Water and Fertility Designing the flow of resources

Design process SADIMET Design begun July 2012 completed Aug 2013 Aim/ oal! To fulfil all water and fertility needs for food/fuel growing for our site" from within the site# $closing the loop%

Sur&ey
To begin the design process I completed a Client Interview mind-map (Fig.1) to get an overview of what information I needed to gather. I have been doing an ongoing literature review of information on how to harvest and store water (water harvesting) as the client interview indicated this as a weak area in m knowledge. I alread knew the fertilit needs of the site having worked on it for several ears! here I will concentrate on gathering information a'out which methods/techni(ues are 'est suited to the site and try to reduce off!site inputs to increase yield.

Fig. 1! client interview mind-map for water and fertilit at Fern Cottage The site has alread been surve ed in detail as part of the "Fern Cottage masterplan" (#esign no.$) but I have completed another sur&ey loo)ing at on!site sources of organic matter. %s and when each area is to be cultivated! test pits will be dug and soil samples anal sed using basic techni&ues to assess the underl ing soil t pes and structures but for this design it is enough to note most areas to 'e culti&ated ha&e shallow

topsoil which lac)s organic matter.

Analyse

Fig. 2. Organic matter input/outputs

Fig. 3. Water harvesting/needs

*otes from Fig# +! all organic matter from the areas of "net output"! which are mostl meadow! can be cut and composted to improve fertilit in the "areas of intensive cultivation". The meadow has both white and red clover so will be able to provide its own nitrogen! removing the cut grass will also encourage more flowers as the soil will be lower in nitrogen and therefore have less broadleaved grasses. *otes from Fig# ,! most areas needing supplementar water are below those where water can be harvested. The well could provide water but will need more monitoring to see if it dries up in the summer. -'ser&e and interact The literature review was helpful but man books'chapters on water harvesting concentrate on arid climates. (e have noticed that areas with perennial plants'trees have survived well during prolonged drought periods therefore feel swales'dams would be a large investment of energ for little benefit. -'tain a yield (e trialled a no water policy one ear in the annual vegetable garden which happened to be a relativel dr ear. (e subse&uentl found that most plants survived but ield was significantl reduced compared to irrigated vegetables!

which were also tough and unpalatable. %s e)pected supplementar watering will therefore be needed in *ust a few cultivated sites where intensive cultivation will be carried out. .atch and store energy The choices include either using a pump or creating a harvesting s stem further up the hill. +torage tanks should capture the harvested water above the point where it will be needed so enable gravit fed irrigation without the need to e)pend further energies. Apply self!regulation and accept feed'ac) ,aving read a lot of literature on "no-dig" s stems! as well as mulching! we were convinced it was the wa to go. %fter - ears we found that cardboard harbours so man slugs it is hard to grow an thing. It ma reduce watering needs but it also reduced surface drainage causing surface gle ing. Alternati&e mulch material or cultural methods will need to 'e employed. ".o-dig" has not worked either! despite a ver health population of worms! almost no organic matter has been taken down. It ma be that this method is not suited to our soil t pe'situation or that we e)pected too much from the method. /roduce no waste % ke function of this design is to close the loop of water and fertility within the site! reducing'eliminating the off-site inputs b using the outputs more effectivel . Table 1! Identifying 0ey Functions# The scope of this design is land'food growing in /one 1 0 -. 1one $ ma be used for growing'harvesting plants for composting'mulching Function Fertilise crops System Element 1ield 2ain nutrients and trace elements re&uired for health plants (ater

,arvest fertilit of Composting! li&uid site plant feeds! grow nitrogen fi)ers' d namic accumulators ,arvest and store water Irrigation s stem +urface to collect from! tanks to store in ,ose pipes' drip irrigation

Irrigate crops

2ore efficient use of water and less labour'time needed 3educed input of water Improved water

3educe loss of soil 2ulching! water windbreaks4 Improve soil %dd organic Trench

matter

composting! mulching

holding capacit of soil! improved soil health5plant health

Increased root penetration 4%lthough not usuall associated with water I feel that protection from wind to be another important factor of this design as it can increase ields b up to 678 due to reduced evaporation and transpiration therefore reducing the water needs of the site.

