Letters to the Editor

Community makes a huge difference in our lives

Editor:

It has been nearly three years since we began building our farm and ranch operation here in central New Mexico. As we reflect on this journey, one quote continues to resonate deeply with us:

“The smallest sustainable unit of civilization is community.”

When we first arrived, we were met with barren, cracked desert ground — raw land without even a road or trail leading in. What once felt remote and unforgiving has since become a place of purpose, progress and promise. That transformation did not happen because of us alone.

It happened because of the remarkable community that surrounds us. Thanks to the generosity, hard work and neighborly spirit of so many individuals and local businesses, this year marks a major milestone: the first season we will plant crops to help provide fresh, healthy food back to the very community that helped us get here.

Being able to give back in a tangible way is both a privilege and a responsibility we carry with great pride. There are countless people who have contributed along the way, and while we could never fully capture our gratitude, we would be remiss not to recognize a few who played especially meaningful roles in this chapter of our story.

John Craig and the entire team at Craig Tire: Over the course of this project, we’ve had more tire troubles than we can count. No matter the size of the problem, you have consistently gotten us back on the road or moving earth with speed, professionalism, and good humor. Your reliability has quite literally kept this operation moving.

Joe Portio and the Blue-Line Grill: Though the grill is now closed, its impact remains. You kept our crew fed during long, hot days and helped introduce us to many wonderful people in the area. Your hospitality made us feel welcome from the start.

Josh Sanchez and the operators at Sanchez Demolition: When monsoon season damaged our road, you mobilized quickly and restored access within days. Beyond that, your trucks hauled in a significant portion of the wood biomass that made our first planting season possible. Your responsiveness and capability made a lasting difference.

Greg Page and the crew at Page Trucking: The biomass you transported from the Rio Grande fire cleanup project accelerated our soil-building efforts by nearly a year. That contribution alone reshaped our timeline and our future.

Weston Shupe, owner of Shupe Agworks: Few have shaped this land as literally as you have. The countless hours you spent moving earth and improving the terrain have had a lasting impact on our ability to farm successfully. Your craftsmanship is written into the landscape itself.

Bob Cronk and the staff at Kiva RV Park and Horse Motel: You were one of our very first stops when we arrived in New Mexico, and your support has never wavered. Your store saved us countless trips into town, your facilities made long stretches of work possible and your hospitality always made us feel at home.

Danny from Danny’s Diesels: You have kept our trucks running reliably year after year, minimizing downtime and helping us stay on schedule. Your expertise has saved us both time and resources at critical moments. And finally, to the many welders, independent mechanics, day laborers, local cowboys, independent equipment operators, volunteers, and neighbors who stepped in whenever help was needed — your contributions, whether large or small, carried us forward at every stage. This first field we plant is a shared achievement.

We are proud to be part of a community where people show up for one another, where hard work is respected, and where relationships matter as much as results. If the foundation of civilization truly is community, then we feel fortunate beyond measure to be building our future in one of the finest examples of it.

Thank you all for helping turn desert ground into fertile soil — and neighbors into lifelong friends.

Gianni Moretti

Bernardo, N.M.