With this recent storm, please remember to care for your 4 legged friends. Bring animals indoors if at all possible. For those that remain outdoors, please make sure they have adequate shelter that is dry so they can get out of the wind and snow. Animals such as goats and chickens can manage the cold temperatures fine if they have dry shelter with good ventilation. It is essential they have a place to get out of the blowing wind.
Fresh, warm water is a welcome treat that many animals enjoy on a cold morning after a frigid night. Remember, they are dependent on us for their care and we need to be responsible animal owners
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Friday, December 16, 2011
Hold on to your hats!
Update: At 10 a.m., the sun is peeking through, but there are still dark clouds looming over us, so I don't know what the day will bring.
Wow, what a windy night we had. I was awakened at 3 a.m. by things hitting my metal roof. That is the trouble with a metal roof. A gentle rain sounds like a hurricane and small bits of branches sound like whole trees. So I just lie there awake listening to all the noise. It has died down some what, but it is still windy and snow flurries are flying around helter skelter. The sky looks ominous and I don't know what is in store for us.
Here is what the National Weather Service has as the forecast for us.
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 41. East wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Breezy, with a east wind between 20 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
I can tell you from where I am sitting here in the office, it is not partly sunny. We had a small accumulation of snow late yesterday afternoon and evening. The side roads have been plowed and cindered, but some of them are still slick as it was very cold and windy overnight. Hwy 243 seems to be OK. If you are planning to come up, I would advise checking road conditions first, just to be on the safe side. There are links on the left side of this blog to check weather and road conditions.
Hope you all have your propane tanks filled or your wood shed full. As always, please remember to provide for you outdoor animals. Bring them in if possible. In the case of other types of animals, please provide them with a dry, draft free shelter and fresh food and warm water. This morning my chickens are enjoying hot oatmeal with apple cider vinegar and sliced apples, topped with meal worms and corn. They also got hot water with vitamins and have a thick layer of pine shavings in their coop and in their nest boxes. The warm food and water helps to warm them up from the inside out after a long, cold night.
Winter doesn't even begin until next Thursday, but it seems as if it is here in full force, so we better be ready. Hope you all have full propane tanks or woodsheds. Please remember to check on your neighbors, especially the elderly ones, during these bouts of cold weather.
Wow, what a windy night we had. I was awakened at 3 a.m. by things hitting my metal roof. That is the trouble with a metal roof. A gentle rain sounds like a hurricane and small bits of branches sound like whole trees. So I just lie there awake listening to all the noise. It has died down some what, but it is still windy and snow flurries are flying around helter skelter. The sky looks ominous and I don't know what is in store for us.
Here is what the National Weather Service has as the forecast for us.
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 41. East wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Breezy, with a east wind between 20 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
I can tell you from where I am sitting here in the office, it is not partly sunny. We had a small accumulation of snow late yesterday afternoon and evening. The side roads have been plowed and cindered, but some of them are still slick as it was very cold and windy overnight. Hwy 243 seems to be OK. If you are planning to come up, I would advise checking road conditions first, just to be on the safe side. There are links on the left side of this blog to check weather and road conditions.
Hope you all have your propane tanks filled or your wood shed full. As always, please remember to provide for you outdoor animals. Bring them in if possible. In the case of other types of animals, please provide them with a dry, draft free shelter and fresh food and warm water. This morning my chickens are enjoying hot oatmeal with apple cider vinegar and sliced apples, topped with meal worms and corn. They also got hot water with vitamins and have a thick layer of pine shavings in their coop and in their nest boxes. The warm food and water helps to warm them up from the inside out after a long, cold night.
Winter doesn't even begin until next Thursday, but it seems as if it is here in full force, so we better be ready. Hope you all have full propane tanks or woodsheds. Please remember to check on your neighbors, especially the elderly ones, during these bouts of cold weather.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Winter Weather Ahead
The official start of winter is still over a week away, but no matter what the calendar says, it is here now. Snow is falling as I type and I have heard all sorts of wild predictions. Everything from 1/2 of an inch of snow up to 20 inches. I always say to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Emergency preparations are never a waste of time in my book. I don't think anyone can be too prepared.
As we go around our homes preparing for winter weather and storms, lets not forget out pets and animals that are outside. Bring pets indoors when ever possible. If you can't bring them indoors with you, perhaps you could put them in a garage or other protected area of your home. If your pet must stay outdoors for some reason, please be a responsible owner and make sure that your pet has an adequate, clean, dry shelter complete with bedding such as straw and a few old rugs or blankets for warmth. These suggestions also apply if your pet is in an unheated space such as a garage or basement. Be sure they have plenty of fresh, clean food and water as well. Many outdoor pets enjoy something warm to eat as well.
It is also important to provide clean, dry, draft free shelters for other animals you may keep outside as well. Many animals, such as chickens, goats and horses, do fine in cold weather as long as they stay dry and draft free. They too also enjoy some hot water on these cold, snowy days. It helps warm them up from the inside out.
The CDC has some great information on their website about preparing for winter storms. Here is a link to their site and I will put it in the side bar as well.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/takesteps/
Please take some time to read over their site and make sure that you, your pets, your home and your car are prepared to deal with what ever Old Man Winter throws out at us.
