Thanks Rolf for the tremendous lessons on how to effectively 'Catch the Rain', I love this lady's CPU she is a quick study! Subscribed right away my kinda content
This video was helpful to me. I have never really calculated how much rain 🌧️ is freely received and freely wasted. That method of calculating desertification is wisdom because you are rightly applying knowledge. Subscribed 🎉
Love the break-down, makes so much sense. Thank you for the great video! I'd love to see this as a series, with examples of this work being implemented.
Just read and understand P.A. Yeomans book “Water For Every Farm”. He said it succinctly, “The best place to store water is in the soil”. Essentially, the best tactic to capture/store water is to divert water flow 90 degrees to the slope.
Very interesting info. If the fire resistant grass is only more common now… then it was in the past then this proves that in the past grass wasn’t routinely burned and that’s why better grass grew. “Burning grass makes more fertility has just been myth busted” as he said this land is mostly desert. You should also consider planting hedges around your property as hedges act as a wind break (slowing evaporation), hedges also prevent erosion and increase water infiltration around the property.
burning grass, kills insect which can be used to help generate fertilizer from tree decomposing, so better cut grass and leave the way it is otherwise your soil become unfertized naturally
I love the talks here. Definitely look into swales, berms, gabions and other water harvesting structures. I know it took me time which isn't quite free but a spade and hoe for some earthworks got my water harvesting garden built for 'free' which will then catch all water that enters the area and sinks it into the water table. It has proven highly effective and moss and ferns grow in the lanes there is so much moisture
I have been working on this on my property for some time. Swales and leaky dams are used to stop the water from running off and instead slowly penetrate the soil. To store water in a structure at scale is very costly. It is cheaper to store water in the soil. The organic content of soil determines the ability of soil to store water. Long story short, its a complex mix of managing grazers to enhance plants which generate exudates which increase organic matter which store water you hold on to. He is talking the truth. Instead of the idiot comments below, listen to what he is saying.
And is exactly your problem. You should have different grasses on the same ground. Each grass will predominate at different time of the year. You are happy with a stagnant monoculture of grass. You are not progressive.
Another point, desertification has a “commonality”, that is low resistance to air movement at ground level combined with low relative humidity. Absent one of the factors of wind speed / low relative humidity you’re half way to “curing” desertification.
Why burn the fields? That makes no sense to me. What I did was allow what would grow to grow to cover the ground and reduce the temperature and hold the water, then cut it in winter and let it feed the soil. The next year there were more plants. I added plants that I wanted and cut those I did not want. I left the filler plants as a cover crop again.
Yeah I don't think it makes sense in their region. I'd understand it in the wet tropics where some fields turn into thickets if left to fallow but not in this area that is almost turning into desert.
@TaLeng2023 still, burning what is there is not good. You need shade to create coolness for other things to grow, so finding plants that can anchor the soil is better.
1000 mm of rainwater/year is lot of water. Water should not be the main issue, unless it all comes at once. It is better to look at how much rain each month.
@@grassrootstrustzambia2023 could be correct but an article I once read stated that your ground water doesn't collect from the land directly above it, so though it is the right thing todo to protect the soil and promote micro organisms . The water you allow to penetrate your soil will benefit the water table of someone else down stream.
@@wildsteadingsyeah, unless you yourself have access to the water table, you're not getting to use that water you "stored". I think the only benefit with improving penetration in your field is that with a thicker ground cover, you'd get less water erosion once the rain starts and hopefully you'd have enough plants to hold the soil together throughout the dry season and prevent a dust bowl.
Hey lady put down a baobab tree down. Why, because I like that giant tree, and it is a natural treasure in Africa. Also put a trenches around your field for harvesting your rain waters.
It's hard to imagine farming sustainably or regeneratively with animals in the circle to help convert all the vegetation back into soil fertility/water. Maybe time to think about what animals you can manage on your farm !
