AfroEcology Series: Harvesting Hands Irrigation

An Introduction of Harvesting Hands Farms

At its core, Harvesting Hands is a space for reclaiming our relationship with nature. A family-led homestead in South Georgia dedicated to building legacy. By focusing on regenerative practices that heal both the earth and community, Harvesting Hands is truly a living classroom. Even more admirable is the core of their homestead having all their children be a part of the daily operations. Whether through seasonal harvests or hands-on workshops, their mission is to ensure that the "tools of life" ,the knowledge of how to grow, sustain and thrive remain firmly in the hands of the people.

The Coats Family Photo Source : https://harvestinghands.com/about-us

Designing for Efficiency and The Installation Process

In our AfroEcology Series, we don't only focus on growing food; we also show how to manage resources in a way that honors land and our ancestors. Mastering irrigation ensures that our crops thrive while we remain stewards of every drop.

Integrating the design and physical labor, the mapping of the farm's topography to create a strategic blueprint that ensures water pressure is distributed evenly across every crop zone. Once the layout was finalized, trenching the land and installing the "spine" of the system. This process blended technical engineering with hands-on kill, as the infrastructure was buried at optimal depths to protect from the elements, ultimately transforming a dry field into a high-functioning, resilient ecosystem with run to continue expansion on the remaining in the future.

The Finished Product

By the end of the day, the "hiss" of the zones turning on was met with celebration. The finished system at Harvesting Hands Farm now features a fully automated timer, allowing The Coats family to water their land at their leisure.

The NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 442

Systems that apply water under pressure through nozzles and are generally designed to wet an entire field or large area uniformly.

The NRCS established this standard to ensure that the installation achieves specific goals including:

• Efficient Water Use

• Soil & Water Health

• Plant Protection

• Air Quality