Rancho de la Libertad: progress, plants, offerings, residents, and more.
These photos are in somewhat chronological order, with the most recent usually appearing at the top. Things are always changing and growing, and shift with the seasons. They highlight some of our animals, our tree planting efforts, our vegetable and herb gardens, and some of the wildlife we see returning.
More and more raptors are returning. This one looks like a red tailed hawk but has some features that make it tricky to identify, so we aren't 100% certain.Newly completed earthworks amongst in-progress earthworks in our front herb and vegetable garden. We just transplanted this 9 month old Chilean mesquite so it could have a drier home, and the palo verdes behind it have been there for about a year now.Desert milkweed in front of a greywater basin with meandering channels in progress, full of flourishing native and non-native annuals like desert sunflower, cinchweed, spaghetti squash (for future pigs), ricegrass, and others. Some seeds were planted, some washed in during heavy rains and are wild natives. Mixed cover crop, medicinal, and vegetable basinOso protecting his flock this SummerHard to tell in the light, but this egg is purple, courtesy of one of our beloved hensMushrooms fruiting after rain (unknown type)Cowpeas are the champions of the Fall season so farCaesar and Nero (rear) the roosters, all grown upMultiple types of scarab beetles have returnedFlowering velvet mesquite with native bees (not honeybees!) and mothsCarving meandering channels for greywater management, yellow clover for soil cover and restorationSprouting squash in new soil we've built up using some unconventional methodsBlooming Texas Sage, a "non" sage with medicinal propertiesEarthworks in progress near the main house and a gorgeous two year old Chilean mesquite near the chicken runEarthworks in progress and new Chilean mesquite trees. Also shown: prickly pear cacti, an established acacia tree, and freshly planted jojoba in the back right.A tiger wing butterfly on blooming upright rosemaryEggs from our first flock of chickensA rare foggy dayBrooding Naked Neck chicks (about 2 weeks old) in a straw bale enclosure within the chicken coopOur first Chilean mesquite at 2.5 years oldOur first flock of chickens consisting of several different breeds, preparing to come off roost to eatLoyal guardian dog, Diego, taking a rest in the sunshineEmerging stars over the West fenceOur first potato cropLizards are returning to our landbaseA young cockerel (baby rooster)Place-sensible chickens with their long naked necks - this flock will thrive even through our hot summersViolet sage blooming in an infiltration basinStarlight & SiinWhite sage (forward) and screwbean mesquite (rear)Rhode Island Red chicks (our livestock cleanup team) at home in the eggmobileGolden hour in the baby West side forestGolden hour in the baby west side forestThe eggmobile, ready to be moved to livestock yards come FallProvider green beans sproutingBlack walnut and flowering green onions in a greywater basin - veggies in this basin are for genetic selection only (not eating), we'll save their seeds and replant elsewhere.
