1. Water Catchment System By: Abraham, Kiara, and Serhiy 1/24/15 Taf Academy

2. Need For Study We built a water catchment system on a garden and see how it will help people in food deserts. Water catchment systems can help people in food deserts by giving them access to healthy and fresh food. The way this works is by “catching,” the rain water and then distributing the water throughout the garden therefore watering the plants. After the plants grow, people can just pick them and plant new ones in their place and the cycle repeats.

3. Is there a “machine” that will help control the water level in the soil for people in food deserts? Driving Question

4. Materials ●60 Gallon Rain Barrel ●Hose or irrigation tape ●School Garden ●Runoff Pipes (If can be connected to the catchment system) ●Anything that can lift the rain barrel (Concrete Blocks, Wood Platform, etc.)

5. Methods 1.Gather all your materials together and have them ready. 2.Screw in the hose into the rain barrel and make sure it fits. 3.Elevate the rain barrel a few inches above the garden by adding bricks, platforms, etc. 4.After a few days come back to the garden and check if the machine is fine and working. 5.Record if any of the plants grew and see if the machine actually “works."

6. Observation Setting Turn DegreeHow Much Water Came Out (Time) Low (⅓)2 liters of water came out in 1 min Medium (⅔)4 liters of water came out in 1 min High (fully turned)6 liters of water came out in 1 min

7. Results The results are that the water catchment system works and it can be used to water plants at the right time so they do not die. Also it can help by reusing the rainwater catched and using the water when necessary.

8. Graphs and Images

10. Analysis and Conclusion In conclusion, the water catchment system works and can be used to benefit a lot of people especially those in food deserts, and also, the water catchment system also saves a lot of water because it reuses rainwater.

11. Evaluation and Future Implications After the trials and completing the experiment we were satisfied with the results. Even though we are satisfied we can have a hose reel (a hose storage) to be cleaner. We can update the project to address other problems. Like for example a self feeding garden or a water filtration system to use the rainwater to filter it and drink it

12. References The ARCSA Mission. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://www.arcsa.org/http://www.arcsa.org/ Agricultural Marketing Service - Creating Access to Healthy, Affordable Food. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://apps.ams.usda.gov/fooddeserts/fooddeserts.aspx DIG 1/4 in. x 100 ft. Dripline with 6 in. Emitter Spacing-SHB106 - The Home Depot. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://www.homedepot.com/p/DIG-1-4-in-x-100-ft-Dripline-with-6-in-Emitter-Spaci ng-SHB106/204185819?quantity=1 Food desert. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_desert How to Build a Rain Barrel. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://www.familyhandyman.com/smart-homeowner/how-to-build-a-rain-barrel/view-all Measurement of Soil Moisture. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/drought/soilmoist.html Urban area. (n.d.). Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/urban-area/?ar_a=1 Washington State University: Building a Rain Barrel Retrieved January 7, 2015, from http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/pdfs/rainbarrels.pdf

13. The End