Desert to Oasis on the Mother Road: Keller Horton’s Permaculture Vision in Newberry Springs

 Welcome to another episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series. We're continuing on our journey through the Newberry Springs area of California—specifically, right into the heart of a thriving pistachio grove. Our guest is Dr. Keller Horton, a certified permaculture designer and passionate advocate for sustainable land management. Keller is also a Director for the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Keller shares his journey: from purchasing his first 40 acres through a serendipitous magazine advertisement to creating a flourishing ecosystem that goes far beyond just pistachios. We learn about his mission to transform arid land into vibrant, productive food forests using permaculture principles—without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Hear about the challenges and rewards of introducing sustainable practices to both longtime farmers and curious community members, and learn how this approach not only nurtures the land but also inspires hope and collaboration across the Newberry Springs community.

Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a budding permaculturist, or simply someone interested in how innovative agriculture can rejuvenate the land and build community connections, we continue to celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of Route 66 in Newberry Springs, CA.

DISCUSSION

00:00 "Pistachio Farming with Keller Horton"

05:35 "Mulch: Key to Healthy Soil"

08:58 "Permaculture Education and Ecosystems"

11:51 "Celebrating the Newberry Springs Community"

LEARN MORE

To Learn more about Keller and his work, check out his book, Useful Trees and Shrubs in Dryland Permaculture, at https://www.amazon.com/Useful-Trees-Shrubs-Dryland-Permaculture/dp/0692936416

To learn more about science and advocacy of permaculture, visit the World Permaculture Association at https://worldpermacultureassociation.com/

To learn about Newberry Springs, CA, the Route 66 Big Birthday Bash, the Pistachio Festival, and much more, visit the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce at https://newberryspringschamber.com/ or on these social sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewberrySpringsChamber
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbsp_chamberofcommerce/

The Mother Road e-Newsletter: https://motherroadnewsletter.com/newsletter/

NEXT STEPS

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KEYWORDS

Keller Horton, Permaculture, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview

#KellerHorton #Permaculture #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview

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