Nix Calder

Scott Kopetzky wrote:Nix,
My wife and I are also moving to the Prescott area in March. We are now looking for a place to rent until we find a suitable property to buy. When we get settled, we will have to get together. It is awesome knowing that there will be other permies in the area. I look forward to meeting you.

Scott

Nice! Have you been to the area before or are you moving to someplace completely different from where you are now?

Have you researched about that area's geology or geography at all? I'm pouring over as much information as I can these days and am curious to know what others know. Just curious, what's driving you to the Prescott area?

Jennifer Wadsworth wrote:Yep - it's a damn tall order.

And I wasn't necessarily thinking of going too far up upstream in the watershed but slowing and soaking water near the bottom of the watershed.

Where I live in Phoenix is about 2 miles from the Salt River (bed). If a large number of micro soakage areas (in people's yards - with infiltration pits, or along streetscapes with green infrastructure or "sponge parks") were implemented, my thinking (only a theory as I am no hydrologist) is that:
--we would first start rehydrating the soil in the areas immediately upstream of the river bed
--eventually (years later, surely) there would be a rise in the water table and low spots in the river bed would start to form ephemeral ponds
--years after that, perhaps there would be enough moisture to have an area that stays wet all year 'round.

All areas of the watershed need work. The thing is, you can work on them separately and still obtain a better yield that what we get by simply letting our extreme rain events cause dangerous flooding and dump themselves into the Salt River, taking out bridges in some instances and further eroding soils. "Slow and sink" perhaps combined with some "leaky dams" (gabions) and other ideas could build up the water table again.

Honestly - I don't think we have a choice NOT to do this. Tucson is in the process of trialing it right now.


As an aside - a similar methodology is being used to soak storm water into the water table and divert it from going down overtaxed sewage drains in Brooklyn which then allows raw sewage to overflow into streets. (National Geographic, Nov 2013 p. 19-20)

I had heard about a project in Africa involving a 9miles wide strip of trees spanning the entire continent so as to re-green areas desertified. Trees are amazing water catchment systems. I say that because your idea is a wonderful piece to a larger puzzle that can be put together with other ideas concerning Salt River restoration.

You say you've dreamed of restoring the Salt River. I had the same dream a few months back. A real dream, as tangible as my imagination could allow. I dreamed of trees all along the banks of a gushing river in the middle of a desert. Maybe my mind was up to something, or perhaps I am foolish to believe that trees could ever be put to work in this way. If something like this would work, it could be used in concert with your idea to further aide the Salt River flow. Maybe.

Anyway, keep in touch. I'm moving to Arizona soon and plan on learning from other restoration projects all around.

~Calder, permaskills@gmail.com

Jennifer Wadsworth wrote:

Brett Andrzejewski wrote:I've discovered that there are a lot of Permaculture people in the desert, yet not a lot post on Permies.

So true!

There is a fairly large permaculture community in Phoenix - the largest group is the Valley Permaculture Alliance (whose Ning network I designed back in 2008 - they are now over 5000 members). There's also a LOT of permaculturists in Tucson and quite a few in Flagstaff.

Haha! This is wonderful, thanks for this connection. Moving to Arizona in March. The Chino Valley area Near the Prescott National Forest to be more exact. Working on building connections in that area.

Hey Joel I'm headed to Arizona's Chino Valley area Near the Prescott National Park. Haven't landed yet, my partner and I are leaving Missouri in March. I would love to know how your adventures are going in the South West. Perhaps our paths will cross in the future.

My partner is going to have a baby in July with our child. I'm excited to be a father, and am excited to be returning to lands where I feel at peace. Two feelings I consider important in raising a child. Especially if I hope to have him/her carry on my studies. This is an interesting period in Gaia's history, rife with fear and doubt as much as it is filled with hope and vibrant beauty. It is my hope to contribute more of my life to that hope and experience more of it's mysteries. With so much information out there it's hard to narrow in on what will work best for my family, and I get the feeling you have a like mind. Of course, we're using the same forum.

You have a drive that I respect. And meeting you would be an honor. The last time I spoke with a man from Israel, I was in Hawaii.


Permaculture has been a very important part of my life for around three years. Unfortunately, my time here in Missouri has limited my opportunities to explore while leaving me with a thirst for more adventurous lands. No fault but my own. But, it's really cold here and my partner and I are eager to see richer landscapes. Something tells me you understand.

Please keep in touch.
~Calder, Permaskills@gmail.com