Part 2 UPDATE: We Need Your Help To Make This Happen! We are not located on this land and need funding to be able to go back and film the progress if you want to see and update and part 2 then please consider supporting us here: www.patreon.com/leafoflifefilms Or here: www.leafoflife.news/regenerative-membership Thank you 🙏 🔔 Subscribe to youtube.com/@LeafofLifeMusicOfficial 🌳 Support our projects to restore degraded land and regenerate natural ecosystems: www.leafoflife.news/
In regions where there are still small streams, beavers have begun moving back in and creating dams to hold the water and create flooded areas in the wetter months and hold water in the dry months. The effect is 2-fold. Holding the water helps re-saturate the ground water table allowing more plants to grow and retain further moisture as time goes forward. I see no reason why the same technique cannot be applied to low spots in the natural channels to cause the rain that does fall, to stay in the local area longer and create smaller flooded areas to keep more water in the local substrate then washing away. Nature already knows how to do this and the beaver has evolved to do this better than anything else we know of. So it seems that there are lessons to be learned from them in cases like this. ;)
@@ArkLord001Beavers returned to the river which backs in home in DE…in the 8 years or so they have been here, you can see the improvement. Hoping for otters…they’ve returned to the Southern part of state.
@@sharonkaczorowski8690 another incredible thing beavers do is even though they create wetlands, this same action also prevents flooding by keeping water in check and spreading it out in areas rather than flooding farmer's fields or lower areas in many cases (not all).
Quite a productive day for one backhoe. A good illustration of what can be accomplished with the right machine, a professional operator, and a thoroughly mapped out scope of work. Excellent job. Looking forward to the following this site as it evolves.
I did this exact same thing probably 4 years ago in hereford Arizona! I augered a 4 foot deep hole and made biochar in that hole. Once the biochar was made I poured composted manure, and all of our food scraps for a week into the hole. Then we moved on to the next hole. Once the acre was done we used a deep riper down the center of all of the holes. We then planted native trees every 10 feet and native understory every 5. Finally, after all of the trees were established for a year we covered the acre in wood chips and low growing prairie grass seed like blue grama and curly mesquite grass. Sold the house the next year unfortunately but the experiment was an integral part of my life. Then and now!
What about putting up your photos & proofs of your great work to put on a kick starter to continue & perhaps build or buy a new house? Admiration for what you did from me.
People think this denuded desert is what deserts in North America should look like. In reality most of our deserts were or are full of flora and fauna. Even the Sahara has life in it and not just in its oases.
Like how lots of Australia used to be lush scrub and eucalyptus Forrest’s until they cut it all down raped the land by farming it and never fixed it. Then just claimed it’s normal and that’s just what Australia is like.
This place is beautiful. Totally not a waste. I see the potential. I’m in Ghana and turned a desert wasteland into a forest. 😆 Very possible anywhere where TLC is present. Good luck!
I agree. Too many people all over the world often don't see the opportunity they have with a piece of dry land when all it needs is a bit of planning to create an oasis of peace and abundance.
It's awesome to see you compile the knowledge you've gathered (and shared) from all over the world, and are now documenting as you apply it in real life to a real project! AWESOME!
FIRST MISTAKE might be Zia Hole that hold/contain all rainfall so swale/pond never fill. Second Mistake ? you have not mentioned fencing to exclude grazing animals while grassland re-establishes. REALISE that water you soak in holes and swales is now no longer available to rehydrate topsoil when grasslands re-establish = so what you have done (time will tell) is fail to implement a holistic grassland management plan that is now sending most rainfall too deep to be of any benefit to total grassland area.
AT 3.40 you have an example of mexican desert when it is green (from good rainfall events) """""where there are no swales"""" the best and most cost effective method to restore grasslands is via grazing animal management = swales for your stated purpose of restoring grasslands create a "negative feedback loop" that interferes with the natural infiltration of rainfall where it actually falls. once you restore grasslands you eliminate/reduce runoff. Recommend you research Allan Savory and Holistic Grazing Management i think he is based in arizona. CONSIDER this: there are no viable swales in arid zones anywhere on the planet. you cant grow tree crops without stored water in arid lands. once you have stored water your arid land becomes irrigated land so it is no longer arid land. swales are better suited for higher rainfall zones. however best of luck you may be able to prove what will be viable on your patch - maybe
Way to go. It’s time we start repairing our damage. I’ve seen some interesting restoration using beavers to help the landscape. North America’s unique from Africa because we have beavers as a keystone species.
