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Earthwork  /ˈərTHˌwərk/ - noun

February 20, 2019

Definition: A type of soil and water conservation technique made of physical barriers constructed from soil and stone to control, slow, and/or stop the movement of water and soil.

Benefits:

• Maximize water absorption on a landscape
• Control and direct the flow of water
• Capture topsoil and organic material
• Stabilize sloped land

In the Forest Garden: A common Earthwork technique farmers use is a Boomerang berm – A semi-circle or half-moon shaped berm that is placed around an established tree to to capture water specifically within the tree’s root zone. You can establish a series of boomerang berms so that the overflow from one berm descends into the catchment area of a down-sloping berm.