Swale Project Part 1: Finding Contour Lines

I'm using a new tool to help me map out the contour line for a swale. This swale will be positioned in a remote part of my property. It will be guided towards the front road, where there's potential to capture a lot of passing rain runoff. The swale will hold the excess amount of rain in my soil, and therefore promote plant life. This will be a long term project, and should involve multiple hand-dug swales. The project will largely be impacted by how the swales perform after each rain event. This 88" trench should hold about 64 gallons.
Part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6XPdaqZYrmkm6c

[@Ozbird-72]

And it is absolutely good enough...

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

It's held up ok so far, though we haven't had many decent rains since I installed it.

[@hardwareful]

Love seeing it! Now need to check your newer videos.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks

[@grantmccoy6739]

I don't think the swales need to be that deep. You need deeper swales for sharper grades, but on a gentle slope like this, maybe 6 inches is enough. Basically, just come in from one side at a slight angle, to make "check" shaped swale, instead of a trough. It works nevertheless, but its more work, and maybe not needed. BTW, you get better results by having a greater number of shallow swales than having fewer but deeper. Especially on gentle grades. You can basically grade and contour the whole property with swales in set intervals of seperation going downgrade.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks

[@TigerLilyGzzTLRoars]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing such a simple, neat way to find those slopes!!

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks, you’re welcome!

[@yoshuareece8785]

I need to place flags on the contours of my plot and this seems like a good solution. I will plant an agroforestry system composed of cactus, mesquite, creosote bush, apricots and wild flowers.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Is your plot blank right now? Any deer pressure? How much annual rainfall do you get?

[@monicacruz4407]

Excellent solution for finding subtle slope. Get better soon! 🙏

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks Monica!

[@erickm119]

That was a nice tool you came up with.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks Erick! It was simple, functional, and best of all free.

[@homesteadaquarius]

Awesome Job! This really has potential I think. It makes sense and should work very well! Great job!

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks! That tool really was easy to put together and use. I will be eagerly waiting for the first decent rain so that I may see how the swale performs.

[@losclaveles]

I like your simple system, bud

[@losclaveles]

And yeah, I'm going through old videos because you aren't posting new ones often enough! 😆

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Lol, thanks! I filmed a long garden update on Sunday, but it is taking me a long time to edit. Temps are starting to get up in the 100s here, which puts me off on working outside quite as much.

[@losclaveles]

@@WestTexasGardenExperiment ahem, garden mist cooling system

[@Oldmanintheforest]

Great idea!!

[@VK-qo1gm]

Just came across this vid. Impressive tool, being so easy to make & use. Looking forward to seeing the progress of the swales Good luck with your back,

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks! The tool has worked out really well for me so far. The back is in much better shape now. Take care.

[@grannysgarden8225]

Really good idea. Sorry you hurt your back, hopefully with a little rest it will be good as new again. Looking forward to seeing your swales progress.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thank you! I feel like this will be a true swale on contour. Should be a fun project. This is a pretty inspiring article and video if you haven't seen it already: www.permaculturenews.org/2014/10/11/discovering-oasis-american-desert/

[@grannysgarden8225]

West Texas Garden Experiment thank you for the link I had seen it before but I enjoyed watching it again. I found it before I dug my swales, around the same time I discovered the al Baydha project, also Zaytuna Farm and Greening the Desert. But it was not until I came across PointReturn kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJepgmltjaqNppI that I realised small swales dug by hand can also be effective. That was the beginning of my swale addiction!

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

That was a really good slideshow video, thank you! I saw the man walking in the rain checking his swales, and I thought about your lightning comments: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHWQaZirft6Lb6s

[@homesteadaquarius]

I am going to share this out in a big way.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thank you for your support!

[@Ozbird-72]

Great simple solution!

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks!

[@Green.Country.Agroforestry]

Nice DIY tool .. I think I would want longer legs on it, so I wouldn't have to bend over to use it. Those mesquite beans look like they are getting ready to pick 😊👍

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks! If I had to go buy materials to build one of those tools, I might get some longer threaded rods to make it a bit taller, but then again, I'm already having to bend down to place the flags in the ground, so it isn't too much trouble for me to bend down.

[@davebean2886]

Great idea. I also have the wind issue with my A frame level and have added a level to the cross beam. Maybe I don't really need the A - may be easier to store. Thanks for the video.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks

[@WayneTX254]

Nice idea for finding contour. I might add another 1x2 to it, turned 90 degrees and screw to the existing one. A stiff back that would keep it from bowing.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks! So far, the tool has worked out well and kept its shape. It’s a left over piece of red oak from a stair tread, and it’s very rigid.