We are doing this at our property in SE Arizona. Just put in 3 large swales. It finally rained and we caught so much water. Thanks for demonstrating and showing everyone how it can be done.
Thats amazing, how big is your land? If you looking to add more earthworks we are always looking to partner with people with private land who want to dedicate an area of their plot to nature and conservation and restoration. If that's something that interests you, please get in touch with us infoleafoflife@gmail.com
FIRST MISTAKE might be Zia Hole that hold/contain all rainfall so swale/pond never fill. Second Mistake ? you have not mentioned fencing to exclude grazing animals while grassland re-establishes. REALISE that water you soak in holes and swales is now no longer available to rehydrate topsoil when grasslands re-establish = so what you have done (time will tell) is fail to implement a holistic grassland management plan that is now sending most rainfall too deep to be of any benefit to total grassland area.
I live in the Chihuahuan Desert, organic material disintegrates in the blink of an eye here, I literally have to add 6 inches of city compost and homemade compost, topped with 3+ inches of shredded tree branches on top every single year to my garden beds and they are still losing more organic material than I’m adding. Even with 2” of monsoon rains I still have to water the next day.
Fascinating. Great work. Would it be possible to post regular updates spanning considerable months between? Be helpful to see the land transformation over time.
Great video. I love to see this kind of stuff happening. China has reclaimed thousands of hectares of land from the Gobi Desert. I would love to see the US do the same with some of it's encroaching deserts.
It’s true that initially the Chinese projects failed, they created monocultures and the plants didn’t get sufficient water. However after trial and error they have improved methods and created “waffle” structure grass areas that retain water, and used better varieties of trees.
AT 3.40 you have an example of mexican desert when it is green (from good rainfall events) """""where there are no swales"""" the best and most cost effective method to restore grasslands is via grazing animal management = swales for your stated purpose of restoring grasslands create a "negative feedback loop" that interferes with the natural infiltration of rainfall where it actually falls. once you restore grasslands you eliminate/reduce runoff. Recommend you research Allan Savory and Holistic Grazing Management i think he is based in arizona. CONSIDER this: there are no viable swales in arid zones anywhere on the planet. you cant grow tree crops without stored water in arid lands. once you have stored water your arid land becomes irrigated land so it is no longer arid land. swales are better suited for higher rainfall zones. however best of luck you may be able to prove what will be viable on your patch - maybe@@randompersonontheinternet8790
AT 3.40 you have an example of mexican desert when it is green (from good rainfall events) """""where there are no swales"""" the best and most cost effective method to restore grasslands is via grazing animal management = swales for your stated purpose of restoring grasslands create a "negative feedback loop" that interferes with the natural infiltration of rainfall where it actually falls. once you restore grasslands you eliminate/reduce runoff. Recommend you research Allan Savory and Holistic Grazing Management i think he is based in arizona. CONSIDER this: there are no viable swales in arid zones anywhere on the planet. you cant grow tree crops without stored water in arid lands. once you have stored water your arid land becomes irrigated land so it is no longer arid land. swales are better suited for higher rainfall zones. however best of luck you may be able to prove what will be viable on your patch - maybe@@magesalmanac6424
There is a group in Tanzania creating what's called "Earth Smiles" where they dig curves in the desert. Doing the same thing there and it's working so it can and will definitely work here in America
Cattle ranching doesnt hurt the land. It improves it. The cattle prune the grass wich stimulates growth and branching. Plus the fertilizer that the cattle provide.
Hi, i have 3 years experience doing the same on Andalucia with 300mm annual rain, I would love to help, the chop for example is very important, a right chop let the vegetation green all year, so the fotosintesis dont stop.
@@reinerhoffmann3764 : pretty sure it refers to making a pile of plant debris. this process gets easier once plants have started growing: you just cut off less ideal parts and drop them next to the tree. "chop and drop". for new developments, you gotta scavenge for some plant material to throw in there. but basically, it helps provides nutrients and helps it start to develop a richer soil to grow in.
"to turn the desert green again" while standing in a field of calf height grass. "you keep using that word, i don't think it means what you think it means"
Thank you so much for the work you do! This is fantastic! I truly believe we have to build swales and rewild intelligently across the planet on an emergency basis with the most urgency we can muster. Or we lose most of our wildlife and the planet.
