The 11 Oaks Drip Irrigation System

by Chris Skellenger, Director, 11 Oaks

Bucket Kit irrigation allows precious water to be applied directly to the base of the plant so that every drop is absorbed by the roots. While some clean water must be used, a bucket kit also allows the use of 'gray water', meaning water which has been used for washing dishes or bathing or has been collected off of roofs. Manure tea is also applied through the system, eliminating dependence on chemical fertilizers.

It is of utmost importance that vegetables be grown by subsistence farmers whenever possible. Why? Because when the rains fail, people revert back to the more store-able grains for their food. Nutritional balance is compromised. We like to ask our friends how they would feel if they had to eat porridge for every meal for 10 months! Your energy level, immune system, mental alertness, attitude, would suffer greatly.... you get the idea. So, by empowering farmers and families to grow veggies year round we hope to improve their health, economic status, and quality of life.

We have developed a gravity-fed drip irrigation system based on the original 'Bucket Kit' by Mr. Richard Chapin of the Chapin Living Waters Foundation. We were inspired to play with his design by our personal experiences both in our garden and in subsistence gardens in Central America and Africa. Mr. Chapin is always challenging people to use their own ideas and originality to improve the way small farmers water their vegetables. So we did.

Our system consists of:

a five gallon bucket (for single family gardens)

100' of Toro 'blue line' trickle pipe

3 plastic Spears fittings (1436-005, 430-005, and 1401-005)

1 garden hose washer

75 – 100 Toro em-2 (DBK04) emitters... these are non-pressure compensating emitters that are very easy to pull apart and clean.

one old t-shirt for a filter across the top of the bucket

A schematic of this will be available shortly.

Our system is about 20% more expensive than the Chapin Kit, but about

half the cost of the South African kit. The benefits of our system are:

* it should last about 4 times as long as the existing designs because it uses heavier grade pipe and fittings

*the emitters are very easily cleanable because they are not 'in-line'

*the pipe bends without kinking, accommodating non linear planting areas

*because the pipe is round, not flat, it only requires about 1 foot of head pressure to get nearly uniform distribution of water along the entire length of pipe.

*and best of all, the parts are universally available- they do not need to go to Africa via freighter.

*the kit will grow veggies for a family of 3 to 4 for 20 years at a cost of about 2 dollars per year!

Hickory and Kaiser want you to know that petting and treats are nice but to really get their tails waggin'..... you need to contribute!