Due to a change in schools, my family and I are going to be moving to the four corners region in New Mexico and was wondering if anyone had some hints or tips on dealing with the terrain out there. It is nowhere near the same as the midwest and am curious as to land, housing, gardening and livestock. Thanks.

-- Nik Nikkila (laplander@onemain.com), September 16, 2001

Answers

Depends upon actual nearness to the four corners. Fairly close, say within 25 miles is high desert. A little farther north-northeast there is irrigated farmland. Overall the region is very arid high desert. Knowing the name of the nearest town would be helpful as the terrain is somewhat varied, especially is some seasonal river valleys.

-- Joe (CactusJoe001@AOL.com), September 16, 2001.

Hi Joe, It looks like we're going to be in Farmington, or very close to there.

-- Nik Nikkila (laplander@onemain.com), September 16, 2001.

Hi, It has been ten years or so since I was in Farmington. Oil and gas fields around there mostly in the dry mesa areas. Fairly large Navajo Indian population and generally a clean community. Farmington is in a river valley and there is considerable farm land in this long, but narrow valley that goes for several miles. Most of the water comes from the nearby mountains. Every place must use irrigation as there is not much rainfall. I have heard some Indians are developing large farms up on the mesa area with their court granted water rights, but do not have any first hand info. The reason I mention this is new previously unfarmed land MAY no longer have water rights.

-- Joe (CactusJoe001@AOL.com), September 16, 2001.

My family took a vacation two years ago in this area; one of my cousins, working in the oil field, lived in Aztec, about 20 miles northeast of Farmington, so I have some idea what you are talking about.

Nice town, Farmington. The city has all the ammenities of any small city; fast food joints, malls, etc. The city is spread out along the roads leading to it; many new casinos spreading out in the area at the time.

Lots of good attractions too; the Durango-Silverton narrow gauge railroad, about 1 1/2 hours from Farmingto northeast, leaving from Durango, Colorado to Silverton, Colorado, is a very popular ride to extreme backcountry Colorado; don't miss this one, it is a fond experience.

Another attraction is Mesa Verde Park. Much culture and beautiful scenery here too. Utah's parks to the northwest, Arizona to the southwest (Grand Canyon North Side is especially unpopulated), the region has lots of offer.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), September 17, 2001.