This report features information from an interview with Linda and Andy Otero (2000), owners of a working homestead with two large greenhouses that are used year around in Northern Arizona. This operation is unique because it is a true passive life support construction, as the produce is a primary food source for the owners. Additionally organic seedlings and vegetables are grown for income by selling some to the public and supplying some local outlets (farmer's market, etc.) The following information is from this interview.
A view of the "homestead" on a perfect summer's day. You can see the glass faces of the two attached greenhouses, one on each living space.
The first greenhouse was built in 1979. The second story you see in this photograph was not part of the original construction, it is being built presently. Andy tells me that he "camped" on his land in the beginning and lived inside this first greenhouse for a while until he eventually built their first house which also has a large attached greenhouse. The small photo is today inside the home greenhouse.
This greenhouse uses totally passive technology. It contains a 3500 gallon water cistern in the floor against the north wall. The roof line is designed so that the winter sun heats this water tank (heat sink mass) for nighttime warmth, but leaves it in the shade during the summer months. This is one of the keys to a successful passive structure. In reality this is a pit greenhouse for the floor is in the original earth about two feet below the outside ground level. This also contributes to its success as the natural earth temperature below the freeze line is usually about 50 degrees. You can see in this photo that climbing plants also provide shade to other vegetables during the summer months. Ample ventilation is provided on warm days, making sure that "the amount of ventilation is at least one sixth of the glazing square footage." Vents are two thirds at floor level, one third higher up for heat outlet. Water comes from their own on site well.
The glass used in both greenhouses (picture above is inside the 2nd unit that is attached to the first home) is from recycled sliding glass doors. In fact many of the materials used in the Otero's construction are recycled. Typical vegetables grown every year include tomatoes, chilies, melons, lettuces, spinach, garlic and more. Flowers and herbs round out the selection, grown indoors and out per seasonal requirements. In addition to providing much of their own food for the table, they also offer much of their harvest for sale to the public via a local Farmer's Market, directly or through market and restaurant outlets in the region. They are an excellent source for organic seedlings, something not easy to find from commercial nurseries. Pests are a problem for every gardener at some time. Agave Gardens is no exception. They've had their share of aphids and grasshoppers. Because of their rural location most problems have been mice, ground squirrels, deer, elk and raccoons.
The fine art of organic recycling is the hallmark of Agave Gardens. Everything is used and recycled in a marvelous kind of Otero ecosystem. For example, they raise rabbits for a manure source. In exchange the rabbits enjoy the finest and freshest garden cuttings for their meals, a perfect symbiosis. The Otero's well (pumped by a windmill) provides so much water that it keeps a large fish pond filled year around. At regular intervals they pump the "fish emulsion" from this pond and apply it to growing beds as their own brand of fish emulsion. Their property also abounds with various stages of compost piles. There is no shortage of fresh organic fertilizer in thei operation, all free and on site.
Here you can see one of the rabbit hutches with a worm farm directly below. Worm castings are also involved in their fertilizer and soil amendment programs.
Solar microclimates are created everywhere on the property outside of the greenhouses. They say that "once you understand the benefits of windbreaks and solar gathering, season extending becomes a fine art" on this homestead where they grow vegetables in conditions that discourage the average person.
Above the workshed is this array of electricity generating windmills. On the prairie there is often a breeze. Far more electricity is produced than is required.
Andy's genius is again demonstrated in this practical idea. He has established his bank of storage batteries along the south wall of this work shed. Then he built a solar window and reflective door that matches the battery pack. Opening this door in the winter provides natural solar warming for the batteries, which helps them keep their charge longer and it extends their life. How's that for problem solving?
Off grid living is a work in progress. Droughts cause the well to dry up. Additonal neighbors drain the water table. New challenges appear every day. It should cause us to pause and realize that our contemporary way of life, detached from our source of food, is a illusion of comfort and is based on a weather based variable we take for granted.
nazSTUFF.com Exclusives
Customize these imprinted items to serve your own purposes
Support sustainability... and this web site.