As we go around our homes preparing for winter weather and storms, lets not forget out pets and animals that are outside. Bring pets indoors when ever possible. If you can't bring them indoors with you, perhaps you could put them in a garage or other protected area of your home. If your pet must stay outdoors for some reason, please be a responsible owner and make sure that your pet has an adequate, clean, dry shelter complete with bedding such as straw and a few old rugs or blankets for warmth. These suggestions also apply if your pet is in an unheated space such as a garage or basement. Be sure they have plenty of fresh, clean food and water as well. Many outdoor pets enjoy something warm to eat as well.
It is also important to provide clean, dry, draft free shelters for other animals you may keep outside as well. Many animals, such as chickens, goats and horses, do fine in cold weather as long as they stay dry and draft free. They too also enjoy some hot water on these cold, snowy days. It helps warm them up from the inside out.
The CDC has some great information on their website about preparing for winter storms. Here is a link to their site and I will put it in the side bar as well.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/takesteps/
Please take some time to read over their site and make sure that you, your pets, your home and your car are prepared to deal with what ever Old Man Winter throws out at us.
Monday, November 7, 2011
What the heck?
OK, who ordered all this snow? Not me, that is for sure. I am not ready for winter. I was highly enjoying our brief autumn season. Some of the trees hadn't even turned colors yet and now they are flopped over heavy with snow. That is the funny thing about living here in the mountains. The seasons can sure trick you. So ready or not, here we are with a pile of snow to contend with and it is only early November.
Last night was quite the show as well with the thunder and lightening. I always find that strange to have thunder and lightening with snow. I am not sure why, but I think it is weird. Snow fall always seems to be a quiet type of weather. So many times when it is snowing up here, it is so very quiet. I love that. No cars on the road, no snow plows noisily flying down the road. The animals all seem to have disappeared, hopefully taking shelter somewhere dry. The world just seems to go to sleep while the snow silently falls. Thunder and lightening is not part of my snow picture and I find it somewhat unsettling.
The snow also presents a challenge if you have animals that you keep outside. Please be sure to give them fresh warm water, clean, dry, fresh food and make sure they have a shelter out of the wind, rain and snow. Remember, they can't self cater and rely upon us for their needs. If you take on the responsibility of an animal, please be a responsible owner and see to their needs.
Also use caution when driving because as we all know, the roads here can be treacherous and many times it isn't the road conditions so much as the other drivers on the road. Beware of people who don't know how to drive in the snow. I have had many near misses due to inexperienced drivers coming up to the mountains unprepared. Go slow and leave a large distance between you and the cars in front of you. As always, if you don't have to go out, then don't. No sense risking life and limb for something that can wait until another day.
So stay warm, stay dry and stay safe. Hopefully it will warm up and most of this snow will melt away and autumn will come back and give us a few weeks before we settle into winter for good. I am so not ready for winter.
Last night was quite the show as well with the thunder and lightening. I always find that strange to have thunder and lightening with snow. I am not sure why, but I think it is weird. Snow fall always seems to be a quiet type of weather. So many times when it is snowing up here, it is so very quiet. I love that. No cars on the road, no snow plows noisily flying down the road. The animals all seem to have disappeared, hopefully taking shelter somewhere dry. The world just seems to go to sleep while the snow silently falls. Thunder and lightening is not part of my snow picture and I find it somewhat unsettling.
The snow also presents a challenge if you have animals that you keep outside. Please be sure to give them fresh warm water, clean, dry, fresh food and make sure they have a shelter out of the wind, rain and snow. Remember, they can't self cater and rely upon us for their needs. If you take on the responsibility of an animal, please be a responsible owner and see to their needs.
Also use caution when driving because as we all know, the roads here can be treacherous and many times it isn't the road conditions so much as the other drivers on the road. Beware of people who don't know how to drive in the snow. I have had many near misses due to inexperienced drivers coming up to the mountains unprepared. Go slow and leave a large distance between you and the cars in front of you. As always, if you don't have to go out, then don't. No sense risking life and limb for something that can wait until another day.
So stay warm, stay dry and stay safe. Hopefully it will warm up and most of this snow will melt away and autumn will come back and give us a few weeks before we settle into winter for good. I am so not ready for winter.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Heads Up! Weather change coming
Well it is that time of year again folks. The weather can change on a dime and while we have been enjoying nice weather these past few weeks, there is change afoot. There is snow in the forecast for tomorrow.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Increasing clouds, with a low around 32. West wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Rain showers likely before 11am, then snow showers. High near 34. West wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
I guess 1 to 3 inches isn't too bad for the first storm of the season, but I am enjoying this fabulous fall weather and would prefer to keep it at least until December. However, moisture is always needed and welcome, so should we receive some, I will not complain.
So make sure you are ready for snow. It is better to be safe than sorry because the weather can be unpredictable at this time of the year. As always, remember to turn your water off at your customer valve when you leave your mountain home. This is the single most important thing you can do to prevent leaks. Please take a minute and check the side of the blog for more cold weather tips.
Also, if you have animals outside, please be sure you provide for them in this colder weather. A warm, dry shelter out of the elements is essential as is fresh food and water, no matter what the weather is. Remember, they depend on you to provide for all their needs and it is your responsibility as a pet owner to provide what they need.
