The Ojai Garden

Thirty people came to John Lamar's workshop in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden Saturday morning to learn how to set up a low-flow irrigation system. John, of John Lamar Design and Consulting, gave an excellent presentation that covered the history of low-flow irrigation, basic water management practices, and the main components of a low-flow irrigation system. After the talk, John answered participants' questions before heading out into the garden to demonstrate how to hook up the lines. Workshop participants had a chance to get some hands-on practice setting up drip irrigation for a row of vegetables that had been planted a few weeks ago at Steve Sprinkel's workshop. Next, the group made their way to a sloped area. There, California native shrubs and ground covers, that had been planted over the winter, were waiting for some irrigation to help them get through the hot, dry days until the next rainy season. Members of the group set up irrigation to these plants as well.After getting a look at the valves in the garden, and watching John demonstrate the correct way to flush out a filter everyone went home prepared to set up their own low-flow irrigation system, and save water. Photos by Les Dublin.