The garden is on drip tape and automatic timer. Each row has one or two water lines commercial grade drip tapes running the length of the row. Each line has a valve that can be used to reduce or shut off the water flow. Each row is set to water automatically according to a preset schedule. We adjust the schedule with the season.
Three kinds of watering — drip tape, hose, watering can.
1) Mature plants are watered using the drip tape — this is on automatic timer. No intervention is required except to watch for problems (more below).
2) Newly planted seeds and seedlings require gentle hand watering every day to help them develop. They’re marked with red flags. Watering cans may be best for these.
3) Plants in pots and plants outside the fence need to be hand watered since that’s their only source of water. Use a hose or watering can for these.
Hoses & Moisture Meter
1. There are two faucets for regular hoses. The faucets are located on the west side of the garden.
2. After using a hose, please coil it near the faucet, taking care not to kink it.
3. Use the green Moisture Meter probe to measure the moisture in the soil before assuming a plants needs extra water.
Hand watering seeds and seedlings:
1) Look for red flags and any signs telling you what is there and exactly where the seeds and seedlings are.
2) The Daily Reports will also alert you when new seeds and seedlings are planted by other teams.
3) Water them very gently to nurture them. The watering cans are the gentlest method.
Watch for problems with the drip tape:
1) Be on the lookout for problems with the automatic watering — leaks, water pooling in the paths, appearance of too much or too little watering.
2.) If water is leaking into a path, shore up the berm on that side of the row.
3) If the drip tape develops a tear, repair it using the special compression connectors at the workbench.
4) If you see anything that raises concerns, please include it in your Daily Report.
In the event of a major leak or other disaster:
1) The main on-off valve IN the garden is below the brass faucet with the red handle at the west end of the garden. To shut off the water, dig down 2″, remove a piece of plywood, remove the green cap, and turn the valve in the hole to the right perpendicular to the pipe,
2) The main on-off valve TO the garden is located outside the garden fence at the southwest end. To shut off the water, remove the green cap, and turn off the valve in the hole to the right, perpendicular to the pipe.
Repairing Leaks in Drip Tape
Here is an excellent video on repairing leaks in drip tape:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkt552u8Eq4
The connectors are in the irrigation box in the lower left cabinet in Garden 1.
– If you can cover the leak with dirt and it doesn’t wash through, that is adequate (redirecting the water).
– If the spray is strong enough to wash away the soil, it needs a connector repair.
– Tapes with 3 connectors should be replaced at refurbishing time.
Diagram of our Irrigation System
Here is a diagram of our irrigation system prepared in May 2016 by our irrigation specialist Mark Devlin.
Backyard Produce Project 