Water and Topography in the Robogarden

This page is still in development

Even on the flattest land, understanding the topography and how water moves across it is our most important tool for building fertility and security. In Permaculture design, water behaviour shapes the details in a larger holistic plan.

Our Landsteward wants to avoid aggressive land shaping in our landscape. However, our goal remains to conserve water, so we will gently guide this resource through passive methods and the appropriate placement of water-saving and collection features.

In the Robogarden, our immediate pallet is remarkably flat. The soil consistency is compacted clay and rubble (Slow to absorb rainfall), a product of suburban development and glacier drift. However, elevations and water flows can be identified and used to enhance fertility in this landscape, protect the home, and direct water to where it is most needed. Optimizing and conserving annual rainfall.

Sheet Flow Across the Robogarden

Working with Impermeable Surfaces

At roughly 6100 square feet, this landscape has an abundance of impermeable surface and opportunity to catch, store, and direct Earth’s most precious resource.

The needs of the Land Steward are relatively simple. Green the space and maintain water movement away from the home. Limit earthworks disruption, mindful that large tank stowage is not desired in the landscape.

Observations

Roof
2500 sqft of roof surface. Amounting to roughly 1550 gallons per inch of rainfall. An average annual rainfall of 38 inches will provide an opportunity to work with 58,900 gallons of water.
The existing roof catchment infrastructure and downspout locations are within convenient distances of key points in the landscape’s topography. Providing a working space for integrating ornamental structures and creating organic systems for the catchment and dispersal of water around the landscape.

The Cement Hardscape
The patio and driveway are assumed to guide water away from the home. (As would be common sense for any cement contractor.) Modifications, such as artfully scoring the surface, could enhance the surface’s directional value, channeling water to organic systems and preventing it from escaping the landscape while maintaining the slope’s protective nature away from the home. The estimated water-catchment capacity of this space is roughly 88,900 gallons annually.

Of note

  • The sidewalk infrastructure has slowed water movement— Design to take advantage of this feature.
  • The downspout at the north-west corner of the patio could damage the home if left unmanaged. (moisture accumulation in the home’s wood and frost heave at the cement patio and foundation) It is also an area of high activity. Near access to the garage, sunroom, and Zone 1 and 2 garden spaces. This is an opportunity to collect usable water for functions around the garden and home.

The Lows
Given the challenge of limiting earthworks, these areas are logical places to install water-collecting systems and suitable garden guilds that thrive in damp soil. Leveraging our goal to create the most value from the least amount of effort.

The Highs
Design to move water to high elevations in the landscape and let the topography do the work of distributing water. The home’s highest elevation allows us to move water across the landscape using gravity, minimal effort, and resources to nearby highs, which then redistribute it across the landscape. Design structures to facilitate this function.

Applying the thought of Water Security

Our Landsteward has plenty of “On Demand” access through city infrastructure. However, Permaculture thinking guides us to conserve this resource for the planet and people, and to channel surplus energy back to them. Water, however inconsequential it may seem in the modern pattern of “On-demand” water availability, is becoming an increasingly critical resource around the globe. The Prime Directive of Permaculture: “The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children.” Demands that we take appropriate action.

Robogarden In Action

Implementing Water Sequestration
  • The Poorly Pointed Downspout “The Problem is the solution.”

Problem

  • Use and direct water from the downspout through this irregularly shaped impermeable surface, framed by wall dams that catch moisture and may cause structural damage over time.

System needs

  • Accessible water off-grid
  • Work space to facilitate garden development
  • Uncluttered and sensible access to and from the patio and driveway
  • Downspout runoff directed to garden spaces
  • Increased growing area for Zone 1 functionality
External Influences click to expand

Good Neighbour Sector: Creates an opportunity to develop a relationship around the work of the Robogarden while hosting social gatherings

Solar Aspect: This “Cubby Hole” offers many potential benefits to the land steward’s work.

  • The privacy fence walls are a hardscape “Suncatcher.”
  • A “Heat Sink” concrete walking surface
  • Shaded area at various sun locations at various times
  • A Goldilocks area for sunlight for seed starting and propagation

Revue Sector Analysys Page

Zone Interaction

In the northwestern portion of our Zone 1 Area, there are kitchen gardens, social areas, and barbecue areas. The space is close to the proposed annual production in Zone 2, and in-house work, living, and storage space in our Zone O, with good access to all areas.

Poorly Pointing Downspout Solution

This space lends itself to a workspace pattern in our landscape system.

The concrete patio provides a level walking area and a strong foundation for heavy water-collecting devices. Stacking the water-sequestration function in this space, however, poses some challenges due to the downspout’s location, the walking area, and the patio’s concrete construction. Notably, plumbing is required to move it across the concrete to the gardens.

An alternative to moving the water underground and disrupting the existing concrete might be to install a platform that would conceal and protect the plumbing and walkers. It could be a wooden platform or a shallow raised-bed garden installed over the concrete in the area, with defined walking paths. Allowing walkers to step up and over safely.

A circular or peanut-shaped “Step Up” infrastructure will complement the patio’s curves, repeat patterns in the landscaping, and conceal the plumbing that moves water to the gardens in Zone 2.

What materials are used are up to the creators sencibilties. This representation shows a common paver-brick construction.

This simple diagram describes the basic plumbing.

