Basin Wide Spirit, Fall 2009
By Stacy Moore

JOSHUA TREE, November 2009 – Milissa Anderson laughs as she strides down the soft dirt path, open desert on her left side and row upon row of flowering squash plants on her right.

This isn’t going to be a seedy story, is it? she asks.Yes, this is a very seedy story a leafy one, too. Anderson, who lives in Joshua Tree, is a member of the Earthwise garden project spearheaded by Robert Ellis on a former alfalfa farm off Sunfair Road in that village.

What’s growing now on the farm pumpkins and other squashes, melons, okra and, soon, garlic is sold at a weekly farmers’ market in Yucca Valley. What’s next for Ellis and his team is a community garden, where anyone can rent a 20- by 20-foot spot for a personal farm to feed one’s family or to sell at the farmers’ market or at a roadside stand.

We have 10 to 12 farmers now who are in line to get growing, Ellis says. The cost will be $10 per month, plus the price of installing irrigation for the plot. Members who want to sell at the farmers’ market will pay an extra fee for certification.

In another part of the Morongo Basin, a second group of growers is laying the early groundwork for its own community garden. Landowner Garth Bowles wants to contribute a section of his property in Rimrock, near Pioneertown, for a community garden specifically a permaculture garden, following precepts about living and farming in a way that mimics natural ecosystems.

Garth Bowles stands on a bridge spanning a lily-covered pond on his Rimrock property. He also has geese in his menagerie.

It’s really working with the land to create what’s necessary for sustainability for land, people and animals, explains Amara Alban, the spokeswoman for the Rimrock effort. While they aren’t ready to begin turning soil quite yet, the Boulder Community Garden idea is flowering into a growing group of people who meet online and in person.

We just had a visioning meeting and put together a proper vision statement, Amara said in early September. At frequent in-person gatherings, participants discuss ideas, learn gardening techniques and share goods from their personal gardens.

This is in a very, very beginning stage, Amara says. If enough people are interested and have the energy and focus to create it, it’s wide open. Far from competing with the Earthwise garden, Amara envisions a Morongo Basin with several community gardens, each convenient to people from different parts of the region. She called on people to join the Earthwise community garden, where they should be able to start planting seeds very soon.

Ellis’ own vision for his Joshua Tree farm is to help families eat healthy meals, putting in less money and more bonding time than they do now. For people relying on restaurants and supermarkets, It is not always cheap to eat healthy, and it’s not always userfriendly to go to McDonald’s, says Ellis, who estimates a community gardener could produce up to 2,000 pounds of vegetables in a year on the size of the plots he’s planning.

To help make it easier for people on very limited incomes, the Earthwise farmers’ market accepts Electronic Benefit Transfer cards debit cards for people on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. People on food stamps can augment their menus with the community garden, Ellis enthuses.

Earthwise also is a member of Champions for Change, a California Department of Public Health initiative to encourage people to live more healthy lifestyles. Beyond the health of fresh fruits and veggies, Ellis sees a spiritual component to his farm, as well. The bonding that happens in a family that grows food, prepares it and eats it together is worth the price of seeds 10 times over, he says.

The idea behind a community garden is simple: It’s a piece of land gardened by a group of people. From that seed of an idea, several possibilities can grow. Gardeners might eat the food themselves, share with others, donate to charities or sell at farmers’ markets or roadside stands. The Morongo Basin has two community gardening groups. Earthwise Farms in Joshua Tree is much closer to renting out farm spaces. Boulder Community Garden is in the visioning process and is a kind of support and encouragement group for people interested in gardening.

Earthwise Hosts Water Canyon Farmers’ Market from 3-8 p.m. Wednesdays
Location: 55818 Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley
Information: (760) 542-9780 or info@earthwiseorganicfarms.com
Online: http://earthwiseorganicfarms.com/

Boulder Community Gardens Hosts online community with in-person gatherings
Information: Amara Alban at (760) 401-5220
Online: http://bouldercommunitygardens.ning.com

JOSHUA TREE, November 1, 2009 – Several varieties of squash were planted on a 40 acre tract in late summer 2009, and the first harvest is now underway starting in late October. Squash varieties include Kombucha, Spaghetti, Acorn, Calabaza, and Turban. The mineral rich soil did not require any amendments, and the squash were grown with non-gmo organic seed, and of course, no pesticides were used. The hearty squash plants withstood strong winds, heat, cold, rabbits and fared quite well. The hard-working farm engineers from Jaimie farms also battled with ground squirrels who were constantly chewing through the drip irrigation lines.

