cozy, warmth, content.

Tic … tic … tic … We settle in.

the earth is turning me away pulling me away from the light from the day in muted illumination my soul slows its pace matching the whisper of twilight’s cool breath my vibrancy lost my form indefinite disguised with shades of smoke and shadow I melt into the light

Nina Naylor, Loveland Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

Winter Warning

The wind moves swiftly, crisply down the mountainside.

The yellow fellas up above … they speak.

And, down below, a greener group gives their reply.

The message sender speeds on her way …

As aspens breathe a hopeless sigh.

Audrey Sizemore, Westcliffe Sangre de Cristo Electric Association consumer-member

Winter Birds

Gunnison M. Pagnotta, Rye San Isabel Electric Association consumer-member

Bundles of colorlessness fret on gray stems and branches A necklace of birds on an overhead wire, Like beads on a strand, Chatter and click, Wings unfurl.

Feathered missiles hurl themselves from tree to fence.

A quarrel erupts at a free seed meal.

A squabble over one of a thousand morsels Antagonists scuffle and flutter.

Bystanders discontent and grumble.

Gone the soft songs of spring.

Winter birds’ sound is sharp with clatter and cries, Cutting as ice.

The Wind

The wind is endless and life never ends.

Wherever you come from is where you will end.

And when you are there you will feel loved in many different ways.

Lauralei Grondahl, age 7, Falcon Mountain View Electric consumer-member

Mary C. Wilson, Mancos Empire Electric Association consumer-member

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

Submit your best works via email to: info@coloradocountrylife.org or mail to: Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 Include your mailing address and name of your local electric co-op.

“Winter Frost” by Virginia Hasenack of La Junta, a consumer-member of Southeast Colorado Power Electric Association. Virginia is one of many photographers who entered the 2018 CCL Photo Contest.

Deadline for the 2022 “Life’s Expressions” Photo Contest is December 17.

To enter, visit coloradocountrylife.coop/2022-photo-contest.

26

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

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THIS YEAR’S CATEGORIES: • Hometown Pride • Awestruck • Pure Enjoyment • Nostalgia Enter for a chance to win cash prizes and have your photo on the cover of the March 2022 issue of CCL. Visit coloradocountrylife.coop/2022-photo-contest for official rules and to enter.

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Use your smartphone camera to scan the QR code.

YOUR STORIES

FUNNY STORIES

READERS’ PHOTOS

One winter holiday, my granddaughter was visiting and I noticed after she washed her hands she barely dried them. I told her if she doesn’t completely dry her hands they will be chapped. Her mother called me one day from Denver asking me why I told Livie her hands would be chopped. I still laugh about that today, five years later. I didn’t realize a 4 year old doesn’t know the meaning of the word chapped.

Paul Vollbehr, Pueblo West San Isabel Electric Association consumer-member WINNER: Sherrie Nestor of Cheyenne Wells takes CCL to The Kilbeggan Distillery Experience in Kilbeggan, Ireland. She is a consumer-member of K.C. Electric Association.

University of Chicago PhD candidate Ryan Fuller with his copy of CCL magazine, teaches at a seminar at the Marine Biology Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Ryan’s parents, Larry and Carmen Fuller, are Grand Valley Power consumer-members.

Colorado Country Life travels to the Port of Hannibal, Monroe City, Missouri, with Empire Electric Association consumer-members Steve and Donna Watkins.

Judy Whitmore, a Mountain Parks Electric consumer-member, sits with her copy of CCL at an outdoor cafe on the Douro River in Porto Portugal.

My 3-year-old granddaughter, Brynlee, was so excited to turn 4. Her sisters had birthdays in June, July and September, so by November she was still wondering when her birthday would come. She was riding in the backseat of my car as we were driving to my house, and I told her that it wasn’t very long until her birthday. She asked me, “Grandma, are you 5 yet?”

Luretta Sharman, Cortez Empire Electric Association consumer-member One of my friends asked her grandson what he liked best for breakfast. He said his dad made him waffles. Eager to impress her grandson, she got out her waffle iron and whipped up her special waffle recipe. After her grandson finished his waffles, she asked him how he liked them. “They were okay,” he said. “Really?” she asked. “How does your dad make waffles?” Her grandson replied, “Well, first he puts them in the toaster.”

T. McKinsey Morgan, Colorado Springs Mountain View Electric Association consumer-member I was shopping with my 6-year-old granddaughter when she became very irritated that we were taking too long. I explained to her that she had to be patient and it wouldn’t take much longer. I asked her, “Do you know what it means to be patient?” She said, “Sure, it’s when you are in the hospital.”

