Subsurface garden watering by means of unglazed clay pots has been used for thousands of years by a number of civilizations to conserve water. This hands-on session will show how to construct “ollas” (Spanish for “pots”) out of common terra cotta clay pots, and build a gravity-fed irrigation system which can greatly reduce the amount of water and watering labor used in the garden. Participants will make an olla which they can take with them.
Tom Bowes is an organic gardener, trained permaculturist, and energy educator who lives in Warren, Michigan. He has developed training courses for electrical professionals in photovoltaic system design and electric vehicle charging station installation. He has taught technical classes nationally for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and is a skilled fabricator who often repurposes odd electrical items for garden use.
