We feel very fortunate to be in New Mexico right now, with vast open spaces, fresh air and big blue skies, and are thankful for the time to walk in the Bosque or in the city's acres of Open Space. One of our heroes at Los Poblanos is the great conservationist Aldo Leopold, whose many years in New Mexico left an impressive environmental legacy on our state. His work in Albuquerque lead to the creation of the Rio Grande Valley State Park, Zoo, Botanic Gardens and Rio Grande Nature Center. In fact, the Nature Center is just down the street from our farm, and is a gateway to the Aldo Leopold Forest and Trail.
Considered the father of modern wildlife ecology, Leopold was also a conservationist, forester, philosopher, educator and writer. Among his best known ideas is the "land ethic," which calls for an ethical, caring relationship between people and nature. His wisdom profoundly resonates, especially in our current times. We invite you to ponder his thoughts with us as we move through the coming weeks and months, and the next time you find yourself in the North Valley, we hope you'll enjoy exploring the trail and connecting with nature.
"Examine each question in terms of what is ethically and aesthetically right, as well as what is economically expedient."
"Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left."
"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise."
To learn more about Leopold, consider reading A Sand County Almanac, or visit the Aldo Leopold Foundation online here. Photos courtesy of the Aldo Leopold Foundation and University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives.