Episode-199- Methods of Rain Water Harvesting
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Today’s show expands on last weeks first show about Permaculture Zones and Layers (Episode 196) by discussing different methods to harvest and conserve water. Today’s link section includes some of the best resources i have ever featured on a shows subject matter, I encourage you to check them all out.
Tune in today to hear,
- Why you don’t have to want to save the planet to benifit highly from water conservation
- Thoughts on rain barrels and getting water closer to where you plan to use it
- Thoughts on moving from barrels to underground cisterns or tanks
- Rain chains a much more attractive way to get water to where you want it than a down spout
- Harvesting water from outbuildings and greenhouses
- Converting garbage cans to low cost rain catch barrels
- The swale and how it can create an oasis even in a salted desert
- Following contour lines is what makes a swale effective
- The pond the right way as part of an ecosystem not a hot puddle in the middle of a field
- Micro ponds and micro swales
- Intensive mulching actually creates a 1 inch deep lake within the entire surface area of a food forest
Resources for Today’s Show
- Excellent collection of water harvesting technical info
- Harvest H2O a Great Site with Excellent Articles
- YouTube Video on Making your Own Rain Chains
- Zuni Water Harvesting – Perhaps the Original Square Foot Garden
- Greening the Desert – Amazing what can be done at what you could call the end of the earth
- PDF from Barking Frog that Mentions Mini Ponds (page 5) – Be warned this PDF is very informative but very hard to read and jumps all over the place.
- Region 5 Get Together
- Members Support Brigade
- Dirt Time 2009
- Lights Out Audio Preview
Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.
You also now can call in questions or comments for the host at 866-65-THINK, (866-658-4465) please read the suggestions for calling in be
Jack good show its amazing how much more life inside plants will have after 3-4 days of giving them a drink of mother natures rain water.
Jack a ideal for a show or topic you often talk about CONCEALED CARRY . I would like to hear you talk a little about LUBY,S CAFE and what SUZZANA HUPP did about this. I think because of her standing up on her feet TEXAS and a lot of other states changed the laws in favor of the people.If you watch the right video she also puts JOHN BRADY in his place.
Jack,
id be very cautions about accidentally creating a wetland on your property. In many states if you do that and someone finds out then government people can come in and designate your land as a wetland zone. If that happens then you cant touch the land and it becomes protected and you get fined if you use it improperly.
Don’t forget to check what system of water rights are implemented in your state.
There are “riparian” rights and “use” rights and these vary state to state.
Jack, I’m sure I’m missing the obvious about the water that’s under deep mulch. Is this harvestable for uses other than sustaining what’s planted in the mulch? If so, how? thanks.
Great show. A couple comments related to rain barrels – you can’t have enough capacity. I hooked up 2 75 gallon barrels used for our raised bed garden area. 150 gallons sounds like a lot, but we can use that up in two waterings during a dry spell in the summer. Also, make sure you elevate them sufficiently to get adequate head pressure if you plan on running any length of house.
Thanks for the great show – the swale idea is very intriguing.
I had intended to put in a rain catch to water my vegetable garden. However after looking at some of the sites suggested, I see that there may be issues with rain runoff from roofs. Does anyone have any thoughts on this.
@96Charlie,
Nope it is for the plants, you never extract it. It is still “harvesting” though because you are trapping such a massive amount of water.
@Biltong,
Personally I wouldn’t worry with a standard house, I think most of the concern is like the commerical buildings coated in tar, etc. I and many others use roof water all the time with no issues.
Best show yet.
rainwater harvesting guide – http://www.kingspanwater.com/rainwater_harvesting_information.htm
96Charlie check this out for water under mulch.
http://www.raindropscisterns.com/commercial.php
click on rain drop cisterns landscape swale
cheers