Vernon Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
Submitted Apr. 2, 2008
A new demonstration garden was planted last week at the Moapa Valley High School Agricultural Farm. The garden, which was planted in the area surrounding a new straw bale classroom, is meant to provide education about desert plants.
“We are interested in providing a wealth of ideas to the community for creative and beautiful desert landscaping which can be used in their yards to replace lawns,” said Teri Knight, a botanist with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) who is helping with the project.
The garden is divided up into four sections with different themes. The first is a Native American Garden which includes plants traditionally used by the Moapa Paiutes as medicines and as food sources. The second garden features plants that provide a nectar reward to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The third section is a “scrunch and sniff” garden with plants that give interesting fragrances of some kind. Finally a succulent garden including desert plants with succulent leaves and stems.
“Moapa is very lucky to have something like this,” said Knight speaking of the Ag Farm. “It is truly a unique facility.”
The new garden is the product of a collaboration with different organizations and agencies. Expertise and funding was obtained through USDA and the Clark County Conservation District. These resources were gathered at the Ag Farm through the efforts of the Education Foundation of Moapa Valley. This new foundation was recently formed with a special interest in retaining the school farm as agricultural land. The foundation’s mission is to keep people connected with the earth by reminding them where their food and fibre comes from, said Logandale resident, Chris Green.
Green is a member of the new foundation and a long time advocate of the Ag Farm. “We hope to infuse the farm with a bucketload of money and programs,” Green said. “Programs that will add value to the community and the region and which will make it impossible for the School District to sell this property. We hope that if it develops and becomes a beautiful flower in the system, the district will want to keep it and continue to be a part of it.”
