permaculture

["Sally K. Canning" <laughingsheep@pvtnetworks.net>]

For more information around the nation on irrigation systems, consultation,
engineering and sales, Clois Cobb has been a world of information.  Her
email is cloisc@cobco.com

This company should be able to point you to someone in your area who can
discuss your irrigation needs with.  Sally
----- Original Message -----
From: <FranksFarm@aol.com>
To: "permaculture" <permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001 6:22 AM
Subject: Re: market-farming digest/fwd: Irrigation System


> Hi All:)
>
> This reply was written by Marc on the market-farming list to my question
on
> irrigation. I thought this discussion might be of interest to others as
well
> so I'm forwarding to some of my favorite lists for their comments.
Hopefully
> the answers will help others faced with similar decisions!
>
> Marc, I appreciated your lengthy reply.
>
> I'll try and answer some of the very pertinent questions you have raised.
>
> <<First thing is check and see if you can take the water.>>  I can:)
About a
> mile of the  creek is within my western boundary.
>
> <<If you intend to water 70 acres that's a lot of water
> and pump.>>  Yes, I realize this. But hopefully will only need to use the
> system for irrigation occasionally. Primary purpose will be for watering
> pasture fed cattle. I'd like to move water storage tubs around to spread
> field use. So flexibility is a key. I now have 35 head but plan to expand
to
> 100. Three or 4* 300 gallon tanks per day should be sufficient.
>
> I'd like to somehow automate the system. Perhaps pump to a larger storage
> tank where the water can flow by gravity to where needed. However I'm
> concerned about details on piping, and pump required. Plus the bulkiness,
> transportability, set up time of the hoses.
>
> Cost is also a major consideration.
>
> 2. <<Is the stream polluted? Pesticides and fertilizer from ag
> runoff, industrial waste.>>  I'm fortunate. Stream is so clean, and pure
that
> it is one of the few designated Trout Streams in the state of Kentucky.
And
> it never dries up! There is a wide, deep stream bed. But I'm told heavy
> rains, and swift run off from the surrounding hills can cause stream to
rise
> 10-15' and overflow it's banks.
> This has not happened in last 3 years.
>
> Width and depth of stream, flow rate varies quite a bit depending on
> rain/snow run offs.
>
> I'd say maximum average on my property is around 60' minimum average
around
> 15.'
> Depth too will vary. From several feet deep, to sometimes a foot or two
with
> several deeper pools along it's length of around 4-5'.
>
> 3. <<What is the minimum to maximum rise in land away from the
> river where your pumping system will have to lift the water?>> On west
bank
> of the stream there is a steep, sloping, high ridge that runs the length
of
> the creek on my property. This ridge falls to the creek on both it's
northern
> and southern edges on my property. Land on west bank will remain as is. No
> water needed there.
>
> On the east bank, once over the primary banks which are close to 10' above
> water at 2'-3' water level there are a number of channels carved out by
the
> stream that vary in depth and height, but that are mostly lower than the
> primary bank or at most only a few feet above it.
>
> Bottoms on the east bank are fairly flat. Length is ca 5000' running north
to
> south . Width varies but an average of 600' or so for these bottoms would
not
> be too far off.
> There might be a drop of a few feet from the extreme southern end to the
> northern, but it is fairly gradual.
>
> So depending on system chosen. I might have to raise water to a tank
situated
> above the fields, or simply 20' or less if just pumped to the tanks.
>
> The closest elevations to the creek would be the ridge on the western
edge,
> which is fairly steep but only rises perhaps a 100' on that side. On the
> bottom side on the extreme sw edge there is a steep hill that rise perhaps
> 200' or so. But that places it a long way from Northern edge...over 5000'.
>
> 4. <<What do you intend to grow? Not all crops use the same
> amount of water.>>  Mostly grass, perhaps some corn, and a small market
> garden of 2-5 acres that can grow a wide variety of vegetables and herbs.
> Possibly a strawberry patch. Strawberries need lots of water.
>
> 5. <<How often will you need to water them?>>  That depends primarily on
> rainfall, ground moisture and requirements of specific produce/crops. Thus
> certain areas may need more water than others. I'd like to use drip system
> for market garden area. But need some expert advice on best system, proven
> field tested products available at reasonable cost.
>
> 6. <<A smaller pump can be used if run constantly and it's output managed
> around the
> fields.>> I'd prefer a pump that can be easily moved from spot to spot a
few
> times a week, is relatively maintenance, high quality at lowest cost, is
easy
> to connect and disconnect and that will last.
>
> I've also thought about having a few ram pumps like the Amish use and put
> them in strategic locations along creek. Of course then I'd need to find a
> way to store and distribute the water.
>
> 7. <<Larger pumps -- especially turbines -- can exhibit
> much higher efficiencies than centrifugals.>> I'm aware of the
efficiencies
> but unfortunately don't know much about them in terms of sizing, water
> volumes needed, pressures and other important details beyond my ken:)
>
> 8. << Have you researched the various techniques used for irrigation?>> To
a
> degree. But those large guns, and huge overhead sprinkler systems are
> definitely NOT what I have in mind.
>
>  I'm looking for a system that would be suitable for a small farm, that is
> relatively inexpensive, offers maximum flexibility, little maintenance, is
> not expensive to operate, does not rely on electricity and that does the
job
> with only one person! A tall order...but I'm hoping some folks on the list
> have actually worked out such systems.
>
> Whew...this post has gotten long. Hopefully others may also be able to
> benefit from this discussion. Look forward to your comments.
>
> All the best.  Frank
>
>
>
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