Hi, friends. Welcome to another edition of Annette’s Adventures. I’ve written a lot about my adventures in the field, exploring the rocks and mountains of New Mexico, but today I decided that I wanted to share an urban adventure with all of you.

​Did you know that New Mexico is possibly home to the oldest apple tree in North America? Let’s start with a bit of history before I get into the adventures.

The Spanish arrived in New Mexico around 1598, but people were farming the middle Rio Grande Valley as early as 1200 – 1300 AD. Spanish Colonists established farms and ranches all along the Rio Grande and planted apples throughout the region. The Pueblo Revolt occurred in 1680 and drove the Spaniards out of the area until they returned in 1706 and established more permanent settlements. La Villa de Albuquerque became the administrative and trading center for the surrounding area. Agricultural settlements sprung up around the Villa; each settlement developed a unique community identity that still stands today.

The Manzano Mountains are a small, north-south trending mountain chain located approximately southwest of Albuquerque. In 1926, the Manzano Forest Reserve identified a tree near the Manzano Mountains that is believed to have been planted before 1676, making that the oldest apple tree in North America.

So, what does this apple history of New Mexico have to do with Annette’s Adventures? Everything!
​
My New Mexico harvesting adventures started this summer. I kept in trail-ready condition for fieldwork by hiking on the weekends. When it got hot, my friend and I started hiking in the Santa Fe Ski Basin; we could escape the heat and get some high elevation hikes in. One weekend a lady on the trail gave me two mushrooms. I took them to the field and shared them with the crew. They were delicious!  After that, I was hooked. I took a basket and mushroom field guide to the mountains every weekend for a month straight. It is important to note that I only picked mushrooms that I could positively identify as bolete and sought out mushroom mentors whenever possible.

​A friend recently introduced me to a local group of volunteers called Food Is Free ABQ (FIFABQ). We joined FIFABQ for a harvest at a micro-orchard in Los Ranchos. The orchard is considered original; it was repurposed as a central park for a small townhouse community.  There are about 30 trees in this specific micro-orchard, most were apples, but there were also pear and Asian pear trees. In two hours, the group harvested roughly 2,400 pounds of fruit. The fruit gets distributed to local people who can use it.  As a harvester, I came home with an unexpected grocery bag of apples.  My first harvest was a blast, and I got apples too!  No surprise that I would jump in and help with more harvests. The second harvest I joined was only two miles away from my house and was again an old established micro-orchard. FIFABQ is an all-around win when it comes to community service. Harvest season continues through November, and I look forward to volunteering with Food Is Free Albuquerque again

​The adventure doesn’t stop there. The apple harvests is a great way to connect with and learn from locals. I made a small comment about how beautiful and tantalizing the prickly pears look, this led to me learning how to process the ruby red fruit. Filled with curiosity and armed with leather gloves, tongs, and paper bags; I harvested my first batch of prickly pears. My cupboards are filling with local harvest, who knows what fruit I will harvest next, but it will likely produce many tasty treats.  Until next time my friends….

GEM Environmental is proud to welcome Dave Tharp to the team. Dave is the newest Board Member and a pillar of our community. Welcome aboard, Dave!

Dave has over 25 years of experience in the Firefighting and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Industry in Arizona – holding the ranks of Reserve Firefighter through Battalion Chief and is a certified Paramedic. He is currently the Assistant Chief of Administration for the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority and has overseen the “business part” of fire agencies (Human Resources, Finance and Administration) for the past 8 years. He managed the transition of the Central Yavapai and Chino Valley Fire Districts to create the first Joint Powers Authority in Arizona in 2016. He sits on the Board of Directors for Securis – a worker’s compensation risk pool for fire districts, and Kairos – a health insurance risk pool for town, cities, school districts and fire districts in Arizona. He is finalizing his degree in Fire Administration through Columbia Southern University, has 6 kids, loves to golf, was born in Hawaii and is fluent in Italian. 
 
Dave understands and emphasizes the importance of STEM Curriculum in the fire service and has seen scientific advances make firefighting and emergency services more efficient, effective and safer. He notes, “firefighting used to be considered a “blue collar” profession – however, with all the presenting hazards in emergency medicine, chemical materials, swift water/ technical rescue, structural and wildland firefighting – this has changed and pushed this profession to be a technically trained, highly specialized and science driven profession. There is still a need for physical fitness and abilities in firefighting, but it is now coupled with higher education that focuses on STEM."

