Irrigation

[Amish Country]

Here is a link to information about "Clay pot irrigation". The idea is an unglazed is buried in the plant bed up to the top of the container. The container is filled with water that leaches slowly out of the container and into the plant bed. A tile is kept on top of the container. MHO the top is closed off to keep the pot from becoming a breeding place for mosquitoes and other garden pests.

I have not tried this yet so I can't report on if it works well or not. The article states the system was first reportedly used in China for 2000 years.
-AC

http://www.ecocomposite.org/restoration/claypot.htm

[Amish Country]

Drip Irrigation

Below is a link to an article from the Colorado State University Extention Service: Drip Irrigation for Home Gardens
by C. Wilson and M.Bauer1 (11/05)

The article goes on to describe the increased efficiency of drip irrigation over sprinkler systems. It also infers that since the water is more slowly added to the soil less water is wasted, there is less run off because the water soaks in slowly and less chance for erosion. It is easier to control the amount of water being delivered to plant root systems. The article continues with information on how to set up, use and maintain a drip irrigations system. I have seen this system used very successfully on a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm.
- AC

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/Garden/04702.html

[Amish Country]

Re: Irrigation

A series of instructional videos on "how to garden irrigation" can be found at this site:

http://www.ehow.com/video_4427685_understand-basic-garden-irrigation-tools.html

I have not done this myself and so cannot judge the effectiveness of the videos.
- AC