Free Water, a short video by Andrew Brown

For more simple strategies (and how-to specifics) for harvesting and enhancing on-site waters, sun, wind, food, community, and more see www.HarvestingRainwater.com
Tucson filmmaker Andrew Brown says, "A short film I made on local rainwater-harvesting genius Brad Lancaster [was] a semifinalist in the Focus Forward film competition! I would really appreciate it if you took the time to check it out... and share if you can. I really believe in Brad's message."
Brad Lancaster's best-selling, award-winning books Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond available at deep discount direct from Brad at:
www.harvestingrainwater.com/s...
For more on the neighborhood native food forestry and water harvesting efforts see:
dunbarspringneighborhoodfores...
For more videos that expand on this one subscribe to this channel at:
kzbin.info...
#rainwater
#waterharvesting
#permaculture
#rainwaterharvesting
#droughttolerant

[@HarvestingRainwater]

It used to be illegal to cut street curbs in Tucson to harvest street runoff to freely irrigate street trees in the public right-of-way. Now it is legal with a simple permit. Successful local pilot projects; examples from other communities such as Portland, Oregon; public demand; and communicating the many integrated benefits (flood control, improved stormwater quality, reduced groundwater pumping and water use, cooler and more liveable streets/neighborhoods, etc.) helped change the law.

[@Gaia5D]

Across the globe people are adopting more sustainable practices thanks to great teachers like Brad! So grateful

[@charlie-obrien]

Brad, I love your common sense outlook and your ingenious solutions. I'm originally from Great Lakes region, but I have lived in both AZ and NV at one time or another, so I have seen that the attitudes of the desert regions when it comes to water use is no different than the areas where water is abundant. People in the Southwest, especially those getting their water from the Colorado river need to wake up to the reality that their is not a neverending supply and that they need to conserve and harvest only use the water that nature supplies the region.

[@gdiluvthesepeaches3911]

I just saw a Kirsten Dirksen video featuring you, which led me here. You are doing amazing work. It's not often I feel like I've genuinely seen someone who is making the world a better place, but you are. Wow! 🥳

[@l0gic23]

Thanks for mentioning. I missed that one

[@leedza]

Rest in peace Zepheniahs Phiri your great work has bore fruit and lives on.

[@andrewmilke3226]

I think what you're doing is amazing. Educating others about where they live and "existing on onsite resources". By doing such simple things, for example the irrigation technique, you are in effect doing a greater good. Thank you for your insight

[@homesteadonomics]

Great video... not sure why i hadn't seen it before. Read both of your books and have used many of your ideas for my place down south of Tucson in the Sierrita Mtns. Berm and basins on many of my trees and I am doing a whole house rain catchment as my primary water source. I also did a diversion swale off of my driveway to grow some native 60 day corn, got a few videos of it on my channel. Thanks again for your work and can't wait to see volume 3 come out:)

[@l0gic23]

Nice to have seen you in these comments. See you in your next video.

[@aguedavinas]

Amazing and inspiring!

[@HarvestingRainwater]

We need to do more research, but with the research thus far the woody perennial plants do not uptake any toxins into their edible parts. We do not plant, harvest, and east annual leafy greens or tuber crops as the edible parts would come in direct contact with the street runoff. For more info check out my book "Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Volume 1, 2nd Edition". I can't recommend it enough!

[@jouski2677]

Awesome stuff Brad! Totally feel this calling me as well and am learning as much as I can! PS. Where can I get one of those shirts?!

[@808zhu]

We ❤️ you.

[@winslowaidanfruits4321]

I thought that this video shows a great amount of ingenuity to our water problem in the desert. He explained very simple and cost effective ways to help reduce the water that we use. This makes a lot of sense when you think about the poor management of rain water in Tucson. I have noticed over the 4 years that I have been here that any amount of substantial rain will flood our streets for hours which could be fixed with these simple ideas that he explains.

[@davidcarbon9771]

Thanks for spreading this important knowledge to the world. Water is life and will be a massively valuable resource in the near future

[@markrasmussen7416]

I love this. Buying the book

[@OwnerBuildersUnite]

Loved your Ted Talk!