GEM Environmental is excited to spotlight our newest scholarship recipient. Emma Goethe was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and now attends school at Arizona State University in Tempe. Growing up with the mountains in her backyard, Emma quickly developed a passion for the outdoors and specifically native reptile wildlife. These interests have now expanded into a graduate educational career where she is working towards a Master of Sustainability Solutions. One of Emma’s exploration avenues is conservation education, and she is also fascinated by transboundary conservation initiatives. Selecting a STEM-focused educational path was a no-brainer for Emma. Her passion for protecting the natural world requires an understanding of the sciences. What makes sustainability so unique is its combination of hard and soft sciences. Congratulations Emma!

How did you hear about G.E.M. Environmental and this scholarship opportunity?
I heard about this scholarship opportunity through the ASU scholarship portal website.
 
Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus. 
As an elementary and middle school student, my school partnered with the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary to introduce us to the amazing world of reptiles, but also concepts of conservation. In fourth grade, we held a reptile showcase where I was assigned the California Kingsnake and we presented on their physical makeup but also challenges they face in the wild. This experience has stuck with me since then. Upon looking for internships sophomore year there was an opportunity to be a conservation educator at the sanctuary. Almost three years later, I am still on the conservation education team and travel around the valley of the sun teaching the community about reptiles and the need for increased conservation efforts. The sanctuary also holds week-long courses for students to take which go in-depth on reptile families and what can be done to protect them. For these programs, I am the course facilitator and lead groups of about 15 students through the week’s curriculum. At the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary, I have discovered a passion for educating others on challenges for species survival. I believe the best way to see positive change is to spread awareness, which is the exact goal of the sanctuary. For my honors thesis, I decided to take my love for conservation education and native reptiles in the valley even further. I developed a 15 week-long course for local middle school students which introduces them to species survival and concludes with the students developing a conservation campaign that they pitch to the entire school. The course consists of topics from ecosystem functions needed for a reptile to thrive to case studies of global conservation efforts being taken to protect biodiversity. Throughout the course, the overarching theme is sustainability, how can we address these complex topics which are not just environmentally driven in a way that will allow biodiversity to persist for future generations. The Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary has since expressed interest to have me facilitate the course in partnership with them this year. To further spread awareness of the need for conservation and the adoption of sustainability, I participated in the Disney College Program where I worked in Animal Kingdom. Along with this experience providing me with unparalleled professional development opportunities, I also learned how to tell a story. Sometimes concepts like conservation and sustainability and intangible for an audience, but at Animal Kingdom I was able to be creative and connect to guests in a way that was relevant to their own life. It was a goal of mine to leave every guest interaction with action steps that they could take in their own lives to help be an educated global citizen. While at Animal Kingdom I was also exposed to a plethora of research opportunities that strive to protect biodiversity. When returning to ASU I knew I wanted to explore the world of academic research. Here I found the most remarkable mentor I could have asked for, Joseph Wolf. He took me on as a research assistant, and I can undoubtfully say thus far this has been the most academically fulfilling experience in my life. In the lab, I can explore independently and collaborate with a team. I have learned how to code and analyze ecological data in the software R, I have created annotated bibliographies that will be used as a reference in our soon-to-come publication, and I have begun drafting the article outline which will be submitted to prestigious academic journals. The research being conducted analyzes prairie dogs’ effects on physical, biological, and chemical soil characteristics in the Thunder Basin Ecoregion. Within this region there is a direct interaction with farmers, so not only are we trying to illustrate how the prairie dogs are keystone species, but also how they could benefit the farmers. I have thoroughly enjoyed working within a social-ecological systems framework because here I could harness all my passions into one area. Next, I will be working specifically in the Global Locust Initiative lab where we analyze the biological effects locusts have on regions in the world, but socially we dissect how women and children in these communities are affected by the outbreaks

If your scholarship funds HAVE NOT BEEN USED yet, how do you anticipate you will achieve success?
This scholarship funding will allow me to pilot my 15-week long conservation course and continue my role as a research assistant in the Global Locust Initiative Lab at ASU. Without these funds, I would not be able to partake in both projects. I am extremely grateful because these funds will limit some of the financial stress associated with funding classes or projects like my conservation course. Inspiring young learners to promote conservation through hands-on educational experiences like reptile engagement could assist future efforts to promote widespread conservation initiatives. I truly believe that education is one of the most powerful tools we have towards building a more sustainable future. By conducting the course and analyzing which activities or lessons were most effective we can build stronger educational opportunities for youth in the future. My course is designed specifically for students in Arizona, so it is my hope that there will be increased community awareness regarding the importance of native wildlife.
 
