What is a Micro Climate?

Several years ago I decided I wanted an avocado tree. Not just an ornamental avocado tree, but a producing tree. The local nurseries told me I was nuts and that I would never get avocados in Tucson. Of course, I'm the type of person that will kick a dead horse and watch for chest movement or a pulse (animal activists, please don't take my expressions literally).

I knew there was a producing avocado tree at a local Tucson resort, so naturally I called their master gardener with a host of questions. He told me what most successful gardeners will tell you (and business people, too) "location, location, location". This gardener extraordinaire was really telling me that I needed to search my site for a suitable micro climate.

The nurseries (some were the same places that said "no way" to avocados) reiterated that avocados needed full sun, ample water and nutrient rich soil. After one season, I had an avocado tree with little to no new growth, no fruit and brown, dried leaves. This was not my original goal.

Now, I don't want to discount the information received by our local professionals. And, really shame on me. The nurseries did tell me that avocados don't grow well in Tucson. I had kicked that horse and he didn't even roll over. Hello! I didn't need "Tucson" sun, "Tucson" dirt and "Tucson" water. What my plant truly craved was a climate that promoted it's successful growth. A climate, within a climate.

After extensive research, I discovered avocado trees need a porous, somewhat sandy soil. They usually seed and grow from dropped fruit. And, this fruit grows under the protection, and shade, of a larger tree. As the tree grows, it will receive filtered sun. Avocados are not salt tolerant. Tucson's water is high in sodium. So, tap water from irrigation, or the hose, instigated the brown, dry, salt burned leaves (try rainwater).

This "avocado tree exercise" has led me to evaluate my entire yard, all my growing beds and the natural topography of the land. I began watching which areas of my yard received sun, at what time of day and in which seasons. I strategically sit in these places and feel the sun's intensity.

When it rains, I watch the water to see where it flows, does it pool and why. Does my yard have areas that act like wind tunnels and would a flowering fruit plant be wiped clean by the natural elements.

I began planting specific fruits and vegetables according to the amount of wind, water and sun exposure they need. Now, sometimes this is less convenient for me, as I don't have all my herbs right outside my back door. However, my body needs and appreciates the exercise. Plus, the quantity and quality of my produce has exponentially increased.

A micro climate is the climate, within a small specific place, that is different from the climate of the area around it. I look at sharing my gardening experiences to be similar to that of a micro climate. We may be in a small specific area, different from the culture around us. However, sharing our knowledge and bounty can inspire others. As a result, we all increase our area of growth.

If we, as a culture, spend more time gardening, would we change the world?
I believe we would.