Magnifying the Impact of Rainwater Harvesting

[@stevejohnstonbaugh9171]

Think about planting sorghum in your various water retention basins. It will give you the roots in the ground, you can harvest multiple cuttings of greens to supplement your animal feed and it is highly drought resistant. Also, you likely have access to conservation sunflower seed blends. They are quite hardy, make good windbreaks and produce shade and if you plant them tight - when they start to compete, thin for supplemental feed. 👍

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

I've got sorghum on the list! Actually a sweet sorghum variety that you can also harvest the stocks and squeeze the juice out.... which can make sugar, so it's like a sugar cane variety. We'll do some regular varieties as well! Thanks for that suggestion!✌🏾

[@frankbardon]

I don’t know what it is about this dude… but he makes me feel calm and happy.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Thanks!😅😁✌🏾

[@hirokawiti4932]

Got to remark on the zuni bowls again, after seeing how the earth was bare of greenery when u made it, the current results are staggering. I appreciate the time you've taken to take us for updates on your earth works it really sets you apart. I can't find too much info or results of zuni bowl implementation on youtube so I'm glad we get updates more often than other channels. Understanding you have a busy schedule it is much appreciated

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Thank you, really appreciate the support! Things have really changed in a short amount of time! I actually have more Zuni bowls to do, so I'll do more videos on those and where and why we're placing them! Glad to keep up on the updates. It's good documentation for myself as well.✌🏾

[@PRINCESSDREAMYLYN]

a fairly easy to get seed is bird seed that could be used as a cover crop and beans from the grocery store, just as an idea over ordering them.

[@a_fellow_homesteader]

We do both! but it is too dry for many beans and bird seeds still. We gotta build up the soil and moisture retention before spreading seeds that need more water.

[@rvhill69]

You might want to think about adding sorghum and millet.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

We'll definitely be doing that! We'll be coming up soon on a mass seed planting spree!😅✌🏾

[@Drunken.Lyrics]

I love what you are doing bro!! I would ebjoy that life journey you are on! This is just a little advice based on my own experience with rejuvenation. For plants to tae up water/nutrient they need mycelium growing around them. It is a symbiotic relationship where they swap resources as per requirement. On that, the best way to bring fungi to the soil is by adding as much natural wood material to the site as possible. Wood chips are the best, straight from arborists with green matter already mixed through. Being selective & strategic about it, you can really kick start the microbiome growth. After a couple of years doing this, it will amaze you how fast everything starts to really take hold.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Thanks appreciate the support and the insight from you!✌🏾

[@xianvox22]

Instead of extra swales, try half moons. Very successful in arid environments. Creates a sink for moisture as well as a raised partition for shade to reduce evaporation and give relief to seedlings.

[@OfftoShambala]

Good idea… I have an area on my property that I think I’ll start with those.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

We actually do have those!😅✌🏾

[@gilgoofthegrove5072]

itll be fine if you have things grow and die, it teachs and gives mulch =P

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Exactly! ✌🏾

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Exactly! ✌🏾

[@beholder4465]

wow that rain and thunder would put me to sleep😅

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

It did for me!😂✌🏾

[@nugbug3541]

I like how often you post most people that do these projects update like once a month

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Glad to be different from most!😅✌🏾

[@terraint3697]

Underground Cistern in your future plans?

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Yes indeed!✌🏾

[@callmebigpapa]

Great video! You guys should do a collab with "Our Self-Reliant Life " they live near you. Once you get everything up and running you could build a AirBNB cabin and host astronomy events for extra income....if that is something you need.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Some good ideas! We'll definitely consider those! Thank you!✌🏾

[@beholder4465]

i cant wait till my house sells so i can go forward with my off grid in AZ

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

That'll be awesome! To good fortune for you! Cheers!✌🏾

[@Nerdy_prepper]

Awesome progress guys 😎🤙

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Appreciate it, plenty more to come!✌🏾

[@klee88029]

🎉 Brandon and Nikka, what type of solar color changing lights are you using along your road/pathways? I like them. Do you have an Amazon or other affiliate shopping links which will give you a penny here and there for referral purchases? Thank you. 👍🧓

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

I definitely can find those for you! They are on amazon. I'll try and post the link here soon!✌🏾

[@klee88029]

@@GrowTreeOrganics What a sweetheart, take your time, next SS isn't for 2 weeks! 🤗🧓

[@klee88029]

@@GrowTreeOrganics Also, I see you have Honey Mesquite seeds on your wish list. That is something that I can provide for you. As soon as they start rattling, I will pick and send you a 5 gallon bucket full. I have more than enough on my little Peace in the Desert. k-lee

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

@@klee88029 that's amazing! And I greatly accept! And to let you know if you go to Amazon you can search "Solar Rope Lights" and you'll have some good choices on lights like ours and similar!✌🏾

[@klee88029]

@@GrowTreeOrganicsWill do, thank you and I will contact you for a mailing/shipping address when the picking is done. They are just starting to yellow, dry out this week. 👍🧓

[@richardrolph6166]

Can't you rearrange the large tarpaulin to all flow into the larger retention pond to collect water more efficiently from a greater area . Keep up with the great work

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

We'll be creating more rain catchment! We wanna finish the house first!😅✌🏾

[@xavierroy5254]

thanks for the update

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

You bet!✌🏾

[@ehopem4877]

Thanks!

