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Make your own Drought Busting Ollas Inexpensively

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Do It Yourselfer Home and Garden Guy

I realize that many folks are blessed with an unlimited supply of water, where drought is not a problem. That is not a case where I live, which has resulted in me trying to figure out decent options for water conservation.
I use Pennington brand terra cotta pots to create waterconserving “Ollas.” The technique of using terra cotta pots has been used for millennia to manage water more efficiently in dry or arid countries. The area these pots were reportedly first created in was ancient North Africa.
In this video, I will show you three different techniques I use to create an Olla. Each technique costs about three dollars and fifty cents, which I consider inexpensive. Anyway, I hope I can give you some good Ideas on stretching your water usage. Additionally, if you are someone who worries about your plants when taking a weeklong vacation, then an “Olla” could be a solution for your concerns.
Here is a link to how I use them in the garden:
   • Drought Busting Ollas Part 2, Using T...  

6inch Terra cotta pots/saucers and GE silicon caulk were purchased at Home Depot. The Pennington pots hold about 1.5 quarts (48 ounces or 1.4 liters of water.) These are my favorites, as they are very simple to make.
[Threeyear update: Still working very well in the same vegetable garden that is the hottest location in my yard. If you have a highly calcified water source, this could lead to the permeable terra cotta walls becoming fouled or clogged. Most people know if their water supply is highly mineralized as your plumbing would indicate it with premature piping problems or water heater failure. If you do have a water softener, then using your softened water would extend the olla's usefulness.]

Rubber stoppers/corks: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

posted by nghysuroen