Water Harvesting in Depth

Understanding Landscapes and Implementing Rainwater, Grey Water, and Many Other Water Harvesting Systems

Your Online Resource for Self-Sufficiency

[Video coming soon]

Join Permaculture Designers Don Titmus & Greg Peterson for an eye-opening course delving into the benefits and various methods of water harvesting as a way to improve your yard and community. Together they bring decades of experience in reading landscapes and implementing rainwater, greywater and many other water harvesting systems.

Rather than delivering all this information in one overwhelming session, we've broken it up over six classes so you can absorb and implement as you go.

Meet Your Instructors

Greg Peterson — Urban Farmer and Permaculture Educator

Greg is the founder of The Urban Farm in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, which serves as both his home and classroom. For more than thirty years, Greg has studied and taught regenerative agriculture practices at Arizona State University and permaculture design courses through Urban Farm U. Greg co-founded the Phoenix Permaculture Guild in 2003 and has designed his property to utilize as many water resources as possible — capturing water from sources you wouldn't think would be viable.

Don Titmus — Permaculture Designer and Educator

Don specializes in horticulture and permaculture design, which he began studying in the mid-1970s. Initially studying horticulture as an apprentice in London, he moved to Phoenix and specialized in xeriscape gardening before discovering permaculture. Don co-founded the Phoenix Permaculture Guild in 2003 and has been teaching permaculture design courses ever since, teaching from his Bee Oasis Learning Living Center.

What You Will Learn:

Through six modules, you will understand the importance of water harvesting combined with aspects of permaculture, various harvesting methods, real examples of harvesting systems from Don and Greg's properties, and the basics of earthworks design transitioning from micro to macro levels. By the end of the course you will walk away knowing the right steps to be on your way to water self-sufficiency.

The 6 Classes:

01 — Introduction to Water Harvesting

By the end of this module, you will be thinking like a permaculturist — knowing where the optimal locations are in your space for collecting water. We cover the basics of water harvesting, various types of collection systems, water harvesting ROI, and in-depth details on installation methods for a water harvesting cistern.

02 — A Tour of The Bee Oasis and Don's Water Harvesting Systems

The layout of The Bee Oasis incorporates many different plants that support a bee's ecosystem — only possible through harvesting the rain! This module includes:

• Roof runoff and guttering
• Basic structure of harvesting from an urban building
• Storing rainwater in the earth with micro basins
• Implementation of 55 gallon storage drums & large water tanks
• Basic structure of cisterns and proper site placement
• A hybrid French drain water relocation system able to run water uphill

03 — Harvesting Water in Urban Landscapes

Having the ability to harvest all the water that falls on your property is the ultimate goal. Big takeaways from this module include understanding urban watersheds, learning how to conduct a sector analysis of your property, and integrating permaculture design through harvesting strategies. Features a live Q&A intermission with Don!

04 — Permaculture Hacks, Tips, and Tricks

Back at The Bee Oasis with Don, who shares a multitude of creative, out-of-the-box permaculture hacks. There is no "one size fits all" solution — Don shares concepts around re-inventing, re-purposing, keeping it low-tech, and mimicking nature. Highlights include:

• Wicking bed concepts for planters
• Chlorine filters in an irrigation system
• Creating an outdoor shower
• The Bucket Brigade and a Mosquito Trap
• BONUS: Non-water-harvesting permaculture techniques like a composting toilet, chicken tractor, and cycling a garden

05 — Water Harvesting Tour at The Urban Farm

Greg Peterson gives a tour of The Urban Farm, exploring the water harvesting components on his property. Topics include:

• Grey water applications both indoor and outdoor
• The epic tale of two rainwater harvesting systems — the expensive and the effective
• The benefits of an outdoor shower
• The best place to store your collected water

06 — Basics of Earthworks and Landforms

A final exploration of the importance of understanding natural ecosystem flows on a macro level. Perfect for water harvesting projects on a larger scale — farms, ranches, or large properties. Topics include:

• Broad-scale/acreage methods
• Applying micro to macro methods
• Understanding topography of the land
• Types of machinery and equipment
• Earthworks and landforms strategies
• Storing water in soil and containers
• In-depth evaluation of several examples

Does Harvesting Water Really Make a Difference? Why Now is More Important Than Ever...

