THE PLAN: From sandbox to Island of Green.

The picture below shows where we'll work and what we start with: a 10-acre sandbox. 

legend of the colors used on the pictures: 
orange: don't touch, taboo, protected area.
green circles = non-mesquite trees that are still alive.
azure circles = mesquite trees in the leach field 
      (there are many more unmarked outside the leach field)
purple lines = sewer line + leach field line 
blue line = irrigation water line
yellow line = drain line for pool
black line = swale 
blue arrows = the overflow direction of the water.

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The ideas behind this project are simple: 

Systematic water harvesting allows for diversification of vegetation (food forests), which leads to soil enrichment and natural pest control. Many different conservation techniques will be usefully applied and demonstrated in this project. 

The end result has many advantages to the present situation: 
• Stormwater harvesting = ground water conservation. 
• Increased vegetation forms windbreaks that reduce soil erosion by wind and water.
• More diversified vegetation will improve the soil composition and land fertility, and will attract more wildlife and even support some production animals.
• The increased productivity of the land can be obtained without fertilizers or pesticides.

The Process:
1. Swales (ditches) and water collection pits will be dug along contour lines. The swales capture water every time it rains (vernal pools) and force that water into the soil instead of allowing it to run off. (stormwater harvesting) 

2. Organic matter like branches, compost, mulch, straw etc. will be used to fill the swales and cover the swale berms to lock in the moisture. (sheet mulching) 

3. Micro-irrigation on the berms of the swales may be needed to help kick-start the system. 

4. The swales need to be planted: (agroforestry, forest gardening) 
a. 1st year with desert pioneer trees, cover crops, and a variety of bee forage plants;
b. 2nd + 3rd year with diverse food trees and undergrowth plants. 

5. Animal use in the permaculture process:
a. Chickens in movable enclosures will organically prepare patches of soil between the swales for no-till crops. When done, the enclosure is moved to the next patch. 

b. Goats in a movable enclosure (managed intensive rotational grazing) will manage the existing mesquite on the property by forcing it to grow upwards instead of sideways. That will maintain the native mesquite in the landscape, but will convert the current nuisance thorny shrubs into hardy shade trees. 

c. Some collection pits will be lined or compacted to create permanent ponds. Pigs can be used to compact the soil in some of the water pits, so they will better hold their water. Hopefully that will create some permanent ponds that can be used to grow and harvest fish.
d. Bees can be captured from swarms or feral hives, but hive boxes will need to be purchased.

The Outcome will be a much improved self-sustainable landscape. 
Instead of an unproductive sandbox that cannot currently support a single cow, there will be food forests and other vegetation that can support a variety of production animals, alternated with areas for food crops cultivation. The diversity in such system will improve soil quality over time without any chemical assistance. 
A project like this would greatly improve the productivity of the land in an organic and sustainable manner, meaning that once established the system will renew itself without further maintenance.
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Planning + adapting
I have been putting out orange marker flags outside along the planned swale lines and after seeing things marked out like that, I have reconsidered some things from my first draft.
Instead of keeping the existing half-circle driveway, I'll make a single entrance access by closing off the upper driveway. 

My reasons for doing so: 
1. This will provide better privacy. Currently the house is wide open to the street. 
The upper driveway looks directly at the house. That driveway will be closed, and be planted with trees. The lower driveway goes towards the side of the house, and the intended planting will block a direct view of the house. 
2. High winds, and the dust storms that come with them, are a major problem here. An uninterrupted line of trees will provide better protection. 
3. Without the upper driveway, it is a lot easier to lead the water from the NW corner of the property around and away from the house. 

STAGE ONE of the new plan = the NW corner = about 30% of of the property.
The planned swales now cross the former upper driveway. Because there's hardly any drop on the property ( 2 to 3 ft over 280 yards diagonally NW to SE < .5%) it is extremely important to lead overflow around and away from the house to avoid flooding the house during severe thunderstorms.

Depending on how quick (or slow) this 1st stage goes, the rest of the work on the remainder of the property may have to wait until next year. Working in stages has some advantages:
1. It spreads the expenses and the work over a longer period. 
2. Organization is easier if mulch and plants need not be obtained all at once for the entire project.
3. For teaching and promotion purposes, it is useful to be able to demonstrate different stages of progression of the project.