At Escola Secundária de Amora we tested two technologies simultaneously: Olly Water capillary irrigation pots and NAM ground cover. The goal: understand how each contributes to the mini-forest's health.
Olly Water pots — capillary irrigation
Olly Water pots are porous clay containers buried in the soil. Water passes slowly to the roots by capillary action — no waste, no dependence on automatic systems.
5 pots were installed on the Amora island. Ecowitt sensors show that the pot zone consistently maintains 32% soil moisture — versus 19% in the zone without pots.
NAM ground cover
NAM ground cover is applied to the soil surface to reduce evaporation, suppress weeds and keep soil temperature more stable.
In combination with the Olly Water pots, results are promising: fewer weeding sessions, less manual irrigation, more autonomy for the forest.
Why this matters
A Miyawaki mini-forest needs irrigation in the first 2–3 years. In a school or corporate context, where access to irrigation may be irregular, these solutions increase the island's resilience and reduce maintenance costs.
Data is being collected for publication — the Amora island is, literally, a living laboratory.
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