Adapting Homesteading Mindset to Extreme Desert

glazed · #1 03/19/10, 03:26 PM

I had forgotten about this thread of mine ... How Isolated? ... a lot has happened since I originally posted it.

(Thank you, IndianaWoodsman, for resurrecting it.)

I posted an update on that thread, but am afraid it has gotten lost in the discussion. So I am going to cut-n-past an amended version of that post here for a new thread.

Here goes:

Well ........................

y'all are going to think I'm crazy (if y'all don't already.)

I suppose I should reveal that I am seriously, seriously setting my sights on moving way, way down there someday.

Don't yet know if it will be soon, or not.

I'll be visiting my friend Patricia - with the domed guesthouse real soon ....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mama Crow

Source: Ernie's Thread - Comfort in a Post-Modern Age

Patricia (from the above article) is a personal friend of mine, and I will be staying in her domed guesthouse within the next few weeks ... I'll try to remember to take pictures of her set-up if y'all are interested.

................and, I'll be checking out the tiny school in Terlingua, and looking into maybe teaching high school English to the, ahem, maybe seven students total (immediate/reliable income to get on my feet.)

(three minutes, 20 seconds)

and

(two minutes, 11 seconds)

and

(one minute, 45 seconds)

I suppose I'll be needing ideas on how to change (or adapt) my mindset for homesteading in a desolate, isolated desert.

I'm looking at a specific ten acre piece that has a creek, no nearby neighbors, supposedly good roads to and from, and butts up to a mountain for wind barrier and shade ... oh, and it is supposed to be "green" for that area, too.

I will go down there to check it out (and possibly buy) when I go visit, too.

Speaking of so-called isolation ... did you know that the Big Bend/Terlingua area has been compared to the likes of Tibet?

Oh! And, please ... my favorite inspirational video of the area is

... please give it a moment of your time.

Forerunner · #2 03/19/10, 05:34 PM

You are giving me a serious case of potential location envy, here.

glazed · #3 03/19/10, 05:56 PM

Really?

But how would YOU go about adapting your skills to that area?

What would you use for your "sawdust" toilet?

What about gardening adaptations?

Composting out there?

beaglebiz · #4 03/19/10, 07:45 PM

Mama, Im not trying to be sounding foolish, but how do the cattle survive in the scrub? how about growing your garden?
Of course, Im foolish, wet and green here in the mountains of the four seasons of PA

NamasteMama · #5 03/19/10, 08:06 PM

We live a desert climate like the one in your video. It is hard to garden but with a few tricks you can do well. We really have 2 good growing seasons here and if you look at late summer like every one elses winter, where stuff dosent grow well then your good. Check out books from:The Garden Guy" he has lots of great tips about gardening in the desert. I had tomatos and eggplant in feburary when everyone else was shivering. You can grow tropicals and things like oranges, apples, peaches, apricots, olives, you name it. ;0) It just takes a bit more work. Cattle also do great out here, but they mostly graze them in the high desert.

Forerunner · #6 03/19/10, 08:20 PM

I would be digging a well, finding a strong seep or looking for a small oasis.
I would make use of topography, as you mentioned, for protection from wind and, if possible, sun.
If water is or can be made available, sustainably (I sure wouldn't be depending on any but the simplest of home-spun technologies to procure my water) gardening and livestock would follow, and compost would be a given.
I would have to do a bit of research into how the indigenous tribes handled building construction and other day-to-day particulars.

wyld thang · #7 03/19/10, 08:34 PM

boy that teaching gig sures sounds like fun!!!

have you looked for written history and lit of the area? you can glean a lot of info from that(HA! I shouldn't have to tell you that!) AND I think all high school students should be reading local lit besides the usual suspects.

glazed · #8 03/19/10, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

I would be digging a well, finding a strong seep or looking for a small oasis.
I would make use of topography, as you mentioned, for protection from wind and, if possible, sun.
If water is or can be made available, sustainably (I sure wouldn't be depending on any but the simplest of home-spun technologies to procure my water) gardening and livestock would follow, and compost would be a given.
I would have to do a bit of research into how the indigenous tribes handled building construction and other day-to-day particulars.

Good luck digging that well - ha! Rain catchment is the only thing there; and pumping water out of the dry creeks that flood after a heavy rain and dry up faster than you can say "Water!"

