Early Autumn Permaculture Update

After an amazingly long summer it feels that autumn is finally here. I wore my winter wetsuit surfing yesterday for the first time since October. I’ve put new fire bricks in the wood burner and it looks like this will be the week to light it.

After a significant dry spell, we have had 100+ mm of rain in the last 4 days. As a result of that we have an unexpected pond on our property.

Screen shot 2015-04-12 at 10.47.16 AM

Truth be told, it is not unexpected, just not in the space planned for it.

Screen shot 2015-04-12 at 10.47.43 AM

We have been building a swale in combination with a rubble road and a raised area to plant avocado trees.

Screen shot 2015-04-12 at 10.47.51 AM

But at the moment the pond is in the excavated area for the rubble road and not behind the swale.

Screen shot 2015-04-12 at 10.48.02 AM

Just for fun I started digging the pond today. Under about 250 mm of topsoil is a clay pan.

Screen shot 2015-04-12 at 10.48.11 AM

Ultimately we can line the walls of the pond with the clay so it holds water longer.

Screen shot 2015-04-12 at 10.48.20 AM

 But it’s all good. The ducks love the temporary pond, and why spoil their fun.

Screen shot 2015-04-12 at 10.48.29 AM

Peace, Estwing