Today we will be discussing one of the key components of Lynette’s mantra, Water security. One way that we do this on the farm is through water catchment systems.
TRANSCRIPT FROM VIDEO:
Hi, my name is Lindsey, and I’m here at the Urban Farm. Today we’re gonna be discussing one of the key components of Lynette’s mantra, which is Water. One way that we do this on the farm is through water catchment systems.
If you think that the world is headed in a direction that makes you a bit concerned for the future, and you’d like to be as self-sufficient and independent as possible, then you’ve come to the right place. My name is Lynette Zang. Now it’s time to go Beyond Gold and Silver.
So we have a total of four ponds here on the property. This is one of the decorative ponds that we raise goldfish in and Lily pads. So it’s more of an aesthetic pond, but one of the key things that it does do is it serves as water catchment. So whenever it rains or we have overflow of water, it can be caught in this pond. And then that allows us to use it later. So whether we’re using it for water purification in a situation where we might not have access to fresh water, or if we’re using it to water, our plants, water catchment is a great way to do this. And the amazing thing about using ponds as water catchment systems is that ponds are natural ecosystems. So you can see in this pond, we have Lily pads and other plants, and we have mosquito fish and goldfish, and it’s an entire ecosystem. And we have bubblers for the fish and oxygen, and this creates water movement. So we never have sitting water. And that’s key in any water catchment system is you never want sitting water. Otherwise you get bugs and all sorts of nasty, bacteria in things in your water system.
So the great thing about having water catchment systems that are also ecosystems is that the water is nutrient rich and it has a great purpose. So when we use the water to water our plants, it has more nutrients in it from the fish poop and all the healthy bacteria, that’s in the water and that’s really beneficial for our plants. So instead of just being water, sitting in a barrel, waiting and being stored, this is a great way to put it to use while we don’t need it. And then when we do need it, it’s a great resource.
Another great way we take care of our water when they’re in these water catchment systems is through filtration. So plants will naturally with their roots, filter the water. They grab onto some of those nutrients from the fish waste, and it lets the plants grow, but it also filters the water. So this bed, that one over there, and then the bathtub with the canna lilies all serve that purpose of filtering the water while it passes through.
I hope that seeing our water catchment system here at the farm inspires you to create a water catchment system of your own. They are great ways to grow plants, to do aquaponics and to get nutrient rich water that you can use in your garden. Water security is really important to us and it’s part of Lynette’s mantra. And this is one of the ways that we ensure that we have that water security at the property. I hope this helps you see what water catchment systems can be like.
