OCR Text |
Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Thursday August 5, 1982 - Page 24 San Juan desert blossoms with scientific gardening by Marsha Keele In the middle of Monument Valleys desert area, an acre of lush vegetation is flourishing as part of a scientific garden demonstration sponsored by the Utah Navajo Development Council. Dr. Jacob Mittleider, an expert on gardening and author of many technical books and manuals, has shown that food can be produced in the worlds worst soil. Mittleider, a native of Idaho and current resident of Salt Lake City, has applied his own copyrighted growing methods to a soil which is little more than pit-gra- mixed with vel sand. Mittleiders secret is frequent and planting in trenches that are with gypsum mixed with sawdust. The plants grow quickly and very close together because of the frequent fertil- feedings seedlings pre-plant- (bi-week- ly) ed izing. plants zu-chi- ni, one-ac- way. The staff of Utah Navajo Development Council and Dr. Mittleider have assisted by offering suggestions and if requested will assist with watering and fertilizing. In the poor soil of Halchita, near Mexican Hat, these two gardens are a pitiful sight. The demonstration garden is open to the public and is really We a miracle in many ways. have defied some hard and fast rules, does and the only explanation he gives for the plants surviving, even flourishing thus, is that the surrounding soil must drain away the moisture somehow. The garden demonstrates also that need only be applied and only on. plants sparingly which have insects on them. Mittleider notes that insects dont harm thriving plants like they do plants that are weak and undernourished. Basically, the tomatoes, cabbages, squash, beets and other plants growing in rock are fed two times a week the thirteen nutrients that every human, aniThis mal, or plant requires. may sound expensive, but as the doctor explains, we used a hoe, rake, and hose covered with a rag at the nozzle to prevent erosion. r. We didnt invest in a fancy In fact, in my own garden at home I cant find more than 20 minutes work in one day. Mittleider, who established Mitts Nursery in California in 1948 later accepted an assignment with Loma Linda University in 1964 to tour underdeveloped countries of the world. Of 24 countries studied, hungry he reported they have the same diseases, insect problems and nutrient deficiencies that the United States has. Mittleider has been around the world three times, part of which was done as a mission for the Seventh-da- y Adventist Church. in He has participated in projects New Guinea, Okinawa, Fiji, Virginia and Arkansas. all the areas where he worked he did not find soil worse than that at the Halchita plot. Seedlings planted on June 7 are now being harvested. The plants are sold locally and even Tonga, He said in 4 given away. The goal of UNDC is to involve local residents in continuing the garden and implementing the method in their own home plots. Mittleider has been giving free lectures throughout San Juan County to teach residents better growing methods. The next step may be to teach the Navajo people how to use vegetables other than their traditional corn, squash and melons. Many are just now learning the beauty of the salad. Dr. Jacob Mittleider, a scientist and native of Idaho, inspects re experimental garden he planted and plants in the supervised near Halchita under sponsorship of the Utah Navajo Marsha Keele photo Development Council. one-ac- roto-tille- such as are melons and squash to one to lean pruned and trained side of the aisles between the trenches to allow for easy watering and to prevent fruit from sitting in water. There is no reason in the world for anyone to starve, Dr. Mittleider says, if they will only follow my system of watering and feeding. re The plot is fenced off from the rest of the area where a mill used to operate during the uranium boom. There are 96 trenches or growboxes, each planted with 80 plants. One corner is set aside for two local Navajo families to do their own garden in the traditional Vine For one thing, you his head. just dont let water stand around plants. But in this project it Mittleider says, shaking George Washington devoted one of his Virginia farms exclusively to the growing of rye which he converted into whisky in a still at Mount Vernon. isuiniifoivr' vVJitsRiWsJ-- Utah Hearing Aid Clinics Navajo Trail Motel FREE Electronic Hearing Test " 'I p.m. Fitting on all in the ear aids Check These Features Special Hearing Aid Batteries A-1- A-6- 75 3 Gould Active Air Gould Active Air $1.50 package of (Sim Note: Batteries must be picked All in the ear aids custom fit . Behind the ear, glasses aid also . 40 discount off what other companies charge Ear molds 30 discount regular price Trade your behind the ear for all in the ear. All aids 25 aC3 6-Mo- This week only At 20 on our complete selection of famous - Interest Payment Plans-N- o Service On All Aids nth SdDSSiffS discount of what other companies charge . Appointments After 4 p.m. Call Clinics will be held every other Friday at the same location! Answering The Utah In-Ho- me r Knives Handcrafted Since 1898 24-Ho- ur olo::s home CENTER N. Hwy. 163 Handing Morris Nelson Monticello, Utah Phone 587-25- 21 STATE FARM MUTUAL 678-22- 36 3 One Year Battery Supply FREE with each Aid ) Mfe Ka-ba- - 3 Senior Citizen Discount Telex -- Rexton STATE FARM a.m. up at clinic or mailed . (' 69 Friday, August Automobile Insurance Company Home Office: Bloomington, 111. Hearing Guarantee If you are not completely satisfied with our Honest, Fair, Professional service, we will refund your money 53 East 1st North Suite 2 Moab , Utah 1 801 259-8922 -- -- |