Permaculture & Desert Greening.

I plan to use permaculture to green my desert land. While at Azhen Sanctuary, we spent time reviewing the basics of permaculture and walking the land to see how they have put it to work. I’ve taken several classes over the years and read a few books, but to actually see it in action really helps bring it to life.

My property is mostly flat. I have some contouring — 6 feet in elevation — so I will be able to implement swales and water collection. It’ll be really great if I can get a small pond to develop. Good news is that the soil on my land will probably have quite a bit of clay that I can use instead of introducing a vinyl base.

I’m working on getting my Permaculture Design Certificate [PDC] right now and will be able to implement the principles once I’m living on my land. To launch the project, I’ve hired a consultant to help me develop the plan.

The steps in building a permaculture homestead are:

• land assessment [maps and climate]

• water

• access

• structures and power

• farm & soil

• animals

• economy

The ethics & principles are listed in the graphic below.

Right now I have been watching instructional youtube videos of people who have already implemented afforestation or revegetation of desert land for ecological restoration. Many are in Texas, Arizona, So. Cal, and New Mexico. One is in Portugal and is really awesome. Since my land is 2, 5 acre parcels, I feel as though they are small enough for my first projects.