• To design and install gardens and landscapes that: prevent soil erosion; harvest and utilize precipitation and water runoff; provide food and habitat for birds, hummingbirds and butterflies; provide edibles, medicinal and culinary herbs for humans; provide species diversity and seasonal interest and; provide scent and beauty.

• To propose an alternative to conventional, one-dimensional gardens and landscapes.

• To collaborate with organizations and individuals to create and maintain gardens and landscapes as a galvanizing force and source of pleasure for families and communities.

• To inspire active involvement in land stewardship, restoration, resource management and preservation of biodiversity, while creating beautiful, healthy landscapes.

• To foster traditional food ways and biodiversity through local crop production, beneficial cultivation techniques and respectful partnership with natural resources.

Christie Green established Down To Earth in 1999. She has extensive experience working with private clients in northern New Mexico to develop and implement large- and small-scale land restoration projects in the wildland-urban interface regions and in Ponderosa pine, Piņon-Juniper and agricultural ecological zones. Ms. Green has successfully implemented restoration and irrigation projects funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). She coordinates and manages projects with diverse groups including: private landscape and irrigation contractors; construction company foremen; land management consultants; employees of state and federal agencies; heavy equipment operators; scientists; land owners; non-profit organizations; farmers; volunteers; and students. Ms. Green also consults with and advises private individuals, schools, plant nurseries and public agencies to educate about the importance of restoration and innovative land management techniques.

Ms. Green has organized and participated in restorative farming, organic agriculture, heirloom gardening and seed saving and ornamental gardening educational workshops, focusing on soil building, resource management and innovative cultivation techniques. She graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in cultural history of the western U.S. and continued studies in ecology, with an emphasis on the study of soil and native plant and animal species. Christie is a member of and is active in various local non-profit organizations including: The Santa Fe Botanical Garden, The Santa Fe Water Coalition, The Quivira Coalition, Amigos Bravos and The Santa Fe Native Plant Society.

The Down To Earth Crew

Carlos has been with Down to Earth for three years and brings skill, knowledge and much-needed patience in installing, maintaining and trouble-shooting irrigation systems. He knows this work like the back of his hand and enjoys doing it. Carlos' good nature and willingness to jump in on any front has been a wonderful asset to our clients.

Patricio has been a valuable crew member for two seasons now. He brings his knowledge and skills to all aspects of our work, but is especially talented in  stone craftsmanship and in solving irrigation conundrums. Patricio has a particular smile and chuckle that add levity to our days.

Santos has been with Down to Earth for three seasons and is a tenacious worker, undaunted by any job. He has a knack for planting and knowing exactly how and where to position trees, shrubs and perennials, settling them in to the soil for vibrant growth. Santos sings and smiles along as we work and graces us with his original personality.

Antonio brings many years of landscaping experience to Down to Earth and, now in his second season amongst us, has skills complementray to the entire crew. He has a particular ability to envision each project as a whole and understand how to proceed efficiently and effectively.

Joel has steadfast rhythm that keeps the crew humming along regardless of the task at hand. He's wonderfully adept at stone work, creating lovely, stable patios and pathways.

Homero adores stone work and jumps right into any hardscape job enthusiastically, undauntetd by size or difficulty. He's light-hearted and hard working - a delightful addition to the crew.

Selected Projects

• Conceptual Design (with Gordon Tooley of Tooley’s Trees and Richard Woodbury of Osage Design Studio). Rio Arriba County Rural Events Center. Abiquiu, NM.

• Conceptual Design for Carriage House Association. Water catchment, nature trail and landscape plan for 31-house development. Los Alamos, NM.

• Landscape Design for Barranca Builders. Landscape design and installation at various homes in The Pueblos, Ranch Estates, Park Estates and Las Estancias at Las Campanas. 2007 Parade of Homes Grand Prize Winner for Las Estancias Lot 12 home.

• Landscape Design & Installation for Quemazon Communities Masters Association. Open space corridor trail. Los Alamos, NM.

• Landscape Design and Installation for residences in northern New Mexico including: Santa Fe, Espanola, Alcalde, El Guique, Truchas, Abiquiu, Medanales and Youngsville. Projects range in size from city subdivision lots to 25-acre parcels.

• Landscape Design and Installation for The Pinkoyote women’s clothing store. Santa Fe, NM.

• Agricultural Irrigation System Installation (with USDA-NRCS). 7-acre private residential/agricultural parcel. El Guique, NM.

• Middle Rio Grande Wetlands Restoration Design and Implementation (with Dan Yarbrough and US Fish & Wildlife). 7-acre private residential parcel. El Guique, NM.

• Landscape Maintenance. Various residential clients in northern New Mexico, majority of which are n Santa Fe, NM. Down to Earth has been with most maintenance clients for the past six years and is not currently accepting additional maintenance clients.

Selected Courses and Workshops Taught

• April 10, 2004. “Real Food, Real Flavor: Grow Your Own”. Taught by Christie Green. Sponsored by PSW. Santa Fe, NM.

• April 19, 2003. “Compost”. Taught by Christie Green. Sponsored by PSW. Santa Fe, NM.

• February 15, 2003. “ Soil Building and Garden Maintenance”. Taught by Christie Green. Sponsored by Santa Fe Greenhouses. Santa Fe, NM.

• July 27, 2002 “Innovative Techniques for a Beautiful, Vibrant Garden: An Interactive Educational Tour of Two Model Gardens”. Taught by Christie Green. Sponsored by the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Santa Fe, NM.

• June 23 2002 Southside Garden Tour (Reed/Sherrod garden). Led by Christie Green. Sponsored by the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Santa Fe, NM

• April 20, 2002 “Vegetable Gardens: Installation & Successive Sowing”. Taught by Christie Green. Sponsored by the Santa Fe Community College and Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Tesuque, NM.

• February 24, 2001. “Basic Gardening: Plant Selection”. Co-taught by Bob Pennington, Mark Wood and Christie Green. Sponsored by Santa Fe Community College and the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Santa Fe, NM.

• November 4, 2000 “Soil, Soil, Soil”. Taught by Christie Green. Sponsored by the Santa Fe Community College Continuing Education Department. Santa Fe, NM.

• October 26, 2000 “Planning to Plant: Sheet Mulching to Build Soil”. Co-taught by Christie Green and Patty Nagle. Sponsored by Santa Fe Forum for the Indian Hospital and Indian School student participants. Santa Fe, NM.

• September 10, 2000 “Gardening in the Off Season”. Co-taught by Christie Green and Patty Nagle. Sponsored by the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Tesuque, NM.

• June 6, 2000 “Gardening in the Desert”. Co-taught by Christie Green and Mary Ann Walz. Sponsored by the Santa Fe Community College Continuing Education Department. Santa Fe, NM.

• March 10, 2000 “Growing from the Ground Up: Basic Soil Building for a Healthy Harvest”. Co-taught by Christie Green and Patty Nagle. Sponsored by the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Tesuque, NM