The Company We Keep: Reinventing Small Business for People, Community, and Place
-John Abrams

"We grow to achieve specific goals, but we are aware that when we choose to increase in size, we may disrupt and endanger treasured qualities. Such concerns do not imply that we must limit development. Economist Herman Daly makes the distinction by explaining that to grow means to increase in size by the assimilation or accretion of materials, while to develop means to expand or realize the potentialities of; to bring to a fuller, greater, or better state. Our planet, he explains, develops over time without growing, while our economy, a subsystem of the finite and nongrowing earth, must eventually adapt to a similar pattern"

"Some say that to argue about growth in commerce is spurious. Of course you have to grow, they say: " Nature demands growth just as business does." I say, " that's debateable." Wall Street demands growth, business does not. Neither does nature. Nature seeks optimized growth and imposes limits. In the book Upsizing, author Gunter Pauli points out that if an oak tree grows to 150 feet, it is strong enough to resist wind, wear, and tear. But it doesn't grow to 1,500 feet, even when nature provides sufficient nutrients. Instead, it provides room for ten other trees. If it grew to 1,500 feet, it would become too fragile and lose its resilience and stability.

March 18, 2006
Tim's Memorial Service, Grand Junction, CO

I was lucky to have known "the recent Tim" and got to share these memories with his friends and family in Grand Junction where his recent endeavors down in Telluride were unknown to many.



I am lucky to have been touched by his life, albeit for a small fracture in time. We all have to remember the moments we shared with him, each spark of light he brought to the endeavors he tackled. Anna Quindlen stated “Life is made up of little moments, small pieces of glittering mica in a long stretch of gray cement.” Tim was one big, shiny, good looking, chunk of mica!

I met Tim on my second day in Telluride, a mere three months ago. Although our friendship was short, I was calmed by his presence and loved to explore with him our similar interests, everything from waste grease for biodiesel to tele skiing.

We coached at the Telluride Ski Club, where I would consistently see 5 little girls dressed in pink clinging to each arm, as he sat calmly with that smile on his face. He was always patient, always smiling, and always ready to go on any narly trail the kids wanted to go down, then he would calmly help them up from the resulting crash.

Early in the season I skied with him and some friends from Boulder. Misty Maiden and Chair 4, although repetitive, were fun, with jokes and laughs as we rode the same groomers over and over and tried to find variation in the bumps along the side.

Another tele skiing adventure with Tim was exploring the bumps of Chair 9. He had so much energy and enthusiasm for going as fast as he could, it didn’t matter how many face plants resulted. I did my best to keep up, and was definitely huffing and puffing at the bottom of each run. We shared quiet moments together, there was no need to constantly talk, we were both excited and energized by the mountain, the snow, the wind.

When Tim bartended at Chair 8, I would stop by on my way home to see him and share a few drinks and small talk. It was a place in town I knew I could find a friendly face and a smile. It was easy to be in his presence, never feeling the necessity to justify why I stopped by, even if it was just to be with him. He was always tired after working 7 hours on the ski hill, then 6 more at the bar, always watching the clock to head home, but never rushing me to get out.

One of the older athletes from the Telluride Ski Club exclaimed she “got 5 words out of Tim in one go, that must be a record!” I said, well you just have to ask him a question about something he’s passionate about. He would get a glimmer in his eye and a big smile and could go on for hours. One example is our drive to Montrose to the Biodiesel plant for a cleanup day. He talked about his goals in graduate school, and how he was excited to learn about the agriculture aspects of biodiesel and of the feasibility of it on a larger scale beyond collecting waste grease. A messy and difficult process that he got to experience first hand. He was dedicated to learning more about biodiesel and was very excited to make the first batch this spring when the weather got warmer and the grease de-gelled. His hidden fire burned with his passions to pursue aspects of renewable energy and to keep learning.

Those interests are what brought him to be a fellow intern at Steeprock Builders. An ecological design/build company that installs and runs off of solar panels, wind turbines, and biodiesel generators, all integral aspects towards realizing the vision of combining the built environment with natural systems and reducing humans impact on this world. Glen Harcourt, the founder, had a knack for finding all of those like-minded flecks of mica and collecting us together to create a family of go getters who are searching and succeeding at finding ways of living more sustainably. On February 23, Tim, Glen and Bo were headed to a hydro-electric project, and I know they were smiling the whole way there. Pursuing their passions, living life to the fullest, and leaving their mark through renewable systems that are the future.

I will always remember and cherish each of those small moments in time that I got to spend with Tim and the quiet beauty he brought to this world. His presence was comforting, his smile lit up the room, and his enthusiasm for life and all it holds will continue on within everyone that was touched by his life. Every mountain peak I am surrounded by reminds me of Tim. An overwhelming feeling of quiet peace emanates from each mountain top; Tim is there, watching, listening; being quiet and patient, loving, and happy.

Honoring Three Wonderful Friends

February 23, 2006 while heading to a hydro-electric project in Glen Harcourt's small plane, they hit a power line and died.


Glen Harcourt, founder/owner and mind behind Steeprock Builders and Atlas Arckology (a non-profit that promotes sustainable endeavors), He had a knack for gathering up like-minded, go getter, change the world people. His passion for life and bringing out the best in everyone will live on through everyone he's touched and influenced.


Bo Willse, laborer at Steeprock, learning to fly, and wonderful friend. When the bus dropped me off early at the Steeprock office before anyone else was there, I would hang out with Boomer, his dog, while Bo ate his breakfast. Excited about the day, with that smile on his face, always.




Tim Hackett, fellow ski coach at Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club, and fellow intern at Steeprock was working on every and all projects pertaining to renewable energy systems.

All three were good friends and I was fortunate to get to know them and work with them during the three months I have lived in Telluride. They all embodied energy and enthusiasm for life that was hard to find in places. They each had abundant smiles and laughs that filled the room and even couldn't be contained by walls. They were dedicated to sustainable endeavors and were making the world a better place each day they lived. They have not left us, since their inspirations and ideas will continue on in everyone touched by their lives. I feel them in the wind and will always see them in the mountain peaks, I will strive towards their ideals, and continue to live with their love and enthusiasm.

Also see www.strategiesforsustainability.blogspot.com (Mar 1 post tribute to Glen)
http://public.fotki.com/shmooga/glen/ (pictures of Glen and family)
http://mikelane.blogspot.com/2006/02/trivial-traveling_26.html (tribute to Tim)

"you won't find no gold in that rock. Only fool's gold."

"All gold is fool's gold."

"Yeah? Is that so?" Old Jack turns his leathery face and one good eye to his mate, the hint of a smile on his lips. "Don't philosophize on me, medicine man." He pats the pouch inside his belt. "We can buy what we need with it. That's good enough for me."

"Only from fools."

"Bullshit, Sam. Don't you know nothing about economics? About medium of exchange? How long'd you go to that Harvard?"

"Two weeks. It was a long grind."

"Not long enough, seems like. What branch of higher learning did they teach you there anyhow?"

"They taught all the branches--but none of the roots."


-Edward Abbey "Good News"

EVERY LONG JOURNEY

Every long journey is made of small steps,
Is made of courage, the feeling you get.
You know it's been waiting and waiting for you
The journey's the only thing you want to do.

We cannot know what you go through or see through your eyes
We will surround you, our pride undisguised.
In any direction, whatever you do,
You're taking our love there with you.

Every long journey, what drives you to go
It's half what you know, and half what you don't.
The secret's been waiting your heart's got the key
The secret's the only thing you want to see.

Every long journey begins with a dream
The spirit's encouraged to make it all real.
The dream has been calling and calling to you
The dream is the only thing you want to do.