I Am Thrilled by This Amazing Progress

[@dustupstexas]

Thank you to Bombas for sponsoring this video! Head to bombas.com/dustups and use code dustups20 at checkout for 20% off your first purchase.

[@johnmason5125]

Hello Shawn, Have you ever thought of using vegetable scraps from your home or from a restaurant? I use them all the time for organic matter and compost all the time for my crops at home. It works very well when you mix them with your local dirt.

[@ShaneSaxson]

Palmegranite would be good for that area. Also, never forget, you need as much extra organic material and water trapping structures that will refill the aquifer. Whether it’s a deep water aquifer or the shallow aquifer. The more natural water in the ground and in springs you have. The better the land will be.

[@ShaneSaxson]

Awesome!! You got a wood chipper!!! I’m so excited!!!

[@smckay6438]

How did i know you have ADD? Tell me do you get a feeling when your ADD goes off ? I get a " something wrong feeling " not talking about a danger feeling just a " thing "😊

[@GaelicDragon]

If you need more wood, see if you can wait until after Christmas. Between 12/26 and 1/1, you could gather a lot of the cut Christmas trees that people leave for the city to take care of.

[@CCSMrChen]

I love this idea! This would be quite the belated Christmas episode where in January he works with the city, volunteers and pros to collect and haul a Christmas tree caravan. I’m guessing it’s more cost effective to chip the trees in the city then haul it out, but the image of full size trees being dumped into the middle of the desert to help revive the ecosystem is such a holiday plot. The visual may not be worth the cost though and the priority right now is not to go viral.

[@chriscox3460]

This is a good idea, although expect he might want to mulch them first for ease of transport. Here in the UK there are places these are used directly as part of coastal sand dune stabilisation and regrowth (Lancashire)- apparently it's very effective and as undertaken as a community participation project.

[@Jackman77100]

This is a great idea! also, it could bring publicity and add investment into the channel

[@chinaski2020]

Don't pine needles greatly increase the acidity of the soil? There's a reason you don't see much growing beneath pine forests. I'd be wary of doing something like that, especially in such a brittle environment with already very poor soil.

[@CCSMrChen]

@@chinaski2020 Quick search says that acidity thing is a myth at least for the ponderosa pine and douglas fir type of xmas trees (Oregon State, University of New Hampshire). The specific acidity concern is when the needles fall freshly from the tree, but for trees already cut and decomposing it's less of a worry.

[@TobiasDuncan]

Here has been my experience with cover crops in very poor soil: They come up strong, get between 3 and 6 inches tall , then stall for a month or maybe more before shooting up. I think what is happening is that the plant knows it need nutrients that will only come from bacteria. Since there is no bacterial colony present to work with the plant, it starts pumping sugars into the ground in its exudates in hopes of making some friends. Even very dead soils have some dormant bacteria present but it takes a while for them to get going.

[@dustupstexas]

And we know from Margaret and her microscope that I do have SOME microbes alive in there. Hopefully the roots find my biochar

[@drvanon]

Do you know if we can expect to see that still in this year, or is the growing season over there? I live above the 52nd degree, so in the winter nothing grows at all. I imagine that could be different for the plants in a place that is so warm all year, but I really have no clue.

[@jmm8305]

@@drvanon There are probably 4 more months of growing season here. It depends. It doesn't get cold until January. I'm not sure if that's exactly true for Dustups but they are south of me (not sure the elevation difference). I have picked tomatoes on Christmas Day before but that is rare.

[@theidealbt]

@@dustupstexas I wonder if using a compost tea along with your molasses that you used in the biochar might give your bugs a head start?

[@into_the_void]

It's very interesting really .... I like growing mushrooms around my other plants , it helps create a robust mycelium network that boosts all other growth

[@justmyself1000]

Wow! That woodchipper donated by Daniel from Pecos is EXZACTLY what you need!

[@bollweevil8112]

Very generous Daniel.

[@1voluntaryist]

Fresh wood chips around trees, minimum 8" deep, mulch best and break down into food for microbes.

[@scarnoir6566]

Put the mulch underground, 1 foot dirt over it , end it even with the surrounding ground. you will see how it keeps moisture underground. best mix it with charcoal. put a redwood seed in the topsoil - wait for germination - giant redwood forest in texas.

[@lawrenceyan8543]

Daniel is a bro 🙏

[@PracticeNine]

I can't wait for the first big rain and when you can finally see how much water is being held back bei the big dams and the BDAs

[@jackson8085]

Yup, and the subsequent growth.

