Holzer's technique to find a spring

HI Zach,

Very excited that you can answer questions regarding Sepp.

So a few days ago I read a fascinating thread about Sepp creating a spring.

Wondering how to identify the clay that he discovered he had that allows him to do the spring. What does it look like, how would I know if I had it.

I live in tract housing in Carlsbad, CA with a large hill 60 foot by 80 foot hill behind a flat yard of 60 x 40 foot. Wondering if it is possible for me to create a spring here? Would I need acres of trees to accomplish that or can something like that happen on such a small piece of property like mine?

It sounds like it is much easier to find that hard clay layer with a big excavator. I couldn't possibly get one into my back yard so anything I did would be by hand.

OK, I'm pretty certain this wouldn't happen on my property with how small it is but I do want as much information as possible as I'll be helping on a food forest soon that is not too far away on city property that might have the right landscape for such a thing (or such a spring)!

Thanks
Sheri

Once you get a feel for it you can get a good idea of what your looking at based on each layer's texture. A quick hand texturing often does the trick. Using the soil texture triangle is a good way to get started understanding what you are looking at. When in doubt build a model with the material and observe the results. When you are fortunate enough to have water flowing through the landscape it is even easier to see if there is a layer that is holding the water up (it will be dry beneath).

Sepp described the clay layer for his spring as very hard. He was having the operator bash the layer with the arm (like a fist) and it was bouncing off of this layer it was so hard. This type of distinct layer is fairly easy to identify.

As with Bill's question you have to look at the larger landscape whenever apply Holzer permaculture techniques, without understanding where it lies in the watershed there is know way to know if this type of spring is possible. The section of Sepp's property where the Spring Terrace is only an acre or two. This type of spring would be a very large en-devour to do by hand.