PEEC is pleased to offer a very special auction at the Party of PEEC on April 26th. An extraordinary group of eight notable nature-lovers will share their knowledge and insights on topics ranging from waterfowl and the stars, to photography and cooking. They will not only work with you to find a mutually agreeable date, but will also accommodate a small group of your family members and friends.
For those who are water-wise gardeners, you will be able to bid on a chipper-shredder for making your own mulch. And PEEC's Kinnikinnick kids are donating to the auction their collection of brightly colored handcrafted paper mache bowls.
Remember that when you bid, you will be benefiting the Pajarito Environmental Educational Center's programs for children and keeping the nature center open and free to the public. So join in the fun and come to the Party for PEEC.
We truly thank this wonderful group of individuals for donating an item or their time to offer a one-of-a-kind experience for the winners of their item.
Tickets to the Party-for-PEEC can be purchased at CB Fox, at PEEC, or from the Earth Day 2009 web page.
Note: All items require that you provide your own transportation.
Troy-Bilt® Pull-Behind Chipper-Shredder
6.5 Horsepower, Model 414, 205cc
List Price: $700
A powerful 120000, Series 6.5 horsepower, 205cc Briggs & Stratton® OHV engine makes quick work of chipping and shredding branches, leaves and clippings. Feed material into the large, drop-in steel hopper or chipper chute, and 12 steel flails and cast iron screen turn leaves, sticks and other light debris into fertilizing mulch and compost. 5-bushel collection bag capacity. Includes 9in. x 4in. semi-pneumatic steel wheels, and 1-gallon capacity fuel tank. U.S.A. Donated by Dave Fox of the Pajarito Greenhouse.
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Waterfowl Tour of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
Guide: Stephen Fettig, wildlife biologist
Schedule: 4 hours at the refuge
Redeemable: Any Sunday in November 2009
Spend the day in the spectacular grasslands of the Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, a mini version of the Bosque del Apache NWR. Steve will provide spotting scopes, expert identification of water birds, as well as natural history information on most of the birds seen. You will need to pack a lunch and provide your own transportation.
You should see lots of Snow Geese, a few Bald Eagles, and a few Ferruginous Hawks. Sandhill Cranes should be moderate numbers, along with good numbers of Gadwall, Northern Pintails, and Northern Shovelers. Special treats will be finding good views of Ross's Geese, Common Goldeneyes, Hooded Merganser, Horned or Eared Grebe. REALLY SPECIAL treats would be finding a Prairie Falcon, Rough-legged Hawk, or a Merlin. Only a few winters during each decade do we find Greater White-fronted Geese or Tundra Swans.
Steve Fettig is a biologist with more than 20 years working from Alaska to Florida and from Michigan to Arizona. His New Mexico contributions to the ornithological world include his leadership of New Mexico's Breeding Bird Atlas Project, and an autumn songbird migration banding study he started in 2004 at Bandelier National Monument. Steve Fettig was the first to identify the Sungrebe from photographs taken by Sally King. The November 2008 visit by a Sungrebe was the first documented record of the species in the U.S.
Introduction to Nature Photography
Guide: Hari Viswanathan
Audience: Ages 16 and up
Group Size: 1-3 people
Shedule: Weekends only, 3 hours
Redeemable: Before September 30, 2009
Join Hari Viswanathan for a half-day of photography fun. Learn about lighting, composition, the use of different lenses, zoom and telephoto, and choosing the correct settings on your digital camera. We will practice taking pictures of the scenery, birds and wildlife around Los Alamos. Postprocessing software can significantly enhance the quality of photographs. Adobe Photoshop techniques such as improving brightness/contrast, color, and sharpening will be covered. The course will be tailored to the needs of the participants. A vegetarian breakfast will be provided for all participants. See Hari's extraordinary photographic collection at http://us.geocities.com/harisphotos.
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Introduction to Geocaching:
The sport where you are the search engine!
