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An Experiment in Urban Sustainability

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Commenced:	01/10/2010
Submitted:	13/11/2011
Last updated:	06/06/2021
Location:	1029 SHADY LANE, WESTLAKE , LOUISIANA, US
Climate zone:	Sub tropical

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An Experiment in Urban Sustainability

WESTLAKE , US

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Mayan Floating Garden

Project: An Experiment in Urban Sustainability

Posted by GARY RICHARDSON about 13 years ago

A stab at water harvesting on flat land

Due to the continued drought (along with the pond dropping 5' ) the decision was made to add a flat land water harvesting garden. This thing worked great. Any water overflowing from the swales was directed into this baby. The ground-cover on the outer ring wound up cover the water collected which allowed for the harvest of morning dew as well. The last photo is the ground cover folded back over the outer ring. I didn't bother pulling its main roots out as I want them too continue to grow deeper. I'll let it smother out weeds as I decide what to plant. The inner ring was planted with potatoes, sweet potato runners, peanuts and purple hull. Sweet potatoes did great as well as the purple hull. Peanuts, potatoes not so good. The Blood Orange in the middle is putting flowers out now so looking forward to tasting one of its goodies.

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Rhea Anderson : I was wondering if swaling would work on flat low lying land. I actually live in London but my Mama has 10 acres of low lying clay pasture on 40 acres of mixed woodland, pasture, garden in Allen Parish. I will send her a link to your project

Posted over 12 years ago

GARY RICHARDSON : This floating garden may be better for dryer areas. Due to my location or simply a lack of experience, I find this structure very high maintenance and am having much better luck with the swales along the back of the property.

Posted over 12 years ago

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