The first holiday weekend of the summer is upon us! Can this be possible? While you would never know it by the weather, the calendar says it is so. Yard salers will be out in full force and I am sure the village will be hopping with tourists. If you have to drive into town, please drive carefully. I have found that on these holiday weekends, the roads are full of people who are familiar with our area or pedistrians who meandor on and off the streets at will.
The water district office will be closed on Monday May 31, 2010 in observance of Memorial Day. Our regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, June 1. As always, someone will be on call should an emergency arise.
Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend from everyone here at the Pine Cove Water District. Jerry, Becky, Vicki, Jerry J., Jeremey, Mike and of course Stitch.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Customer Appreciation Day
We are less than 2 weeks from our annual Customer Appreciation Day Lunch. It will be held at Dutch Flats immediately following the Pine Cove Property Owners Association meeting. If you aren't attending the PCPOA meeting, you can meet us at Dutch Flats any time after 11 a.m. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Becky at 951-659-2675. We would appreciate having an idea how many people are attending so that we can provide an adequate amount of food. Our now famous tri-tip sandwiches will be the star of the show accompanied by scrumptious homemade salads. We will also have desserts available for those with a sweet tooth. So please come by, have some lunch, meet your neighbors and even take a tour of the Dutch Flats aeration plant. It will be a fun way to enjoy a picnic lunch and find out what is going on here at the Pine Cove Water District.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Wild, Wild, Weather
Well, it appears I was WRONG! Sunday brought more cold and snow so it evidently was not safe to plant things out in the garden. I can only hope my morning glory seeds will make it through. I have covered my cucumbers and my one cherry tomato plant. My strawberries look very unhappy as of this morning and I hope they make it through unscathed.
Yesterday presented us with snow, wind, hail and cold temperatures. Call me crazy, but I wasn't really prepared for this because I thought it was spring! But that is life here in Pine Cove. Sometimes Mother Nature throws us a curve ball and we have to just roll with it. I am not sure when it will be safe to plant my garden, so I think I will make sure I am ready to cover my plants just in case. I will be putting off my tomato planting until after Memorial Day now.
I know they are calling for another storm to come through later this week, and I am hoping that it will be the last one. I am all for spring showers, but not so much for spring snow. I think we are all ready for a dose of sunshine and summer.
Yesterday presented us with snow, wind, hail and cold temperatures. Call me crazy, but I wasn't really prepared for this because I thought it was spring! But that is life here in Pine Cove. Sometimes Mother Nature throws us a curve ball and we have to just roll with it. I am not sure when it will be safe to plant my garden, so I think I will make sure I am ready to cover my plants just in case. I will be putting off my tomato planting until after Memorial Day now.
I know they are calling for another storm to come through later this week, and I am hoping that it will be the last one. I am all for spring showers, but not so much for spring snow. I think we are all ready for a dose of sunshine and summer.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Frugal Fridays
It is now after Mother's Day, so I am hoping it is safe to start planting. I have lettuce coming up as well as peas. I put 4 cucumber plants in and one kicked the bucket already, so I am hoping the other 3 hang in there. I have had to cover them several days and nights. I am chomping at the bit to get everything in.
I am also chomping at the bit to get started on some garden projects. My first one is a fairy chair. I found an old wooden chair from the thrift shop in the village. I lined the seat with wire and planted it. I put one strawberry plant in the front and filled the rest with morning glory seeds. I love morning glories and I am hoping they actually grow. The chair is in a sunny spot, but that means the soil is going to dry out very quickly. Once the seeds sprout and are a few inches tall, I will mulch the whole planter to help retain the moisture. Once the morning glories come up, they will grow up and over the chair and down and around the legs and through the garden. It should look very nice.
I did spray paint the chair green prior to planting it. I am hoping that the chair blends in with the plants and it will eventually look like the morning glories are floating in air. Since the garden the chair sits in is full of mint and vinca, there isn't much flower action going on there. So the morning glories will give the mint garden a shot of color all summer long. Stay tuned for pictures.
I am also chomping at the bit to get started on some garden projects. My first one is a fairy chair. I found an old wooden chair from the thrift shop in the village. I lined the seat with wire and planted it. I put one strawberry plant in the front and filled the rest with morning glory seeds. I love morning glories and I am hoping they actually grow. The chair is in a sunny spot, but that means the soil is going to dry out very quickly. Once the seeds sprout and are a few inches tall, I will mulch the whole planter to help retain the moisture. Once the morning glories come up, they will grow up and over the chair and down and around the legs and through the garden. It should look very nice.
