See All: Permaculture
Make Your Own Edible Landscape…
Rachel is here to teach you how to create your own unique edible landscape. She’ll show you how to work within your local ecosystem and existing resources to save you time and money. Get the look and feel of an ornamental landscape whilst growing a ton of food using time tested permaculture principals that work with nature at the same time…
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“Hey, I’m in the process of setting up a small permaculture garden on my property here in Cairns, Australia. Given the tropical climate we have, we often see heavy rainfall during the wet season, but it’s bone dry for months after that. How can I use permaculture principles to effectively store water during the rainy months so I can support my garden through the dry spells? I’m trying to figure out what will work best without having to rely too much on external water sources.” Thanks, Patrick, Cairns, Australia.
Permaculture and Water Storage: Why It Matters
Alright, Patrick, let’s chat about one of the most fundamental aspects of permaculture: water. Whether you’re in a dry region or facing erratic rainfall like in Cairns, managing water effectively can make or break a garden. In permaculture, we aim to work with nature to create systems that maintain themselves with minimal input. Water is central to all this because, let’s face it, plants don’t care how much you love them—they care how much water they get!
Now, with your tropical climate, capturing and storing excess water during the rainy season is key to thriving during the dry months. In permaculture, techniques for water storage go beyond just installing a rain barrel (though that’s a start!). Let’s dive into those ideas, and I’ll show you how to make your garden as self-sufficient as possible when it comes to H2O.
Maximizing Rainwater Harvesting
Use What You Have: Roofs, Gutters, and Tanks
You mentioned heavy rainfall, Patrick, and that’s a fantastic opportunity to collect water. If you’ve got any kind of roof structure—whether it’s your house, a shed, or even a greenhouse—you’ve got a prime water-gathering resource. The idea here is to capture rainwater from these surfaces using gutters and direct it into storage tanks. Simple, right?
Here’s why it works so well: a roof catches every drop that hits it. A single inch of rainfall on a 1,000-square-foot roof can produce over 620 gallons of water. And in a place like Cairns where rainfall can be pretty intense, that adds up fast. Make sure your gutters are clean and properly sloped so they channel water efficiently into your storage tanks. From there, you can utilize that stored water when the rains stop.
Upgrading to Larger Storage Options
If you’re serious about storing substantial amounts of water, it might be worth considering larger tanks or even a cistern. These can be above or below ground, depending on your space and budget. While that sounds a little “industrial,” an underground cistern can be an unobtrusive way to store large amounts of water without taking up valuable garden space. Plus, it stays cool and out of the sun, reducing algae growth.
Don’t Waste a Drop: Diversify Your Collection Methods
If one of the tanks overflows during a particularly heavy downpour, don’t let that excess water go to waste. Use swales—a kind of shallow ditch on a contour line—to further collect runoff and increase infiltration into your soil. Another idea is small ponds or seasonal wetlands that naturally store water and support biodiversity.
Maximizing Soil Moisture for Natural Water Storage
Mulching: Your Garden’s Best Friend
When you think of water storage, hard tanks and containers might come to mind first. But another sneaky way is to store water directly in your soil. Mulching is a simple yet highly effective technique. By covering your soil with organic matter like leaves, straw, or wood chips, you dramatically reduce evaporation and help rainwater penetrate deeper.
In your tropical climate, where things can heat up quickly, keeping the soil cool is essential. A thick layer of mulch also encourages earthworms and beneficial microbes that further improve soil structure and moisture retention.
Keyline Design for Water Retention
Another soil-based strategy in permaculture is keyline design. This is a method of ensuring that water spreads evenly across the landscape, rather than pooling in one spot or running off. The idea is to shape the land in a way that slows down water flow and encourages it to soak into the ground rather than rushing away.
Think of keyline design as laying out roads for water to naturally follow, ensuring every part of your garden gets the moisture it needs. On a smaller scale, simply using contour beds or terracing can accomplish a similar goal, directing water precisely where you want it to go.
Building Landscape Features for Water Storage
Ponds and Aquatic Systems
You mentioned in your question, Patrick, that you have a wet season—I’m guessing your property gets some pretty good soaking! If space allows, think about creating a pond or small wetland area. Not only can a pond store a significant amount of water, but it also becomes a whole new ecosystem, supporting fish, frogs, and insects that can help control pests in your garden.
You can also integrate aquatic plants like watercress or water spinach that benefit from nutrient-rich water, creating an interconnected system of support for your overall garden.
