Guild Member, Carl Struck, Hosts 30th Anniversary Celebration Event in New Mexico

Written by Daisy Smith and Carl Struck 

 At the end of July, member Carl Struck graciously hosted a Guild Gathering at his 40-acre property in Peñasco, New Mexico, to celebrate 30 years of the Forest Stewards Guild. This was one of three commemorative events of the year so far. A diverse group of about 20, with folks from the Forest Stewards Youth Corps crews, Tesuque Pueblo, Guild staff, and Guild members met at the family forest for a walking field trip to explore forest management examples and mycorrhizal networks that are crucial for forest health. 

Watch a short video from the day to see the forest walk, fungi, and Carl’s stewardship in action.

The tour began with introductions and Carl’s brief history of the property, offering some neat insight into how he came into possession of this land and his passion for stewardship. From there, the walk circled around the home of Carl and his wife, Johanne, with a pause at the chicken yard to examine some scrambled egg slime mold” fuligo septica a saprophytic decaying fungus growing out of a woodchip pile and another at the shed to admire the small chipper. The woodchipper is one of Carl’s most routinely used tools for management practices, allowing him to increase the “contact interface” between soil and woodchips and support soil microorganisms, such as mycelium.  

As Carl led the group around the property, accompanied by his two dogs, the dedication and care he puts into the land was evident. Stops along the way highlighted a hand-constructed wildlife pond, old-growth ponderosas like “Rosa” a “mother” tree, thinned patches of trees, puffball and lobster mushrooms, and even sightings of a small frog and a horned toad lizard. These were among many signs of the biodiversity and range of tree growth on the property. We also toured neighboring properties with different management styles/goals, including several plots with very dense, unhealthy stands having never been managed since the old-growth Ponderosa was logged over 100 years ago.  

Towards the end of the walk, Carl’s neighbor joined the conversation with his perspective on how thinning and management for private landowners can be a daunting task. The group discussed best practices as well as the limited resources and options available for landowners trying to maintain healthy forests.  

The day ended with a sandwich lunch together around Carl’s hand-made bocce ball court. Brief closing remarks were heard from Carl and the Guild’s executive director, Zander Evans. Attendees had a chance to reflect on something they had learned or simply share their appreciation for the woods. Guests were also invited to take a foraged lobster mushroom or two home for dinner, a tangible reminder of the gathering and resilience of forests, cared for by dedicated stewards like Carl Struck and his family.   

A sincere thank you to Carl and the other guild members who have hosted our 30th anniversary events this year. And thank you to all the community members, staff, partners and others who have joined in and shared your curiosities, stories, and knowledge. These gatherings are meaningful, thanks to participation and support on all levels, helping to carry the Guild forward in its mission of forging a healthy future for people and forests.