For example if you are farming inside the city or urban areas sometimes animals aren’t allowed but you can grow crops and things. That’s why I was curious if breaking it up and spreading manure would work. It’s definitely not the ideal situation but for lots of people animals are not always a possibility.
The mix of palatable grasses, legumes, forbs, shrubs and bushes that were here before the management changed, the diversity that supported vast herds of wild animals ..
It does but not in the way you probably expected, doing a dam or a reservoir system. This is about regenerative systems, better read that concept first. For a clue, water is retained in the ground by not allowing it to flow over, you achieve that by increasing the number of plants per square meter on the land, plant more cover grass, easier achieved by grazing the ruminants on the land.... As mentioned above, you first need to understand how regenerative systems work to grasp what the old man is saying in the video. I suggest you look for those videos, read about Allan Savory ideas as well. Hope this helps.
@@hassanmakame got to be more to why it is this way with that much rain. we get the same amount of rain. we never burn the ground. does it never get cold there? does it only rain a few months a year?
@Shayne-pq1rs, here in Zambia we get all our rain in a 3-5 month wet monsoon season while the rest of the year is dry. Grasslands and woodlands are the most common vegetation types for our area with some amounts of evergreen forest in higher rainfall areas or those areas with higher water tables.
And that is why there is no desertification where there is hoofed animals 🙄😂 Dont believe your eyes when you see multimillion acre cattle properties in the Dry Outback of Australia- the interior of Australia is actually a massive green forest due to all the cows 😂
If we make more plants to take root in barren soil, then the soil becomes porous and retains the rain water. Obviously, the plants need to be of use to us and not weeds. But even weeds are better than bare soil
We are not born with knowledge about absolutely everything. We all have to start somewhere. It is clear that the lady wants to learn. She repeats what he says in question form, showing that she listened attentively. She also recognized potential obstacles - a lack of funds to aquire farm animals. Because she asked the question, she received a solution to let her neighbors' animals graze the land. That is a win-win relationship. The presenter is a patient, kind, and knowledgeable teacher. Where there is a will, there is a way. People were born to work together. God will provide in due time.
That was the best explanation I've heard yet for regenerative farming!
Thanks Rolf for the tremendous lessons on how to effectively 'Catch the Rain', I love this lady's CPU she is a quick study! Subscribed right away my kinda content
This video was helpful to me.
I have never really calculated how much rain 🌧️ is freely received and freely wasted.
That method of calculating desertification is wisdom because you are rightly applying knowledge.
Subscribed 🎉
Love the break-down, makes so much sense. Thank you for the great video! I'd love to see this as a series, with examples of this work being implemented.
What a great and insightful video. We were put on earth to help one another.
You are so blessed with patience and knowledge.
Thank you!
Excellent Extension work!!!! That is how it goes. Priority problem. Possible solutions. Costs. Benefits. My budget. let's go! Thank you.
Hi Johnberry 😊
Just read and understand P.A. Yeomans book “Water For Every Farm”. He said it succinctly, “The best place to store water is in the soil”. Essentially, the best tactic to capture/store water is to divert water flow 90 degrees to the slope.
Very interesting info.
If the fire resistant grass is only more common now… then it was in the past then this proves that in the past grass wasn’t routinely burned and that’s why better grass grew. “Burning grass makes more fertility has just been myth busted” as he said this land is mostly desert.
You should also consider planting hedges around your property as hedges act as a wind break (slowing evaporation), hedges also prevent erosion and increase water infiltration around the property.
Fancy meeting you here 😂😂😂great info as always!
