Workshop Materials
Core Hands-on Earthworks- & Greywater-Workshop Equipment, Materials, & Resources:
Workshop participants are strongly encouraged to acquire the following informational resources in advance. Purchasing directly from the authors will channel the most resources back into their regenerative-design projects, including future editions of these same resources.
- Brad’s Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands & Beyond, Volume 1 (for all workshops)
- Brad’s Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands & Beyond, Volume 2 (for all workshops)
- Art Ludwig’s Create an Oasis with Greywater (for greywater workshops only)
- Art Ludwig’s Laundry to Landscape DVD (for greywater workshops only)
Advance scheduling of utility marking (often 811 is the number to call to arrange for this free service).
If a greywater system is to be included, a local source of all the plumbing materials and supplies will be needed & advance planning will be required to obtain the parts (some will need to be special ordered) in advance of the workshop. Your list of parts and materials will be created through conversation with Brad.
Muffin tin, shower-head-style watering can, and clear measuring cup or glass.
At least one tool per participant—pointed shovels (flat shovels are not good for digging), hard rakes (not leaf rakes), pick axes, et cetera.
Materials to construct bunyip water levels (see instructions at www.harvestingrainwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/Bunyip-Water-Levels-and-A-Frame-Levels-Appendix-2.pdf for a list of what is needed and how to make them). Brad usually suggests one bunyip per 10 participants. It might work best to make them ahead of time, so as not to lose time during the actual workshop.
Organic mulch (such as wood chips, bark, etc)—enough for a thick layer (4+ inches) in the bottoms of the basins. Use light mulch such as straw for ephemeral/annual plantings such as vegetable plants, and woody mulch for woody perennial plantings.
Variety of multi-use native plantings (or food-bearing exotics such as fruit trees if greywater harvesting is a component of the system) to plant within/near the basins—OR if you have a local source of plants, you can choose which ones to use after consulting with Brad. Download sample plant list for Tucson at: www.harvestingrainwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/Rainwater-Harvesting-for-Drylands-and-Beyond-Volume-1-Appendix-4.pdf.
Local irrigation-demand estimates for the various plants. Typically this can be acquired from your local agricultural-extension agent.
Depending on the installation: Enough angular rocks 8-20″ in diameter to line only the edges—not the bottoms—of the basin(s). Note that smooth river rocks do not work well.
Handouts available at:
Rainwater harvesting handouts