FIRST MISTAKE might be Zia Hole that hold/contain all rainfall so swale/pond never fill. Second Mistake ? you have not mentioned fencing to exclude grazing animals while grassland re-establishes. REALISE that water you soak in holes and swales is now no longer available to rehydrate topsoil when grasslands re-establish = so what you have done (time will tell) is fail to implement a holistic grassland management plan that is now sending most rainfall too deep to be of any benefit to total grassland area.
AT 3.40 you have an example of mexican desert when it is green (from good rainfall events) """""where there are no swales"""" the best and most cost effective method to restore grasslands is via grazing animal management = swales for your stated purpose of restoring grasslands create a "negative feedback loop" that interferes with the natural infiltration of rainfall where it actually falls. once you restore grasslands you eliminate/reduce runoff. Recommend you research Allan Savory and Holistic Grazing Management i think he is based in arizona. CONSIDER this: there are no viable swales in arid zones anywhere on the planet. you cant grow tree crops without stored water in arid lands. once you have stored water your arid land becomes irrigated land so it is no longer arid land. swales are better suited for higher rainfall zones. however best of luck you may be able to prove what will be viable on your patch - maybe
Marvelous! I look forward to seeing the results! I watched the Turkey Pen Creek documentary and follow Tiny Shiny Home, who recently built a swale and retention pond on their southeastern Arizona homestead.
This is cool. We are in Arizona so we have an idea of what you are up against. Wishing you luck. Thanks for the video. Looking forward to more updates!
I’m curious to compare this with Dustups. It seems like this one is more earthworks and wait while Dustups is more hands on. I wonder what the optimal amount of effort is. Maybe all we need are the earthworks, maybe the additional effort speeds things up. We’ll see.
Great video! I've never seen Zai Holes before, and I look forward to the next video. The background music and sound effects were a little distracting. Maybe consider decreasing volume or omitting them in future videos?
Other than a bird sanctuary what other uses are there for the property once the plant growth has matured? Can you build a residence, farm lightly, drill a well, raise a few livestock?
Joe and Valer Austin started building rock swales in the 1980s on their El Coronado Ranch in Arizona. Amazing results. This project in Mexico looks very interesting, good luck!
This seems to be doing it right. Working to undo the bad mistakes made by past humans to restore the natural plant- and wildlife that belongs in this environment.
FIRST MISTAKE might be Zia Hole that hold/contain all rainfall so swale/pond never fill. Second Mistake ? you have not mentioned fencing to exclude grazing animals while grassland re-establishes. REALISE that water you soak in holes and swales is now no longer available to rehydrate topsoil when grasslands re-establish = so what you have done (time will tell) is fail to implement a holistic grassland management plan that is now sending most rainfall too deep to be of any benefit to total grassland area.
the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts are beautiful places all year around but they are heavenly in the spring time after a wet fall/winter. Spring 2024 should be extraordinary after El Niño does its magic this year.... ven, ven niño!
Great start. I would recommend adding holistically-managed herbivores under planned grazing to restore keystone species function and maintain biological cycling of nutrients. Grazing, followed by long rest periods, would stimulate plant growth and boost soil biology through root exudation. Hooves would break any hard capping created by rain hitting bare soil, and also trample in any dead vegetation they didn't graze (that would otherwise oxidise if left standing). Their dung would provide a fungi and bacteria rich source of organic matter for soil life, and would be carried underground by dung beetles and termites, where it is made avaliable to feed plants and soil. Urine and saliva work as fertilisers and fungal/bacterial inncoluants. Check out Las Damas Ranch for an example of regeneration in the Chihuahua desert, utilising livestock.
This only works with bison in North America, this patch has already been over grazed by cows the area is too small for herd management and actually detrimental to this area, introduced cows est 10x more in a given area than bison, that move faster through large ranges, getting bison is expensive and difficult and needs large area with fencing. Cows are also expensive. You don't need herbivores to regenerate land.
@LeafofLifeWorld Then move the cows as often as bison migrate. you do need herbivores to regenerate brittle landscapes in the long term. And whether it's bison or cows makes little difference so long as there are adequate rest periods. Overgrazing is a function of time and not animal type. A bison could be overgrazing if it was fenced in one area for too long, just as a cow could. There's nothing inherently bad about cows. It's not the cow, it's the how.
