Category: Infrastructure
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What is the Purpose of a Swale?
There are several kinds of swales with different purposes, which include creating drainage in a conventional landscape design, diverting water to be stored in a pond, and raising the level of the water table.
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15 Things I Learned Through Practicing the Permaculture Principle of Observation for One Month
I have only been living on my current property for about a month, so observation during this time has been crucial. The land has revealed treasures I never expected, from berry shrubs to carpets of the wildflower called “spring beauty”. To inspire you in your own observation practice, here are fifteen useful things I have…
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Gardening With Sun Traps and Sun Scoops
When gardeners and permaculturists talk about a “sun trap” (or “sun scoop,”) they mean a landscape feature that catches solar rays throughout the day and blocks the coldest winds. The term can be used for naturally sheltered pockets created by chance, but it also refers to carefully crafted horseshoe-shaped design features. A human-created sun trap…
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Hügelkultur Gardening on Clay Soil
This spring, faced with establishing a new garden in hard clay soil, I wondered if hugelkultur might be a good strategy. The technique, which involves burying logs, branches, and mulch in a steep-sided mound, would certainly bring organic matter into my garden. But would they decompose properly when surrounded by clay?