"And once we get the new amendments added, we can grow anything we want."
Just wondering-- will you need more amendments? I used to add lime and stuff to my garden but I've found it balances itself with manure, carbon (straw, leaves, etc), and time.
Last fall I attended a pasture walk with Greg Judy, and learned earthworms can go as deep as five feet, and bring lime back up to the surface in the process.
I don't know your environment. I've never lived in a desert. But I do believe the amendment companies have sold me some solutions for problems I didn't have.
I do use my own compost, horse and cow manure , worm castings, bone meal, Epsom salt for magnesium, dry milk & eggs/egg shells for calcium and fish emulsion as fertilizer. The worms will come on their own. As my raised beds in both greenhouses are full of them now.
The desert is definitely a challenge but it's also fun to learn what works and what doesn't. Here we have to make sure we have souls that can hold moisture with our 100°F+ Summers. I also ask local farmers what is actually needed if something isn't producing as they know the land better than anyone. I never depend on garden centers or nurseries because they just want to sell what they can to you.
"And once we get the new amendments added, we can grow anything we want."
Just wondering-- will you need more amendments? I used to add lime and stuff to my garden but I've found it balances itself with manure, carbon (straw, leaves, etc), and time.
Last fall I attended a pasture walk with Greg Judy, and learned earthworms can go as deep as five feet, and bring lime back up to the surface in the process.
I don't know your environment. I've never lived in a desert. But I do believe the amendment companies have sold me some solutions for problems I didn't have.
I do use my own compost, horse and cow manure , worm castings, bone meal, Epsom salt for magnesium, dry milk & eggs/egg shells for calcium and fish emulsion as fertilizer. The worms will come on their own. As my raised beds in both greenhouses are full of them now.
The desert is definitely a challenge but it's also fun to learn what works and what doesn't. Here we have to make sure we have souls that can hold moisture with our 100°F+ Summers. I also ask local farmers what is actually needed if something isn't producing as they know the land better than anyone. I never depend on garden centers or nurseries because they just want to sell what they can to you.