We also have a link to the weather forecast on the left hand side of the blog as well many other helpful links and phone numbers. I continually add to the list any websites or phone numbers that I think may be useful to the residents here in Pine Cove. If I have missed any, please drop me a line at Vicki@pcwd.org and let me know.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Increasing clouds, with a low around 32. West wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Rain showers likely before 11am, then snow showers. High near 34. West wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
I guess 1 to 3 inches isn't too bad for the first storm of the season, but I am enjoying this fabulous fall weather and would prefer to keep it at least until December. However, moisture is always needed and welcome, so should we receive some, I will not complain.
So make sure you are ready for snow. It is better to be safe than sorry because the weather can be unpredictable at this time of the year. As always, remember to turn your water off at your customer valve when you leave your mountain home. This is the single most important thing you can do to prevent leaks. Please take a minute and check the side of the blog for more cold weather tips.
Also, if you have animals outside, please be sure you provide for them in this colder weather. A warm, dry shelter out of the elements is essential as is fresh food and water, no matter what the weather is. Remember, they depend on you to provide for all their needs and it is your responsibility as a pet owner to provide what they need.
We also have a link to the weather forecast on the left hand side of the blog as well many other helpful links and phone numbers. I continually add to the list any websites or phone numbers that I think may be useful to the residents here in Pine Cove. If I have missed any, please drop me a line at Vicki@pcwd.org and let me know.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Winter Weather Alert
Looks like Old Man Winter is back. They are calling for snow tomorrow night. Today is cloudy as the storm begins to arrive. So it is good we get a little time to prepare. I haven't heard that it will be a bad storm, but it is always better to be prepared. Weather reports have been known to be wrong on occasion, so I tend prepare for the worst.
Please remember your animals. If you have an animal that lives outside, please make sure you have provided for it's needs. Give them a warm, dry place to get out of the weather and make sure they have fresh food and water. If it is a dog, try to bring in indoors during the worst of the weather. And please make sure your pets are secure. Every time there is a storm, it seems that pets somehow get out and get lost. We have seen several here at the district walking around in the rain or the snow looking for their homes. Your dog should never be left to run loose!! This is dangerous for everyone. Your dog runs the risk of getting hit by a car or attacked by another animal. So please, be a responsible pet owner.
Please remember your animals. If you have an animal that lives outside, please make sure you have provided for it's needs. Give them a warm, dry place to get out of the weather and make sure they have fresh food and water. If it is a dog, try to bring in indoors during the worst of the weather. And please make sure your pets are secure. Every time there is a storm, it seems that pets somehow get out and get lost. We have seen several here at the district walking around in the rain or the snow looking for their homes. Your dog should never be left to run loose!! This is dangerous for everyone. Your dog runs the risk of getting hit by a car or attacked by another animal. So please, be a responsible pet owner.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Lost Dog
Ok folks, we need your help. This little guy is lost and would like to be reunited with his humans. He is a Jack Russel Terrier.
He is white with brown around his eye. He is at ARF today. If you know this dog or own him, call ARF at 659-1122. After today he will be at Elaine Hogan's house. You can still call ARF to claim him. He was found in Pine Cove in the snow. Let's help this little guy find his way home!
He is white with brown around his eye. He is at ARF today. If you know this dog or own him, call ARF at 659-1122. After today he will be at Elaine Hogan's house. You can still call ARF to claim him. He was found in Pine Cove in the snow. Let's help this little guy find his way home!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
It's Snowing!
Well just in case there is anyone out there who hasn't looked out their window yet, it is snowing.
I have read several weather reports and frankly, I think they are way off base. One said 1/2" accumulation possible. I am not believing that because between 7:30 am and 8:30 am, I had to shovel off my deck and side walk twice. I cleaned off my car around 8:30 to come to work and by 8:45, it was covered again. So it is safe to say that weather forecast is out the window.
The next one I read said 3 to 8 inches and called for snow levels to drop to 4,000 feet later today. There was already snow in Mountain Center by 8 am this morning, so I think that one is wrong as well.
As for the total amount of snow we are going to get, I don't know. It seems to be coming down pretty fast and steady, so I can see us getting the full 8 inches with no problem. My personal opinion is that we are going to get more snow than they are predicting and the snow levels will be lower much sooner than they predicted. But what do I know?
This is a good time to remind you to turn off your water at your customer valve if you are leaving your mountain home. Also make sure your outside hoses are disconnected. Once you turn off your water at your customer valve, it is a good idea to go back inside and turn your faucets on to remove any standing water in the pipes. Be sure to turn them off again once they have drained out. This prevents the water from flying out of the faucets when you turn the water back on. Turning off your water is the easiest way to prevent water loss from frozen or broken pipes.
While the snow is beautiful, please be mindful of any pets you have outside. Be sure to provide them with a warm, dry shelter so they can get out of the snow. Warm water is especially appreciated during these cold days.
If you have to go out on the roads, be extremely careful. When I came in at 9 am, the side roads had not been plowed and Highway 243 was getting covered over again. It is best to just stay put if possible. There are not many things worth risking your life for.
To all our customers, stay warm, stay safe and enjoy this beautiful snow!
I have read several weather reports and frankly, I think they are way off base. One said 1/2" accumulation possible. I am not believing that because between 7:30 am and 8:30 am, I had to shovel off my deck and side walk twice. I cleaned off my car around 8:30 to come to work and by 8:45, it was covered again. So it is safe to say that weather forecast is out the window.