Take Advantage of Free Resources

Our water resources are overallocated and as our population grows, this puts our water sources at further risk. Water harvesting reduces expense by tapping into a free resource and can be a sustainable water supply strategy for communities that can't access acceptable water sources.

Grow Healthier Gardens and Landscapes

Treated municipal water usually contains fluorides, chlorines, sodium, and potassium which disrupts the balance of minerals and nutrients in the soil. Supplying your garden with captured water sources means you're using a water source that won't be detrimental to your plants' health.

Inspire Your Community

Water harvesting techniques can educate you and your community on recognizing household water usage and inspire others to conserve. The possibilities are endless!

Captured Water Enables Self-Sufficiency

An inch of rain that falls on 1,000 square feet of roof can yield roughly 600 gallons of water! Don and Greg, who live in the Sonoran Desert (only ~7" of annual precipitation), are collecting anywhere from 8,000 to 34,000 gallons per year — that's more than a 2-year water supply for your garden, and it's free! Many cities also offer water harvesting rebate or voucher programs.

Who is Water Harvesting For?

• Those that want to learn how to be more self-sufficient by enabling access to an independent water source
• Those seeking alternative ways to reduce their water and energy bills, especially during peak demand
• Those who want to create a positive environmental impact by reducing the amount of water treated and pumped to their home
• Those that want a clean source of water for plants and landscapes free from fluoride, sodium, and chlorine
• Those looking to make a difference in their pocketbook and community by reducing long-term municipal water development needs
• Those who want to reduce contaminated storm water runoff to nearby rivers, streams, and groundwater sources
• Those who wish to take advantage of untapped resources in their community instead of being tethered to a municipal water system

What You Get:

• Six 1 to 1.5-hour online water harvesting classes ($397 value) — prerecorded and always available at your leisure
• Access to the prerequisite course 100: Introduction to Permaculture ($67 value) — included free with enrollment
• Worksheets and handouts for each class ($47 value)
• Access to the private, member-only Urban Farm Facebook group — get your questions answered by water harvesting experts and feel supported and inspired
• Tons of extra content and resources — bonus videos, DIY pages, and lists of the best books, websites, and organizations

Plus, these FREE Bonuses:

• Bonus Class: Ways to Water Your Garden ($47 value) — Greg's favorite ways to water simply and inexpensively
• Bonus Class: Drip Tape Step-By-Step ($47 value) — everything you need to know about drip tape and why it's a game-changer
• Bonus Class: Humanure ($47 value) — Don's hack on adding sustainability to your garden
• Bonus Class: Sheet Mulching ($47 value) — a smart way to mulch using free resources
• Step-by-step cistern installation instructions ($47 value) — learn how to install your own cistern and start harvesting like a pro
• 10 Bonus Classes from the Water Harvesting Summit ($297 value) — topics include efficient irrigation systems, greywater, subsurface irrigation, and more. Includes 2 high-level classes Brad Lancaster recorded exclusively for Urban Farm U.
• Additional links and resources for harvesting barrels, tanks, and grey water systems

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time will this course take?

Six modules of 1 to 1.5 hours each, plus extra content you can work through at your own pace. Everything is pre-recorded and will always be there.

Do I need permaculture experience?

No — anyone with little-to-no experience can take this course and begin their water harvesting journey by the end of the first module. The prerequisite course 100: Introduction to Permaculture is included free when you enroll.

How much support will be available to me?

In addition to the course modules, you can reach out to your fellow Urban Farm U community via the private member-only Facebook group. We also offer strategically scheduled Q&A sessions covering water harvesting specifically.

Get smart with your resources! Water is precious — save it.
Don't wait... enrollment period is limited.