Today we were up and at it real early as we were heading out to California, El Centro to be exact, to tour the Experimental farm they have, thanks to the University of California. It is 255 acres in size and located just east of El Centro in the Imperial Valley. I cannot believe what I didn't know about agricultural in the Imperial Valley. When we first arrived here, I was amazed at how many fields were growing crops! Well it turns out to be over 600,000 acres in the Imperial Valley.
The first thing you learn is that not a thing will grow without water! Therefore, if not for the Colorado River, and "The All American Canal" there would be nothing growing out here. The All American Canal was build in the very early 1900's and is still being improved.
I found these growing out on the farm....
The Colorado River is basically water melting out of the Rocky Mountains and making it's way to the river. There are two major dams on the Colorado River, one being the famous Hoover Dam located just east of Los Vegas, and the Imperial Dam just north of Yuma. All this water is carefully accounted for and PAID FOR by the farmers... I learned today what an acre foot of water is.... take an average football field and put 1 foot of water on it, about 320,000 gallons, and that is an acre foot of water. The farmers pay about $20.00 for this right now... and if I can remember it takes about 8 acre feet of water for most of the crops to grow out...
After we registered for the tour, we were fed coffee and pop-corn here.
They talked to us at first about different things and then it was directly out to the fields to start the tour. You do not walk out to the fields, they give you a ride!
The lady driving this tractor was the main tour guide and was she good! She had immense knowledge of agriculture in this area. She also plays the violin at lunch time, as well as the guitar to provide entertainment and she sings.... Her and her Husband have lived on this farm for over 8 years now and she loves it.
These are some of the crops they experiment with.... lots of different reasons, for more yield, for crops that fight off bugs, for crops that do not us as much water, all kinds of reasons....
This next picture is a weather station, part of a national network, and you can go online for current conditions from the station... today was sunny and hot, just the way we like it!
This machine was part of the weather station, and measures the Sun's UV index....
They have some cattle they also experiment with... yes, they still "mooooooded"....
Now this is a cool experiment.... they grow this plant from the Mid-East, don't ask the name.... and when it matures, they get the seeds which are in pods, and squish them and out comes this liquid, and presto, pour it directly into your diesel fuel tank, and drive away!
Irrigation is everything, and they had an area set up to start syphon hoses, to get water from your canal into your field.... Judy volunteered to start the syphon and she did it! Got just a bit of mud on her...........
Some 1 on 1 coaching here from the tour guide....
A little more on the All American Canal. This canal had to run through 26 miles of the Imperial Sand Dunes! A lot of water was lost to seepage as it passed through this area. The City of San Diego, paid $250,000,000.00 to have the 26 miles of the canal CEMENTED as it headed through the Imperial Sand Dunes! Why would they do this you ask????? They now receive the equivalent amount of water from the canal system, that was lost to seepage! This is used by the residents of San Diego! Crazy!
Near the end of the tour, you were set loose to run amok in the fields and pick fresh produce.... In this picture, our guide is cutting Romain Lettuce with a knife for Judy... you could harvest lettuce, beats, onions, radish, cauliflower and other items and take it all home with you in a big bag.
Here is Pat M. ripping up the beats.... over 10,000 Mexican workers come over to work in the fields of the Imperial Valley every day!
There was general pandemonium as people ran amok in the fields..... many were hurt trying to out grab the other person for some head lettuce.... it was sad....
Our tour guides Husband played the Autoharp at lurch time...(nice salad with all the fixins...)
The Marines were flying by all morning, making sure the picking frenzy didn't get out of had on the ground! Sorry he is so fuzzy, but he was up about 5,000 feet and I had to do a little photo magic on him....
After the tour was over, we headed over to the west side of El Centro, and visited with John Morrison's Uncle David and his wife, Margaret. They winter in a Park Model just outside of El Centro. They have a great spot, and have been going to this park for over 8 years now. We enjoyed a great dinner with them, and they informed us of what goes on the area, and got caught up to date on all the goings on in the Morrison Family!
Think about this! Over 2/3rds. of all the produce we consume in the winter, comes from the Imperial Valley!
We learned a lot, my brain is on overload, and it is almost mid-night.... time for bed...
Till tomorrow.....
John and Judy l read your blog everyday l feel like l am on the trip with you. Great details about everything and love all the history and sites that you are seeing. Keep up the good work. was the BEER cold in the last pic. We are out to BP for Kelly's going away party tonight and we are to get freezin rain as well
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