Yes, I hope the land I have staked out will, indeed, offer protection from sun/wind, and provide access to extra water after it rains.

There are NO fences out there ... none. Even the big cattle ranchers free roam their longhorns. Everyone out there is hospitable towards the longhorns, and they eat out of your hand. Most try to keep feed handy for those opportunities the herd stops by for a visit.

There are no "trees" for sawdust access ... so what would you use for adequate covering in the toilet? I suppose I need to talk to the locals, as all have either compost toilets or portable septic tanks.

Limestone and earthen plaster and adobe are used exclusively in the area.

Strawbale construction is rising, but we have to have that shipped from long distances.

We do have access to a small McCoys Lumberyard about 90 miles away.

glazed · #9 03/19/10, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaglebiz

Mama, Im not trying to be sounding foolish, but how do the cattle survive in the scrub? how about growing your garden?
Of course, Im foolish, wet and green here in the mountains of the four seasons of PA

The longhorns there free range ... there is no fencing whatsoever. Rounding up cattle down there takes weeks/months, and from what I understand, is a community effort of good will.

I have heard of one couple keeping goats ... but I haven't met them yet.

glazed · #10 03/19/10, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NamasteMama

We live a desert climate like the one in your video. It is hard to garden but with a few tricks you can do well. We really have 2 good growing seasons here and if you look at late summer like every one elses winter, where stuff dosent grow well then your good. Check out books from:The Garden Guy" he has lots of great tips about gardening in the desert. I had tomatos and eggplant in feburary when everyone else was shivering. You can grow tropicals and things like oranges, apples, peaches, apricots, olives, you name it. ;0) It just takes a bit more work. Cattle also do great out here, but they mostly graze them in the high desert.

Thank you for the tip on the books!

((Namaste.))

BamaSuzy · #11 03/19/10, 10:33 PM

There are two really good articles in the last two issues of BACKWOODS HOME magazine about living in the desert. They are personal experience stories and might help you out.

Forerunner · #12 03/19/10, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mama Crow

Good luck digging that well - ha!

Do you think I would so easily be discouraged ?

Must any man fail for the fact that others have not succeeded ?

glazed · #13 03/19/10, 11:41 PM

Dadgummit!

glazed · #14 03/19/10, 11:47 PM

We're talking about me, Forerunner ... and my capabilities, or lack thereof ... okay?

And I need help from my friends, here, to brainstorm and explore my creative options.

glazed · #15 03/19/10, 11:50 PM

Dadgummit again. Argh.

I just realized I asked YOU how YOU would go about adapting YOUR skills to that area.

*go ahead and throw a mater at me*

Forerunner · #16 03/20/10, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mama Crow

We're talking about me, Forerunner ... and my capabilities, or lack thereof ... okay?

And I need help from my friends, here, to brainstorm and explore my creative options.

Oh.
Selling yourSELF short now.
I see.

glazed · #17 03/20/10, 06:54 AM

Now how in the world am I supposed to respond to that?

blooba · #18 03/20/10, 08:26 AM

I think a source of water and Forerunners compost piles would make a great garden down there. The problem with sand is it doesnt hold fertilizer real good since it doesnt absorb water. You would also have to water your plants more frequently due to being in the sand and dry heat. If I was going to homestead in the sand I would want to be in FL where there is water and greenery to compost.

Not exactly sure how someone would adapt to that climate for the homesteading lifestyle but I'm sure its possible. Maybe alot of raised beds but the biggest problem I would foresee is water since most garden plants will suck up tons of water in the dry heat.

**Terri** · #19 03/20/10, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

Do you think I would so easily be discouraged ?

Must any man fail for the fact that others have not succeeded ?

Forerunner, the dry areas out West often need wells that are 1000 feet deep.

Forerunner · #20 03/20/10, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terri

Forerunner, the dry areas out West often need wells that are 1000 feet deep.

Now see, I wasn't aware of that particular fact.
All the more reason to scope out the topography with water and elevation in mind. I was basing my ramblings on what I've read about flat, sand desert country where wells aren't that uncommon.
An in depth study of just how the natives procured their water for millenia, enough to garden with in some cases, would be invaluable.