Leila Blair wrote:Attempting to do permacilture gardens and food guilds in Ariz is really challenging. The problem.is water.
Everything has to be on a drip system or planted in a circle for overhead sprinklers. Which is what I have done, but I have a hellava electric bill from running the pump 24/7. One system is solar driven, but doesn't always produce enough so I still have to drag hoses and hand water.
I'm doing this on about 2 acres, which doesn't sound like a lot until your back goes out from dragging hoses.
Anybody got any ideas about drought tolerant guilds?
I lived in AZ for a number of years so I understand all too well how intense the sun is there.
I would create a central oasis with acacia and Mesquite to build biomass and shade. use the oasis to interplant and to protect the more tender varieties. Possibly build a four pole shaded area where you could collect rainwater and do some trellis planting around the outside to create some shade. Direct your rainwater.
The Spanish Arbequina olive does really well as do some Italian varieties, Pomegranates, figs, date palm, wolfberry, rosemary, agarita, prickly pear, Malva neglecta (mallow), purslane, grapes, I would look at what people are growing in the middle east and parts of Europe that have your growing conditions.
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