Jon Herges, Prescott Valley, Arizona San Isabel Electric Association consumer-member

Nathaneil enjoys CCL while his waits for the corn to get done at Vega State Park near Collbran.

Nathaneil is the grandson of Lori Goodson, a consumer-member of Grand Valley Power.

CCL visits North Pole, Alaska, with Southeast Colorado Power Association consumer-member Les Feik and his grandson Daniel Frollo.

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, address and your local co-op to info@coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo to win $25 each month. The next deadline is Monday, November 15. Name, address and co-op must accompany photo. 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 2021 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 NOVEMBER 2021

29

DISCOVERIES

Cheers to Children!

Colorado children’s book authors deliver fun, feelgood stories

I Will Dance

Coming Up: A Boy’s Adventures in 1940s Colorado Springs

By Nancy Bo Flood Illustrated by Julianna Swaney

By Lucy Bell

Eva is a beautiful little girl who shares the same dreams as many other little girls: a sense of belonging and to dance the day away.

For Eva, however, these aspirations are more challenging. You see, little Eva has the ambition and the perfect pink tutu, but there’s one obstacle: she has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair.

But that won’t stop her. Eva discovers a place to make her dreams reality, where everyone is included.

I Will Dance captures the charm of little Eva and, through delightful words and illustrations, reveals the humanity of others — with all abilities — surrounding her through inclusion, laughter and dance.

More Colorado Kids Books We Recommend 1 Cow Boy is NOT a Cowboy

4 Read Island: The Picture Book

By Gregory Barrington

By Nicole Magistro, illustrated by Alice Feagan

He’s a cow and he’s a boy, but he is NOT a cowboy.

For ages 4-8. harpercollins.com

2 God Gave Us Prayer

3 Max Goes to Town

By Cynthia L. Clark

Max is a farm cat who goes on an adventure to town and surprises his family. Ages 2-8. outskirtspress.com

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

2

By Kathy Bury

A princess chicken and her horse seek out the wolf and coyote who stole a magical golden egg. newmansprings.com

7 Hello Tree

By Kimberlee Gard Illustrated by Vivian Mineker

Mama and Papa teach Little Pup the ins and outs of prayer. For ages 3-8. lisatawnbergren.com

6 Ransom of the Golden Egg

A girl and her gang of animal friends search for Read Island, an island made of books. myreadisland.com

5 Snoozapalooza

By Lisa Tawn Bergren Art by David Hohn

1

With the exception of the public school system, Oliver Bell lived in a segregated community growing up in Colorado Springs.

Although times were difficult for the Black community, Oliver’s childhood was still a whimsical one full of adventure, laughter and shenanigans.

Born in 1933, Oliver blossomed in his community as an athlete and eventually had a 30-year career teaching physical education in the Colorado Springs School District. Author Lucy Bell was married to Oliver and knows firsthand of his experiences through the stories and pictures he shared with her. Get an accurate, historic depiction of the life of one Black American through stories and historic photographs in this delightful book.

By Ana Crespo

A mouse finds the perfect naptime spot and initiates a slumber mountain of 10 animal friends.

Ages 5-8. kimberleegard.com

A story of the relationships between humans and nature, told from the unique perspective of a tree. Inspired by the 2013 Black Forest Fire. anacrespobooks.com

READ MORE BOOK REVIEWS ONLINE

Read more extensive reviews of these books and others at coloradocountrylife.coop.

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Americans can finally grow hair so thick “It will cover up your bald spots,” says top US Doctor Clinical trials show a new hair loss breakthrough can both help men and women naturally regrow a thick, full head of hair – without drugs, surgery, or side effects

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housands are rushing to get a new hair restoration method based on surprising new studies from the University of California.

It is the world’s first and only hair loss solution that revives dead hair follicles. And studies confirm it helps men and women regrow a thick, full head of hair, even after years of balding.

Now, with news of this breakthrough spreading like wildfire — the manufacturers are struggling to keep up with overwhelming demand.

That’s because, unlike other methods, it is prescription-free, drug-free, and has no side effects.

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As Jeanne F. from San Diego, CA reports: “When my husband began to use this product, all he had on top of his head was fuzz. His hair began to grow after 30 days and now it is about 2 to 3 inches long!”

Surprising Truth About Hair Loss It is commonly believed that hair loss is hereditary.

Unfortunately, most people think there is nothing they can do to stop it. However, while many doctors will tell you that thinning hair, a receding hairline, and bald spots are due to your genetics, this is not the whole story.

