Forest in the Desert?

          We live in the middle of a major City in the U.S., Phoenix, AZ…we mean right in the middle….nothing but concrete for miles and miles in each direction.  Oh, and don’t let the buildings fool you, this IS a desert.   Seriously, take water with you if you go out.  You will die.   Today is 119 degrees….but despite it being a desert, our house, our neighborhood, is in a forest!
          According to information in Arizona Archives at ASU, back in the 1930s, President Roosevelt initiated a program to resettle disadvantaged farmers into sustainable farm projects.  Land was assigned and homes were built using locally available adobe.  Each lot allowed families to grow their own food, keep chickens and a cow.  The plan was to have the families work on the farm part time, while working in the city part time.  Unfortunately, the plan was disbanded in 1942 due to controversy that the project was socialistic. 
          Apparently, independence, locally grown food and cooperation with others makes too much sense. 
          There is a link to the archives posted on the right if you want to learn more.  We are very lucky to have found a home in this neighborhood for sale about two months ago.  The land comes with irrigation rights (more on that in another post) so we have trees….lots of them.  It’s a little forest in the middle of the city – quite magical.  It is the only house left in the neighborhood that is all original, we have some restoring to do and we have many plans to make.