IMHO, much of this could be accomplished by simply collecting the rocks on the surface & using them to create barriers to runoff. I've read this was done in one part of Ethiopia, with success. (Not every instance will support the cost of a backhoe.)
open land and projects like this are cheap in the areas that need it most. hopefully more and more people continue to do things like this. simply digging some holes and altering the land a little can change the land for the next 100 years or more. what if all organic waste was managed properly and efficiently. could large amounts of compost restore the microbiology of barren land?
1:02 Awesome Content! 🎉 1. Awe man, I just wish that there was a longer version of this process! As if to say, this is merely the preview of a longer video for those who are interested; such as on Patreon. 2. I have land in Deming, NM that looks just like this. But I don’t have an excavator at my disposal. Any suggestions? 3. Also, are there any invasive nitrogen fixer heat-hardy desert plants that I can set & forget for a month or two? 4. Do you guys do paid consultation all the way up to landscape services for food-forest? Thank you so much for your help, support, and sharing this with us! ❤
Thats amazing, yes we can offer consultation, how big is your land? ALSO...If you looking to add more earthworks we are always looking to partner with people with private land who want to dedicate an area of their plot to nature and conservation and restoration. If that's also something that interests you, please get in touch with us infoleafoflife@gmail.com
Part 2 UPDATE: We Need Your Help To Make This Happen! We are not located on this land and need funding to be able to go back and film the progress if you want to see and update and part 2 then please consider supporting us here:
www.patreon.com/leafoflifefilms
Or here:
www.leafoflife.news/regenerative-membership
Thank you 🙏
🔔 Subscribe to youtube.com/@LeafofLifeMusicOfficial
🌳 Support our projects to restore degraded land and regenerate natural ecosystems: www.leafoflife.news/
In regions where there are still small streams, beavers have begun moving back in and creating dams to hold the water and create flooded areas in the wetter months and hold water in the dry months. The effect is 2-fold. Holding the water helps re-saturate the ground water table allowing more plants to grow and retain further moisture as time goes forward. I see no reason why the same technique cannot be applied to low spots in the natural channels to cause the rain that does fall, to stay in the local area longer and create smaller flooded areas to keep more water in the local substrate then washing away.
Nature already knows how to do this and the beaver has evolved to do this better than anything else we know of. So it seems that there are lessons to be learned from them in cases like this. ;)
Can’t donate now (price of my Rx scripts went up) but added you to my future list. This is such important work.
@@ArkLord001Beavers returned to the river which backs in home in DE…in the 8 years or so they have been here, you can see the improvement. Hoping for otters…they’ve returned to the Southern part of state.
@@sharonkaczorowski8690 another incredible thing beavers do is even though they create wetlands, this same action also prevents flooding by keeping water in check and spreading it out in areas rather than flooding farmer's fields or lower areas in many cases (not all).
I hope part two has you addressing how shallow all this is and there is very little reinforcement for the erosion caused by the rain.
With people like you there is hope for this world. Thank you for what you are doing. The impact widely exceeds the boundaries of your property!
Hoping to see an update on this when the next significant rainfall happens. Perhaps this could be the beginning of a regular series/playlist!
Quite a productive day for one backhoe. A good illustration of what can be accomplished with the right machine, a professional operator, and a thoroughly mapped out scope of work. Excellent job. Looking forward to the following this site as it evolves.
That’s a backhoe. But yeah agreed
You are the first person in a decade or more, that I heard use the words back and hoe, without referring to Ms. Minaj.
THANK YOU. SERIOUSLY.
I did this exact same thing probably 4 years ago in hereford Arizona! I augered a 4 foot deep hole and made biochar in that hole. Once the biochar was made I poured composted manure, and all of our food scraps for a week into the hole. Then we moved on to the next hole. Once the acre was done we used a deep riper down the center of all of the holes. We then planted native trees every 10 feet and native understory every 5. Finally, after all of the trees were established for a year we covered the acre in wood chips and low growing prairie grass seed like blue grama and curly mesquite grass. Sold the house the next year unfortunately but the experiment was an integral part of my life. Then and now!
How wide of holes/how frequent did you place them? Just once per tree?
What about putting up your photos & proofs of your great work to put on a kick starter to continue & perhaps build or buy a new house? Admiration for what you did from me.
Great job!
I wonder if the new owner destroyed al your hard work to build a car shack on that area...
Wouldnt be surprised
How did it turn out ? I want to plant az native grass as well and see if greening an area in az makes it productive
We need more and more projects like this.
Thanks!
Thank you for your support!
