Peter’s Story

In 2004, I purchased 40 undeveloped acres in Northern New Mexico…Carson, there was a shell of a house on the property. I was living and working in Santa Fe at the time enjoying my life there, so what possessed me to buy this land?

Since childhood I have been interested in plants – gardens, blueberries, strawberries, peanuts, and trees. Sometime, during the 1950’s, I wrote a grade-school paper with the help of and use of one research coupon from the Encyclopedia Britannica. The topic was “famous and historic trees of the world” or maybe just the US. Right there and then, the idea of raising trees began to resonate with me. In 2001 I attended a workshop-lecture at a tree nursery near Albuquerque. Did you know there are 28 species of oak trees native to New Mexico. And maples, and ashes, and poplars, etc. The intent of the tree nursery was to establish an agricultural use. But what a wonderful endeavor to plant trees which, because of climate change and the drought, are in peril of being decimated. What a loss it would be to the environment, for trees feed on carbon dioxide, give back oxygen and provide shade and pleasure. 

Enter Carson, New Mexico….affordable, beautiful, peaceful with spectacular sunsets and it wasn’t far from Taos or Santa Fe, yet it was remote enough that I could feel the freedom of knowing this was all my land. Secluded and protected from development because it’s surrounded by the Carson National Forest, except for maybe a marauding herd of elk. I fenced off a small plot of land and planted 100 seedlings purchased from the NM Forestry Department. Further improvements have included putting in a well. Incidentally, I had the location of the well dowsed by Joe Graves, native to Carson and featured on an episode of “Unsolved Mysteries”. He has the special ability of finding running water, not water tables. He found the river that ‘runs under it”. At 600 feet there is a 30 gallon per minute well. In addition, with a grant from the NM Game and Fish Department, I installed a game fence, enclosing seven acres of meadow,which provides protection for the trees from the predation of deer, elk and occasionally the errant cow. I also purchased an additional 20 acres of land contiguous to my 40 acres. I have created three 5 acre building sites which are in an old growth piñon forest. These building sites will each have underground electricity and a share of the well. These sites are on the highest part of the property and overlook the meadow where the trees will be grown as well as having great views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and excellent solar exposure. 

What I love about owning a tree farm.
The joy of seeing a tree develop through the four seasons. In the springtime you can put your hand around the trunk and feel the sap running. It’s a miracle….from a tiny acorn a mighty oak develops. Trees have to produce their own food AND  bees love trees. A full flowering apple tree buzzing with bees,  it’s my own tiny way of helping to preserve our natural world. It’s rewarding, the joy of that endeavor, of getting to know your trees and overseeing their development helping them along when I can. 

I am not going to develop the property in any way, but I would love to invite you to join me in this beautiful pristine high desert paradise. In cities you live your life indoors…. in New Mexico it’s the outdoor life. It’s about the outdoors and nature and the light, the sound of rain and the happy birds in the trees.