permaculture

["Forest Garden" <forestgarden@gvtc.com>]

Hi Larry,

I am jumping in here - and yes, I was the one with the low pressure gravity
fed system.  If you could relay some more specifics please.  What size are
the pots you use?  How much water gets distributed?  I wonder how long it
takes for the water to seep out.  I am guessing the tree starts forming
roots around the pot - it learns where the water is?  Would it have to be
terra cotta?  Could it be any fired, but unglazed clay pot?  I am asking
this as I wonder if I could make a custom shape which would distribute the
water better.

I appreciate your sharing of information.

thanks,

Marjory




----- Original Message -----
From: "L.Santoyo Designs" <santoyo@earthflow.com>
To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 12:48 PM
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Buried unglazed pots as watering system


> Peter Morehead,
>
> In our Design Courses we talk about the unglazed pot as mimicking a
> natural spring or seep...  We have used several variations of the
> "unglazed pot" in heavy (clay) soils and in sandy soils.  The
> commonality that led to success was not necessarily the pot design
> but the addition of wood chips and other course organic matter.
>
> The great thing about the clay pots is they work with very low
> pressure delivery.  -you can put a drip line with or without an
> emitter. (someone else on this list was asking about low pressure
> systems and drip?)
>
> We have glued two terra cotta pots together -with the wide tops one
> upside down on the other -seal the bottom opening -use the other
> opening to fill -then plug with a wine cork to prevent evaporation
> (and to prevent lizards and other little creatures from being
> trapped).
>
> We have also buried (single) larger pots and then used the next size
> up terra cotta saucer as the cover.  (we still put a little stick or
> rolled chicken wire to offer a bridge out for over curious lizards
> that somehow got under the saucer)
>
> We use two or three around each tree and use several in diamond
> pattern for larger garden spaces.
>
> The frequency and number of pots used, of course, depends on your soil.
>
> Good luck,
>
>
> Larry
>
> Larry Santoyo, Director
> EarthFlow Design Works
> 805.459.0452
> http://www.earthflow.com/consulting.html
>
>
> >Hello all,
> >
> >Does anyone have experience using buried terra-cotta pots filled with
water
> >as a watering system? Does this really work, work well, and for many
years?
> >
> >Here's my design: I'm planning to catch rainwater on a 16th story roof
and
> >divert it to a 14th floor rooftop garden. I'm considering diverting some
of
> >the water to a series of 8 large buried terra-cotta pots [unglazed]. The
> >tops of the pots will be screened to keep out mosquitos. The water will
> >[hopefully] slowly seep through the pot wall to moisten adjacent soil.
The
> >idea is to keep plants happy with a consistent level of moisture and cut
> >down on maintenance time. So far, i've only seen this idea in drawings
and
> >don't know if it's been tried with success.
> >
> >Any advice is welcome - is this design worth the trouble?
> >
> >Thanks in advance,
> >
> >Peter Morehead
>
> --
>
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