The next one I read said 3 to 8 inches and called for snow levels to drop to 4,000 feet later today. There was already snow in Mountain Center by 8 am this morning, so I think that one is wrong as well.
As for the total amount of snow we are going to get, I don't know. It seems to be coming down pretty fast and steady, so I can see us getting the full 8 inches with no problem. My personal opinion is that we are going to get more snow than they are predicting and the snow levels will be lower much sooner than they predicted. But what do I know?
This is a good time to remind you to turn off your water at your customer valve if you are leaving your mountain home. Also make sure your outside hoses are disconnected. Once you turn off your water at your customer valve, it is a good idea to go back inside and turn your faucets on to remove any standing water in the pipes. Be sure to turn them off again once they have drained out. This prevents the water from flying out of the faucets when you turn the water back on. Turning off your water is the easiest way to prevent water loss from frozen or broken pipes.
While the snow is beautiful, please be mindful of any pets you have outside. Be sure to provide them with a warm, dry shelter so they can get out of the snow. Warm water is especially appreciated during these cold days.
If you have to go out on the roads, be extremely careful. When I came in at 9 am, the side roads had not been plowed and Highway 243 was getting covered over again. It is best to just stay put if possible. There are not many things worth risking your life for.
To all our customers, stay warm, stay safe and enjoy this beautiful snow!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Weather
Ok, where is the ark? This is the 6th straight day of rain. I don't know if this is a record breaker or not, but it sure feels like an unusual event to me. The weather station has registered 10.47 inches of rain for December. They are calling for some snow and if you haven't seen it yet, here is the messasge from the Nation Weather Service in San Diego.
Winter Storm Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
556 PM PST TUE DEC 21 2010
...PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOWFALL POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...
.A FLOW OF MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTHWEST WILL BRING PERIODS OF
LIGHT SNOWFALL TONIGHT. FOR LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...A
STRONGER...COLDER TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE FROM THE NORTHWEST WILL
BRING NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY
SNOWFALL POSSIBLE ABOVE 6500 FEET.
CAZ055-056-221200-
/O.EXP.KSGX.WW.Y.0010.000000T0000Z-101222T0200Z/
/O.EXT.KSGX.WS.W.0010.101222T0800Z-101223T0200Z/
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...BALDWIN LAKE...
BIG BEAR CITY...BIG BEAR LAKE...FAWNSKIN
556 PM PST TUE DEC 21 2010
...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
6 PM PST WEDNESDAY...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM PST THIS EVENING...
THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM PST THIS EVENING.
THE WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 6500 FOR HEAVY SNOW IS IN EFFECT
FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM PST WEDNESDAY.
* ELEVATION: ABOVE 6500 FEET.
* SNOW LEVELS: 6500 FEET TODAY...MAY RISE BRIEFLY THIS
EVENING...BEFORE LOWERING TO 5000 FEET OR LOWER WEDNESDAY.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 4 INCHES ABOVE 6500 FEET EARLY TONIGHT.
FOR LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...12 TO 24 INCHES ABOVE 7000
FEET WITH 4 TO 12 INCHES FROM 6000 TO 7000 FEET.
* TIMING: LIGHT SNOWFALL TONIGHT. NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS AND
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING
WITH HEAVY SNOWFALL POSSIBLE...DECREASING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
AND ENDING WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: BALDWIN LAKE...BIG BEAR CITY...BIG BEAR
LAKE...FAWNSKIN
* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH EARLY TONIGHT.
SOUTH WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH LATE TONIGHT...
BECOMING SOUTHWEST ON WEDNESDAY.
* VISIBILITY: AREAS OF NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY AT TIMES IN BLOWING
SNOW AND AREAS OF FOG.
* IMPACTS: A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE
WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS.
ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN
AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
WHITLOW
We have sand and sandbags here at the water district office. If you need sandbags, please stop by the office during normal business hours and we will be happy to give you some. We have sand located behind the workshop.
If you are going to be out on the road, please take the appropriate precautions. It is better to arrive somewhere late, but safe and sound, than to not arrive at all. If you don't have to be out on the roads, then stay home. That is the best way to assure you will stay safe.
We hope everyone in the Pine Cove/Idyllwild area is staying warm, safe and dry. Don't forget to provide for your pets in this weather as well. They too appreciate a warm, dry place to hunker down while this storm plays out.
If we are all careful, we can make it through this.
Winter Storm Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
556 PM PST TUE DEC 21 2010
...PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOWFALL POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...
.A FLOW OF MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTHWEST WILL BRING PERIODS OF
LIGHT SNOWFALL TONIGHT. FOR LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...A
STRONGER...COLDER TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE FROM THE NORTHWEST WILL
BRING NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY
SNOWFALL POSSIBLE ABOVE 6500 FEET.
CAZ055-056-221200-
/O.EXP.KSGX.WW.Y.0010.000000T0000Z-101222T0200Z/
/O.EXT.KSGX.WS.W.0010.101222T0800Z-101223T0200Z/
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...BALDWIN LAKE...
BIG BEAR CITY...BIG BEAR LAKE...FAWNSKIN
556 PM PST TUE DEC 21 2010
...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
6 PM PST WEDNESDAY...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM PST THIS EVENING...
THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM PST THIS EVENING.
