Green ribbons that wind through desert landscapes are corridors of life for plants and animals. After fresh spring greens from winter rains give way to the harsh winds and baking sun, the only places that give stark contrast to red and tan dirt are the green ribbons of trees, bushes, and grasses near water. These trees and plants grip closely to the banks of washes, intermittent streams, isolated springs and the few continually flowing creeks and rivers. Water is life and these ribbons are the hope of survival to wandering animals and humans alike. In the desert southwest there are old trails known as the trails of the ancients. These trails were the guiding markers for travel in dry and harsh climates. They offered not only water, but food, and a chance to cool down and rest.
The contrast of sitting under a cottonwood in a canyon and then stepping out into the desert midday sun is fiercely palpable. Travel at night or travel through green corridors keeping a watchful eye out for predators that are also traveling, seeking water, cool respite, and perhaps and easy meal. These green ribbons can be seen from an airplane and always cause me to wonder about who or what is living there at the moment. One can also see who is taking advantage of the water source and if they created a draw down of surface waters that caused native greenery to die out.
I have hiked down into green ribboned canyons to be surprised by ferns hanging from cliff faces, small water falls, dripping water that cools the surrounding air, and large leafed sycamores and other trees. Mud squishing into my shoes, I look down to see giant paw prints that send a shiver up my spine creating a heightened awareness and fear. I am not the only one to find this beautiful spot. I am a visitor and now I am extra watchful.
I have found old fruit trees planted by frontier folk who attempted to live in these harsh places and wild blackberries enticing you to pick a few yummy treasures. I have discovered old homesteads that still have green ponds, stoned water catchments, old roses, and asparagus.
These ribbons are green corridors for animals to travel from winter grazing to summer grazing. They may be looking for a mate or moving their young to other safe places with more food abundance. I have seen the prints of bear, bobcat, mountain lion, deer, elk, big horn sheep, coyote, turkey, geese, and even the ambling tracks of a desert tortoise.
Some of these ribbons lead to pools of water surrounded by many other types of animal prints like raccoon, porcupine, javelina, packrats……and of course the reptiles & amphibians: lizards, snakes and frogs. The continuous flowing waterways will also have fish. Frog songs can be almost deafening when the summer rains arrive. They belt out an enticing repertoire of sounds in symphony to woo their mates. These are also welcome sounds to those looking for water in a parched rocky landscape.
Some pools of water are the secret “swimming holes” of the locals who may take a break from the hot summer months to cool off and relax a bit. Next time you are flying over the vast expanse of what looks like brown lifeless dirt, search for the green ribbons and just wonder who or what is down there enjoying a bit of beauty. I know that when I am hiking in the canyons and see an airplane, I wonder about who is up there and are they looking down?
The small Canyon Wren belts out a happy but almost snickering song to a weary hiker. “Glad you’re here in my canyon, but you worked too hard to come see me, I just fly around my little paradise, no backpack, no burden….” I am sharing this from the American Bird Conservancy (abcbirds.org).
This is just one of many bird songs that remind all that there is life nearby; just come into the green ribbon & find rest……
The owl nesting in the rock face above waits for small creatures to become visible in search of water and food. Then they make their silent attack to bring home food to their young. The condors soar from the north area of the Grand Canyon where they are released in the Vermillion cliffs to the South Rim in search of Carrion. They follow the life and subsequent deaths of other animals that the Colorado River & its springs and streams sustain. The red tailed hawks make their nests in the tall cottonwood trees and it is a shear privilege to witness a fledging take wing. Wild turkeys looking for insects in the grasses, herons patiently waiting for a fish to swim by……There are simple, beautiful joys to be found in these green ribbons.
Why talk about Green Ribbons in the Desert?
Because the green ribbons are drying up. The single common factor? PEOPLE. Be it greed, financial gain, irresponsibility, lack of concern for anything or anyone else, or naivety…….we can all learn and all change and tackle the water issue. It starts with me and it starts with you. One individual at a time, being an example, not sitting around creating dissertations, stomping our feet, pointing fingers, or shaking our fists. We as humans are sticking more “straws” into the ground waters and sucking them dry faster than they can replenish……which in turn dries up many springs & effects these green ribbons throughout the deserts.
We must recycle our water use to create life. We can focus on creating numerous small green oases (hopefully centered on food production). It is possible to create green in the desert in a positive way for society and wildlife if the green is a food source & attempts to use water sustainably. Open water sources must be covered or shaded to help slow evaporation.
The above photo is just one small canal in the Phoenix area. There are hundreds of miles of open water canals flowing from the Colorado river & other water projects through the desert to supply great populations in cities. I read an article about people submitting the idea to cover these canals with solar panels. Wouldn’t it be lovely to actually see this canal covered in green vines that produce food for the neighboring homes & the carp fish that are currently feeding in the canals be changed to a more palatable fish? Community would form right out the back yards of the surrounding neighborhoods as they harvest food and create an atmosphere of nurturing the area with plants. I could even dream of turning these canals into chinampa systems that were used in ancient Mexico City. Chinampa canals were the avenue for flat, slim canoes that carried foods grown on the banks, in floating gardens, and overhead, to home or even to market. Creating a green space will increase humidity, decrease surrounding temperatures and create areas of respite and possibly food. Green space has been studied regarding increasing health and well-being; mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Please take an assessment of your own water usage. It should be used for more than one purpose if at all possible, especially in desert environments. Water is becoming the new “gold.” Don’t let sink water continually run down the drain for no reason. Trade high water use baths for showers. Fix all leaky spigots inside and out. Convert wash water to secondary purposes of watering plants. There are even designs of hand wash basins that fill toilet tanks that are then used to flush toilet waste. Water during the evening hours to limit evaporation. Create more shaded areas in desert environments. Plants do not need “full sun” in the desert. Plants actually do better with filtered shade from shade cloths or overhead trees to temper desert sun.
