Swale + Water = Trees / How swales are built in high elevation mountain desert climate.

Highlighting our regeneration of soil on 1 acre of high elevation desert climate. Swales allow our property to efficiently and gradually gain water absorption through capturing rain and efficiently moving water across a sloped landscape. This is the first stage to our land regeneration project that will allow us to grow and maintain a food productive habitat that will self sustain for years to come.

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[carlottath]

Those pictures showing the grass growth around the swales is really cool, good job!

[fsoakcreek]

When you get a chance, put some paint on those PVC lines. PVC will 'brown' in the sunlight and eventually get brittle and fail.

[guyh.]

Another eastern Washington/ Columbia Basin person here. As a professional conservationist, I find your swale construction an interesting concept. There are Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) specs for these but you have to build them to spec if you want to get funding assistance. Interesting concept using drip to fill a swale. I like your concept in whole. The one thing im concerned about is your tree species selection. If the ash is volunteering then that means that your area is preferred over other areas. I also am concerned about your oak choice. That species will take a lot longer to take & grow vs the ash. You probably are wanting a tree that will grow fairly fast & is also deer resistant. Go to your Conservation District or County Extension office and get a list of trees that are better for your area than others. Good job

[Laura-wnyy]

We're in Eastern WA, Columbia Basin--dry and harsh. One of the few volunteer trees here are Siberian elms, but it's been a struggle to keep them alive with deer, gophers, mice, rabbits and grasshoppers. Our cows love the leafy branches, so I'm hoping to harvest tree hay in the future. For now, we appreciate the shade. We have not made swales, but we have done hugelkulture.

[gogreenlocallyEASvideomaps]

Great video! You've done a great job of showing processes that you've been going through implement your design from many helpful perspectives. We are looking forward to seeing things grow!

[StefanoCreatini]

Im based out of Hotchkiss, CO. Swales look great. I got some new videos coming out with some longer term swales. I filmed Cedar Springs Farm with Jake Takiff 3 years ago. He planted 10k trees on swales on contour. I just finished filming last week. His swales now have 10ft+ tall trees, we ate a ton of mulberries and plums will be ready soon. Good luck and keep the videos coming!

[thatguychris]

Nice project! Only thing missing are the Terra Preta pits for the trees and bushes 😁

[Sblatus]

Where I live used to be oak forest, but those kinds of tree can’t handle too much water (Phytophthora), I was thinking of doing what you did. Hope your oak trees thrive.

[stones-]

great use of the land, bless you and yours, thank you.

[gideonporter]

New subscriber. I look forward to sharing your journey (even if only vicariously lol). One day it is an ambition of mine to visit the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. All the best.

[rolandtb]

Simple, straightforward, subject to change.

[wymptsu]

Good to see someone doing it in a practical way

[brandonmusser]

I helped plant the only wine vineyard in Southwestern Colorado it's cool to see something like this

[bte_permaculture]

Nice work brother. Love from Kerala, India ❤

[somewhereinsthlm]

One can put clay, the natures own water sealant on the bottom of swales, ponds, etc. to slow down vertical drainage. This will force the water to be pushed out horizontal into the soil and absorbed by top soil with a higher efficiency as the water is blocked from going straight down.

[dustinabc]

Just came across this video from YouTube recommended video algorithms. Looking forward to seeing more about updates with this property.

[lewdards]

cool to see more swale experiments being done

[josephwintersieck]

Looks like you might be along the northern front range somewhere. I can understand you not wanting to give an address, but would you post your average annual rainfall and USDA zone? I'm in southern Co and have been planting trees and working with soil and machines here for more than twenty years. Go for you on starting!

[rdotjdot..]

Have you considered only using species native to Colorado (iNaturalist is a great way to start exploring plants, both native and exotic, that grow in your area)? Siberian Elm for example is not native to the states, and while red oak (Quercus rubra) is, Colorado is too far west out of its normal range; the only oak I know to really have a normal range in Colorado is Gambel oak (Quercus gambelli).

[OwnerBuildersUnite]

Cool video! Gotta love swales in the high dessert. Just subscribed to your channel now... thanks!