I'm in high desert 6b, 7.4 acres. Almost flat but does slope. Alkaline silt that has rep for being barely drivable during heavy rains. Been here since 02/2018. Got solar. Need water but that's what my first year will be focusing on. I'm reading Drylands Water Harvesting. I have shovel. Limited resources and plenty of time. Been digging cachements and swales. Working 1 acre or so. Taking what works and doing it to other acreage. I want as much water to soak in. It is going to be a long process. Adding sulphur to swales: paper, wood and during rains, compost will be amended. Brad Permaculture novice but patient person. ️
Hi Brad and welcome, You're off to an excellent start. Getting the water into the soil is a start ... keeping it there for as long as possible is the next step and is accomplished by protecting the soil from direct sun and wind to minimize evaporation. In your high desert, evaporation far exceeds precipitation (same as my place), so striving to protect from evaporation with windbreaks, shade, and mulch will do much to extend the duration that moisture stays in your soil. Looking forward to hearing more as you progress!