He majored in philosophy and pre-med at Dartmouth College and received his BA summa cum laude in 1968.

After a stint in New York City working as a taxi driver, he arrived at the Synergia Ranch in New Mexico.

Its ranch hands also made furniture and pottery, studied ecology, and gave theatrical performances, occasionally touring under the name Theater of All Possibilities.

[1] Nelson then began graduate studies at the University of Arizona's School of Renewable Natural Resources, receiving his MSc in 1995.

[1] Over the years, his work at the institute has included the founding in 1978 of the eco-station and desert reclamation project Birdwood Downs located at Meda Station in Western Australia and in 1983 of Las Casas de la Selva, a rainforest enrichment and sustainable forestry project in Puerto Rico.