119: Nate Downey on Water Harvesting.
Simple concepts using nature’s own energy to positively impact our gardens..
Author of the recent award-winning book, “Harvest the Rain,” published in 2010 by Sunstone Press, Nate brings an extensive background to his current work and practice as a designer, “landscape-changer,” and forward-looking writer. For over a decade, Nate has spoken, taught, and penned numerous columns, guides, and publications extending permaculture practices in vitally important ways. At home, in our backyards, in the workplace, regionally, nationally, and internationally, Nate’s work addresses what he calls “changescapes,” “permapatterns,” and “permaDesign” — providing practical and visionary ways to be productive and add value to our lives, homes, communities, and environment.
Nate’s PermaDesign firm believes decisions that “green” our daily lives should add beauty, comfort, and value to our most-important investments. While impacting our world at home, we can all positively affect the environment upon which we depend. Each of us can make a difference by the way we see and the way we act.
IN THIS PODCAST: Nate shares his story with Greg and they talk about how a Permaculture Design Course with Bill Mollison changed his life path. Together they consider “permaculture magic” and how that happens a lot in the world of permaculture. And Nate shares a lot of information about water harvesting methods and how they can be of use in a variety of climates.
Listen in and Learn about:
- How Getting laid off from a job gave him a chance to take a permaculture design course
- How he started a landscaping business that used some permaculture concepts
- How he then moved into a design business so that he could
- How a phone call that he thought might be a crank call was actually a invitation to write a book
- The permaculture magic that happens in the world of permaculture
- Nature flow and how to direct the energy of nature
- How to consider the forces of nature as tools in your own space
- An in depth consideration of cisterns
- How to harvest water to help you and your community
- How water affects us in our own space as well and running down into the rivers and lakes
- More information about swales and how they work to help slow water down
- The benefits of many different water storage methods
Books Nate recommends:
Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual
A Sand County Almanac (Outdoor Essays & Reflections)
Nate’s Book and other writings:
Harvest the Rain, How to Enrich Your Life by seeing Every Storm as a Resource
Permaculture in Practice
How to get a hold of Nate (and ask for a signed book):
Nate is also speaking at the annual conference of Association of Professional Landscape Designers on Friday September 16, 2016. His topic is “The Power and Beauty of Water Harvesting”
*Disclosure:
Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
