PDC LESSON 2.47 DESIGN – WATER GARDEN - TYRE POND

 

PERMACULTURE COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY

PDC LESSON 2.47 DESIGN – WATER GARDEN - TYRE POND 

 

RAINWATER HARVESTING

It goes without saying that water is necessary for gardening. But too much water—or too little—can also be a problem. The problem is that the extra water typically comes en masse, often from tropical storms, which then drain.

We should learn how to deal with this extra sudden water and prevent the damage.

Water from downpours should be stopped so that the soil and its beneficial nutrients, as well as pollutants such as excess fertilizers and pesticides, are not washed into nearby lakes, streams, and sewage systems.

With smart management, valuable water is taken up by crops, collected for use in future dry spells, or—a more natural twist on the same thing—slowly allowed to sink into the groundwater. Rainwater should be "harvested" for later use during heavy storms.

Another involves rain barrels and is a smart idea if you have a house on the farm. One should have up to four rain barrels on a property, including two that work in tandem: one placed higher than the other overflows to its neighbour when full. You can also set up a series of interconnected water butts and hide them under an attractive deck.

Concrete basin rain gardens are also an option to grow underground or on a patio so that water from roofs, paved areas can flow into them. Their purpose is to capture water, filter it without letting anything sink into the ground, and thus provide reserves for the plants and send some into the air through normal evaporation.

Another important place to store water is in the ground itself. The problem with many homes, especially new ones, is that heavy equipment has tamped down the ground during construction. This densification eliminates pore space up to three feet deep. It will take a long time to fix the problem, but it is possible.

The first step is to rototillate the packed soil; This will loosen the top six inches. You also aerate the soil, fill the aeration holes with fine compost, and then infuse compost tea. It will take a few years, but work is being done to add organic matter to otherwise almost sterile soil.

For every 1 percent you increase the percentage of organic matter in an acre of soil, the water holding capacity will increase by 20 to 25 gallons.

Ideally, the soil should be 50 percent organic matter. To nourish and hold water for plants without much fertilizer. The final step in creating a water-friendly garden is to plant in layers, that is, trees with shrubs, perennials, and ground cover growing underneath.

In addition to all their benefits for wildlife and climate (e.g. storing carbon), large trees are particularly important for conserving water. Even in a severe storm, trees slow down raindrops, so it takes a long time for the rain to reach the ground. This slow-moving water is less likely to drain. Water is a precious commodity, and gardeners can help make every drop count.