hope on the range

HOPE ON THE RANGE
once we got our key situation straightened out
off we went on our trip to the oasis mcr vineyard and orchards
the name and location ill not give out since like i wrote before
i dont want people to know where this place is

we loved the drive on the way there through the desert
and hills with the colorado mountains in the distance

we lived in the high desert in southern california while
attending college so we have an appreciation for the desert
you can only have if you live there and study that environment
like i did as  a biology major

its where i learned to capture and hunt down rattlesnakes
much to the chagrin of my historian brother who was a
roommate at that time
he had many a sleepless night knowing that there was a cage of
rattlesnakes in his living room

after a 10 mile torutuous drive down a dirt road that drops
2000 feet we made it to our destination at 5000 ft elevation
a meca in the desert

we were able to stay in this cabin while we were there
the daytime temperatures were in the 90s and the nighttime
temps were in the 50s
its off the grid being on solar
no ac was needed since its nestled under the trees
at night a cool breeze came through which reminded me of
sleeping with the windows opened in santa barbara
and getting that ocean nighttime breeze

the mcr is off the grid totally
the power comes from solar panels that is stored in batteries
which provides the power for the ranch

the cabin where the wwoofers stay is also solar powered

whats a wwoofer  you ask
its stands for
world wide opportunities on organic farms or
willing workers on organic farms
www.wwoofusa.org is the link for the usa organization
so who are these folks

the ones we  worked with were all young folks

an ohioan college student who just graduated and waiting to enter
americorp for a period of time before moving on with his life

a young couple who recently hiked the appalachian trail
and are from north carolina

an idaho college senior a business major who is doing her internship
at mcr
she plans to do peace corps after graduating before she enters
the business world

a philadelphia student who has done 1-2 years of school who is not
sure whathe wants to do in life
hes taking a pause for now before he moves on

a student from florida a senior who wanted to see a different
part of the country before she hits that last year of school
she just returned from europe earlier this summer

all have a love for the outdoors
they like hiking rock climbing
they work 30 hours a week
in return they get room and board
they have two days off each week
many take a day of rest
but commonly mr db the owner who is only slightly older than they are
will take them on long hikes to places that only he knows how to get there
to see the anasazi indian ruins
or
like some do they do hiking in that part of southern utah
and southwest colorado
its also close to a lot of national parks
even the grand canyon is not that far away
a delightful group of kids

after spending the five days with them we always feel so refreshed
and
we do feel good about the youth when you work beside them
hike with them and just sit around at night talking with them
hours together
you realize yes on yes there
is hope for the future

the organicgreen doctor

eventually 5 great days

EVENTUALLY 5 GREAT DAYS
two years ago we made this trip
we liked it so much we decided to return for more

last year we had planned to return but the trip was
canceled because of my ruptured disk
the injury that can humble you if its bad enough
and makes you appreciate your health even more

we had two concerning events happen to us on the way
that you know could have been signs of bad things to come

first as we were leaving texas into new mexico heading north
to albuquerque
i noticed a band of clouds forming to the west
you know out there you can see for miles and miles

as we drove farther away things got darker
the raindrops started falling lightly
the kind that are big but just make big spots on the dust
on the car
then as we got farther along it all seemed to be behind us
with the sun ahead of us as we heading north

looking through the cars rear view mirror the sky was dark
if you live in the midwest of south
you recognize those clouds
they were so dark they were black
back over clovis new mexico where we had just driven though
when
we felt this kaboom the car seemed to shift some on the road
i thought a big sonic boom had hit us
looking north as we were traveling it was so clear
dark behind us

after arriving a few hours later we found that when watching the
local news in alburquerque that tornadoes had hit all over the place
where we had just driven

later in texas we had a friend stay at the country n
she likes it there
its quiet
theres plenty of veggies readily available for eating and
lots of fresh eggs for breakfast
also her horse is kept at the next door neighbors ranch
so it all was a good deal for her
until
the storm hit

our house has a metal roof
the rain sounds so soothing on it when it hits the roof
but
if it hails
it scares the bigievies out of you
just ask my wife she as she has been known to huddle in our
brick shower made of recycled brick from an old farm house
a perfect storm shelter

my understanding is that she our friend got in the shower with
a margarita and the newspaper and rode out the storm
problem is the electricity went out for 12 hours
a rural problem some of you are familiar with
which made for an interesting night at the country n
with no electricity no ac and
no lights as we had taken all our flashlights etc with us

the one tornado a few miles north was this one above 

family lifted by tornado inside house near the country n

the other tornado even closer a mile or two away west of here
lifting this new house up with all four family members in it
and dropped house and folks 100 yards away
a wizard of oz moment not in kansas but in texas

after these storms
things settle down for our trip

we got up early the next morning
had a good breakfast good fresh shower our coffee and tea
loaded the car
carefully packing the car just right
for our much anticipated arrival in southern utah at the organic vineyard orchard
and ranch
where we would interact with the wwoolfers
do long hiking into the hills looking at anasazi indian artifacts
and working on the ranch
along side the other wwoolfers doing pruning of grapes

so we were all packed
my cup of coffee in hand
fresh bottles of water
my wife shes asmiling face with her hot green tea
ok we said lets go and get to the wonderland

