posted 12 years ago
Sidney, there is another permaculture project I stumbled across in my internet rambles that is near Sedalia, up Jarre Canyon. I can't remember what it was called, or how to get back to it, but I was very impressed with the pictures and videos and plant lists etc they had. I think I just did a google search on permaculture in colorado to find it. When I looked at it, I started wishing I could manage the travel to visit that site.
I have visited CRMPI too, and was favorably impressed--but their higher elevation with south facing, rock-edged beds is a lot different from my flat, barren piece of high desert.
This other spot may be higher as well, but not really sure. They were building swales and hugelbeds to slow runoff and create favorable microclimates. If you get to visit, I would love to hear a report on it. I really appreciate hearing and seeing reports on other pc projects.
I just looked at that Sonoran site. Unfortunately, though we also have a desert or semi-arid climate, our winters would kill most of the things that grow down there. For example, when we lived north of Silver City, NM, at 6000 ft, I was able to harvest prickly pear fruit off large leaved prickly pears. We have prickly pears here, but the pads are only a couple inches across, and the plants are less than a foot high. I have never seen any of them set fruit. I don't know if it is too cold, or the growing season is too short, or the pollinators they need are just not here.
djn