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Hello! We just moved to our land outside of Show Low Arizona. We have 6” of sand on top of clay on top of caliche. I’m open to any and all suggestions. I’ve always been no till but I’m wondering if there is any wisdom in tilling the sand and clay together and then amending the heck out of it? Or just build raised beds and bring in some soil?
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   Hi Jen,

     I think you can build soil there; I'm doing it where I am. There are a few considerations and to best understand them I would direct you to information about soil biology which a lot of people have done either in the Academy or out. To make it easy, check out Dr. Elaine Ingram's, "Soil Food Web" site and view the videos. However, cursorily I'd like to add a thing or two. Mollison really does a good job explaining how to ameliorate situations in the desert. Check out his dry land videos on YouTube. Also the designers manual has some more good info. In AZ there is a guy who has done a spectacular job of building soil, Singh farms is his business. They might be a great resource and inspiration.


  cheers and good luck,

    Thomas,

    Mitama Farm
 
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Hi Jen, I think we are near you around Concho and working on a similar task. After talking to local farmers, some of the great ideas to help build organic matter and soil was to start with rye grass then grow other ground covers- millet, milo, wheat, red clover, ect. One great tip was to use wild bird feed from the feed store in the large 35-50 lbs bags.  And just keep layering growing season after growing season.  They are growing fantastic organic asparagus and garlic using this method, as well as, beautiful flowers, potatoes, tomatoes,...  We are also going use our chickens and rabbits, ala Joel Salatin to help us along with this method to get our soil going.  We have narrowed the areas we are working on, but its still a lot.  There is someone in Showlow that sells pine needles by the yard and delivers to help with mulching bare ground.  As for buying soil for raised beds, Singh is in the Phoenix valley. I have gotten bad batches of soil from him and have heard the same from others. Since he takes landscaping waste from contractors around the Valley, sometimes he gets contaminated batches.  Around here, I recommend Sweet Corn Nursery in Showlow. I got a recommendation for them from IAS Laboratories in Tempe, AZ that did a soil sample test for me and said they have tested their soil and it was good quality.   They sell a tote for $500. I forget how many yards are in the tote.  I am pleased with the quality so far.  No stund or dead plants.  But they make compost the standard way- mulch, organic matter, and other additives.
I was told that by bringing in clay to mix with the sand, i would be able to make better soil.  But after having to deal with clay and caliche for years in the Phoenix valley, I am hesitant to truck in clay.  I think it just needs organic matter and water and some two legged or four legged animal friends.  Good luck!
 
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