Using efficient irrigation, techniques, and more with Christy Wilhelmi.
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Transcript of Using efficient irrigation, techniques, and more with Christy Wilhelmi.
using efficient irrigation, techniques, and more
with Christy Wilhelmi
Gardening in the Drought
Lowest rainfall in years Only 52% of regular rainfall for the year“Only 1 year of water left” according to NASA
New Mandate to reduce water usage by 25%
The Situation:
Warm/Hot weather crops:
Warm/Hot Weather Crops:
Use Biointensive MethodsUse Rain Barrels & BioSwales to Capture
WaterUse Drip Irrigation & MulchLocally Adapted Seed
How to Grow Food Efficiently:
Soil Food Web – coined by Dr. Elaine Ingham
Soil is Everything
Bio-IntensiveBiodynamic, French Intensive, Grow
BioIntensive, Square Foot Gardening
BioIntensive Methods
Rudolph Steiner – 1920s-30sTreats the farm/garden as an organismIntegration of crops and livestockRecycling of nutrients – compost holds water!Uses lunar calendar as guide for when to
plant
Biodynamic
Conditions the soil to 24 inches – compost holds water
Double DiggingUses Raised Beds – moundsPlant Closely together in hexagonal pattern –
wide rowsSuccession planting
French Intensive
Alan Chadwick brought the two togetherJon Jeavons – Ecology ActionHow to Grow More Vegetables 60/30/10 Focus on compost crops
Grow BioIntensive©
Mel Bartholomew – PBS series in 70sUses 4x4 square foot beds Uses grids instead of rowsGrow vines up trellisesOnce set up, no large tools neededCan be adapted to containers, patios, elevated for disabled
Square Foot Gardening
Capture hundreds to thousands of gallons 1 in. of rainfall = 600 gallons from a 1,000 sq.
ft. roof.Use downspouts / rain chainsNovember-April
Rain Barrels
Contouring land to Slow it, Spread it, Sink it!Disperses water under ground for plants to
pull up later
BioSwales
Drip tubing puts water where plants need it most
Little to no loss to evaporationLike Legos – piece together as needed.
Drip Irrigation
Mulch keep water where you put itKeeps roots coolLiving mulches work too!
Mulch
Carbon – food for microbesRetains nutrientsIncreases water retention
Biochar: Biological Charcoal
Save seeds, grow them out, save them again!More resilient to our climate, water, soil
conditionsJoin a Seed Library
Locally Adapted Seed
BeWaterWise.com – plant database for native & drought tolerant plants
SLOLA.org – Seed Library of Los AngelesTheodore Payne Foundation – CA native
plants for saleRainbarrels International – local rain barrels
sales (rebates offered through SoCalWaterSmart.com)
Resources
Visit gardenerd.com for more tips and tidbitsClasses, consulting and food garden designBuy Christy’s new book, Gardening for Geeks,
today or online at www.GardeningForGeeksBook.com
Questions?