What we're doing Now -18 Months:
Palenquito Gardeners Market:
Our prime goal for 2019 is to make a statement and peak interest. Over the following 18 months our goal is to find 5 vendors to participate in the gardeners market. As we landscape and create a more public friendly atmosphere we'll also do more community outreach and connect with local gardeners through canvasing local businesses, flyers, business cards and word of mouth. We'll be visiting farmers markets, posting on social media to find other potential gardeners and vendors and invite them to participate in this community effort.
In making this residence into an inviting public space, the market front and exterior signage will be refinished to create an inviting presence. We'll build a porch, overhead sign and pergola, landscape the exterior with existing grey water system and build a fence and gate to separate the residence from the business front, building a path to access the residence. We'll also be landscaping the front of the residence with the existing grey water system including planting large shrubs and waterwise perennials to create curb appeal and physical and visual barriers for privacy with a eye toward demonstrating sustainable landscapes.
To Do:
In order to begin this venture the first priority is to clean up the brush and debris in open areas, including the orchard and spaces around the garage from renovation of the home.
finish installation of signs, cut bolts from concrete slab patio, make sign templates, new door nob to go on the new door with door sensor connected to residence wifi. Acquire landscape plants, install paver pathway. Start talking to gardeners, vendors, artisans etc. Make business cards.
Progress to date: So far we've started giving the exterior of the store a face lift with a fresh coat of paint, a new door with a window and built a porch. The last touch was a literal holding post in front of the store with posts for main signage to display what we have currently available, visible from highway. The interior has been cleaned out and sheetrock patched. It's ready to be primed, painted and trim installed! We've also prepared display racks to put in as soon as the paint is dry. Wall hangings to display oils, shelving to showcase plant based healing items to be for sale, and a small fridge to hold seed library and seeds for sale.
The surrounding area has been cleaned and we've begun weeding in preparation for landscape plants to beautify the area. Pavers are gathered and ready to install for one of the rock paths going from the store to the residence.
Partnership with producers of honey, placing hive within property.
Draft of front of Business Card:
Market Garden
Though immediately, we'll be seeking out other gardeners to fill the market, our goal is to eventually produce vegetables and profit from them. However the historical nature of the home creates a few twists and turns in the resources available. In order to produce enough product to sell, we need to show that the water source is clean, plentiful, and legal. We hope to have 4 acre feet legalized in order to produce vegetables. However, our methods of growing, using mulch, drip irrigation, and plants well adapted to this climate and dry heat will allow us to proceed even if the rights granted are not as we hope.
To Do: Finish the application for water rights and submit in order to have rights granted to sell end of season harvest. Yearly garden prep, tilling, laying irrigation lines, trellising and planting related to vegetable production. Order compost delivery, order new drip irrigation lines.
Progress to date: We've been busy preparing our application to the state Water Commision to grant us enough water rights to grow and sell vegetables. This involves researching the house, documenting evidence to support our claim of extensive landscaping historically on the property including mature, 1/3 acre orchard and the rest of the 1 1/3 acres using water as well in ornamental and edible plants. The primary proof comes in the form of a photograph found in the Brigham Young University Historical Archives some time prior to 1900 showing the homesteader David Candland and his wife Anne Woodhouse Candland with lush foliage and a visible hand pump in the exact location where our current hand dug well comes out of the ground and feeds our house and garden.
We've located the documents of sale for the property through searching historical archives in the county clerks vault showing Anne Woodhouse Candland as owner with the exact property location and legal discription to eliminate any doubt as to the ownership and location of the property in the historical image. We've photographed the mature apple trees and stumps and evidence of previous landscaping materials uncovered in cleanup to provide context for historical water use on the property.
Water and Soil tests done and implemented in site evaluation and plan.
Contingency Plan: If enough water is not granted to cover vegetable production needs, we'll seek a seller within water shed area and 2nd mortgage to purchase water rights to equal at least 4 acre feet of well water.
Pollinator Habitat
On our 1 1/3 acres of valley floor meadow, we enjoy a stream that flows and enriches the wildlife here. We enjoy watching for signs of Racoons, Rockchucks, Wild Geese, rabbits and hosting a wide range of birds in our trees and fields. Our goal is to live in harmony with these things, protecting ourselves with smart practices in our garden beds and providing plants for a diverse habitat. On one side of the natural stream Oak Creek, we will cultivate and harvest and on the other we will encourage a cohabitat by providing plants to encourage healthy biodiversity. Perennial flowers, grasses and shrubs will be fed from the stream by solar pump and drip tubes directly, but a portion of these meadow will be reserved for naturalizing perennials and reseeding annuals to create a habitat that is cultivated but relatively native.
To Do: Clean unwanted Siberian Elm trees, branches and debris from stream. Plant Water birch along stream bank, Acquire solar pump and drip line with spaghetti tubes for individual plants, seeds, and a few perennials and shrubs to start out. Install new colony of bees. Plant more flowers.
