Good Soil is one of the BEST water-saving techniques.

• Soil should be like a soft sponge, full of good fungi, or what is called humus. Like a sponge, it can hold and retain water.
• Good soft soil also allows for more penetration of rainwater, and allows for more penetration of rainwater, and it allows plant roots to grow much longer, and therefore able to reach down to lower sources of water.
  Surface Area: think edges. Edges of leaves, and edges of the beds you plant in. The more edges, the more dew is collected in the area you want it, the moisture is kept in the air, which in turn attracts more dew. Mulch also does things.
• Plants with roots of different sizes. Long tap roots can reach water, this will create a wicking effect, and allows the water to go up and be made available to plants with shallow roots.
  Store rainwater in the ground - ponds, swales, allow it to meander slowly through the property. Slow water down! Especially on slopes.
• Don't water too often (not every day, except when small). Allow roots of plants to search for water sometimes.

How to make a natural pool/pond with no money

• Observe where water naturally runs and collects.
• Dig a hole, preferably in clay soil
• If you don't have clay, you can try using pig or duck poop to seal. Best if the pig is left in the wallow to roll around and stomp about.
• Let it fill with water, you can also direct rainwater from rooftops to go into the pond
• Add a variety of water plants - Lillies, Iris, papyrus, lotus. The plants are very important - they will make sure the water is oxygenated through capillary action of the roots.
• Pod is best in partial shade, but the sun is ok too, just let plants cover about 2/3rds of the pool. In partial shade, plant cover can be 1/3rd.
• Add fish to eat mosquitos.
• Enjoy - You will over time see it come more and more to life as different creatures come to enjoy it like birds, frogs and dragon flies.

Action Steps

1. This is part of a 8-part series. Read Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 /// Part 8

2. Can you help us grow? Learn about Growing Hope: Mission 2022

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4. Start your own veggie patch or home garden.