Water Rights - Pistachio Growing Southern New Mexico

[rruff]

Originally Posted by joqua

Because of the more frequent water restrictions, I lost the entire row of poplar trees, one apple tree is almost dead, and the other one hasn't had a single apple in the past two years.

I don't know if you are doing it or if it is even legal here (I know it isn't some places), but you can collect a good amount of water via gutters for yard watering. Granted, that isn't going to help you in the pre July dry period unless you have a really big tank and carry it over from the previous year.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by joqua

I used to just ignore the rules myself, since I bought a house that USED TO HAVE a wind break of mature lombardy poplar trees, two mature apple trees and many decorative shrubs and flowering bushes. Because of the more frequent water restrictions, I lost the entire row of poplar trees, one apple tree is almost dead, and the other one hasn't had a single apple in the past two years.

I have only a few pine and fir trees and luckily (knock wood), I haven't had a tree affected by bark beetles as so many other homeowners have.

I would never advise anyone to move to this town if they love to garden, as I once did.

I have no doubt that the climate is a challenge for anyone who loves to garden.

I am one of those who don't garden unless it produces FOOD. I have had no in-ground veggie plots since I left Midland in 2007. The wind, heat, bugs and volatile weather make gardening a challenge in WT--and even more of one in Central, because of the deer and bugs!!

My tomatoes have all been raised in moveable carts since 2008--Alamogordo, Farmington and Alpine.

I can move the carts out of the wind and protect them from cold and insects much easier than an in-ground garden. I can have tomatoes ready to take home Christmas if I like.

The only thing I missed in NM were my green chiles (my favorite variety, Joe Parker, isn't often grown commercially)--these don't do well in either containers or carts.

My outside ground plants are all agave or Texas purple sage, which require only hand-watering every once in awhile, and a tiny two-section lawn (each about 10'x27') of buffalo grass. If it weren't for the dogs, I wouldn't have any lawn at all.

Farmington's growing season is a little longer than yours, but I still had to contend with cold nights when the plants were getting established--so being able to move the tomatoes into the garage or house those nights really helped.

[ocean2026]

Pistacios need dry hot summers and cool winters. I hear the Ag Extension even helps with costs.

[Wupper]

Doe's anyone use grey water to irrigate. [url=http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/fod/LiquidWaste/graywater.html]New Mexico Environment Department Liquid Waste Program Gray Water Information[/url] Seems simple to hook a line to your washing machine etc. GOSH!

[6.7traveler]

^ I don't live in NM, but In some spots of Arizona it is actually "illegal" to use grey water. The plumbing company I worked for hooked up a few grey water systems under the table for people anyways (those rebels). For a state with such limited water I thought that was ridiculous. I would hope New Mexico would be more progressive on this and allow grey water irrigation. Kitchen sink water can be a little on the nasty side, but washing machine, sink and tub water should all be fair game to use, IMO.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by 6.7traveler

^ I don't live in NM, but In some spots of Arizona it is actually "illegal" to use grey water.

NM passed legislation a few years ago making it legal under state law. Municipalities may be able to ban it with local ordinances - not sure. My family's old cabin has always drained the grey water to the yard, but not in such a manner that it's used to irrigate. It goes to one spot. OTOH, the old cabin has always been used only periodically. Even so, the drainage area has always been the greenest spot on the property!