Pauma Valley is making great strides in adopting new practices to protect and preserve the environment in this drought-stricken era. Ellis Farms, the palm tree experts that operate 550 acres in Pauma Valley, Borrego Springs, and Desert Center, have recently gone “green.” That is, they’re turning attention to avocados and have adopted a new and innovative water-saving way of farming the delicious green fruit.
In June, the company hosted an open house to announce the launch of the Dan Brokaw system, a low-water-use, high-density production method developed by Brokaw Nursery a few hours north in Ventura, California.
Ellis Farms began the transition from palm trees to avocados on its Pauma land about a year ago. The plantings began last year, and the first Mount Palomar avocados should be available for purchase in 2016.
Reuben Ellis, the company’s vice president, says that in the new method the company is adopting, “We plant the trees closer together, and they’re planted on a berm, better for drainage. The key to saving water is a three-part system: drip irrigation, heavy mulching of the plants on top of the berm, and then testing soil for moisture content so we can turn off the water when it isn’t needed.”
Ellis says his father, Joe, “fell in love” with Pauma Valley years ago. “It’s just the beauty of the place that attracted us,” he says. “Mount Palomar with snow on it, the views from up on 76 above the junction—it’s a gorgeous place, and it’s perfect for growing. Pauma Valley has everything going for it. We love the feeling of the place.”
New Water-Saving Growing Method Introduced in Pauma
Reuben Ellis