[@lyetapayet321]

i just absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this. thank you for starting. So much to pass on and expand on for other areas of the world.

[@mikemeister458]

Amazing stuff.

[@markfarina1882]

This is the best video I have seen since "How Wolves Change Rivers"!!! Thank you!!!!

[@AquarielCharms]

Do you have the link for How Wolves Change Rivers? Thanks.

[@MyVegetablePatch]

Priceless information! Thank you Brad :-)

[@glencoelho1952]

Great video 👍👍📸

[@MuttleeCrew]

Wow! Thanks for recommending this video! I live in the Phoenix area. I do run my washing machine water outside to my plants. They really thrive on it. So at least I'm doing that much. Now if I could just get the rain runoff water going to the right places it would really help.

[@JaredPiTrick]

I absolutely LOVE THIS! you are doing amazing work. you sir are a gentleman and a hero. please keep sharing your ideas, they really are game changers

[@micheleirenelandry]

Fantastic! YOU for President!

[@buenavidaestates-livingthe6333]

Hola Brad! I lived in Tucson for several years and became aware of all your great work. I think I also discovered you from Kirstin Dirkson's video. I bought your fun mesquite cookbook! ;) I'm down in Lake Chapala, Mexico & would love if you would consider working or consulting with the youth & municipality here as we are rapidly growing and we need help! I'm linking your website & videos on our community pages. Our rainy season has become shorter and shorter and this was our hottest dry season ever. I would also like to create a shade project in my neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta. We lost a lot of big trees and last year's hurricane and folks desperately need shade! We have a rainy season here in much of Jalisco that we should be making more of! Please keep doing what you're doing - more crucial than ever!

[@mearly3680]

I have been wondering if I really need irrigation for my landscaping. This answers my question!

[@FoodForestPermaculture]

Fantastic !

[@HarvestingRainwater]

For great how-to information, check out the newly revised, full-color editions of my "Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond" books available direct from me the author, Brad Lancaster, at deep discount at: www.harvestingrainwater.com/shop/

[@nikparry4535]

Right on 👌

[@stevenfeil7079]

There was a comment about Desert and Flooding not going together! HAH! I lived in Phoenix AZ a number of years ago. We got EIGHT INCHES of rain in a 24 hour period one time. Flash floods are a common thing in the desert.

[@bernardfinucane2061]

Which came first, the flash flood or the desert?

[@danielwilson5583]

Just got two of your books

[@007Gaia]

Terrific plan for all the right reasons!

[@mellow5123]

Wonderful. Thank you.

[@sagek7654]

Thank you!

[@releventhurt]

I want to do this for a living

[@MartijndeGraaf1001]

that's the way to go, coool

[@justgivemethetruth]

You neighbors are lucky

[@vivalaleta]

If you aren't going to swale, hold on to the water that falls, stop moving to dry places like Arizona.

[@l0gic23]

Has this been done upstream of the annual city floods?

[@leorio1155]

in addition to what david said, in a desert climate the majority of rain falls in a short period of a few days. that's a lot of water in a short period even though it is a small amount as a yearly average.

[@Ziji-LetYourSoulShine]

💗

[@cedaredwards3047]

I direct you to the Wikipedia page on flash floods: "In deserts, flash floods can be particularly deadly for several reasons...rains often fall on poorly-absorbent and often clay-like soil, which greatly increase the amount of runoff...These regions tend not to have the infrastructure that wetter regions have to divert water from structures and roads...because residents believe the risk by flash floods is not high enough to justify the expense."

[@missbamboo6]

Your bookand this video is amazing! I want to see help apply these principles in Hawai'i and around the world

[@FireHill16]

I'm fully on board with all of this, it's so beautiful to see it in action, with the city giving it the attention it deserves, and the way the neighbors themselves got into it. So many benefits. I just have one concern. If all that street water is running into the rain catchment/garden/orchard, do the oil and car fluids contaminate the soil, and therefore the plants and their edible products? Or are they broken down or otherwise neutralized?

