It seems like yesterday I was getting home from South America ready to hit the ground running.  Since then, it has been a whirlwind of meetings, part-time jobs, fundraisers, project development, presentations, community outreach, volunteers, material scavenging, and learning.  Looking back at the progress of the EcoRanch in one year has been mind blowing to think about and where we are today would never have been possible without the support of our community, family, friends, and volunteers.  Thank YOU so much for believing in us, referring us, helping us out financially or getting your hands dirty, and giving us the chance to educate and communicate our goals and beliefs.

Below are some achievements from our first year.

Building/Installation:

• 11 raised beds ~3000 ft2 – 4 of which are currently hoop houses
• Chicken coop and chicken run
• Outdoor bathroom and shower
• Platform for gravity fed shower
• Installed a 3000 gallon rain barrel and 60’ of gutters
• Berms into the landscape to slow water runoff
• 4’ x 4’ root cellar
• Flower beds
• Fire pit
• Hiking trail up the hill behind house
• Retaining wall
• 2 gray water systems
• Renovated basement into bed and breakfast for sustainable tourism
• 4 compost bins

Donations to EcoRanch:

• About  $37,000 ($9500 from Kickstarter)
  • • Pre/Post Test data collected on each WWOOFer shows an increase in learning about sustainable living/agriculture, and the geology, history, and community of Flagstaff
    • WWOOFers communicate that while here, they are able to implement their skills, and have been able to teach others while learning themselves
  • 9 college and high school groups (NAU, ASU, NPA, Upward Bound)
  • 5 interns who have assisted in planning, outreach materials, project/program development and construction

Donations to community:

• 145 hrs of presentations and consulting = $2900
• 115 lbs of fresh produce = $306
• An experiential, hands on, learning laboratory for local students
• A week long orientation site for Carpe Diem – Indigenous Studies Program – they offer gap year and study abroad programs
• Outreach at Flagstaff Community Market and Arboretum Plant Sale

Water Savings:

• 6024 gallons have been saved or reused

Goals for year 2:

• Increase water savings
• Record and track energy and propane use and reduce consumption from year 1
• Develop a collaboration with North Country Healthcare and the Hermosa Vida program
• Increase outreach and collaboration with Flagstaff schools
• Actually use signs to mark where certain plants are located
• Develop community workshops
• Build a greenhouse from trees on site
• Fundraise
• Increase our production and produce donations to food banks
• CONTINUE TO GROW SUSTAINABLY – evolving with the community and volunteers who interact with us