Permaculture is a nature-based design system that regenerates the land and its ecosystem while also providing for human, wildlife and community needs. Through the use of Permaculture's intelligent design principles, healthy relationships are fostered between plants, climate, land, wildlife and humans, and each relationship in the system nurtures and sustains each other and the … [Read more...]
Can greywater and blackwater be recycled in New Mexico?
Reuse of rainwater, greywater and blackwater is legal in New Mexico. In nature, water is used as many times as possible before leaving the landscape as groundwater or evaporation. We can utilize this same conservationist approach to maximize potential water use. What is greywater? Greywater is water that has been used in a home and comes from bathroom sinks, shower, … [Read more...]
How can I spot destructive erosion on my property?
The long term effects of erosion can be very devastating, including the loss of trees and landscape, loss of real property and a decrease in property value, depletion of groundwater, minimal groundwater recharge, sediment deposition in larger water systems, flooding damage, loss of wildlife habitat and loss of biodiversity. Things to look for on your own property: Watch where … [Read more...]
What is active rainwater harvesting?
Rainwater harvesting is the gathering and accumulation of rainwater. It can be either active or passive. Active rainwater harvesting is where rainwater is stored for use at a later date. Rainwater can be stored in above ground or underground cisterns, ponds or other storage receptacles. Rainwater can be used in many ways once it has been stored, i.e. for irrigation, fountains, ponds, animals, … [Read more...]
How much rainwater can I collect from my roof?
Even though we live in the arid Southwest, Santa Fe receives an average of 14.2 inches over 66 days of rain each year. Surprisingly, a single quarter acre of land in the city can harvest over 100,000 gallons of water annually! How can you calculate the amount you can harvest from your roof? Read on... Calculating Rainfall for Harvesting 1) Using a measuring tape, measure your roof from one … [Read more...]
How can I use passive rainwater harvesting in my landscaping?
Passive water harvesting is where rainwater is stored on the site where it falls, and is infiltrated into the ground for landscapes and groundwater recharge. Passive water harvesting means not letting runoff water leave a specific site. Once it is set up, costs and maintenance are minimal. Here are some natural structures to incorporate into your landscaping design that can help direct … [Read more...]
What is a sustainable landscape?
Sustainable landsites are landscapes that can grow and thrive without the constant intervention of human resources. Most take a good amount of time to fully establish, and require a large amount of resources to get started. In the high desert where soil is extremely fragile and water is limited, design is the most critical factor. Sustainable landscapes eventually provide a … [Read more...]
How much rainfall does Santa Fe receive in a year?
Surprisingly, over 5.43 billion gallons of water fall within the city limits of Santa Fe each year! We may live in the high desert with seemingly little water available, but we actually have an abundance – we simply need to harvest it efficiently. Rainwater harvesting can provide additional beauty and lushness to our gardens – along with increasing groundwater recharge, controlling erosion, and … [Read more...]