@@thefoodforestnamibia hi, it’s nice to see you here too supporting some of the other African food forest/subsistence farming channels :)
burning grass, kills insect which can be used to help generate fertilizer from tree decomposing, so better cut grass and leave the way it is otherwise your soil become unfertized naturally
I love the talks here. Definitely look into swales, berms, gabions and other water harvesting structures. I know it took me time which isn't quite free but a spade and hoe for some earthworks got my water harvesting garden built for 'free' which will then catch all water that enters the area and sinks it into the water table. It has proven highly effective and moss and ferns grow in the lanes there is so much moisture
I have been working on this on my property for some time. Swales and leaky dams are used to stop the water from running off and instead slowly penetrate the soil. To store water in a structure at scale is very costly. It is cheaper to store water in the soil. The organic content of soil determines the ability of soil to store water. Long story short, its a complex mix of managing grazers to enhance plants which generate exudates which increase organic matter which store water you hold on to. He is talking the truth. Instead of the idiot comments below, listen to what he is saying.
😊
I have that same grass on my property. Every year I cut it before it can re-seed. I use it for chicken nests. It lasts a long time in the nests.
And is exactly your problem. You should have different grasses on the same ground. Each grass will predominate at different time of the year. You are happy with a stagnant monoculture of grass. You are not progressive.
And important to plant trees, that provide either forage, height for shade, future wood, and fruit.
Good food for thought! Thanks for the info
Wow this is so great thank you
God bless you ❤️🇲🇿💪💯
Valuable land info .... thank you ❤
This is great you guys!
Thanks for the video!
You're welcome!
Subscribed straight away! 😃
Another point, desertification has a “commonality”, that is low resistance to air movement at ground level combined with low relative humidity. Absent one of the factors of wind speed / low relative humidity you’re half way to “curing” desertification.
Great lesson thank you
Why burn the fields? That makes no sense to me.
What I did was allow what would grow to grow to cover the ground and reduce the temperature and hold the water, then cut it in winter and let it feed the soil. The next year there were more plants. I added plants that I wanted and cut those I did not want. I left the filler plants as a cover crop again.
Yeah I don't think it makes sense in their region. I'd understand it in the wet tropics where some fields turn into thickets if left to fallow but not in this area that is almost turning into desert.
@TaLeng2023 still, burning what is there is not good. You need shade to create coolness for other things to grow, so finding plants that can anchor the soil is better.
Thank you for the info
1000 mm of rainwater/year is lot of water. Water should not be the main issue, unless it all comes at once. It is better to look at how much rain each month.
Water harvesting is the key
Wow!!
I just used a shovel and pilut in swales then planted tuff nitrogen fixing trees .
His way is smarter. The animal activity has a immediate effect while in your approach it would take months if not years to realize the benefit.
Very informative
Wonderful job.
This type of grass is called Insoke in Lambs language of Copperbelt, Northwestern and central provinces of Zambia.
Thank you for the info
Awesome work!
Infiltration, Evaporation. 3 months after the rain season that land is dry again, a borehole is what you need .
Sure, but you got to get the rain into the ground first with healthy soil, lots of plants /m²
@@grassrootstrustzambia2023 could be correct but an article I once read stated that your ground water doesn't collect from the land directly above it, so though it is the right thing todo to protect the soil and promote micro organisms . The water you allow to penetrate your soil will benefit the water table of someone else down stream.
@@wildsteadingsyeah, unless you yourself have access to the water table, you're not getting to use that water you "stored". I think the only benefit with improving penetration in your field is that with a thicker ground cover, you'd get less water erosion once the rain starts and hopefully you'd have enough plants to hold the soil together throughout the dry season and prevent a dust bowl.
Brilliant! Thank you
Glad it helped!
Good job, //@arubby.
Thank you for this
Thank you for sharing, I just learned something
Wow nice video! Counting plants! Almost to scared to do that on my land
From what I've seen of your channel, your land will be covered in plants very soon.
Excellent explanation but the lady is interrupting too much with irrelevant suggestions.
Hey lady put down a baobab tree down. Why, because I like that giant tree, and it is a natural treasure in Africa. Also put a trenches around your field for harvesting your rain waters.
What if there’s no animal nearby that can come. Can you break up the soil and use manure and get more plants?
It's hard to imagine farming sustainably or regeneratively with animals in the circle to help convert all the vegetation back into soil fertility/water.
Maybe time to think about what animals you can manage on your farm !
