Permaculture is a design science that renews natural resources and enriches local ecosystems. Through our work at Ethos, we seek to implement landscape solutions under the practice of Permaculture.
The Ethos crew completed installation of a French drain on a property; our intent was to relocate the water and yet keep it on the property. This practice not only ensures the health of the ecosystem of the site, it prevents additional flow into the storm drains, thereby retaining nutrients on the land.
Water would previously collect at this site in the front yard, creating a pond for many months of the year. I designed the drain to move this source back along the fenceline, then into a percolating drain where it now waters a hillside with mighty redwoods towering above.
The drain runs parallel to the left of the waddle shown below (I installed the waddle as a precaution before the storm).
The Ethos crew completed installation of a French drain on a property; our intent was to relocate the water and yet keep it on the property. This practice not only ensures the health of the ecosystem of the site, it prevents additional flow into the storm drains, thereby retaining nutrients on the land.
Water would previously collect at this site in the front yard, creating a pond for many months of the year. I designed the drain to move this source back along the fenceline, then into a percolating drain where it now waters a hillside with mighty redwoods towering above.
The drain runs parallel to the left of the waddle shown below (I installed the waddle as a precaution before the storm).
NB this image is "before"
We experienced a huge storm over the past two days - 4.7" with a high rain rate of 2.4"/hour. Suffice it write - tons of water in a short time. I am pleased to report the drain not only moved the water as we intended, the percolating area remained intact with no land loss and the front yard - previously a pond in this situation - was solid and as I walked over it, next to the drain, my boot sank only about 1/4". Very exciting, to a soil geek such as me.
Now, onto the design for this marvelous space.
Update Oct-10: we have completed the site. Quite a transformation.
The image to the right is taken from the same vantage point at the "before" above.
Healing and laughter,
Jae
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