Permaculture Raingarden - I

Bill Wilson gives us a tour of the permaculture raingarden in his front yard. For more details and images please visit:

http://www.midwestpermaculture.com/permaculture-125crescent-stelle.php

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• permaculture
• gardening
• design
• eco
• sustainable
• rain
• raingarden
• food

[cookingupastory]

Is the soil clay under the topsoil you removed? I'm wondering how/why the water just doesn't just soak clear down. And, do you have rain frequent enough in the summer to keep your berries watered? I find it fascinating what you did to capture the rainwater!

[MidwestPermaculture]

We did dig down to the clay line in our raingarden. After a few days the water is completely absorbed into the ground, which is better than having it run off into the ditch, and off the property. The clay does a wonderful job of holding water, so any water that does soak through does so very slowly. Until the berry plants mature we will only water them if necessary. However, once the roots of the new berry plants reach their full depth they will be on their own, even in a mild drought.

[kokonutbaby1]

Im starting to think our whole society esp the lawmakers have gone insane...This is how I see it, If man's law becomes oppressive to man and goes against God's laws, I choose to override man's law as ineffective and not follow it, it violates my persuit of happiness which is in my Constitution and is my inalienable right, much like my right to bear arms against "tyranny". If it was good enough for George, it's good enough for me, lol.

[88simran]

the berm is the BEST part!!!

[ASKWildeHilde]

look up hugelkultur and combine the methods

[ASKWildeHilde]

Those laws are so incorrect in there assumption that it is stealing water from downstream. it is putting it back down deep into the aquifer where it will still go down stream. With that kind of thinking it makes me think they'd clear cut forests just to keep the trees from drinking the water.

[thedruidherbalist]

@kokonutbaby1 the zoneing laws suck too

[DrakeDorosh]

Thanks for reading my comment. Should have said Here in Utah a focus.. I totally agree. And Utah sucks. We do have lots of engineering projects and multimillion dollar water tanks. One care dealer thought he might use the water on his roof to wash cars and created a big flap because it was "illegal". Like you said time for people to empower themselves.  Its framed unfortunately as a property issue. Pretty bad isn't it?

[TheUnNerved]

@DrakeDorosh Perhaps the people downstream should take some initiative and trap some rain water themselves... just a thought. Instead of being helpless, it's time for the People to empower themselves and rely on themselves.

[wkjohnston]

@tipafo good permacultural design can actually increase rain capture and to-stream water via ground water.

[tipafo]

Great video, nice design.

In some western states, long held tradition has led to a patchwork of laws resulting in downstream users effectively having first use rights to local rainwater.

You could be fined for simply watering landscape plantings with a flexible downspout, because, "legally", you're "stealing" water from those downstream.

Don't even think about putting out a barrel, unless you like "Imperial Entanglements".

[kokonutbaby1]

I would think that would cause alot of mosquitos..have u noticed that yet?

About it being illegal, i never heard of such a thing, lol..to collect rain water falling from the sky to your own property being made a law stating its illegal is insane,...other people "downstream" can collect their own water w/barrels if they want...that is just silly..what next?? illegal to breathe someone's air??? hahaha