The following businesses and government agencies are the best known service providers we've been able to find of proven regional background and recommendations in the sustainable/ natural lifestyle and building arena in Western Colorado. However, listing here does not guarantee performance and Smart Shelter is not responsible for transactions you incur. Not all competent service providers have elected to be listed here. Some listings are presented here without our usual required criterion of positive referal by a minimum of 5 reputable regional referals....those listings are noted as unconfirmed...but are presented here because of reasonal evidence that they are sound. If they turn out not to be...please help the network and regional clients by reporting negative experiences to us. Additional information is available through the Network.

  The Green Pages

Air Purifiers/ Filters/ Air Quality

Darrell E. Weingard/ Master Touch Living Systems (252-7340)(888-243-4704) Montrose, email: dweingard@rocketweb.net website: www.healthylivingair.com or: www.demoair.com/today....Air purification system consulting, sales and installation for allergies (with certified space technology), health and aesthetics....filterless living air purifiers, living water purifiers, humidifiers, ceramic stoves, etc.

Agriculture(Sustainable)

Andrea and Matthew Earley/Coen (Basalt) email: pflower@sopris.net or email: matthewcoen@hotmail.com...a rare asset regionally are experienced and educating sustainable agriculturists...this couple spent 5 years on the Rock Bottom Ranch near Basalt with Aspen Center for Environmental Studies running the ranch and conducting community education in agriculture and lifestyle issues...they are available for similair endeavors and deserving of continued retention as a regional community asset. Andrea is fiddler and kingpin with the Glenwood Springs Contra Dance series.

Tomten Farms/ Kris Holstrom (Hastings Mesa/Telluride) email: kholstrom@gmail.com phone (970) 728-1340 High altitude off-grid organic permaculture farm and hybrid greenhouse. Kris is also Regional Sustainability Coordinator for New Community Coalition-Telluride...community garden, farmers market...the queen bee of San Miguel County sustainability movement.

Architects and Building Designers (note-many of the builders listed under the builders/contractors heading also provide design services or will only build structures they design...see that heading also)

Jeff Dickinson (963-0114) Carbondale- easily the most experienced natural building state licensed architect in the region...designer for the myriad strawbale building Waldorf School Campus outside Carbondale toward Basalt...go see it...designer of several natural solar homes as well.

Lynne Kircher (626-5422) Ridgway
Architectural design--passive solar/ energy efficiency.

Kendal Williams/ Strawbuild (963-4073) Carbondale
Strawbale building design and construction. Smart Shelter bale Instructor.
Taught U.S. gov. sponsored bale building class in the Ukrain.

Robert Aaron Gulick III- Sacred Architecture (728-0718) Telluride <rgulick@rmii.com>
Architect, planner, Feng Shui practitioner/instructor, Geoomancy, Sacred Geometry

Alison Gannett/ Sunseekers Design (349-2021) Crested Butte ..email: <snow@rmi.net> ...website: www.alisongannett.com
Design, consulting, building for strawbale, non-toxic, energy-efficinet, affordable and sustainable
homes

Michael Hanna (385-0991) POB 9065, Durango,Co. 81302 ...email: <3dmaster@frontier.net> ..website: www.3dwebsiteservices.com Designer using 2d and 3d computer drafting techniques. Extensive building background including cabinetry. Alternative design experience in terra-domes/ earth sheltered domes. Can produce 3d graphic modeling for designs.

Susie Harrington & Kalen Jones / With Gaia Design (435-259-7073) Moab UT email: <info@withgaia.com>  www.withgaia.com . Passive-solar strawbale architecture for the four corners region and beyond. Organic forms, earth finishes, and site integration.

Artists and Art Organizations

Maggie Remington- La Ceiba Gallery (by appointment) Durango (375-1702) - website: www.maggierremington.com email: maggie@durango.net ....Maggie is an accomplished earth/based artist who produces large mural size pieces from found materials painted to the canvas...often in three-dimensional folds...on the site where the materials and the vision originate...interpreting the naturoscape from which her inspiration and ingredients originate. Her work is in several galleries regionally.

Janet Nelson (Carbondale)(963-9621) One of the area's most prolific and immaginative artists, featured in Aspen/Roaring Fork Galleries...florescent pink chickenwire poodles (full size) and floating merry-go-round horses and fairies...experimenting with Smart Shelter' Invasive Arts Program...imcorporating Russian Olive wood and bark into her artwork. Commissions....you'll love her...plays mandolin in the Glenwod Springs Contra Dance Band.

