Water Harvesting for Dry Lands - Special District · Presentation #2 11 Rainwater Catchment: 1”...

Deliverable 1.4.1. Residential Workshop #8Presentation #2

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Water Harvesting for Dry LandsPresented for Mission Resource

Conservation District byDiane and Miranda Kennedy,

Finch Frolic Gardenwww.vegetariat.com

Permaculture : a collection of practices modeled on how nature does things, with

h l f f llthe result of abundance for all.

The Three Ethics Are:

f1. Care of the earth2. Care of people

3. Return of surplus


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Why Save Water?•We are using treated drinking water for washing, flushing and irrigating.•It is illegal for Colorado citizens to capture rainwater, because CA has the rights to it!•Since 1963, the Colorado River has only met the ocean during El Ninos.

Colorado River Habitat

bIts not just about

us.


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The drought isn’t over. El Nino means warmer weather.Without capturing our rainwater, it floods and flows into the ocean.

RAIN BARRELSMeasure the square footage covered by your roofMeasure the square footage covered by your roof.

The formula is 1 Sq. Ft. = .623 gallons for each inch of rain.

In other words a 1000 square foot coverage with i h f i ld id 623 ll f f one inch of rain would provide 623 gallons of free,

chemical-free, neutral pH water.


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Choose:oDark.oFood Grade.oRound is best unless caged.oVery sturdy.

l bloCleanable!

1. Locate it where you are going to use it.

All raised horizontal spaces

Properly Install Your Rain Barrel!

All raised horizontal spaces can be used to harvest

water!


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Water can be used as thermal mass to regulate temperatures. Greenhouse? Side of home? Hen house? No

gutters? Use a rain Use a rain chain!

Aesthetics: Let rain catchment add value to your house and solve water issues. Don’t let rain catchment stress your relationships!One of you is thinking this while the other is thinking this

Make it a happy experience for everyone to show off!


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2. Raise it off the ground. Water delivery will depend upon gravity. Do you want to fit a bucket or watering can under the spigot? Measure the height for what you will be using.

3. Give it a very firm base! A gallon of water is 8.34 lbs. So your full 50 gallon rain barrel will weigh about 417 lbs your full 50-gallon rain barrel will weigh about 417 lbs. Urbanite, pavers and sand, cement brick are all good choices. BE SURE IT IS LEVEL!

4. Adjust the downspout accordingly.

5. Be sure there is a screen to protect from

bmosquitoes and debris. Consider a First Flush System.


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6. Make sure the connections are secure and the secure and the threads work with your hose if needed.

Images from Prepper Days blog.

Link many together to capture the most

rainwater.


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7. Prepare for overflow!

Drain AWAY from foundation!Create Rain Gardens.Use in combination with earthworks such as swales earthworks such as swales and rain catchment basins.Direct overflow hose to other areas of the garden.

Use that 50 gallons wisely! Up-value it into Actively Aerated Compost Tea.


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Rain Tanks: Make a VERY secure base!a


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Water Walls and Rain Harvesting Fences

CisternsUsually underground.Made from plastic, stone, or ferro cement.

Often in line with a subterranean spring.Rancho Guajome Adobe has historic cisterns.


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Rainwater Catchment:1” of rainwater in 1 hour on 1

acre = 27,154 gallons ofacre 27,154 gallons ofneutral pH, free water.

(The average American uses 80‐100 gal/day or 36 500 gal/year)100 gal/day, or 36,500 gal/year).The best place to catch and hold

rainwater is in the ground.


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Sunken beds are the drylands

method of method of planting.

Rain gardens, Rain gardens, vernal pools.


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Two inches of leaves is all the fertilizer anything

dneeds.

(Everything You Know Ab t C t About Composting is

Wrong: Mike McGrath TED talk.)

Sheet mulch!! 1 inch of mulch reduces your water bill by 10%


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Please don’t use chemicals on your soil and plants.


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Major Soil Nutrients

Hugelkultur: dirt on woodOne of the very best ways to save water, create

soil, fertilize plants, and clean the air.


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Bury wood in

containers.

You can bury

anything that rots.

What about a lawn?

Mow tall… 4”Water deeply and less oftenMow more frequentlyLeave clippingsCompost teaMix of perennials (clover, yarrow, bulbs)Native grasses (red fescue)


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Please DON’T use gravel! It radiates heat, dries and compacts the soil, allows weeds through and is almost

blimpossible to remove.

Please DON’T Lay Artificial Turf:

Very expensive: A 12’ x 75’ strip of low-grade turf from a chain hardware store is currently over $1500. Also needs earthworks to smooth soil and chemicals to kill existing plants.Lasts about ten years warranteed for 8; looks bad quicklyLasts about ten years, warranteed for 8; looks bad quickly.Leaches heavy metals into the ground, contaminating the dirt When heated the plastic and rubber will release toxins into the airThe infill, made of plastic and rubber is a thermal mass: as it sits in the sun it absorbs and radiates heat. For example, at 6 pm, an hour before the Women’s World Cup in Canada began at the end of a 75 degree day the artificial turf on which they were to play measured degree day, the artificial turf on which they were to play measured 120F. Where daytime temperatures rise to 100F, the turf could measure up to 180F.Needs LOTS of water to clean offNeeds leaf-blowerWeeds come through it anyway


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PLANT NATIVE PLANTS!

They love our weather, lsoil and water

conditions.

Don’t be afraid of Don t be afraid of succulents! You can have a lush garden that attracts birds and butterflies. Visit Roja’s Succulents on Alvarado and Vista del Indio.

We may not have much rain, but we do receive fog and mist. By planting lots of trees and shrubs of different heights, you’ll be capturing that moisture as it gathers on the leaves and rains down onto your property. You will also be creating humidity which keeps pollen viable.


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Water: How to get the most of what you are already paying for.

*Cooking water makes greatmakes great fertilizer.*Catch warm‐up water in the shower and use it in the toilet.*Budget it: Use only the water you can carry.

lGreywater: Legal in San Diego County!Contact a professional.Use plants to remediate your greywater.Greywater can funnel through filters and constructed wetlands and be clean enough for food crops. Or just filter it and direct it onto trees and shrubs.

BooksBooks by Art Ludwig


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Create porous pavement, so instead of channeling water away g yit allows water to percolate down. You will be harvesting it rather than allowing it to erode topsoil or go into storm water channels.*System Pavers.*

Resources:Mission Resource Conservation District

@ your library!!!@ y ywww.vegetariat.comFinch Frolic FacebookSan Diego Urban Homesteaders Meetupg p

San Diego Permaculture MeetupSan Diego Sustainable Living InstituteGeoff Lawton and Sepp Holzer on YouTube


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Diane and Miranda KennedyFinch Frolic Garden

www.vegetariat.comPlease ‘like’ Finch Frolic on Facebook

*permaculture consultations, *wildlife and native plant consultations, *in-

services, *lectures, *tours, *workshops

Thank you for coming!

Water Harvesting for Dry Lands - Special District · Presentation #2 11 Rainwater Catchment: 1”...

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Transcript of Water Harvesting for Dry Lands - Special District · Presentation #2 11 Rainwater Catchment: 1”...