Here we go again!

Well here we are enjoying mild weather for the past couple of weeks. The lilac bushes are budding up, the roses are coming back to life and many other trees and plants think it is spring and have started to leaf out or come up. As per usual, Old Man Winter has decided he isn't quite ready to leave the hill yet. Weather reports are calling for a storm today and possibly more snow! This seems to happen each and every year almost without fail. It is very frustrating for gardeners. However, there isn't anything we can do about the weather, so we just have to hang in there. Hopefully this will be a brief storm and it won't damage any of the plants or trees that think it is spring. Here's hoping we DO NOT have a white Easter!

Water Bills

The boys, Jerry and Jeremy, were out and about reading water meters this week. If you will recall at our last billing we were unable to read the meters due to the large amount of snow. Luckily we are not facing that problem this time. Many of you noticed that your last bill was exactly the same as your December bill. That was due to not being able to read the meters. This billing will have you correct reading on it and many of you will be getting a credit on your bill. Becky, the office manager, is going over each account individually and will be crediting all accounts that paid for more water than they used. If you have any questions at all about this, please give her a call at 951-659-2675 and she will be happy to talk to you about your account. We apologize for any confusion this may cause but rest assured that after this billing, all accounts will be current and to date. We appreciate your patience with this matter. Our office hours are 9 to 12 and 1 to 4, Monday thru Friday. Please feel free to stop by if you have any questions. You can also email us at Becky@pcwd.org if you need more information. Thank you.

Free Wood Chips!

We have free woodchips available to anyone who would like to have some. Just come on up and help yourself. They are located behind the water district's workshop. You may come anytime to pick them up. They are great around plants and trees to help with water retention.

Water Saving Kits

Please don't forget to stop by and pick up your free water saving kit. They are free of charge to all Pine Cove Water District customers. Just stop by the office, located at 24917 Marion Ridge Rd during normal business hours and pick one up.

Birth Announcement

On Thursday, March 18, 2010, Chase Ryan Potter arrived into this world. He weighed in at 7lbs. 6 oz. and is 19 inches tall. His proud parents are Jeremy and Katie Potter. He was welcomed home by big brother Aaron and big sister Cami. We hope you will join us in wishing them all the very best.

Sustainable Thursday

As Easter looms in the not to far off distance, we are reminded that spring is a renewing time of year. It never ceases to amaze me each year how the plants here on our mountain know it is spring and time to bloom and grow. While some are slower than others, it is amazing to walk through the yard and see all the activity going on. Bulbs are springing to life, leaves on certain trees are budding up. Roses are growing after being dormant for the long, cold winter. Things just seem to be re-born everywhere you look.

It doesn't stop with the plants either. All of a sudden the birds are a buzz with activity and the squirrels are out and about in full force. I am sure it won't be long until the insects figure out it is spring and arrive in full force as well. The ants already seem to have figured that out, so the others can't be far behind.

In order to avoid a mosquito invasion, make sure you do not have any standing water around your house or yard. With all the snow we have had this past winter, it is easy for any type of a container left outside to become full of water and harbor a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check around your property and make sure you empty out any standing water. Mosquitoes can carry diseases and it is best to play it safe.

As always, we have to be aware of the danger of rattlesnakes. While this is a subject that sends fear through my entire being, it is something we must be aware of. Always take precautions around wood piles and any other places you think a snake could be hanging out. After almost stepping on a rattlesnake in my own front yard one day, I am now more observant when I am outside gardening or walking around. One favorite hide out for them is under propane tanks and under the lids on the propane tanks. While rattlesnakes are a part of nature, they are a part I do not wish to encounter, so being extremely cautious is how I deal with the situation. As it warms up and we are outside cleaning up our yards, remember that the rattlesnakes may be warming up as well and ready to come out for that first sunbath of the year. Keep yourself safe.

If you have the urge to start planting, remember to add compost to your soil so that it will retain water better and then top that with mulch to keep the moisure in. We are still offering a free bag of compost to Pine Cove Water District customers and we are offering FREE wood chips to anyone who wants them. Come and take advantage of these offers while you can.

We are also giving away blue bird houses. Now is the time to come and pick one up and get it hung up in a tree so the birds can make their nests. We also have water saving kits available to our customers. They contain a water saving shower head as well as an aerator and low flow spigots and they are absolutely FREE!

World Water Day

Yesterday, March 22, 2010, was World Water Day. According to the website waterday. org, nearly 1 billion people worldwide do not have clean drinking water and 2.6 billion still lack basic sanitation. Living in the United States, it is hard to comprehend this. World Water Day, celebrated annually on March 22, was established by the United Nations in 1992 and focuses attention on the world's water crisis, as well as the solutions to address it.

