Well, take a good look at it and keep it in your mind's eye when you think about where we are on the surface of the planet.
Locate the Headwaters of The Santa Cruz River in The San Rafael Valley . . . Trace the flow South into Mexico down to San Lazaro as the riverway heads westerly and then North, looping up through now what is now Kino Springs in Nogales Arizona and from there onto Tucson
If you look closely, you'll see outlines of The Sonoita Valley, Sonoita Creek and Harshaw Creek, the man-made Patagonia Lake formed by damming up the creek, The Patagonia Mountains, The Santa Ritas,and centuries-old pathways and trails used as natural migration routes way before Arizona Statehood in 1912, or the founding of the Town of Patagonia in 1898 in what was The Territory of Arizona after the Civil War. After decades of exploitation and extraction of natural resources and overgrazing of the ranchlands, a growing sensibility to restore and conserve our natural resources, and to promote towns in close proximity to them has taken root in the Gateway Communities Project, moving beyond a sustainability that just doesn't work to a regeneration, restoration and resiliency of places and people. Progress you can believe in and activate in what used to be "a sleepy little town", that some people say was dying with a sentiment that some locals had saying, "Thanks for visiting Patagonia, now go home!" or we like it "just the way it was".
History is one thing, but the future is another. It's here, whether you like it or not. The times are changing forward. It's a happy coincidence that both the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and The First Annual Patagonia Trail Days are being celebrated at the same time. We're happy, likewise, that the Arizona Trail Association has chosen Patagonia, the only town directly on the 800+ mile trail, designated in 2009 as a National Scenic Trail, running from the Mexico border to Utah, to kick-off a Gateway Communities Project with a $5000 grant from REI, an outdoor gear and equipment supplier and the Arizona Office of Tourism, an example of a private-public partnership.
Through the auspices and organization of the Mountain Empire Trail Association (META), a group that has recently connected the past with the future in Phase I of The Patagonia Train Track Trail, with a description and photographs featured in this link: Rails To Trails Conservancy (for a map of The Patagonia Train Track Trail please link to this website Patagonia Train Track Trail Map ), a day of volunteer work on trail segments has been scheduled, along with overnight camping on the Dr. Mock end of the town park, as well as interactive educational exhibits, workshops, discussions and other activities to encourage awareness, intelligent use of land and energy, and appreciation and the benefits of our natural resources for our daily lives and outdoor recreation for residents and visitors alike.
Activities and events are a very full day, from morning to evening. A special point of pride for local people will be the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the dedication of the new Mary Rebecca Cady Reading Room at The Patagonia Public Library scheduled for 11 o'clock. It's a good example of the collaborative work of residents and supporters for the restoration and preservation of an historic landmark building, formerly a hotel-restaurant-dance hall-boardinghouse, one of only two properties in Patagonia on the National Register of Historic Places, that has been lovingly regenerated as an important community resource.
To see what other events are scheduled and when please go this link: Patagonia Trail Days 2010 Schedule of Events
Earth Day Network EARTH DAY 2010 NETWORK is providing a film that was featured at The Sundance Film Festival in 2009 that will be shown on Saturday, April at Cady Hall at 7:00 p.m.. You can see the official 2:29- minute trailer here, compliments of You Tube:
This is more than a movie, it's a movement, a book, and an award-winning blog No Impact Man by Collin Beavan. Screening time is 1:30 in Cady Hall at The Patagonia Public Library.
Participating organizations, with links provided below, include:
The Nature Conservancy in Arizona http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/arizona/
Native Seeds/SEARCH http://www.nativeseeds.org/
Friends of Sonoita Creek http://www.sonoitacreek.org/
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas http://www.scenicsantaritas.org/
Patagonia Community Garden http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M18387
Tucson Audubon Society http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/
Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center http://www.treeoflife.nu/home-index/
The Patagonia Museum Patagonia Museum
Practical Energy 4 Rural Communities Rural Energy: A Practical_Primer_for_Productive_Applications_
Audubon Society’s Research Ranch http://www.audubonresearchranch.org/
Mariposa Community Health Center http://www.mariposachc.net/
Sonoita Crossroads Community Forum http://www.sonoitacrossroads.org/
On Saturday, May 1st, she'll be opening her own house garden for a tour of earthworks and permaculture principles put into practice.
She says it better than I can in her own words:
" I design for long-term viability by creating beautiful places that feed, nurture, invite, and give back: to us, to the soil, the water, the air, and the wild. My work is the vehicle through which I em-power and support individuals, groups, neighbors and communities that are interested in creating resilience and self-sufficiency"
At 1:00 p.m in the Community Center Kate will be offering an interactive and information-gathering community forum that welcomes all participants - "What Is A Resilient Community?"
You're encouraged to be there. You're encouraged to to go to her website: http://katetirion.com/
On his website http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/aboutbrad/ he says:
"I believe we all can become beneficial stewards of the land, and partners in the ecosystem in which we live, and I believe that by harvesting rainwater sustainably we can all begin to transform our households from consumers of resources to producers of resources."
Kate and Brad have known each other since 1994. Is it just a coincidence that both of them have red hair, or is it something in the water?
Free camping on the town park, or you can make arrangements for other overnight accommodations (you can find them with this link: Overnight Accommodations: Beds of Patagonia and make a weekend get-away out of this and other regional events on the calendar:
The 95th running of the Sonoita Horse Races will be at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds located at 3142 South Highway 83 (1/4 mile south of intersection 82 & 83) Sonoita, Arizona. The races will be held on April 24-25, and May 1-2, 2010. See details with this link: http://www.sonoitafairgrounds.com/
The legendary "El Moro de Cumpas" race is an event, organized by Jo Ann di Fillipo, that will staged again for the second year in Sonoita. More information: Arizona Guide In Nogales (that's Ambos Nogales in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico) the Third Annual Charlie Mingus Hometown Jazz Festival goes on all weekend, on both sides of his hometown. Schedules and information you can find here: http://www.mingusproject.com/
The Mega Outdoor Adventure Event is ARIZONA TRAIL RACE 300 and 750 - it starts at the Visitor Information Center at Parker Canyon Lake on Friday, April 23 at 09:00 a.m.. winding through Patagonia then on from there ... Get ready, get set, go to http://www.topofusion.com/azt/race.php
Great site with details about track conditions and topo maps!
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