The squash are now served at local restaurants, including the Ricochet, which serves Kombucha soup prepared by healthy gourmet chef, Rosa. The squash are also on sale at the Water Canyon Farmers Market every Wednesday between 3-7 pm.

Joshua Tree, CA, July 26, 2009 - The first crop is underway at the new Earthwise Farm located on Sunfair Road in Joshua Tree. The new farm in Joshua Tree is the largest fruit and vegetable farm in the South Desert region of San Bernardino County (from Victorville to 29 Palms) and is now the only major farm in operation in the entire Morongo Basin. The sustainable farm is located at the site of a former alfalfa farm that was last active in the 1950′s. After nearly 60 years of dormancy, the soil at the former alfalfa farm is still abundantly rich and fertile. New plantings for this season include peanuts, carrots, beets, watermelon, cantalopes, winter squash and potatoes.

A two acre worm farm has also been started to supply the farm with worm castings. A planned expansion of the worm farm is scheduled to occur in September 2009 to provide local growers with a steady supply of worm castings.

The water-conserving drip irrigation system was installed on the first 40 acre farmsite parcel, operated by Jaimie Bros. Farms. After several attempts of pressurizing the system at full well output, Jaimie Bros. succeeded at containing the prodigious output of well #2.

An example of the farm equipment on site.

Joshua Tree, CA, June 20, 2009– The ceremony began with the ringing of a bell, given by a Polynesian monk, to bless the land. “The reason for choosing today is because of the Summer Solstice, energy wise you couldn’t ask for a better time to do a ground breaking ceremony, especially for growing things,” Ellis said.

A ribbon cutting ceremony announced the opening of Earth Wise Organic Farms with Jaime Farms June 20. Together they have created a local organic farming co-op.

As people were arriving for the ceremony, locals mingled, tasted strawberries from Pipes Canyon, put their names into a container for winning a basket of fruits and vegetables, and talked with Dr. Robert Ellis, ND, chairman of the Earth Wise Organic Farms board.

With about fifty people in attendance, including the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce, Ellis said, “If each one of you told five of your friends, we are an instant success.” There are 500 share openings for the co-op with 12 week co-op cycles.

To keep the farm in a true organic style everything will be produced in house, including worm castings from a two acre worm farm on location and seeds from the plants being grown. Worm castings have been chosen for many reasons from keeping the ground from going hot, and preventing ground water contamination as with other farm animal manures. This is especially important since the surface of the farm is only 110 feet above the underground aquifer.

The well water that is being used to water the farm had quite a different taste than most of us have become accustomed to here locally. The taste had quite a delicious softness to it compared to the piped in water. To conserve this water, instead of sprinkler systems being used, there will be a drip system installed, with drips every 8 inches, saving approximately 60 percent in water use.

“I have been a part of the National Ground Water Association water management courses, and have logged over 200 hours in certification classes for training in water conservation,” Ellis said.

The growing fields have abundantly rich soil due to the fact this land was used in the 1950s to grow alfalfa. To break the wind on the plant, the crops will be planted in a ‘S’ or snake shape, a method used in Europe, to break the wind from themselves.

There will be no pesticides used on any crops. “If the critters stop by to have lunch, well, there’s gonna be a smörgåsbord,” Ellis said, “The goal is to develop a garden to shift critters to a different area.”

One hundred and sixty acres have been dedicated out of the 640 acres owned, to the organic farm. There will be over 300 plants throughout the year, depending on the season. There should be something of different colors every time you drive by or stop in. “I would like the community to stop by anytime and check out the farm,” Ellis said.

