HOW TO BUILD SWALES - and harvest water

Summary

In this video, the host shares a year's journey in gardening, focusing on soil as the foundation for plant growth. They delve into permaculture studies, showcasing the importance of observing natural patterns and cycles. The series highlights the creation of swales, a key permaculture technique for water harvesting and soil improvement. Expert Jeff Lawton's insights on swale design and function are featured, emphasizing their role in enhancing tree growth, preventing soil erosion, and ultimately transforming landscapes into sustainable food forests.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Gardening is a learning process that involves understanding soil as the foundation for plant growth.
• 🐛 The gardener is experimenting with a worm farm in an old bathtub to enrich soil fertility.
• 🌳 Cultivating fruit tree seedlings is part of creating a food forest, aiming for a self-sustaining ecosystem.
• 📚 Permaculture studies are being pursued to observe patterns and life cycles in nature for better garden management.
• 🌿 The importance of soil conditioners like swales is highlighted for water retention and soil improvement.
• 💧 Swales are described as level excavations that can vary in form and are crucial for water management in gardens.
• 🌳 Trees are essential in swale systems for evapotranspiration, which helps in water absorption and atmospheric moisture.
• 🌞 The potential of swales to increase rainfall through increased condensation, especially in desert environments, is noted.
• 🛤️ Swales can be adapted to various climates and soil types, with different strategies for planting and water management.
• 🌱 The progression of swale development over seven years is detailed, showing how they improve soil hydration and tree growth.
• 🌳 The final transformation of swales into forests over time, with trees taking over the water cycle and soil improvement functions.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the speaker's garden project?

The speaker's garden project focuses on understanding the soil as the 'stomach' for plants, cultivating seedlings of fruit trees, building a worm farm, and studying permaculture to nurture their garden, which they call paradise.

What is a 'swale' as introduced in the context of permaculture?

A swale is a long, level excavation used in permaculture to intercept and store water, allowing it to infiltrate and recharge the groundwater. It can take various forms and widths and is often used on slopes to increase soil moisture and plant growth.

What is the significance of trees in a swale system?

Trees are essential components of swale systems as they help absorb water, increase infiltration, prevent water logging, and contribute to evapotranspiration, which can potentially increase local rainfall and condensation.

Why is it important to plant trees on the mound of a swale?

Planting trees on the mound of a swale is important because it increases topsoil, provides a place for trees to grow, and helps in the absorption and transpiration of water, contributing to the overall health of the swale system.

How do swales help in desert environments?

In desert environments, swales are crucial for capturing and storing scarce rainfall, promoting tree growth, and increasing local humidity and condensation, which can lead to increased rainfall over time.

What is the role of the back slope in a swale system?

The back slope of a swale is often planted with leguminous trees that fix nitrogen and help with water absorption. The roots of these trees grow quickly, chasing the water as it soaks in, contributing to the overall health of the swale.

How can swales be utilized in urban areas with hard service runoff?

Swales can be used in urban areas to manage stormwater runoff by soaking the water into the ground, promoting tree growth, and reducing the costs and environmental impact of traditional stormwater management systems.

What is the process of rehydrating the soil in a swale system?

The rehydration process in a swale system involves the soil absorbing water over time, with the maximum rehydration occurring around seven years. This process is aided by the roots of trees, which increase infiltration and absorption.

How can the distance between swales be determined?

The distance between swales can be determined by factors such as rainfall amount, soil type, and the mature height of the trees. It can range from three to twenty times the average swale width, depending on these factors.

What are some additional benefits of swales in a permaculture system?

Swales offer multiple benefits, including increasing soil fertility, providing a convenient pathway for transportation, serving as windbreaks in windy areas, and potentially being used for burying organic waste to create rich soil deposits.

How can swales be adapted to different soil types?

Swales can be adapted to different soil types by choosing appropriate pioneer trees that favor the specific soil conditions, such as sandy or clay soils. Over time, as the soil improves, higher quality trees can be planted.