Flooding Garbage Lot to Food Forest!

This space is behind the duplex where I rent. A couple weeks ago I completed the french drain (sans perforated pipe) trench and drain system with a small dam at the back of my fence line. (viewed on right in foto above). Last week I learned that a planting technique I began using in 2011 has a name > Hugelkultur! (webpage) I did not know. So, I am combining a mini-dam, swales, canals, drains, and a mini-arroyo I will begin cutting after the next rain (this week) to manage this area that has a history of garbage dumping, and burning of garbage. The soil on top and to about two feet down is mixed with garbage in some areas. But, mostly, the uncontaminated soil is dark, rich and loamy with worms. Then there's the black and red clay beneath, And in some natural concaves are drains... that's where I dig in to create my first official Food Forest with multiple permaculture practices.

This particular area is in process of becoming a Hugelkultur bed that will sit over-winter before completion with planting seedlings and seed. First the drain at bottom of a contour canal down to below the black clay line (into permeable grit).











And, a neighbor pruned a tree this morning...




For more info: http://yesusi.com/about/house-of-salto/

thanks for posting, and please keep us updated on progress.


how to plan to stop people from dumping/burning trash at the site?

Kelly Smith: thanks for posting, and please keep us updated on progress.

Will do

Kelly Smith: how to plan to stop people from dumping/burning trash at the site?

It's about "buy-in" - so - directly affected neighbors benefit from not having flooding in their homes, everybody benefits from "free" food in the center of the barrio, education - no reason to keep dumping as there is street waste pick up several days every week (have already educated the man who lives on site about burning and it's impact on health)... my closest neighbors daily witness a new agricultural technique that has the potential to dramatically improve Uruguay's food production and security... and they "get it" already. It's a small community and they appreciate agriculture.

The big problem is the dogs and cats. Hoping they will be deterred by tall Hugelkultur and will stick to the more wild areas.

Welcome Pia. Do you know what sort of garbage was burned? Oily stuff is worse than woody stuff. Lots of rotting wood waste should help with any organic toxins. Fungus won't deal with heavy metal contamination. Bring in mountains of clean stuff to cover everything. Keep us posted.

Dale Hodgins: Welcome Pia. Do you know what sort of garbage was burned? Oily stuff is worse than woody stuff. Lots of rotting wood waste should help with any organic toxins. Fungus won't deal with heavy metal contamination. Bring in mountains of clean stuff to cover everything. Keep us posted.

It appears mostly the true garbage was buried, I haven't found remnants or other evidence of plastic or metal or glass in the burn areas. The weeds growing all over the lot are cut several times over the year and piled up and burned. There's a substantial sized area that I'll be cutting this week for hugelkultur beds and will collect more tree material as I go... poco a poco... raising the usable profile is the goal:)

"A couple weeks ago I completed the french drain (sans perforated pipe) trench and drain system with a small dam at the back of my fence line. (viewed on right in foto above)." actually the foto below that section.

"paul's devious plots on world domination" ... lol ... a little so far, diving in more today (chilly, entering winter kinda day).

Before the back area flood and hugelkultur work commenced, I was working on first stage flood control close to the house. Photo essay/slide show is at my site.

Here's some earlier work pics at House of Salto

Pia Jensen wrote:Before the back area flood and hugelkultur work commenced, I was working on first stage flood control close to the house. Photo essay/slide show is at my site.

very cool. thanks for posting!

Dale Hodgins wrote:Do you know what sort of garbage was burned?

The man who lives back there reported yesterday that only paper, wood, and vegetation has been burned back there, everything else got buried (we are unearthing and removing some of that stuff as we go).

Rains began today and weather looks good for seed sprouts so I seeded the Food Forest lot this morning. Updates here

Only a small percent of the seed I put in the Food Forest will continue, no irrigation out there so... think only the outliers (in the shady spaces) will take. More rain required... thinking about the normal but not always sogginess of the land back there due to regular, not lately, rain patterns and am building a list of seeds to purchase, this in particular strikes me as a valuable tool in the prevent devastation kit... Thinking for the base and sides of hugel building.... so, I ordered two packets of seed and it offers other values as well... so glad it fits my zone w/few accommodations required.