Planting the Rain to grow regenerative abundance by Brad Lancaster

Planting the Rain to grow regenerative abundance

by Brad Lancaster www.HarvestingRainwater.com

1. Long and thoughtful observation

Long and thoughtful observation

Zvishavane, Zimbabwe annual precipitation 22 inches (559 mm) Latitude 20Ëš S, altitude 2950 feet (900 meters)

1995 – dry season

Long and thoughtful observation

2016 – wet season

Long and thoughtful observation Mimic healthy and resilient living systems Grow natural resources

2016 – wet season

2.Start at the top of the watershed and work your way down

Start at the top

Start at the top Leaky rock walls / terraces

1995 – dry season

Start at the top Leaky rock walls / terraces

2016 – wet season

Start at the top Leaky rock walls / terraces Change a problem into a solution

2016 – wet season

Start at the top Look at (and work within) the smaller subwatersheds that make up the larger watershed

Start at the top Look at (and work within) the smaller subwatersheds that make up the larger watershed Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions

Self-cleaning drainage ditches and the road surface need to have a slope equal to or greater than the contributing source of sediment.

Road grade ranging from 4 to 10% is ideal, with frequent grade reversals or drains (minimum every 60 to 90 meters [200 to 300 feet]).

A road that climbs 5 meters (5 feet) elevation in 100 meters (100 feet) length has a 5% slope.

Start at the top Rolling dip diversion berm and spreader drain Water Harvesting from Low-Standard Rural Roads

by Bill Zeedyk www.QuiviraCoalition.org

Start at the top Rolling dip diversion berm and spreader drain Change a problem into a solution Every resource serves multiple functions

Start at the top Rolling dip diversion berm and spreader drain

Comanche Creek, NM work by Steve Carson and Bill Zeedyk, www.QuiviraCoalition.org

Start at the top Rolling dip diversion berm and spreader drain Change a problem into a solution Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions

Comanche Creek, NM work by Steve Carson and Bill Zeedyk, www.QuiviraCoalition.org

3. Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden

3. Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden

Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden

Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden

Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden

Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden Mimic healthy and resilient living systems

Start small and simple Infiltration basins / rain gardens

Start small and simple Place every resource for energy efficiency Ensure every resource serves multiple functions Grow natural resources

Start small and simple Greywater harvesting

Start small and simple Greywater harvesting Transform waste into resources Ensure every resource serves multiple functions

Start small and simple Immigration center ephemeral reservoir

1995 – dry season

Start small and simple Immigration center ephemeral reservoir

2016 – wet season

Start small and simple Immigration center ephemeral reservoir Mimic healthy and resilient living systems Place every resource for energy efficiency Ensure every function is supported by multiple resources in the system

2016 – wet season

4. Slow, spread, and infiltrate

Slow, spread, and infiltrate Rainwater tank overflowing to rain garden / terrace

Slow, spread, and infiltrate Rainwater tank overflowing to rain garden / terrace Place every resource for energy efficiency Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions

Slow, spread, and infiltrate Dead level contour Perennial plantings on dead level contour

Slow, spread, and infiltrate Dead level contour Perennial plantings on dead level contour Grow natural resources

Slow, spread, and infiltrate Phiri pits in drainage contour

Slow, spread, and infiltrate Sheet flow spreader

Photo and design credit: Craig Sponholtz, WatershedArtisans.com

Slow, spread, and infiltrate Sheet flow spreader

Photo and design credit: Craig Sponholtz, WatershedArtisans.com

Slow, spread, and infiltrate Check dam

Slow, spread, and infiltrate One-rock high check dam

For more see the Publications Page at www.QuiviraCoalition.org and read all by Bill Zydeek, Van Clothier, and Craig Sponholtz

Work with natural flows and processes

This is not about the structure.

It’s about the process begun with the structure placed in relationship with the water and sediment flow.

Slow, spread, and infiltrate Dead level contour Dead level contour cropping

Slow, spread, and infiltrate Dead level contour Dead level contour cropping Grow natural resources Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions Ensure every function is supported by multiple resources in the system

Dead level contours Terraces

5. Always have an overflow and use it as a resource

Always have an overflow and use it as a resource

1995 (winter dry season)

Always have an overflow and use it as a resource Phiri pits / infiltration basins

2014 (summer wet season)

Always have an overflow and use it as a resource Phiri pits / infiltration basins Grow natural resources Transform waste into resources Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions

2014 (summer wet season)

Always have an overflow and use it as a resource Dead level contours / contour swales / contour berm ‘n basins

Always have an overflow and use it as a resource

Speed / \ Depth — Volume

Flowing water’s Erosion Triangle

Always have an overflow and use it as a resource Diversion / drainage swale / contour

Always have an overflow and use it as a resource

Always have an overflow and the use water’s it as a resource Slow, spread, and sink flow Boomerang berms / smile berm

Always have an overflow and use it as a resource Boomerang berms / smile berm

Key elevation relationships of earthworks 1. Bottom of earthwork to top of overflow spillway 2. Top of overflow spillway to top of earthwork 3. Top of earthwork to precious things

Key elevation relationships of earthworks 1. Bottom of earthwork to top of overflow spillway 2. Top of overflow spillway to top of earthwork 3. Top of earthwork to precious things

Key elevation relationships of earthworks 1. Bottom of earthwork to top of overflow spillway 2. Top of overflow spillway to top of earthwork 3. Top of earthwork to precious things

6. Maximize living and organic groundcover

Without mulch

With mulch

Maximize living and organic groundcover Reforestation / re-sponging

Maximize living and organic groundcover Reforestation / re-sponging Mimic healthy and resilient living systems Grow natural resources Change problems into solutions Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions

Maximize living and organic groundcover Living mulch

Organic mulch

Maximize living and organic groundcover

Living dead level contour

Maximize living and organic groundcover

Living dead level contour Ensure every function is supported by multiple resources in the system

Maximize living and organic groundcover Rain Garden Zones Bottom, Terrace, & Top

Maximize living and organic groundcover Rain Garden Zones Bottom, Terrace, & Top

Maximize living and organic groundcover Rain Garden Zones Bottom, Terrace, & Top

Maximize living and organic groundcover Rain Garden Zones Bottom, Terrace, & Top

7. Maximize beneficial relationships and efficiency by “stacking functions”

Maximize beneficial relationships Ensure every function is supported by multiple resources in the system

1995

2014

Maximize beneficial relationships Ensure every function supported by multiple resources in the system

1995

Maximize beneficial relationships

2014

Maximize beneficial relationships Ensure every function is supported by multiple resources in the system Grow natural resources Mimic healthy and resilient living systems Place every resource for energy efficiency

2014

Maximize beneficial relationships Ephemeral pond / reservoir

1995 – dry season

Maximize beneficial relationships Ephemeral pond / reservoir

2016 – wet season

Maximize beneficial relationships

Maximize beneficial relationships Change problems into solutions

8. The feedback loop: long and thoughtful observation

www.HarvestingRainwater.com Muonde Trust in Zimbabwe, www.Muonde.org