What features would you value in a desert homestead? (long post)

FLood irrigating the pasture seems like a waste to me unless there is an unmentioned canal. If you are pumping water you are much more efficient to use the pressure to sprinke it.

Flood irrigation seems to be "what's done" here-- the farm fields do it, the hay farmers do it, the "horse property/gentleman's farm" planned communities do it, and the places with substantial lawns do it.

I bet sprinklers lose too much water to evaporation...

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Yep and places with "flood irrigation" command higher prices and in *my* experience go much faster. They also seem to be located mostly around Phoenix or in rural farming areas. Didn't see as much around Tucson and nearly none (outside rural farming areas) in Southern AZ. But considering that Phoenix back in the 1800's was basically set up to be groves and year round farming it makes sense why so many more had it.


AZ really truly has some VERY unique set ups that I have personally never seen in any other state and some of them boggle the mind, especially if you are a newcomer.

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Yep there are canals and the Salt River in the Phoenix Metro.


http://www.srpnet.com/water/canals/distances.aspx


I never knew that or would have ever guessed it before I saw it with my own eyes! And that there is a whole water recreation culture surrounding the Salt River!

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You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.