Here in Pine Cove, we are lucky. All we have to do to get fresh, clean water is turn on our taps. We have the luxury of having water that tastes good and does not carry any diseases or bacteria. We have ample water to cook with, wash our clothes with, take hot showers or baths with, and for our gardening needs. We have sanitation systems and don't have to worry about the issues that arise when that is not the case. While we take this all for granted, we must bear in mind that we are truly blessed to have the luxury of clean drinking water.

When reading about the plight of people who do not have access to a fresh water supply, it suddenly becomes crystal clear how others, who do not have this basic need being met, must be suffereing. Just think about all the times in a day that you use water. What if you had to walk a mile and wait in line to get water for that first pot of coffee in the morning? What if the only water you had access to carried diseases? Hundreds of little things we do each day, from brushing our teeth to cooking our dinner, depend on us having clean water. We are actually twice blessed because not only do we have access to clean water, but it comes right into our homes. We don't have to walk to get it, wait in line for it or carry it home.

If we want a drink of water, no problem. We can walk to the sink and get it. We don't have to worry about getting sick or using up the only water we have. For an eye opening experience, try counting how many times in a day you reach for your spigot. Water is a precious resource and should not be taken for granted. It is easy to get complacient when it comes to conserving, but I would ask you to remember the old adage, "There but for the grace of God go I." If everyone conserves, we can continue to ensure that Pine Cove residents will enjoy clean, fresh water for many years to come.

Sustainable Thursday

After a week of fairly nice weather, it seems everyone is ready for spring to arrive. It feels good to have the sun upon my face when I go outside and it is wonderful to see the actual ground again. I know it is early and I shouldn't get too excited yet as Old Man Winter could still throw us a few punches.

However, while the weather is nice it gives us a break and we can enjoy a few spring time activities while waiting to see if winter is gone for good.

1. Hang your clothes outside to dry. Since the sun has been shining and it has been over 50 degrees outside, why not use your solar clothes dryer? You will save energy and your clothes will smell so fresh and good. I can remember during the summer as a child, climbing into freshly washed sheets that were dried on the line outside and smelled so good that I would just bury my face into my pillow and take a deep breath. Then my mom got a new dryer and all that ended.

At my house though, that tradition was revived. When my first child arrived in May of 1977, it turned out to be twins and so I spent all summer that year hanging out dozens and dozens of receiving blankets, crib sheets, undershirts and sleepers. Even though I had a dryer, the clothes came off the line smelling so fresh and clean that it was worth the extra effort. Add to that a couple of freshly bathed and powdered baby girls and the sweet smell of the baby and the line dried clothes mixed together was intoxicating to a then new mom.

It is my hope that all 4 of my daughters will have memories of climbing into sheets dried outside on the clothes line and I hope my grandbabies will have memories of visiting Grandma & Grandpa in the mountains and remember how good the sheets smelled when they were tucked into bed while visiting. Drying clothes outside on the line not only saves energy, it makes memories!

2. Get some compost and mulch into your yard. I love working in the yard at this time of year. Mainly because the soil is so moist and easy to dig up. While it is still to early to do a lot of serious planting, it is a great time to add compost to your soil. We sometimes forget that our trees can use some extra nutrients as well as our garden plants. Once you get your soil amended, don't forget to add a layer of mulch to help the soil retain moisture. Well composted soil holds water much better than uncomposted soil and a layer of mulch will not only help retain moisture, but if you use something natural like woodchips, they too will break down into compost over time and add even more nutrients to the soil.

If you are gardening on a budget, don't forget that Pine Cove Water District is giving away FREE bark chips to be used as mulch. We are also giving away one free bag of COMPOST to any Pine Cove Water District customer that comes in an requests one. We want to get everyone off to a good start this spring, so stop by and pick yours up now!

3. Stop water runoff in your yard. Now is also a great time to go out into your yard and add berms and swales to retain and hold water and/or snow runoff. Check your rainspouting for leaks and add rainbarrels to catch the runoff from your roof. This water can then be used later in the year for irrigation. Check for leaks and repair any you find immediately. Winter can be hard on our pipes and our outdoor irrigation systems. Customers are responsible for all the water that runs through their meter, so catching leaks early saves money, time and property. Don't wait until it becomes a major problem that is going to cost thousands of dollars to fix. What is that old saying? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is very true when it comes to keeping your irrigation system in top notch shape.

