Current Watering System for Raised Bed at the Garland Community Garden:  a five-gallon bucket of water attached by flexible tubing to four ollas buried in the bed.

Underground watering systems that water the roots of the plants conserve water and assist forgetful or busy gardeners in keeping their gardens growing.  Some estimate this method of underground watering uses up to 50% less water than the traditional top down methods.

Members of Loving Garland Green may install 55 gallon barrels for each raised bed.  The barrels will have lids to prevent evaporation and to prevent mosquito breeding.  Instead of watering our beds, we will "water" the barrels--perhaps every 10 days or so.  This will conserve water and will enable us to keep track of how much water is actually needed.

The 55 gallon barrel will serve as the resevoir for underground ollas buried in the garden.  The ollas are connected by flexible tubing which in turn is connected to the resevoir. Ollas are an ancient manual watering system whereby unglazed clay pots with lids are filled with water, buried in the garden, and then manually replenished when the pot is dry. Roots of the plants seek the water as it seeps through the sides of the pot.