Tell us what this scholarship means to you.
This scholarship is allowing me to work towards some of my educational dreams including piloting a course I personally designed and having the chance to hopefully become a published author in an academic journal. I absolutely love learning and with these funds, I can focus on school even more.

GEM Environmental is excited to spotlight our most recent scholarship recipient. Sofia Lomeli is a proud graduate from Mingus High School in Cottonwood, Arizona. She enjoys painting, volunteering, traveling, and trying new foods! She highly values STEM Education and believes it will be the main force in shaping our future for the better. Congratulations Sofia!

How did you hear about G.E.M. Environmental and this scholarship opportunity?
I heard about GEM Environmental and this scholarship through the Scholarship Fair at the Yavapai College.

Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
I will be majoring in Architectural Studies in the Fall at Arizona State University. I plan on studying abroad in Russia in the future to learn about principles of design there and implement them into my work.

If your scholarship funds HAVE NOT BEEN USED yet, how do you anticipate you will achieve success?
I anticipate achieving success through dedicating myself to my work and making meaningful connections along the way. The GEM Environmental funds will help make this an achievable goal.
I have two main goals behind my future architectural work: To give it a message of diplomacy and to implement sustainable practices wherever I can. By taking inspiration from eastern European designs into my work, I intend to create spaces in communities so individuals can embrace differences between the cultures and also find similarities.
 
Tell us what this scholarship means to you.
As a first generation student receiving the GEM Environmental scholarship has helped alleviate some of the financial stress that comes with pursuing a secondary education in STEM.

Hello Friends! Welcome to another story from Annette’s Adventures. Today we are going back to northern New Mexico and the Picuris Mining District... 

​We arrived just before sunset and searched for a place to set up camp. After some deliberation and muddy road driving, we settled on a campsite and made our temporary home. The next day, as is customary, we took the ranger out for some dirt road reconnaissance. We drove around the roads for most of the day, looking for connecting routes and mine features. With the dirt roads behind us and general knowledge of the terrain, we stopped for lunch. Our lunch location was, of course, set amongst mine features.  After scampering around the hillside, we returned to camp and started planning the next few days of work.
 
The goal for the following two days was to focus on monitoring the Harding Mine. You may remember from my last adventure that, try as I might, equipment failure was inevitable. I had to return home with only one piece of data.  This trip, I was determined to rectify that. I also wanted to find the elusive “Iceberg”! Iceberg, what is Iceberg? Why is it marked on the map? Why does it say “Icelandic Spar”? Is there Icelandic Spar here in northern New Mexico? Why did they put it on the map but not talk about it? I had so many questions. The only way to answer my questions was to hike hills and see what I could find.
 
We arrived at Harding and went straight to the top of North Knob. I like to start at North Knob because it gives you a sense of the whole operation. But it is not until you are down on the ground that you get a sense of the beauty. I quickly separated from the group and started making my way around the mine features. I hiked down North Knob towards the west and found a couple of trenches on the side of the hill, marked them, and moved on. I chased down a couple of prospect pits out in the flats and decided to turn my focus back to the mine complex. I circled my way back to the mine through the large “waste rock” piles and climbed up the hill to a shiny new-looking fence.  A collapse, good thing the undercuttings below were closed. I made my way back around the face of the underground workings, where all the closures are, and slowly worked my way back to the group.

​When we went back to Harding the following day, I had an ominous feeling that I couldn’t shake. My job is to ensure the safety of mine closures. If there is one collapse, then there could be a second. How would I know? I had to walk to the hill. I had to put boots on the ground and hike every inch of that hill.  I again left the group and started hiking. I traversed the hill multiple times, keeping my head moving. I looked for any sign that I could see that would suggest giant gaping holes. After a thorough inspection and no sign of impending collapse, I decided to move on. I found a well-worn trail on the southwestern slope of the hill. It was an odd trail that went around the backside and away from the mine workings.  I followed the path to see where it would go. While rounding a corner, that’s when I saw it; little ice cubes all over the ground. It must have been close to 90 degrees that day, I knew it couldn’t be ice! I found Iceberg!  My mind was so focused on the safety of the complex that Iceberg had slipped my mind. I kept walking, with my eyes on the ground, and the pieces grew in size. I eventually called it in on my radio, “I FOUND ICEBERG!” and then promptly sat down to play with the pebbles.
 
