It has been really dry, and I am so grateful that we have irrigation. There are three main types of irrigation that we use in the gardens.
- Drip Irrigation: Drip irrigation uses tubing with built-in drip emitters every 6 inches. All you have to do is run a drip-line down the row that you want to water and it will slowly apply water to the base of the plant. Drip irrigation is very efficient in its use of water and we use it with crops like tomatoes where we don't want to get the leaves wet due to the risk of disease.
- Overhead micro-sprinklers: Micro-sprinklers put out a fine spray of water and are used to help keep the top part of the soil moist and the plants cool. This is particularly helpful when growing things like lettuce in the heat.
- Overhead impact sprinklers: These are your typical lawn sprinklers and put out a lot of water in a short amount of time. We use this when we need to soak the soil, especially after setting out transplants.
Our goal is to wisely use technology in a way that allows us to grow highly nutritious food on a small scale for local markets. I am grateful for the technology that enables us to water your vegetables, even when it doesn't rain!