THE WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 6500 FOR HEAVY SNOW IS IN EFFECT
FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM PST WEDNESDAY.
* ELEVATION: ABOVE 6500 FEET.
* SNOW LEVELS: 6500 FEET TODAY...MAY RISE BRIEFLY THIS
EVENING...BEFORE LOWERING TO 5000 FEET OR LOWER WEDNESDAY.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 4 INCHES ABOVE 6500 FEET EARLY TONIGHT.
FOR LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...12 TO 24 INCHES ABOVE 7000
FEET WITH 4 TO 12 INCHES FROM 6000 TO 7000 FEET.
* TIMING: LIGHT SNOWFALL TONIGHT. NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS AND
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING
WITH HEAVY SNOWFALL POSSIBLE...DECREASING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
AND ENDING WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: BALDWIN LAKE...BIG BEAR CITY...BIG BEAR
LAKE...FAWNSKIN
* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH EARLY TONIGHT.
SOUTH WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH LATE TONIGHT...
BECOMING SOUTHWEST ON WEDNESDAY.
* VISIBILITY: AREAS OF NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY AT TIMES IN BLOWING
SNOW AND AREAS OF FOG.
* IMPACTS: A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE
WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS.
ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN
AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
WHITLOW
We have sand and sandbags here at the water district office. If you need sandbags, please stop by the office during normal business hours and we will be happy to give you some. We have sand located behind the workshop.
If you are going to be out on the road, please take the appropriate precautions. It is better to arrive somewhere late, but safe and sound, than to not arrive at all. If you don't have to be out on the roads, then stay home. That is the best way to assure you will stay safe.
We hope everyone in the Pine Cove/Idyllwild area is staying warm, safe and dry. Don't forget to provide for your pets in this weather as well. They too appreciate a warm, dry place to hunker down while this storm plays out.
If we are all careful, we can make it through this.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday Musings
Hope you all made it through our wet weekend safe and dry. As we start the week, we are experiencing our 4th day of rain. I don't recall getting this much rain at one time in the 15 years I have lived up here. It will be interesting to see what the final totals are once this storm moves out of the area. I know many records in other areas are being broken left and right. As of right now, our weather station says we have received 9.53 inches in the month of December. Can you imagine if all this rain was snow?
We hope you are all staying warm and dry. Use caution if you are going to be out on the road. I know this is a busy time with Christmas fast approaching. People will be off to visit relatives, shopping or driving up here to spend the holidays on the hill.
Please make sure your outdoor pets have shelter to get in out of this rain. Provide them with some nice warm, dry bedding as well. It is up to us to take good care of our 4 legged companions.
We hope you are all staying warm and dry. Use caution if you are going to be out on the road. I know this is a busy time with Christmas fast approaching. People will be off to visit relatives, shopping or driving up here to spend the holidays on the hill.
Please make sure your outdoor pets have shelter to get in out of this rain. Provide them with some nice warm, dry bedding as well. It is up to us to take good care of our 4 legged companions.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
It's Snowing!
I was surprised to see it snowing this morning. I heard it rain during the night and thought that was all we would get. However, when I looked out the window it was snowing. It has now turned to rain but not before leaving a dusting of white. Perfect weather to put you in the Christmas spirit!
If you are going to be out driving, please be careful. Wet, slick roads mixed with fog can spell trouble for mountain drivers. If you are planning to come up the hill for the holidays, please be sure to check road conditions and weather reports prior to heading out. Make sure you have all the necessary equipment for driving in snow or rain. Don't let being unprepared put a damper on you mountain visit.
As always, please be mindful of your pets in this weather. Please provide an adequate shelter for any animal you keep outside. Dry bedding that helps keep them warm is greatly appreciated. Fresh food and water daily is a must. A healthy animal is better able to withstand the harsh weather than one that is not in his prime. If your pet has a condition like arthritis, please consider keeping them indoors if possible. Remember it is your responsibility to provide for your pet's needs.
Don't forget to go to our website at www.pcwd.org and check out our webcam. You can see what is happening with the weather on our real time weather webcam.
If you are going to be out driving, please be careful. Wet, slick roads mixed with fog can spell trouble for mountain drivers. If you are planning to come up the hill for the holidays, please be sure to check road conditions and weather reports prior to heading out. Make sure you have all the necessary equipment for driving in snow or rain. Don't let being unprepared put a damper on you mountain visit.
As always, please be mindful of your pets in this weather. Please provide an adequate shelter for any animal you keep outside. Dry bedding that helps keep them warm is greatly appreciated. Fresh food and water daily is a must. A healthy animal is better able to withstand the harsh weather than one that is not in his prime. If your pet has a condition like arthritis, please consider keeping them indoors if possible. Remember it is your responsibility to provide for your pet's needs.
Don't forget to go to our website at www.pcwd.org and check out our webcam. You can see what is happening with the weather on our real time weather webcam.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Pets and Cold Weather
If you have pets that live outside, please make sure they have what they need to endure the cold weather. Most animals need some sort of shelter so they can get out of the elements. Even in the cold and wet, they still need fresh drinking water daily. Mine enjoy nice hot water as it helps warm them up a little bit. Make sure they have some where to eat where their food will stay dry. Please make sure they have the appropriate bedding so they can stay warm and dry when the wind starts blowing and the rain and snow starts falling. It is up to us to provide for our pets and to make sure they are as comfortable as possible. Winter is hard on everyone, but especially on the animals that are kept out in the elements. If we are going to have pets, then it is our responsibility to provide them with what they need. Please be a responsible pet owner.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Great News!