The pit was nothing special. It was a hole in the side of the hill, about the size of a minivan. I hung out at the pit for a few minutes and enjoyed the pretty pebbles while eating my sandwich. Eventually I pried myself from the rocks, but only so long as it took to find the rest of my group and bring them back. Finding Iceberg and solving my fun little mystery was the perfect way to end our day and make our way back to camp…

GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team. Elliot Hoy is our new GEM CORPS AML Geographer’s Assistant. Elliot has spent several years working in IT and traveling before deciding to go back to school. He is now a senior at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He enjoys spending as much time as possible in the great outdoors. During a long back packing trip, Elliot met fellow travelers who were geologists and learned about the exciting lifestyle they led. This encouraged him to take geology courses at Yavapai College and pursue this field of study. This is Elliot’s second term with GEM Environmental. He served as a Field Intern with us in 2019. Welcome back Elliot!

How did you hear about this service opportunity?
From a talk at Yavapai College given by Eric Welsh.

Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
Recently I have been focusing in Petrology and trying to better understand the heating and cooling processes of the earth.
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
I'll be happy if I am able to continue to learn and meet more people interested in Geology. It has been really great being able to learn about the practical side of Geology.
 
What are your career goals?
I just want to be able to live an exciting life. So far all is going great.
 
Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
Yes, I am planning on completing through a Masters program. I have been looking into a few schools both in the US and in Europe.

Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far?
Yes, I've volunteered in a few aspects before GEM. However, GEM has been the most impactful as far as a geology aid. I've learned more about how the geology world works and the types of people.
The internship has helped me better understand my place in geology and how I can move forward in my career.

Robert Briggs, a 20-year resident of the Prescott area, moved to Yavapai County from Sacramento when he was 25 years old. After working as a reputable auto mechanic, he elected to change his career path and made the decision to return to college life as an older student at the age of 34. With persistence and dedication, he graduated in the spring of 2015 from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. During his work in the auto industry, he attained ASE Master Tech certifications and developed the ability to fix just about anything. This has led to a unique opportunity for Robert to join GEM as our fleet supervisor and as a contract geologist working with our Abandoned Mine Lands Inventory team. He thoroughly enjoys being outside with his eyes constantly on the terrain. His experiences working in the automotive field and his renewed zest for geology offers GEM a unique ability to visit remote field locations without fear of being stranded. 
 
 “What do you enjoy most about being involved in GEM?”   
The prospects of working with GEM offers unique ability to partner with people of many different backgrounds. One of GEM’s primary focus is to serve the persons within the underrepresented genres. As such, I am included in that statement being an older individual that retired from one trade to move into another presented many difficulties. To be able work in an environment with folks of many great and wonderful talents gives me great joy.
 
What were your feelings when GEM first started and being part of the organization? 
At the beginning, I much like Eric Welsh, our CEO did not know if we were going to sink or swim. We sure did not want to sink, so we spent our time ensuring that every aspect of GEM is exactly as it should be constantly learning, growing, and expanding into new and specialized niches that have never been attempted or given the appropriate attention. My feelings were one of excitement, trepidation, and passion for the love of the science we take great joy in. 
​
What kind of progress has GEM made and what kind of progress do you see GEM making in the future? 
I am never ceased to be amazed by the growth and potential that GEM has seen and been blessed with. It takes a lot of steadfast and hard work accomplished by the many fine folks within GEM to achieve such a growth. I fully expect to observe GEM to continue growth offering more services to the community and its partners in the many years to come. 
 
In what ways does GEM feel like a family and what do you like most about GEM? 
Being a part of the team much like being part of a family is the best part. Our interactions with each other brings community together, serves to help brighten our days, and even will bring a smile to each other’s faces. The laughs, science, community work, and programs offered via GEM all are aspects that help make it to feel, function, and appear to be a family. All of which are highlights that I would not trade for anything in the world. ​

Marlena Willoughby is the longtime girlfriend of GEM’S founder Eric Welsh.  They live together in their home in Prescott, along with their three sons Dallas, Patrick, and Joseph.  Marlena has worked with GEM in many different aspects since 2018. She has volunteered on different service projects and educational programs, updated and managed the social media platforms and website, worked as camp cook in the field on AML projects, organized and assisted with multiple fundraising events, and is currently working with Eric on the remodel and maintenance of the GEM Environmental office suites. Over the years she has helped in finding donors for GEM and making new connections throughout the community.   
 