[@kffacxfA7G4]

Every day I'm waiting for a "It finally happened!" video to pop up.

[@bernardfinucane2061]

Good point that mulch is more important than water. In fact, the problem is not a lack of water at all. The problem is a broken ecosystem that can't hold water. The ranch is like a leaky bucket. Adding water doesn't solve the problem. Plugging the hole does. Of course the analogy breaks down a little because you need water to plug the hole...

[@dustupstexas]

😀 Call it step 1 of a 2 step fix

[@louisegogel7973]

There’s a hole in the bucket dear Liza, dear Liza. Well fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it…. 🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎵🎶🎶 lol

[@raincoast9010]

Check dams, check dams, check dams... the more the better and start the process of letting nature fill in those gullies.

[@noahapatoff1902]

@@dustupstexas you need a few milligrams of GCR calcium and a pound of dry molasses powder per acre. that will give your plants the jumpstart they need.

[@trevorstewart8]

A suggestion for you Shaun. Your manure dumps can be spaced out on a hit and miss pattern, (one pile then a space, then another manure pile) because the manure will disperse throughout the soil in all directions over time. This will double the effect of your soil amendments. You can go back and add more in between once the amendments are established. Another source of nutrients would be mushroom farm waste. When the mushrooms are harvested the soil is "spent" for mushrooms but is still good for other green growth. You might get a truck load for free or heavily discounted. Another is horse farm manure mixed with straw/hay. The manure has to be removed to minimise contamination so is often free.

[@GTIFabric]

I hear they produce a lot of excess manure in Washington DC

[@TheO416]

yooooo i just got a mad thought, you should try to team up with 'Crime pays but botany doesn't' hes an expert in texas plantlife and geology i think he would love to atleast give more advise on plant species etc. he's a staple on youtube and hes a firm advocate of 'Kill your lawn & plant local species'. i feel this is a match made in heaven

[@dustupstexas]

We talk. He'll try to come in the fall

[@HoboWhisperer]

I'd love to see that video. That guy is a trip :)

[@Helyx525]

I posted the same thought at the same time you did. lol! Great to hear there is a possible colab coming Shaun!

[@Smokkedandslammed]

"Lycium", Nice.

[@TheFabledSCP7000]

That's amazing I've heard him have not very supportive opinions on Dustups, but it's great he changed his mind

[@Zuluknob]

7:53 Speaking of injury, you could do with some chainsaw chaps (think that's what they are called) you are a long way from the nearest ER, stay safe dood.

[@bjrockensock]

from my experience with that model of chipper-shredder, you may want to introduce the branches into the little side shoot instead of feeding the big hopper--that's more for shredding dry leaves or straw--it tends to bind up. The shredder "likes" chipping but labors on shredding--it seems like it would self feed with the hopper but really it kind of tumbles around and throws stuff out. I'd even go so far as placing a rubber mat or something on that hopper to prevent "dust ups". Be grateful it's gas and not electric: you can access the blades for sharpening or removing stuck bits, whereas the electric versions have those trapped with the motor.

[@LouisEW198]

I’m sure many will agree that your videos are an escape from the chaos of everyday life. Keep doing what you’re doing, simple, seemingly negligible progress to ‘outsiders’ is huge is such a project.

[@Eric-nu3wh]

remember to talk to all the tree trimmer in the area before heading out get all the tree branches and wood for the damns or have them load you with mulch for ground cover

[@E5PY]

I applaud your patience & compassion for those who asked about manure & electric trucks. Your responses humbled me, as I realized I was not giving them the benefit of the doubt. I am sorry you have to even deal with those questions. YOU are doing something great. You are not only making a valid effort to benefit the land, but documenting it, aiding for others that follow. You are doing great work🌻

[@pappafritto]

Have you ever heard of Miyawaki forest? You should watch Andy Millisons videos! Do you know that guy that built miraculous terraces in Jordan? 😂😂😂

[@fayebird1808]

@@pappafritto Are you thinking of Geoff Laughton? He is Andrews teacher.

[@Vezmerize]

Millet looks like corn, grass when transplanted grows down the first year and then up. Also we are approaching the end of the growing season so it may still come back next spring.

[@pacjam418]

I agree, the roots of the grass are growing right now.

[@davidpetersen6694]

On closely related species like Lyceum you will need to identify them by flower attributes and later fruit. Take close up photos of the flower from two or three angles. Slice through it laterally and take another photo. A local botanist will be able to use these to get your species identified. Leaves and bark are a bonus to confirm but not what a plant taxonomist uses. I did this in college a LOT! Good luck! From David in Houston 😎🥇⭐️🏆♥️👍

[@jhosk]

What you have done is amazing! Seriously, you are greening the desert.

