Just as the last bit of snow fades away from the peaks of the nearby La Plata Mountains, so does my time left here on the farm. A multitude of factors have forced me to leave, most notably, the start of the Tiny House Company. The arrangements I had here with the owner weren’t conducive to building Tiny Houses, so alas, a new phase is on the horizon.

My time spent on the farm has been nothing short of amazing. Every sunrise and every sunset I get to enjoy here is one less I’ll get to savor from my special little place. It is only fitting that I reflect back on the memories and experiences before saying my goodbye.

The journey started about a year ago when I decided I needed my own place. I bought an old 1965 Forester camper for $300, put it in storage until I could find some land to park it on, and began looking for said land. I knew the guy running the farm at the time and knew some other people were kinda staying out there, so he got me in touch with the land owner and we struck up a deal. I’d pay a little cash and do some work on the farm for rent.

I remember the first 5 weeks living in a tent while I restored the camper. I remember getting soaked during late night monsoon storms. I remember how each week the crops would get a little higher until we finally starting harvesting the best veggies and melons I’ve ever ate. I remember traversing the wetlands with my bow in search of beavers, ducks, porcupines, and whatever else creature I could get within range. I remember cross country skiing in two feet of fresh powder during the winter. I will always remember lots of little things like this, but here are other more notable things  I will remember.

Sunrise- I have seen more spectacular sunrises in other parts of the world, but none so beautiful and heart warming day after day as the ones that have greeted me here. Without fail that amazing sun has creeped over the eastern horizon to rouse me from bed, cook breakfast, and enjoy that breakfast whilst the rays of warmth wash over my skin- even on cold winter days. The sunrises here always made me look forward to the day to come.

Sunset- Without a doubt the most beautiful sunsets I have ever experienced have been from my front porch of the camper out here on the farm. The quality of light is indescribable. The view of the mountains and clouds along with the many colors of the terrain set against the warm skyline all combine to create an experience that is magical. Here, it is a time I’m either enjoying a home cooked meal and counting all my blessings, or maybe I’m getting back from a sweet bike ride and still counting all my blessings.

The Night Sky- The moon was always so crisp and bright at night, even on nights when it was only a quarter moon out. Sometimes I would have to mosey outside in the middle of the night for a nature break. I would always stop to admire the moon, stars, and heavens above. Occasionally I would see a shooting star, and make a wish. Other nights, there was no moon at all, or a moon late to rise and on such nights the stars were always more magnificent. The open expanse of the land here nestled in a mountain valley gives the night sky an amazing quality that I will miss dearly.

Snow- Even thought this last winter was a bit under average as far as snow fall, there was still quite a bit of snow out on the farm. It showed up sometime in late December and hung around until early March. Living in the camper, I seemed to be much more “in tune” with the snow. It’s not only a small space with windows on all sides, but the walls are only 2” thick. This is hard to explain, but I just somehow “felt” the snow more than I did the previous winter while living in a house in town.

Rain- It didn’t rain very often out here, after all,Durango is a high desert climate averaging about 19” a year. What is notable about the rain is how nice it actually is when it does come down, especially after a hot summer day of hard work. Also of note is the monsoon season in late summer. Once it starts up, you can count on a little rain storm or some magnificent lightning displays around 2pm each day. On the farm, you can see storms roll in all the way from Hermosa, 9 miles up the valley, or sometimes from up on Florida Mesa, about 6 miles south of the farm. It was always an enjoyable experience when it rained.

Seasons- Having lived a full year on the farm, I had both the joy and discomfort of experiencing all four seasons. Summer was without a doubt my favorite. I loved those first few weeks of basically living outside. The temps were so pleasant at night, and even during the hottest days I enjoyed the dry heat. It might have hit 97 degrees on the hottest day, but that was nothing compared to 104 and 50-60% humidity in Texas. Working the farmer’s market and eating all the tasty produce I could had its benefits. In the evenings I would got out for mountain bike rides around town or hike down to the river with Rocco to cool off. The daylight gradually began to wane and temps got cooler. Soon it was fall. The cooling temps, the temptation of coming snow, and the changing leaf colors were all nice things of Autumn. The market wrapped up and I prepped the trailer for the colder temps to come. Snow came a little late in December but when it came, it came, blanketing the entire farm with a good 2 feet of fresh powder. My 2WD truck got stuck a few times in the driveway, but after each snow I learned to pack it down to avoid this. Winter time was extremely quiet. The snow muffled any incoming sounds from town. I was the only human on the farm the entire winter. There wasn’t a whole lot to do there. Luckily, I had a lot of work in other places, so except for sleep I didn’t spend much time on the farm during the winter. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed the beauty and solitude it brought. The camper is poorly insulated, and I spent some very cold nights in that camper cuddled up with a dog in my PJ’s under a heavy down blanket with the heater blasting. Getting up in the mornings was always a bit uncomfortable, but I got used to it.

In late February, the snow began to melt and the days began to get noticeable longer. Mud season was annoying, but not as bad as last year. The snow melted, but the nights stayed cold well into April. Finally, the snow storms turned to rain, perennials began to bloom, trees began to bud, and dust storms began to blow in. Spring was here, and with it, new beginnings…

I wanted to talk a little about The Land, The Creatures, and the Magic, but I’m out of time for the day, and must continue with my moving operation. Perhaps afterwards I can come back on finish those topics. For now, I just wish to enjoy my last few days on the farm and give thanks for all my many blessings that have come from living out there. I am super excited about the next phase in my life, and the new property that I will be living on is pretty nice in itself, however, it is no Animas Valley Farms. I will miss this place dearly and always hold a special place for it in my heart.