Guides: Heather Burke and Esta Lee Albright
Group Size: 1-3 people
Schedule: Weekend only, 2-3 hours
Redeemable: Before October 26, 2009
Join the creators of PEEC's geocache site for a half-day of geocaching fun. Learn how to roam over Los Alamos with a GPS, find creative and amusing clues, and post your findings for all to see. Yummy snacks will be provided too. Your own GPS is not required.
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. (From geochaching.com)
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An Anasazi Feast
Chef: Felicia Orth
Group Size: 1-4 people
Schedule: Flexible, 2-3 hours
Redeemable: Before November 30, 2009
Our indigenous regional cuisine has a rich history. Although its beginnings are often characterized as "austere", Felicia believes the ancient ones brought the same level of care and imagination to their meals as they did to their pottery, for example. Learn about the history and tradition of Native American cooking in this part of the American Southwest, and help prepare a meal to enjoy with the ingredients available to the earliest cooks here, including buffalo, turkey, trout, corn, squash and chili. These recipes are keepers!
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Bandelier Wilderness Overview
Guide: Dorothy Hoard
Schedule: Flexible
Group Size: 1-5 people
Redeemable: Before December 31, 2009
Dorothy Hoard will tailor a visual tour of the Bandelier Wilderness from high viewpoints or along short walks from State Road 4. She can point out locations of interesting events from the past and present, and even project a bit into the future. After 45 years of hiking in the area, Dorothy is familiar with the ancestral pueblo occupations, Adolph Bandelier's travels, fire recovery, elk invasions, attempts to restore healthy ecosystems and much more. Many subjects are documented in the recently-released fourth edition of her Guide to Bandelier National Monument, but Bandelier is even more impressive and lovable when viewed in its natural state.
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Personalized Wildflower Identification Walk
Guide: Chick Keller
Group Size: 1-5 people
Redeemable: Flexible, 2 hours
Redeemable: Before December 31, 2009
Chick Keller, former president of the New Mexico Native Plant Society, and Curator of the Jemez Mountain Herbarium, will guide you through the world of native wildflowers. He will tailor his program to your personal interests. Perhaps your interest is in the native flowers out your backdoor or farther a field to upper Frijoles to search for the less frequently seen Yellow Lady Slippers. You'll learn about the natural history of our wildflowers, discuss the best wildflower guides for our area, and visit to PEEC herbarium to see plant collection. You'll need to wear hiking attire, and bring water.
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Star Gazing
Guide: Chick Keller
Group Size: 1-5 people
Redeemable: Flexible, 2 hours
Redeemable: Before December 31, 2009
Are you interested in seeing astronomical objects and learning more about the universe? Then join Chick Keller for an evening of gazing at the beautiful summer night sky. Using a 6-inch reflecting telescope you'll search for planets, galaxies, star clusters, nebulae and more. Please wear cool, nighttime clothing and bring binoculars.
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Landscape Design
Designer: Cathy Strong
Schedule: Flexible 1.5-hour consultations
Redeemable: Before December 31, 2009
Cathy Strong, well-known master gardener and garden designer, is offering two consultations about landscaping and/or garden design. She has designed numerous gardens in Los Alamos and White Rock and is knowledgeable about what plants thrive in various habitats.
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Ecolutions Dryland Permaculture Consultation
Consultant: Jesse Boudreau
Group Size: 1 household
Schedule: Flexible, 1 - 2 hours
Redeemable: Before December 31, 2009
In a time when food scarcity and ecological degradation are everyone's concerns, one's home garden can become a restorative habitat for pollinators, animals, humans and, indeed, the earth. Living in a dry climate does not necessitate an austere garden. Utilizing native, xeric, flowering, and edible plants, trees, and shrubs one can create an oasis of food and beauty. Rainwater harvesting techniques such as terraces, swales, french drains, and capture tanks as well as organic no-till soil building methods provide a feedback loop of nature's inherent creative capacity. Jesse will come to your home garden and provide a professional site-specific assessment and make suggestions as to how to create your own lavish dryland garden utilizing these methods.
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