Based on Farm Stock Tanks that come in various capacities and are readily available at farm supply stores. A 170-gallon tank would be a good size for this application.


Plumbing List

  • 3 2in Through Bulkhead Fittings
  • 2in PVC Pipe
  • 1 2in PVC T Fitting
  • 1 2in Cleanout Fitting
  • Plastic Pipe Cement
  • Spiccot Fitting to fit the drain plug opening

Poolside Depression: The Problem is the Solution Part 2

Continuing Counterclockwise on our map, and at the nortest location in the backyard.

This area in the landscape appears to be a slight depression in the topography, created by what must have been a swimming pool. The area is seasonally soggy and is located where the most light is available throughout the growing season.

Problem

  • Soggy area in an ideal place for a garden endeavor, making optimal planting times difficult.
  • Need for annual production
  • Desire for elevated planting beds

System Needs

  • Water Sequestration
  • Accessibility during wet months
  • High production annual planting space
  • Labor-saving and ergonomic function

The Solution “Keyhole Gardens“

5 “Keyhole” Gardens, raising the working area to enable a comfortable, ergonomic growing environment and early planting access.


Orientation of the keyhole openings toward a working table/tool storage or perhaps a water barrel plumbed to the Zone 1 catchment system that overflows into the surrounding biomass watering your garden from the ground up.

Making this “Workbench” an artistic architectural feature will add a pleasing focal point for the north whole of the raised areas and supporting gardens.

The function of the “keyholes” could be as simple as access to inner garden beds. Or composting spaces that build soil, attract worms, increase fertility in the gardens, and provide healthy soil for use throughout the Robogarden.
With a barrel, they could even plumbed for additional water capture.

Pattern Functionality

Crop rotation in these gardens is made simple with five annual growing areas. Starting veggie plugs and successional plantings made easy by the nearby potting benches in Zone One. Chop-and-drop mulch, beneficial insect attractant, and fertility are available in surrounding supporting perennial gardens. Chip mulch access areas when spent as walking materials, simply shoveled into the beds when chips need refreshing.

Building the Gardens

  • Conserving precious topsoil-The yellow area is a rough estimate of the access areas in these gardens. This area is also where water collects in spring and heavy rain events.

    To take advantage of the values of this space. Digging out the thin layer of sod and fertile topsoil will save imported resources needed to fill the raised beds on completion.

    Leveling the subsoil under the sod will distribute water more evenly to the gardens’ underlayers of biomass- a “Sponge” made by using a technique called “Hugelkultur,” or “Mound Culture” as well as make material stacking for the bed walls easier. A “Wicking Bed” without so much plastic.

    After bed completion, this access area is filled with chip mulch and stepping stones to further aid the area’s water-sequestration capabilities, make unwanted growth in the area a simple task to remedy, and the area will be ideal for growing Wine Cap Mushrooms, as it is watered naturally and often traveled, making observation of the fruit more likely.
  • Conserving Water- This garden system works best in conjunction with run-off from our garden workstation area in Zone One.

    Options

    Feed water into the nearby support gardens first. Perhaps a “Rain Garden” from here, gravity will move any excess flow into our prepared access areas around the raised garden system.
    Or, as mentioned, innovation in added functionality could be incorporated into the system’s “Work Table” at the center of the keyhole design, where overflow feeds into the access substrate, saturating the area. Making the design a little more complex. The creator would need to take into account the head height required to move water to that area, as well as plumbing resources and winterizing needs.
  • Work Bench- Could be as simple as a wire spool fitted with shelving underneath. Or a small patio table sourced from the consumer waste stream. Our goal is Artistic Functionality.
  • Support Garden Connectivity– These orbiting gardens’ primary function is privacy. We will add productive food and wildlife selections to these guilds. These nearby gardens, however, will receive additional focus. Plant selections that are easily harvested and processed, with chop-and-drop biomass suitable for tucking into the raised beds for mulching and fertility.

The Keyhole Garden presents the creator with an astonishing number of possibilities. A builder could use anything from urbanite rock to cordwood, field stone, or bricks to construct. With creative thinking, the aesthetic and functional possibilities are endless. The rule of thumb is “Arms Reach.” The primary goal is to maintain the ergonomic labor-saving and soil compaction-saving functions of these wonderful constructions.

Inspiration from the WWW

Keyholes On the Web
What is Urbanite Rock?
What is Hugleculture?

The Garden of Solitude

One of the Land Steward’s goals was to create a space for his daughter to be alone and enjoy the outdoors on the premises.
Here, our water sequestration effort guides our design.
Two catchment vessels strategically placed in the landscape create a system that directs collected roof water into two aesthetic features with functional value.

Function

The primary function of this garden is pleasure. A place for reading, browsing the internet, and just relaxing in a garden setting. Equipped with a couple of chairs and end tables, this space will be a comfortable respite from the daily grind.
Our first holding tank, the roof catchment, is a round stock tank converted into a planted, stocked fish pond. The second holding tank, a “Wishing Well,” could be planted and/or host a water fountain feature.
Moving water
Using a pattern much like our “Workspace” in Zone 1, we collect water from our roof and distribute it into the landscape via a “Wishing Well.” Designing the water capture in such a way that overflow moves to the “Well” for overflow, then onto pavers that guide water into the surrounding green areas. The space between paver bricks guides overflow into the surrounding gardens.

Navigate the Robogarden