Using Permaculture tactics to help create green space with less water, becomes a positive mindset. For frost free areas, laundry water can be diverted outside to swales and green spaces. If you live in an area with freezing temperatures, its best to wait until spring before diverting water unless you have everything plumbed underground to move directly from house laundry to swale, “lawn”, or green space. Swales are tree growing systems, so the added benefit would be to water nitrogen fixing trees like black locust (that are also bee food), food trees, and shrubs. If there are water restrictions imposed in your area, consider washing dishes in plastic tubs and then take the water out to the swales, “lawns”, green spaces, or other plants that need water. Install water catchments (tanks, cisterns, etc.,) when financially feasible over time. These will extend the watering season and average out the periods between pouring rains or heavy snows and the dry months. Every drop of water counts. As I write this, we have experienced a few days of late spring rains. I do not have all my catchment tanks in place at my new home, but I do have buckets under the downspouts and if I’m home, I transfer the water to garbage cans or large nursery buckets lined with contractor bags. Create swales and catchment ponds to slow soak rain and snow into the ground water that will feed the larger trees instead of letting the water run off your property. Mulch (discussed in “No Bare Dirt”) becomes a sponge for rain events.
Create shade and learn to plant in tiers (root crops, ground cover plants, then progressively taller plants, shrubs, and trees). In Permaculture we look to positioning. While there are too many considerations to discuss in this article regarding positions and time/visitation events to areas, I will share direct positions that can help with tiers. Consider these words:
ON UNDER THROUGH AROUND IN OVER ATTACHED TO
CONTAINING BESIDE
Now, using a bit of creative thinking and the objects around your property, issues of wind and sun, any terrain features, water features, perhaps farm animals, materials, etc., create random assemblies in your mind or on paper to see if any may help plants grow in your conditions.
Here is an example: Side of a building, swale, trellis, fruit trees, ducks, fencing, cording. Now use the prepositions above:
This was my quick thought but it could be completely different in your mind: Tank NEXT TO building, UNDER trellis. Swale is UNDER trellis, while trellis is ATTACHED TO the building. Fencing AROUND the entire system to keep ducks safe. Fruit trees NEXT TO swale berm so their roots can be watered. Ducks wander freely and manure the water which feeds the trees, while munching on greens UNDER the trees.
…. a tank could be ON a scaffolding type base and the ducks live UNDER it, the trellis could be two sided with a top, the plants could be grape vines, the tank could have fencing all around it creating a trellis, the fruit trees could be espalier……
Planting: Some plants don’t like being near each other, while others thrive living with certain “neighbors.” Look up apple tree guilds to get an idea. This group of plants coexisting and growing in tiers (layers), becomes an area that is mutually benefitted by a single watering. The ground cover gets its water in the shallow layer and then as the water soaks down into the soil, the other plants take their turn at water uptake. I am always experimenting with plants that benefit one another in a small space. It is a constant tweaking and observing of other systems where I learn and share what works and what doesn’t. I am not perfect, but I am flexible in my design process to create a nurturing environment with the least amount of continual input.
We must help each other out with ideas that work successfully in our soils, in our areas, & in climates and elevations. But we cannot point the finger at others to change. We must start with ourselves. Change happens when we become a good example for others that are watching.
All this talking, marching, and book writing isn’t going to make a difference if we pass off our own personal responsibility regarding how we care for water, environmental issues, and the life that surrounds us. Could you imagine harnessing all the physical labor within one marching crowd to actually create a green space? All the money spent in driving, flying, or trains to the march site plus the money for signs, advertisement, hotels, food, etc., that could be converted into possible property purchases, labor, trees, water catchment tanks and tools to actually make a change? The problem? Many people don’t want to get their hands in the dirt, they don’t want to physically labor to create change. The solution? It’s YOU, it’s ME.
We have left our agrarian roots and passed off food production to a small population of farmers, ranchers, and day laborers. The rest is now controlled by large CAFO’s and Corporations. Why? Because as a people, we want leisure time, we want “stuff”, we want other people to take care of what we consume at least three times a day. I realize we cannot sustainably create all of our food supply due to where we live geographically and physically. I also realize that many cannot physically do the work do to age or illness, but there is always something that can be done…… I’m asking you to look around and consider what you can do, even in a small way to help with green spaces and the production of food.
With the continual draw down of ground water in desert areas, the desert springs dry up, waterways slow to a trickle and then dry up, only to run hard and fast during a monsoon season event. The trees, shrubs, and grasses die out and the animals move away or die from lack of water, shade, and food. No longer a visible green ribbon of life, but a sad dying version of what was once a beautiful life source.
We cannot expect NGO’s, governments, large corporations, or the extreme wealth of certain individuals to heal the issues of mankind. There are absolutely brilliant and unsung people tucked away in small areas of our planet who have changed the habitat they live in and have created their own green oases. If each one of us took on the responsibility to nurture the areas that we have control over; I believe there would be a greater connection with community, increased well-being, healthier individuals, less hunger, and more environmental beauty.
I hope you can hike into a green ribbon in the desert. Experience the environmental contrast from dry baked soils, harsh heat and winds, to the cool, quiet, and green beauty. Remember that place, take your observations and use that knowledge to affect the way you live and create green spaces.