The lost Bassett Hound found her humans yesterday evening. They were reunited and everyone was happy to be back together. Her name is Penny and she wondered away from her home on Tuesday morning. We are so happy to have helped out in this situtation. It also serves as a reminder to be sure our pets have name tags. Had Penny been wearing a current name tag, she would have been reunited with her owners in a matter of minutes, rather than days. I am sure it would have been a lot less stressful for her as well.
ARF has temporary name tags that they will give you for free or you can pick them up at the pet stores in Hemet. Thank you to all who helped me in my search for Penny's humans.
ARF has temporary name tags that they will give you for free or you can pick them up at the pet stores in Hemet. Thank you to all who helped me in my search for Penny's humans.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Lost Dogs
It seems there are two lost dogs wondering around in the vicinity of the Pine Cove Water District office. One is a multi colored Basset Hound. Very friendly. Has a collar but no tags. The other dog is medium sized gold color dog. It has a collar and a tag but will not come to anyone so we can read it. If you know who these dogs belong to, please let them know. They are both soaking wet and just wondering back and forth up and down Marion Ridge and Rockmier. You can call us here at the district. 951-659-2675 and we can tell you when and where they were last spotted. Thank you.
Wow, it is raining!
I am sitting here at my desk in the water district office. It is very dark outside and it is pouring down rain. And just for fun, Mother Nature is throwing in a little bit of hail as well. Such a lovely day. In my book anyway. I just love the rain. Rain gives a whole different feel to the day. On a dark, rainy morning, it suddenly seems acceptable to stay in your jammies and just curl up on the couch with a hot cup of tea, your favorite soft bathrobe and the remote control. My pugs are fully aware of this and have spent the morning curled up on the couch with their favorite blanket, sound asleep, even though they just got done sleeping all night. No matter, a dark, dreary morning will to that to man and beast.
Unfortunately, it has decided to rain on a Tuesday which is a work day, so we here at the water district have stoically risen from our nice warm beds, gulped down our tea or coffee and reluctantly got ready for work. We then valiantly braved the elements to get to the office, leaving behind the comfort of our couches, the warmth of our soft bathrobes and hot beverages. We sit here in our office chairs and try to stay focused on our tasks at hand. We diligently plug away at our work while outside, Mother Nature continues her show. The good news is that our desks sit right under windows, which I am extremely grateful for. Being able to see outside all day long is such a wonderful thing. I simply cannot imagine sitting in a cubical not being able to see outside all day long. So even though I am not all snugly at home, I am able to watch this glorious display while I work.
Many days I get to witness the antics of the squirrels, birds, bees and butterflies that frequent the small garden that my window looks out on. It is so refreshing to turn my tired eyes from the computer to watch a couple of squirrels chasing each other around the garden and up and down the pine tree. There is nothing more relaxing than being in or looking out onto a garden. So on this wet, wild weathered morning, I have the privilege of at least being able to see all that glorious rain coming down.
Unfortunately, it has decided to rain on a Tuesday which is a work day, so we here at the water district have stoically risen from our nice warm beds, gulped down our tea or coffee and reluctantly got ready for work. We then valiantly braved the elements to get to the office, leaving behind the comfort of our couches, the warmth of our soft bathrobes and hot beverages. We sit here in our office chairs and try to stay focused on our tasks at hand. We diligently plug away at our work while outside, Mother Nature continues her show. The good news is that our desks sit right under windows, which I am extremely grateful for. Being able to see outside all day long is such a wonderful thing. I simply cannot imagine sitting in a cubical not being able to see outside all day long. So even though I am not all snugly at home, I am able to watch this glorious display while I work.
Many days I get to witness the antics of the squirrels, birds, bees and butterflies that frequent the small garden that my window looks out on. It is so refreshing to turn my tired eyes from the computer to watch a couple of squirrels chasing each other around the garden and up and down the pine tree. There is nothing more relaxing than being in or looking out onto a garden. So on this wet, wild weathered morning, I have the privilege of at least being able to see all that glorious rain coming down.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Brrrrrr.......
Ok, who turned off the heat? Yesterday and today are serving as a reminder that winter is coming. Wasn't it just a couple weeks ago we were sweating it out with temperatures in the high 80's? At that point, I couldn't imagine it would ever be cold again. Oh the difference a couple weeks can make!
Now for a little discussion that is off topic. If you have animals that you keep outside, please be sure you are providing for their needs. Now is the perfect time to go out and make sure they have adequate shelter that will keep them warm and dry in the up coming cold and wet months. Provide them with extra bedding and be diligent about keeping their accomodations clean. Some animals, such as chickens and goats, can become ill if their housing isn't kept clean and dry. Ammonia build up inside their housing, can be very harmful. If possible, position their shelter where it will get some sun during the cold winter months. Be sure to keep the snow shoveled away as well, so they can get in and out of their shelter.
Be sure to check on your animals a couple times a day in severe weather. Many animals enjoy warm water when the temperatures begin to plummet and might benefit from some extra nutrition as well. Keeping vigil on their health and their housing is the best way to ward off a sick animal. Winter is hard on them and as a responsible animal owner, you will want to do what is best for your animals.
