I'm perhaps a bit biased, in that I'm a trustee of the HRF, but let me start the conversation. We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, organized in the U.S. but international in scope, dedicated to preserving heritage roses, promoting their culture, educating the public about them, and supporting research into them. We have wonderful conferences (the next one is in June, in Winchester, England, with an all-day visit to Mottisfont Abbey! Wowzers!). Our "big" publication is Rosa Mundi, a superb publication which, unfortunately, doesn't come out nearly as often as we'd all like, but with a volunteer editorial staff, you do what you can. Between issues, there are periodic newsletters, which also have articles of interest (I'm currently the editor of the newsletter). Welcome! We appreciate your support of "the cause," and hope you'll make it a long and fulfilling relationship!

Chihauhan desert? Cold. Know your elevation. Short season. Greenhouses and row covers. I'd look up any "local" nurseries and garden clubs. Definitely be some farms and ranches out there. They can recommend varieties and share scions. Of course scions are only good if you have something to graft onto. Yes, pomegranates and figs are grown from cuttings and there are cold hardy versions of both. Know your Co. Coop Extension and Master Gardeners. They may or may not be very active. Online publications can be quite helpful. http://extension.arizona.edu/ http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/mgs/mg-broch.htm As for the USDA scion program the application ended Nov.1st. Try this year. You have to hunt for what is available. And we mere taxpayers are at the end of the request list in priority. You cannot get what is already commercially available. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/site_main.htm?modecode=53-06-20-00 AZ Rare Fruit Growers meets every second Thursday of the month in Phoenix. I know that is along way to drive. http://azrfg.org/ You can do a lot with 2 1/2 acres and water. This post was edited by Fascist_Nation on Sun, Feb 9, 14 at 17:14

Hello, I am new to the forum and gardening and have been reading all of the different posts for how to work and have a bountiful harvest. This is my first year and I am growing flowers and vegetables. Right now I have corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, bush beans, pole beans, black-eye peas, sweet peas, Lima beans, wax beans, cucumbers, green peppers, spaghetti squash, bush squash, tomatoes, two banana trees, collards, turnips, lettuce, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, onions, and broccoli. I tried to grow a little of everything to see what will do well and so far everyone's tips and methods is making me see some form of progress. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for being so nice and sharing your gardening experience it has really given me inspiration and hope.

thanks for the nice replys. i'm lucky to have lots of space to garden, a good climate zone, and many resources. i gardened much as a kid growing up. i remember the first time making a garden. i was probably 8 or 9 and asked my dad to help me make a garden. i had watched the neighbor till up some ground and i really enjoyed watching him garden. i was confused when dad handed me a shovel. dad always had a way of teaching me old school so that i would apreciate things more. this is the first year i put the shovel down and spent 40 bucks to rent a tiller. i tried to show my daughter the shovel method the last few years but she'll probably not remember it. anyway, thanks for the replys. i'm all about being outside, whether fishing, hunting or gardening. they all complement each other. the fish carcasses make excellent fertilizer, we have 40 acres of hunting land where gardening is important for plots. i also crabfish, and the crab shells are an excellent source of calcium when composted, and to make the full turn, the vegetables are a great side dish to the cooked seafood. just tonight some of the tomatoe slices went on some oyster poboys with a nice side of tomatoe and cuke salad. hopefully our seafood industry will survive this mess we have going on down here.