News
Xeriscape Conference Success
Scholarship recipients share their appreciation about the International Xeriscape Conference
Gaël Whettnall
3/3/09
The 2009 International Water Conservation Conference was nothing short of breathtaking.
Hearing and being in the presence of so many acknowledged experts, all with a different approach to water conservation, produced an encouraging outlook on water conservation. The advantage of the conference was that participants were uninhibited to converse, ask questions and share success stories with the accredited professionals. Whether registered speaker or conference attendees, all were active in managing water and living sustainably in and around the communities they left to be present at the conference in Albuquerque. Throughout the conference discussions clamored about the importance of water conservation not only in the southwest, but all over the world. The feeling was unanimous; everyone considered water as a basic resource that needed to be distributed with justice and taken with a role of responsibility not to waste or pollute. On the brighter side, researchers and technological developments ranged from the latest in biomimicry (design and technology based on the principle that nature does it more efficiently then we have)
to the growing reemergence of traditional farmers. These presentations had the audience on the edge of their
seat and whispering to one another “Is this for real?” The only thing that was discouraging about the two day
extravaganza of powerful speakers was the lack of people attending who were either young or may have had a
different perspective about water usage that could have been persuaded at the conference. In a nutshell, this
the most exciting conferences to meet the experts changing the world around water practices and conservation
and really got to the heart of what it means to be water conscious.
2009 International Water Conservation Conference
By Erin Lloyd Ortigoza
The conference was very inspiring. The initial talks regarding
current trends and models for the extent of our environmental crisis
regarding water use and global availability were sobering and yet the
speakers were passionate in their conviction to reverse this trend. The
rest of the time was dedicated to a diverse range of methods for
managing small and medium scale projects in our homes and communities in
order to bring a positive focus to these pertinent issues. Awareness of
rain water and grey water harvesting techniques, bio-mimicry, successful
community forestry projects, mycorrhizal inoculation to combat erosion
and pollution, perennial agriculture, habitat cultivation and
permaculture guilds for best practice design were all topics of cutting
edge design, sceince and technology. The conference integrated food
sheds with discussions of water conservation and this partnership is
essential as we grow in understanding how to live in a sustainable way
within our current ecosystem. Local food producers gave talks on their
organizations and projects that support the idea that a transition to
numerous, smaller scale organic farm production is possible and, in
fact, growing. These innovative ideas are truly inspiring for my work,
and I spoke with Paul Stamets, and Brad Lancaster regarding ideas and
questions I have for projects here in New Mexico. I will be emailing
Paul Stamets to submit an application for the Rio Puerco Watershed to be
considered as one of the 100 sites on which they will be testing
mycorrhizal inoculation for environmental rehabilitation.
Thank you for affording me the opportunity to participate in this
event.
By John Evarts
Thank you for the opportunity to go to the Xeriscape Conference. The
conference far exceeded my expectations. Most of the speakers were
exceptional. The theme was relevent as well, water conservation and
agriculture. Not only were issues discussed but also, and most
importantly, techniques and solutions. I wasn't planning on taking
notes when I arrived but soon found myself captivated at the all great
knowledge being shared and ended up spending the day busily trying to
record each gem presented. Yes, this event impacted my thought process
on sustainability and left me with several more tools in my bag. Thank
you again for the influence you have provided in my learning journey
toward sustainability. I know this sounded a bit corny but it really
did have a very positive effect on me. I look forward to more endevours
with both of you.