Animals don't have a choice in who adopts them or how they are kept. Please be a responsible animal owner and make sure your animals are provided for adequately. Before taking on the care of an animal, be sure you have the time, the energy and the resources to do it properly. Remember, they are depending on us to keep them warm, dry, and healthy.
Now for a little discussion that is off topic. If you have animals that you keep outside, please be sure you are providing for their needs. Now is the perfect time to go out and make sure they have adequate shelter that will keep them warm and dry in the up coming cold and wet months. Provide them with extra bedding and be diligent about keeping their accomodations clean. Some animals, such as chickens and goats, can become ill if their housing isn't kept clean and dry. Ammonia build up inside their housing, can be very harmful. If possible, position their shelter where it will get some sun during the cold winter months. Be sure to keep the snow shoveled away as well, so they can get in and out of their shelter.
Be sure to check on your animals a couple times a day in severe weather. Many animals enjoy warm water when the temperatures begin to plummet and might benefit from some extra nutrition as well. Keeping vigil on their health and their housing is the best way to ward off a sick animal. Winter is hard on them and as a responsible animal owner, you will want to do what is best for your animals.
Animals don't have a choice in who adopts them or how they are kept. Please be a responsible animal owner and make sure your animals are provided for adequately. Before taking on the care of an animal, be sure you have the time, the energy and the resources to do it properly. Remember, they are depending on us to keep them warm, dry, and healthy.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Chickens and Salmonella
We have all heard of the recent egg recall due to a salmonella outbreak. Personally I haven't followed this story very closely because I do not buy eggs from the store. I have my own flock of backyard chickens and have since 2001. I cannot bear to think of how these factory farms keep their chickens cooped up 4 to a cage, de-beak them and never let them out into the sunshine. The spend their whole, miserable lives in a cage and their feet never touch the earth. To me, this is just not acceptable. Now with this latest news of salmonella, it makes you wonder if eggs are even safe to eat.
So what is the solution? Well, it is quite simple really. Raise your own chickens. I know, many people have an aversion to livestock, especially in residential areas, however, chickens are really quite easy to care for, do not have to be an eyesore, are quieter than dogs and are a lot of fun to watch. Plus they earn their keep by providing you with wonderful, fresh, healthy, delicious eggs.
If you do not keep a rooster, then there will not be that much noise from the chickens. Yes, they make some noise when laying an egg, but if you had to go through labor and delivery every day or so, you would yell too! The only other time they make a fuss, is if they feel threatened by a dog or coyote, which is actually a good thing as it alerts me that something is outside the coop. They are much nicer to listen to than a barking dog and when they do make noise it is for a reason. Normally they just go about their business looking for bugs, eating, drinking and taking dirt baths,
Chickens are pretty self sufficient and just need a little care from their human each day. They need fresh, clean water, food and a safe, fenced in place they can stratch around outside. The amount of space needed depends on how many chickens you have. Of course, the more chickens you have, the more space you will need for them.
You will need a shelter for them. If you search online, you will find some pretty imaginative set ups. These can be simple or elaborate. Some communities now have a chicken coop tour each summer and some chicken owners take this whole coop buisiness very seriously. If you are only going to have a few chickens, a dog house would work. Just make sure it has good ventilation and protects them from predators and the elements.
Daily care consists of feeding them, giving them water, gathering the eggs and I try to clean out the nest boxes ever day or two. There is always one or two chickens who decide the nest boxes make great beds and settle in one each evening. A couple times a year you will need to clean out the entire coop. A clean coop makes for healthy chickens. This takes and hour or two to accomplish and I usually do it in the spring after winter is over and in the fall right before it begins again. When I clean out the coop in the spring, the droppings and shavings all go into to the compost bin. When I clean it out in the winter, it goes directly into the garden to compost over the winter months. You can also hose down the walls and the floor once the coop is all cleaned out.
In the evening, the chickens will put themselves to bed with no coaxing from you. Just be sure they have a place to go that is secure from preditors. Chickens like to perch at night and it is easy to provide them a place to perch. Wooden closet rods work very well as perches as do tree branches. What you use will depend on your coop set up and what sort of materials you have available to you
They will need a good chicken food formulated for laying chickens and some scratch, which is just cracked corn. You can also provide grit and oyster shell for them. The great thing about chickens though is that they can eat your kitchen scraps. They will eat a wide variety of food from your kitchen, there by eliminating a lot of wasted food. Just don't give them any meat, potato peels or citrus. Fruits, veggies, salad, bread, pasta, they love it all. Even certain plants from the garden are safe to give them. I keep a chicken bowl in my fridge and that is where I put all my scraps throughout the day. Come dinner time, they get their treat. The means there is almost no waste in my kitchen.
Keeping chickens has been such a wonderful and rewarding hobby for my family. There is nothing like going out to the coop and gathering the eggs. I never will tire of that ever. It is still so amazing to me that they do that. The eggs from your chickens will taste so much better than the ones from the store and you will wonder how you ever ate the store bought eggs. You will notice that the yolks are a bright orange rather than a pale yellow. The more fruits and veggies you feed them, the darker and more flavorful the yolks will be come. You can also add flax seed to their diet and there by increase the Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet. Eggs from a backyard flock of chickens that are well cared for can be extremely healthy for you.
