Greenhouse Designs – The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders May 21, 2009

Discussing design considerations for the greenhouse

Saludos!  I just came back from a mentoring session at The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders.  Let me start by saying this is a cool school.  And I’m not just saying that because it rhymes.  My mentoring session was a piggy back onto an Applied Materials project where the girls are designing their own greenhouse for a fall installation.  They were learning architectural and design principles encompassing everything from form vs. function to appropriate materials for sunlight vs heat capture.

And then of course the details of plants – To propagate from seed/cuttings?  What to grow – trees, flowers, vegetables?  How to ensure pollination?  We had a great session that just scratched the surface of the benefits of growing plants.  There was a lot of enthusiasm for growing strawberries!  I think they are enjoying the idea of fresh strawberries at school for lunch instead of a mystery lunch meat that most students get!

I can’t wait to go back and see how it is coming along.  Y para las estudiantes de Ann Richards les deseo suerte, animo y ganas para alcanzar todas tus metas!

Abrazos,

Ixchel

Earth Day para todos! April 23, 2009

Today and everyday is Earth Day but what does it mean and how is it changing? Earth day is about taking care of our nonliving and living surroundings. That means preserving the quality of our air, water, and soils as well as the plants, animals and larger ecosystems that we all rely on for our public health. Earth day is also about humanity towards one another and working towards peace, and social justice and equality for all.

In these historic times through economic upheaval and a newly elected African-American president we find ourselves relearning the connections in nature and relearning the connections we have to one another – more and more people are gardening in their backyards, getting involved in service projects to weatherize homes and working towards stronger communities at the local level. On this Earth day I would like to highlight the tremendous advances we’ve made in honoring the earth and all its inhabitants of every color and nationality. The Latino community has a stake in the environmental future of our country and we are here to share the responsibilities of that stewardship.

Feliz Dia de la Tierra!! Happy Earth Day!

Ecuador

Ecuador is leading the way for countries around the world to fundamentally change how we protect nature. On September 29, 2008, the Associated Press (AP) reported that Ecuador ’s new constitution– approved by two-thirds of voters – is the first in the world to extend “inalienable rights to nature.” This bill of rights safeguards the rights of the air, earth and water in much the same way the U.S. Bill of Rights was designed to protect Americans Not too long ago, Ecuador would have seemed an unlikely nation to become the birthplace of Earth’s first green constitution. To service its massive debt the International Monetary Fund forced Ecuador to open its Amazon forests to foreign oil companies. Nearly 30 years of drilling contaminated the northern Amazon, and failed to improve the lives of millions of poor Ecuadoreans.

Van Jones

On March 10, 2009, the White House Counsel on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced Jones’ appointment as Special Advisor on Green Jobs. Van Jones is working to ensure that people of all classes and colors build the new green economy through green collar jobs. “Green For All believes a shift to a clean, green economy can improve the health and well-being of low-income people, who suffer disproportionately from cancer, asthma and other respiratory ailments in our current pollution-based economy. Such a shift can also create and expand entrepreneurial, wealth-building opportunities for American workers who need new avenues of economic advance.” – Green for All

The National Latino Congreso

The National Latino Congreso brings Latinos together to create a united Latino agenda on a variety of issues has passed numerous environmental resolutions is a national demonstration of Latino engagement in issues such as climate change, the protection of our wilderness heritage, and the long-term environmental health of all citizens.

Funky Chicken Tour ‘09 April 15, 2009

The Austin Funky Chicken Coop Tour was a great way to spend a Saturday and we had well over 100 visitors!  After putting up signs, moving the chicken tractor to the back and getting all the prepartions for serving tacos we were ready.  Starting at 10am we had our first visitors.    Everyone wanted to know – What is it like keeping chickens in your backyard?  And why are these guys having so much fun?

Click on image above for a slideshow of the tour

Common questions:

Question:  How do you get eggs without a rooster?

Answer:  You only need a rooster if you want fertilized eggs that go on to become baby chicks.  Otherwise a hen will produce eggs on her own just fine.   That’s a independent lady!

