Week 4 - Water

Water is life! The video below is a really brief introduction to Permaculture perspectives on how to design for water in the landscape. The links below provide a bit more detail of the specifics of Permaculture water systems in different climate zones.

Water

The design for water is the bones of any Permaculture system. The basic infrastructure, or the 'mainframe' of the design is shaped around working with the flow of water. Whatever the climate zone, water needs to be a primary consideration. This video provides a very basic outline of the way we view water and the strategies we employ to design for water in the Permaculture landscape.

Intro to Permaculture: Permaculture Design for Water Video Transcript Download Intro to Permaculture: Permaculture Design for Water Video Transcript

Featured Links:

Al Baydha Project Links to an external site.

Brad Lancaster: Harvesting Rainwater for Drylands and Beyond Links to an external site.

Chinampa Links to an external site.

Ethel M Chocolates Living Machine Links to an external site.

There are several different projects highlighted in the video, as well as images of of a number of others that are not named. Browse these links below to see a number of examples of projects that are focussed on water systems. Whether you are working with water scarcity, abundance, or over-abundance (flooding), the Permaculture perspective on water can help you to assess your situation and use clear strategic guidelines to best design for the water on your site. Remember the watershed, and that all water is ultimately connected in the hydrologic cycle. When your design works harmoniously with water, then your piece of your watershed is functional, and helps to benefit everything downstream from you.

Additional Resources:

Dryland:

Dryland: The Man Who Farms Water by Brad Lancaster Links to an external site.

Brad Lancaster Books: Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond Links to an external site.

Zvishavane- Dryland Water Harvesting Links to an external site.

Swales for Water Retention in Drought Stricken Areas Links to an external site.

Kykotsmovi Village Desert Gardens Links to an external site.

Build Sand Tanks for Dry Land Water Storage by David Bainbridge Links to an external site.

Temperate:

Video:

Sepp Holzer - Aquaculture: Synergy of Land and Water Links to an external site.

Tropics: