ag update
It's winter but here are some photos of things agricultural going on here through the summer and fall.
Below is one solution to our ground squirrel and rabbit problem. Some of the critters chew through the plastic tree protectors so we're using wire cages in some spots. All but one of the trees appear to be healing. In fact, trees are doing better than almost anything in this part of the high desert, so for now I'm going to focus on native trees (Lycium, a shrub, really; mesquite; elderberry, and a few others) and stone fruit. Apricots are fairly water-conservative. By spring I'd like to have some Asian jujubes in too. They are quite water-conservative.
I have tried two varieties of figs. They love this land. I have to keep the rodents from being able to love them too much.
This fig was in the process of being wrapped extensively with bird netting. For some reason with bird netting above and chicken wire below - we avoided rodent damage. The fruit was good!
Below is a native mesquite. It was virtually left alone. Antelope ground squirrels, desert cottontails, and mesquite have lived together for a long time...Now that winter is here - I will have to watch it for rabbit damage and maybe wrap it in wire after all.
Below, for fun. Neighbors' pig broke out and visited, getting into a water catchment bucket! Of course I want a pig now. :-)
There are so many ways of trapping water in a desert. I don't have enough land (or money, for that matter) to do any large-scale water harvesting but there are some small-scale techniques that are worth trying. I haven't been able to afford a drip system for the whole place - that would be ideal and it's something to aim for. Meanwhile, we are doing a few simple plantings along mild swales, water capture (for thirsty plants and pigs), and judicious hand watering.
Below is one solution to our ground squirrel and rabbit problem. Some of the critters chew through the plastic tree protectors so we're using wire cages in some spots. All but one of the trees appear to be healing. In fact, trees are doing better than almost anything in this part of the high desert, so for now I'm going to focus on native trees (Lycium, a shrub, really; mesquite; elderberry, and a few others) and stone fruit. Apricots are fairly water-conservative. By spring I'd like to have some Asian jujubes in too. They are quite water-conservative.
I have tried two varieties of figs. They love this land. I have to keep the rodents from being able to love them too much.
This fig was in the process of being wrapped extensively with bird netting. For some reason with bird netting above and chicken wire below - we avoided rodent damage. The fruit was good!
Below is a native mesquite. It was virtually left alone. Antelope ground squirrels, desert cottontails, and mesquite have lived together for a long time...Now that winter is here - I will have to watch it for rabbit damage and maybe wrap it in wire after all.
Below, for fun. Neighbors' pig broke out and visited, getting into a water catchment bucket! Of course I want a pig now. :-)
There are so many ways of trapping water in a desert. I don't have enough land (or money, for that matter) to do any large-scale water harvesting but there are some small-scale techniques that are worth trying. I haven't been able to afford a drip system for the whole place - that would be ideal and it's something to aim for. Meanwhile, we are doing a few simple plantings along mild swales, water capture (for thirsty plants and pigs), and judicious hand watering.