Cultivate soil

#igging

Table -! Input/-utput analysis relating specifically to water and fertility Element Input -utput Chicken'#ucks +tructures with roof 2eadows Intensive growing areas Trees'hedges ,ousehold (ater-pond'drinking! grain (ater from huts! manure (ater from roof 9rganic matter 9rganic matter! fertiliser! Food! organic matter water! shelter 2ulch (cardboard! leaves) Food! 9rganic matter! shelter 9rganic matter! :rine

.onclusions from ta'les 2 3 +4 Water (ater could be harvested from poultr houses to feed the pond %s most structures are far below the point where water is needed a purpose 'uilt structure" to include a storage tan)" will 'e needed above the main growing areas in order to harvest'store water (here needed! water butts on e)isting downpipes could provide enough water for ard (indbreaks'hedges to provide shelter from strong wind Fertility 9rganic matter can be collected from non-intensive areas including grass from meadows! leaves from grass'paving'drivewa and also poultr manure. These could then be composted or used as mulch in intensive growing areas. ;i&uid plant feeds including human urine to provide organic li&uid fertilisers .itrogen fi)ers and d namic accumulators to be cultivated on-site to increase fertilit Compost made on-site with initial inputs of well rotted manure from organic farm nearb . This will be double dug *ust once to increase soil

depth and organic content. %ssessment of green manures suitable to our soil! site and ongoing crop rotations (refer to Fig. <).

Design
(see Fig. 6! "Flow of resources" diagram)
.rop Fertility =reen manures are to be used once crops are harvested in late summer'autumn. This should impro&e nutrient le&els and organic matter content providing multiple functions (see Fig. <! =reen manure anal sis). 5i(uid feeds - ;i&uid fertilisers made using poultr manure! nettles! comfre or a combination of varied weeds'plants to add nutrients b either foliar application or direct to soil. 3ecipe for li&uid feed > ?ack leaves into a large bucket'water butt and fill with water. ;eave for around four weeks for comfre 'nettles or si) weeks for other weeds until disintegrated. For animal manure feeds a hessian sack filled with dung can be left suspended in water for about four weeks. #ilution of these concentrates is relativel arbitrar but somewhere in the ratio of two to twent parts water. It is not precise as it depends on man variables but a good appro)imation would be to attain a product the colour of weak tea. 6rine to 'e used as li(uid feed on culti&ated areas. :sed neat when fresh and diluted (1@17) when stored. (see Fig A. :rine leaflet) Impro&e soil In those areas to be used for intensive cultivation an initial dig incorporating organic matter will be re&uired but in less intensive areas a mulch to improve organic matter content will be less labour intensive. Irrigate crops/.onser&e water Wind'rea) immediate! use fence'windbreak fabric. long term! edible hedge (multiple functions) consisting Rosa sp. Sambucus, Malus (crab apple)! Vibu num opulus, ! ataegus sp.! Amalanc"ie sp, #y us cultivars! rhubarb! h brid Rubus berries! !ydonia oblonga cultivars! Mespilus ge manica cultivars and various Ribes. Water har&esting/storage - (see diagram Fig. B! "Combined compost'water harvesting s stem" ) Table $! Implementation of flow of resource design. Fertilise crops Impro&e soil Spring +72, +tart collecting and Cuild composting

Irrigate crops Drect windbreak

storing :rine for use ba s in growing season Cut grass and mi) ,arvest nettles to with part make li&uid feed decomposed leaves to make compost ?lant comfre #ouble dig vege garden incorporating organic matter Summer +72, Autumn +72, +tart using li&uid Turn compost heaps feed':rine to fertilise for annual vege crops +ow green manures

(posts and membrane) ?lant hedging! prop more hedging plants Cuild water harvesting s stem

Maintain
The largest part of maintenance will be managing the composting s stem to ensure the carbon'nitrogen ratio is correct and moisture and air are at the right levels. Turn bacteriall dominated heaps at least twice to encourage decomposition! leave fungall dominated heaps unturned to encourage fungal (h phal) growth. The water storage s stem will need the filters checking and cleaning regularl and the tanks cleaned at the start and the end of the season. The hedging'windbreak membrane will be removed once the hedging plants are established. The hedge will need trimming ever autumn. It will re&uire careful pruning depending on the selection of plants.

