February 3, 2007

The rains are providing abundant water for our crops this time of year, and the swales are doing a good job of slowing, sinking, and spreading the abundance of water into the land. However, when our apple trees are seeking water this fall to fill out their delicious fruit, the rain will have long since past.

Greywater systems are a great way to treat your fruit trees to water year round, as well as, reduce the consumption of this precious resource. Last week, Art Ludwig - founder of Oasis Designs - joined our Regenerative Design and Nature Awareness (RDNA) Program to share his wisdom and experience with grey water systems. After a slide show, dance party, and a walkabout with Art, the RDNA participants worked on designing some new systems for the farm, including one for our greenhouse sink. Above is a photo of the output of the system they installed - a branched, mulch basin design that feeds the four apple trees on the south side of our greenhouse. As our staff and students use the greenhouse sink year round, the water will be routed directly to 10-inch deep basins around the tree filled with wood chips. The wood chips - which can often be gleened from tree cutters as a waste product - help slow the water, making it more available to the tree roots, and create more habitat for beneficial organisms.

Grey water systems can be very simple and inexpensive to install. One of the easiest ways to get started is rerouting your washing machine water into one or more mulch basins in your back yard! For more details, check out Art Ludwig's website.