-
For years, the Newberry Springs Economic Development Association (NSEDA) have highlighted a recurring dream: a dedicated local marketplace where neighbors can buy, sell, and trade without the noise and high fees of big-box platforms.
As it turns out, we didn’t need to look far. Newberry resident Heng Ung has already built it. His platform, HighDesert365.com, is a home-grown online classifieds and marketplace designed specifically for our region.
More Than Just a Website
HighDesert365 isn’t just another Craigslist clone; it’s a digital extension of the community spirit seen at local swapmeets and farmers’ markets. From farm-fresh eggs and local produce to professional services and yard sale finds, the site provides a structured space for the High Desert to conduct business at home.
“I wanted to create something that felt like our community,” says Heng Ung. “Traditional social media marketplaces are often disorganized or filled with scams. HighDesert365 was developed right here in Newberry to give our neighbors a reliable, community-focused alternative for local trade.”
A Digital Farmers Market for Local Producers
For Newberry’s small farms and home-based artisans, the “barrier to entry” for selling online can be steep. HighDesert365 aims to lower that wall. By focusing on a “neighbors-selling-to-neighbors” model, it allows local producers to advertise their harvest or crafts directly to those within driving distance.
“We have so much talent and production happening behind the fences in Newberry Springs,” Heng notes. “Whether you are a hobbyist selling handmade soaps or a farmer with a seasonal surplus, this platform acts as a digital farmers market that stays open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
Why “Local” Matters in the Digital Age
While the internet allows us to buy from anywhere, it often disconnects us from our own backyard. Heng’s vision for HighDesert365 is to revitalize the local “circular economy”—keeping Newberry dollars in the High Desert.
“There is a unique level of trust when you know you are dealing with a neighbor,” says Heng. “When you see a listing on HighDesert365, there’s a high probability you’re looking at products from someone you might see at the post office or the local diner. It’s about restoring that community-based commerce that our town has always valued.”
Supporting the NSEDA Mission
By utilizing existing local tools like HighDesert365, the NSEDA can focus on what it does best: promoting the people and businesses that make Newberry Springs unique. Supporting entrepreneurs like Heng is a direct investment in the technical sovereignty and economic independence of our community.
How to Get Involved
Residents are encouraged to visit HighDesert365.com to browse current listings or create a free account to start advertising their own goods and services.
-
Reliable utility access is the backbone of any industrial operation. Newberry Springs sits atop the Lower Mojave River Valley Groundwater Basin, a vital resource that has sustained local industry and agriculture for decades. Through the management of the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), businesses in Newberry Springs operate within an adjudicated basin that provides transparency and long-term security for water production allowances.
Complementing our water resources is a robust electrical grid. Our proximity to major transmission corridors, including the Lugo-Mohave lines, ensures a high-capacity power supply capable of supporting everything from light manufacturing to large-scale cold storage.
Infrastructure Advantages:
- High-Capacity Wells: Average well yields of 480–770 GPM in the floodplain unit.
- Electrical Redundancy: Proximity to Southern California Edison (SCE) high-voltage infrastructure.
- Rail Proximity: BNSF and Union Pacific mainlines provide a secondary “steel freeway” for bulk material import and export.
-
Before modern refrigeration, desert dwellers relied on “Water Glassing” to keep eggs fresh for up to a year. This method uses Sodium Silicate (or “Water Glass”) to seal the pores of an unwashed eggshell, preventing oxygen from entering and bacteria from growing. For Newberry residents looking to increase their food security, this is an essential skill.
The process is simple but requires precision: you must use clean, unwashed eggs that still have their natural “bloom” (the protective coating applied by the hen). By submerging them in a specific solution of water and sodium silicate in a food-grade crock or bucket, you can store eggs in a cool, dark place without any electricity required. It’s the ultimate “low-tech” solution for a high-production homestead.
Key Steps for Success:
- Start with Clean Shells: Use only unwashed, farm-fresh eggs.
- The Ratio: Follow the specific dilution rates to ensure a proper seal.
- Storage: Keep the container in a steady, cool environment (like a pantry or cellar).
-
For years, the Newberry Springs Economic Development Association (NSEDA) have highlighted a recurring dream: a dedicated local marketplace where neighbors can buy, sell, and trade without the noise and high fees of big-box platforms.
As it turns out, we didn’t need to look far. Newberry resident Heng Ung has already built it. His platform, HighDesert365.com, is a home-grown online classifieds and marketplace designed specifically for our region.
More Than Just a Website
HighDesert365 isn’t just another Craigslist clone; it’s a digital extension of the community spirit seen at local swapmeets and farmers’ markets. From farm-fresh eggs and local produce to professional services and yard sale finds, the site provides a structured space for the High Desert to conduct business at home.
“I wanted to create something that felt like our community,” says Heng Ung. “Traditional social media marketplaces are often disorganized or filled with scams. HighDesert365 was developed right here in Newberry to give our neighbors a reliable, community-focused alternative for local trade.”
A Digital Farmers Market for Local Producers
For Newberry’s small farms and home-based artisans, the “barrier to entry” for selling online can be steep. HighDesert365 aims to lower that wall. By focusing on a “neighbors-selling-to-neighbors” model, it allows local producers to advertise their harvest or crafts directly to those within driving distance.
“We have so much talent and production happening behind the fences in Newberry Springs,” Heng notes. “Whether you are a hobbyist selling handmade soaps or a farmer with a seasonal surplus, this platform acts as a digital farmers market that stays open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
Why “Local” Matters in the Digital Age
While the internet allows us to buy from anywhere, it often disconnects us from our own backyard. Heng’s vision for HighDesert365 is to revitalize the local “circular economy”—keeping Newberry dollars in the High Desert.
“There is a unique level of trust when you know you are dealing with a neighbor,” says Heng. “When you see a listing on HighDesert365, there’s a high probability you’re looking at products from someone you might see at the post office or the local diner. It’s about restoring that community-based commerce that our town has always valued.”
Supporting the NSEDA Mission
By utilizing existing local tools like HighDesert365, the NSEDA can focus on what it does best: promoting the people and businesses that make Newberry Springs unique. Supporting entrepreneurs like Heng is a direct investment in the technical sovereignty and economic independence of our community.
How to Get Involved
Residents are encouraged to visit HighDesert365.com to browse current listings or create a free account to start advertising their own goods and services.
-
As tourism on Route 66 grows, so does the demand for unique lodging. Newberry Springs is perfectly positioned to capitalize on the “Boutique Stay” trend. By utilizing the NSEDA Tourist’s Guide, local property owners can see where the gaps in our current hospitality sector lie.
From converted vintage trailers to quiet desert retreats, there is immense room for growth in our short-term rental market. The NSEDA is here to help residents navigate the regulations of launching a hospitality business, ensuring that as we grow, we maintain the quiet, rural quality of life that makes Newberry Springs so special in the first place.
-
The Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce is the dedicated voice for the local business community. From legacy agricultural operations to the growing hospitality sector along Route 66, the Chamber provides the networking and promotional infrastructure necessary for desert-based businesses to thrive.
The Chamber’s mission is to encourage a strong local economy by promoting Newberry Springs as a destination for travelers and a stable home for enterprise. Through their annual events and business directory, they ensure that local operators have a platform to reach both residents and the thousands of people passing through our corridors daily.
Business Resources:
- Website: newberryspringschamber.com
- Focus: Business promotion, community events, and economic advocacy.
- Join: Membership information is available for local vendors, home businesses, and organizations.