I did spray paint the chair green prior to planting it. I am hoping that the chair blends in with the plants and it will eventually look like the morning glories are floating in air. Since the garden the chair sits in is full of mint and vinca, there isn't much flower action going on there. So the morning glories will give the mint garden a shot of color all summer long. Stay tuned for pictures.
Breaking News!
The bluebird houses are back!! We recently had a run on our bird houses and ran out. I know several of you were disappointed when you stopped in and we didn't have any. We are happy to announce that we have a fresh supply so if you didn't get one, please feel free to stop in and pick one up.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Sustainable Thursday
We are all trying to live more sustainably, however, in today's world this can be difficult and confusing. So I found an article called The Seven Stones of Simpler Living by Chris Baskind on moreminimal.com that I thought was very good. I am posting them here. If you want to read more, please go to moreminimal.com
Reduce your consumption
Anyone who thinks they can shop their way to greener living has been watching too much television. Sure, responsible consumerism matters. Every purchase is a choice. But the key to simpler, greener living is pretty straightforward: consume less. A simple way to cut back on unnecessary purchases is the One Week rule. Unless you have a real show-stopper, write down the things you need and sit on them for seven days. Stores are designed to encourage impulse spending, so staying away as much as possible is good news for your bank account. After a week, round up the items you still need and group them together with an eye toward combining as many trips as possible. Then stick to your list. While this all sounds very simple, you’ll quickly realize how chaotic our spending habits can be — and how much money you can save through better planning.
Trim your waste stream
We call it garbage; other nations might call it wealth. There’s no end to things we send to the landfill. Recycling helps, but the sheer volume of waste generated by the average household is overwhelming. From obsolete electronics to that mason jar you casually tossed in the trash last night, we’re flooding our landfills while robbing ourselves of things which might be put to another use. Start by thinking twice when you purchase something: Is whatever you’re buying too heavily packaged? Do you need it all? Think again before putting anything in a trash or recycling bin. Nobody expects you to become a packrat, but that jar could easily be repurposed as a water bottle or something to pack a snack. Food scraps belong in the compost heap. Maybe that cardboard, too. For some idea starters on keeping things out of the bin, check out this helpful list from No Impact Man.
Cut your energy use
Energy prices have relaxed over the past few months as a direct result of the worldwide economic slowdown. But electricity, gasoline, natural gas, and heating oil still represent a hefty portion of the average family budget. Unless you’re fortunate enough to live in an area already invested in renewable energy, every unattended TV or flick of the light switch means you’re burning fossil fuels. That means you’re directly responsible for the air pollution and all the related consumables it took to bring that power to your wall socket. You’ll find hundreds of energy saving tips here on Lighter Footstep, and we’re posting more every week. Learn to weatherize; replace or retire inefficient appliances; consider more energy efficient lighting; and rearrange your living spaces so they take better advantage of natural heat, lighting, and cooling. Switch things off and pocket the change. You’ll probably enjoy the peace and quiet.
Prepare and grow your own food
If there’s one lost art in the past decade or two, it’s cooking real food. By “cooking,” we don’t mean warming up packaged food from the grocery store. We’re talking about preparing meals from fresh ingredients. That’s how our parents and grandparents did it. Admittedly, society has changed: With dual-income households and ever-expanding work schedules, it’s easy to fall back on processed meals and fast foods. And that’s a shame. Making a meal — whether it’s just for yourself or a whole family — is the one of the little rituals which forces us to slow down and be mindful of what we eat. It’s also healthier, and an enormous money saver. Not too handy in the kitchen? Take a class, or spend time cooking with someone you love. Real food needn’t be complicated. And consider growing some of what you consume. Even if you’re not blessed with the space to plant a garden, you can grow a satisfying crop of herbs and vegetables in modest containers.
Reduce your reliance on automobiles
We love our cars. And why not? Virtually everything about modern living — particularly in the United States — assumes automobile transportation. Think how much blacktop and concrete there is within a hundred yards of you right now. Our cities sprawl across what used to be countryside. Stores and businesses which make provision for bicycles and mass transit are the exception, and we feel inconvenienced if there’s not plenty of parking within a few paces of wherever we travel. Dust off that bicycle or grab a backpack and get walking. Perhaps you could start by taking our Ten Mile Pledge. The more you park your car, the more money you’ll save and the healthier you’ll feel. Start small, establish new habits, and you’ll be surprised how much you can get done without burning a drop of gasoline.
