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Ollas _K Webber.JPG

Ollas

Ollas are porous clay irrigation vessels. They are buried in the ground and filled with water which is then slowly released to surrounding plants.

Ollas can reduce water use by 70% as compared to surface watering and they save you time in the garden!

Our ollas are handmade on Mayne Island, they are 32 cm tall and capable of holding approximately 8.5 litres of water. They are designed to water a 1.2 meter square (4 feet by 4 feet) raised garden bed.

If you are interested in learning more about ollas or purchasing one ($79), send us an email to mayneclay@gmail.com.

Olla installed in garden bed. Note the stone covering the opening this will help keep debris from falling into the olla. Mulching your bed will help conserve water and reduce weeds.

Installing your olla: dig a hole large enough to accommodate the olla and deep enough to bury it half way up the neck.

Place the olla in the hole and backfill.

Olla installed in garden bed, backfilled halfway up the neck.

Vegetable start planted next to an olla; straw mulch help conserve water and reduce weeds.

Digging ollas into a Gabriola Island garden bed.

Once your vegetables are planted in the bed, fill the olla with water. Refill when the water level drops to about half- likely every 3-4 days.

We make the ollas in large plaster moulds. Here Kim is demoulding an olla.

Ollas are available from our studio on Mayne Island or from the many markets and fairs we attend

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