[Pil-pc-oceania] Swales and deep ripping

[Tamara Griffiths]

Hi Sam,

Good to hear you're underway.

Not so sure your environmental manager really knows what she's talking about...

I think that arid and riverine landscapes in your area often have very large rainfalls, (giving run off) particularly as cyclones weaken from the west. Where you are may also (one day) experience flooding from the Murray river.

You can also perhaps directt run-off from roads, roofes etc. to your swales. 

deep ripping is good, and we did it before we put the swales in. Rick coleman told me about their place, in one area they ripped one way, then at right angles, and planted the trees at the intersection. You could probably have an interesting time getting swales and intersections to meet up for your tree plantings. There is alot of saltbush out there - does anyone know if it fixes nitrogen? it is a good stabiliser and soil accumulator.

Have you seen the Jordan video that Geoff Lawton did? It is quite similar to your location. The designers manual has some very good stuff on pg 218 re ripping and soil building. See also p. 374. plants in difficult soils...

I do remember geoff saying that flat is the most fun. You can catch the most water as it lies flat and doesn't move, and you can build all sorts of things with an earth mover. Any earth movers up there want to have some fun?

I hope some of the more senior people can help you out here,

love Tamara

> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 19:17:49 +1000
> From: sndowning at yahoo.com.au
> To: pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
> Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] Swales and deep ripping
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> A few questions for those more experienced with
> swales, contour and deep ripping.  We're setting up a
> bushfood garden at a school in Swan Hill, on a fairly
> flat, levelled former playing field.  I was chatting
> with the Environment Manager at Swan Hill council
> about our plans to construct swales planted with
> wattles and other bushfood trees.  She told me swales
> won't work here (!?!) as there's not enough rainfall,
> no runoff and sandy soils.  The soils are indeed
> sandy, but clay not far below the surface.  She
> suggested deep ripping.  I'm new to this area and
> don't know too much about how they do things round
> here...
> 
> So, can anyone clue me in a bit more on deep ripping? 
> What it is, how to do it well, what not to do?  A bit
> of research has turned up the Yeomans Slipper...I
> don't know much more.  Do I construct the swale, then
> rip later?  
> 
> All tips and ideas are welcome.  Also, anyone know
> other permies in the Swan Hill area?
> 
> Sam
> 
> 
>       Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address.
> www.yahoo7.com.au/y7mail
> 
> 
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