Earthworks Performed to Terrace Sandy Soil to Halt Erosion at Bloodfire Orchards

The USDA recommended planting our steep sandy land with pine trees and that was it. But I wanted to dig swales and capture that rain water and soak it in before it can erode. After researching how swales are being used to green the desserts and reforest, I wanted to do it here. But I was afraid that swales were going to fill with sand too quickly, but terracing might just help to hold the water, halt the devastating erosion and add fertility with the addition of cover cropping to add structure. You don’t know if you don’t try and with respect to the engineers and people at the USDA, I felt God telling me to go with my gut.

This aerial of the orchard shows the new terraces on the right side. Also down the middle, where the grade is less but significant enough to implement on-contour swales, I excavated trenches to capture rain water and filled with mulch to add fertility to the 600+ fruit, nut and nitrogen fixing trees and plants that we installed around the same time as the terracing project. The goal is to create a drought-proof perennial food forest and an orchard of turmeric in between.

It might take some time to build structure to this sandy soil to stop erosion and have enough fertility to grow turmeric, but whatever… as long as I’m alive, I have time and will move forward with what God has inspired me to do. You are most welcome to join me on this journey to fulfill my God Mission. I can’t believe I’m going to be a farmer!!