Question:  What kinds of predators threaten a backyard chicken?

Answer:  In the city you still have to watch out for racoons, possums, feral cats, and dogs.  So make sure you invest in sturdy hard wire fencing for your coop.  And never let a baby chick out of a safely enclosed area – they are like little walking chicken nuggets!

Question:  Who built your super-fantastico chicken coop!?

Answer:  William, a wonderful carpenter down the street who custom-built our coop.  He’s awesome!!  His site is http://wmbozarth.blogspot.com

We met so many fun people and I encourage you to contact me with any more questions.  Thanks again for visiting us on this years’ tour and good luck with your own chicken adventures!

On being a chicken celebrity April 9, 2009

Ixchels Gardens in featured on Austin’s local news station, KXAN.  Specifically, our chicken tractor.  I met up with reporters this morning and they did a great job with the interview and asked a lot of good questions about why and how to keep your own chickens.  Check out the story below and don’t forget this Saturday is the Austin Funky Chicken Tour.  Come out and learn all about keeping chickens in your own backyard.

” Hard times create chicken coop comeback”

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/Hard_times_create_chicken_coop_comeback

The Funky Chicken Coop Tour is coming! April 6, 2009

Ixchels Gardens is looking forward to the first Austin Funky Chicken Coop Tour this Saturday, April 11th.   We’ll be serving fresh naranja agria from our tree and sharing tacos with everyone who comes to visit.   Look for the hot pink casa and watch out for the chicken caca!

For more information check out:

http://fccooptour.blogspot.com/

Flowers are blooming and birds are chirping at Ixchel’s Gardens March 17, 2009

Lot’s of exciting things happening outside as we get closer to the first day of spring.

This is a passionflower from my passion vine (Passiflora) in bloom now.  The flowers are FUERA DE SERIE.   ¡This is the Ricky Martin/Salma Hayek of flowers!

Spring is springing and chicks are hatching.  I have two fledgling Silkie Bantam chicks following me around like I’m their mama.  It’s sweet.  They just poop and eat like all babies!

What should I name them?  Any ideas?

Michelle Obama’s Agenda Includes Healthful Eating March 11, 2009

A friend of mine just sent me this article from the New York Times. It’s great to have a champion of healthy living in the White House:

“In her first weeks in the White House, Mrs. Obama has emerged as a champion of healthy food and healthy living. She has praised community vegetable gardens, opened up her own kitchen to show off the White House chefs’ prowess with vegetables and told stories about feeding less fattening foods to her daughters.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/dining/11lady.html?emc=eta1

Winter Series Talks at Austin Habitat Suites March 6, 2009

Wednesday night I went to an evening lecture series which is a great source of information for people interested in local events pertaining to all things sustainable.  The series is offered by the Austin Permaculture Guild, a great group with a wealth of information.

The topic of local food has been getting a lot of press lately in Austin and in the nation.  Mason Arnold of Greenling Distributors discussed the marketing and distribution of local/organic food -  to homes, schools, cafeterias, restaurants, super markets, local farmers markets, and Community Supported Agriculture groups.  Brandi Clark of AustinEcoNetwork brought up a point that I think is crucial in this conversation;

Many Home Owners Associations, City Ordinances and other regulating agencies create policy making food production in your yard against their policy.  It should not be illegal to grow your own food to feed yourself – this makes no sense and we clearly have some work to do as a city in setting priorities towards sustainability.

The Winter Series is a great way to inform and engage yourself.  You can check them out Wednesdays 7pm – 9:30pm at Austin Habitat Suites- I hope to meet you there!  Hasta la proxima,

Ixchel

Ixchel’s Gardens March 2, 2009

Are you interested in growing food in your own yard?

What about a couple of chickens, fruit trees, herb gardens, cut flowers, compost for organic soils or rain barrels? You can do it, it’s muuuy easy and Ixchel’s Gardens can help.

Ixchel’s Gardens can make your yard a sustainable, beautiful, bountiful oasis that produces organic, healthy foods for you and your family. (We can also teach you how to sprinkle some Spanish in your English too if you want!)