twinturbotom
New Member
Couldn't find an irrigation section so hopefully this gets viewed!
Starting a new garden space about 30-40 yards from house (spot with most sun light). Garden will be contain 3 raised beds (8X4 with 4x4's), seating, pots with herbs, and an old well hand pump. Layout attached.. Ignore text as we were just jotting down crops and companions (probably end up planting a third of whats written).
Recently picked up some 59 Gal wine barrels to collect rain water from gutters (roughly 2 meters higher than beds). Working on the irrigation system and wanted to open up a discussion about my proposed design and ask for any input / suggestions you may have.
I intend on having 2 soaker hoses per bed (running long way between 3 rows of crops) fed by my rain water collection barrels. I may lay these on top of the soil, or bury them 6 inches deep (surrounded by a thin layer of rock to decrease clogging). Thoughts? Long term I may convert this to a drip irrigation system. I will improve soaker hose uniformity by strategically locating holes and changing sizes based on distance from source.
The key variables in the systems design at this point are the locations adn types of pumps, check valves, control valves (ball, gate, needle, &c.). Many of you here have more experience maintaining a garden of this size so I would appreciate any feedback on daily operations that may steer me in one direction over another.
I picture the hand pump being used to fill up a watering canteen / wash hands. I may or may not use it to drive flow through the beds. I may or may not add a mechanical pump. I've sourced out solar panels, battery, pump, &c. but I haven't pulled the trigger on them yet. I'll probably implement the irrigation in phases where the first phase will be gravity fed soaker hoses. Long term the soaker hoses may be replaced by drip irrigation with emitters which will probably require the pump, where the soaker hose may work with or without the pump.
I think the mechanical pump will be at point1 and the hand pump at 2 so I can potentially leave the hand pump open and drive a water fountain (nice half barrel sink I can pipe the drain into before the pump to recirculate). I may have a check valve before point 1 (not really needed) and one right before the 3 way distribution to beds (after point 2). Each bed line will have a valve to throttle flow per bed. I'll have valves at the pumps (hand and mechanical).
We're breaking ground next weekend, retaining wall perimeter, building beds, and irrigation will follow the weekend after. I'll try and get some images out as we work but I'd love to hear thoughts on what I'm thinking so far. Thanks.
Starting a new garden space about 30-40 yards from house (spot with most sun light). Garden will be contain 3 raised beds (8X4 with 4x4's), seating, pots with herbs, and an old well hand pump. Layout attached.. Ignore text as we were just jotting down crops and companions (probably end up planting a third of whats written).
Recently picked up some 59 Gal wine barrels to collect rain water from gutters (roughly 2 meters higher than beds). Working on the irrigation system and wanted to open up a discussion about my proposed design and ask for any input / suggestions you may have.
I intend on having 2 soaker hoses per bed (running long way between 3 rows of crops) fed by my rain water collection barrels. I may lay these on top of the soil, or bury them 6 inches deep (surrounded by a thin layer of rock to decrease clogging). Thoughts? Long term I may convert this to a drip irrigation system. I will improve soaker hose uniformity by strategically locating holes and changing sizes based on distance from source.
The key variables in the systems design at this point are the locations adn types of pumps, check valves, control valves (ball, gate, needle, &c.). Many of you here have more experience maintaining a garden of this size so I would appreciate any feedback on daily operations that may steer me in one direction over another.
I picture the hand pump being used to fill up a watering canteen / wash hands. I may or may not use it to drive flow through the beds. I may or may not add a mechanical pump. I've sourced out solar panels, battery, pump, &c. but I haven't pulled the trigger on them yet. I'll probably implement the irrigation in phases where the first phase will be gravity fed soaker hoses. Long term the soaker hoses may be replaced by drip irrigation with emitters which will probably require the pump, where the soaker hose may work with or without the pump.
I think the mechanical pump will be at point1 and the hand pump at 2 so I can potentially leave the hand pump open and drive a water fountain (nice half barrel sink I can pipe the drain into before the pump to recirculate). I may have a check valve before point 1 (not really needed) and one right before the 3 way distribution to beds (after point 2). Each bed line will have a valve to throttle flow per bed. I'll have valves at the pumps (hand and mechanical).
We're breaking ground next weekend, retaining wall perimeter, building beds, and irrigation will follow the weekend after. I'll try and get some images out as we work but I'd love to hear thoughts on what I'm thinking so far. Thanks.
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