A relationship with the land. A reason to grow together.
Curt Clemenson is the founder of Arbor Eden. His connection to this landscape is rooted in years of restoration work with Paco, long before the community became the focus of the story.
The history recorded in the virtual tour begins in the mid-1990s, when Curt bought a property from Paco. They continued working together, acquiring farms affected by deforestation and planting native trees on eroded ground. Their account describes forest returning and habitat developing for birds and other wildlife.
A life shaped by forests, learning and people.
Long before Arbor Eden, Curt was working to connect people with the places worth protecting. These documented chapters help explain the values behind his community vision.
- 1986–1991
Bringing the rainforest into public life
A 1992 Jewish Herald-Voice profile describes Curt’s experience living in and near rainforests on three continents. It traces his public advocacy to a rainforest slide presentation and lobbying work in 1986. He directed Houston Earth Day in 1990 and founded Earth Foundation in 1991, bringing environmental education to Houston-area schoolchildren.
Jewish Herald-Voice · November 12, 1992 - Mid-1990s
A working relationship with Paco
Arbor Eden’s own history begins with Curt buying land from Paco in the mid-1990s. The relationship continued: together they acquired degraded farms, planted native trees and helped forest return to damaged ground. The story is as much about patient work and local relationships as it is about land.
Arbor Eden · original restoration narrative - 1996
Making conservation something students could do
In a published letter signed as Earth Foundation’s executive director, Curt thanked teachers and students for participating in rainforest and coral-reef protection. He described a network of schools and praised teachers who connected classroom learning with a wider world. Participation and education were already central to his work.
Mount Vernon Optic-Herald · October 24, 1996 - 1998
Recognition for environmental education
Houston’s Citizens’ Environmental Coalition lists Curt Clemenson, associated with Earth Share, as its 1998 Environmental Education Award recipient. The award recognizes efforts to bring environmental awareness into classrooms.
Citizens’ Environmental Coalition · Synergy Awards - 2006
Conservation connected to research
Texas A&M’s Board of Regents minutes name Bill Soltis and Curt in the proposed long-term lease or license of a 250-acre rainforest for research and education, alongside a facility to be built by Soltis. This records Curt’s involvement in opening a forest landscape to learning, with formal due diligence and conditions attached.
Texas A&M System · Board minutes, September 21–22, 2006, pp. 16–17 - 2009
The Soltis Center opens
Texas A&M dates the Soltis Center’s establishment to January 2009 and inauguration to June. The university credits Bill and Wanda Soltis as the center’s donors. Curt’s rainforest partnership belongs to this wider conservation story; the center is a separate university institution, not an Arbor Eden amenity or endorsement.
Texas A&M · Soltis Center mission and history
Trees in a backpack. Roots in Costa Rica.
In his film, Curt remembers first visiting Costa Rica 35 years earlier and moving here full-time 27 years earlier. Those are his recollections at the time of filming, rather than dates recalculated for today. He describes walking up to exhausted, abandoned cattle pasture with trees in a backpack and beginning to plant. The forest visitors see now is part of that long, hands-on relationship with the land.
He also tells a very everyday story about growing food: deer ate the beans, rabbits reached the lettuce, and he responded by building a protected growing area. In the film he walks among pineapple, passion fruit, taro and other crops. It is a practical picture of the life he wants to share—learning from the place, adjusting, and growing some of what you eat.
From restoration to a way of living.
Curt’s study of Bill Mollison’s work helped shape the community idea. Permaculture offered a way to connect decisions about food, shelter, energy and resources with care for the earth and for people. Arbor Eden grew around that relationship between a home, its landscape, and its neighbors.
In the founder film, Curt shares his hope for people of different generations to make a life here, grow food, and participate in a community. This is a vision to discuss with the people behind the project, alongside the practical questions about land ownership, building and everyday responsibilities.
The founder’s story, in his own words.
Watch the original film, then explore the land and bring your questions to a conversation. Future facilities mentioned in the film should be confirmed with the team.
Read the film summary
Curt describes restoring former cattle pasture with Paco, planting trees and seeing wildlife return. He explains a permaculture vision that brings food growing, homes and neighbors together, and his hope for residents of different generations to make a life here. The film also discusses a model home and future ideas; confirm their current status with the team.
Original film in English, hosted here. English auto-generated captions are available in the player; editorial review is pending. The summary is also available in Spanish.
Start with the questions that matter to you.
What does participation look like? How much privacy would you have? Which shared spaces exist today? What should you understand before choosing a parcel? Getting to know the founder’s intentions is a beginning; clear current arrangements are the next step.
Sources are linked beside each chapter, alongside Arbor Eden’s original website, tour narrative and founder film. Researched October 3, 2026. This is an account of Curt’s documented public work and the project’s history; personal milestones not established by these sources are not included.
Explore the original tour