[@user-vo3st8kx7s]

Yes that will be true when the terrasse will be green. Until it looks overall less green. Wish you rain.

[@craigwicke4835]

Steel posts and barbed wire around trees. Cattle will decide to rub hard on trees and break them down. Put at least a 2 wire perimeter barb wire around all your small green plants. Cattle will eat or stomp them. Get some flat boxes at walmart and stand them around sprouting and little plants. Rocks on flaps to hold down. Provides some shade and wind protection. Small rodents like to eat tender bark. My 2 cents. Good Luck

[@jenniferpolk962]

I bet Joey Santore (the Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't guy) could identify that Lycium for you. Looks like great progress on the plants!

[@Alan_CFA]

I’m 70 & have had ADD most of my life (not adHd, no hyperactivity for me). You describe the interest battle very well. Best of luck, Dustups! Alan in Austin.

[@JosephDiveley]

I am really surprised you are not planting figs. Fig trees thrive in the desert and create a good cash crop. Not to mention they provide a LOT of ground cover shade. If you plant them at the top of your swales they will grow and provide enormous shade cooling. Most importantly you will introduce a reliable food source for yourself and wildlife as well. It's really a perfect plant for your project.

[@williamjenkins9]

Another would be dates…. There is a date farm in Death Valley that has been doing pretty well for a hundred years….

[@mofosoto]

Don’t worry about how much amendment you can haul in one trip. The important thing is that you are bringing some in. You’re in this for the long game and it all adds up. If you can only bring one pickup-full per month, it may not seem worth it and quit. But if you keep it up for 5 years that’s 60 loads. So just picture what 60 loads would look like compared to nothing. And it will kinda start to compound if you’re able to grow vegetation in it, because life brings in more life. Life attracts life. Can’t remember if you have already covered this but you should also try running a comb through the ground where you want stuff to grow. Till that sh-stuff! I’m sure you’ve seen how water behaves on that desert hard pack, it hits the ground running and takes off. That’s why flash flooding is dangerous in the desert. Plus those plant roots would benefit from looser soil. Also I’ve never seen an area of vegetation that is covered with golfball, baseball and football sized rocks, so you might want to start removing those from growth areas. And just like the manure loads, it’s the long game. Maybe you can only clear a 5 square yard section per week because you only got 10 mins to spare, but after one year you’ll have cleared 250 square yards. Maybe you can use all those rocks for more dams, retaining walls, raised garden beds. Build a stone house. Build a small stone water reservoir. Even if it takes you 5 years to build out a 1000 gallon reservoir it’s worth it. If you had one right now, would you care how long it took to build it? And think about how long you’ll get to use it for.

[@PsychicIsaacs]

it's been a dry winter for us here in Victoria, Australia, but we just had one of "those" Spring THUNDERSTORMS come through!!! Hooray!!! This was a small storm but was very moist and we've got a whole front of solid thunderstorm due tonight. I'm having a hot drink, then I'm going out to plant some mixed seeds in my garden, ready for the wet and stormy evening that we're going to have in just a few hours...

Its so amazing to see that people all over the world is helping dustups with spending or such nice comments! Nice. Greetings from Germany.

[@Nicofue2902]

Love to see that all your hard work is paying off. Much improvements. Much more green! Love it. Greetings from Germany.

[@sandramelia3765]

Love your efforts and thank you for helping our world. I am from CO and cannot ever imagine living in TX. I need the woods and greenery. You are making a big difference under tough circumstances.

[@jotv7224]

its cool to see the community helping out on the project. it becomes a collective effort kn the end very cool

[@fangdenhahn]

A Discord server for Dustups would be awesome

[@freepalestine1736]

Greetings from South Africa.

[@CharlieElliott24]

"It's always best to use the lightest tool for the job first" is some truly sage wisdom. Thank you for sharing that.

[@StormGod29]

I've heard "don't use a sledgehammer when a tack hammer will do."

[@matthewridgeway9250]

I lovewhat you are doing here. It could change the region and it may bring the landscape back to resemple what it did before the time of human interventions over the years.

[@unionse7en]

yep , on my arid land..everywhere that I put wood chips down is now loaded with massive amounts of sunflowers, without me adding any water to those areas. Shade/wind (evaporation) protection and the extra organic matter makes an amazing difference.