Can’t wait to hear about how this turns out and what it looks like in the future! When do you think there’ll be a part 2?
Waiting for rain and don't expect too much transformation in the first year, however we doing multiple projects so stay tuned. Thanks
@@LeafofLifeWorld gotcha! Hope the rain comes soon?! And can’t wait to wear about more projects!
People think this denuded desert is what deserts in North America should look like. In reality most of our deserts were or are full of flora and fauna. Even the Sahara has life in it and not just in its oases.
Rain and catchment ponds make a difference !☺️☺️
Like how lots of Australia used to be lush scrub and eucalyptus Forrest’s until they cut it all down raped the land by farming it and never fixed it. Then just claimed it’s normal and that’s just what Australia is like.
"water retention pond"... doesn't the pond need a liner, or clay at the bottom?
However the desserts are growing and 500 years ago the lands were more greener
Yeah in most of these areas it's barren because of overgrazing of cattle. And the disruption to the systems that existed precolinization.
Ive been daydreaming about an agave farm... And this made it so much more dreamy. Thanks for sharing your efforts and raising awareness!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Those grassland bird species are gorgeous. I hope they find a healthy place to stay on your new land 🐦 💕
This place is beautiful. Totally not a waste. I see the potential. I’m in Ghana and turned a desert wasteland into a forest. 😆 Very possible anywhere where TLC is present. Good luck!
How many years did it take for you to transform it?
TLC?
@@arrigune maybe tender loving care?
I agree. Too many people all over the world often don't see the opportunity they have with a piece of dry land when all it needs is a bit of planning to create an oasis of peace and abundance.
@@arriguneTender Loving Care
3:05 that’s a map of France 🇫🇷 from 1810 😂😂
It's awesome to see you compile the knowledge you've gathered (and shared) from all over the world, and are now documenting as you apply it in real life to a real project! AWESOME!
FIRST MISTAKE might be Zia Hole that hold/contain all rainfall so swale/pond never fill. Second Mistake ? you have not mentioned fencing to exclude grazing animals while grassland re-establishes. REALISE that water you soak in holes and swales is now no longer available to rehydrate topsoil when grasslands re-establish = so what you have done (time will tell) is fail to implement a holistic grassland management plan that is now sending most rainfall too deep to be of any benefit to total grassland area.
Always been a dream. Thanks for livin' it and sustaining life so that we may all live it.
Thanks!
Thank you for your support!
Very cool project, I'm looking forward to part 2.
Coming soon!
Me Too‼️❤GOD BLESS
AT 3.40 you have an example of mexican desert when it is green (from good rainfall events) """""where there are no swales"""" the best and most cost effective method to restore grasslands is via grazing animal management = swales for your stated purpose of restoring grasslands create a "negative feedback loop" that interferes with the natural infiltration of rainfall where it actually falls.
once you restore grasslands you eliminate/reduce runoff.
Recommend you research Allan Savory and Holistic Grazing Management i think he is based in arizona. CONSIDER this: there are no viable swales in arid zones anywhere on the planet. you cant grow tree crops without stored water in arid lands. once you have stored water your arid land becomes irrigated land so it is no longer arid land. swales are better suited for higher rainfall zones. however best of luck you may be able to prove what will be viable on your patch - maybe
Way to go. It’s time we start repairing our damage. I’ve seen some interesting restoration using beavers to help the landscape. North America’s unique from Africa because we have beavers as a keystone species.
We are doing this at our property in SE Arizona. Just put in 3 large swales. It finally rained and we caught so much water. Thanks for demonstrating and showing everyone how it can be done.
Thats amazing, how big is your land? If you looking to add more earthworks we are always looking to partner with people with private land who want to dedicate an area of their plot to nature and conservation and restoration. If that's something that interests you, please get in touch with us infoleafoflife@gmail.com
FIRST MISTAKE might be Zia Hole that hold/contain all rainfall so swale/pond never fill. Second Mistake ? you have not mentioned fencing to exclude grazing animals while grassland re-establishes. REALISE that water you soak in holes and swales is now no longer available to rehydrate topsoil when grasslands re-establish = so what you have done (time will tell) is fail to implement a holistic grassland management plan that is now sending most rainfall too deep to be of any benefit to total grassland area.
Few people think and process of forestation like u heartily salute for ur work
Looking forward to an update video!
Your content is solid - there’s no need for the sound effects!
no way the sound effects rip!
Can't wait to see updates!
