A Proven Method You Can Do Yourself: How to Make it Rain Using Buckets and Befriending Trees

What if we can solve droughts and wildfire risk by working together at the grassroots level, culturally shifting our relationship with trees, and filling one bucket of water at a time?

In this latest episode of the Truth & Justice League podcast, Mark Mueller sits down with Chris Searles, the founder of BioIntegrity,net and innovator of “Rainmaking with Trees” as they discuss the science behind rehydrating the atmosphere, catalyzing rain, and improving the ecosystem of the forest one bucket at a time, one tree at a time. “Strategic Watering” is a pioneering approach to forest hydration that eliminates catastrophic wildfire risks and catalyzes rainfall.

Chris and Mark dive into the societal and cultural history of natural ecosystems and political movements, as they discuss how to reorient human civilization toward the living Earth as our guiding solution improving the overall health and wellbeing of individuals and society.

Chris’s work integrates Christian ethics with Indigenous relationality, by bringing communities together at the grassroots level to develop relationships with trees and improve and support their capacity to deliver moisture into the air and catalyze rain. Since 2015, Chris has led strategic conservation efforts that combine ecological science, grassroots action, and public education with real results in some of the driest places in the country including Central and Southcentral Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon and Northern California.

Find out more at BioIntegrity.net and watch the rain fall in case after case on the BioIntegrity youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@biointegrity.

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Chris Searles is the founder of BioIntegrity.net and the innovator of “Rainmaking with Trees” and “Strategic Watering” — pioneering approaches to forest hydration that eliminate catastrophic wildfire risks and catalyze rainfall. Since 2015, Chris has led strategic conservation efforts combining ecological science, grassroots action, public events, and public education — connecting communities to the benefits of living in an optimal planetary biosphere. Chris’s work integrates Christian ethics with Indigenous relationality, good ole fashioned elbow grease with modern science, to reorient human civilization toward the living Earth as our guiding solution and catalyze human advancement through technological, ecological, economic, and cultural renewal.

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Time Stamps

0:45
What is Rainmaking?

2:00
How does watering trees catalyze rain?
Hydrating trees—naturally around 71°F—activates their pores to release moisture, cooling the air and creating pressure shifts that can draw in rain from hundreds of miles away.

4:07
How long have you been studying trees?
Chris has conducted studies across Central and South-Central Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, and Northern California—regions with uninterrupted forest cover. Strategic watering at forest edges helps stimulate this natural hydration cycle.

Rehydration begins by securing the forest floor with biologically rich, microbially active soil and consistent, targeted watering.

10:12
How does this reduce natural and human-caused forest fires?
Rehydrating landscapes drastically lowers fire risk. Even small daily actions—like filling a five-gallon bucket twice a day for 20 days—can restore balance.

13:00
In Oregon, with only a 5% chance of rain, applying 8,000–9,000 gallons of water over three weeks cut the burn rate by tenfold, moving the forest out of extreme fire danger.

16:30
Forest preservation vs. clear-cutting public lands
Moisture travels through leaves; fewer leaves mean less water movement through the atmosphere. Continuous deforestation, especially of old-growth trees, reduces the planet’s capacity to store and circulate moisture.

22:30
What happened on the ground in Los Angeles?

27:50
Rehydration as community action
Simple collective efforts—watering nearby trees—can bring people together while restoring ecosystems.

30:45
The biosphere, the body, and natural balance
Working with our natural environment strengthens both planetary and personal wellbeing.

40:00
Emotional and spiritual benefits
Interacting with trees nurtures emotional and spiritual health.
“It’s time to grow up—like trees.”
Trees are kin; water is wisdom.
Anger can feel empowering, but much stems from misinformation. True safety and belonging come from kinship—with people and the planet.

Trees are welcoming beings with wisdom to share. Tell them how you feel.

49:00
How to talk to trees and feel better

49:39
Jerry Spence, renowned trial attorney, taught Mark how to walk in silence, hike, and speak with trees.

55:00
Trees have feelings.

56:00
Spiritual places of the world

1:00
Trees are alive and intelligent. Reality itself is a miracle.

1:05
Land-based ecosystems embody harmony and serenity.

1:12
Where to find Chris online and get involved