Farming and ranching in Taos go back hundreds of years with the influx of the Spanish and who can say how long the native peoples here have grown their corn, beans and squash every year? As newcomers, mindful stewardship of the land is one way of contributing to and maintaining Taos’ gift of clean air, clean water, vast night skies and pristine views.

Like many others, I was magnetized to Taos by the dream of living more lightly on the land and by the presence of solar and sustainable technologies proliferating here, not to mention the over 300 sunny days a year; I intended to build an off-the-grid house using passive and active solar systems and rain water catchment.

In 1996, while studying sustainability, I attended a Permaculture Design Course with Bill Mollison and Scott Pittman and Bill mused aloud, “I wonder why there aren’t any permaculture Realtors out there?” I took the challenge, got my New Mexico real estate license and formed a market niche at an agency I named Permaculture Properties and thus began my career in Taos real estate, as much to promote sustainable practices as to make a living.

In 2004 I joined Coldwell Banker Lota Realty and began to work with builders like Felipe Rodriguez who regularly employs many sustainable features in his spec homes like grey water systems, extra insulation, passive solar site placement and high performance heating systmes as do builders Moises Martinez and Mike Fenner.  I also helped to launch El Parque en Taos, the first LEED certified residential project in New Mexico. I joined the Board of Sustain Taos who published the Taos Green Guides and put on Bioneers-related events as well as the annual Farm Tours and Organic Farming Conferences.

I ended up never building the house I envisioned but instead got married and moved into my husband’s 120 year old adobe in El Prado where I began Tierra Drala Farm, yet another long held dream.  Following are photos of 2009’s farming season:+

http://www.dreamingnewmexico.org/videos

I enjoyed attending the Dreaming New Mexico conference in Santa Fe last week- check out the New maps!