A Walk though My Food Forest Swale System After a Rain Event at Nine Mile Farm

Every year the amount of rain we put into the ground per inch that falls increases. In this walk though you see the entire system working from top to bottom and what a great time of year for this to happen! The spring explosion in not far behind.

[@Raj-yy7xx]

Awesome and inspirational practical example of swales!

[@courtneyheron1561]

Great work Jack! So exciting! Thank you for sharing the earthworks in action at your Demonstration / Home site. Beautiful Grass and Charger! 😊👍

[@danweddle4044]

You're doing god's work Jack. Good on ya. I didn't quite get it till I saw my swales fill for the first time. It's a special feeling.

[@chriss590]

If you haven't seen, he is posting a ton of videos from Geoff Lawton over on his Odysee channel. You may wanna check those out.

[@danweddle4044]

@@chriss590 you bet, I've been watching those too!

[@MichaelPiraino]

can u do another walk through please? I love these updates

[@xtudis]

Nice built JAck! Could you share a plan of your earthworks on the property please?

[@EstebanZavalaF]

hey man! But what about mosquitoes!!!! Hahaha kidding! Awesome job, hopefully when i go to dallas, i can ran away from my fam one day to visit you! My microswales have less than 1 year and i cannot wait for this new rainy season to improve the system even more!!! now that i have ducks, fish and more vegetation will be amazing. The change is now visible and it hasnt rain in a while

[@TheThaiLife]

This is so great. I have been a fan of yours since probably 2010, maybe earlier. You are awesome. So happy to rediscover you.

[@michaelarchangelthehammer]

9mile!..I am not too far..like to meet you!

[@MarkRose1337]

It really is something special you've built, Jack

[@txfloods]

Do you see any indication that enough water is percolating down through the limestone that the water pressure underneath eventually creates a spring? I'm sure you've seen the video of the ranch down in the Hill Country where the guy brings the natural springs back to life.

[@survivalpodcasting]

No not doable at this scale

[@jimdandyfield1848]

Love the property walk videos, especially this time of year.

[@LegacyFarmandHomestead]

I'm thinking about top dressing my swales with excess Biochar to help hold more water and biological activity, do you think that would be a good idea? My swales pick up excess water from my duck pond and I really want to be able to capture as much of that biological activity and nutrients

[@transylvanianfarmer]

Would love to see how you find contour lines.

[@hcmwed]

Key in “ a frame level for swales” here on youtube

[@georgewashington4731]

A map with contour lines can give you a good idea of the shape and layout then a laser level to layout ground level architecture.

[@Giroux68]

Amazing to see this system at work.

[@Uncle_Buzz]

Looking good.

[@annemarieshaughnessy2176]

How often do you mow your grass?

[@survivalpodcasting]

Only a few times a year, the ducks mostly maintain it.

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

Love seeing the swale videos. I've gone about 200 feet of swale myself now. Best thing I ever did. Can you do more of these videos in the next month or so. It helps me get through the last part of my winter. We don't get weather like yours until around mid April. Your food forest section is also the best part of your property. I bet it feels like you are in the middle of 2000 acres when you are in that one interswale in the summer.

[@survivalpodcasting]

Oh it is coming!

[@mikedoyle9934]

Idk if I'll ever see enough full ditches!

[@georgewashington4731]

Didn't envision you the bright blue challenger owner.

[@jasonsmithjcshoneybees5959]

Bee nice to our honeybees. I have 6 colonies less than a 1/4 mile from you.

[@ErikFabian]

If I understand you, the soil in the bottom part of this swale system has seen the greatest benefit. Does that change how you use your property? Are you focusing on planting in that lower area or something?

[@Lmiller201]

at the end of the video is where he talks about the things he grows on the inner slope of the swales. from what i have gathered (and i’m probably totally wrong) the swales are meant to retain the water for the trees, and the long term effect is the improvement of the soil quality and water retention. this gives anything you plant on or in the swales more access to water in places where it otherwise would have none, reducing the need for manual irrigation.

[@nekononiaow]

Fantastic setup and great video but please for the love of all creatures move your camera more gently, I set the video full screen and was ready to vomit my diner a few minutes in. ;)

[@kwajrod]

#BlackLocustFanClub!

[@gatorguy1885]

What kind of machine did you rent Jack?

[@survivalpodcasting]

6600 pound mini x.

[@transylvanianfarmer]

Are your neighbors bothered by the un-manicured look of your yard? City folks usually fuss about what they perceive as ‘messy’.

[@survivalpodcasting]

First no, second I do try to practice some social design considerations in what I do. However, where I live unless I am breaking a law (an actual law not a code) what my neighbors don't like is too fuckin bad. I live in an unincorporated area, we have no codes, nothing like it. You don't even need a permit to build a house (other then sign off on a septic), no inspectors, no HOAs, etc. The guy that lives one house over from the neighbors across my fence keeps cows at times in his back yard. I chose a place where people can either get along or go screw and it is what I recommend anyone who really wants freedom do.

[@jacksonstacy3813]

What state are you in

[@romanheritagefarms]

He's in North TX

[@toolmantrl]

Are you in zone 8 or 7?