southerly Arizona’sSleeping Frog Farmsgot its commencement on less than an acre of land northwest Tuscon , where four friends had big aspiration of feeding people in a most - literal food for thought desert . The name might sound uneven for an area surrounded by dry dirt and drought - tolerant plant , but it plays homage to their first rowing of fava beans , where the drip irrigation left puddles on either oddment of the row where frogs like to sleep .
Since those early days , the farm has expanded to 75 acres , now place 60 miles east in the Cascabel corridor of the San Pedro River Valley . As a certify Naturally Grown farm that eschews chemical substance fertilizers for sustainable soil amendments like bat guano , it produces some of the healthiest , most nutrient - dense fruits and vegetables in Southern Arizona for restaurants , Farmer markets and its community - plump for - agriculture political platform .
It’s All About Soil
Although clearly a success story , log Z’s Frog Farms has confront its comely share of challenges : namely , drouth . Much like in California , there are few place in Arizona that are n’t reliant on out - of - commonwealth water , and when a 15 - Accho veg plot of ground is at the meat of your business , that can be a problem .
“ We specifically chose our watershed area when we move our cognitive operation from Tucson to the San Pedro River Valley because of the purity and level of tribute of our aquifer , ” say co - possessor C.J. Marks . “ The high alkalinity of the water did not deter us from our goal because we have receive shipway around this using probiotic and lifelike soil building method acting . ”
In other words : They ’re farm grease . Using a combination of steer manure , bat guano , effective microorganisms ( a microbial inoculum ) and constituent pest command methods , they ’re work up up healthy soil in a place that ’s vastly inhospitable to farming culture .
Feeding Southern Arizona
Sleeping Frog Farms invest all of this crusade into the soil to respect their commitment to build up the local solid food arrangement .
“ Our destination is to supply healthy food with low H2O inputs in this food desert , ” say Marks , who grow up on a Louisiana farm and has traveled to different regions throughout the country to learn new land method . “ On a personal stratum , I simply fell in love with the nation and community we now serve . ”
The Farmer center on make up forward the knowledge and resources they ’ve acquired . They teach instinctive - husbandry , grease - building and conservation techniques whenever possible , specially when working with schooltime , health institutions and the restaurants they serve . Plus , any produce they ca n’t sell is donated to the Food Bank of Arizona , local businesses and other nonprofits to help oneself nutrify those that do n’t always have access to healthy food .
Take On the Challenge
There ’s no doubt that growing a small garden plot to a successful vegetable business organisation is no easy task , but Marks and the others at Sleeping Frog Farms want to see other budding farmers succeed . To help oneself beginning farmer along in their journeying , Marks pop the question these tips :
1. Invest Time
Work for a class or more in the region where you require to farm food for thought , and learn hand - on what it takes mentally physically and emotionally to do this sort of service work twenty-four hour period after day . Sleeping Frog Farms offer an internship program to provide raw farmers the fortune to do just that , and many other farm across the nation declare oneself standardized chance .
2. Start Small
You ’ll hear this from farmers time and meter again . Starting with a core , manageable project will facilitate you build your business — and keep your saneness — until you find your fast niche grocery .
3. Document Everything
A farmer exist and die by the numbers . Keep track of record of all sort — planting , harvest home , irrigation , expenses and more — and keep them organized .
4. Know Your Soil
try the pH of both your stain and H2O to decide what amendment you need to bring forth the intelligent food possible , reducing the penury for insecticides of all kind — chemical or organic .
5. Conserve Water
Learn filth - construction and compost methods for your specific region to reduce reliance on irrigation .
When You Visit
Sleeping Frog Farms has a lot to provide Southern Arizona and beyond . kibosh by for one of theiron - farm tours or workshops , and while you ’re in the area check out these other great activities .