Access to this area is currently restricted, but we will be building a log bridge to extend from one side to the other without affecting the stream bank.
Progress to date: Some debris cleaned out of the stream. We've received the initial bee hives, installed them in a protected location next to the stream, secured them for possible high winds, taught kids about their structure and function.
Current Pollinator Habitat:
Future Pollinator Habitat:
Progress: Hives are installed, secured in place and waiting for New bee colony, arriving April 25th.
Palenquito U-Pick:
Within the next 12-18 months we will plant our future U-pick it orchard. The existing apple orchard renovation will be complete, having pruned the long years of overgrowth and disease. By the end of this time we will have observed 3 years of growing, the harvest season and type of fruit in the existing trees. We will also be adding two 60 foot rows of raspberries, quince, pear and plum trees.
To Do:
Prune existing fruit trees of dead limbs and un-managed growth. Clear away brush and cuttings from previous pruning as well as clearing dead trees from existing orchard area after they have been viewed by the state water commission.
The most essential piece for planting fruiting trees is the installation of an irrigation system. We've designed an irrigation system and will are ready for installation as time provides.
Prior to laying pipes for irrigation and future water needs, the chicken coop must be relocated, and septic system needs to be verified.
Supports for the Raspberries canes will be made using existing wood fencing and planted on both sides.
Progress to date: So far we've made a landscaping plan, and installed bee hive to ensure good pollination. We've designed an irrigation plan, and we have an existing fenceline that will be used to support canes.
This portion contingent on Moroni Irrigation canal in front along roadway being covered. Estimation of enclosure in 2019, enclosed to within 50 yards of property line in 2018. If this doesn't happen, most parking for visitors of residence will still park near store or in residence space and a separate gate will be left open.
Sustainable Seed Library:
Seeds are an invaluable inheritance. We feel strongly about the quality of seeds used n\in our garden. Heirlooms are an experimentation in creative gardening. There's nothing like the thrill of finding a new variety that grows well in your soil and conditions. We've started our own little collection over the years of seeds we save from year to year and this year we've expanded that to purchased in large number, heirloom seeds to offer for sale. Our seed library will add to the community by offering a place to trade seeds, find new varieties, and connect with other local gardeners to continue the tradition of sustainable growing from years past.
To Do: Set up display in store of seeds, organize the rest of seeds in well documented sizes for individuals family growing. Make seed sign, Register Seed Library with Seed Savers. install refrigerator in Market. Get binder and log in materials to track seed donations, swaps and purchases.
Progress to date: We've done a lot of organizing and careful separation of seeds into packets and pasted a catalog together of the heirloom varieties we have to offer so that seed lovers can choose according to traits, what they take away. We've collected display shelves to place in market as soon as the paint dries.
Progress to date:
Store remodeled, structure renewed with exterior door with window, exterior paint, interior sheetrock, displays, and interior signage.
Irrigation design completed
Landscape Plan completed, including plant list.
Vision sketches completed of future structures and landscapes
Clean up of surrounding terrain including partial orchard cleanup, around garage and removal of dead branches in stream.
Poor drainage from garage remediated preparatory to building wall for initial art studio space in existing garage.
Business cards preliminary design
Seed library organized with catalog of available seeds for 2019 season included in displays.
Fridge with seed storage installed.
greenhouse set up and
vegetable starts prepped and progressing including tomatoes peppers, basil, pumpkins, …
Installment of initial hive boxes
Water tested for use with livestock and produce
Soil test from Orchard and Vegetable Production areas
Evidence collected for Water right appeal
Setbacks:
Greenhouse and vegetable starts unsuccessful. Reasons: Climate colder and later than previously assumed. Greenhouse not as strong as we hoped. High winds on numerous occassions damaged greenhouse and ripped seems. Animals snuck in and contaminated soil media. Actions to remediate: For many of the starts, it's too late in the year to replace them such as pepper, basil etc. But other's we will start with fresh media and attempt starting some indoors and some in greenhouse with repairs to attempt another batch: squash, pumpkin, melon seedlings. Animal contamination will be remediated by only mixing soil in containers with firm lids to keep cats etc. our of media. Though this set back was dire, it's part of the learning curve in a new place. For next growing season we'll be adding to this years projects a lean to greenhouse with double layer plastic for more secure growing, protecting from lower night time temperatures.
How will we accomplish our goals for this project from a financial standpoint?
The primary source for the initial stage of this venture will be in the selling of a motorhome we own, alternative sources for funding this project are to do it slowly or use tax returns each year.
In keeping with sustainable practices, we've found materials that we'll be re-purposing creatively to create interest in the market and keep out of pocket expenses to a minimum.
Potential Setbacks: State Water commission doesn't grant us enough water rights to grow vegetables. If we are not granted enough water by the state water commission we will proceed with procuring a business loan and finding a seller to buy water rights from.
Contingency plan for if water can not be acquired: Business will continue as usual, inviting more local growers to sell produce from store instead of providing main crop for sale from Palenquito, pursuit of water rights through private purchase and business loan.
