New Mexico... (Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe: appointed, for sale, mortgage)

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by jsc23

LV is Zone 5, SF is Zone 6 and ABQ is zone 7 or 8, I think.

Yep, that is pretty much accurate jsc. Big difference growing-wise between LV-to-SF-to-ABQ (and then all the way down the Rio Grande to Las Cruces, etc.).

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by jsc23

We had snow about 9 days ago. Light frost a couple of nights ago, looks like it might frost again tonight. Tomatoes might do better in S. NH because of the latitude... more daylight hours during the growing season?

We can grow them here, just have to keep indoors for about first 6 weeks.

LV is Zone 5, SF is Zone 6 and ABQ is zone 7 or 8, I think.

I'm in South Central NM, zone 7 (some sites list it as zone 6, but I don't think that's correct). The days are warm, but the nights have been close to freezing here and there, so I wheel my tomatoes in when that happens. I have no ground plants this year.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

I'm in South Central NM, zone 7 (some sites list it as zone 6, but I don't think that's correct).

What is your altitude Cathy? I believe the heart of Alamo would be a solid 7b, if not an 8a.

If someone is telling you a 6 in Alamo, unless you are higher / in foothills, etc., no way you are anything less than a 7b if not an 8.

[mortimer]

Vinegaroon is concerned with:

> ... a big waste of water to grow vegetables, but that's just my opinion.

I can't imagine that the amount of water used to grow a pound of produce somewhere else is much different than the water used to grow it in your backyard. There might be a difference, but not a big one.

As mentioned previously, when you pluck the plant from your garden, all you have to do is walk a few feet into your kitchen to clean off whatever you are preparing using far less water than an industrial farm (others have mentioned chemicals).

Others have correctly pointed out that the pound of tomatoes in your store required fuel to be transported to your store and you might have needed fuel to go and get it.

Qualitatively, there is no comparison to store bought vs. home grown produce.

ziaAirmac, on Earthship community:

> ... in Taos ... All of the homes are earthships (built to take advantage
> of the Earth's natural insulation) and the entire community tries to run
> on a completely sustainable cycle.

I wonder how "sustainable" they really are? Are they a bunch of trust-fund environmentalists who don't make any contribution to society? How much extra fuel do they use because they live way out in the boonies and have to travel many extra miles into town for the things that they don't provide for themselves?

Do they rant and rave about the "sprawl" in the cities, but choose not to recognize that their community is just as "sprawly" as any developed suburb?

> Anyone can take advantage of alternative power to 'get off the grid' though.

Right. What's the point of trying to go 100%? What's wrong with 40% or 80%? In order to be 100% off you either have to invest in a whole bunch of(environmentally harmful) storage capacity or simply sit in the dark or cold when your wind or solar or poo-burner is down.

What's wrong with just being in the lower half of resource users if you feel so guilty about using those resources?

[LRUA]

Alamogordo is zone 8a ....also Las Cruces ....and T or C

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

What is your altitude Cathy? I believe the heart of Alamo would be a solid 7b, if not an 8a.

If someone is telling you a 6 in Alamo, unless you are higher / in foothills, etc., no way you are anything less than a 7b if not an 8.

The altitude here at the house is 4375 feet.....

Go to this site and put in my zipcode of 88310....

National Gardening Association :: National Gardening Association

I get 6A...

USDA Hardiness Zone Finder

Your Zip: 88310

• Zone: 6A
• City: Alamogordo
• State: NM

If I go by color on the same site, I get 7A....at Park Seeds, with zip code, I get 7 also. I have not gotten an 8 on any site, whether I go by zip code or color.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by LRUA

Alamogordo is zone 8a ....also Las Cruces ....and T or C

See my post to EnjoyEP....I have not seen Alamogordo in zone 8 on any map....and the Otero County Master Gardener's site does not give the zone.

I honestly do not think that Alamogordo is in 8, but it could be. I just haven't seen a current map that shows that.

USNA - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: South-Midwest US

[Devin Bent]

I enter 88310 in the ArborDay hardiness zone finder I get "7-8".

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Devin Bent

I enter 88310 in the ArborDay hardiness zone finder I get "7-8".

*Tears hair out*

LOL!!!

[RamblinRoseRanch]

To answer the comments on the first page of the thread :-)

We just intend to grow enough to feed us, organically. The horses' will have to eat purchased hay, I know.

I've heard a bit about ollas (I think that's the name) the clay pots sunk into the ground and used to retain moisture near the plant roots? Anyone ever use them?