I read about the negev desert in brad lancaster’s book “rainwater harvesting for drylands and beyond” – very inspiring since I live in a mediterranian climate on the central coast of california.

I’m inspired to build swales and be a steward to the watershed, but am wondering in areas where there is little to no runoff, they may not be worth the energy.. still something I am looking into. Example, from what I’m gathering, sandy soils may not be worth the effort, but clay soils would be.

As the opportunities that are available to me are in suburbia or small (1acre-ish) lots, there is not much room for earthworks, and so I find myself choosing between using irrigation to increase yields in the small space and simplifying and planting climate adapted or drought tolerant perennials.

does anyone here (incluidng bill) have an opinion on drip irrigation? it is a good way to conserve moisture, but is it sustainable? I am reading how they do recycle drip tubing now, but can that plastic be recycled back into more drip or is it of lesser quality? I’ve also heard about bio plastics that can be made to be robust, but not sure of the energy required to process it.

So my feeling is that vegetables and most water intensive plants be done in the green belt outside of a town, where there is land to build dams/swales or there are rivers to utilize. while perennials can be planted all over the city (and outside as well), utilizing roof gutters to flow into deeply mulched basins.

Ahh sustainability questions… what a journey it will be.

Thoughts?