Here’s a funky little guide for getting started with DIY urban rainwater harvesting projects…
This fine little guide was made by Joe Linton (aka LA Creek Freak) to accompany a workshop he did in 2008.
It’s a great little primer for explaining the sheer scope of projects that you can do in an urban (or otherwise) environment to harvest rainwater and get things growing.
The guide draws heavily from Brad Landcaster’s excellent books Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands I + II which lay out many, many strategies for creating lushness, shade, and food in the suburbs, using the resources at hand.
Here’s the full guide – also check out Joe’s blog LA Creek Freak for lots of inspiration on urban DIY growing projects, urban waterway daylighting, restoration and more. (Here’s a pdf, just incase the link on Joe’s blog breaks)
If you’d like to get skilled up in these sorts of DIY design strategies for urban renewal, they’ll covered (extensively) in our Urban Permaculture Design Certificate.
And if you’re interested in urban water harvesting strategies, check out these links for more good ideas:
- Greywater Action
- Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands
- The Water Institute
- Our posts on Watershed Restoration which have lots more good resources
This looks fantastic but the link to the full guide is broken 🙁
which link isn’t working for you? They all work fine for me?
I am partial to the food-grade, BPA-free shipping containers called IPC totes. They are 275 gallons, metal framed and, when put on a 3 foot stand and when covered in vines (akeba, hardy kiwi, etc.) to keep the water cool, provide enough “head” to fill a 5 gal bucket toot-sweet. In some places you can get them for free. Here in E. Washington they cost $125.
Oh how I long for my own house with my own yard in this funky neighborhood in Madison, WI. I am drooling at the ideas I can practice in the future! Thanks for sharing.
“WOOT Freebies!” :). You just made my day ma’am…Serendipity Farm might have gone over to the dark (weedy and grassy) side in the 3 weeks that we have been chained to our PC satisfying a last minute study unit that our lecturer most conveniently “forgot” (ARRGGHH!!) but now we can emerge, like butterflies and the possibilities…OH the possibilities! Cheers for the wonderful share. Life is good 🙂
Reblogged this on Antonia Designs.
we love to print stuff along these lines on the big fag press – if LA Creek Freak and co ever felt so inclined… http://bigfagpress.org – then permies could hang it on the back of the dunny door!
yes that would indeed be awesome 🙂