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  • From: Ken Hargesheimer <minifarms2@yahoo.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] DIY drip irrigation
  • Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:25:05 -0800 (PST)

Bucket Kits

The key to the simple drip irrigation system that we use is the gravity fed "bucket kit".  The bucket kit consists of four 8m lines [or two of 50 ft or one of 100’] of drip tape connected to a bucket suspended 1m above the vegetable bed.   Water, which is poured into the bucket and is evenly distributed to 100 watering points.  By filling the bucket twice a day, a small kitchen garden can be watered.  Studies in Kenya have shown that two of these kits can provide the water needed to produce enough vegetables to feed a family of seven during the dry season.  These bucket kits are inexpensive (US$15 in most countries), save water, save labor, and are easy to use.   I take one to demonstrate in my workshops.   Go to Chapinlivingwaters.org and they are available from echonet.org 
 
In any case, a few farmers in Honduras invented a VERY cheap drip irrigation system. They buy the regular black poly hose here, which is quite cheap. Then they cut holes in it where they want them with a nail or ice pick. A hot nail is best.  Then they take short sections (maybe 5 inches) of the same hose, cut it lengthwise to form a sleeve, and place a sleeve like that over each hole. This sleeve applies pressure to the hole, only letting a little water out, like a drip. This technology is quite cheap, VERY simple to do. Maintenance is also simple, because if a hole plugs up, you can often unplug it merely by taking the sleeve off and then replacing it.
 
 
USING SCREWS FOR DIY DRIP
Farmers in Nicaraga are using cheap round tubing and wood screws.  If drip tape is unavailable, this is a great alternative. We tried it with great success.  The screw is inserted completely into the tubing at each planting location so that it protrudes through the opposite wall. It is then backed off to allow water to drip through that side. The flow is set by screwing it in or out as needed. This even allows for variations in pressure due to terrain.
 
Subsistence farmers in developing countries maybe uneducated but they are smart.
 
Ken Hargesheimer
minifarms@gmail.com


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  • [Livingontheland] DIY drip irrigation, Ken Hargesheimer, 11/16/2006

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