Rainwater Harvesting for Irrigation of Organic Vegetables

Project Overview

FNC12-877
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2012: $7,413.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2013
Region: North Central
State: Iowa
Project Coordinator:
Levi Lyle
Email
LIFE- Levi's Indigenous Fruit Enterprises

Annual Reports

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Education and Training: farmer to farmer
  • Production Systems: integrated crop and livestock systems

    Summary:

    A rainwater catchment system was implemented to irrigate organic vegetables.

    The water rainwater collection areas were two adjacent buildings. One building was a barn which is 55 feet x 60 feet on the north roof where the water was to be collected. The other building was a machine shed which is 25 feet x 72 feet on the south roof where water will be collected.

    Introduction:

    The main objective of the project was to demonstrate a water conservation method that saves costs and contributes to an economically viable vegetable farm.

    Project objectives:

    Goal 1: Rainwater Harvester project will pay for itself in savings accumulated during ten years.
    Goal 2: Rainwater Harvester project will improve the public’s identification with the farm as using sustainable practices which will result in increased sales of organic vegetables.
    Goal 3: Rainwater Harvester will lead to the public feeling increasingly interconnected with nature’s systems and the development of holistic thinking about the positive impact of humans farming sustainably.
    Goal 4: Rainwater Harvester systems will become better understood by the public.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.