Water Harvesting 101

Our friends at the National Weather Services’s Climate Prediction Center just released the winter forecast and the American Southwest. And it’s looking like a dry and warm winter. Not the sort of prediction we water harvesters want, especially during drought conditions, but here’s how I’m handling it at my place.

Wrapping this three-part series with the third activity of water harvesting, recycling “used” water. You can certainly use this one for gardening, and I do so with container gardens and in-ground plants like fruit trees. Includes recommendations of raised beds from Greenie’s Garden and vertical planters from Greenstalk.

Let’s look at the second activity of water harvesting, storing rainwater for later use. This one’s tailor-made for backyard food production, especially if you have a cistern. However, cisterns have limited capacity, so you’ll need to carefully allocate that water within your growing space.

In this episode, we’re talking about a creature that one doesn’t often associate with the American Southwest. We’re talking about beavers! This keystone species is every bit as industrious as you’ve heard, to the point where beavers are called ecosystem engineers. Here to bring us the latest on our regional beaver population is Jace Lankow from the Tucson-based Watershed Management Group. 

With the sound of a torrential downpour in the background, I explain how to make CEO-level decisions as a water harvester.

With the summer monsoon season nearing its end, here's a look at the benefits of tropical storm remnants.

None of us knows everything about water harvesting. Thiis episode is about building your knowledge by getting help.

With the remnants of Hurricane Lorena headed toward southern Arizona, here's how I'm getting ready.

Tips on photographing the plant life you're growing with water harvesting.

Is your cistern water smelling bad? Here's how to solve this problem.

Want to make your digestive system run in reverse? Drink your cistern water, straight out of the tank! How can you avoid this calamity? By filtering your water.

Since the summer heat is on blast and the monsoon rains have been paltry, it's time to cut back on water use. Here's how I'm doing it.

The heartbreaking tale of how I killed perfectly good plants. And then I thought I could revive them with water.

Got a lull in the rainfall? Perfect time to clean your rain guage. Learn how in this episode

A look at rain gauges and rain reporting. Includes recommendations of two rain reporting programs, CoCoRaHS.org and RainLog.org. See Martha's hardworking rain gauge on her blog, www.WesternSkyCommunications.com/blog.

How I handle a summer monsoon season that's starting on a disappointing note.

How I photograph passive water harvesting features when they're busy! During rainstorms!