[@glenissansom7990]

Congratulations the growth that has sprouted over your very arid landscape. It's absolutely amazing how the growth sprouted

[@KJasonV]

I love seeing people happy with their progress, and this is one where even I was excited :D

[@louisegogel7973]

Very encouraging!

[@gabes3dvideos]

Awesome that you’re seeing results already. Keep on.

[@YooooouKnowwwww]

hey, quick observation from a guy that also built a dam, your crest of that main dam might be too low compared to the flanking hills. make the crest higher than the surrounding hills, that way if there is a huge rain, and I know you're looking forward to that, it'll wash out an existing compacted hill that is much more resilient and much easier to fix (ask me how I know)

[@jbbuzzable]

Make the crest higher than the surrounding hills?

[@docwatson1134]

So far, no heavy rains at all, none. Other work that enhances the minor precipitation that does reliably show up has a better ROI.

[@dustupstexas]

That would be massive overkill. It's already huge and only traps 3.1 acres of catchment.

[@tbecause4897]

@@dustupstexasI would only add, that if you ever lift or improve either of those dams, that you figure out a way to place pipes/culverts a foot or more below top grade On the slim chance water overtops, you have a shot at not having a breach that takes out the whole thing

[@DaDunge]

@@tbecause4897 He should also put a fallbreaker at the base of the damm. You always want to slow water down as much as possible, water in motion is very dangerous.

[@mikemayfield902]

I am sure you have already thought of this. I use leaves in my garden. I called around and most of the people with lawn care businesses dump them at my place. I know they couldn't dump them on your ranch but you may be able to have a location where they all dump it at. The city also gives us leaves. I know you are a long way from a town but if you had to go to town anyway you could hook on to the dump trailer and bring the leaves back with you. Most of them also have wood chips.

[@dustupstexas]

There aren't any lawns in Sierra Blanca.

[@austinallen9470]

@@dustupstexasyou could haul from DFW 😅 plenty of leaves there

[@alicemoore1367]

@@dustupstexas shredded paper works too

[@TheFabledSCP7000]

You do have to be careful of ink, plastics and PFASs

[@katjordan3733]

So glad to see progress, in spite of the lack of rain. Horse manure is great stuff for many reasons, don't sweat the herbicides. The manure will hold water, when it rains. That's the superpower of horse manure. You've made great progress. Every bit that you do will pay off. It all compounds while the soil microbes are busy doing their thing, which you can't see yet. Winter is coming, so just keep on track, this is a marathon, not a sprint!

[@timgarrow1487]

Thank you for sticking with this content. I always smile when I see your video on my feed. You are mother earths hero

[@CriticalThinker27]

Harbor freight has a fabric contraption that turns your truck bed into an easy unloaded dump truck. Haul master cargo truck bed unloader. I've used it to haul and easy dump thousands of pounds of mulch for my food forest in northeast Texas. Love the show. Hope this helps.

[@dustupstexas]

Thanks

[@CriticalThinker27]

@@dustupstexas you're welcome! The cherry on top is it's about $75.

[@silverjohnson3163]

green is good 💚

[@AndreRMeyer]

@silverjohnson3163 "Grün ist Leben" Baumschulisten sorgen dafür.

[@Patschenkino]

Baumschulisten ist ein lustiges Wort. Erinnert mich einwenig an Baumschüler.😅

[@xyzabc4574]

A bow saw is the perfect size tool for everything from woody bush all the way up to medium branches. I'd rather take a bow saw to that bush than a chain saw.

[@maxpower5346]

I love what you’re doing. If I lived in the US I’d be helping you out every other weekend.

[@Arkine13]

That was really nice of him to donate that woodchipper. Also, awesome with all the green coming up!

[@CaseyKidwell]

I am sooo glad you got a chipper 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@worskaas]

Getting more excited every time a new video is released. Keep going at it

[@1000hpwnd]

Glad to see progress on the ranch, in the beginning it looked nearly crazy idea, but consistent work eventually brings results

[@arcadiapermaculture974]

Great stuff - really building the nucleus of your project now!

[@nighthawk3045]

I was blown away by all the greenery insane, well done and keep going strong

[@tdu2supersport]

looking great!

[@6zonecourt]

When you are ready to plant trees you should consider the Montezuma Cypress. It’s native to Mexico and south Texas. I have grown them in Houston over 20 years. They are heat, drought and freeze hardy. They are quick growers and live several hundred years. They don’t grow knees that Bald Cypress does. I haven’t found anything negative about them.