Builders and Contractors

Graham Driscoll (261-2988-cell) <gdrisc@yahoo.com> at large- young, energetic, world-experienced natural builder, artist, landscaper. Load bearing building (Australia), earthship, rammed tire experience..Lama Foundation, New Mexico, Art graduate-Colorado College, Yestermorrow Design/Build School (Vermont) Smart Shelter Design apprenticeship in progress. Can travel..good crew member, carpenter, lead foreman....recently completed 2700 sq ft bale/solar home in Olathe area as lead builder. Click here to view his biography/ web page: graham driscoll web page/bio ( a video of Graham, the Ward Project and his projects is available through the Smart Shelter Library...contact the network for information)

Brian Peters/Brian Peters Builder (626-5084) (327-4526 cell) Ridgway. Natural builder with experience in adobe, strawbale, passive solar. Long term building experience in San Miguel/ Ouray County areas.

John Burritt (Hotchkiss)(835-8689) adobe, strawbale, weatherizing...long time in the area...a really neat guy and women love his non-aggressive manner in working together.

Marty Watts/ Intuitive Design (856-7178) Cedaredge
Design/build- adobe construction, passive solar, adobe floors, plaster, rumford fireplaces,
solar hot water. ...consulting.

 

Building Officials/ Inspections

Stephen Kanipe/ Building Official-City of Aspen/ Pitkin County(920-5090)
Smart Shelter participant-Professional Strawbuilder's Symposium

Gary Hodges/ San Miguel County Building Official (728-3923)
Building official for the Telluride area, supporting sustainable building issues.

Clint Tawse/ Pueblo Regional Building Department (retired)(719-543-0002) Pueblo
Chairman, Colo. Chapter, International Congress of Building Officials- supporter of strawbale
and sustainable building issues...selected Gary Duncan for teaching faculty along with
Matts Myrhman and David Eisenberg for code officials seminars in alternative building 1998.

Consultants

Kendal Williams/ Strawbuild (963-4073) Carbondale
Strawbale building design and construction. Smart Shelter bale Instructor.
Taught U.S. gov. sponsored bale building class in the Ukrain.

Alison Gannett/ Sunseekers Design (349-2021) Crested Butte ..email: <snow@rmi.net> ...website: www.alisongannett.com
Design, consulting, building for strawbale, non-toxic, energy-efficinet, affordable and sustainable
homes

Gary Duncan/ Smart Shelter Network email: <gary@smartshelter.com>
Network Director, resource consultant for environmental building projects, planning and
real estate selection--referrals for regional professionals dealing in sustainable building.

Laura Bartels (previously Strumpler) (Carbondale)(379-6779) email: laura@greenweaverine.com Built the first strawbale home in the Roaring Fork Valley and moved on to envolvement with the Waldorf School and its five strawbale building campus (a must see classic in bale architecture...near carbondale) Now a consultant in bale design and construction and activist with bale politics...regional, state, national and world.

Education/ Training/ Career Paths

Electromagnetic Fields

Roland Holzwarth/ Hands On (249-0397) Montrose
Electromagnetic Field measurements, diagnosis and remedification. German trained naturopath and emf trained in bau-biology systems under Dr.Sierke of San Diego. Website: www.Montrose Health Directory.com Roland also produces the Montrose Health Directory listing health practitioners locally. Email: info@MontroseHealthDirectory.com

Gary Duncan (gary@smartshelter.com) emf preliminary field measurements and consultation...dealing primarily with conversion of human living environments to DC power, umplugging from the grid and attaining sustainability by removing the market demand (and health destruction for planet and people) from the planet's number one polluter...the AC fossil fueled electrical power generation and distribution industry. Designer of the Micro Habitat and founder of the Smart Shelter EI Land Steward Project.

Energy Efficiency

Randy Udahl/ CORE (544-9808) Aspen
Director of the Roaring Fork's lead agency in bringing clean, renewable electricity marketing
to the Aspen area.

Cameron Brooks/ Telluride Negawatt (728-5101) Telluride
Energy efficiency analysis on businesses and homes.