Reduce your personal stress
It’s not an accident that virtually every one of our “simplicity stones” has a meditative component. You have to make time to prepare food, choose walking over a car trip, or even make a proper shopping list. This is a good thing, because it forces you to unburden yourself of something else. We are hopelessly overstimulated. Living a greener life is less about learning new things than letting go of the old. Think about all the tasks you do in a week that take longer than thirty minutes. Look most carefully at social obligations, hobbies — even the time you spend online. Have any of these become a chore? What could be jettisoned? It could be something as simple as dropping a social network, or a repetitive task which could be delegated to others. You could probably find a few extra hours a week in this manner. Don’t be in a hurry to fill them. Pick up a book, talk a walk, or putter in the garden. Light physical activity is a great way to trade stress for a little extra serotonin. If you’re doing a good job saving money, you might be able to afford that once-a-week massage. Now, at least, you’ll have time to fit it in.
Learn to give back
You’ve reduced your consumption. There are a few extra dollars in the bank. Your environmental footstep gets a little smaller from month to month, and you’ve managed reclaim some time from the chaos of your week. Now you’re ready to give back. It’s an encouraging sign that the very same people being pushed aside by a faltering economy are sparking a new surge in volunteerism. Perhaps it’s the old adage that adversity brings out the best in people. Or maybe something new is happening: a return to the ideals of community and service. How you join in is a personal decision. Teach your new-found skills to others, help people find jobs, or assist a faith or social group. As you learn to slow down and simplify, chances are that opportunities to serve will find you.
Reduce your consumption
Anyone who thinks they can shop their way to greener living has been watching too much television. Sure, responsible consumerism matters. Every purchase is a choice. But the key to simpler, greener living is pretty straightforward: consume less. A simple way to cut back on unnecessary purchases is the One Week rule. Unless you have a real show-stopper, write down the things you need and sit on them for seven days. Stores are designed to encourage impulse spending, so staying away as much as possible is good news for your bank account. After a week, round up the items you still need and group them together with an eye toward combining as many trips as possible. Then stick to your list. While this all sounds very simple, you’ll quickly realize how chaotic our spending habits can be — and how much money you can save through better planning.
Trim your waste stream
We call it garbage; other nations might call it wealth. There’s no end to things we send to the landfill. Recycling helps, but the sheer volume of waste generated by the average household is overwhelming. From obsolete electronics to that mason jar you casually tossed in the trash last night, we’re flooding our landfills while robbing ourselves of things which might be put to another use. Start by thinking twice when you purchase something: Is whatever you’re buying too heavily packaged? Do you need it all? Think again before putting anything in a trash or recycling bin. Nobody expects you to become a packrat, but that jar could easily be repurposed as a water bottle or something to pack a snack. Food scraps belong in the compost heap. Maybe that cardboard, too. For some idea starters on keeping things out of the bin, check out this helpful list from No Impact Man.
Cut your energy use
Energy prices have relaxed over the past few months as a direct result of the worldwide economic slowdown. But electricity, gasoline, natural gas, and heating oil still represent a hefty portion of the average family budget. Unless you’re fortunate enough to live in an area already invested in renewable energy, every unattended TV or flick of the light switch means you’re burning fossil fuels. That means you’re directly responsible for the air pollution and all the related consumables it took to bring that power to your wall socket. You’ll find hundreds of energy saving tips here on Lighter Footstep, and we’re posting more every week. Learn to weatherize; replace or retire inefficient appliances; consider more energy efficient lighting; and rearrange your living spaces so they take better advantage of natural heat, lighting, and cooling. Switch things off and pocket the change. You’ll probably enjoy the peace and quiet.
Prepare and grow your own food
If there’s one lost art in the past decade or two, it’s cooking real food. By “cooking,” we don’t mean warming up packaged food from the grocery store. We’re talking about preparing meals from fresh ingredients. That’s how our parents and grandparents did it. Admittedly, society has changed: With dual-income households and ever-expanding work schedules, it’s easy to fall back on processed meals and fast foods. And that’s a shame. Making a meal — whether it’s just for yourself or a whole family — is the one of the little rituals which forces us to slow down and be mindful of what we eat. It’s also healthier, and an enormous money saver. Not too handy in the kitchen? Take a class, or spend time cooking with someone you love. Real food needn’t be complicated. And consider growing some of what you consume. Even if you’re not blessed with the space to plant a garden, you can grow a satisfying crop of herbs and vegetables in modest containers.
