Introduction
to the
Crofford Farm

The farm has been demonstrating sustainable agriculture, focused on smallscale growers, for several years now. The farm is a result of a partnershipbetween the Little Colorado RC&D, USDA Natural Resources ConservationService, and the Navajo County Natural Resources Conservation District. Makingthe farm a success has also involved AmeriCorps members.

There are a number of small scale, limited resource agricultural producers in ourRC&D service area who can benefit from increased skills and opportunities for growingand marketing their products. The farm can fill the need for education, organization,appropriate technology, and facilitation of limited resource, small-scale agriculturalproduction. This can lead to increases in household income, as well as economicdevelopment, while maintaining the sustainability of the natural resource base.

Today the farm has successfully demonstrated various forms of alternativeagricultural methods and value added processes. By targeting small-scale growersthrough demonstrations at the farm and in outreach projects in the surroundingcommunities and on the road, we are making a difference. The current projects include:

• DRIP IRRIGATION
  Approximately 5,000 feet of water-saving drip irrigation, covering almost one acre of herbs and produce. The drip uses only a quarter of the water that flood irrigation requires, and allows for injection fertilization.

• INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT(IPM)
  The farm uses IPM to control insects, demonstrating non-chemical strategies as citrus spray, mineral oil, beneficial insects, companion cropping, and bat houses to supplement and/or replace chemical applications. IPM allows growers to wean themselves from dependence on chemical pesticides.

• MULCHING
  Several materials are used as mulch to control weeds and retard water evaporation, including shredded paper, black plastic, straw, and organic waste materials.     
•  RANGE GRASSES
• 
  In cooperation with the NRCS, the farm is experimenting with several promising range grasses, including eastern gammagrass, flaccidgrass and immigrant forage kochia. It is hoped that these grasses will help address the severe range problems in the service area.

• GREENHOUSE
  The greenhouse is constructed from PVC pipe and plywood and covered with agri-film, at a total cost of less than $1,000. The 12x22 foot greenhouse has been used to propagate as many as 4,000 plants at a time.

• SOLAR CHIMNEY DEHYDRATION
  In use on the farm are two solar dehydrators to demonstrate the value-added benefits of dehydration a large permanent one and a smaller portable model. Dehydrating allows growers to get the most out of their gardens by packaging their produce and marketing it year round, thus augmenting household income.

• FARMER'S MARKET/TRAILER
  A colorful trailer, refurbished and adapted to sell produce at the Silver Creek Cooperative in Snowflake, Arizona. Other growers are recruited to participate as well.

• MARKETING
  Local restaurants purchase a variety of produce directly from the farm such as, tomatoes, herbs, onions, carrots and eggplant. Newspaper advertisements help draw the community out to the farm in search of fresh produce too.

• VALUE-ADDED
  To raise funds for the farm, we sell dried produce & gift baskets. Using the solar chimney dehydrator, we create a variety of herb, vegetable and soup mix packets.

FarmHighlights

TREESFOR SALE

Dawn Redwoods--$10 each

Gingko Biloba--$5 each

Mulberries--$6 each