Earthwork
- In Veveyse - Swizerland june 2011 (WFC)
HYDROLOGY AT THE HEART OF TOPOGRAPHIC SURGERY
After 10 months awaiting for state approval, the implementation of the first specific permaculture’s water harvesting earthwork project in Switzerland (at least in the french speaking part) took place in June in La Veveyse region.
(see photos below the text.)
The completed project demonstrates :
A rain water and water run off harvesting *swale for the filling of a dam. That swale has a maximum retention capacity of approx. 8 cubic meters. It is 42m long by 1m wide, and has a limit of 0.2m before its overflow spills into the dam. The swale being above the dam, the water spills over a rockery (guarding against erosion) into the dam.
The dam is a "contour dam" and has a water retention capacity of approx. 70’000lt. It is made exclusively from the clay soil dug out of the ground of the dam site. Its overflow spills into a second swale (this one being 25m long). The bottom of this swale sets the dam’s water level. The swale is also 1m wide, but has a flat bottom. Its water retention before spill is 0.15m.
Below that second swale is a third one of 23m in length by 1m width and 0.10m. spill height. Its overflow goes through the forest at the bottom of the property.
It took 2 days of earthwork with machinery (26t. excavator and a sheeproller). A few more days will be needed for the entire planting out of the new system.
The majority of the planting that took place directly after the completed earthwork consisted of leguminous ground cover like lupin, vetch, luzern and various varieties of peas.
A few dozen other non legume species were cast at the same time (carrot, radish, pumpkin, fennel, calendula, borage, mustard, etc…).
The shrubs and trees (fruit and flower) (the present property is a ProSpecieRara registered butterfly reserve) will be planted when the planting conditions become more favourable at the end of summer.
*swale :
A swale is a trench dug level, following the contour of the land. Its aim is to allow passive accumulation and infiltration of rain water and water run off through the land.
A swale is a system used to rehydrate the land through hydrologic redistribution. Water is deeply absorbed into the ground along the entire length of the swale and thus benefits all the systems placed below.
A swale is a structure for tree planting, allowing accelerated growth of the trees (hedgerow, forest, food forest,…) as well as providing for its own physical stability.
A swale system is the initial groundwork in the landscape’s accelerated regeneration and reforestation.
This applies to a small piece of land as well as an entire region.
Water is life, and like it we can choose to create abundance or simply watch it pass by.
I would like to thank the land owners for their interest and their support of the project, that I hope, will initiate by demonstration the creation of many other such project across regions.
Click on photos to enlarge and read comments.
After 10 months awaiting for state approval, the implementation of the first specific permaculture’s water harvesting earthwork project in Switzerland (at least in the french speaking part) took place in June in La Veveyse region.
(see photos below the text.)
The completed project demonstrates :
A rain water and water run off harvesting *swale for the filling of a dam. That swale has a maximum retention capacity of approx. 8 cubic meters. It is 42m long by 1m wide, and has a limit of 0.2m before its overflow spills into the dam. The swale being above the dam, the water spills over a rockery (guarding against erosion) into the dam.
The dam is a "contour dam" and has a water retention capacity of approx. 70’000lt. It is made exclusively from the clay soil dug out of the ground of the dam site. Its overflow spills into a second swale (this one being 25m long). The bottom of this swale sets the dam’s water level. The swale is also 1m wide, but has a flat bottom. Its water retention before spill is 0.15m.
Below that second swale is a third one of 23m in length by 1m width and 0.10m. spill height. Its overflow goes through the forest at the bottom of the property.
It took 2 days of earthwork with machinery (26t. excavator and a sheeproller). A few more days will be needed for the entire planting out of the new system.
The majority of the planting that took place directly after the completed earthwork consisted of leguminous ground cover like lupin, vetch, luzern and various varieties of peas.
A few dozen other non legume species were cast at the same time (carrot, radish, pumpkin, fennel, calendula, borage, mustard, etc…).
The shrubs and trees (fruit and flower) (the present property is a ProSpecieRara registered butterfly reserve) will be planted when the planting conditions become more favourable at the end of summer.
*swale :
A swale is a trench dug level, following the contour of the land. Its aim is to allow passive accumulation and infiltration of rain water and water run off through the land.
A swale is a system used to rehydrate the land through hydrologic redistribution. Water is deeply absorbed into the ground along the entire length of the swale and thus benefits all the systems placed below.
A swale is a structure for tree planting, allowing accelerated growth of the trees (hedgerow, forest, food forest,…) as well as providing for its own physical stability.
A swale system is the initial groundwork in the landscape’s accelerated regeneration and reforestation.
This applies to a small piece of land as well as an entire region.
Water is life, and like it we can choose to create abundance or simply watch it pass by.
I would like to thank the land owners for their interest and their support of the project, that I hope, will initiate by demonstration the creation of many other such project across regions.
Click on photos to enlarge and read comments.
Landscaping - small carpark, access, plantations
- NSW Australia december 2008 (PP)
