Here’s a drainage swale that’s just sitting there, looking for something to do.
Typical for drainage swales when they’re not directing rainwater away from where it isn’t wanted to where it is. That’s the first of the three activities of water harvesting.
So, how do I get this swale ready for the summer monsoon season? With a broom! It has proven to be the perfect tool for removing debris from the swale.
I save the rake for the bottoms of my rainwater harvesting basins because over time, those basins get shallower.
Moving on to the second activity of water harvesting, storing rainwater for later use, I’m carefully rationing the remaining water in my 1,500-gallon cistern.
Since I recorded this episode, we’ve had a little rain, but it hasn’t been enough to get the cistern water level above 500 gallons. So, I’ll keep being frugal.
Finally, there’s the third activity of water harvesting, recycling “used” water. I’ve been toting buckets of soapy dishwater out to the landscape plants and the fruit trees. It’s been helpful, but I’m still looking forward to those monsoon storms.
This week’s forecast shows some pretty tantalizing rain possibilities, so here’s hoping…
Another Learning Opportunity!
Check out Martha’s new audiobook and eBook, Water Harvesting 101. It will help you get your water harvesting journey off to a strong start.