Reduce your reliance on automobiles
We love our cars. And why not? Virtually everything about modern living — particularly in the United States — assumes automobile transportation. Think how much blacktop and concrete there is within a hundred yards of you right now. Our cities sprawl across what used to be countryside. Stores and businesses which make provision for bicycles and mass transit are the exception, and we feel inconvenienced if there’s not plenty of parking within a few paces of wherever we travel. Dust off that bicycle or grab a backpack and get walking. Perhaps you could start by taking our Ten Mile Pledge. The more you park your car, the more money you’ll save and the healthier you’ll feel. Start small, establish new habits, and you’ll be surprised how much you can get done without burning a drop of gasoline.
Reduce your personal stress
It’s not an accident that virtually every one of our “simplicity stones” has a meditative component. You have to make time to prepare food, choose walking over a car trip, or even make a proper shopping list. This is a good thing, because it forces you to unburden yourself of something else. We are hopelessly overstimulated. Living a greener life is less about learning new things than letting go of the old. Think about all the tasks you do in a week that take longer than thirty minutes. Look most carefully at social obligations, hobbies — even the time you spend online. Have any of these become a chore? What could be jettisoned? It could be something as simple as dropping a social network, or a repetitive task which could be delegated to others. You could probably find a few extra hours a week in this manner. Don’t be in a hurry to fill them. Pick up a book, talk a walk, or putter in the garden. Light physical activity is a great way to trade stress for a little extra serotonin. If you’re doing a good job saving money, you might be able to afford that once-a-week massage. Now, at least, you’ll have time to fit it in.
Learn to give back
You’ve reduced your consumption. There are a few extra dollars in the bank. Your environmental footstep gets a little smaller from month to month, and you’ve managed reclaim some time from the chaos of your week. Now you’re ready to give back. It’s an encouraging sign that the very same people being pushed aside by a faltering economy are sparking a new surge in volunteerism. Perhaps it’s the old adage that adversity brings out the best in people. Or maybe something new is happening: a return to the ideals of community and service. How you join in is a personal decision. Teach your new-found skills to others, help people find jobs, or assist a faith or social group. As you learn to slow down and simplify, chances are that opportunities to serve will find you.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Earth Fair
A big thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at the Earth Fair on Saturday. We appreciate it and hope you learned something new. I had a great time manning the booth and already have ideas for next year! It was wonderful to see so many of our customers and chatting with so many nice people.
Be sure to watch this blog for our Dri Water experiment. If this product performs as they say it will, it could be a wonderful addition to your water saving arsonal. If you are interested in learning more about it you can go to www.driwater.com and read all about it.
Remember to stop by and get your free bag of compost, bluebird house and water saving kit.
Be sure to watch this blog for our Dri Water experiment. If this product performs as they say it will, it could be a wonderful addition to your water saving arsonal. If you are interested in learning more about it you can go to www.driwater.com and read all about it.
Remember to stop by and get your free bag of compost, bluebird house and water saving kit.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Board Meeting
Our monthly board meeting is being held this morning at 10 a.m. Our monthly board meetings are open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. We hope to see you there.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Sustainable Thursday
Well spring has finally sprung. I think. As we sit at the beginning of the summer season, it is a good time to think about what we can do to be more sustainable. This time of year is so wonderful. After the long, cold winter we just want to fling open our doors and windows and get outside. For many that means the start of the gardening season.
Spring and fall are the best time to plant trees. Try to avoid planting them in the middle of the hot, summer months when their water needs will be high. If you can't get your trees planted withing the next month or two, it might be more beneficial to wait until fall. Trees are an excellent way to help naturally cool your house during the summer months. If you plant deciduous trees, you will then allow the sun into your house in the winter time as well.
Removing excess paving. As we all know, cement really holds the heat. The more of it you have around your house, the more heat that will be retained. Convert pavement to plants. Remember the driveways with two narrow strips of pavement? All that unpaved area between the strips would allow water to soak into the ground, preventing runoff and adding to the cooling of the air. Plants are better than pavement Wherever possible, minimize or even remove pavement, and instead plant the area with low-water-using, low-maintenance plants. Or try the two narrow strips type of driveway if you feel you can go without pavement.
