Permaculture at Lama Foundation, p.2

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On May 6 1996, the Hondo Fire swept up the mountain and devastated 95% of the surface vegetation, turning an old growth conifer forested environment into expansive meadows of wildflowers and scrub oaks. The fire spared only the bare central infrastructure, including the main Dome and the kitchen, but destroyed almost all the outlying housing and other buildings.

Despite initial grief that swept through the community, the slate was cleaned, and people could start over. This also meant that all invested had the great opportunity and responsibility to really assess how to rebuild (and rethink) in a mindful, ecological and sustainable way. With so many lives touched by the event of the fire, resources and caring, talented people started pouring in to help. Ben Haggard, Jai Cross and Rico Zook along with a multitude of other Lama Beans took on the mammoth task of restoring and rebuilding. Although we are nearing the 10th anniversary of the Hondo Fire, and although thousands have come up the mountain to rebuild, the high elevation environment makes this a slow process.

In addition to all the loving hands that resurected Lama, the pristine mountain spring was undamaged, and still provides excellent drinking water. Also, much of the Lama site slopes to the south and west which is favorable for solar power collection and passive solar design of buildings. Before the fire, Lama did not tap so much solar power due to the tree coverage, but now each building has its own source of electricity as well as passive solar heating. The thinly insulated residential buildings from before the fire are being replaced with straw-bale or straw-clay buildings which have incredible insulating properties. Finally, the rebuilding and re-planning of Lama Foundation has created an opportunity for students of permaculture and natural building to learn hands-on about permaculture and sustainability.

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