The western desert of Utah is one of the most remote areas in the western United States, but its reputation is not good, because its most famous place is a large area of ​​hard saline soil, which has become the Mecca with land speed records.

The famous Bonneville Salt Flat is an anomalous landscape​​, an aspect of the landscape defined by valleys surrounded by mountains, vegetation, wildlife and human settlements.

The Ibapa Peak in the Deep Creek Mountains is higher than any mountain in the Wasatch Mountains. The Gap Peak in the Haus Mountains has a 2,200-foot vertical cliff, which is second only to El Capitan in Yosemite in the United States. The second highest mountain.

In other words, the Western Desert is full of surprises, including a rapidly growing farm community in the valley between the relatively small Simpson Mountains.

Riverbed Ranch is actually a collection of farms and ranches owned by a non-profit collective named Utah OSR.

Approximately 12 2 acres of land have begun to take shape through small-scale agricultural operations, and 80 of them have been sold to the north. Their final plan is to sell 250 units occupied by people who have signed the vision.

Reading-Utah seeks to protect farmland from development needs

Coleen Gleason talked about some expectations for Riverbed Ranch while sitting in the sun squinting on a cool Saturday in October.

"They agreed to build a barn, an orchard, a greenhouse and a home that complies with building codes," Gleason said.

The sociable retired English teacher is the matriarch of a small community. She married the founder, Phil Gleason, and the two lived on their property for a year. The initials in the Utah OSR stand for Operation Self Reliance. Colleen described the residents she had lived here for a year.

"They either like agriculture or animals. Most of them tend to be the prepared type," she said.

The simple definition of a preparer is someone who wants to be prepared. But the people covered by this word are not simple. A preparer may isolate, dig a bunker, and store weapons. People may try to form a public gardening oasis in the city.

The prepared brand of Utah OSR is very organized, but not obviously belligerent. They are committed to sustainable organic practices, but they are not like more traditional environmental groups.

They advertise to all faiths, races and nationalities. But they admit that approximately 80% of the community in Utah is made up of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Preparation and self-reliance are words familiar to Latter-day Saints who need to stock extra food and other supplies for various emergencies.

Michael and Sarah Vezzani lived on their two acres for more than a year. They are all BYU graduates, Latter-day Saints, and when they decided to leave the city and file a claim at Riverbed Ranch as part of the Utah OSR community, they were all successful professionals.

Michael is 36 years old, tan, well-proportioned, with more hair on his beard than on the top of his head, and a worn cowboy hat on top of his head.

"Myself, my wife and my three children. It became tight for a few days and I wanted to pull out the rest of my hair," Michael said with a smile.

Reading-Compensation for Utah "Downwind" cancer victims will expire in 2022

He called their first year a trial period, and they plan to fail a lot while learning what can grow. He got up early, made money from software development, and at the same time kept the farm running. They use solar energy through a satellite internet connection.

But since Michael first picked up the book of poet and essayist Wendell Berry, his dream has always been to farm.

Sarah tells the story about one day of their marriage for a week or so.

"He started to read Wendell Berry and said, I want to be a farmer. I said it's cute, but I'm making money!" she said.

Sarah is already working as a chemical engineer in Boston, and Michael completed his degree online. Before returning to Utah, Jobs took them to Boston and Cincinnati. At each stop, they would grow vegetables together and complained that they did not have time to spend time outdoors with their three children.

Sarah became a believer in the concept of agriculture. After being injured in a car accident, she suspended her career in chemical engineering and began to teach her children at home while learning herbal treatments.

"I thought I wanted to live a real life. I wanted the purpose and intention of life," Sarah said.

They started looking for their farm.

"We looked at what we can afford in Box Elder County. It's only a few miles away from anyone and there is no water," Michael said.

He added: "We checked the property in Fuxian for a million dollars or more. There is plenty of water there. We won't take out that kind of loan."

Then they heard about the Utah OSR and began to study the possibility of being on a small plot of land. Michael left optimistically.

"The question is not,'Can you live well on two acres of land?' I think the best question is'What do you need to do?'" Michael said.

They put down $25,000, chose their own two acres of land, moved a family of five into a medium-sized travel trailer, and started a new way of life in the western desert of Utah.