For example if you are farming inside the city or urban areas sometimes animals aren’t allowed but you can grow crops and things. That’s why I was curious if breaking it up and spreading manure would work. It’s definitely not the ideal situation but for lots of people animals are not always a possibility.
Is there a way to contact this woman? Does she have a channel?
web.facebook.com/Back2BasicsOrganiks.
@@homesteadzambia thanks!
He says there is seed in the soil but which seeds, I wonder?
The mix of palatable grasses, legumes, forbs, shrubs and bushes that were here before the management changed, the diversity that supported vast herds of wild animals ..
Who is that man and how do I contact him?
web.facebook.com/rolf.shenton
The video doesn't show how to harvest water!
It does but not in the way you probably expected, doing a dam or a reservoir system.
This is about regenerative systems, better read that concept first. For a clue, water is retained in the ground by not allowing it to flow over, you achieve that by increasing the number of plants per square meter on the land, plant more cover grass, easier achieved by grazing the ruminants on the land....
As mentioned above, you first need to understand how regenerative systems work to grasp what the old man is saying in the video. I suggest you look for those videos, read about Allan Savory ideas as well. Hope this helps.
@@hassanmakame got to be more to why it is this way with that much rain. we get the same amount of rain. we never burn the ground. does it never get cold there? does it only rain a few months a year?
@victorhopper6774 the problem is not total rainfall. It's run-off, excessive evaporation and time interval between downpours
@@cassieoz1702 all that is helped by the burning, must stop the burning. find a suitable taproot legume
trying to understand i will watch more
good.
Contact of this gentleman please?
web.facebook.com/rolf.shenton
how can i get Rolf`s number?
facebook.com/rolf.shenton
That is a lot of water! Why isn't that area a jungle!
There is no soil which will hold the water.
@Shayne-pq1rs, here in Zambia we get all our rain in a 3-5 month wet monsoon season while the rest of the year is dry. Grasslands and woodlands are the most common vegetation types for our area with some amounts of evergreen forest in higher rainfall areas or those areas with higher water tables.
Wat we call rain harvest.
It's important to harvest rain in any way we can!
And that is why there is no desertification where there is hoofed animals 🙄😂 Dont believe your eyes when you see multimillion acre cattle properties in the Dry Outback of Australia- the interior of Australia is actually a massive green forest due to all the cows 😂
The secret is a short grazing period followed by a long resting period and the next grazing only when the gras is fully recovered
Yep @@reinhardstuckler1275
Why would you want to harvest water if you recieve a 1000mm of rain ..ridiculous ...!!!!
That rain is probably only 4 to 5 months of the year in summer. The rest is drought... and that's why you need to harvest.
Such ignorance! The issue isn't total annual rainfall, it's excessive evaporation, interval between downpours and run-off.
Can someone make me understand what this white man is saying, how do we keep this water.
If we make more plants to take root in barren soil, then the soil becomes porous and retains the rain water. Obviously, the plants need to be of use to us and not weeds. But even weeds are better than bare soil
00
Look up Grazed and Confused, a report that shows animals do not help in the way this guy is explaining.
The lady is clueless. Dude's face when she asks ignorant questions is hilarious
She is learning and that is admirable. She is trying and you have to start somewhere.
What a rude comment. The will learn, how should she knows?
If she wasn't clueless why would he be there in the first place?
I think you are the one displaying naivety....sometimes the questions are meant to make us understand or to make the point clearer...
We are not born with knowledge about absolutely everything. We all have to start somewhere.
It is clear that the lady wants to learn. She repeats what he says in question form, showing that she listened attentively. She also recognized potential obstacles - a lack of funds to aquire farm animals. Because she asked the question, she received a solution to let her neighbors' animals graze the land. That is a win-win relationship. The presenter is a patient, kind, and knowledgeable teacher. Where there is a will, there is a way.
People were born to work together.
God will provide in due time.
I am at 6:15, what is the cheapest way to harvest water on my farm?