| Water is arguably our most precious resource. All | | | | prevents soil erosion. |
| living things need water to survive. But we don't just | | | | 3. Use drip irrigation - preferably under the mulch or |
| want our productive organic food gardens to survive, | | | | soil surface. There are purpose made recycled hoses |
| we want them to thrive! And a growing plant uses a | | | | available now that are perfect for the job. You can |
| lot more water than one that is just surviving. Every | | | | save up to 90% by using drip irrigation rather than a |
| part of the plant growing process uses water. | | | | sprinkler. |
| When plants start to become dehydrated they stop | | | | 4. Only water when it is needed and as much as is |
| photosynthesising, close their stomata, stop taking in | | | | needed. If you're not sure, try the finger test. Yes - |
| nutrients and stop growing. It can take a few days | | | | poke your finger into the soil to see if it is moist or |
| for some plants to recover even if there has been | | | | dry. Make sure the water penetrates as deep as the |
| no tissue damage. So it is vitally important not to let | | | | roots, but it's a waste to water any deeper than |
| your plants become dehydrated (just like yourself). | | | | that. |
| Not enough water can kill or stunt your plants. | | | | 5. If you live where summers are really hot, plant |
| Sometimes mild water stress can be a good thing, as | | | | crops under partial shade. It could be shade from a |
| it encourages plants to send their roots down deeper | | | | pergola or tall plants such as sweet corn. |
| into the soil, making them more drought tolerant. The | | | | These are simple methods to reduce your water |
| aim is to use as little water as possible without | | | | consumption. You could also consider collecting your |
| causing stress. | | | | own water. If we all had rain-water tanks attached |
| Ways to use less water | | | | to our houses it would not only give us clean, free |
| 1. Create soils that are made up of humus and | | | | water, but would reduce the amount of water that |
| organic matter. These soils can hold lots of water | | | | ends up in our storm water drains. It is also much |
| and plants can easily draw it up. It has great | | | | better for food gardens as mains water is often high |
| water-holding capacity as well as having a high | | | | in salts, chlorine and fluoride. |
| nutrient content. | | | | Re-use of "grey" water is also another way to |
| 2. Mulch the soil surface. This reduces evaporation, | | | | reduce how much water we consume. It can be |
| keeping the underlying soil moist for longer. Any | | | | used on lawns and other plants in the garden that |
| mulch is better than no mulch, even if it's underfelt | | | | are not for food production. |
| (the older kinds are safer) or newspaper. This also | | | | |