El Valle, New Mexico, Farm of Bill DeBuys

Marz Shuster

September 9th, 2013-El Valle, New Mexico, Farm of Bill DeBuys

We went on a very interesting and informative walk today and learned about the land where we are staying at Bill DeBuys’ farm. Since he has lived on the farm for over 30 years, his strong connection to the land is very evident, he cares greatly about the state of the forest and amount of precipitation. My favorite part of this land is the small meadow near the stream, where there is a circular area underneath a tree. A few of us have been hanging out there the last few days and have been visited by some very friendly horses, who greatly enjoy apple and carrot treats. It’s sweet that they genuinely seem to enjoy passing the time with us in the meadow. I have found El Valle to be very peaceful and inspirational, and in spite of the the heavy rainstorms we have been experiencing, the group is very caring and connected, genuine connections are being formed.

Camping in El Valle

Camping in El Valle   09/10/13

Emily Gonzales

Our tents in the hay field.

Bill deBuys lecturing.

Photos by: Emily Gonzales

El Valle

9/11/2013

The Land Arts crew is finishing off our last night in El Valle, NM on William deBuys’ farm, which borders the Carson National Forest.

William deBuys took students on a guided tour of his farm and of El Valle, describing in poetic detail the fragile ecosystem and watershed of the forest and of the Rio de las Trampas. Site visits also included the Rio Grande Diversion Channel and the Rio Grande itself. 

Land Arts students listen as William deBuys describes the acequia system that waters his and sixteen other farms in El Valle.

Close-up of the acequia system.

Land Arts student Andre Liptay looks out onto fields as William deBuys describes the topography and water system of El Valle and Northern New Mexico. 

William deBuys describes the methodology for measuring river flow in order to determine individual usage.

Acequia diversion system. 

Land Arts students listen as deBuys describes land grants and policies. 

The Last Straw: a hydrologic cycle

Headwaters of the Rio Grande and El Valle, NM

September 6, 2013

Jeanette Hart-Mann

The Last Straw: a hydrologic cycle, is a collaborative, in-process project examining water cycles throughout the Rio Grande Watershed. From the high mountains of Southwestern Colorado, across New Mexico to the US/Mexico Border this river and its contours of water-ways inspire chance encounters between people, a drinking straw, and local phenomenon which effect and/or are effected by water. The following are a series of photographs from this project.

Land Arts Collaborators to date:

Emily Gonzales, Chitra Sangtani, Bill Gilbert, Jeanette Hart-Mann