What are you growing?
We just harvested some wonderful watermelons:
http://highdesertpermaculture......ul-dinners
Winter lows are near 0 F every few years, usually the lows are in the teens occasionally with many winter nights above freezing. In summer highs are usually around 110 F for a few weeks (June was HOT this year!) and if we're lucky we get some monsoon rain occasionally in July and August. It's raining a little right now, has been a relatively good year for rain.
Extremely high winds in May (and sometimes April) -- day after day. The wind kills plants just like critters and the sun and wind protection is priority for any garden in our area.
8.2 pH, little organic matter. I posted our native soil test (IAL) and recommendations and will upload all of our tests.
Our rabbits, squirrels and rats are ferocious and keeping critters from eating our food is another major challenge. The first couple years were AWFUL because we were feeding the birds. Once we quit that, it got a lot better. It's almost impossible to keep the squirrels out, but as we grow MORE, we notice LESS damage. I'm amazed that we've been harvesting zucchini in a new garden area protected only by 2' foot chicken wire. We've had some damage, but so far no major problems. The gophers took one plant and they'll be dealt with. A few years ago gophers destroyed our gardens and we can't even figure out how they can tunnel with all those rocks.
Meadview is a retirement community and gardening is one of the best ways to stay fit and healthy. In 2011 I started the High Desert Gardening Club and I'm always looking for ways to easily grow some salad and veggies. I also run a couple of organic food co-ops.
I'll be updating with links as I'm currently moving our gardening club and co-op web pages.
]]>I did read an article that broke down the costs of growing fodder & they found it not cost effective at all. Of course they were including labor.
I bet it's not cost effective, especially when you compare to conventional feed. But then again, what exactly IS the cost of cancer or whatever diseases we get from using commercial feed with GMO corn and soy?
Limiting the cost to money:
I pay $4 for a dozen eggs from chickens fed with purchased organic feed and the owner can't even break even.
Automation goes a LONG way when it comes to growing fodder and I'll try to get Carl (our permaculture gardener) to post more details. He has racks with trays and pumps and a well and electric, so for us it will be more difficult.
]]>Two interesting bloggers on permaculture, fodder etc.
]]>And I really don't know what would grow in uncultivated native dirt, maybe the turkeys and chickens have to work it for a while?
I'll get chickens too, but still have to finish the chicken coop. Plan to free range them or use portable chicken fencing and also want to grow most if not all feed. One of our gardening club members sprouts and ferments for the chickens and they lay way more eggs since he ditched store bought feed.
The Kingman Master Gardeners want to do a workshop on cover crops, so hopefully I'll know a lot more soon. But I definitely want to order some of the old heirloom white Sonoran wheat at Native Seads Search. Every time I go to their site I could spend at least $100!
And I've been trying to set up the forum so that your posts don't have to be approved -- only the first post for new members is supposed to be moderated. Been busy taking a neighbor to the ER and trying to find an assisted living place for him. It's tough when you get old and have only a little social security income.
]]>Hi Christine,
We do get snow but it generally melts quickly our average low is 10 in Dec, Jan & Feb. 130 or so growing days. This is only my 2nd summer here & have been concentrating on gardens, also limited as husband still works in Alaska so I do everything. I do have hoops over each bed for season extension.
I am looking at a cover crop for the raised beds in the garden just to get more organic matter. The hard packed weedy area is just a large spot near the house and corral. I just want to improve the soil in that area & eventually free range turkeys & chickens there. Was thinking about a rye.
I have 9 beds 4' x 16' large area is maybe 80 ft square (I am however distance challenged ).
Marilyn
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