Delta- Montrose Electric (249-4572) Montrose
Corporate Member- Contact: Tom Polakalis. DMEA offers a variety of Green Electric Programs
including geo-exchange heating/cooling, grid-tied photovoltaics, wind-source power purchase,
energy conservation and analysis.

(See Sustainable Community Organizations)

Engineering

David Houghton/Resource Engineering Group, Inc. (349-1216) Crested Butte
Professional civil engineer (liscensed) specializing in efficiency, sustainability, simplicity in
environmentally responsible building..website: www.reginc.com ...email:<houghton@reginc.com>

Environmental Illness/ MCS

Colorado Cross Disability Coalition/ Trudy Giels (626-5140) Ridgway/ Denver
State organization for people with disabilities including information and assistance on
chemical injury and environmental illness.

Gary Duncan/ Smart Shelter Network email: <gary@smartshelter.com>
Network Director, resource consultant for environmental building projects, planning and
real estate selection--referrals for regional professionals dealing in sustainable building.

Environmental Organizations

Western Slope Environmental Resource Council (WSERC) (527-5307) Paonia
Community environmental organization- Delta County- forest issues, water quality, wildlife,growth, off road vehicle issue...website: www.wserc.org...email: tara@wserc.org

High Country Citizens Alliance (HCCA) (349-7104) Crested Butte
Gunnison County organization to "preserve and protect the diversity of the natural world
and the quality of human life...."

Whole Life Network (240-0234)Montrose www.wholelifenet.org a regional non-profit network for Western Colorado integrating personal wellness, spiritual awareness and the sacredness of our environment...publishes the monthly "Connections" magazine available at grocery stores, bookstores and other locations.

The Climate Project (Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee) This is Al Gore's project and the origin of his film An Inconvenient Truth on Global Warming...containing other information: email: info@theclimateproject.org

CEL (Carbondale Economic Localization)- one of a rapidly proliferating collection of local community projects taking the sustainability bull by the horns in recognition of the drastic need for productive action countering the equally disasterous ignorance and inaction of the Bush administration regarding Peak Oil issues, sustainability and quality of life. It is formed through association of Roaring Fork organizations such as CORE, Sustainable Setting, SEI...some of the best and is impressive in terms of extent, diversity and productive/active solutions its forming: web site: www.relocalize.net/groups/cel

New Community Coalition-Telluride (Kris Holstrom-Regional Sustainability Coordinator) email: kholstrom@gmail.com phone: (970) 728-1340- Regional sustainability organization funded in joint partnership between Town of Telluride, Town of Mountain Village, San Miguel County, and Telluride Foundation....coordinating and developing effort in green building, renewable energy, resource recovery/recycling, food security and localized economy. Servicing Rico, Ridgway, Norwood, Telluride Region and beyond.

 

Environmental Testing

Ken Wyrick/ Environmental Testing (626-4020) Ridgway , email: kwyrick@gwe.net
Radon testing, design and mitigation, air purification systems

 

Feng Shui

Robert Aaron Gulick III- Sacred Architecture (728-0718) Telluride <rgulick@rmii.com>
Architect, planner, Feng Shui practitioner/instructor, Geoomancy, Sacred Geometry

Financial Services

Maggie Remington/ Pinon Mortgage Corporation Durango (375-1702) 863 1/2 Main Ave #6 email: maggie@durango.net .... one of the area's most experienced mortgage/loan professionals-specializing in sustainable building and energy systems loans- long-term financing, construction loans, extensive regional lending track record familiarity with broad gamut of natural building techniques and systems. 

Food Sources

See natural food listings and referals in this list.

Also see Native Food Sources/ Foraging/ Herbalists

Furniture

Green Building (green building is distinct from natural building, which is what Smart Shelter supports...green builders are listed here as a referal service for those wishing more conventional building with sustainable techniques..rather than natural building)

Kuno Vollenweider/ Greenblock-Ameriss (626-5715) Ouray
Distributor and installer for foam interlocking concrete filled block wall systems.

Dave Holubetz/ Blue Sky Builders (249-7410) Telluride/ Montrose blueskybuilders@earthlink.net
Green building contractor, consultant, project manager--developing services in Montrose area
Experience in low-toxic, lite clay and green building.

