Vote: +1

"For us dry weather gardening is not a choice but a necessity. Firstly our water supply is fed from a well up the mountain side so we are always conscious of water use, and secondly one of the effects of climate change is a distinct drying out of the Mediterranean basin. This year we are installing guttering on the house that feeds into tanks, we are visiting a friend who has installed a reed bed filtering system for his grey water with the idea of doing the same, and last but not least the water closet is coning out and a dry loo going in.

We have made a decision to go for a dry weather flower garden, plus a few wine barrels of flowers round the door of the house for some summer colour, and to use what extra water we have for the vegetables.

To extend the impact of the water, we cut plastic bottles in half, pierce the tops, or bottom and bury them along the rows of vegetables, that way in the evening when we water the good stuff is delivered directly to the roots of the plants and does not evaporate from the surface- apparently 80% of surface watering disappears into the air before ever getting anywhere near the roots. Once the full water collecting and filtering system is in place I do intend to lay under ground drip feeding irrigation in the raised beds, frankly life can be too short to spend an hour an evening watering the veggies much as I love em dearly.

We are only just beginning but the one thing we have learnt is that each garden is particular, its aspect, the earth, the wind, altitude etc. What works perfectly well for one person doesn't work at all for someone else two kilometers away. So what I would like to do is use this tribe to post ideas, gather others wisdom, and hopefully learn lots of things to help me, and everyone else in getting the most delicious, low cost and beautiful gardens going.

I will also be posting links to resources I found/find useful"

By: Natural Choices :: 3 years ago