swale - Alo Land

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swale

A collection of 17 posts

South #pond and east #swale at record high levels after yesterday's rain

South #pond and east #swale at record high levels after yesterday's rain

South #pond and east #swale at record high levels after yesterday's rain. #permacultureportugal

Cleaning an overgrown section of the east swale berm

Cleaning an overgrown section of the east swale berm

Cleaning an overgrown section of the east swale berm. Unfortunately ended up touching and tearing apart an irrigation valve control cable. We left them aboveground to make the install easier, but at least those in areas visited by the brush cutter will have to be buried. Luckily this one is

The east #swale is now also full of water 🥲

The east #swale is now also full of water 🥲

The east #swale is now also full of water 🥲

With all the rain, we get to see and refine the water handling systems

With all the rain, we get to see and refine the water handling systems

With all the rain, we get to see and refine the water handling systems. Yesterday: dug out a new #spillway for the west #swale. Used the excavated material to fill in the "natural" spillway it had formed where a tractor crossed it after the earthworks last year. This morning: water

This spot between the west #pond and west #swale seems to be a seasonal pond

This spot between the west #pond and west #swale seems to be a seasonal pond

This spot between the west #pond and west #swale seems to be a seasonal pond. Added a couple rocks to make it cozy for any local fauna that decides to stop by.

It rained so much that the west swale is filling up!

It rained so much that the west swale is filling up!

It rained so much that the west swale is filling up! #rain #swale #permaculture #permacultureportugal

Water pooling in several spots in the west #swale after today's round of heavy rain

Water pooling in several spots in the west #swale after today's round of heavy rain

Water pooling in several spots in the west #swale after today's round of heavy rain.

East #swale full of water after the recent rain and repeated attempts to fill the south pond

East #swale full of water after the recent rain and repeated attempts to fill the south pond

East #swale full of water after the recent rain and repeated attempts to fill the south pond. Turns out it's not perfectly level, but it shouldn't be a problem. Some of the #irrigation valves are almost fully submerged, but thankfully still seem to work.

Weeding the west #swale berm

Weeding the west #swale berm

Weeding the west #swale berm. Spiky (blackberries, gorse) or eagerly rooting (giant reed) things go in the bucket, the rest is left where it was pulled from.

#chopanddrop the vegetation between the tree lines on the east #swale berm

#chopanddrop the vegetation between the tree lines on the east #swale berm

#chopanddrop the vegetation between the tree lines on the east #swale berm

The #giantreed was taking over the north end of the west #swale berm again, so it was time to clean it up

The #giantreed was taking over the north end of the west #swale berm again, so it was time to clean it up

The #giantreed was taking over the north end of the west #swale berm again, so it was time to clean it up. #caniço

Installing a bunch of hose fittings to prepare for 2 #irrigation lines (one of them now functional on the west #swale #berm), a couple of soaker hoses, and a water point

Installing a bunch of hose fittings to prepare for 2 #irrigation lines (one of them now functional on the west #swale #berm), a couple of soaker hoses, and a water point

Installing a bunch of hose fittings to prepare for 2 #irrigation lines (one of them now functional on the west #swale #berm), a couple of soaker hoses, and a water point.

First part of the east #swale berm #irrigation line running

First part of the east #swale berm #irrigation line running

First part of the east #swale berm #irrigation line running. #permacultureportugal

First #irrigation zone up and running along the top of the east #swale in zone 2

First #irrigation zone up and running along the top of the east #swale in zone 2

First #irrigation zone up and running along the top of the east #swale in zone 2. #permacultureportugal

New #windbreak at the north end of the west #swale, using #hesssian cloth stapled to the fence poles

New #windbreak at the north end of the west #swale, using #hesssian cloth stapled to the fence poles

New #windbreak at the north end of the west #swale, using #hesssian cloth stapled to the fence poles.

#poplar #log sprouting in the east #swale

#poplar #log sprouting in the east #swale

#poplar #log sprouting in the east #swale We threw these in there after cutting them to make room while planting the east fence tree lines. It looks like they like it!

Removing #giantreed (#caniço / #arundodonax) from the west #swale berm

Removing #giantreed (#caniço / #arundodonax) from the west #swale berm

Removing #giantreed (#caniço / #arundodonax) from the west #swale berm. Some plants and chunks got buried there during the earthworks and now they keep sprouting. We keep removing them (sometimes with roots, sometimes without) hoping that we'll manage to eradicate them or at least stop them from spreading. #permacultureportugal