“While genetics play a role, it’s not the main reason you lose hair,” says Dr. Al Sears, the nation’s top anti-aging doctor. “And surprisingly it’s not just your age, thyroid, hormones, stress, or a vitamin deficiency, either.”

The latest scientific research reveals that hair loss is primarily caused by the stem cells in your hair follicles dying.

“This discovery is a true breakthrough because by reviving these stem cells on your scalp, you can stop hair loss dead in its tracks and trigger new hair growth, even in

areas that have been thinning for years,” explains Dr. Sears.

Now, at his world-famous clinic, the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine in Palm Beach, Florida, Dr. Sears and his team have used this game-changing discovery to develop a brand-new hair restoration formula that is taking the country by storm.

Sold under the name Re-Nourish, it is flying off the shelves with men and women of all ages raving about the results it delivers.

“I have seen a significant improvement in hair growth. Previously, you could see thinning areas at the back of my head and now hair has grown over it,” says Peter W. from Ontario, Canada.

And Susan D. from Fort Pierce, Florida reports, “My hair was thinning. So, I began to use Re-Nourish every day on the front part of my scalp. Now I have thicker hair.”

Regrows Hair In Just 30 Days Scientists now know that stem cells are the lifeblood of your hair follicles.

Research from the University of California shows they’re the reason you’re able to grow hair. However, these stem cells aren’t always active.

In fact, studies reveal they’re only active during certain phases of the hair growth cycle.

“Your hair grows in three phases,” explains Dr. Sears. “First, you have the anagen phase, the hair growing phase. Then the catagen phase, when hair gets ready to shed. And finally, the telogen phase, where your hair is pushed from the follicle and falls out.”

As you get older it becomes harder for your hair follicles to complete this three-phase cycle. The results?

Your hairs get stuck in the telogen phase. This is when they start falling out and stop regrowing, no matter what you try.

This process doesn’t happen overnight, says Dr. Sears.

“At first, your hair dries out, becoming brittle, thin, and harder to style. Then, you start finding hairs on your pillow and down the drain.

Finally, you’re left with bald spots that age you prematurely.”

Fortunately, Re-Nourish puts a

Breakthrough research proves this discovery helps fill-in bald spots, renournishes thinning hair, and leads to noticeable growth in as little as 30 days. stop to this. It revives the dead stem cells in your hair follicles and reactivates your hair’s three-phase cycle, triggering new growth in as little as 30 days — even in areas that’ve been balding for years.

Reawakens Dead Hair Follicles

For years, scientists couldn’t figure out why hair follicle stem cells died.

However, a study from the University of California finally found the answer.

It has to do with T-cells — an important immune cell in your body.

The researchers discovered these Tcells are the only way to command hair follicles to grow new hair.

More importantly, they showed that T-cells helped revive the stem cells in your hair follicles — spurring new growth, filling in bald spots and natural hairline.

Re-Nourish uses a unique blend of all-natural ingredients. By spraying it on your hair once per day, scientific studies show you can revive dead stem cells and improve the appearance of thicker, fuller hair.

For example, the key nutrient of Re-Nourish was tested on a group of severely balding women.

After 6 months, nearly 70% of the women saw significant improvement in hair growth. Their hair was noticeably fuller, thicker, and healthier looking. Most exciting of all, they grew new hair on parts of their scalp that had been bald for years.

In another study, Italian re-

searchers gathered a group of both men and women with thinning hair and applied the core ingredient of Re-Nourish. After 12 weeks, they reported a staggering 74% increase in hair growth.

“It’s really mind-boggling that my hair started growing back,” says Zan R., another Re-Nourish customer.

With results like this, it’s no surprise that demand for Re-Nourish is soaring. Thousands of men and women are scrambling to get their hands on the limited supply available.

Re-Nourish is not currently available in any store at any price. But we’ve secured a small batch for our readers.

Try Re-Nourish 100% Risk-Free

For the next 48-hours, Dr. Sears is offering readers a risk-free trial of Re-Nourish.

Dr. Sears feels so strongly about this product that he is backing every order with a risk-free, 100% money-back guarantee. To take advantage of this special offer, simply call the Sears Toll-Free Health Hotline at 1-800-305-1435 now. Use Promo Code RNCO1121 when you call in.

[EDITOR’S NOTE]: Due to recent media exposure for Re-Nourish, the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine is experiencing unprecedented demand. If the phone line is busy when you call, please try again to avoid missing this special onetime-only offer.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. RESULTS MAY VARY.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE NOVEMBER 2021

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