Dry Farming

This year we’re following the drought in California. The snow pack is dwindling, the aquifers are being drained, and more and more people are competing for limited water. In response, we’re looking for ways to change how we garden. It won’t solve the greater problem of collecting and distributing water for multiple commercial, aesthetic, and personal interests, but it may help. Scientist recently offered hope that El Niño could bring rain this winter, but we still need sustainable solutions that extend beyond the next season. Until the rains and innovations come, I’m on the hunt for interesting ideas.

This story about dry farming in San Luis Obispo (SLO) grabbed my attention this summer; I heard it on The California Report: In Face of Drought, San Luis Obispo Farmer Advocates Dry Farming (by Lisa Morehouse for California Foodways, June 28, 2015). Dry farming relies only on rainwater. This is the old fashioned way of farming, using smarts, luck, and prayer. No irrigation.

Dry-farmed walnut trees in SLO (photo by Cynthia Wood/KQED)

 

Jutta Thoerner and Cynthia Douglas grow walnuts on Manzanita Manor Organics in SLO, using only rainwater. They use a variety of techniques for preparing the soil, grafting and planting trees, and retaining water in the soil; and maintain that the nuts are smaller but more flavorful. Mike Cirone dry farms fruit in SLO, and has a cult following of buyers for his small, sweet apricots and apples. Morehouse reports that a lot of crops are dry farmed across the state – wheat and grapes; tomatoes (Central Coast); potatoes (Marin); and squash (Humboldt). Dry farming works especially well in coastal and foggy areas, with good soil. Very inspiring – I think I’ll order some of those walnuts!

You can also read the article online: http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/06/28/in-face-of-drought-san-luis-obispo-farmer-advocates-dry-farming