Boomerang Berms in the Forest Garden:

Boomerang berms, also called half-moon berms, are similar to cuvettes – last week’s Agroforestry Word of the Week. The main difference between the two techniques - apart from their distinct shape - is when and where the technique should be applied.

Whereas cuvettes are established on flat land, boomerang berms are much more appropriate for sloped lands. Boomerang berms’ open ends welcome runoff entering the berm and allow excess water to continue to spill over the edges, to be caught down slope by other boomerang berms. Forest Gardeners will often try to stagger their boomerang berms across their hillside to ensure that all excess water will be captured and used for another tree.