using efficient irrigation, techniques, and more

with Christy Wilhelmi

Gardening in the Drought

Lowest rainfall in years Only 52% of regular rainfall for the year“Only 1 year of water left” according to NASA

New Mandate to reduce water usage by 25%

The Situation:

Warm/Hot weather crops:

Warm/Hot Weather Crops:

Use Biointensive MethodsUse Rain Barrels & BioSwales to Capture

WaterUse Drip Irrigation & MulchLocally Adapted Seed

How to Grow Food Efficiently:

Soil Food Web – coined by Dr. Elaine Ingham

Soil is Everything

Bio-IntensiveBiodynamic, French Intensive, Grow

BioIntensive, Square Foot Gardening

BioIntensive Methods

Rudolph Steiner – 1920s-30sTreats the farm/garden as an organismIntegration of crops and livestockRecycling of nutrients – compost holds water!Uses lunar calendar as guide for when to

plant

Biodynamic

Conditions the soil to 24 inches – compost holds water

Double DiggingUses Raised Beds – moundsPlant Closely together in hexagonal pattern –

wide rowsSuccession planting

French Intensive

Alan Chadwick brought the two togetherJon Jeavons – Ecology ActionHow to Grow More Vegetables 60/30/10 Focus on compost crops

Grow BioIntensive©

Mel Bartholomew – PBS series in 70sUses 4x4 square foot beds Uses grids instead of rowsGrow vines up trellisesOnce set up, no large tools neededCan be adapted to containers, patios, elevated for disabled

Square Foot Gardening

Capture hundreds to thousands of gallons 1 in. of rainfall = 600 gallons from a 1,000 sq.

ft. roof.Use downspouts / rain chainsNovember-April

Rain Barrels

Contouring land to Slow it, Spread it, Sink it!Disperses water under ground for plants to

pull up later

BioSwales

Drip tubing puts water where plants need it most

Little to no loss to evaporationLike Legos – piece together as needed.

Drip Irrigation

Mulch keep water where you put itKeeps roots coolLiving mulches work too!

Mulch

Carbon – food for microbesRetains nutrientsIncreases water retention

Biochar: Biological Charcoal

Save seeds, grow them out, save them again!More resilient to our climate, water, soil

conditionsJoin a Seed Library

Locally Adapted Seed

BeWaterWise.com – plant database for native & drought tolerant plants

SLOLA.org – Seed Library of Los AngelesTheodore Payne Foundation – CA native

plants for saleRainbarrels International – local rain barrels

sales (rebates offered through SoCalWaterSmart.com)

Resources

Visit gardenerd.com for more tips and tidbitsClasses, consulting and food garden designBuy Christy’s new book, Gardening for Geeks,

today or online at www.GardeningForGeeksBook.com

Questions?