wheres the keys
dont you have them
no you had them
smiles all gone
oh we have that lockbox key stored away on the frame
so
i looked under there
she looked
i looked
she looked
no keys
well i said 30 minutes later
we have our triple a card i just renewed it
lets call them to break in for us
i was dirty hot sweaty and not in a good mood
of course we know who really locked them up right
my wife she wasnt smiling
she said wait a minute
lets try one more time
down she got with her fresh white shirt now quite dirty and black
and sweaty
her hands looked like some kid who had been playing in the dirt box
she dug around
then since her hands are smaller she found the ledge on the bumper
where i had put them when we had our bumper repaired

there next to my computer case in our trunk
set the car keys
of course right where she put them right wink wink

we were both worried that things would not go well for the
rest of the trip

we were wrong
more tomorrow

the organicgreen doctor

dear ms gardener

DEAR MS GARDENER
last week we visited the organic vineyard orchard and
ranch in southern utah ran by a family friend
i am not going to post the name or location as i dont
want other people to know where this fantastic place is

the hostess has taken over the garden and has enlarged it
and has plans to grow more veggies there

i spent time looking at the garden and told ms gardener
that i would come up with a list of recommendations for
her to use in her garden
but
instead of sending her an email or letter detailing these
organicgreendoctor recommendations
i would instead would write a blog about it so others could
enjoy the information also


the picture of the gate looks so austinish

here is a picture also of the garden

now

dear ms gardener

you have more than enough space to produce a ton of good
vegetables
you are lucky and live in an area where your weather is mild
enough to have a long spring summer garden and not have to
worry about the heat like we do in central texas

you also have a good water supply just a few feet under the
ground where the garden is
you lucky guys you
our well levels are 450+ft
of course at the country we use rainwater in our garden

then
your basic soil is a good one
or i should say your acid soil
its on the acid side of the ph range so you dont have to
worry about adding stuff to it make it more acid
you lucky guys you

now the things i am going to tell you to do
pertains to everyone wherever they live
i have heard the natural gardener john dromgoole talk to people
all over the us on his organic radio show on 590klbj on saturday
and sunday
he tells these folks everywhere the same thing

first three things to put in your garden to be successful
your shadow
compost
water

do all three of these and your chance of being successful is improved

since you have such a good soil to start with
a sandy one mixed with a clay one
if you didnt do anything
you would probably have a good garden
just
look at that beautiful vineyard yall have and those beautiful orchards

but
you need to be sure and add compost to your beds whenever you
plant your veggies if not done already
i suggest a 4 inch layer
the best compost of course is the one you make yourself

i saw your chickens busily working on your compost pile
your garden will love that stuff later in the year

i would suggest a wooden frame or a wire frame to hold the
composting materials inside the compost pile
similar to what i do at the country n
the chickens cant scatter it everywhere
and
it will keep a depth to the pile which helps to keep it moister
and compost faster

at the end of the season add a layer of compost on your beds when
you rest it for the winter
that will allow it to only get better and enrich the soil


add a sprinkling of liquid molasses per directions on the bottle at this time
also add the molasses again at the beginning of the season
the molasses provides sugar for bacterial growth which is necessary for
the improving the life of the soil


also add humate as per directions on the bottle when you add
your molasses

humate is the dark liquid stuff that happens when you take compost
put it in a sock then put it in a bucket of water
it activates the microorganisms in the soil
add an aquarium pump to this and run it for several hours
and you get compost tea-the mothers milk for your garden

the humate in the bottle is a richer version of this

humates are necessary again for the bacteria to work


then add an organic fertilizer

then cover it with a thick layer of mulch
this will all ripen over the winter
so in the spring you are all ready to plant

when you do plant a transplant


at the bottom of the hole add a tbsp of earthworm castings
this provides a boost start to the plant as it grows its roots


water it in with liquid seaweed which stimulates root growth with
its micronutrients minerals and hormones
then consider sprinkling a light amount of an organic fertilizer
if not done already
this will provide nitrogen for several weeks

then based on the heat or cold mulch the plants well
remember mulch breaks down eventually to make compost and soil
and will greatly improve the structure of the soil
overtime you will develop a good layer of good organic soil
as good as the hill country soil i bought from the natural gardener
when i first started my garden

water your plants when the soil gets dry
do the finger test by sticking the finger in about an inch
if its all dry the garden needs watering

be sure and mulch thickly between your beds and in any walkways
with anything like wood chips leaves etc
this also breaks down slowly over time to make compost and soil

you will find over time that your quality of soil will improve
will hold water well
use less water
and

will produce big ole tomatoes like this one



here is a list of organic pest control products
neem oil
diatamaceous earth
bt or bacillus thuringienesis
spinosid
beneficial bugs like ladybugs which i noticed yall had a lot of
when i was pruning the grapes
last months mother earth news has a list of what pests to use these on
i left my copy at the ranch

on our trip i talked with several organic farmers in colorado who
farm in the winter

i suggest you try to do lettuces swiss chard spinach carrots beets etc
during the winter in one of your square foot beds

by using a single or double row cover like i use at the country n
my veggies withstood a temperature drop to 10 degrees without
damage this winter

also when you are at the farmers markets talk to the farmers to find
out what they do to the soil in the area
what products they use
what plants they use that work well in the area
when do they plant the different plants
you know everyone should do this wherever they live

dont worry
expect a ups package with all these ingredients in it

please post a picture of
your garden
your thumb as it gets greener

tell all the wwoofers we said hi

as well as the dogs hank and jack
and
of course the man behind the whole operation
mr db

the organicgreen doctor