Well, I apologize, it's been awhile since I've posted, but not really, because we've been busy! Our work for the Resource Conservation Districts continues along the Russian River and it's tributaries, where we are removing invasive/non-native plants and replacing them with native riparian plants (thanks to all the nurseries who are growing these babies for us).

This week we have been given the opportunity to redirect water flow, no small task. The house we're working on was built under some massive Redwoods, on the downslope. Since the 1950's (when the home was built) the redwoods have grown (270-300 ft tall) and the root system is beginning to affect the foundation. Water runs directly down the trees into a natural basin next to the home. We will dig out around the foundation and add a waterproofing membrane, we will then begin to create our swale.

The crew is busy installing a 72 square foot live roof, with a water catchment system. We will be using lava rock for drainage, Sedums, Strawberries and Native Grasses for planting material. Our water catchment system was created using some local reused wine barrels, PVC and gravity. We directed the water off the roof into the first wine barrel which acts as a sediment tank, the overflow from this barrel enters into another barrel which has been plumbed for a gravity fed drip system that will irrigate a restoration planting area.