(no subject)
Trees:
Apple
Asian pear
Cherry
Plum
Peach
Apricot
Nectarine (may not have survived all of the years of planting, potting, and moving about)
Honey mesquite
Screwbean
Fig
Some arid-adapted evergreens
And there are California junipers nearby.
Berries:
Black raspberry (from the old farm, stunted but thriving, at last)
Blackberry (I think it's dead)
Blueberries (not for the high desert, like acid soil, we've brought it close to the house and will tend it, modify the soil around it)
Edible cacti
Grape vines
A new herb garden beginning. Actually, right now I have herb patches. A mosaic, always expanding.
Various native plants growing in place, we'll carefully try out their uses. There are California junipers nearby also.
Seeds, new and saved: vegetables, flowers, herbs, strange saved seeds some of unknown provenience
Container plants: Can't remember everything. We still haven't hit true spring here in the high desert, but as things emerge we'll see what has survived.
There are drought-adapted flowers just for their beauty. And some (especially the yellow) nasturtiums repel insects.
One largish raised bed ready for late planting. I don't have starts but there is a woman at the farmers' market who does and I'd be happy to support her work this year. Plenty of seeds to put in also. Soon.
About 100 cinder blocks ready for finishing off the compost bin and making smaller, more contained raised beds.
One walled bed in front, filled with native soil, ready for some amending and planting.
Second walled bed ready to construct asap.
And lady bugs! They are all over the back right now. My old wisteria vine, stunted from so many years as a nomad, is still alive and bloomed riotuously this year when J and K and I put it into the ground. What a wonder! Within a few weeks the aphids arrived. I was ready to get the dish soap bug repellant out and didn't (swamped with work, etc.) - one day the lady bugs arrived for a feast. They have installed themselves on the wisteria and are clearing out the aphids. It never occured to me to wait for the lady bugs. In the past I've always gone and bought them at Lowe's or the local hardware store (when they have them). It seems that lady bugs are like worms. Even in the desert, when the soil begins to get richer and holds more moisture; when the plants are thriving - worms begin to come, especially into the perennial beds. I don't know how they do it. It is a beautiful mystery. I picture troops of worms sensing nice soil and a bit of moisture, undulating across the desert to get to that little wormly paradise. I used to raise mantids and buy lady bugs to help the garden plants. Now, why should I be surprised at lady bugs doing what they are evolved to do, which is, among other things, find and eat aphids? Being human, there's this tendency to want to "help things along" and go get more. I will resist the temptation. I want to see what happens if I leave this situation alone for a while...
This soil is quite different from the old place. The soil there was much nicer to begin with. Here there is more clay, in some places, much more. I complained then. If only I had known what was in the future.
Next:
Something of a fence for part of the land, nearest the house where most of the food will be. In back only. Hope that works.
Dryscaping materials for the front.
4X4's and lattice for extension on south side of house. After that, in that area: olive tree(s), kiwi, avocado, (all sheltered from wind), more grapes, likely desert wild grapes.
I've sourced desert wild grapes (!), manzanita (I'm willing to try), more mesquite (if it does well), pinyon pine (if I plant it, it will grow...here), elderberry, Washingtonia (mine died in the move), Jujubes (I wanted these first, but they have been hard to find, at a reasonable size and price, may have to wait still, because I want lots of them).
Haven't sourced but working on it: Lycium (desert boxthorn or wolfberry).
Chickens (need fence first, but can build housing meanwhile)
Not sure about goats this time around. I want them (because I do) but I have to work them in to the plan.
I like Navajo-Churro sheep but maybe not practical. No one does fabric art in this household...not yet anyway...
Water harvesting ideas.
And one of these, I'd like the small eco-dome but can't afford it. We could put up the "emergency shelter" as a small work space. I might be able to afford that in time. If no one loses their job. Anyway, it can be expanded. In such a case, I have a rudimentary knowledge of making simple adobe. Works best with a small cement mixer, but we can imporvise. ;-)
Apple
Asian pear
Cherry
Plum
Peach
Apricot
Nectarine (may not have survived all of the years of planting, potting, and moving about)
Honey mesquite
Screwbean
Fig
Some arid-adapted evergreens
And there are California junipers nearby.
