1Sphere 1People Homestead

A developing intentional community in SE Arizona divider


Experimental Farm


One of us (Eric) has has degrees in crop and soil science, and has interests in doing research in small scale, sustainable agriculture as well as development of low-power (human and solar/electric powered) agricultural technology. The upper terrace, created some time in the past and used for vegetable production for the Tombstone market, could become productive again. Best use of this area, approximately a half acre, would be as a test plot for experimental farming/gardening techniques. While not all of the food needs of all residents on 1Sphere 1People Homestead could be meet, a significant portion could.

The general guide for the type of production system we have in mind can be found in what may be the best book on sensible, sustainable, small-scale food production available: The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times by scientist and author Carol Deppe


Practical and scientifically sound, her system of food production focuses on five staple crops: corn, beans, squash, potatoes, and eggs. Corn and beans are nutritionally complimentary, while squash, the other major crop developed by pre-Columbian Americans, serves as a fresh vegetable in season, and as winter squash, it can be stored for winter use. Summer squash would mostly be dried, stored, and used through the winter/spring. Potatoes, while not commercially grown in Arizona, come in over 400 varieties, some of which are suitable for growing in our area. All of these vegetable/grain crops can be stored for year-around use.

The fifth "crop" is eggs. Chickens and ducks, allowed to free-range, are death to grasshoppers and other insect pests that would otherwise make short work of the other crops. Part of the garden would be used to grow feed, but eggs and some meat (roosters, naturally in excess, are usually culled as chicks, but could be culled young for the pot in the summer/fall, and in the winter there would be an excess of too-old hens for the pot) would add to the diet. To avoid the killing-of-animals issue, all animals would have to be eliminated from the production system, meaning all domestic farm animals would go extinct unless kept as pets. Surplus individuals, such as roosters in the case of chickens, happen and the farmer who has animals has to do something—kill and bury them, put them over the fence for the coyotes, or add them to the pot. Traditionally, all peoples who have had to live by farming do include animals in their production system and have opted for the pot.

Many traditional breeds of chickens and egg-laying ducks are endangered. We will be helping to preserve these breeds by keeping small flocks. Since we have small ponds, catfish farming is a possibility as well.

A sixth area of food production to develop will be year-around greenhouse salad growing: Greenhouse tomatoes are grown commercially nearby, and all the various types of greens and spices would best be grown in a greenhouse. We have collected quite a few, mostly free, sliding glass doors for use in greenhouse construction.

A seventh area of focus will be compost production, including vermiculture (worm farming), and green manure crops. Nutrients need to be well managed and conserved in any sustainable system. Since making compost can be a lot of work, one idea is to shred material and spread it on the soil as a dry mulch layer. The mulch moderates soil temperatures, reduces evaporation, and undergoes continuous breakdown at the soil surface by numerous soil organisms.

To greatly reduce the amount of energy required for food production (current farming methods are little more than ways of turning fossil fuels into food), permanent rails, about two meters apart, will support light-weight farm equipment (efficient bicycle-level technology) either human powered and/or solar/electric powered. The rails would allow precision planting, cultivation, and harvesting without compacting the soil. A system of 'rail farming' would be the first step towards the ultimate goal of robotic farming (human backs should not be doing back-breaking work—better brains than brawn).

One goal will be to acquire the experience and know-how relating to all aspects of propagation, production, storage, and preparation that will allow us to scale up production during periods of serious hard-times. We will also then be in a position to help others in the local area by providing know-how, seeds, and breeding stock so they can do the same.

If interested in being a part of this sort of small farming endeavour, then.....

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