The Ancient Irrigation Systems of Oman; Wadi Bani Khalid

Water is life! Follow Geoff as he explores Wadi Bani Khalid with one of the world's oldest and most remarkable water management systems—the Falaj. There, gravity's magic is used to bring water to the surface, slow it down and spread it, and then divert it to support gardens and households where needed. This is an excellent example of a permanent, sustainable, and productive system that could go on indefinitely.

The Wadi Beni Khalid in Oman boasts a 25-kilometer stretch of date palm trees, which are sustained by a water system that has likely been in operation for thousands of years. This system is still well-maintained and productive. The area is home to a variety of fruit trees, including mangos, citrus, fig, mulberry, custard apples, and papayas.

Right now, it’s running with a good flow in the channel due to extra rain, but it has been running for thousands of years and never stops. It is built to withstand desert floods. A rock barrage dam built by locals and meshed together with palm fiber backs up a pool of water and allows irrigation to move from one side of the valley to the other. It creates an extremely efficient model we can replicate and even improve with modern technology.

There’s no question, after thousands of years, that it’s sustainable, but more potential is there. The entire catchment could be diversified and increased in fertility easily. The protentional for nitrogen-fixing pollarding is there. The mainframe system is in place, with channels going in all directions to water the gardens.

Built around a water source, gravity flows, and adding a bit of fertility, this system has lasted thousands of years. It’s something modern agriculture can’t sustain. Modern systems collapse after 100, even just 50, years because all the fertility is gone. We should be using these ancient, proven systems as models for new, sustainable designs.

This video is the fourth in a series where Geoff takes us on a journey through Oman’s ancient water harvesting and irrigation systems. To follow his adventure, watch the following videos:

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► And most importantly, enjoy your permaculture journey!

About Geoff:

Geoff is a world-renowned permaculture consultant, designer, and teacher that has established demonstration sites that function as education centers in all the world's major climates. Geoff has dedicated his life to spreading permaculture design across the globe and inspiring people to take care of the earth, each other and to return the surplus.

About Permaculture:

Permaculture integrates land, resources, people, and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies – imitating the no-waste, closed-loop systems seen in diverse natural systems. Permaculture applies holistic solutions that are applicable in rural and urban contexts and at any scale. It is a multidisciplinary toolbox including agriculture, water harvesting and hydrology, energy, natural building, forestry, waste management, animal systems, aquaculture, appropriate technology, economics, and community development.

#water #desert #foodforest

[iwanabana]

there are no words to describe the beauty of the engineering here!

[twigandroot]

this is such a perfect example of what is possible.

[lucasjames]

It's like a real garden of Eden. Absolutely beautiful.

[elisabethziegler]

Thank you so much for this video, that makes so great hope, that nature will help us, if we take care of her with love and knowledge. I will send it to our partner in Northern Syria, who is trying to feed 670 people in tents with gardens. Blessings from Austria.

[lynnsoto]

Thanks for what you do Geoff, is my hope that some day I can visit that beautiful country.

[maearcher]

It's beautiful, thank you for showing us. I also love the sound of frogs in background.

[Qopzeep]

Hey Geoff, thanks for showcasing these systems. Through these tours I've really come to appreciate encountering these systems 'in the wild'. I recently visited Santo Antao in the Cape Verdes, an extremely arid island that look like you're on the Moon. However, the valleys were verdant and green, because the local population caught rainwater from the mountain tops and guided it all the way down to the sea. It is a truly beautiful example of permaculture, with dozens of types of crops growing there. I recommend you visit it!

[katjordan]

Just watched the first two 'Greening the Desert' videos again. I'm amazed at how far this series has come in 12 years. From 10 acres of nothing that persisted for 10 years, the successful Greening the Desert and Oasis sites, to the documentation of systems thousands of years old and 25 kilometers long. It works!

[thegreatoutdoors]

I'm working on my 28 acers in new mexico this summer. hope to be this sucesfull in a few years!

[katjordan]

Wow, why don't we do that here in the USA? We could have gardens in drought. Thanks so much for sharing this!

[alancross]

Brilliant Geoff, thankyou. Regards Alan,

[ZonePermaculture]

I'd love to see more videos like this! Thanks so much for sharing.

[flagstafup]

I camped beside a falaj in Wadi Dam. It was perfect. Using a small submersible pump I was able to draw the clean water straight from the source. This reminded me of that trip. Oman is a beautiful country. Love 🇴🇲.

[andonideandres]

OH MY Thank you Geoff to show us this...amazing, it brings tears to my eyes!

[Colin-pgsu]

Very Nice, Thank you, Geoff. Big enough for a flying drone next time.

[iTeerRex]

What a wonderful treat. Thank you Mr Lawton.

[busysaru]

I'd love to see this done in the American southwest and Texas.

[ninemoonplanet]

If they add reed beds to clean the water, wouldn't that improve the water and remove some of the sludge?
What could be done higher up to shade the water, reduce evaporation? Rock overhangs, maybe drought tolerant grasses or shrubs?
I see places where evaporation is a problem that could keep the moisture in the area.
It's amazing how well this was made considering the lack of things like meteorology, soil biome knowledge.

[HFTLMate]

what a beautiful privilege to see and explore

[tomsln]

Inspired to catalyse more productivity in our Sydney backyard. Hoooray.