Brad Lancaster
Encyclopedia
Brad Stewart Lancaster (born March 15, 1967) is an expert in the field of rainwater harvesting
and water management
. He is also a permaculture
teacher, designer, consultant and co-founder of Desert Harvesters non-profit organization.
Lancaster lives on an eighth of an acre (0.05 Ha) in downtown Tucson, Arizona
, where rainfall is less than 12 inches (305 mm) per annum. In such arid conditions, Brad consistently models that catching over 100,000 Gallons (379,000 Liters) of rainwater to feed food-bearing shade trees, abundant gardens, and a thriving landscape is a much more viable option than the municipal system of directing it into storm drain
s and sewer systems.
A recent project in 2009 involved acting as a representative for the U.S. State Department on an educational tour in the Middle East.
, and Prescott College. He has been a guest speaker at the annual Bioneers Convergence; Green Festival USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference; Texas Natural Building Colloquium; the New Mexico Xeriscape Conference; the Green Festival; the 2009 Water Conservation & Xeriscaping EXPO; the New Mexico Organic Farming Conference and various Audubon Expeditions.
Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulating and storing of rainwater for reuse before it reaches the aquifer. It has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation, as well as other typical uses. Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses and local institutions can...
and water management
Water management
Water management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources. In an ideal world. water management planning has regard to all the competing demands for water and seeks to allocate water on an equitable basis to satisfy all uses and demands...
. He is also a permaculture
Permaculture
Permaculture is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that is modeled on the relationships found in nature. It is based on the ecology of how things interrelate rather than on the strictly biological concerns that form the foundation of modern agriculture...
teacher, designer, consultant and co-founder of Desert Harvesters non-profit organization.
Lancaster lives on an eighth of an acre (0.05 Ha) in downtown Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, where rainfall is less than 12 inches (305 mm) per annum. In such arid conditions, Brad consistently models that catching over 100,000 Gallons (379,000 Liters) of rainwater to feed food-bearing shade trees, abundant gardens, and a thriving landscape is a much more viable option than the municipal system of directing it into storm drain
Storm drain
A storm drain, storm sewer , stormwater drain or drainage well system or simply a drain or drain system is designed to drain excess rain and ground water from paved streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs. Storm drains vary in design from small residential dry wells to large municipal systems...
s and sewer systems.
A recent project in 2009 involved acting as a representative for the U.S. State Department on an educational tour in the Middle East.
Lectures
Lancaster lectures at the ECOSA Institute, the University of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, and Prescott College. He has been a guest speaker at the annual Bioneers Convergence; Green Festival USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference; Texas Natural Building Colloquium; the New Mexico Xeriscape Conference; the Green Festival; the 2009 Water Conservation & Xeriscaping EXPO; the New Mexico Organic Farming Conference and various Audubon Expeditions.
Design
Lancaster has designed integrated water-harvesting and permaculture systems for multiple projects, including the Tucson Audubon Simpson Farm restoration site; the Milagro development; Stone Curves co-housing project; and the Tucson Nature Conservancy water-harvesting demonstration site.http://www.sustainabletucson.org/affinity/water/Interviews
Books
- Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Vol.1
- Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Vol. 2
Published Articles
Awards
- 2008 Award of Excellence/Personal Recognition from American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association
- 2005 Arizona Department of Water Resources/Tohono Chul Park Xeriscape Contest Award, First Place – Homeowner under $10,000
- 2005 Arizona Department of Water Resources/Tohono Chul Park Xeriscape Contest Award - Best Water Harvesting
- 2005 Arizona Department of Water Resources/Tohono Chul Park Xeriscape Contest Award - J.D. Di Melglio Artistry in Landscaping
- 2001 City of Tucson and Pima County Good Neighbor Award
- 2000 Tucson Weekly voted Dunbar/Spring Organic Community Garden the Best Neighborhood Garden