Marlena loves her work with GEM and is always willing to volunteer her time for anything that needs to be done. Her favorite activity with GEM is the yearly Christmas Gift Toy drive. For the past 3 years, she has partnered GEM with The Windsock Lounge, and CASA for Kids, to bring in as many donations as possible for the foster children in Yavapai County.   

What do you enjoy most about being involved in GEM? 
What I enjoy most about being involved in GEM is the opportunity for my family to work together while helping our community. The growth I see in each one of us, comes largely from our work with GEM. Our sons have learned the importance of working hard through volunteering and internships.  
 
What were your feelings when GEM first started and being part of the organization? 
 When Eric first invited me to start working with GEM, I was very excited! Everything about the mission was dear to my heart. Even though we were a very small organization, each one of us had so many ideas and worked together to grow and make a name for GEM in the community. 
 
What kind of progress has GEM made and what kind of progress do you see GEM making in the future? 
GEM started out as a small non-profit that had two employees and a group of volunteers. Board meetings were held at a kitchen table, and the field crew were camping in tents. The past three years, GEM has grown into a successful non-profit with a multi-suite office, many employees and service members, multiple field crews with vehicles and mobile offices equipped with living quarters. The educational programs and scholarships have helped many throughout our community and the name GEM Environmental has become a valued resource for STEM. I know that we will continue to thrive and help many more in our future. 
 
In what ways does GEM feel like a family and what do you like most about GEM? 
GEM Environmental doesn't just feel like a family, it is a family. Working alongside Eric and the wonderful team, has become an essential part of who I am. Building GEM from the ground up took a village, a FAMILY. The office staff, board members, AmeriCorps members, interns, and so many volunteers all make GEM Environmental a success. This type of working environment is what I love most about GEM. Many different voices, opinions, ideas, and dreams all combined with one goal: helping others.  
 ​

Jessica Cook has been working with GEM Environmental since the organization's inception as a volunteer board member and as the Chairman of the Board since 2018. Jessica takes pride in building partnerships between our organization and local businesses who share GEM’s passion and drive in creating new opportunities for STEM students. As the organization's Business Manager, she brings great benefit to GEM with her experience in bookkeeping, accounts receivable, accounts payable, contract writing, policy enforcement, and her knowledge of current state and federal policy changes. 
 
She was born and raised in Arizona and currently resides in Prescott with her husband Brandon, her two dogs Winslow and Denver, and two cats Damien and Pablo. As an outdoor enthusiast, it is her dream to help build our GEM Corps programs to ensure our community continues to have safe access to our parks, trails, and lakes through the conservation work of our GEM Corps crew. 
 
What do you enjoy most about being involved in GEM?   
What I enjoy most about being involved with GEM is being able to give back. Developing programs to help our community and fundraising to fund scholarships and internships for the underrepresented students.  
 
What were your feelings when GEM first started and being part of the organization?  
The feeling amongst all of us I think was just excitement. Eric had a vision for GEM Environmental, I was interested and eager to see how GEM was going to evolve from an idea into real life. Eric took a huge risk in the beginning trying to launch GEM but we all believed in his idea, his dream. Here it is! Bigger and better than I could have ever imagined.   
 
What kind of progress has GEM made and what kind of progress do you see GEM making in the future?  
GEM has grown leaps and bounds. Just 4 years ago our entire operation was managed at Eric's dining room table. We would spend hours there creating bylaws, figuring out where GEM was going next. Fast forward to today where GEM has a beautiful office building, a great staff and many amazing interns. I see GEM expanding it's internship, scholarship, and field experience in order to help reach even more underrepresented students.  
 
In what ways does GEM feel like a family and what do you like most about GEM?  
GEM feels like family because GEM is family. Eric has been a dear friend for a long time and he has brought together a real special group of people in order to make his dream a reality. Friends and family have come together through the years to support GEM and Eric which makes me proud to be a part of such an amazing organization that not only prioritizes community but family.     ​