Minor Earthworks at the Back Alley Rehab
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Aside from the fruit trees along the west side, there was nothing else intentionally planted in this space. Because of that, I had the freedom to shape and contour the ground so that it would guide and contain whatever rain might someday fall. I had been inspired by Brad Lancaster's work and I wanted to try out for myself some of the techniques he used. What better place to do it than in this semi-arid spot?
But of course the real test came when I turned on the hose and allowed water to fill the depression at the top of the slope. Success! The water zigzagged down the slope just as I had wanted it too--I was thrilled! Although I am planning to someday cover the area in a wood chip mulch, I am happy to know that the underlying earthworks will be collecting water and allowing it to sink in gradually, rather than just sliding downhill taking the top layer of soil with it. A raised central pathway and ridges along the eastern wall were made with the same goal in mind.
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Although I had heard Brad talk and read the books and watched the videos, I still couldn't quite wrap my head around some of the things having to do with slope. So even though it was overkill perhaps, in such a small space, I decided to make myself a bunyip level. Using it, I was able to check the slope between any two points on the site. I contoured the area between the fruit trees and the raised pathway into a series of ridges and depressions and used the level to compare heights and depths. Once I actually DID it, it all made a lot more sense.
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