garden smarter not harder…

a lot of people are transitioning from growing lawns to growing food.  depending on where you live this can be a very tricky subject.  some municipalities require you to acquire a variance or special permit to grow things higher than 12 inches (in your front yard).  here in denver height isn’t so much the issue as is the use of water.  if you choose to go this route, my suggestion is, plan your garden and the watering zones with sensitivity and caution.  plan(t) smarter don’t work harder.

one method that is simple to design for the diy folks out there is the square foot gardening method.  square foot gardening combines several methods; bio-intensive planting, composting, organic gardening and is often planted in raised beds.  there are many books and websites on this subject and it can be as plain as a square bed or as intricate as you can dream up.

when you start to design your space plant things close together that have similar watering requirements to help eliminate over or under usage of water.  planting and watering in zones is a good method to follow, especially in the desert or other places experiencing droughts.  get creative when watering; use olla’s, drip systems and rain barrels if you location allows it.  the more efficient your garden is started, the more time you will have to enjoy it.  using simple methods such as these will help streamline your gardening time and use your resources more efficiently.  

if you have any questions on square foot gardening or setting up watering zones send me a message.

resources on square foot gardening and watering methods:
http://www.squarefootgardening.org/
http://www.denverwater.org/Conservation/TipsTools/Outdoor/WateringYourLawn/
http://www.rainbird.com/homeowner/education/watersavingtips.htm

happy gardening…

use only what you need, it’s a drought!
this slogan is, in my opinion, all wrong.

the slogan should be… IT’S A DESERT!

so in the interest of debating how much water denver should and shouldn’t be using, let’s explore some options to utilize it more efficiently in this desert landscape.  in today’s post we will talk about an OLLA (pronounced oh-yah).  traditionally olla’s are made of porous non finished clay pottery and are used for many things, including irrigation.  they typically have a bulbous bottom with a narrow neck.  they can be made and/or bought in many different sizes and shapes can vary as well.  you bury the pot with the neck opening above the soil line so that it can be filled with water.  the water will then slowly seep through the pot into the soil and be readily available for you plants to drink.  using an olla illuminates runoff, slows down evaporation and supplies the water directly to the roots of your plant(s).

resources and photos: http://drippingspringsollas.com/
http://growingawarenessurbanfarm.com/ollas
http://rosedalegarden.org/olla-irrigation/
http://youtu.be/qkNxACJ9vPI

here is a link that gives a good explanation of an olla and how to use them: http://youtu.be/fvKq5geEM-A

some people have come up with creative ways to re-purpose other items into ollas.  you can use a milk jug as seen at the link: http://youtu.be/pCkeB2l3ODQ

others have used two terra cotta pots and adhere them together as shown in this link: http://youtu.be/s0BryMMFwME

these are just a few resources and videos about ollas and are by no means an exhaustive list.  it is a good starting point for those interested in ollas and water conservation, especially in the southwest and more arid climates. 

happy gardening...