SOIL | On the Solar Path

•September 6, 2017 • Leave a Comment

After raising some money with our GoFundMe campaign, the solar conversion of the well begins in earnest. STEP 1) Pouring a slab to support the 2300 gallon tank, supervised by neighbor dog Dingo.

STEP 2) Install solar panels. STEP 3) After pulling the old pump, install BRAND NEW *SHINY* Grunfoss submersible pump!

Sunlight goes in panels and triggers the pump by way of the inverter and controller in pumphouse. Water is on its way to the 25-gallon pressure tank and then into the big green tank. As water is used a booster pump inside the green tank keeps refilling the tank. All the plumbing on the ranch is connected to this tank. (The big tan tank collects rainwater from the pumphouse roof.) MAGIC!!

Posted in Soil

EARTH | And the Build Goes On

•September 6, 2017 • Leave a Comment

We hosted another wonderful visit from United World College students who laid the earthbag foundation for a new tiny building, which I call a hybrid hut.

Working on a variation of the hybrid hut, which will become a second humanure outhouse.

A wonderful LARGE group from United World College assisted in earthbag work for the pumphouse addition and the new humanure outhouse.

Winter wall building continues with Nikki and Alex and The Family. This is the addition onto the pumphouse.

A perfect rainbow brought us into 2017 on New Year’s Day.

Posted in Earth

OUTREACH | It’s been a whole year…

•September 6, 2017 • Leave a Comment

It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since I posted here. Two factors account for this: 1) I started a Ransom Ranch Facebook page last Fall; and 2) After the election I entered sort of a paralytic state, and then shifted into activist mode. Activity at Ransom Ranch continued, however, and now I’ll catch you up.

Click here to see us on Facebook

Posted in Outreach

OUTREACH | Ransom Ranch GoFundMe Campaign!

•September 22, 2016 • Leave a Comment

Howdy Friends!  We’ve been working really hard putting this crowdfunding campaign together. Please take the time to read (CLICK HERE for our GoFundMe page) and watch the video so you can see what we’ve been up to. – Marcia

Please share this 30-day campaign with your friends on Facebook and forward to anyone who you think would be interested in our project.

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OUTREACH | Late Summer 2016 Interns

•August 30, 2016 • 3 Comments
Alex from Michigan and Aneesah from Houston join Marcia in her front yard corn field. Summer interns learning and providing help with alternative building, organic garden/farm, land reclamation, rainwater collection, and tech support for upcoming crowdfunding campaign.

Alex from Michigan and Aneesah from Houston join Marcia in her front yard corn field. Summer interns learning and providing help with alternative building, organic garden/farm, land reclamation, rainwater collection, and tech support for upcoming crowdfunding campaign.

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EARTH | Outdoor Shower Completed!

•August 30, 2016 • 1 Comment
New outdoor shower completed!

New outdoor shower completed!

 

Aneesah and Alex learning to use a water level. A water level has many uses. In this case we're determining where the gray water from the shower will go.

Marcia showing Alex and Aneesah how to use a water level. A water level has many uses. In this case we’re determining where the gray water from the shower will go.

 

Alex and Aneesah planting an Arizona Black Walnut tree which will be irrigated with the gray water from the shower. Yay!

Alex and Aneesah planting an Arizona Black Walnut tree which will be irrigated with the gray water from the shower. Yay!

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EARTH | Rural Solar Applications workshop 2016

•August 30, 2016 • Leave a Comment
Marcia and Alex attending Rural Solar Applications workshop at Cochise College, Douglas, presented by Arizona Land and Water Trust. Gathering information pertinent to solar pumping project for the well at Ransom Ranch.

Marcia and Alex attending Rural Solar Applications workshop at Cochise College, Douglas, presented by Arizona Land and Water Trust. Gathering information pertinent to solar pumping project for the well at Ransom Ranch.

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SOIL | Seed Saving Workshop in Tucson 2016

•August 30, 2016 • Leave a Comment
Dissecting seeds/flowers at Seed Saving workshop.

Dissecting seeds/flowers at Seed Saving workshop.

Separating cotton from its seeds at Tucson's Native Seed Search workshop.

Separating cotton from its seeds at Tucson’s Native Seed Search workshop.

Learn more at http://www.nativeseeds.org/

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SOIL | How I Grow Wheat

•March 19, 2016 • 2 Comments
1

February 12: Eliana admires wheat seedlings planted in flats. Protected in a cold frame, they grew to this size in only nine days.

2

February 28 & 29: Wheat seedlings have been transplanted into the garden, and protected from birds with bottomless tin cans. Drip irrigation is visible.

3

Late May: Harvesting wheat by cutting it close to the ground and tying in sheaves. Grain will cure in sunlight, protected from birds.

4 wheat threshing

Students from United World College thresh wheat to music!

Winnowing the threshed grain with a fan.

6

580 square feet produced the 4.5 pounds of kamut wheat you see on the right. As I continue to build the soil, the yield increases. In addition to the wheat itself, growing grains improves the soil and provides a large quantity of straw (biomass) for compost.

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OUTREACH | UWC-USA Climate Change and Energy Initiatives Conference

•February 12, 2016 • 2 Comments

Marcia was invited to present a program about Ransom Ranch at the 2016 United World College USA Conference on Climate Change and Energy Initiatives. More details about the conference here.

"The Castle" at United World College, USA

“The Castle” at United World College, USA

Students learning the principles of the arch, vault, and dome, and taking a 'virtual tour' of Ransom Ranch.

Students learning the principles of the arch, vault, and dome, and taking a ‘virtual tour’ of Ransom Ranch.

Illustrating how being an artist can help in planning and design.

Illustrating how being an artist can help in planning and design.

Illustrating Marcia's start in farming and gardening in the mid-1970s, here sorting dates in the field.

Illustrating Marcia’s start in farming and gardening in the mid-1970s, here sorting dates in the field, 1975

Our leased date grove

Our leased date grove, 1975

Marcia, her goats and garden by an orange orchard, Coachella Valley, CA, 1975.

Marcia, her goats and garden by an orange orchard, Coachella Valley, CA, 1976

Posted in Outreach

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