passive irrigation collection in a hoop house

I had never seen this, but had to do something with the massive runoff from our hoop houses with each rain. We trenched around the exterior with an inlet into the hoop at 2 opposing corners. Key hole layout in the beds. When we open these entry holes, the water runs the perimeter, down the center and into each of the keys. Working like a charm. When they are full & we are expecting addition rain, we simply plug them up and open "run off" channels to move the water to a pond. Sweet~

Is there a way you could set an overflow that automatically sends excess water to a pond? That way you wouldn't even have to worry about redirecting the water. Or are you more worried about being able to restrict the flow to keep from water-logging the soil?

Really nice execution, by the way.

Hey Charles and thanks -
I'm sure you could but I feel the need to be able to manipulate the flow based on the amount of sun, temp and size of the plants we have growing in the house. It only takes less then 10 minutes to close/open both hoop opening & the overflow channel to the pond.
M

Understood.

It is a funny thing frequenting this site has done to me. I grew up a city boy; couldn't care less about water or plants alike. Now I get a little warm feeling when I see water sitting in passive irrigation channels .

you're in good company Charles

Really interesting project, Marianne - keep the pictures and information coming!

Charles - you've been "infected" by hanging out with us for too long! Our evil plan is working....

Thanks Jennifer - took a pic this a.m. we've gone from winter weather to spring time pretty quickly. We did have to water the tops a bit today as a result of sudden warm weather & sunny day.

This is the second year we're using this system of capturing run-off water and funneling it through our greenhouse. If you have already have a hoop, you know the incredible amount of runoff created by even an 1" of rain. Outside on the right side, we dug a channel and intermittent opening along the wall. We then dug a corresponding channel inside, slopping it so water runs to the center isle and into the keyholes. At the far end, to the left of the opening/door is a board that stops water from escaping. The board is slipped out for the water to escape and move to an outside garden. Super simple and surprisingly effective.