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Thank you very much! Appreciate you being apart of the journey!😁✌🏾

[@PangeanArts]

When the weather is dry, Do you wet down the old work rammed earth material prior to added new material to the interior of the gabion walls?

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

I do!😅✌🏾

[@PangeanArts]

Most Excellent! ​@@GrowTreeOrganics

[@carriebishop8838]

The saturation is really starting to look good. So happy for you.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Thank you, everything is starting to green up here!✌🏾

[@hirokawiti4932]

Good work building new sieve neka👌

[@a_fellow_homesteader]

Thank you! Nice and simple but very helpful! ✌🏾💜

[@hirokawiti4932]

​@a_fellow_homesteader also belated happy birthday

[@a_fellow_homesteader]

@@hirokawiti4932 thank you so much 💜💜🎉

[@AlanW]

Gratz on all the rains, glad to see it's finally coming your way.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

The Storms have been coming more from the north, so we've actually been getting the rain and thunderstorm development. Glad to see we're getting more moisture though!✌🏾

[@michaeltalaganis6518]

Keep up the great work! Love to see the progress, day by day you’ll get through and be done in no time. Just need the roof to start collecting rain water. Or a solar grid with gutters to collect rainwater

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Really appreciate it. Slowly but surely, We're getting there!✌🏾

[@thegiggler2]

I wonder if a barrel composter would make it that much easier to do your mixing.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Possibly?! It would need to be big enough. I'll look into that possibly! Thanks. ✌🏾

[@crssurf]

Buen video bro saludos desde Perú 🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Nice! Thank you! ✌🏾

[@muntun_permacultura]

Nice progress! I was just wondering why don't you use dirt as it is? For instance in Spain and Portugal the ancient people used to make the rammed earth walls (called taipa or tapial) without sifting, just directly.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Thank you. We would have to sift regardless because there are big rocks in the mix and it would be awkward to try and tamp down the straight mix without sifting it. It's also the fine sifted material packs down really nicely and hardens like concrete, so that we'll end up with a solid mass wall that will act somewhat like barrier break between inside and the outside with the mounding!✌🏾

[@ug636]

spread mulch between the natural gras ?

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Indeed!✌🏾

[@WilliamSFBikeTour]

Peace and love from SF, CA. ✌🏻💝☯🖖🏻⛈🌞🌱

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Peace love, and, harmony to you my friend. Thank you!✌🏾

[@Melicoy]

Not soak. Its percolate, like coffee You have a massive aquifer under you so how about 50 swimming pools per year? That will fill in 2 years :) Make a good motto that No water is allowed to leave the property. Pools all over to perc. Also any hardy trees for the berms? Why not use the concrete mixer to mix up the ram earth? add some straw?

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Technically we could use both terms.. but that is the motto though. Retain as much water on the property as possible. But definitely lots of pools! The trees are coming up soon. Putting a bit more focus on the house build, then we can expand outwardly. 😁✌🏾

[@Melicoy]

@@GrowTreeOrganics awesome

[@jeffpittman8725]

Those juniper trees waste a lot of water with very little return. Replacing those with pine trees and grass would do a lot possibly.

[@DengarTime]

True on the water hog nature, but they are also a significantly lower fire risk. Grass can work for a good bit, but can also make a wicked fast moving grass fire.

[@blackduckfarmcanada]

What's with the myth that the Juniper steal the water? Junipers are there because nothing else grows there...

[@DengarTime]

@@blackduckfarmcanada Personal experience seeing them grow helps, they shade a lot of the soil stopping a lot from growing, it's why a lot of us "poofball" them into looking like actual trees. They add a LOT to soil biomass for other plants in a good way so they are a pioneer plant in that regard. But their growth depends on how much water they absorb, and why they are intensive drinkers via their roots. Seen a prime example of one tree that in 14 years more than doubled in size due to it being fed shower and bathroom sink water.

[@DengarTime]

Also why when you see them removed in a bit of time a LOT of life starts growing where they once had been growing. :) seen areas that have been cleared of em go nuts with native grasses.

[@OfftoShambala]

They may have more benefits… the roots of trees can actually feed the roots of other plants… the roots may be more beneficial… kind of like live hugelkulture … in the desert, nurse trees and shrubs are crucial… wherever you have a juniper, try planting various things around it and see what happens … and in these PJ forests, removing large swaths of trees has been quite detrimental.

[@EmbraceHappiness1]

Lots of progress. 👍

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Yes indeed!😅✌🏾

[@MusicIsMyAdicction]

shouldnt you seed on the dams as well?

