Passive Irrigation in the Forest Garden: Swales, Spillways, & Flood Control

Runoff and extra rainfall are stored in a network of basins throughout the forest garden, buffering pulses of heavy rain. As that water is captured and absorbed into the ground, it slowly percolates through the ground. When weather turns dry for an extended time, plant roots can access these plumes of groundwater. We're continually tweaking and adding more to this complex network of intertwining footpaths, cultivated beds, and wild areas. One idea for the future is to create a larger reservoir high up in the system, which can be gravity fed down through the different passive irrigation systems if needed. This passive irrigation system allows plants to grow bigger and healthier and increases the overall resiliency of the system. It is designed to withstand the test of time as well as the many different conditions that are possible at this site. It is also altering the hydrology of the site, which is not always a predictable process. I'll continue to document this system as changes occur. Let me know if there's anything specific you want to see. __ The purpose of this work is to establish a low-maintenance food production system that engages the community in sustainable & ethical land management. It is intended to provide food / medicine / materials as well as provide interdisciplinary educational opportunities for people of all ages & backgrounds. This work demonstrates more sustainable agricultural practices such as agroecology (agriculture that mimics natural ecological systems), permaculture (sustainable & self-sufficient design), regenerative agriculture (conservation approach that focuses on topsoil regeneration, biodiversity, improving water cycle, biosequestration, & mitigating climate change), agroforestry & silvopasture (integration of trees & shrubs with animals), organic agriculture (growing & processing food without the use of synthetic fertilizers & pesticides), and food sovereignty (the right to healthy & culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound & sustainable methods), among others. This YouTube channel and these videos are for educational purposes and personal documentation of various projects.