Remember to check your outside irrigation system for leaks. All water that passes through your meter is your responsibility.
Spring and fall are the best time to plant trees. Try to avoid planting them in the middle of the hot, summer months when their water needs will be high. If you can't get your trees planted withing the next month or two, it might be more beneficial to wait until fall. Trees are an excellent way to help naturally cool your house during the summer months. If you plant deciduous trees, you will then allow the sun into your house in the winter time as well.
Removing excess paving. As we all know, cement really holds the heat. The more of it you have around your house, the more heat that will be retained. Convert pavement to plants. Remember the driveways with two narrow strips of pavement? All that unpaved area between the strips would allow water to soak into the ground, preventing runoff and adding to the cooling of the air. Plants are better than pavement Wherever possible, minimize or even remove pavement, and instead plant the area with low-water-using, low-maintenance plants. Or try the two narrow strips type of driveway if you feel you can go without pavement.
Remember to check your outside irrigation system for leaks. All water that passes through your meter is your responsibility.
Board Meeting
Our next board meeting will be on May 12, 2010 at 10:00 AM. Everyone is welcome to attend. Join us and find out what is happening around the district.
Visa, Mastercard and Discover
Well it finally happened. We now take credit cards. We are currently accepting Visa, Mastercard and Discover. You can use them in person or over the phone. There is $2.50 convenience charge that goes directly to the credit card processing company. This is a quick and easy way to pay your water bill and is especially handy for those who live off the hill. Please call Becky at 951-659-2675 or email her at Becky@pcwd.org for more information on this matter.
Newsletter
You should have received our Spring/Summer Newsletter by now. Please make sure you read through it as it contains a lot of valuable information. If you did not receive a copy in the mail, please contact us at 951-659-2675 and we will send you one. We would appreciate hearing your thoughts and comments on the newsletter. If you have any suggestions on what subjects you would like to see addressed in the Fall/Winter Newsletter, please let us know.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Spring here for good?
This weekend provided residents of Pine Cove with some spring like weather. The sun was shining and although it wasn't all that warm, it was better than it has been. It feels good to fling open the windows and doors and let that fresh air and sunshine in. Now is a good time to check and see how your irrigation system, outside faucets and hoses faired over the long winter. Check for leaks and repair them immediately. Once the summer gets here, you want your outdoor watering to be as efficient as possible.
It is easy to get complacent when it comes to water use after such a long, seemingly wet winter. But remember, we are not out of the water woods yet. One wet winter does not a drought eliminate. If we are to continue to have an adequate supply of clean water, we must be ever vigilant and always conserve when possible. Being ever mindful of our water situation and conserving when possible, reduces the possibility that we will have to go into a Stage 2 or 3 conservation effort. We are currently in Stage 1 and we hope everyone will continue to conserve and be good stewards of the water supply that we have. We here at the PCWD appreciate everyone's efforts to conserve water and only use what is necessary. If everyone does their part, then we will all have plenty of wonderful water for all our needs.
Remember we have water saving kits available for FREE at the water district office. Just come in and ask for yours. We also have FREE wood chips to use as mulch in your garden. Mulch helps keeps the moisture in the soil and slowly decomposes and adds valuable nutrients to your garden soil. Stop by anytime and pick up as much as you need. The pile is located behind the workshop on Marion Ridge Rd.
It is easy to get complacent when it comes to water use after such a long, seemingly wet winter. But remember, we are not out of the water woods yet. One wet winter does not a drought eliminate. If we are to continue to have an adequate supply of clean water, we must be ever vigilant and always conserve when possible. Being ever mindful of our water situation and conserving when possible, reduces the possibility that we will have to go into a Stage 2 or 3 conservation effort. We are currently in Stage 1 and we hope everyone will continue to conserve and be good stewards of the water supply that we have. We here at the PCWD appreciate everyone's efforts to conserve water and only use what is necessary. If everyone does their part, then we will all have plenty of wonderful water for all our needs.
Remember we have water saving kits available for FREE at the water district office. Just come in and ask for yours. We also have FREE wood chips to use as mulch in your garden. Mulch helps keeps the moisture in the soil and slowly decomposes and adds valuable nutrients to your garden soil. Stop by anytime and pick up as much as you need. The pile is located behind the workshop on Marion Ridge Rd.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)