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

I will. Lots of planting come winter!✌🏾

[@smckay6438]

If you put the dirt in wall 3 inches thick you can then use water if you spray it ! You can then compact it in place without mixing ! This is done on job sites for foundations and you will get just as much compaction as a post compactor and your feet ! You dont need to mix before installing the dirt in wall ! PUT YOUR DIRT SEPARATEOR DIRECTLY OVER THE PART OF WALL YOU ARE FILLING AND SHOVEL IT DIRECTLY ON WALL 3 INCHES THICK THEN ADD WATER EVENLY THEN COMPACT! THE ONLY ADDED STEP WILL BE CLEANING UNUSED DIRT FROM SEPARATING ! You will eliminate mixing and moving dirt twice and its actually the proper way ! You will use 1/3 more water but get a better compaction! This will increase your wall productivity 5 fold easily! 😊😊😊😊😊 You need more water storage !😊

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Interesting, might be something worth trying! Thank you very much!✌🏾

[@smckay6438]

@@GrowTreeOrganics its the way you compact foundation on job sites in California, im a b1 contractor. Just dont go over 3 inches and give enough water to get down 3 inches! Ive done it 1 to 2 feet depth with a fire hose on big foundations but compacted by a tractor! So stay 3 inches and you should get better compaction! Id lift your separating screen to sit next to wall with some kind of funnel ( two 2x8s with a 2x12) (_____) Then you can push dirt down funnel 20 shovels at a time doing 2 or 3 feet before moving! Make a bench 4 or 5 feet tall then put separator on bench the throw dirt up when yo shovel eliminating moving dirt twice, use gravity after , just shovel up not out ! First trip around outside walls you might have to level the dirt your separator sits on ! You are mass producing ! Now you can use these techniques to eliminate needles work and improve productivity! ALL OVER !hight, gravity, pulling instead of pushing anything with repetition! Good luck , if you have questions in future ill watch for you !😊

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Than you, really appreciate it!✌🏾

[@smckay6438]

@@GrowTreeOrganics actually, thank you for looking out for our beautiful lands !😊

[@smckay6438]

@@GrowTreeOrganics on something worth trying ! If you had access to a window and removed the glass , then got a flat stainless steel pan 1 inch deep ! Put good water in it then covered the pan with glass and left overnight would the tempt be low enough to make ice cubes ?maybe a half inch of water ? Watch for dust or bug access and if temp is low enough you got ice cubes ! The temp deferential in a desert environment is a useful tool! 😊

[@_MikeJon_]

A soaking wheelbarrow. What will they think of next! 😂 sike, that's awesome bro.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Appreciate it😅✌🏾

[@smckay6438]

What would happen if you drilled a post hole, like a fence post and filled it with rocks in the middle of your water catchment systems? Then put rocks over it ! It might last 3 or 4 years before filling up with dirt ? That would increase the amount of water in soil at DEPTH ?

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Interesting! We may be able to try that out when we create more earthworks!✌🏾

[@Ifyouarehurtnointentwasapplied]

Stoked more came👍✌️

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Oh yea!😅✌🏾

[@JacksonTravel]

Lit

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Up!😅✌🏾

[@karilang9377]

Get a real congrete mixer ... but you have one. I saw it later on in the video.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

I had tried the mixer and because we're not mixing a regular concrete mix, our mix is a bit more dry for the rammed earth, the material just ends up sticking to the sides and a pain to get out. It's also a small mixer. I can mix 4 times as much by hand inv the same amount of time as the mixer with the small batch. Appreciate the thought. ✌🏾

[@karilang9377]

@GrowTreeOrganics comon. You may wash even clothes in a concrete mixer.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

@@karilang9377 😂😂 that's a great idea!✌🏾

[@insAneTunA]

👍

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

✌🏾

[@TheSkypeConverser]

You're playing minecraft!!

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Real life role play, right!?😅✌🏾

[@luisqueiroz3812]

esperial swal

[@adrumaday]

Why do you need the plastic sheet to mix your ramped earth mix. The plastic is just gonna waste away anyway. Just do it on the bare soil.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

You're right! The plastic is more so to help capture rainwater, but also cover the mix once it gets wet, so the sun doesn't dry it out.✌🏾

[@a_fellow_homesteader]

If we mixed on bare soil, the bare soil would soak up water. Making it so we would need more water to wet the dirt for the wall. So a barrier is helpful to save on water.

[@adrumaday]

@@GrowTreeOrganics ​ Make sense, but from what I saw you are not adding too much water at a time. But I guess the sand is too leachy :)

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

@@adrumaday water goes through the sand fairly quickly and ends up draining onto the plastic. A smooth concrete pad would probably be the best for mixing like this!✌🏾

[@hardwareful]

Can't you shovel an amount of earth onto the foil, make a grid of indentations, fill a matching amount of water and cover it for half a day until the water has spread throughout on its own? Let it work for you.

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

I can see where you're coming from and it is a good idea. I think for me it's a time hindrance. I can mix 3 or 4 batches before the water would soak through. We're mixing about 10% water in the mix, so it's not really about soaking the water all the way through. Appreciate that suggestion. ✌🏾

[@njione]

I'm in yucca barley got anything

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

Hopefully you get some more soon!✌🏾

[@karilang9377]

First comment

[@GrowTreeOrganics]

😅✌🏾👍🏾