DESIGNING SWALES - Geoff Lawton visits The Weedy Garden - Swales Part Two. 

Studying PERMACULTURE with my teacher Geoff Lawton - The 2024 online PDC is open for students from 10th May 2024. If you go to the enrollment page using this Weedy Garden affiliate link www.discoverpermaculture.com/a/2147844655/UvHULpHp - you can also recieve a US$150 discount off the online course by writing "weedy150" in the coupon.

as my youngest son was always very fond of saying, "i love hard work, i could watch it all day"

Having Geoff Lawton digging a swale in your own garden must feel something like having Christopher Hitchens help you with your English homework or Jamie Oliver cooking for your friends’ dinner party. I’ve watched a tonne of Geoff’s work and you truly are in the presence of greatness, maybe the best in the world at what he does 😌

"You have not truly lived until you have done something for someone for which they can never repay you."

That A-frame level is amazing. Here I was thinking expensive technology was the way to find level. I would have never thought of this which makes me realize how much I have to learn.

Thank you! I'm the custodian of 1 acre and I'm beginning to learn about permaculture so I can build a food forest and regenerate my land. Wish I could meet you

You guys are like two modern-day druids. We need more druids.

Wow - Geoff could monologue to a camera for hours. He really knows his stuff, and his passion is infectious. I've done his online PDC and could listen to it all over again

This is brilliant. I’ve seen lots of his videos but never him actually giving a demonstration of what he’s saying on the chalkboard. This has helped my understanding immensely. God bless you. Thank you.

These videos are drugs to me Your cinematography and sound design are on next level Can you do time lapse and Hyperlapse of plants you are growing

I love the efficiency of Geoff's movements digging that swale - obviously done it a few times.

This was a great 'practical' lesson! I am on Geoff's course too (followed your lead and took advantage of your weedybeard...) and his videos are great, but there is nothing like actually seeing how it is done when you get your hands stuck in the dirt. A lot of useful tips there about loosening the ground before making the mound... checking the width of the wheelbarrow for future advantage... great practical stuff! Thanks Mr Weedy!

My left ear enjoyed the sound effects and dialogue, and my right ear enjoyed the music.

I've been watching Geoff for quite some time, and you since you begun the channel. I must say you both do incredible work and I hope that you inspire many people. It's fantastic seeing Geoff make these appearances on your channel and I hope to see many more. I've recently bought a place and am slowly implementing different systems to work best for my situation, inspired by you both. Keep it up! (Tasmania, Aus)

Can't wait the years for the future video with the rubber ducky

That Geoff is a fun smart guy , nice to work with people like that

I see a real friendship growing. That is the main crop there.

I love that I found this after I just started reading Permaculture by Bill Mollison. I had never even planted anything before last year. Started relatively small but, the work you gentleman have done and knowledge you've shared has both inspired and propelled me into much more.

This is so fantastic. Geoff is an incredible wealth of knowledge. I'm really getting a lot from seeing the process the way you've shown it here. Can't imagine what it must've been like to have him right there on your property, teaching you about swales, one-on-one. Super good content.

Geoff has crazy amounts of knowledge and experience! And he learnt directly from the master, Bill Mollison! Amazing!!!

I felt at peace watching that. Isn't Geoff a thoroughly decent chap, just like you.

Love your videos especially No 3 where you go into detail which was really helpful! I am a retired Artist who is helping an extended Maasai family of 20 to readjust to become farmers in Tanzania, as the Govt is stopping them be pastoralists. Trying to do my bit to save the planet. Anosha

it helped me SO much seeing Geoff lay it out - to see how swales should be made. That was excellent. Thanks!

You actually had thee man Dr. Geoff Lawton dig a swalle, teach you, explain to you everything. Imagine with you the potential of your permaculture food forest. Wow! You are a blessed man.

How great is Geoff!

For most YT videos, I speed it up to 1.75x. For the weedy, I switch it back to normal speed and give it my full attention. Your videos are a meditation.

Thank you for sharing this - it's the first time I've actually seen someone build a swale.

I’ve watched a lot of Geoff’s videos and watching him doing the planning and designing of the swales really helped makes it clear. Loved it!

4:11 I saw the text and was confused. I went back and watched your mango video, and now it all makes sense. Cheers Mr. Weedy.

I'M LOVING THIS SERIES DAVID! GREAT CONTENT LADS.

