Between Dust & Rain

During a recent visit to the high desert, we spent time with two stewards of the land: Alberto Varela and Manuel Mancilla. Together, they’re leading a quiet movement- one rooted in patience, purpose, and a whole lot of acres.

Alberto’s family has been ranching for four generations. His goal? Bring the land back to what it once was. “Probably a hundred years ago,” he says, “this land was beautiful grazing ground.” He’s not trying to reinvent it- he just wants to restore it.

Working across 1,000 acres, he and Manuel run cattle and donkeys not just for livestock’s sake, but to kickstart something deeper: regeneration. By rotating pastures, letting the animals fertilize the soil naturally, and letting the ground breathe, they’re rebuilding an ecosystem from the ground up.

It’s a long process, and it doesn’t happen overnight. But with every rotation, they’re laying the groundwork for something lasting. They walk the fields, build trust with their animals, and treat every acre like something that matters. Because to them, it does. It’s about more than ranching. It’s about responsibility- to the land, to the past, and to what’s still possible.

"Anyone can do it. A child can do it, an elder can do it. That's part of our purpose to make it available for everyone, because we have the responsibility not only to ourselves, but to the world and to society." - Alberto Varela

It’s a way of life that values the long view, the kind of commitment measured in seasons instead of days. The work isn’t exclusive, and it’s not always glamorous- but it’s real. And it’s needed. It’s not about working against the land- it’s about working with it. Restoring what was lost, and leaving it better than you found it.

To check out more of what Alberto & Manuel are doing, click here.