I like the method of irrigation using clay pots, pretty smart use of those porous containers.
I also read in the article about how the shingle roof was replaced with a metal one but has not yet had gutters installed for rainwater collection.
I don't know how common this situation is with other roof collection systems but, if people have a problem with not being able to collect the rain when gutters are not installed, put collection barrels under the valley runoffs of the roof, if there are valleys present. The rain will collect there and run off in copious quantities and fill the barrels to overflowing in short order, depending on the amount of rain that is.