What we did this winter

    A few of our crazy new mesquite friends

When I was a kid I never especially wanted to own a house, but I have always wanted to own land. Perhaps this came from having a mom who would rather be out driving tractor or exploring the woods than doing housework. Whatever the reason, I now have my wish. In January we purchased 70 acres of prime wildlife habitat in "downtown Cascabel." Lots of land, no house.

We have known about this property for the past four years, but it wasn't until this fall that all the pieces fell into place. Because of its location at the intersection of three major drainages, the part of the San Pedro River that runs through here can have water when the rest of the river for miles is dry. When the conditions are right to create this—as they were last summer—this is a wildlife haven. Recognizing this was piece number one.

    Remaining water from last summer's storms

    Evidence of the large pool of water that lasted here for months this summer

Piece number two was seeing how this land is already part of a coalescing of private and public lands that maintains unfragmented wildlife habitat in this area. This includes land adjcent to us that was purchased by the Cascabel Conservation Association two years ago, our neighbor on the other side who has been reestablishing native vegetation, and many people who have worked for years to create a wildlife corridor in Hot Springs Canyon to connect the mountain ranges on either side of the valley. 

    This mesquite is probably over 100 years old

There were lots of other little pieces, but the final one that brought it all together was about people. The former owner did not live in the area, and friends of his from Tucson had been coming out to camp on the property for the past twenty years. They have a deep knowledge of and affection for this land, and as we talked with them last fall it became clear that their involvement was important. Finding out that there were people who already loved the land and were willing to work with us made us feel more comfortable with the commitment, and we are happy to be sharing stewardship and enjoyment of this place with them.

     Co-stewards Nico, Leza, Luna, and Brian

Since the sale we have had more opportunity to explore the whole 70 acres, and we continue to be amazed at how alive and varied it is and how much we love being there. Its most obvious feature is the 40 acres of mature mesquite bosque near the road. But on the other side of the river, the upland desert is just as incredible, with its secret gullies, vistas of the surrounding mountain ranges, and big saguaros.

    Part of the upland desert in the foreground—all connected to the mountains in the distance

There really isn't good language in our culture for what we are doing. Land "ownership" doesn't capture it, as something this vast and complex isn't just "ours." We are stewards of this place for awhile, and the money we paid is a sign of our intended committment: a committment to learning about the land through "attentive stillness," to continuing to be part of the flow, to paying attention to all the puzzle pieces. 

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