[NoraSpinnor]

What if the answer to the growing population problem lies in land we just don’t know how to cultivate? Desert forestry is an interesting agricultural science that uses various land engineering techniques to collect water from seasonal monsoons and redistribute it through drier periods. Nature does this the best, so people are experimenting with ways that use native plants and fungi to help foster the growth of edible plants.

The following list is a quick summary, the video at the end goes into much more detail:

Terraces help slow and collect runoff. This means building small earthen mounds, which, with no-till methods, get stronger every year. Keep the “raised bed” modest in arid climates since extra exposed surface warms fast. Pair the terrace with a rock edge to hold water in place during heavy rains.

A waffle garden is a grid of shallow pockets. Each pocket catches rain, collects silt, and creates a small microclimate. These basins also simplify hand watering since water goes directly into the pocket and stays where roots can use it. This approach fits gardens, tree establishment, and any area where you want concentrated moisture without expensive irrigation.

Shade is water. A mulch layer reduces evaporation, moderates soil temperature, and feeds microbes. Wood chips work well. Chopped stems, leaf litter, and prunings work well. Place mulch around tree basins and along infiltration lines. Keep a clear path for seedlings when direct seeding. Use a light cover or scattered mulch for small-seeded areas.

Collect small amounts of duff and living soil from under established native trees and shrubs, then place it where you are building new beds and basins. This transfers local fungi and microbes adapted to your climate. Compost and compost extracts can do the same job. The goal is root partnership from day one.

Start with cheap, fast-growing cover that provides shade, root channels, and biomass. Legumes add nitrogen, grasses add fibrous roots, and broadleaf covers add quick ground shading. Once you have a living canopy and a mulch supply, tree seedlings and transplants gain a safer establishment window.

Wind is a drying engine. Even a partial windbreak changes evaporation rates across an entire planting zone. Establish windbreak lines early with hardy shrubs, dense annuals, and temporary structures. A calmer microclimate protects seedlings and keeps surface moisture alive longer after rain.

The key principles are in establishing plants that will respond well to a dry climate. Tepary beans and amaranth are two standards used in the Americas in dry, deserts. Share your thoughts and any tips for turning desert into a food forest.

[AshSongbird]

This wisdom is still in native societies
passed in oral traditions
tune into the land ⛰︎ ོ ༄
and you might see it.. 𖤓
Nature knows best ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆𓂃 ོ☼𓂃

[Matt]

I live in a rocky desert and it’s hard to see a potential food forest but I love what you shared! Def something I gotta look into more.

[Author]

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