The Permaculture Earthworks Handbook: How to Design and Build Swales, Dams, Ponds, and other Water Harvesting Systems

I own a few acres of land that receives copious amounts of rains. Yet, in the summers, ground water runs dry in spite of the fact that the place sits close to a lake. I was tempted to start building earthworks to capture rainwater, but I thought that I would educate myself about the subject before trying anything.I was hesitant to buy this book after reading one of the reviews, but I am so glad that I did. I first read the kindle version and I just ordered the paperback version as the book contains some excellent illustrations.When I started reading the book I noticed that the first couple of chapters gave some general background and history that I thought I would skip. However, when I started reading those I realized how important those chapters were in setting the context. The author then went on to cover the fundamentals of water movement and hydrology. In my opinion these are really important to understand before starting to design swales or other earthworks. The subsequent chapters then become more specific on design, planning and execution. I found myself re-reading some of the chapters to make sure that I had not missed anything important. If you are going to build swales, ponds, dams or other earthworks or hire someone who will build those for you, the knowledge contained in this book is essential to know. Short of attending a permaculture earthworks workshop, this is the best knowledge you will get sitting on your couch!

This is a great source of deep education about water hydrology, capture, swale development and all things earthworks, written in a way a lay person can grasp and implement. I had been seeking this information for sometime, and the book exceeded my hopes. It really is the blueprint for our land development. I highly recommend it. Kudos to the author.

Love the cover. It's very technical, well written, and organized. I don't expect to become an expert, but I feel better informed and gives me a more realistic view about what is possible in my backyard. I just wish it was in color. I love beautiful illustrations. I give you 4.5 points and will still keep the book.

Excellent book on permaculture earthworks construction. Thank you Mr. Barnes. Most books on permaculture limit the information that's presented in this book. Gives you a true sense of what it takes to implement physical aspects of permaculture design. Book provides supporting website with useful calculators to assist in sitework planning.

Great coverage of this design strategy including implementing its application on a landscape.

Amazing resource! This handy guide gives everything you need to know about basic hydrology and how to plan your permaculture earthworks projects.

well, it is the opposite of what i want. I WANT to figure out how to channel surface water AWAY from my property. This book tells you how to attract water to your property--as in making a pond, or irrigating a garden/farm with rain runoff. Not quite what i expected. I wanted to learn how to make drainage swales to take water away, but they show you how to make swales to capture water and let it soak in. Just fyi.

Very easy read, simple to follow ideas and techniques and I’m stupid

You'll find very effective ways of building your water systems in this book. But I would say it's not for people who do their first dig or earthworks. The warnings are clear and well argued. There is something however about how earth can move and shift that needs experience. Brilliant book but start with smaller projects and build up from there. OR get an expert in and work together. This book will give you sufficient knowledge to judge what's going on in a very good way.

Really well written!A must read for anyone with water management intention. It cover a lot of permaculture water strategy... in not to technical maner in the main book, but go over great details in the annexes.

This book is full of knowledge for those who wish to undertake large projects on hills or mountainsides. And the movement of water in the landscape. For those who are working on flat or slightly raised ground it offers some good advice but it is not as relevant .

This ist another book. Wrong item. Something about nature photography.

Needed more drawings of the material written