E&aluate
E&aluation upon completing the design In terms of addressing the main issues of fertilit and water on site this design has been a success in that it aims to reduce inputs and 'etter utilise outputs! also improving ields in the process. The yield and health of crops/plants will 'e indicators of the success of the design. It will take at least one growing season to make an conclusions. The main indicator of success will be removal of the necessit to irrigate with tap water or import soil improver'fertilisers from off-site. This ma var from ear to ear so the aim is to )eep records of future inputs and twea) to design accordingly. E&aluation during/after first growing season 8e&iew of implementation so far written 9uly 2, Fertilise crops! (e are feeding crops with urine and nettle feed! crops in greenhouse! ard and in vegetable garden (where the soil has been improved) are looking lush and health . This shows the feeding regime is working. (e are

trialling chicken manure compost tea and dock leaf compost tea. (e are also spra ing crops with a seaweed feed due to the soil test revealing low levels of Coron and 2ol bdenum (see Fig. E with notes)! this should remed these deficiencies. This should also act as a preventative measure against pest and disease attack b improving the health of the crops. Impro&e soil! 9nl F of the vegetable garden has had the manure incorporated and double dug due to lack of time and source of manure. (e are currentl still looking for a source of well rotted organic matter but also creating more compost heaps for this autumn'winter to provide our own source. The F that has been dug has performed reall well creating a well drained'moisture retentive soil. 9nce the remaining G have been cultivated in the same wa our crop ields should increase significantl . Compost ba s have been created but the grass has been left and will be cut in the autumn to be composted in situ on the vegetable beds as the are cultivated. (i.e. laid on the surface after double digging and manure incorporation is completed). This will save energ b not double handling organic matter! smother out weeds and keep soil life happ as the have a source of food over winter. Irrigate/conser&e water- (indbreak membrane has been erected around the vegetable garden and an alder hedge (of broadcast sown trees cultivated in the forest garden) has been planted to slow down buffeting and dr ing winds. This has reduced watering and wind damage in general. 2ore hedging plants have been lined out in the nurser beds to be planted this autumn. The water harvesting s stem has not been built as we decided the trees nearb will create a rain shadow. This is a result of me designing whilst immobile on the sofa and unable to keep visiting the site (lack of observation). (e are currentl looking at other possible locations and hope this will be in place before ne)t summer. Comfre plants are growing on in the nurser read to be planted out this autumn'winter. .osts/Inputs for +72+ 3 +72, +eaweed feed (17;) H$7 $ $%oc&ing 1'$ Comfre plants to propagate from - H17 Compost for potting'propagation HI6 9rganic slow release fertiliser for potting up plants - H$7 Total H1A6 8eflect! what ha&e I learnt: %c&uiring technical knowledge of water harvesting! use of urine and making compost teas has been a large part of this design but being able to plan for the long term success of the site as a closed system has been a reall useful e)ercise. Dach design deepens my understanding of the design process! use of design tools and the meaning of the principles and how to appl them. I feel

having completed the "designing the design process" that the process helped m thoughts and ideas to flow better and the info I gained in the +urve and %nal sis stages meant all the &uestions that cropped up in the design stage could easil be answered.

8e&ised wor) plan (looking at table $ from implementation phase of

design) Taking into account observations over the spring'summer I have now considered the elements that we had implemented. I have tried to be more realistic about what is practicall achievable. ,ighlighted orange > alread implemented ,ighlighted purple > still to be implemented and added to autumn'winter task list Table <! revised implementation of flow of resource design. Fertilise crops Impro&e soil Irrigate crops Spring +72, +tart collecting and storing urine for use in growing season ,arvest nettles to make li&uid feed ?lant comfre Cuild composting ba s Drect windbreak (posts and membrane)

Cut grass and mi) with part ?lant hedging! prop decomposed leaves more hedging plants to make compost Cuild water #ouble dig vege harvesting s stem garden incorporating organic matter(1'< done)

Summer +72, Autumn +72,

+tart using li&uid Turn compost heaps feed':rine to fertilise for annual vege crops ?lant comfre Cut grass and mi) with part decomposed leaves to make compost #ouble dig vegetable garden incorporating organic matter 2ulch beds with cut grass'weeds

Winter +72, Spring +72;

?lant out alder seedlings in forest garden Turn compost heaps

for annual veg. Summer +72; Cuild water harvesting s stem

This design will continue to develop and change following feedback from the ields'plants and observation of the site. I have identified a need to learn more a'out plant deficiencies and micro nutrients and how imbalances in the soil can be rectified naturall and sustainabl . This should be possible through reading books and finding information online. I hope to &isit other sites li)e ours to see how they tac)le the flow of resources within their site and see if we can learn from the e)periences of others. This design is ver much about creativel using and responding to change as water and fertilit needs of our site will be different from ear to ear.