Watering System for Hillside Garden

When we decided to start a garden up on our cliff we needed to develop a watering system. To get to the garden you have to cross the bridge to shore and then go up four sections of stairs. That's a long way with buckets of water. So, we went to our good friend John and he designed a custom system just for us.

First he cleared some salal plants farther up the hill. A 55 gallon blue barrel was selected for water storage. He drilled a hole near the bottom and inserted a faucet. This attaches to a hose that runs downhill, providing the water pressure needed for the spray nozzle.

To collect water he placed a large funnel in the one open hole in the top of the barrel. Water could be hauled up the hill and poured into the barrel through the funnel, but that's a lot of work. To make it easier, rainwater is collected by a large tarp suspended between the trees. One corner of the tarp is connected to the funnel and a long 2X4 keeps everything in place. We have some very strong wind storms at our cabin, but the tarp has remained in place for over two years.

If you live in an area that gets substantial rain, this might be a good system for you. If you have a roof handy, you don't even need the tarp as a collector. Rainwater is excellent for gardening. It is pure, soft and without added chemicals. And did I forget to mention, it's FREE!

Do you have any gardening tips to share? We'd love to hear them. - Margy