The swale will be more effective if it is filled with organic material, which acts as a sponge to hold the moisture.
I live in the Chihuahuan Desert, organic material disintegrates in the blink of an eye here, I literally have to add 6 inches of city compost and homemade compost, topped with 3+ inches of shredded tree branches on top every single year to my garden beds and they are still losing more organic material than I’m adding. Even with 2” of monsoon rains I still have to water the next day.
The Tucson Swales are an excellent example of what can be done with swales alone.
It's nice! Keep up the good work! And release part 2.
I love how smart ya'll are!
Fascinating. Great work. Would it be possible to post regular updates spanning considerable months between? Be helpful to see the land transformation over time.
Great video. I love to see this kind of stuff happening. China has reclaimed thousands of hectares of land from the Gobi Desert. I would love to see the US do the same with some of it's encroaching deserts.
@@randompersonontheinternet8790 "Eh, over 90% of China's plants have died." What is the source for this? I'm interested in looking this up.
me too! and use the water gathering on areas that they normally irrigate with river or ground water.
It’s true that initially the Chinese projects failed, they created monocultures and the plants didn’t get sufficient water. However after trial and error they have improved methods and created “waffle” structure grass areas that retain water, and used better varieties of trees.
AT 3.40 you have an example of mexican desert when it is green (from good rainfall events) """""where there are no swales"""" the best and most cost effective method to restore grasslands is via grazing animal management = swales for your stated purpose of restoring grasslands create a "negative feedback loop" that interferes with the natural infiltration of rainfall where it actually falls.
once you restore grasslands you eliminate/reduce runoff.
Recommend you research Allan Savory and Holistic Grazing Management i think he is based in arizona. CONSIDER this: there are no viable swales in arid zones anywhere on the planet. you cant grow tree crops without stored water in arid lands. once you have stored water your arid land becomes irrigated land so it is no longer arid land. swales are better suited for higher rainfall zones. however best of luck you may be able to prove what will be viable on your patch - maybe@@randompersonontheinternet8790
AT 3.40 you have an example of mexican desert when it is green (from good rainfall events) """""where there are no swales"""" the best and most cost effective method to restore grasslands is via grazing animal management = swales for your stated purpose of restoring grasslands create a "negative feedback loop" that interferes with the natural infiltration of rainfall where it actually falls.
once you restore grasslands you eliminate/reduce runoff.
Recommend you research Allan Savory and Holistic Grazing Management i think he is based in arizona. CONSIDER this: there are no viable swales in arid zones anywhere on the planet. you cant grow tree crops without stored water in arid lands. once you have stored water your arid land becomes irrigated land so it is no longer arid land. swales are better suited for higher rainfall zones. however best of luck you may be able to prove what will be viable on your patch - maybe@@magesalmanac6424
Great video, but use less sound effects. Keep up the land restoration work!
I just commented the same thing. I have moderate misophonia and some noises are grating.
All the best.
Keep us posted.
Wonderful, informtive video! Thanks!
Great project and example of what can be done to turn Desert back to grassland and trees!!
Love seeing this…
#thankyouBobDillon
There is a group in Tanzania creating what's called "Earth Smiles" where they dig curves in the desert. Doing the same thing there and it's working so it can and will definitely work here in America
You're wonderful, thank you.
Cattle ranching doesnt hurt the land. It improves it. The cattle prune the grass wich stimulates growth and branching. Plus the fertilizer that the cattle provide.
Depends how intensively its been grazed, you should check out this video about cattle ranching done properly
@@LeafofLifeWorld cattle don't over graze. They can chew it down to the ground .it is physically impossible. Now sheep and goats can .
Only if land allowed to rest between grazing
Hi, i have 3 years experience doing the same on Andalucia with 300mm annual rain, I would love to help, the chop for example is very important, a right chop let the vegetation green all year, so the fotosintesis dont stop.
Can you explain the word: chop , what does it mean inmthis case
@@reinerhoffmann3764 A pruning, I think I could help you
cutting the grass only 2/3 let 1/3 stay. 2/3 for cows or mulching.
But this isn't to make things better for cows. It's to make things better for nature and the wildlife that belongs there.
@@reinerhoffmann3764 : pretty sure it refers to making a pile of plant debris. this process gets easier once plants have started growing: you just cut off less ideal parts and drop them next to the tree. "chop and drop". for new developments, you gotta scavenge for some plant material to throw in there. but basically, it helps provides nutrients and helps it start to develop a richer soil to grow in.
