Farm Life documents my work with desert growing conditions, fruit trees, nursery plants, water systems, soil building, and outdoor cooking. It is a place to preserve the projects and observations that develop across the property.
In progress
I’m laying out a low-till, permanent bed system for desert soil and salinity challenges, preparing for late-season planting and nursery starts. The current preparation work includes substantial organic matter alongside gypsum, humic acid, and biochar.
Ongoing
The established fruit trees include stone fruits, citrus, apples, and dates. Current work includes tracking seasonal growth and development and managing feeding inputs such as kelp, azomite, and bio-crumbles.
Container care and microclimate management are also part of the work, including specialty potted stock such as the ‘Meader’ persimmon and hardy kiwis.
Ongoing
Water management combines scheduled district flood irrigation, including keeping up with ditch irrigation cards, with zoned smart-timer hose manifolds for deep watering of nursery plants and garden beds.
In progress
I’m implementing desert-adapted composting, mulch cycling, and organic amendments with the aim of improving water retention and addressing hardpan soil. Dated observations will help document how these approaches perform on the property.
Planning and practice
Outdoor cooking is another thread in farm life, with planning and use centered on wood-fired cooking and high-temperature pizza making.
This first snapshot records the five current focus areas: permanent growing beds, orchard and nursery care, irrigation, composting and soil building, and outdoor cooking. Future entries will add project photographs, dates, observations, and outcomes.
These notes describe work on my property. Soil inputs and growing practices are recorded as project details; they are not a general application guide.