With temperatures over 100 degrees much of the year, it is important to use plenty of shade cloth, a good mulch (we use straw mainly), and drip irrigation that we have on automatic timers that turn on after dark.  This ensures we do not scald our crops every time we water, and it also keeps evaporation down to a minimum and the ground moist longer.  We have also added sand, horse manure and/or Christmas tree mulch in some soil mixtures.  One thing to keep in mind when using manures is to make sure the livestock is not being fed Bermuda grass because if they are, you will probably get some of that seed in your garden.  You definitely do not want Bermuda grass to be accidentally introduced into your garden!

Here are some of the specialty products we employ in our growing processes:

Natural Action Water Structuring Devices - We use water structuring devices developed by researcher and inventor, Clayton M. Nolte.  These devices produce pure, balanced, hydrating water, with a lower surface tension than unstructured water.  Structured water freezes at a lower temperature than unstructured water, and it is softer (more absorbable) than unstructured water, thus resulting in our trees and plants requiring less water (up to 30% less) to stay hydrated, and allowing for a higher uptake of vital nutrients.  This naturally balanced water is formed by the water acting on itself through vortex science.    

We have a whole house unit as well as several portable units in our gardens.  We are so impressed with this water and what it has done for our health and our garden’s health that we will never be without this technology in our lives.  Even our neighbors come to get our water for drinking because they can tell there is something special about it.  And those who see our gardens are amazed at how vibrant and productive they are.  We feel the phenomenal results we are getting in our gardens is in large part due to using this structured water.    

We are happy to now be distributors of Clayton Nolte’s water structuring devices and to help spread the word about this important technology.   These water structuring devices are maintenance free with no moving parts or chemicals, nothing to replace and no filters to change because water is the machine. 

We also use EM-1 or Activated EM-1 to make Bokashi in lieu of making traditional compost.  This aid in amending the soil is easier, faster, and more efficient than making compost.  There are no worries about turning compost piles, or compost piles smelling or attracting flies and wildlife.  Also, more energy is retained in the fermented organic matter than if it were composted in the traditional manner.  So this fermented organic matter is packed with nutrients and makes a great organic fertilizer.  Learn more about it here:  http://www.emamerica.com/bokashi

Organic Compost Plus from Arbico Organics - We use this as a soil amendment.  It revitalizes soil and speeds up decomposition of organic matter.  Learn more about it here:

http://www.arbico-organics.com/product/Organic-Compost-Plus/organic-soil-conditioners.  This compost contains EM so it has billions of beneficial bacteria to make plants healthier, help them grow faster and produce higher yields, and to help them be more resistant to diseases and pests.  A little goes a long way! 

Since this mail order company is based in Tucson and we can get the Organic Compost Plus by the truckload, we mix it in with our soil whenever we plant something.  But if you buy a smaller amount, you can soak some in water overnight and then use it as a compost tea and apply it as a foliar spray.  You wouldn’t want to soak it more than a day though or you might kill some of the beneficial bacteria in it.