Hello Sepp,
The property in question, has an approximate 5 to 10% grade with 1/4 of the top grade is at the end of a 100' septic drain line. My desire is to control the water flow to hand dug and built Hugelkultur grow beds. This part of the property in question is about 1/3 acre with 8 scrub oaks on it
Not only do I plan to manage the water, this plan is to create a growing forest out of the hand built beds. Currently, CA is in a drought and when it does rain it is all at one time or a few times, flooding the top soil to the bottom of the property and into the neighbors parcel.
My question is, how deep do the swales on the uphill side of the Hugelkultur grow beds, need to be. In addition, should I fill them with drain rock or 1 1/2" rock to keep out the leaves, dirt etc. out of them.
Please understand that I am unable to afford a machine to perform these activities and would like to perfect this Hugelkultur growing bed/swale concept by hand in CA so that I may teach others who have more time than money!! We need to enrich CA with self sufficient growing lands, rather than flattened out wind ripped growing areas.
Thank you
Mary
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