Felix Marti/ Marti Construction, LLC (626-5426) Ridgway
Green Building/ Low Toxic Construction- consulting, design, construction

Healing Arts

Dr. Edith Johnston(previously Gallenbeck), Phd,LPCd, CRC,CDMS (216-5753) Delta email:edjohnston@earthlink.net web site: www.HowToInLfe.com.... Jin Shin Acupressure, Instructor, Immune System enhancement (for environmental illness)career planning, disability adjustment, personal growth

Whole Life Network (240-0234)Montrose www.wholelifenet.org a regional non-profit network for Western Colorado integrating personal wellness, spiritual awareness and the sacredness of our environment...publishes the monthly "Connections" magazine available at grocery stores, bookstores and other locations.

Insurance Services

Interiors

Pat Allin/ Still Waters Design (252-9606) Montrose
Interior design, healthy interiors, historic renovation, affordable housing, project consulting,
assistance in dealing with contractors, architects, suppliers, etc.

Landscape Services

Loggin/ Timber Milling

Chris Johnson (Paonia) custom logging and milling for environmental buildings. Will cut select or specified standing dead or as ordered. Can mill and drystack cure for timeberframe construction.

Native Food Sources/ Foraging

Katrina Blair/ Turtle Lake Refuge (Durango)(247-8359) email: katblair@frontier.net a wild edible foraging expert raised since age 4 doing it. Once a week she opens a restaurant for local edibles often featuring foraged veggies at 848 E. 3rd Ave Durango...tours shows, tours...web site: www.turtlelakerefuge.org

Natural/ Organic Foods

Tomten Farm (728-1412) Kris Holstrom..Placerville/Norwood/Telluride... email: <kholstrom@gmail.com> ...permaculture, high-altitude gardening/greenhousing, vermiculture (worm composting) and sustainable living/building institution offering a wide array of courses, workshops and consulting in permaculture issues and techniques. High-altitude certified organic greenhouse/farm.

 Old River Road Trading Post/ Lamborn Community Center (Paonia) (527-6174)(15495 Black Bridge Rd...you won't find it...ask a local or take a long, neat tour) One of the area's top two natural food groceries and vegan lunch dining halls...you've got to find this place and know how to access it to really be a rooted local. They've got another one in Moffat near Crestone if you're in the mood for Hot Springs and the capital of wierdness, sustainability and progressive minds.

Hardin's Natural Foods ...grocery/produce (3 mi west of hotchkiss on Hwy 92)(872-3019)...one of the best in Western Colorado...they have Lance's obscene and comic seasonal carrots in the fall which can be worn with other vegetables for Halloween Costumes. Then eaten. Your friends will not be able to touch this level of sustainability reuse and recycling. Don't let this out.

A master list of natural food sources, restaurants and farmers markets is compiled in conjunction with our Sol-Solutions solar cooking inniative...which you can link right here: Sol-Solutions Resources

Newspapers

Valley Chronicle (872-2153) (Paonia/Hotchkiss) Published monthly and free in the North Fork Area by Don Olen, previously of the Boulder Daily Camera...iconoclastic, community based, supporting sustainability but not your typical bleeding heart liberal...great ironic humor...a landmark in independent journalism in Western Colorado. Don and Cindy built their own solar rastra block home in the Hotchkiss area...he'll tell you about it. Subscriptions $15/yr.

Public Lands Issues

Mike Nadiac (Montrose)(240-1358) a long term activist and organizer with the No-Fee movement opposing the double taxation and privatization of public lands access, most notably regionally working with the Yankee Boy Conservation Association which successfully turned around fee access to Yankee Boy Basin (above Ouray) and successfully established a local citizen advocacy to supplant and work with the Forest Service to administer the area.

Western Slope No Fee Coalition -Rob Funkhouser..Pres. (802)235-2299...rfunk9999@earthlink.net...Washington lobbist for keeping our public lands free of paid access and most recently activist for the behind the doors movement of the Forest Service to ban open/free camping on public land and bulldoze all the unpaid/non-privatized campground sites historic to Western Colorado...this is already in progress...sites have been dozed. Rob has a PDF summary report available by emailing him...the Durango contact for this work is Kitty Benzar email: wsnfc@earthlink.net.

