Many Hands Make Lighthearted Work

Father and son size up the new cabin

Localogy is volunteer powered, and nowhere is that more apparent than at the annual SCYR Work Party Weekend.  Parents, alumni and other volunteers descend on the Sangre de Cristo Youth Ranch on Friday with tools and materials in hand and by the time we pack up from our celebratory river float on Monday the camp facilities are ready for action.

In 2013, parents took it upon themselves to organize some big projects from start to finish.  We built a new cabin, finished out the garage, got the fleet in working order, poured a floor for our camp cookie, and checked-off of many miscellaneous to-dos.  When staff week started, there was nothing left for us to do but concentrate on being excellent camp counselors.  Thank you volunteers- after all, if we don’t do it ourselves, who will?  More pics, info and signup here.

5 Days to Make the Movie!

Localogy’s grassroots media arm is flexing.  Recognizing the power of film to shape the ideas that shape our lives, and the necessity of placing that power directly in the hands of the people, we are excited about the dramatic feature film, “Baby Lu”.  Ascending director Emily Ray Reese is intent on telling rare, genuine stories that put the typical tired, warmed-over Hollywood plotline to shame.  Learn more about the project: click here.

Back in the day, Emily started our summer camp film program, guiding the campers all the way from script writing, through the final edits of the youth-produced epics “Mr. Q” and “Kiss of Death”.  Ms. Reese has come a long way from her camp counselor days- wrapping up a Masters at the prestigious NYU Graduate Program in Film and Television.

Production of the film will be based at the Ranch with a largely local cast and crew.  Local youth will be mentored in a full-fledged top-flight film production.   Baby Lu has 5 days to reach its funding goal, and it's all or nothing.  if you support taking our culture to a new level, donate here and pass this on to all your friends and make it viral.

Flight of Fancy

During April and May, NeoKite artists and volunteers worked with classes from the Questa Alta Vista Elementary and Rio Costilla Elementary Schools, introducing them to the history and art of tethered aircraft. Kite and windsock-making workshops were followed by field trips to the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. The students had a great time flying their new wind-art creations and hiking. 

The project will culminate in September with a kite exhibition at Ocho, a new art space in Questa, and at NeoRio with the premiere of the NeoKite project video. NeoKite is organized by LEAP, Wild Earth Studio, and local artist volunteers in collaboration with the BLM Taos Field Office and the Questa School District.  Click to read more about NeoKite and NeoRio 2012

Put Your Back Into It

When is the last time you felt really proud of yourself?  When you did something, not because someone was watching, or you had to, but just because it was the right thing to do?  Those of you who helped raise $17,000 dollars for camp last summer surely know the feeling. 

Why are these campers pulling an outhouse up an mountain? Because they can!

I’m always amazed when I find a donation check in the mail.  I picture you taking the time to sit down and write in a dollar amount, when you could so easily put it off, forget about it, and keep it for yourself.  That’s what Bud’s camp has always been about- rolling up the sleeves and just quietly doing what needs to be done. 

We have to raise $20,000 right now for the 70 campers this summer.  I hope you will help.  Not because writing a check is glamorous, but because those kids need the ranch, and only together can we give it to them.  

Please visit the donate page.

Community Agriculture

Lama Ladies put the Community in "Community Supported Agriculture"

Most critters on Earth spend the majority of their waking hours finding food.  If we don’t eat enough calories, we don’t stay alive.  And one timeless rule of nature: you have to put out calories to get calories.  Never in history have people gotten more food for less actual work than in America today.

The average farmer in Iowa feeds 155 other individual people.  Feeding the whole world by yourself on a tight budget is hard work.  No wonder those guys cut some corners- dumping toxic chemicals on our food, rearranging its DNA, washing thousands of years of topsoil into the gulf of Mexico, etc.

Our food comes from a natural system.  Ultimately, the only way the system will be healthy is if we participate in it- every person, every day.

This year, the working members of the Lama Community Farm have taken control of their calories.  For several months, the neighbor farmers have been meeting weekly to plan and plant a true community food project.  There’s a lot of work ahead, it’s a big learning curve for all of us, and you never know how a growing season will go.  But one thing is for sure- there’s no more noble way to spend the day than feeding yourself and your friends.