Part 5/10:
The first step towards this independent irrigation system involved altering the landscape itself to promote water retention. By analyzing how raised areas and flattened spaces impact water runoff and soil saturation, the homeowner conducted simple experiments that revealed significant differences in plant growth based on soil shape and moisture retention.
With the aim of directing and storing rainwater, the key was to create a ditch system running downhill, allowing gravity to assist in moving water from gutters into soaking pits. These pits, strategically placed throughout the property, acted as reservoirs that could retain and absorb the water into the soil, greatly improving the surrounding ecosystem's vitality.