Amazing to see Geoff doing the thing I’ve seen everyone else trying to do after learning from him! Especially awesome seeing it done on a man sized scale (vs excavator work).

Wow! That explanation is far better than 1000 books. Really appreciate your content ❤ Love from Sri Lanka

Thank you for the Energy you bring to the World. You are on a great path. Many Thanks

Geoff is fantastic! I've been following him for yrs. How wonderful he could spend the time setting up your swales. If they don't work you can blame him 😂😂😂

Wonderful wonderful video - Geoff yakking away about rubber duckies and hardcore party frogs made me grin. Thanks Dave.

Ouaaahh genial. I am a student of Geoff and learning his online pdc right now. I love your work and this video where we can really feel the pleasure that you both have to be together and doing this swale :) Love it. Great job !

The bad news is I'm twice the age of these guys. The good news is I have an excavator. Can't wait to do this. Thank you for sharing.

Perfect…Thank you both so much for the walk thru and simplification of detail, super grateful as I’m starting my project near Flagstaff Arizona near a town called Williams… Peace love and blessings and nutrients soil to us all…

Your videos are so BEAUTIFUL in so many levels...

I think this might be one of the best Geoff Lawton videos I've seen! Love seeing how to do swales by hand like this. I should love to be there with both of you

Hey David, fantastic… love the drone footage and looking forward to the next in series. Love Geoff and his knowledge and kredo to Bill Mollison.

I'm doing Geoff's PDC now!! I was hoping to find a swale being dug in real life video, the chalkboard is great, but need real life demonstrations!!!! So glad it was you and Geoff together!! Fantastic thank you!!!!

I hope there are more people like you two in this world. Truly amazing

A frame is interesting, so good to see it all happening. The time lapse really works to tell the story without it getting too long and lots of beauty thrown in for good measure. More power to you both 🙏✊💪🌱❤️

Very relaxing to listen and learn a bit from your channel, thank you for sharing.

Geoff alway seems to be a friendly and wise guy I really would love to meet in Germany.

I honestly didn't know what a swale was until i started watching these videos. Thankyou for sharing that knowledge xox

What a fantastic teacher!

Thank you very much for the video!!!!!!

Nice deep dive into swales 🙌

What a pleasure mate!

Thanks!!! I’m an Aussie in New Jersey living on 3.5 acres on a mountain with a sun trap begging for swales. Yes I’m a PD grad too but it’s gr8 to see m8’s making swales. I’ll drop my video when I’m get there this season insha’Allah!!

Excellent demonstration

I liked the skip add fake. Nice job on the video.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This is exactly the kind of demonstration and explanation together that makes what Geoff et al have been teaching sink into my understanding! Thank You!! Theory, talking, and pictures are good, but this is the way it all comes together understandably and viscerally. That is a lot of hard work for sure. I am helping my daughter dig three four to five foot post holes in rocky Vermont soil for her tiny house porch and can really appreciate the work in digging!

Soaking in the swale vibes.. thank you

That's a beautiful friendship

Great video. I love people who are truly passionate about what they do. His enthusiasm is great.

👀 get started. Thankful

Love this 🙋‍♀️💜💕🌟

Hey, thanks. Really. Thank you. From one Human to another. For all of us still sitting in the Babylon capsule planning the exit I appreciate you brother and what you are doing for yourself and all of us watching.

Gooday, I'm so in love with what you're doing. 😍

Geoff is hilarious. What a legend! Generous soul too!

Will be incorporating waste water into my swale design as I am in a desert climate, mostly laundry rinse water and dish water

Love this video. It's simple, no hurry and clear, personal. 💚💚💚

Just the video i needed to get going... thanks!

Thank you ❤

Thanks for timely video 🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️

Legend 🙌🏾

Fabulous... thanks for sharing... my kind of breaky too.. 🥓 🍅 🍳

Thank you both. A great teacher and a great videographer.

Simply phenomenal!

Brilliant

Thank you for sharing this with us ☘🐛

I'm currently in Geoff's PDC. Sure hope he teaches us how to make the "A" frame. We sit right on top of a mountain and water preservation is top of our list. Great video as usual! Love learning about swells.

I'm so inspired ✨️

Great video thanks for sharing with us.

Good on ya Geoff, what a lad

Thanks for sharing your epic swale journey!

