Steps for Building a Swale As it is central to life on Earth, so water is of A swale is essentially a small ditch located crucial importance to the permaculture plot, on a slope that captures water as it runs providing the plants, livestock and wildlife down the slope and stores it, allowing the with an essential element for their survival moisture to penetrate into the soil, and growth. Water is also a finite resource. infiltrating the soil profile around the swale It is precious and should be treated as such. and recharging groundwater supplies. This Therefore, permaculture design seeks to also has the added benefit of reducing preserve and use water in the most erosion of the topsoil on the slope, and sustainable and efficient ways. This includes potentially providing a water body that can harvesting rainwater, mulching and be utilized for irrigation elsewhere on the composting soil to help prevent excess site. evaporation from the surface, planting native species that are adapted to the Placement rainfall condition in the area, and reusing Swales are built along the contour lines of a water slope. This uses the natural topography from the home in the garden. of the slope to the advantage of capturing the water and also The permaculture gardener is makes it easier to create a level also looking to slow the rate at which water moves off the site. The best swale. There are place for water to be stored is several ways to in the ground, where it is available mark out the for plants and microorganisms to contour line along use, so it makes sense to try and which your swale keep water on the plot as long as will go. You can possible to allow it to soak into the use a laser level, soil. There are various ways of a water level or a simple A-frame. doing this, such as planting This device consists of three pieces of slopes with trees and cover wood two of equal length forming the – crops to increase percolation legs and a third braced between them rates and minimizing areas of paving or with a plumb line hanging from the – similar hard surfaces that increase water apex. the A frame across the ‘Walk’ runoff. Another technique available to the slope, adjusting at each step until the permaculture gardener in this endeavor is line is dead straight, and mark the the construction of swales. ground. These marks will provide the line of the uphill edge of your swale.
Steps for Building a Swale As it is central to life on Earth, so water is of crucial importance to the permaculture plot, providing the plants, livestock and wildlife with an essential element for their survival and growth. Water is also a finite resource. It is precious and should be treated as such. Therefore, permaculture design seeks to preserve and use water in the most sustainable and efficient ways. This includes harvesting rainwater, mulching and composting soil to help prevent excess evaporation from the surface, planting native species that are adapted to the rainfall condition in the area, and reusing water from the home in the garden. The permaculture gardener is also looking to slow the rate at which water moves off the site. The best place for water to be stored is in the ground, where it is available for plants and microorganisms to use, so it makes sense to try and keep water on the plot as long as possible to allow it to soak into the soil. There are various ways of doing this, such as planting slopes with trees and cover crops to increase percolation rates and minimizing areas of paving or similar hard surfaces that increase water runoff. Another technique available to the permaculture gardener in this endeavor is the construction of swales. A swale is essentially a small ditch located on a slope that captures water as it runs down the slope and stores it, allowing the moisture to penetrate into the soil, infiltrating the soil profile around the swale and recharging groundwater supplies. This also has the added benefit of reducing erosion of the topsoil on the slope, and potentially providing a water body that can be utilized for irrigation elsewhere on the site. Placement Swales are built along the contour lines of a slope. This uses the natural topography of the slope to the advantage of capturing the water and also makes it easier to create a level swale. There are several ways to mark out the contour line along which your swale will go. You can use a laser level, a water level or a simple A-frame. This device consists of three pieces of wood – two of equal length forming the legs and a third braced between them – with a plumb line hanging from the apex. ‘Walk’ the A frame across the slope, adjusting at each step until the line is dead straight, and mark the ground. These marks will provide the line of the uphill edge of your swale.