Swales: The Unsung Heroes of Water Management
If digging a pond isn’t practical or if you want to focus more on soil moisture, swales are the way to go. Swales are essentially shallow ditches dug along the contour of the land. When it rains, the swales slow down runoff and allow water to seep into the soil rather than running off the surface. Spread some of that rainwater into your parched soil where it can gradually be released to plants.
Swales are easy to implement and don’t require any fancy materials—just a shovel and some good ol’ elbow grease. You can even plant trees or shrubs along the downhill side of the swale to further help soak up water and stabilize the soil.
Advanced Water Storage Techniques
Greywater Systems
For the more advanced gardeners out there, setting up a greywater system is worth considering, especially in a climate like yours, Patrick. Greywater is wastewater from baths, showers, kitchen sinks, and laundry (minus any really nasty stuff like toilet water). By filtering and redirecting greywater, you can reuse it to water plants.
Now, before you imagine your plants gagging on soap suds, remember that a well-designed greywater system includes simple filters that make this water perfectly safe for the garden. It’s a quirky solution, but why let all that water go to waste when it could be feeding your garden instead?
Hugelkultur: Storage Below the Surface
Here’s something a bit unconventional but powerful—Hugelkultur. This is a technique where you build raised garden beds filled with logs, branches, leaves, and other organic materials. Over time, these materials decompose, creating a sponge-like structure that retains moisture.
You plant right on top of these beds, and as roots grow deeper, they tap into the moisture stored in the rotting wood. It’s like an underground water reservoir—perfect for dry times. Plus, as a bonus, the decaying organic matter enriches your soil, providing nutrients to your plants.
Troubleshooting Common Water Storage Problems
Algae in Tanks and Ponds
Dealing with algae is a common issue when storing water, especially in places with lots of sun like Australia. Algae thrive in warm, nutrient-rich water, and while they’re not necessarily harmful, they can clog up systems and block sunlight, making your water storage less effective.
- First line of defense: Keep your water storage tanks and containers in a shady spot whenever possible. Less sunlight means less algae growth.
- Adding physical barriers: Use mesh screens on openings to keep leaf litter and debris out of your tanks. Debris in the water speeds up algae growth.
- Naturally combat algae: Consider adding barley straw to ponds. As it decomposes, it releases natural chemicals that inhibit algae growth. It’s like a tiny, plant-based SWAT team!
Erosion Around Landscape Features
Another common challenge, especially after heavy rainfall, is erosion around swales, ponds, or other landscape features. You want to keep that soil in place to maintain your beautiful garden and efficient water storage systems.
- Plant roots to the rescue: Establish deep-rooted plants along swales or pond edges to anchor the soil in place. Grasses, native perennial shrubs, or ground covers work wonders here.
- Mulch, mulch and more mulch: A thick layer of mulch can help prevent soil from washing away until plants are well-established.
Integrating Water Storage Solutions into Permaculture Design
Combining different water storage techniques into your permaculture design is the key to a resilient, self-sustaining garden. Don’t just think about storing water separately—consider how each element can support others. For example, a greywater system can feed into a pond that supports aquatic plants, while overflow from the pond can irrigate a nearby garden.
In the same way, swales can be placed to direct water from runoff areas into key planting zones, where they can deeply saturate the soil. Hugelkultur beds can be placed at higher points in your garden to slowly release moisture downhill, naturally watering plants below.
The magic of permaculture lies in building systems where everything works together. Get creative and think about how water moves through your property during both the wet and dry seasons—and how you can steer that flow to ensure year-round abundance.
Final Thoughts…
Patrick, thanks for raising such an important question. Water storage is vital for any permaculture system, especially in a region with your climate challenges. By integrating techniques like rainwater harvesting, swales, ponds, and even greywater systems, you’re setting yourself up for a garden that not only survives but thrives throughout the year.
Remember, the beauty of permaculture is in working with nature rather than against it. Focus on using the resources available to you wisely, and your garden will reward you with lush growth even during the dry spells. Good luck, and happy gardening!
Return To: Permaculture
Make Your Own Edible Landscape…
Rachel is here to teach you how to create your own unique edible landscape. She’ll show you how to work within your local ecosystem and existing resources to save you time and money. Get the look and feel of an ornamental landscape whilst growing a ton of food using time tested permaculture principals that work with nature at the same time…