@samstonehill,, EXCELLENT! Thank you for all of the very detailed photos as they showed me an issue I had been struggling with, of all things it is the "rain gutters" that supply the cistern (I guess the old brain is failing, haha). Your agriculture system is marvelous and I can't wait to try some of your practices here.
As far as the farmers going out of business, yes it is heart breaking to see generations old farms being closed and or sold for an American Companies misleading practices. Unfortunately Monsanto is only partially to blame for the U.S. corn belt failure "The corn belt in the US had it's worst season in decades this year" since this failure has happened as a direct result of Donald Trump's tarriffs on various countries, the Farmers simply cannot seel their produce.
I apologize, I digress, I have been studying the "Earthship" designs for Southern Nevada, U.S. in hopes of replacing the older house we have. Thank you so much again for your information and photos. Mitch