Verde River - Let the Rivers Run Free
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ธ.ค. 2019
- I explored the Verde River just east of the town Rio Verde. This is a vast riparian ecosystem full of cottonwoods, sycamores, mesquites and much more. The Verde River is one of the main tributaries to the Salt River flowing down the middle of the state. It's 170 miles in length and is damned in two spots, Horseshoe Lake and Bartlett Lake. Many of the riparian areas in Arizona have dried up since humans started diverging and damning the rivers. I discuss the possibilities of removing the damns from all the rivers in Arizona and what might that look like. Can you imagine what Phoenix would look like with the Salt River flowing all year round? Can we live with floods? Can we revitalize wildlife habitat and our economy at the same time? We have to think outside of the box as our state's population booms and our water needs increase. There have to be new ways of doing things if we want to be here generations from now.
There is a few facets to the solution of water and food scarcity, particularly on local levels. You've pointed out the big issues. Another important factor is selecting annual crops that are not irrigation dependent, such as Hopi Blue corn. I've grown it the past two years with little to no irrigation. I'm in Arizona at 6300 feet, and the real grow season doesn't even begin until June/July with the monsoon, but the benefit of growing a crop without irrigation in the Mojave Desert, well, that says something for itself. The variety of crop needs to be chosen carefully for open pollination, drought tolerance, and nutrient contents. Crops shouldn't rely on being routinely watered, but should have a full groundcover of vegetation, mulch, straw, etc. to protect soil from evaporation, heat, and cold which kill microbial and fungal life. It's a big vascular system, each river, stream, creek, and wash acting as a life source for the ecosystem. The ways we disrupt watersheds on a massive scale globally has led us to a number of dire issues, but it's been proven time and time again that it is possible to correct the issues proactively, and that the real work is carried out by individuals like you and I. Thanks for putting your voice out there with a sound projection of permaculture practices. More people need to understand the fundamental differences in how things need to be done to create a sustainable model of water and natural resource usage. I'm hopeful more will start practicing permaculture in Arizona as I have. I'm producing as much Hopi Blue corn seed stock as possible, miles and miles away from anyone growing domestic corn with the intention of distributing it to people who have an interest in growing it to preserve its genetic lineage and set an example of arid farming practices.
I'll hopefully be doing some backpacking along the Verde this winter. Maybe I'll see you out there 🙂
Bravo. Well said on all points. The solutions to our problems already exist. It’s just a matter of turning the light on for enough people to create a consensus towards change. Slowly but surely. It’s tough because part of me feels like we need to hurry this process up and the other part of me is telling me to trust the process. Thank you for your kind words Crystal. I’d love to get some of that seed. Good on you to grow it. I own a permaculture business down here in Phoenix. (Galaxy Gardens). We are all about rainwater catchment, native plants, and food production. Slowly but surely there are more and more customers wanting our services. In fact the demand from the public has outpaced the supply of landscapers who have the skills and knowledge to design and build out permaculture yards. I suppose that’s a good thing for now. Hope to see you out there on the trail Crystal.
@@keeparizonawild156 I will look you up and send you some seed. Knowing that you specialize in permaculture is great, and that you are educating people is even greater. I'm confident that people will eventually get the clue and begin adopting permaculture into their daily work. For now, it's people like you and I at the forefront here in Arizona trying our hardest to make the difference few seem to care to make themselves, though they certainly concern themselves on the issues by telling the government to save them from the issues at hand.
The process only takes place if people participate, but certainly, we can't stress ourselves about how quickly the changes happen. We can only play our part where we are and pray that others take something from our example. I know I've influenced just about everyone in my community on some level, a few who have actually started to practice these things, and one guy in particular allowed me to transform his entire yard from a sandy weed patch to a productive corn field with compost heaps everywhere and rain catchment systems to allow growing said corn on rain alone, and he himself has gotten highly involved in planning future planting using these same methods. He in turn has convinced a few others to allow him and I to do this work on their properties, and a couple others who have opted to start performing this work on their own terms. Perhaps next year, I'll have a couple acres of this corn planted, along with beans and squash to complete the three sisters.
The community I live in has less than 100 full time residents, and my goal would be to see enough food produced to feed all of them, right here in the community we live. I think that would really say something about how manageable our issues around food and water scarcity really are. If I can encourage everyone I know to grow this blue corn, and they encourage those who they know, and the more remote/ segregated zones we can grow it in, the more seed that can be produced, and eventually, there will be enough seed to encourage larger farms to make the switch. I wouldn't grow this corn within 5 miles of any domestic corn, or otherwise, great care must be taken to preserve the silks of each ear to prevent cross pollination.
I need to find some better varieties of squash and beans, such as the Hopi pale gray winter squash, and any drought tolerant heirloom pole bean. Plantng these three together maximize the yield of the area, and support one another against wind, sun/evaporation, and pests. I've just been growing whatever varieties of these I could find, but they are not my first choice.
Anyway, I appreciate your response, and apologize for my long response. I will be looking up your business, and will be sure to send you some seeds. I believe in this crop, and have worked diligently to produce enough seed to share with people like you, who actually care to practice permaculture and be part of the solution to our water deficit.
I’m really hoping for change.
Not ALL damming is bad, recent return of beaver and their dams are improving the San Pedro ripirian reas
OpieDogie yes you’re exactly right. Very good point. Thank you
The dams in the Northwest help with growing food, create electricity and stop flooding
“Then I like what you’re throwing down my friend” haha that made me laugh😂 Thanks for making these AMAZING videos my man seriously. I’ve been binge watching all of your videos because I’m OBSESSED with the flora and fauna in Arizona. Arizona is one of the most unique places on earth and I love learning as much as I can! I live in Southern Utah so I love making trips down to see all these places!
Ben thank you so much for all your comments. I very much appreciate it. I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus since my wife gave birth to our son but I got a lot more content in me. You sound like a person I’d love to hike around with so I could pick your brain on all your plant knowledge. So glad you love Arizona so much. I love southern Utah as well. One of the best places on Earth.