Greening the Texas Desert with Shaun Overton – Epi-3521
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:28:39 — 25.4MB)
Most of us at some time have looked at “junk land” in western Texas selling for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars an acre. For less than the cost of a new car you can own 100-300 acres of land. But is it worth it, is a good life possible in such a climate? Our guest today is making it happen.
Shaun is turning 320 acres of Texas wasteland into a desert forest. He has been documenting the journey on YouTube with 160,000 subscribers so far. Shaun was also recently featured in Texas Highways and interviewed on Texas Public Radio. The media exposure is playing a meaningful role in growing the channel and supporting his efforts.
Resources for today’s show…
- Find Me on Nostr
- Article Explaining the GrowNostr Initiative
- Join the Members Brigade
- TspAz.com
- TSPC on Discord
- TSPC Group on Telegram (group chat)
- TSPC Telegram Channel (just messages from me)
- Jack on MeWe
- Join Me on Odysee
- All My Recommend Bitcoin Tools and Resources
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Sponsors of the Day
Shaun’s Links
Video Version of Today’s Show
Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon.
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Cholla – I think that’s the cactus you were describing Jack. They are also called Jumping Cactus or Jumping Cholla, because people think they will jump and grab onto you if you even walk to close to them, even without touching them. Viscous barbs on them. I’ve stepped on one before and it went through my shoe into my foot.
They are segmented so they break into many little segments. You are right, they grow upright then tend to fall over. I think that’s part of their strategy to spread out and propagate, along with hitching a ride on passing animals.
They have some edible and medicinal properties, but I still wouldn’t want them in my yard! I do plant nopal/prickly pear cactus though.
Nope, those look awful too. But the ones that I am talking about are all ball, no stem at all. They don’t really grow vertical at all. All prostrate to the ground.
Question, all I kept thinking through this whole podcast was “biochar”, yet Jack never mentioned it. With it’s light weight making it reasonably easy to transport and it’s ability to store water it seems like a no brainer, so what am I missing?