A permaculture swale is a shallow trench dug along the land s contour with a berm on the downhill side created with soil from the trench.
Permaculture way of using water from a roof.
Using permaculture principles you will be able to turn your urban space regardless of the size or whether it s a rooftop balcony or patio into a sustainable food forest mimicking nature saving you money time and resources.
The harvesting of water in this way not only saves work but money and natural resources that can be put to use to the advantage of all in order to produce more food and at the same time possibly.
All points along a contour line are exactly the same height above sea level.
The system is capped at the end so that water backs up and when full all new water then flows directly into the tank.
Our workshop and store were block built and could not be moved elsewhere on site but they were in need of a new roof so we considered extending the buildings upwards and either having a suspended floor or two storeys the next door neighbour already had planning permission to build a two.
Swales are the most widely used and abused permaculture water management technique.
Generally swales are most appropriate for slopes of 5 or less.
Permaculture studies and applies holistic solutions that are applicable in rural and urban contexts at any scale.
Permaculture integrates land resources people and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies imitating the no waste closed loop systems seen in diverse natural systems.
It is a multidisciplinary toolbox including agriculture water harvesting and hydrology energy.
That way leaf particulates and sediment are kept out of your water.
However if you plan on drinking the water or using it for cooking it is always safest to boil the water first.
By this point water from your barrel should be safe to use for irrigation filling ponds bathing showering and washing your hands.
Using permaculture design to prepare for floods.
Permaculture is not only creating a sustainable garden but also a way of life.
There are many factors that influence whether or not you swale your property depending on your slope soils hydrology type of management ecosystem s condition and resource base.
Therefore a trench along the contour captures water in the landscape slowing and spreading it across the contour line.