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Marisa Armijo Stratton
Earth Team Volunteer
Taos, New Mexico
Volunteer Helps Catapult NRCS into Public Eye
Marisa Armijo Stratton’s involvement in tree planting
projects not only helped the NRCS Taos, New Mexico Field Office build strong
cooperative conservation ties to other community agencies, it garnered local
press that placed NRCS in the public eye.
In the summer of 2007 Marisa worked with the Bureau of Land
Management, Town of Taos, and Rivers and Birds, a non-profit conservation
organization, to complete several tree and shrub planting projects. Working
side-by-side with several local community volunteers, they planted cottonwood
poles and box elders along the Rio Grande. Chokecherries, skunkbush sumacs,
golden currants, and New Mexico olives were planted around the public library
and near the farmers market where residents gather during the summer.
“Planting trees to preserve, conserve, and enhance the
environment gave me a huge satisfaction, knowing I was doing my part to make the
world a better place,” Marisa said.
Partnering with others not only helped stabilize and
beautify the sites developed, but also was a tremendous boost to the Taos Field
Office. The Taos News picked up on and published the story.
Never to let daunting obstacles stop her, Marisa
enthusiastically worked on clerical duties during the winter months – answering
the phone, taking Farm Bill applications, assembling Farm Bill case files, and
organizing map and design cabinets.
“Marisa, in essence, completed willingly any task we gave
to her,” Vernon Mirabal, soil conservationist, said.
That makes this high school junior the dream volunteer we
all love to work with. It made Marisa the well-deserving New Mexico Earth Team
Individual Award winner in 2007.
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