[@rustyharvey4557]

Cool weather is coming!!! Love the videos.

[@UjjUBhai699]

I Love the work you're doing here! all the best!! and stay hydrated!!

[@glenissansom7990]

Ah what a lovely movie. Thank you ❤

[@cedarchoppincartographer]

maybe you can graft a goji branch on the wolfberry. I've been growing goji in south central texas and it does well. Heavy mulch before planting was effective.

[@ForestCat67]

I've got a knack for identifying plants so I though I'd try your Lycium species; here's what I found: I did some research on what Lycium species are in your area and the two closest species I found to what you showed are lycium berlandieri or lycium andersonii. If you have any more pictures of your specimen I could try to specify even more, but I hope this helps a little.

[@Technoanima]

Congratulations on the new growth!

[@jacobclark288]

Started following at around a few hundred followers and its great to see all the progress.

[@drvanon]

I feel proud to have stuck around long enough to see planted-by-people green. When I started following you, things just tended to die, glad to see you have turned that around. Clearly you have some lessons learned and it is fun to learn some of them with you!

[@jesswatt5824]

I saw somewhere that you can plant a bean to test the soil- if it survives enough to grow true leaves that look good then you should be fine. Results in just a couple weeks!

[@kffacxfA7G4]

It's amazing to already see a lot of progress in so little time. You're doing great, even with the issues that came up over time, the desert is actually greener now. But we need that rainfall soon!!

[@AndrewHorsford]

I, too, am thrilled by the sight of the amazing progress you have made basically by hand and by yourself. What I mean is that it's "today's by hand" and you CAN'T be there all the time so you hired Brandon to be on site more, so it's not a whole team of people on the ranch (yet) driving machinery all around all day (yet). You're an inspiration BECAUSE you show what a single dedicated person can accomplish and I, for one, come here for inspiration and boy did you provide that today! Great work, man! 😎

[@nustada]

I had a wolf berry plant, it was the best thing I grew, I got about a cup of berries every single day and that was with sharing the berries with a flock of birds through the summer with a bunch of about 9 square feet. Zero maintenance, never watered it, but I did plant it next to old tree stumps, that might have helped. I could easily see making money with them turning to raisins.

[@magnuslundin682]

Great to see your progress! I saw your 50 first episodes in a week when I was home sick last month. =)

[@supereight9221]

It would be interesting to use a neutral classified industrial hemp with okay of the ag. dep. because it can serve as food for wildlife which can benefit and is a supportive plant for regenerating the soil, chopping and used as mulch or use the stalks makeshift planter baskets or even make your own rope

[@kefhomepage]

I love following you, and see where this is going

[@bloodragefromnorway]

i love following this project!

[@gsftom]

Love watching this stuff!

[@thorconley72]

Before loading bed with compost/manure/wood chips line with a good mil tarp. This will help when unloading materials in larger bulk rather than shovel by shovel. Work smarter not harder

[@user-qb7ug1ze8p]

Another way to test for herbicides in any soil is to put a sample into a dish and sow cress in it. Ideally you count the numbers of seeds and make a control group that recieves just water and you can calculate the germination rate which is equivalent to the herbicidal effects of the sample. This method is also used in research. Edit: also let the grow for a week, some herbicides disrupt photosynthesis and 1 day old seedlings dont photosynthesise yet.

[@russell7489]

Congrats !!!!

[@friedelpretorius9217]

Looking at the progress that greenery around the scattered logs, you could try putting up some shade cloth or hoop houses- could have the same passive effect. I also wonder if you could convince folks in the towns near you to bring their organic waste to you instead of paying a dump fee. Often times big companies (food processors, construction crew, or landscapers) have big loads of organic material or dirt that is expensive to dump.

[@rachelanderson-z6n]

Glad to see you are making progress ! Here, in West Wales UK -- we have the opposite problem; too much water ! I have to cultivate crops that don't mind having their feet in water for part of the year. Manure ! is the key here as well, though it mustn't leach into watercourses.

[@mlee1964]

Have you considered buying a used smoker to make your own bio char with all the mesquite wood around you? Love your channel!

