Catching Rain: How to Build and Use Swales
This article explains the use of swales as a key permaculture technique for passive water harvesting. It describes a swale as a level ditch on contour designed to capture rainwater, allowing it to slowly soak into the ground. This process irrigates plants on the associated berm and recharges groundwater, making it a powerful tool for managing water resources.
In many climates, water is a precious and limited resource. Swales are a simple yet powerful permaculture technique to slow, spread, and sink rainwater into the landscape, passively irrigating plants and recharging groundwater. A swale is essentially a long, level ditch dug on contour, with a corresponding berm or mound on the downhill side.
When it rains, the swale catches runoff, allowing it to slowly percolate into the soil instead of flowing away. This stored water creates a lens of moisture that can support trees and other plants planted on the berm for long periods. Proper placement on contour is crucial for them to function correctly.
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