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Sustainability is farming's future

By REBECCA JACOBS
Sun Staff Reporter
Saturday, May 17, 2008

Houston Engelke plans to have a sustainable ranch someday. As a member of the local FFA chapter, he's building the knowledge to make his dream a reality.

"Water catchment is really important in Arizona. It's important to use our natural resources, and in the future it will be a big deal," Engelke said. Members of the chapter (formerly known as Future Farmers of America) headed to Willow Bend Environmental Education Center Tuesday to not only learn how to install a rainwater harvesting system, but to volunteer their time to the community.

FFA principles consist of a three-part model: classroom education; supervised agricultural experiences, including work experience or animal husbandry; and club meetings and activities.

This week's experience fell into the third category, but went beyond the typical community service project.

The entire rainwater harvesting system is comprised of a metal roof atop the 1,700-square-foot, one-story, passive solar, straw bale center, a simple gutter assembly and two plastic drums.

According to Project WET International, the amount of water harvested can be calculated by taking the average amount of rainfall in inches, multiplying it by 0.623 (the conversion from inches to gallons per square foot), then multiplying this number by the area of the roof.

This number must then be multiplied by 0.95 as approximately 5 percent of the total amount will be lost to evaporation.

FFA members estimated the total amount of water per year to be harvested by Willow Bend at 326,467.6 gallons. To collect the runoff, one 300-gallon and one 1,500-gallon tank will be used. The group placed these containers in holes dug 18 inches below ground level in order to maintain constant pressure when the tank's water level is low.

The harvested water will be reused for the Willow Bend gardens.

NOT SHY ANYMORE

Annaliese Catlin, a junior at Flag High said she intends to use the information to support her love of endurance horseback riding.

"I deal with horses a lot, and in Arizona, any way we can catch water is good," she said.

Catlin explained that FFA has aided her personal growth enormously. Formerly a quiet, shy freshman, she has grown into an outgoing, well-spoken junior.

"FFA has given me huge leadership skills. I've made friends from around the country during our meets and conferences and it's taught me about political issues," she said.

Engelke said he joined FFA for two main reasons: to sell steers, pigs and lambs -- an activity he now refers to as a business -- and to increase his knowledge of growing plants.

He said these two skills will be integral to his sustainable ranch.

"In FFA I've learned how to properly take care of my business, grow the business and properly take care of animals. To have a sustainable ranch, I'll need to know how to grow food, and FFA teaches a lot of agriculture and horticulture."

In school, many FFA students enroll in agriscience, biology or chemistry to fulfill the academic requirement of the club.

Sandy Engelke, who has been an FFA parent and volunteer for eight years, said FFA truly goes beyond farming and agriculture and can also include cooking, weaving, sewing and more.

"We're trying to overcome the stereotypes of, 'You have to be a farmer to be in FFA.' It builds the whole student. I really does help them grow as a young leader."

The water catchment system is just one part of a $3,000 project funded by Project WET designed to provide a service learning project. It will include a sustainable dry-land vegetable and herb garden outside the center.

Plants for the project can now be purchased at Native Plant and Seed in order to donate to the center.

These low-water plants will then be placed in the ground May 31 during the center's 30th anniversary celebration. Ellen Ryan, the city of Flagstaff's water conservation manager, will also offer a workshop detailing the use of a 55-gallon drum in home rainwater harvesting systems.

Rebecca Jacobs can be reached at 556-2250 or rjacobs@azdailysun.com.

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