4. Get a jump start on your fire abatement. I know it is hard to think of fire season when we have just seen the last of the snow melt, but we have to remember it is fire season up here all year round. Take advantage of this nice weather to clean off your roof and get your yard raked up. It is easier to work in this cooler weather than it is to work in 80+ degrees. Plus, if you do it now, while others are scrambling to get their abatement done, you can sit smuggly back with your feet up, sipping on an iced tea, reading a good book. When it comes to fire prevention, you can never do too much or do it too soon. Keeping up with fire abatement makes the job easier than when you let it go for long periods of time and saves you from being cited or fined for not complying.

So even though spring may or may not have sprung, there are still somethings we can get a jump start on. Doing some of your gardening chores now will leave you more free time to play when the nice weather does finally comes to stay.

Mulch Reminder

Now that the snow is melting it is a wonderful time to get some mulch down in your garden to help retain the moisture that is there. We are still giving away free woodchips to anyone who wants them. Just stop by the office and pick them up. The office is located at 24917 Marion Ridge Rd. and the chips are located right behind the garage. Just help yourself.

Sustainable Thursday

Here on the hill we like to think that we are community minded. We all say we want to protect what we have here on the hill. But are we really living in a sustainable way that benefits the community as a whole or are we all just lone rangers who think we are community minded, but in reality we are only worried about ourselves. What does community minded mean anyway and how does that affect sustainable living?

I like to think that here on the hill, we all work together for the common good and not for our own individual interests. After all, there is no me in community. In order to live sustainably, you must be concerned about others. After all, in 50 years, many of us will be gone and it will be our children and grandchildren who benefit or suffer from the choices we make today and the lifestyle we choose.

Choosing to live in a sustainable way shows you care. Not only about yourself or your family, but about everyone. It shows you care about the environment, the future, the earth, the wildlife and the community. If we are to preserve our resources, then everyone has to be on board. We have to live in a way that benefits the common good and not just ourselves. It does no good if 50% of us are trying to live sustainably while the other 50% are only out for themselves.

Living sustainably can take on many forms. It is hard in today's world to be 100% sustainable. However, every little thing we do or don't do, use or don't use, can help the future. Some changes are very simple and do not take much effort. Others do take time or effort or money. The key is to have everyone on the same page and everyone doing something!

One thing that is important is to get everyone talking. Remember the days when everyone had a front porch? Just sitting out on the porch swing with a glass of iced tea or lemonade, was a pleasant way to pass a summer evening. As people strolled by, it was easy to greet them and have a chat. Then we all got air conditioning, TV's and computers and porches, screen doors and swings became unnecessary as we all moved inside to climate controlled comfort. Soon people were living in neighborhoods where neighbors didn't know each other.

When you actually know the people who live in your neighbhood, it makes you want to take care of that neighborhood even more. It always takes me longer to do garden chores than I anticipate it will because inevitably while I am out there working, someone walks by and we end up chatting. It doesn't matter if I am in my old overalls with barn boots on and dirt on my hands and face cleaning out the goat pen or planting flowers in the garden or just sitting out there reading. A friendly smile and hello has started many conversations over my fence or garden gate. Each of these encounters allows me to get to know the people who live in my neighborhood and makes me realzie that what I do affects others around me.

With nice weather approaching, lets all make a pact to get outside and interact with each other more. Let's think about the the greater good before we think of what is good for us. Let's all try to do something to live more sustainably and improve things, not only for ourselves, but for our neighbors as well.

Hard boiled eggs

With Easter not too far off, and then summer, the old problem of peeling hard boiled eggs comes back onto my radar. Older eggs are easier to peel, but what do you do if you want to use fresh eggs? I personally have not found a solution to this problem. However, I found this online. I do not know if it works or not, but I am going to try it.

Julia Child's methold of alternately heating and chilling the eggs.

For a dozen eggs, choose the best you can find, preferably pasture-raised eggs. Place them at the bottom of a large, heavy pot and cover with 3 1/2 quarts of cold water. Bring the pot to a boil. As soon as it begins to boil, remove the pot and allow the eggs to sit, covered for exactly 17 minutes.

When the 17 minutes have elapsed, carefully remove the eggs to a large bowl of iced water. Allow the eggs to sit in the iced water for 2 minutes. Meanwhile, put the pot on the stove and bring the water back to a boil. Remove the eggs from the iced water after the 2 minutes are up. In batches of 6, return the eggs to the boiling water for 10 seconds only. Then remove again and place back in the iced water. If you will not be dying or decorating the eggs, crack each egg in several places. Let the eggs rest in the iced water until well chilled.

Now this seems like a lot of messing around to me, however, I am going to try it. It would be worth the extra effort during the cooking process to have eggs that peel easily. Nothing is worse than trying to peel hardboiled eggs that won't peel properly.

Board Meeting

The March Board Meeting will be held tomorrow, March 10th at 10 a.m. The agenda is posted and we hope to see you there.