"to turn the desert green again" while standing in a field of calf height grass. "you keep using that word, i don't think it means what you think it means"
Thank you so much for the work you do! This is fantastic! I truly believe we have to build swales and rewild intelligently across the planet on an emergency basis with the most urgency we can muster. Or we lose most of our wildlife and the planet.
And the planet will lose us.
FIRST MISTAKE might be Zia Hole that hold/contain all rainfall so swale/pond never fill. Second Mistake ? you have not mentioned fencing to exclude grazing animals while grassland re-establishes. REALISE that water you soak in holes and swales is now no longer available to rehydrate topsoil when grasslands re-establish = so what you have done (time will tell) is fail to implement a holistic grassland management plan that is now sending most rainfall too deep to be of any benefit to total grassland area.
AT 3.40 you have an example of mexican desert when it is green (from good rainfall events) """""where there are no swales"""" the best and most cost effective method to restore grasslands is via grazing animal management = swales for your stated purpose of restoring grasslands create a "negative feedback loop" that interferes with the natural infiltration of rainfall where it actually falls.
once you restore grasslands you eliminate/reduce runoff.
Recommend you research Allan Savory and Holistic Grazing Management i think he is based in arizona. CONSIDER this: there are no viable swales in arid zones anywhere on the planet. you cant grow tree crops without stored water in arid lands. once you have stored water your arid land becomes irrigated land so it is no longer arid land. swales are better suited for higher rainfall zones. however best of luck you may be able to prove what will be viable on your patch - maybe
I just bought 10 acres in Texas to bring back life to he soil 💖
cartel are going to love you for all the hard work DA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
00:03:06 where did you get the France screenshot from? Is that including Belgium?! xD
What an interessting project. I'll stay with you and watch your progress. Best wishes from Germany
the sounds are fire ...best combo content dub music and regenerative gardening ....bless up and ting
Marvelous! I look forward to seeing the results! I watched the Turkey Pen Creek documentary and follow Tiny Shiny Home, who recently built a swale and retention pond on their southeastern Arizona homestead.
This is cool. We are in Arizona so we have an idea of what you are up against. Wishing you luck. Thanks for the video. Looking forward to more updates!
Love what you are doing but the background sound effects were really destracting. Would have been great without them.
I’m curious to compare this with Dustups. It seems like this one is more earthworks and wait while Dustups is more hands on. I wonder what the optimal amount of effort is. Maybe all we need are the earthworks, maybe the additional effort speeds things up. We’ll see.
bless You!
Great video! I've never seen Zai Holes before, and I look forward to the next video.
The background music and sound effects were a little distracting. Maybe consider decreasing volume or omitting them in future videos?
Incredible project - best of luck and please keep us updated!
Great work! Thanks a lot! I find this so satisfying. Life comes back so fast with the water! 🥰😍🥰😍
thanks! Keep Saving the planet!
Other than a bird sanctuary what other uses are there for the property once the plant growth has matured? Can you build a residence, farm lightly, drill a well, raise a few livestock?
Stop with the sound effect noises.
Good luck!
Well-done
Thank you for your dedication
Good luck with your efforts, look forward to seeing how it develops
The justdiggit project calls the zai holes earth smiles, which is really cute :)
very interesting. .and challenging. .i want to follow the development
Joe and Valer Austin started building rock swales in the 1980s on their El Coronado Ranch in Arizona. Amazing results. This project in Mexico looks very interesting, good luck!
This seems to be doing it right. Working to undo the bad mistakes made by past humans to restore the natural plant- and wildlife that belongs in this environment.
FIRST MISTAKE might be Zia Hole that hold/contain all rainfall so swale/pond never fill. Second Mistake ? you have not mentioned fencing to exclude grazing animals while grassland re-establishes. REALISE that water you soak in holes and swales is now no longer available to rehydrate topsoil when grasslands re-establish = so what you have done (time will tell) is fail to implement a holistic grassland management plan that is now sending most rainfall too deep to be of any benefit to total grassland area.
Great work
Looking forward for part 2.
This is great! where is the 2nd video? I subcribed.
Really cool!
Permaculture !!!💚💚💚
Great project.
Wow! this is a cool project!! Are you going to make new videos once it rains?
Did you buy this land?
Build a swale on contour. Genius!