The growing cycle is 11 months out of the year. Each co-op is $32.00 for twelve weeks, paying for the microbial sterilization of the boxes, vegetable, and fruit, and for supplying the boxes or coolers used. This equates to approximately $2.67 per week.

The fresh fruit box is $35.00 per week and includes, 2 pints of strawberries, 2 lbs. of peaches, 2 lbs. of oranges, 1 lbs. cherries, 1 watermelon, 1 cantaloupe, 2 lbs. of apples, and 2 lbs. of tomatoes.

The fresh veggie box is $40.00 per week and carries 1 bunch of carrots, 1 bag of lettuce mix, 1 lbs. of broccoli, 1 lbs. of cucumbers, 1 lbs. of Summer squash, 2 lbs. of peppers, 2 lbs. of potatoes, 1 lbs. of eggplant, 1 bunch of asparagus, 3 ears of corn, 1 lbs of green beans, and 1 bag of spinach.

A mixed box of fresh fruit and vegetables costs $45.00 per week and is stocked with 2 pints of strawberries, 2 lbs. of peaches, 2 lbs. of oranges, 2 lbs. of apples, 1 watermelon, 2 lbs. of tomatoes, 1 bag of lettuce mix, 1 lbs. of cucumbers, 2 lbs. of peppers, 3 ears of corn, 1 lbs. of green beans, 1 lbs. of Summer squash, and 1 bag of spinach.

“These prices versus in the grocery store are substantially less,” said Ellis.

To join the co-op, the website is www.earthwiseorganicfarms.com, or call Dr. Robert Ellis at 760-542-9780. To visit the farm the address is 3698 Sunfair Drive in Joshua Tree, California.

JOSHUA TREE, March 14, 2009 — A proposed commercial organic farm could supply local produce, if business partners can overcome challenges posed by Joshua Basin Water District and San Bernardino County regulations.

Tim Sakach, left, and Robert Ellis water vegetable sprouts in a greenhouse donated by Sunfair neighbor Jack Fletcher of Joshua Tree. The gardeners hope to have a crop of locally grown produce available this year.

The 640-acre, one-square-mile site is in the Sunfair area, west of Copper Mountain College and northeast of Hi-Desert Medical Center.

The property owner is Robert Ellis, a retired osteopath who has sunk five wells on the land. The wells remain unpermitted, pending a resolution with the water district, which wants the wells to be metered so water managers can monitor Ellis’ usage.

He also is working with officials to resolve problems with the county.

Initially, he planned to put a golf course and attendant community on the property, buy the nearby airport and construct a building-trades school there, but that partnership didn’t pan out.

Since then, Ellis said, he has gotten about 15 offers to sell the property, including one that would put automobile salvage facility on the land.

“I turned down a $23 million dollar offer, and another of $15.2 million for 200 acres,” Ellis said. “Nothing felt right.”

A consultant whom Ellis said is one of the top geologists in the country reportedly told him if he were to take 500 acre feet per year out of his land and didn’t return one, he might run out of water there within the next several thousand years.

Ellis plans to use much less water and return much more of it into the aquifer, using advanced growing and irrigation techniques.

He wants to erect 12 large greenhouses, up to 60,000 square feet, on the western end of the property, away from the asphalt road.

“The land is paid for, the wells are paid for. Everything is ready,” Ellis said. “I can’t think of anything that would serve this community as well as fresh vegetable that don’t have to be trucked in.”

“I am glad to be here,” Ellis said. “The excitement is off the meter.”

I’m looking for help,” the prospective gardener added. “I want, first of all, people who have experience working in this environment, (who know) what vegetables will grow here.”

Ellis envisions a working relationship with the chamber of commerce whereby existing businesses can synergize with the farm — restaurants, health food stores, etc. “We want to grow for locals,” Ellis said.

A board of directors, “People with experience marketing organic products,” will be formed, Ellis said. “Our company is only going to be as good as the team we put together.”

Ellis is looking at partnerships with a variety of local entities, including students. “I would love to see Copper Mountain College open a course on organic farming.”

Initially, Ellis would like to experiment with beets, squash, potatoes, onions, tomatoes and sprouts. “We’ll have our first crop this year,” Ellis promised.