~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
• Flagstaff
-- Local Business Directory
-- Rt 66 Car Show 2010
• Sedona
• Jerome
• Winslow
• Grand Canyon
- Guides - River Runners
- Geology Landforms
- Geology Trail of Time
- Ancient Environments 01
- Ancient Environments 02
- Grand Canyon Paintings
- GC Publications
• Native People
• Ancient People
• Grand Canyon Archaeology
• Favorite Meals
Interpretation...
Intuitive Hiker
• Beginnings
• First Discoveries
• Solstice Marker_01
• Solstice Marker_02
• Observations
• Birth Petroglyph
• Chariots of the GODs
• Water Catchment
• Glyphs on SF Peaks
• Petrified Forest
• 3D Pithouse_01
• 3D Pithouse_02
• 3D Pithouse_03
• 3D Pithouse 04
• N AZ Archaeology
• Elden Pueblo Now
• Elden Pueblo Then
• Visiting Lomaki Ruin
• Keyhole Sink Rock Art
• King Tut of N Arizona
• Montezuma Well
Wupatki Project
• Wupatki Reconstruct 01
• Wupatki Reconstruct 02
• Wupatki Reconstruct 03
• Wupatki Reconstruct 04
• Wupatki Reconstruct 05
• Wupatki Reconstruct 06
• Wupatki Reconstruct 07
• National Park Visitor Cntr
• GPS Experience 01
• GPS Experience 02
• GPS Experience 03
• Range Rover 01 - Saving
• Range Rover 01 - History
• Range Rover 01 - Brakes
• Wildflower Guide 01
• Wildflower Guide 02
• Wildlife
• Fishing
• Best CLIP ART
Forest Textures
Brush Strokes Style
Homeowner
• Neighborhood Flood 01
• Neighborhood Flood 02
• Neighborhood Flood 03
• Neighborhood Flood 04
• Replace an Old Fence 01
• Replace an Old Fence 02
• Replace an Old Fence 03
• Replace an Old Roof
• Replacing an Old Window
greenLIFE
• Living Off the Grid
• Weather Related
• Compost
• Solar Greenhouse 01
• Solar Greenhouse 02
• Solar Greenhouse 03
• Pit Greenhouse Research
• Farmers Market
• Victory Gardens -WHY?
• Mount Hope Foods
• New Frontiers Market
• Strawbale Construction
Digital Arts
• Digital Fish 01
• Digital Fish 02
• Digital Fish 03
• Digital Fish 04
• Digital Fish 05
• Gallery of Fish Paintings
• 3D Masonic Eye Demo
• Egyptian Scarab Demo
• Mayan Hunab Ku Design
• 3D Raven
• Colorado River Topo Map
• 3D Clip Composition 01
• 3D Clip Composition 02
• 3D Clip Composition 03
• 3D Clip Composition 04
Fine Arts - Oil Paintings
• Grand Canyon Paintings
• Famous Zoo Posters
• Polychrome
• Emergence Prophecy
Demonstrations
• Build Your Own Easel
• Grand Canyon 01
• Grand Canyon 02
• Fall on McMillan Mesa
• Wupatki Sunrise
• Macaws of Wupatki
• Remembering August
• Tuzigoot Reconstruct 01
• Tuzigoot Reconstruct 02
• Tuzigoot Reconstruct 03
Healing Arts
• Healing CLIP ART
- 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06
• Practitioners of N AZ
• PCa Strategy
• Healing Essays
• Fresh Juice
• Budwig Diet
• Wheat Grass Juice
• Making Essiac Tea
• UPs and DOWNs
Rascal Inquires, " If You Are Not Concerned About the Future, Then You Haven't Been Paying Attention." This, then is our advertising campaign, to contribute to your well being.
When You Are Hungry,
Nothing Else Matters.
Preparation is Key
More Info on our BLOG