Defining Your Foothold

Have you ever stood somewhere so quiet, so vast, and so ancient that you could actually hear your own breath?

Last weekend, I found myself sitting on a giant wooden wilderness deck—perched literally on the edge of a mountaintop in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Looking out over the endless green canopy of the valley, with the wind whispering through the pines and the sky stretching out in an infinite blue, I felt a familiar, grounding sensation settle deep into my chest.

It was peace. It was respite. It was a physical reminder of what it means to find your footing, to define your roots, and to cultivate a life of true calm.

If you have been following along with the Fresh Roots Living community, you know this space is my passion. It’s where we talk about living intentionally, eating well, entertaining with ease, wellness, and creating beautiful spaces that reflect who we are rather than passing trends.

But I want to let you in on a little secret: this passion doesn’t just come out of thin air.

By day, I am a full-time real estate agent. For nearly three decades, my daily life has been spent walking families through some of the biggest transitions of their lives. I’ve helped people buy, sell, design, build, and reimagine what “home” looks like.

For me, real estate and Fresh Roots Living aren’t two separate lives. They are two sides of the very same coin.

My mission as a realtor has always been to help people open their minds and realize that if they just push the “go” button, they can define the spaces that make them happy. Whether you want to scale your lifestyle up or down, the goal is always to make a life of beauty, connection, and entertaining attainable.

Sometimes, helping someone find their footing means looking beyond their current backyard. It means exploring the country to find those rare, untouched corners of the earth where you can build a true sanctuary for generations to come.

That brings me back to that stunning wilderness deck in South Dakota.

The place is Deer Mountain Village, and it is truly one of the last remaining mountaintops in the country being developed. What drew me to this spectacular place—and what made me want to share it with our Fresh Roots Living audience—is how thoughtfully it is being brought to life.

The developers here aren’t just building; they are acting as true caretakers of the nature around them. The community is designed entirely around privacy, deep land conservation, and an active outdoor lifestyle (including premier ski-in/ski-out access).

Yet, they’ve done something remarkable: they’ve brought complete modern infrastructure—paved blacktop roads, municipal water, electricity, and high-speed fiber internet—to the top of a mountain, without stripping away the untamed spirit of the Black Hills.

It represents a beautiful, visual translation of what we preach here every week:

• A Place to Gather: An intentional, multi-generational anchor where children and grandchildren can return year after year.

• Unplugged, but Connected: The ability to work remotely from a high-performance mountain retreat, surrounded by nature but completely supported by modern tech.

• Affordable Luxury: A stunning alternative to traditional, crowded, and over-saturated western resort towns.

Whether you are looking to purchase a slice of mountain paradise to sit on, planning a major relocation, or simply trying to bring a little more peace and beauty into the home you currently live in, our mission remains the same.

Over the years, we have built a vast, trusted network. Regardless of where you live in the country, we are able to help guide you. We know the best of the best—the top architects, the premier builders, the most passionate designers, and the local real estate experts who understand that a home is more than just a transaction.

If you’ve been feeling the pull to create a space that feels uniquely like you—or if the mountain is calling and you want us to send you detailed information about the lots currently available at Deer Mountain Village—we are always here to help you take that next step. You can reach Cari Ann at 612-926-9999 or carianncarter@edinarealty.com.

Have you found your anchor space yet? Let’s chat in the comments below, or reach out to us directly to explore what’s possible for your next chapter.

Cari Ann Carter | 612-926-9999 | carianncarter@edinarealty.com

Cari Ann Carter is the best-selling author of Are Your Roots Right? Rightsize Your Space. Reclaim Your Life. and a multi-faceted entrepreneur with a passion for intentional living, design, and home.

She leads the Cari Ann Carter Group, bringing over 28 years of experience in real estate, design, build, and renovation, and is the creative voice behind DIY Designer Homestead.

Through Fresh Roots Living, she shares practical ideas for cooking, gardening, entertaining, and creating a home that supports your next chapter.