• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • Jay Angler
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Tereza Okava
  • Andrés Bernal
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • M Ljin
  • Matt McSpadden

Best use over a septic leach field? - Lavender Field?

 
eco-innovator & pollinator
Posts: 127
Location: Los Gatos, California Zone 10a (30°F to 35°F) Steep South Facing Slope, Rocky Soil, Ph 7.1
46
5
  • Likes 7
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Unfortunately,  leach fields usually end up in prime are around your house - Permaculture Zone 2, and my place is no exception.

I found a few resources, with most recommending grass or decorative plants.  I was surprised 1 of them was OK with small fruit trees, but I would still like to stay away from that:
https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2080/2014/02/Landscaping-Septic-Drain-Fields11.pdf
https://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ho/2007/fs0732.pdf
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/landscaping-over-septic-drain-fields/
https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/426/426-617/426-617_pdf.pdf

I think my options are scythed hayfield, grazing area for animals, wildflower area for bees (honey harvesting), but I really like the idea of a lavender field (maybe I could sell at a farmer's market).  It's near the house so there is an aesthetic issue to consider.  It would look really nice if I can make it look like the pictures on the internet - but I'm not sure how much work this is... I do have the right Mediterranean climate and poor soil for Lavender.

Any suggestions appreciated
lavander-field.jpg
[Thumbnail for lavander-field.jpg]
leachfield.jpg
leachfield
leachfield
leachfield2.jpg
leachfield2
leachfield2
 
steward
Posts: 6440
Location: United States
3129
transportation forest garden tiny house books urban greening the desert
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
These are a couple ideas I could think of for a leech field:
-growing your own clothing fiber (cotton, flax, nettles)
-plants for dyes (madder, woad, weld, indigo, pokeweed, hibiscus, etc)
-plants for candles/tea/aromatherapy (mint, lavender, basil, thyme, oregano, jasmine)
 
steward
Posts: 17420
Location: USDA Zone 8a
4457
dog hunting food preservation cooking bee greening the desert
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
If you decide that you want lavender and want it to look like the picture then be sue to get the right variety.

I wish my lavender looked like those in the picture.  Mine don't have that color nor do they bloom profusely like those.

Here in the Texas Hill Country, we have some lavender farms with pictures like that.
 
Let nothing stop you! Not even this tiny ad:
Learn Permaculture through a little hard work
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic