https://www.facebook.com/greenyatra/photos/a.132484886801694.34454.126587470724769/430112450372268/?type=1&theater

This system uses rainwater to flush toilets, wash clothes, wash hands and irrigate. Very simple and proven in Australia for decades. We can design and install these systems here in the Rogue Valley with no problem. Next level water harvesting.

We recently installed a food forest in the entry to Backyard Organics/Occupy Organics parking area.

This included plums, apples, cherries, mulberry, figs, olives, almonds, chestnuts, currants, gooseberries and many perennials and flowers to attract beneficial insects and butterflies. Its grown so much already in a month. I’ll post updated photos to show the progress.

This will be a demonstration site to show what is possible in a small space.

Update as of October 10th: The food forest has been a huge success on so many levels. We have been seeing many migratory birds stopping by to eat the seeds. The plants have doubled and tripled in size and its been a great example of permaculture design for the customers. We’ve had some small fruits to harvest like goumis, strawberries and service berries.

Some updated images:

Birds of Paradise – N fixer

One of the American chestnut trees is 6′ tall now the other is still small. The multi-functional hedgerow along the road is getting large as well.

Fruit tree guilds

Looking forward to next spring and harvesting the bounty!

We had a chance to visit a greenhouse that we designed and constructed a couple years back. The greenhouse was designed to grow vegetables throughout the winter and improve production of summer crops like tomatoes and peppers. In the end of February there was an abundance of greens and even a tomato plant that overwintered with no supplemental heat.

60×25 year round production greenhouse

There are lots of options for creating productive multi-layered systems within greenhouses. Contact us for more information.

Hi Folks,

Happy to announce we have a line of Bushman rainwater harvest tanks available in the Rogue Valley. These tanks are drinking water quality and could be used in an emergency or for watering your garden and landscape. Rainwater grows more healthy plants too. Let’s get ahead of a potential drought next year and collect the precious rain falling on your roof. We have 60-5000 gallon sizes available.

Call for a free rainwater design consultation. Also see www.roguewatersolutions.com

Bushman water tanks

All sizes available

The potential to create an orchard that is self-fertile provides 70 varieties of fruits and vegetables is available to us now. This design model creates an edible perennial ecosystem rather than an organic mono-culture. Check out the video!

Sacred Earth Design has become a Southern Oregon distributor for Bushman rainwater harvesting tanks, first flush diverters and tank accessories. We can help you design and install a rainwater system to fit your needs from 60 gallons to 5000 gallons. Please call for a quote and more details about our design and installation

865 Gallon rain tank

services.

Bushman website

We did a lawn removal project at our house just to show how easy and productive a small front yard garden can be.

Finished garden before planting

Removing the lawn, with some friends, it took a few hours

Over the summer we had several rounds of planting starting with seeding lettuce and greens while we started the tomatoes, peppers, winter squash, and eggplants in the garage under grow lights. We planted them out in May.

Summer squash growing with tomatoes and corn

We also planted genovese basil and tulsi basil. Lots of pesto came from a small block of basil plants. We also grew several types of chili peppers for salsa, onions and tomatoes. So much food!

The prize of the garden in my view was the Hopi Blue Corn, not much for eating but enough to plant out a large patch for next year.

Seed corn for next season

Three types of onions grown from seed

Much gratitude to all the friends who helped prepare, plant, harvest and enjoy this amazing food. I am promoting the lawn removal process, we have a subsidy now in Ashland .75c a sq ft. The fall is a great time for sheet mulching, makes it so easy. Contact me for more details.

In Ashland, Oregon its mid-July and the temperature has been in the high 90’s. Many people have expensive landscapes that require a lot of water to stay alive in this heat. The amount of water a property uses can increase by 10 times in the summer for irrigation and extra showers.

There are several different strategies to offset the  high demand for summer water. We are beginning to see a demand from homeowners to use their washing machine water for landscape irrigation during the hot spring summer and fall months. A rainwater harvesting design can also help store water in the soil, tanks and ponds for use in the dry months. Call us for more information, 541-488-0248

http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140616/NEWS02/406160302

Sacred Earth Design will replace your lawn with a water efficient, beautiful and productive landscape. Call for more information.

http://www.oregon.gov/OWRD/Pages/wr/drought.aspx#Current_Conditions_in_Oregon

Regional Drought Monitor

Sacred Earth Design has many methods for conserving, capturing, and storing water on the landscape. We are also a licensed landscape irrigation contractor.