Environment

By Tricia Toney After an extended downpour and hail in downtown Crestone, as a rainbow formed over the peaks, about 40 people gathered under tents, with others viewing via livestream to hear about something brighter: the future of the San Luis Valley economy. A panel of local leaders, brought together by Ameille Warner, Executive Director of Saguache County Sustainable Environment and Economic Development (ScSEED), took on a broad range of topics shaping that future, including: public transit, tourism and housing. The panel included: • Ame Warner – Executive Director, ScSEED; Owner, Dandelion Creative Services; Marketing Consultant, Saguache County Tourism Council; Saguache Town...

By Anya Kaats The Crestone Energy Fair’s recent Natural Plasters & Earthbag Greenhouse workshops were a huge success, drawing participants from across Colorado and New Mexico—and as far as California—for two distinct weekends of immersive, hands-on learning. The Natural Plaster workshop was led by world-renowned natural plaster expert Athena Steen of the Canelo Project, whose decades of experience brought depth, artistry, and inspiration to the process of mixing and applying clay-based finishes. The Earthbag Greenhouse workshop was guided by local builder and CEF crew member Dana Oglesby, who taught participants how to construct strong, sustainable walls using scoria-filled earthbags—a DIY...

By Kaitlyn Fletcher Photo Credit: John Rawinski The 2025 State of Birds report raises alarm for birds across every habitat, again. Nearly one-third of America’s bird species need immediate conservation action. About 50% of all bird species found in the U.S. can be spotted in Colorado, which boasts a total of 521 species from 63 different families. The state of valley birds Local bird expert John Rawinski has documented 369 bird species in the San Luis Valley as of 2024, adding one to three new species annually. That’s over two-thirds of Colorado’s birds. Lined by rugged mountains, the desertscape slopes into piñon-juniper and conifer...

By Anya KaatsPhoto by Anya Kaats The Crestone Energy Fair (CEF) has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Mountain and Plains Environmental Justice Grant Hub (MAP EJ) to further its research on alternative building techniques. The funding will allow the organization to refine its data collection methods and continue advocating for sustainable housing solutions and preserve Saguache County’s lack of building codes. This grant comes on the heels of the recently concluded Sustainable Home Showdown (SHS), a citizen-led research initiative that evaluated a diverse array of homes in the Crestone area. The SHS aimed to collect data on home efficiency,...

By CEF Crew, Photo by Anya Kaats The theme for this year’s Energy Fair (CEF) is Nurturing Resilience, and the event will be focused on what it means to cultivate communal solidarity and forward-thinking leadership to navigate change on our own terms. CEF has remained a pillar of Crestone’s commitment to natural and regenerative building and living, and is one of the longest-running sustainability festivals in the nation. CEF features hands-on workshops, educational panels and presentations, and on-going learning opportunities centered around innovative, sustainable and regenerative ideas and practices in construction, lifestyle and community. The event has become a reliable resource...

By Zaylah Pearson-Good. Due to a history of hunting and habitat loss, beaver colonies have diminished across the San Luis Valley in the last few centuries. Though beaver populations are stable in parts of the Valley, efforts are underway to restore the species to key waterways that they once occupied. Beavers play a major role in maintaining ecological balance, protecting endangered fish and mitigating the impacts of wildfire.   It takes a beaver approximately 24 hours to completely re-engineer an ecosystem. These stout, orange-toothed rodents use sticks, mud, leaves and grasses to build watertight dams that slow and redirect water across...

The team behind the natural-build demo site on the corner of Birch St. and Golden Ave., in Crestone, is gearing up in anticipation of the 35th annual Crestone Energy Fair (CEF), September 14-15, 2024. Last year, Benjamin Byer and Michelle Beelendorf-Byer donated use of some of their land to CEF to help bring increased awareness to the event and its ongoing education program by way of a permanent mixed-medium shed installation. The shed showcases various building styles including a dry stack foundation, cob, strawbale, aircrete and hempcrete panels. The project was initially envisioned by Shawn King and construction began...

Editor’s note: Hiking in the SLV will become a new monthly additon to The Crestone Eagle print edition. By Tegan Welsch-Rainek In the heart of the bustling town of Alamosa lies a hidden gem where one can find solace amidst the chaos of city life. Venturing into the embrace of nature, I embarked on a journey along the Sierra Blanca Trail, seeking refuge from the hectic pace of Alamosa's urban existence. As I ventured forth from Cole Park towards the trailhead, I found myself enveloped by the tall cottonwood trees. Their branches swayed gently in the wind, and puffy white cumulus clouds...