Garden Coach Tests Permaculture Swales in Rainstorm, Reveals Successes and Minor Setbacks

In a recent online video, garden coach Hygge Haven put her permaculture swales and French drains to the ultimate test during a heavy rainstorm, demonstrating their effectiveness in managing rainwater runoff. The video, titled "Do Swales Actually Work? Let's Test It in the Rain," shows Haven navigating her garden, observing the water flow around various fruit trees and a newly rebuilt chicken coop. "Most of the water is flowing exactly how I planned," Haven stated in the video, expressing satisfaction with the overall performance of her permaculture systems. She highlighted how the swales around her apple, plum, and fig trees successfully channeled water, preventing puddling and erosion. One particular swale, initially too short, was extended and now effectively redirects water away from a planting bed. However, the assessment wasn't without its challenges. Haven identified a specific area near her chicken coop where water was pooling, indicating a minor drainage issue. "That is not good," she noted, pointing to the standing water. "I'm going to have to build this up a little more, dig this out just a little bit to get this water to drain through this way or to drain out that way." This observation provides a candid look at the ongoing adjustments often required in permaculture design. The video serves as a practical guide for gardeners interested in sustainable water management, offering real-world insights into the benefits and occasional refinements needed for such systems. Haven concluded by inviting viewers dealing with flooding issues or looking to learn new gardening techniques to follow her page.

The Cool Down

one month ago

Gardener shares video after building clever solution to backyard drainage issue…

One gardener shared a TikTok video demonstrating how effective swale drainage systems are at managing heavy rainflow.