Monday, October 10, 2011

Connect, Collect and Protect

Livestock pattern traveling up and down slope through a vegetated area.
Hoof print from a horse. The lead print placed when the soil was moist. The following placed when the soil was dry, demonstrating the repetitive pattern of livestock.
Tombstone pasture typical vegetation coverage in areas of high moisture holding capacity.

Upper right shows Rock Line on contour with Mesquite Skeletons to serve as wind and shade protection as well as a net to collect organic matter. The Photo on the left demonstrates a livestock patten up slope that could potentially unzip the vegetated area.
Media Luna Collector tips down placed upstream of rills and developing gully.
Down slope from the same Media Luna Collector are small One Rock Dams placed in the rills.
One Rock Dam used to connect two existing edges and protect the nearby advancing vegetated edge.
 One Rock Dam
 Materials for construction. A frame, shovel, digging bar, wheel barrow and softball to small melon size rocks for slopes of less than 2%. Man/Woman power not pictured.
Basin and Berm created by mechanical extraction of Mesquite.
Gully formation and unzipping of the landscape, which prevents the land on the left and right of the gully from retaining water in a rain event.
Dendritic pattern formed by the erosive affects of water. This pattern is seen in the branches and roots of trees as well as in lightning and the human lung.
Example of a vegetated edge that we are trying to protect and advance.
Typical of the treatment area after mechanical removal of mesquite. Note the brittle and compacted landscape has been disturbed and irregular edges have been created.

Mesquite skeleton placed to interrupt or affect livestock pattern.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Inputs and Outputs



When you give yourself to the land you will be fed, you will grow, you will struggle, you will learn. You will love.