How to make a Wicking Bed

This video is about how to make a quick wicking bed at home using I/2 of an IBC, 90mm PVC pipe and fittings and some basic tools.
2 x 700mm
2 x 500mm
2 x 200mm
4 x elbows
1 x square to round connector
1 x T and
15 - 20 cm 13mm Black poly pipe
The wicking bed concept was invented by an Australian called Colin Austin you can find the link to his website below.
He lives in Kookaburra Park, Gin Gin Queensland an Eco Village fifty kilometres inland, which receives little more than half the rainfall of Bundaberg.
This community has learned to make full use of the available rainfall.
They don’t have some magic source of water; they don’t even have a river or creek running through the community, they totally manage their water needs themselves using simple, low cost but effective technology.
Colin was invited by World Vision to go to Africa to see if he could work out a way that local people could grew sustenance food in the periodic droughts which cause so much hardship.
The core problem was erratic rain. People simply cannot live where there is no rain.
He felt the situation was just like Australia.
Realising the problem was erratic rain, rather than no rain; he developed a system called the wicking bed, which is essentially an underground pond. Rain, when it occurs, is channelled into this pond which forms a reservoir which allows the plants to keep on growing to maturity even if the rains fail to materialise.

The simple techniques he had used in Africa, catching water locally and storing it in tanks or in the underground ponds or wicking beds, provides a simple and cheap substitute for potable water.
He now feels that this message should go out to the public at large.
waterright.com...

[@stevefranpimblett8257]

We made 24 of them out of old degassed fridges and freezers from our local tip shop. They make brilliant garden beds and are still going strong.

[@corymbiacottageorganicgard3417]

What a great Idea that is a brilliant reuse of items destined for the landfill. Id love to see some pictures. id reckon they would make excellent gardens

[@waterworld248]

Like that overflow drilled into downspout where it won't get clogged with any planting mix!

[@michaelmcaulay8765]

Thanks very much It does work really well

[@corymbiacottageorganicgard3417]

It is a good design but I can’t take credit for the idea this was how I was taught from our local organic gardening group.

[@gazsto6733]

@@corymbiacottageorganicgard3417 Give them some feedback, brilliant idea! I have been chewing on the best solution for the overflow and this is the best one yet. Great video mate!

[@michaelmcaulay8765]

@@gazsto6733 Thanks very much mate I’m really glad the build had some useful tips and tricks you could use on your build. Thanks very much for the comment 😊👍🏻

[@gazsto6733]

@@michaelmcaulay8765 Appreciate the guidance, helps big time on my setup. Shifted to using from PVC to HDPE and MDPE plastic lately as you can actually plastic weld them with the same material HDPE/MDPE rods, that are supposedly safer for food contact. But used PVC and then the newer uPVC for some time.