[@TinaThevarge]

Brilliant level hack! I was wanting to start marking some of my property but was dreading the a frame tool that’s suggested. I might make one taller, but going to use this idea 💡

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Very good, glad it helped someone else too! Thank you

[@admirerofcreativity5295]

Thanks for making this!! Super helpful to see!!

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Hello, glad you found it helpful!

[@rianajansevanrensburg2444]

Very clever device thanks for sharing

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thank you!

[@cato7294]

Great idea, thanks. Don't want to hear about your back though, I wouldn't have known had you told me🙂 Hope you're cured anyhoo

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks, the back is all healed. I only mentioned it in the video because I barely made any progress in part 1.

[@freewillchoice8052]

So simple, so awesome 👌

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

I agree!

[@EarthShipSolutions]

i dig myne when its raining.. a little bit each time.. i follow the flow an did small "holes" along the path.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Good idea! I’ve seen something similar at the @EdibleAcres channel

[@hope4truthlight162]

Thank you so much! This makes way more sense to me! 😁🙌🏻

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Happy to help!

[@twocountryhome3529]

Looking good

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thank you, I should be able to resume digging here in a day or two.

[@Dmagick2010]

How close are you to Cornudas or Dell City? I have 20 acres about 5-7 miles south west of the Cornudas Cafe on US62/180 in the Sunset Ranches Subdivision areas

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Hello, I'm like 5 hours from there. That's WAY west Texas compared to where I'm at around San Angelo.

[@thomasdrodriguez3851]

Are you building an overflow channel for your swale, or not needed? Amazing how similar your terrain and vegetation looks to what we have here in central Mexico

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Hi Thomas, the only overflows on my swales are on their ends. That may be good enough since I don't have much of a slope, but I can always tweak that later on if I start to see some erosion.

[@sritejas3460]

Good job.. Can you share what Instrument you used to dig out the swales ..cuz they look reall neat!!

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Hello, I just used a shovel. The shovel I used has a serrated edge on one side that helps cut through roots, but you could just as easily use a hatchet for that. Thank you

[@sritejas3460]

@@WestTexasGardenExperiment ohh that's great!!, Thank you for the info!!

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

You're welcome! I believe it is more common to use a back hose or excavator to dig the larger swales. It does take more time to dig by hand, but it is free and mostly just an experiment to see how a hand dug swale will perform over time.

[@mojavebohemian814]

Thanks

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Hope it was helpful!

[@joemc111]

Nice way to find level, it’s been 6 months how’s Your back? I made a water level about the time you made this video. I got to make a video of it. You could use it to make a1% or 2% Grade from the road to get that water all the way out there or you want it with no erosion anyway how did it work out?

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Hello, thank you. Was your water level operable by one person, or does it require one on each end? The back healed up fine soon after, and I was out digging some more. I did make it to the road, and got some of the road drainage after a heavy September rain. I documented the videos if you care to check them out.

[@Raj-yy7xx]

I'm not sure if it's the camera angle... but the dirt from the swale trench , the berm, should be on the downward slope side, not upslope. Reason is as the dirt acts like a water storage sponge for trees you plant in that berm. Critical to the swale working, by keeping the water near surface, by the negative atmosphere upward suction created by the tree roots in the berm. Swales are a tree growing system on contour. Otherwise these are just water soak drainage ditches. It will improve a little but you won't likely get the results you want, which is 7yr long term water availability in the sub soil of the slope. Trees with roots are the vital ingredient to keeping the water available and trickling very slowly down the slopes sub soil. Slowed by the roots negative atmospheres suction below ground.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Hello, you’re not the first to make that comment, so I’m sure it is a poor camera angle. The berm is on the downslope side. Thank you

[@Raj-yy7xx]

@@WestTexasGardenExperiment great videos mate. Liked them all. Really good to see how you are progressing. Learnt a lot seeing it. Cheers!

[@John-hu9bo]

Super hack, not offending, but if you're using a low quality tool (seems to me) your level can be inaccurate depending on the length, because it sums up. The A frame is in that case more accurate.

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks

[@farmindank3479]

I made a bunyip and works great but yes needs 2 people

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

I’d like to try one out one of these days. Could possibly scale it back to around 3 or 4 ft in length I guess. 🤔

[@zorgate]

Freakin' genius, man. Don't mind if I nab your invention for my own personal use, I hope ;)

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Hey Benjamin, thanks! Go right ahead!

[@ollievw3450]

Not too shabby, you could have put that water level on the a frame as well. I have seen people do that

[@WestTexasGardenExperiment]

Thanks, that would’ve made too much sense! 🤦‍♂️

[@ollievw3450]

@@WestTexasGardenExperiment haha, curious to see the rest of your movies

[@ollievw3450]

And you could also easily build in a fixed gradient using that nuts and bolts device by adjusting the height of one side