[@trindaharris33]

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[@trindaharris33]

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[@ska2ol]

Desert. Flooding. Those are two words that don't usually go together.

[@crpth1]

How wrong my friend. Desert and flood are usually close together. Most rainfall in the desert, even if sparse over the years. When it comes usually produce a flash flood. Opposite to "normal" good soil. The desert soil lack organic matter that is the real sponge of any good soil. As such any significant amount of water very fast become a run off, since the soil can´t absorb it. Cheers

[@centpushups]

Might need a wite mesh on the opening. But aside from that looks great.

[@nancywaldrop2943]

We need Water laws in the Whole state! There are water laws in only 1/4 of the state! I bought a home in Parks , by Flagstaff , This home had a well since 1988 , a good producing well , And the realtor who sold it to me was allowed to put a Water company in 2002 , this next to my homes well 60ft , and in the middle of 5 other wells and drain them, This was all so she can sell 1,000s of [haul water homes] There is ground water in areas here , but realtors tell people that you dont need a well that you can haul water .This means that you have 2,000 people draining one 150 ft well .This runns dry as it is not a deep commercial well . This has happened all over the state! There are no water laws in this area , This is Coconino County and they are saying that they do not have to limit growth or prove water supply for this .Many out of state buyers like me have been ripped off by this . Hauling water costs over a hundred $ a month . This has ruined my home! And there is no mention of collecting rain water!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for this story , Go to the BEYOND THE MIRAGE PROJECT ON KZbin AND SHARE THIS AND PLEASE HELP PROMOTE THIS , I have been on a mission for 2 yrs trying to get the WHOLE STATE to have Water laws!

[@solfeinberg437]

Can you collect rainwater off of every inch of roof surface you have and use it for drinking, cooking, bathing, gardening. Obviously drain the tub into the garden. I think even if you have little rainfall, if you held all of it, maybe it'd be enough? The Australians are very good at this.

[@pksinan]

Brad, excellent videos. I live in Albuquerque, where we get our water from the Rio Grande and the underground aquifer. All rain flows to these two sources so I am not sure how receptive the local government is to rain harvesting, curb cuts, etc. What are your comments on this particular situation? Also, we go 6, 7, 8, 9 even 10 months with no measurable rain. How do you not irrigate during those times?

[@crpth1]

Peter Sinanian - 1 - Water will always go to the lowest point. 2 - The soil is by far the best water reservoir mother nature set aside for us all. With this two concepts in mind it´s not difficult to realize that water will always end up in the same spots. In your example the Rio Grande and the underground aquifer. BUT and that´s the beauty of it, before reaching there it will PRODUCE LIFE. ;-) I advise a quick look at the "Niger River Paradox". The Sahel is more desert year after year, although the flow has been increased!! Less biodiversity served by the water and more waste straight into the Atlantic. Curious subject. Cheers

[@allanegleston4931]

that idea of water coming to the faucet is not a regional idea. most people have no idea where things come from.

[@stevenfeil7079]

I REALLY appreciate the ideas and concepts that you are promoting. Well, all except the carbon and climate change (what USED to be called global warming until that was debunked). What is wrong with carbon. Our plants and treed NEED it. They use CO2 to produce O2. Isn't that neat? It is also proven that the Earth has been MUCH warmer in times BEFORE industry became the scapegoat and excuse to collect and REDISTRIBUTE taxes and our earnings. One other thing that is proven is that ONE VOLCANO produces more carbon for the environment in a few hours than the savings of ALL the restrictions and recycling combined for FIVE YEARS! The Earth changes because the Earth changes. We are just a mosquito bite in the scheme of things as far as CO2 goes. Now, there WAY more serious things to concentrate on: GMO, Pesticides and Herbicides that are produced by Monsanto and the other biochem giants. Big Pharma and all of their toxic waste. THESE are the things we need to focus on to clean up our planet.

[@ligerzero100]

So what are your thoughts on the oceans acidifying?

[@stevenfeil7079]

Have not heard anything about that.

[@ligerzero100]

Might want to look into it.

[@yvonnehyatt8353]

Geoengineering Watch.irg