At the meeting of the Gila Native Plant Society on Friday, November 16, 2018, George Farmer will give a talk entitled “Ollas: Ancient Irrigation - Past, Present and Future”. As George explains: “Olla irrigation has been in use for thousands of years. Just how old this technology is difficult to determine. Ancient documentation from various cultures across several continents shows that clay-pot irrigation has been one of the most successful, long-lasting irrigation methods ever used. Chinese texts well over 2000 years old mention clay-pot irrigation. The Romans, too, used clay pots for irrigation. Olla irrigation can be found today in the Middle East, India, and Central and South America. It’s clear that olla irrigation has been used successfully across the planet. This begs the question: How does it work? What is the science behind the function? And how can it be used now, here in the Southwest, to conserve water, restore ecological habitats and successfully grow food?”

George Farmer moved to Silver City in 2006 with a deep commitment to practice the land ethic outlined by Aldo Leopold. Along with his partner, Linda Zatopek they founded Axle Canyon Ecological Preserve in the Burro Mountains southwest of Silver City, an 83 acre in-holding along Mulberry Canyon. There they have implemented sustainable land restoration practices with rainwater runoff management to repair erosion damage and on-site propagation and reintroduction of native flora. In 2018 they launched a multi-year cereal grain field trial program to test the feasibility of growing ancient grains for community food sustainability along ephemeral stream banks in Grant County.  

Meet at 7.00 p.m. in Harlan Hall, second floor, Room 219, corner of Alabama and 12th Streets, on the Western New Mexico University campus. Free and open to the public. Refreshments following the program.

The Gila Native Plant Society is committed to promoting education, research and appreciation of the native flora of the Southwest, encouraging the preservation of rare and endangered plant species and supporting the use of suitable native plants in landscaping.  For information on programs, publications and membership, please visit here.