Why Use Diversion Furrows?

Rainwater is often lost from gardens, homesteads, and fields as it flows quickly over the land after rainfall. Instead of soaking into the soil where it can support crops, this water runs away, taking fertile soil with it and leaving food-producing areas dry soon after the rain has fallen.

Diversion furrows help change this pattern. By slowing down and guiding rainwater to places where it is needed most, diversion furrows make better use of rainfall, reduce erosion, and increase the amount of water available for food production. This session explores why diversion furrows are an important and practical response to water loss in food-producing landscapes.