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Farming Where Others Don't Go
Small family farmer embraces change to carry on tradition
Contact:
George Couch (602) 280-8806
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Farming is reintroduced into the beauty of Canyon del Muerto.
Lemuel Halwood (far left) shares his success with his family and
community by teaching other about drip irrigation. |
CHINLE, ARIZ. - June 21, 2007
-Twenty-two acres of land is not very much for a farm. It’s got sandy soil,
available water is scarce, and the remote location makes it difficult for
equipment to get there.
Sound like a great opportunity?
Lemeul Halwood had his vision for the 22-acres. His grandfather grew corn there,
and Halwood wanted to as well. Having enough water to grow anything was the
first challenge on this land in Canon del Muerto on the Navajo Nation.
His family tradition of farming would have to meet some new technology. The
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), administered by the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, gave him what he needed.
Six wells and a drip irrigation system gave Halwood the ability to farm the
land. “These are the first wells drilled here, and the first drip system
installed in Canyon del Muerto,” said Wilson Halwood, Lemuel’s father. “We are
making history.”
Continuing history spurred Lemuel to get the land in working order. EQIP paid
for 75-percent of the costs, and his family contributed the other 25-percent
through labor, including digging a 300-foot ditch.
His grandfather’s Hogan still rests on the land. “I remember being in that Hogan
when I was a little kid,” said Lemuel. “If my grandparents saw the land now,
they’d be real happy.”
Lemuel shared his success with other in his community by hosting a workshop to
educate others about the effectiveness of drip irrigation. “I think it’s the
best way to grow corn here,” said Lemuel. “I hope everyone who came to the
workshop is growing corn like this.”
In addition to corn, Lemuel and his family are growing watermelon, squash, and
chilies. “This is not typical production farming. This is subsistence farming to
sustain your family,” said Gerry Gonzalez, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist.
It’s only 22-acres, but the Halwood family sustains itself and continues its
proud history through this small piece of land. For Lemuel, that is a great
opportunity.
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