Earth Fair

Sitting here looking out the office window at the snow and ice covered trees, the dark skies, the wind blowing through the trees and the ice covered road, it is hard to imagine that in approximately 9 weeks the weather will be nice enough to hold an out door festival. But every year when the Earth Fair comes around, the weather is usually co-operative. So I am hoping that is the way for this year's festival which is slated to take place on Saturday, May 15th from 11 am until 5 pm. This year PCWD will have it's first ever booth there.

We are very excited about this. We are planning to bring a variety of demonstrations and lots of handouts. We feel that education is an important part of running the water district responsibly. We can't expect people to conserve if we don't teach them how to do it.

Vicki will be manning the booth and it is our hope that many of our customers will stop by and say hello and take a look at our demonstrations and information. In the meantime, we will just keep trying to stay warm and hope that the weather warms up sooner rather than later.

Free woodchips

If anyone wants to get a jump on their spring mulching, we are still giving away free woodchips to anyone who would like some. They are great for mulching your yard and garden and help retain all this lovely moisture we have had recently. Since we have had such a wet winter, it is a good idea to get them down early if you don't already have any mulch in your yard. Just come by and pick some up!

More cold and snow?

Well here it is Friday and it seems I have to post about the same thing yet again. More cold and snowy weather. It might be March on the calender, but I have yet to feel any signs of spring. With spring a mere two weeks away, it does make one long for some warm and sunny days. After basically being cooped up for 5 months, I want to throw open the windows and head out to the garden. However, that will all have to wait a bit longer. Perhaps next week will bring a bit of spring to us and help resolve this bad case of cabin fever I seem to be wrestling with.

Sustainable Thursday

As a long time plastic bag washer, the winter months always present the problem of how to dry them. In the summer, it is easy. I wash and rinse them and then just hang them out on my clothesline to air dry. However, I haven't really found a good place in my house to string up a line to dry plastic bags on. I guess I could do it in the bathroom over the tub or in the kitchen over the sink but I am not sure I would like the looks of such a set up though. I couldn't help but think that there has to be a better way to dry my plastic bags. Throwing them over the handles of the knives in my knife block isn't really cutting it.

So I decided to peruse the web and see if some clever person has come up with a better way or if there is actually a device to aid one in their bag drying dilema. Sure enough, there is a real bag dryer that is made called The Bag-E-Wash Dryer. It is a wooden gadet and either sits on your counter top or can be hung on a wall.

But before I would run out and buy something new, I thought I would like to try to find other items that could be re-purposed and used as a bag dryer. Some things I came up were a retractable rack for drying clothes. The kind that hangs on the wall and then pulls out. You can hang towels, stockings or other lightweight items on it. I have one of these in my shed. It is made from wood and I have been looking for something to do with it for years now. It was given to me and I keep thinking someday I will find something to use this for. I could pull it out and hang bags on it with clothes pins and when it wasn't needed, push it back in again. It wouldn't take up much room and perhaps it could be hung from the ceiling, which would really be out of the way when not in use.

Folding racks that are used for drying clothes could be turned into a bag dryer. I think they would also make great dryers for herbs. If you have had a baby recently, you might have a bottle dryer kicking around that could be re-purposed as a bag dryer.

Another option might be to make one out of chopsticks and small block of wood for the base. All you would have to do is save up your chopsticks and then drill small holes the size of your chopsticks in to the block of wood. Add a little wood glue and push the chopsticks into the holes and viola. Instant bag dryer. I think this would work really well and be very inexpensive to make. Since plastic bags are light, you don't need something real heavy duty.

What about one of those vintage triple rack towel holders? They have the 3 arms that swing out to the left or the right. You could dry 3 bags on one of those if you had one around. Places like eBay or Amazon.com often have vintage items like this for sale and by buying something used, you are recycling and keeping things out of our landfills. Plus there is something very special about previously loved items. They make a house into a home and help save the earth all at the same time.

The website GreenHome.com, reports that a July 2002 EPA report stated that Americans discarded more than 3.3 million tons of low and high density polyethylene bags in 2000. Of those 3.3 million tons only 5.4% were recovered and recycled. Plastic bags are also among the the "dirty dozen" - the top 12 items most often found in coastal cleanups.

America alone produces 10 pounds of plastic bags per year for every person on earth! That is a lot of plastic bags. Washing and re-using plastic bags can make a huge dent in the number of bags that wind up in the landfills. One box (30) of gallon size bags washed and reused 50 times each keeps 1,500 bags out of the landfill!

One additional tip I have found helpful is that if you buy only freezer bags, they last much longer and you can wash them many times over before they wear out or spring a leak.