Installing a drip irrigation system is not hard and the systems are  
designed to connect large gardening areas separated by non-gardening  
areas.   Usually you install the lines UNDER the paths.  In the garden  
areas, you can lay the lines on top of the soil (or bury them).

Netafim is a good product -- one of the oldest around (developed in  
Israel years ago).    There are other systems, too.  I think Bluebird  
is one.  Timers can be included.

Soaker hoses can probably be used, too, but you'd have to use regular  
hoses under the paths, etc. (where you don't want the water).   The  
trouble with using hoses is that they only come in certain sizes.  
Drip irrigation is customized as you install -- very easy to cut the  
lines and make connections, including "T" and "X" (3 and 4) lines  
connected together.

(If you want to see Netafim components up close, I would be happy to  
demonstrate.   I have some leftover materials from my former life as a  
professional gardener, when I installed a number of Netafim  
systems.    I can't show you a working system, but I can show you how  
it goes together.    I'm in Evanston if you want to come up some time.)

-- Debbie

Debbie Hillman
847/328-7175
DLHill...@sbcglobal.net
LinkedIn
www.ChicagoStories.org/food/
Evanston Food Council   (co-founder and chairperson)
Illinois Local Food and Farms Coalition   (co-founder)
Illinois Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council   (co-founder)
Cook County Food System Steering Committee (member)