WORKING ON A IMILAR PROJECT, THANK YOU FOR SHARING
Cant wait for Update
world class content
Good luck 🤞
Add beavers. Free labour and they help dig pools or keep the pools from silting up.
what effect does this have on the water table?
Since its on the pacific coast, There's a yearly hurricane season for around 2 month of the year, so it replenishes the water table
@@LeafofLifeWorld YEAH! // Keep up the good work !
gl!!!!
Well done.
What a weird mix of accents. I can’t wait to see the results of the earthworks.
Well done 👍
Great work!
Thank you for doing this, also a bigger thanks for putting on UT to encourage others to replicate. 👏🏼👏🏾🇮🇳
You should put the link for Part 2 in the video or at least in the description . . .
the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts are beautiful places all year around but they are heavenly in the spring time after a wet fall/winter. Spring 2024 should be extraordinary after El Niño does its magic this year.... ven, ven niño!
Why the overuse of all the gunshot noises, flash pics, and irritating, distracting noises? It's annoying!
Great start. I would recommend adding holistically-managed herbivores under planned grazing to restore keystone species function and maintain biological cycling of nutrients. Grazing, followed by long rest periods, would stimulate plant growth and boost soil biology through root exudation. Hooves would break any hard capping created by rain hitting bare soil, and also trample in any dead vegetation they didn't graze (that would otherwise oxidise if left standing). Their dung would provide a fungi and bacteria rich source of organic matter for soil life, and would be carried underground by dung beetles and termites, where it is made avaliable to feed plants and soil. Urine and saliva work as fertilisers and fungal/bacterial inncoluants.
Check out Las Damas Ranch for an example of regeneration in the Chihuahua desert, utilising livestock.
This only works with bison in North America, this patch has already been over grazed by cows the area is too small for herd management and actually detrimental to this area, introduced cows est 10x more in a given area than bison, that move faster through large ranges, getting bison is expensive and difficult and needs large area with fencing. Cows are also expensive. You don't need herbivores to regenerate land.
@LeafofLifeWorld Then move the cows as often as bison migrate. you do need herbivores to regenerate brittle landscapes in the long term. And whether it's bison or cows makes little difference so long as there are adequate rest periods. Overgrazing is a function of time and not animal type. A bison could be overgrazing if it was fenced in one area for too long, just as a cow could. There's nothing inherently bad about cows. It's not the cow, it's the how.
Would love to see the results in part B to see how worthwhile a day work can be in the dessert
Hey, that’s a great project. Can you give an idea on the size of the land you are regenerating here? Doesn’t look very big but it’s a start.
Did you not watch the video? It shows how big the size was. 🤦♂️🙄
@@lukewinder3630 The barren land seems like a hectare or less may be? Between the two gullies?
Would love to see this place next year after a rain.
I see the vision, but I'd like to see Part 2 as well.
Funny to see you wearing a hard hat out in the desert😂
Yes its funny but the straw hat would fly off in the wind and you need to stay shaded in the desert, the hard hat stays firmly in place
would be nice to have up date,progress report?❤
IMHO, much of this could be accomplished by simply collecting the rocks on the surface & using them to create barriers to runoff. I've read this was done in one part of Ethiopia, with success. (Not every instance will support the cost of a backhoe.)
The swales is bigger than the catchment area. Like the ship is bigger the port.
open land and projects like this are cheap in the areas that need it most. hopefully more and more people continue to do things like this. simply digging some holes and altering the land a little can change the land for the next 100 years or more. what if all organic waste was managed properly and efficiently. could large amounts of compost restore the microbiology of barren land?
Hello friends, if you can help me out, i want to make contour map of my land. is there some application for making maps
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Awesome Content! 🎉
1. Awe man, I just wish that there was a longer version of this process! As if to say, this is merely the preview of a longer video for those who are interested; such as on Patreon.
2. I have land in Deming, NM that looks just like this. But I don’t have an excavator at my disposal. Any suggestions?
3. Also, are there any invasive nitrogen fixer heat-hardy desert plants that I can set & forget for a month or two?
4. Do you guys do paid consultation all the way up to landscape services for food-forest?
Thank you so much for your help, support, and sharing this with us! ❤
Thats amazing, yes we can offer consultation, how big is your land? ALSO...If you looking to add more earthworks we are always looking to partner with people with private land who want to dedicate an area of their plot to nature and conservation and restoration. If that's also something that interests you, please get in touch with us infoleafoflife@gmail.com
A great idea.