Harvesting Water the Permaculture Way- A DVD presented by Geoff Lawton.
Water is one of the most valuable resources on any landscape, yet in conventional systems it is often treated as something to drain away rather than retain. Harvesting Water the Permaculture Way, a DVD presented by Geoff Lawton, offers a practical and visual guide to reversing that mindset by working with natural water flow instead of against it.
At its core, the film demonstrates how to design a small acreage farm to passively harvest and store water using earthworks like dams and swales. Over the course of about an hour, Lawton walks viewers through a real-world project, showing how to read the landscape, identify natural water movement, and design systems that slow, spread, and sink rainfall into the soil.
This approach reflects a central principle of Permaculture: capturing resources at their highest point and holding them in the landscape for as long as possible. Rather than allowing rainwater to rush downhill and cause erosion, systems like swales and keyline-inspired earthworks distribute moisture across the land, increasing infiltration and improving soil health over time.
The DVD highlights several key techniques, including:
- Designing and excavating a farm dam
- Constructing swales along contour to guide water movement
- Building a proper keyway for water retention
- Using level sillways to safely manage overflow
Lawton also emphasizes the importance of observation and adaptability. During the project, unexpected challenges arise—such as insufficient material for the dam wall—but the design is adjusted in real time to maintain functionality.
What makes this resource especially valuable is its accessibility. While the techniques are rooted in sound ecological design, they are presented in a way that farmers, homesteaders, and land stewards can realistically implement on their own properties.
Ultimately, Harvesting Water the Permaculture Way reinforces a simple but powerful idea: water management is not just about storage—it’s about designing landscapes that regenerate themselves. By slowing water down and spreading it across the land, we create systems that are more resilient, productive, and aligned with nature.