Just wanted to document this unusual event and make some observations as it unfolded. I’ve learned a lot about this site over these last few days, and I’ll definitely be making some adjustments to store more floodwater in the future. I hope you enjoy the video, let me know if you have any suggestions or anything.
Edit:
We’re in a very cold climate at 2100’ in the Adirondack mountains, NY. On December 18th, an unusual weather event brought warm air and rain from the south, causing almost a foot of snow to melt and major flooding throughout the region.
During the flooding I went out and shot video of the 7 year old forest garden we’re developing on a 210-acre summer camp and boarding school campus. The garden is dormant now but there’s a whole network of swales, ponds, overflows, etc. that meander throughout the site. I’ve built little footbridges over the swales as a fun way to move around the garden. Kids often ask me if there’s ever water flowing through the channels, and I tell them yes but very rarely..
With all the water flowing over the landscape I was able to identify a few key areas that need a little tweaking so that we can capture even more runoff and hydrate soils throughout the garden. Our soil drains well and water is definitely one of the limiting factors in terms of growth of plants on the site, so I think it is definitely helping. I’m interested in seeing what effect these passive irrigation systems have over the long run. I have seen lots of debate on the utility of swales in cold climates. I don’t have the answers but it’s fun to experiment!
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