In the woods of northern New Mexico lies the history of people and place, of stories and family. The culture of a landscape varies as much as the rise and fall of mountains, the coming and going of trees over time, the hiss of wind.

In this episode, The Forgotten Willows of Jarita Mesa, we speak with longtime New Mexico local, Luis Torres, about his legacy of engagement with community and nature, his stories of living and learning from the environment, his thoughts on collaboration, and his connection to his favorite spot on this planet, Jarita Mesa.

A special thanks to Luis Torres. Music by Zebulon Krol.

The Dirt and Dust is brought to you by the 2-3-2, Mountain Studies Institute, the Forest Stewards Guild, the USDA Forest Service, and Zebulon Krol.

Want to hear more? Listen to our audio story map to hear the history of the 2-3-2 at 232partnership.org.

Aldo Leopold once lived in a cabin in New Mexico near Tres Piedras. His time there left an impression, not so much for what he did while he lived there – he was only at the cabin for around 9 months – but for who he would become. His legacy has persisted over time, manifesting itself in the quaint and rustic cabin, reaching out to those who stay there, and especially to the person who maintains the cabin, Richard Rubin, a retired medical doctor who now writes his own books, creating his own legacy that's intertwined with Leopold's.

In this episode, Thinking Like a Mountain, we talk with Richard Rubin about his life, his time taking care of Aldo Leopold's old cabin, and the sense of stewardship it all inspires.

A special thanks to Richard Rubin. Check out his books at Nighthawk Press. Music by Zebulon Krol.

The Dirt and Dust is brought to you by the 2-3-2, Mountain Studies Institute, the Forest Stewards Guild, the USDA Forest Service, and Zebulon Krol.

Want to hear more? Listen to our audio story map to hear the history of the 2-3-2 at 232partnership.org.

Fire. The word itself is powerful, conjuring up conflicting images of fear and also comfort, of destruction and barbecues. Fire is not a malicious force. It has no more malicious intentions than a penny falling from a skyscraper. But the impacts can range from helpful to horrible, depending on how humans interact and have historically interacted with the landscape.

This is a story of when fire helped. It’s a story that often isn’t told but one that can spark renewed belief of how our actions can in fact lead to a better outcome. That does not mean, however, that we can do it every time for every fire. It does mean that we can do some things, most notably accept the natural and inevitable existence of fire. Because fire, well, fire is life.

In this episode, Fire is Life, we talk with Angie Krall, the West Zone District Ranger on the Carson National Forest, about the Midnight Fire, long-term thinking, and the necessity of fire.

Want to know more about the Midnight Fire? Watch this movie, Goodnight, Midnight.

A special thanks to Angie Krall. Music by Zebulon Krol.

The Dirt and Dust is brought to you by the 2-3-2, Mountain Studies Institute, the Forest Stewards Guild, the USDA Forest Service, and Zebulon Krol.

Want to hear more? Listen to our audio story map to hear the history of the 2-3-2 at 232partnership.org.