Permaculture Water Harvesting

What is the sanity limit for swales? How many per vertical / horizontal(plan) foot?  If I hydrate too much I'm going to induce "slump" failure in the slope.

How can I hate Al Gore...not believing one damned thing he stands for...owning an oil company and living in a mansion...yet Be interested in permaculture. Permaculture for the right reason...

al gores interested in permaculture?

i estimate that this task would require more energy to fuel a group of humans than it does to use one machine.

Depends on the circumstances by which the food was collected. If it had to be transported hundreds/thousands of kilometres, then you are definitely right.

However, if you include the embodied energy of the bulldozer (electricity used to mine the metal, fuel used to transport it to the factory, electricity used to make it etc), irkone is right.

May I stress/MOST important: when looking at the future of the planet, it is permaculture/other sustainable lifestyles+systems or bust.

4+3/5ths stars.

@Tidnull
I'm doing it by hand on my property, and it doesn't.

no they are not. they use traditional irrigation.
permaculture principles are different. time to find your local permaculture design course in yr local area. and there are lots all throughout the world.
cheers and hope you enjoy. im planning to do my introduction in dec. although i have read a few books. its way cool.

this video is perfect from beginning to end.

props for that.

Is there a general timeline on how long it takes between the time the Swales are dug and the time the groundwater will mature into a spring?

Great video!