Susie’s garden looks impossible to water without significant effort and expense. When I first saw the garden site, I thought it might well prove impossible to water adequately, and I imagined the plants dying a slow, dry death as everyone struggled carrying bucket after bucket of water to them. I made several worried comments about this to Erin.

The garden is situated in a field behind the house, but it is back across a stream—a stream crossed by a cute—but little—bridge. The garden is way too far to run a hose from the house. I thought a pump system would have to be installed to bring water up from the stream or, more likely, bucket after bucket of water would have to be dragged across that bridge—totally impractical. I was very surprised when Erin told me a great solution was in place.

Bridge to the Garden

The solution is none of the above methods, and it is simple, elegant, perfect.

The stream incorporates a lovely little waterfall. A hose has been set, open side up, in the waterfall. It runs from there to the garden.

And it works! Water pours down the waterfall and enters the hose. When the garden-end spigot is opened, there is plenty of pressure to water the garden. Low-tech, simple, and free—beautiful.

Water flows from the waterfall straight down into the hose.

The hose exits the stream...

...runs through the woods...

...and waits in the garden, ready when needed.

Gratuitous goat photo