Our Philosophy

When the first ranches were purchased in the mid-1990s, the landscape was bleak. The waterways were deeply incised, and there was little ground cover, leaving bare soil subject to erosion by wind and water. The task was daunting, and there were those who said it could not be done. Yet we thought that if we could restore the land, in this harsh climate, we could show that restoration could be done anywhere.

Our approach has been to reverse the damage inflicted by generations of poor land management to restore the functionality of the ecosystem. And we wanted to do that restoration in a way that honored indigenous methods of land management, maintained ties with the ranching community that surrounds us, and utilized materials that could be found on site.

Located between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts, we knew that water would be the most fundamental concern. Seeing that water from the monsoon rains was draining rapidly through incised water channels, our first strategy was slowing down the water, giving it time to infiltrate into the soil.

From water, our attention turned to trees and grasses, then to soil. As nature began to heal itself, we focused more on wildlife and on restoration as a nature-based solution to a host of problems: climate change and adaptation, flooding, fires, and the decline of a multitude of ecosystem services. Ultimately, our goal expanded to a total rewilding of the land.

Along the way, we have identified straightforward, pragmatic methods that any landowner or land manager can use. As we look to the future, we are enthusiastic about sharing our learned lessons with others. Widespread application of the techniques we have discovered could revive our degraded landscapes, leading to a more vibrant and prosperous environment for nature and people.