Berries:
Black raspberry (from the old farm, stunted but thriving, at last)
Blackberry (I think it's dead)
Blueberries (not for the high desert, like acid soil, we've brought it close to the house and will tend it, modify the soil around it)
Edible cacti
Grape vines
A new herb garden beginning. Actually, right now I have herb patches. A mosaic, always expanding.
Various native plants growing in place, we'll carefully try out their uses. There are California junipers nearby also.
Seeds, new and saved: vegetables, flowers, herbs, strange saved seeds some of unknown provenience
Container plants: Can't remember everything. We still haven't hit true spring here in the high desert, but as things emerge we'll see what has survived.
There are drought-adapted flowers just for their beauty. And some (especially the yellow) nasturtiums repel insects.
One largish raised bed ready for late planting. I don't have starts but there is a woman at the farmers' market who does and I'd be happy to support her work this year. Plenty of seeds to put in also. Soon.
About 100 cinder blocks ready for finishing off the compost bin and making smaller, more contained raised beds.
One walled bed in front, filled with native soil, ready for some amending and planting.
Second walled bed ready to construct asap.
And lady bugs! They are all over the back right now. My old wisteria vine, stunted from so many years as a nomad, is still alive and bloomed riotuously this year when J and K and I put it into the ground. What a wonder! Within a few weeks the aphids arrived. I was ready to get the dish soap bug repellant out and didn't (swamped with work, etc.) - one day the lady bugs arrived for a feast. They have installed themselves on the wisteria and are clearing out the aphids. It never occured to me to wait for the lady bugs. In the past I've always gone and bought them at Lowe's or the local hardware store (when they have them). It seems that lady bugs are like worms. Even in the desert, when the soil begins to get richer and holds more moisture; when the plants are thriving - worms begin to come, especially into the perennial beds. I don't know how they do it. It is a beautiful mystery. I picture troops of worms sensing nice soil and a bit of moisture, undulating across the desert to get to that little wormly paradise. I used to raise mantids and buy lady bugs to help the garden plants. Now, why should I be surprised at lady bugs doing what they are evolved to do, which is, among other things, find and eat aphids? Being human, there's this tendency to want to "help things along" and go get more. I will resist the temptation. I want to see what happens if I leave this situation alone for a while...
This soil is quite different from the old place. The soil there was much nicer to begin with. Here there is more clay, in some places, much more. I complained then. If only I had known what was in the future.
Next:
Something of a fence for part of the land, nearest the house where most of the food will be. In back only. Hope that works.
Dryscaping materials for the front.
4X4's and lattice for extension on south side of house. After that, in that area: olive tree(s), kiwi, avocado, (all sheltered from wind), more grapes, likely desert wild grapes.
I've sourced desert wild grapes (!), manzanita (I'm willing to try), more mesquite (if it does well), pinyon pine (if I plant it, it will grow...here), elderberry, Washingtonia (mine died in the move), Jujubes (I wanted these first, but they have been hard to find, at a reasonable size and price, may have to wait still, because I want lots of them).
Haven't sourced but working on it: Lycium (desert boxthorn or wolfberry).
Chickens (need fence first, but can build housing meanwhile)
Not sure about goats this time around. I want them (because I do) but I have to work them in to the plan.
I like Navajo-Churro sheep but maybe not practical. No one does fabric art in this household...not yet anyway...
Water harvesting ideas.
And one of these, I'd like the small eco-dome but can't afford it. We could put up the "emergency shelter" as a small work space. I might be able to afford that in time. If no one loses their job. Anyway, it can be expanded. In such a case, I have a rudimentary knowledge of making simple adobe. Works best with a small cement mixer, but we can imporvise. ;-)