Ohhh, the A frame keeps the swale level with itself, I get that better now. It would naturally follow the curve of the land so you don't have to eyeball or guess how it curves.

This is the most beautiful video of them all. I started crying at the handshake. This is such an opportunity for you and I am sooooooo glad that this is happening and I get to witness it. Amazing the little conversation and how intuitive Geoff is to the beef bacon and how sly you are to negotiate that deal. Along withe online PDC, there are soo many books that are helpful. Geoff just participated in one of his students online summit for Michelle & Rob Avis' and Takota Coen's book, "Building Your Permaculture Property" through Verge Permaculture. I just finished my 3rd online PDC (2 with Geoff and one with Rob), so I can say with all the bias in the world (as Verge P is Canadian and so am I), this book, PDC and teacher are well worth it. Geoff and many other Permaculture Pros participated in the summit and Geoff's stories with Bill M were beautiful. Keep up the great work and give Geoff a great big hug from all of us who wish we could and to really thank him for all that he does. Now I want beef bacon, eggs and tomatoes. Lets make sure he gets his share. (Shamelss plug, I don't do shame anymore)

Very interesting thank you weedy gardener thanks Geoff for explaining 👍

Really lovely video guys. Great information from Geoff to help me with my swale design and implementation, lovely, peaceful music and great ambiance. Peace and prosperity to all. Cheers.

welcome back ! thanks for your previous answers on the first videos and for this interesting video

wish I could add pics here - working on swales here in New Mexico (high dessert) on a patch of land that had sat compacted for many years...Got 7 together on a small slope to work on soil building and water catchment - going to add veg to two for the first few years, (adding raised beds and a walapini - sunken greenhouse - out the back next year hopefully), then cover crop, then 2 more veg, cover, then veg... adding shade tree's (black locust), and fruit tree's - got berries separate atm in a hugelkultur bed amended with a little sulphur.... I tried using cardboard on one, but decided to weed instead as the clay earth mixes better with the horse manure and top soil here without it ;) Hoping I don't regret that ;) Also about to move a tub for a worm farm and getting chickens for the chicken tractor (probably stationary one with tunnels along the cover cropped swales) on steroids.... and the composting toilet ;) No idea if any of it will work, but seriously grateful to Geoff for all he shares & teaches... gotta admit as an ex pat in New Mexico, he is sorta my guru now lol ;) and yourselves for inspiring us all :) Got the wafflebeds done today (NM Pueblo technique)for the 3 sisters (corn/squash/beans) today - so feeling good ;)

Thankyou for sharing this!! this video is saving the planet!

OMG!!! 2 of my favorite ppl together!!! Amazing!!! I hope to visit you one day... Or have you here in Argentina!! Big hug and keep doing it!!

Thankyou! This is very useful!! I love watching ur work it’s therapeutic.

Well, just watched both vids on swales and I am super pumped to do some on our 12 acres. I'm also doing my PDC and the way swales are explained here is brilliant, makes it so easy to comprehend and then put it into action!! Thanks for all the vids, my whole family absolutely love your work!! We are slowly but surely building our own food forest and it is so encouraging to see everything come together for you 😁

Fantastic collaboration and education style. Thankyou. You guys nailed it!

13 dislikes? the man is speaking Gospel!!

My God, I am so jealous!! I gotta tell you, I think you have made as much impact on my compost, with em1 and crusher dust, as Geoff, but he is my hero: I am green with envy.

im mindblown again. this is sensational. this is the biggest trick in landscaping ever. im stuck in my chair with dropped jaw.

Fantastic! I've got more ideas from this video! Blessings to you and Geoff for this useful video and amazing entertainment!

I wish I could click the like button on your videos more than once.

hola desde colombia, saludos y abrazos. muchas gracias por compartir, ya me mude al campo con mi familia queremos hacer lo que ustedes maestros. fuente de inspiración gracias!

You're such a great photographer

This is a very informative amazing video.

This was the best-detailed video I have seen on swales to date, Thank you so much. Can you explain the placement of the Hugelkultur bury location. Why at the bottom of the slope?

Earthing makes sense because we're electrochemical organisms and have only worn shoes and lived in homes with non conductive floor coverings for a short period in our history. There's a reason that bathing in the surf or a creek energizes and relaxes the body. It's the lack of connection and related unconsciousness which creates a hell from the actual heaven we live in. Anything we can do to connect with the universe and one another is a nice step forward.