[@dustupstexas]

I've thought of kilns. We will make our own chat eventually, but not for awhile

[@michaelneal6589]

Thank you

[@phillipErskine-jk1jt]

Was just thinking why not use old wood pallets layer out 2x2 4 total in clusters to plant trees in the middle portion so the cattle would have a hard time getting to them plus jamming with straw and manure and seeds. What say you? It would work. Most places want to get rid of the pallets or sell them cheaply. The spirit just gave me that. The pieces used can be low grade if you knew someone with a sawmill that doesn't use the bark sides they discard. As long as it was a form to kind of use like a cattle guard. Run that through the hard-drive of your I am sure you can come up with something along that line. Even on top of your solid waste dump areas. The moisture would be caught by the wood and straw.

[@phillipErskine-jk1jt]

You were talking about the wind carrying stuff off.

[@bobedwards8896]

Looks like this is coming along! Well done. Let’s hope the long term water issues can be figured out

[@JiemDarmstxyz]

What a bluff is Shaun! By far the best video since day 1. Congratulation it really motivates starting the same around.Google lens is usually responsive, maybe you've found a new species. Utterly impressed by your today achievement. I'm confident you'll sort out your dust devil, as with some ground reshape

[@clarencehopkins7832]

Excellent stuff bro, get er done

[@nicnewdigate]

Great work Shaun and loving your contents ❤

[@robinanna5531]

There are some excellent videos on how to sharpen a chainsaw chain. Makes so much difference to using it but also safety tbh! I'd recommend. My tree surgeon husband says respectfully you're not getting it quite right. Keep up the amazing work Shaun! 💪

[@evantspurrell]

its amazing how with a little wel thought out love nature can take off

[@TheTunnel]

ive been looking forward to this kinda of video. happy for you

[@christopherpowell8676]

Thanks!

[@dustupstexas]

Thank you

[@JOHNDANIEL1]

If you add a over roof to your little building shading it some more your AC unit will be much more effective and use less power.

[@hardcoretrance3435]

I love this project

[@Jorge.1419]

Good progress. Congratulations

[@unpaintedleadsyndrome]

Lovely sight, seeing those plants coming up...

[@amundalfredsen3479]

I recommend the Stihl chain sharpening tool if you’re not an expert with the round file! It’s super quick and easy to use, and you both sharpen the teeth and trim the depth gauge at the same time.

[@pauljones9150]

Good stuff

[@damianoconnell7964]

As you get more vegetation growing, the less dust devils you’ll get.

[@noelradley1]

I took a note on your ADD comment because I was trying to describe this to my career coach this week! The part on managing your interest level...as an ADHD person struggling between overwork and boredom, thanks for the insight!

[@halorail]

Great Job

[@byrdhemenway369]

Ur work is so inspiring

[@19AKS58]

Strong work!

[@Maaad-maaan]

Gotta get more shade out there. Use logs, old metal poles, sheets from goodwill, whatever you can get to start creating a sort of wall that shades the ground and plants. When the plants mature you can move the posts and cover to another area. You can also use ollas, unglazed terra-cotta pots, filled with water, buried in the ground, to water plants. Much better than a drip system. Potted plants should be in the ground. You can keep them in the pots for easy transplanting but the ground helps insulate the pots. Just go to town and see what junk you can pick up for free to throw down or build shade. I’m sure tons of people have old fences, tires, etc

[@Maaad-maaan]

Also you could ask local restaurants and people for scraps to start composting

[@f1bernet]

Wow, what a difference since the last video!!!

[@allon33]

From my experience, most people only put up a fence after the cows have got in, which is bad, as they will then come back and knock down your fence to get to your tasty juicy greens.

[@denimacaz]

So happy to see your progress, congratulations! I’m in the next desert over in Arizona. Here in the low Sonoran desert I grow Moringa. In my experience, those direct sown from seed have always done better than transplants. I suspect your grow box Moringa will have nice deep roots, and grow nicely for you, as well as provide much needed shade for wild life (assuming the cows don’t get to it).

[@ruthdoyle9085]

To help prevent damage dam washouts, you need have sides on your driveway across the top. You might want to have a Vee crown opposite that of a paved road. You want the rain water to stay on the road and not running down the sides. The still water isn’t gonna hurt it as much as moving water…

[@canadianavenger]

Great to see some green success, I've been keenly following along with your progress. Hopefully it gets established well enough to survive. I recently watched some videos around agrivoltaics, that I think might be interesting for you. Not so much for the voltaics part, though that could be useful around base camp for power and to grow some food, or transplant stock or experiment with things like the goji berries. The part that I think may be of more interest is how having the shade increased growth. While a larger investment in both money and materials, it might be beneficial to make a semi permanent shade structure that yo can erect and then move to new locations once you get an area established, and thus providing its own shade.

[@dustupstexas]

A nursery is on the to do list