Future Plans

Initial Phase of Development (2008-2009)

An Apricot Tree

• A sustainable ecosystem will be nurtured by planting primarily perennial plants and using permaculture techniques targeted for a dry climate, focusing on drought and disease-resistant varieties and good fruit producers.
• Grading with heavy equipment to create terraces and swales and a small dam above the well (completed June 2009)
• A small trial dome will be constructed for Michael's restroom and washing facilities, which will provide a test for the practicality of the Cal-Earth construction method.
• Purchase and plant windbreak trees around the newly graded terraces.
• Fence in and develop a community garden area, using the south end of the middle terrace.

Second Phase of Development (2010-?)

• Individual "eco-dwellings" will be constructed from natural or cost-efficient building materials and passive solar design. 
• We are currently planning to use Cal-Earth (earth bag/tube) construction if the trial is successful. This will be heated in the winter and cooled in the summer mainly using passive solar and thermal mass to moderate day/night temperatures, which can vary up to 50 degrees in a 24hr period.
• Because we need to block spring winds for comfort and good growing conditions, We may use the small domes and adobe walls between them as an outer barrier around the housing area with walls in between, made of the same material. The above-mentioned trees will eventually contribute significantly to the windbreak.
• Once we are confident in the building method and our skills and funding is available, we will build "full-size" eco-domes, still small by American standards.
• Gabions and check-dams will be heightened over time as gullies fill in with sediment.
• Swales will be fine-tuned to ensure they will hold water during the most violent "gully washers".
• Many additional trees and perennial vines and shrubs will be planted, and many native and drought-resistant species. A larger variety of fruit and nut trees, vines, and shrubs will be planted, gradually expanding the variety and number of perennials.
• A central kitchen/community space will be constructed as the need arises and funding is available.
• A tree nursery will be started to grow seedlings for later out-planting to reforest upper slopes of land with drought-tolerant trees, or we will find sources of inexpensive seedlings to plant. This has already been started to a limited degree with desert willows and Chinaberry trees.