Real Estate Appraisal Services

Real Estate Services

Research/ Consulting

Gary Duncan/ Smart Shelter Network email: <gd@smartshelter.com>
Network Director, resource consultant for environmental building projects, planning and
real estate selection--referrals for regional professionals dealing in sustainable building. Environmental illness, Micro Habitat design, EMF issues.

Solar Electric/ Photo Voltaic

Leif Juell/ Alternative Power Enterprises (626-9842) Ridgway
Design and installation of photovoltaic (solar electric) system, full range of offgrid appliances...website: www.alternative-power.com ...email: <solman@alternative-power.com>

Levi Heinhold/ Mountain Power Company (626-9777or 728-9777/-7277) POB 284 Ridgway. Colo 81432
Photovoltaic (solar electric) systems design and installation....wind/ hydro..sales, service, installation, consulting

Empowered Energy Systems (Brad Burrit) (Hotchkiss/ Redlands Mesa) Solar Collectors, wind turbines, micro-hydro. This listing is unconfirmed.

Atlasta Solar (248-0057...fx 248-0094) 2923 North Avenue, Grand Junction, 81504 .....walkin store stocking home and rv solar equipment, installation, design (since 1979) email: atlastasolar@yahoo.com web site: www.Atlastasolarstore.com

 

 Solar Hot Water

JM Plumbing & Heating (John Myrtle) (Hotchkiss)(872-2216) Solar radiant floors This listing is unconfirmed.

Dana Orzel/ Great Solar Works (626-5253) (209-4076 cell) Ridgway ..email: <slrwrk@ocinet.net> ..website: www.solarwork.com Solar hot water specialist- domestic and heating- extensive regional experience and recommendations. Also providing services in photovoltaic, wind and hydroelectric systems.

Spirituality

Whole Life Network (240-0234)Montrose www.wholelifenet.org a regional non-profit network for Western Colorado integrating personal wellness, spiritual awareness and the sacredness of our environment...publishes the monthly "Connections" magazine available at grocery stores, bookstores and other locations.

 

Spray Foam Insulation-(note-spray isocyanate foam insulation is hardly a natural building product, however, it enables so many legitimate natural building systems and cures so many problems and is so far not producing allergic reactions in EI's that the two area service providors of known competence are listed here. Beware, many other service providers exist, many of whom are known by Smart Shelter to be problematical...these are the two...actually just one...we recommend.

Pat Chavez (240-4770) Montrose...one of the best, worked with research and development with the manufacturers before founding his private service of long history and recommendability in the area...excellent.

Foam Tech (527-6110) Paonia...of decent reputation and possibly the only available applicator in Paonia...however, they are strong supporters of the malation drenching now destroying immune systems and prohibiting EI occupation of Paonia...now the malathion capital of western colorado. How anyone thinks a mosquito district should have carte blanche to retalitory use of registered chemical warfare agents on public property...even to the point of spraying the vehicles of tourists visiting town parked on mainstreet (asphalt certainly is a breeding ground for mosquitos) who appear on the registered disability lists at federal and state levels for their allergic reactions to persticides is more than we understand. If Chavez won't come to the North Fork, you may be stuck with Foam Tech as the only viable answer. They do seem to do decent work...at least as long as their immune systems don't buckle to the malathion...which, of course, they eventually will.

Sustainable Community Organizations

New Community Coalition-Telluride (Kris Holstrom-Regional Sustainability Coordinator) email: kholstrom@gmail.com phone: (970) 728-1340- Regional sustainability organization funded in joint partnership between Town of Telluride, Town of Mountain Village, San Miguel County, and Telluride Foundation....coordinating and developing effort in green building, renewable energy, resource recovery/recycling, food security and localized economy. Servicing Rico, Ridgway, Norwood, Telluride Region and beyond.

Water Quality and Filtration

Mike Kishbaugh (249-8598) Montrose
Water quality and filtration specialist, water filter system design

Darrell E. Weingard/ Master Touch Living Systems...see listing/location/ and contact info under Air Filters heading above.

Vasta Veda

Ronald N Quinn/ Global Vaastu-Earth Solar Magnetics Const. Co-Mayonic Science Research Foundation (872-3689) Hotchkiss... Website: www.vastudesignandconstruction.com, email:<rvaastu@tds.net> Vaastu Architecture (India) , seminars, consultation and construction, student of Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati, studied in bau-biologie principles natural and non-toxic materials. Building for optional health and potential.