New Mexico Family Works Together in Landscaping Business

Stan Dement operates Outdoor Designs, a Portales, N.M.-based landscaping and firewood sales business, with his wife, children and their spouses.

A family project

Outdoor Designs started as a landscaping business a year ago and branched out into firewood in October. The business is relocating to 1525 S. Avenue D.

“It started basically from landscaping our own yard,” Dement said.

Dement’s sons and sons-in-law provided the muscle for the project, and he broached the idea of landscaping full time. The young men’s enthusiasm depended on the project, but Dement eventually decided to go into business.
Now, the men of the family work together all day, Dement’s daughters help with bookkeeping, and his wife manages operations.

“It’s just kind of a continuation of family,” Dement said.

Logs and rocks

Outdoor Designs specializes in waterfalls and pondless rock fountains, but also offers general landscaping, Dement said.

As for firewood, Dement sells juniper, piñon, cedar, oak and mesquite for $275 to $325 per cord, depending on the variety and transportation costs. Buyers can purchase wood by the cord, the fraction of the cord or small “weekend packages.”
Bagged wood for outdoor fireplaces is also available.

Making sense

“I love the smell of wood,” Dement said, explaining what he likes about his work.
With landscaping features such as waterfalls, he enjoys seeing projects “start from nothing and turn into something very pretty.”

Dement finds a sense of accomplishment in his work, even if the effort is for someone else, he said. He also likes to see people enjoy the finished product.