There are a couple of schools of thought on how to store eggs once you gather them from the coop. Some wash and refrigerate others do not. That is a decision you will have to make for yourself. Do some research and see which method is right for you. Eggs do have a protective coating on them when they are laid and washing them will remove that coating. I do minimal washing and follow this rule. If there is poo on them they get washed and if there isn't, they do not. I do refrigerate my eggs, although others do not.
If you haven't considered raising your own chickens, think about it. Here is a wonderful link to start your research with.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/eggs.aspx
There are many sites online that have a wealth of information about raising chickens and what the benefits are. In this day and age, it might be wise to go back to some of the old ways, because apparently the new ways are working out so well, but don't get me started on that!
So what is the solution? Well, it is quite simple really. Raise your own chickens. I know, many people have an aversion to livestock, especially in residential areas, however, chickens are really quite easy to care for, do not have to be an eyesore, are quieter than dogs and are a lot of fun to watch. Plus they earn their keep by providing you with wonderful, fresh, healthy, delicious eggs.
If you do not keep a rooster, then there will not be that much noise from the chickens. Yes, they make some noise when laying an egg, but if you had to go through labor and delivery every day or so, you would yell too! The only other time they make a fuss, is if they feel threatened by a dog or coyote, which is actually a good thing as it alerts me that something is outside the coop. They are much nicer to listen to than a barking dog and when they do make noise it is for a reason. Normally they just go about their business looking for bugs, eating, drinking and taking dirt baths,
Chickens are pretty self sufficient and just need a little care from their human each day. They need fresh, clean water, food and a safe, fenced in place they can stratch around outside. The amount of space needed depends on how many chickens you have. Of course, the more chickens you have, the more space you will need for them.
You will need a shelter for them. If you search online, you will find some pretty imaginative set ups. These can be simple or elaborate. Some communities now have a chicken coop tour each summer and some chicken owners take this whole coop buisiness very seriously. If you are only going to have a few chickens, a dog house would work. Just make sure it has good ventilation and protects them from predators and the elements.
Daily care consists of feeding them, giving them water, gathering the eggs and I try to clean out the nest boxes ever day or two. There is always one or two chickens who decide the nest boxes make great beds and settle in one each evening. A couple times a year you will need to clean out the entire coop. A clean coop makes for healthy chickens. This takes and hour or two to accomplish and I usually do it in the spring after winter is over and in the fall right before it begins again. When I clean out the coop in the spring, the droppings and shavings all go into to the compost bin. When I clean it out in the winter, it goes directly into the garden to compost over the winter months. You can also hose down the walls and the floor once the coop is all cleaned out.
In the evening, the chickens will put themselves to bed with no coaxing from you. Just be sure they have a place to go that is secure from preditors. Chickens like to perch at night and it is easy to provide them a place to perch. Wooden closet rods work very well as perches as do tree branches. What you use will depend on your coop set up and what sort of materials you have available to you
They will need a good chicken food formulated for laying chickens and some scratch, which is just cracked corn. You can also provide grit and oyster shell for them. The great thing about chickens though is that they can eat your kitchen scraps. They will eat a wide variety of food from your kitchen, there by eliminating a lot of wasted food. Just don't give them any meat, potato peels or citrus. Fruits, veggies, salad, bread, pasta, they love it all. Even certain plants from the garden are safe to give them. I keep a chicken bowl in my fridge and that is where I put all my scraps throughout the day. Come dinner time, they get their treat. The means there is almost no waste in my kitchen.
Keeping chickens has been such a wonderful and rewarding hobby for my family. There is nothing like going out to the coop and gathering the eggs. I never will tire of that ever. It is still so amazing to me that they do that. The eggs from your chickens will taste so much better than the ones from the store and you will wonder how you ever ate the store bought eggs. You will notice that the yolks are a bright orange rather than a pale yellow. The more fruits and veggies you feed them, the darker and more flavorful the yolks will be come. You can also add flax seed to their diet and there by increase the Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet. Eggs from a backyard flock of chickens that are well cared for can be extremely healthy for you.
There are a couple of schools of thought on how to store eggs once you gather them from the coop. Some wash and refrigerate others do not. That is a decision you will have to make for yourself. Do some research and see which method is right for you. Eggs do have a protective coating on them when they are laid and washing them will remove that coating. I do minimal washing and follow this rule. If there is poo on them they get washed and if there isn't, they do not. I do refrigerate my eggs, although others do not.
If you haven't considered raising your own chickens, think about it. Here is a wonderful link to start your research with.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/eggs.aspx
There are many sites online that have a wealth of information about raising chickens and what the benefits are. In this day and age, it might be wise to go back to some of the old ways, because apparently the new ways are working out so well, but don't get me started on that!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
What the heck is permaculture?
As a gardener, I am constantly doing research trying to find the best methods for growing things. Since it is a challenge to grow anything here on the hill, I am always hoping to find ways of growing things that are natural and will attract the local wildlife to my yard. Working in harmony with nature, rather than working against it. In my research I constantly see the word permaculture being thrown around. But what exactly is permaculture anyway? Is it the same as organic gardening? Sometimes I find all these terms to be confusing, and so I thought I would try to sort them out and shed some light on them so we all understand them better and can therefore put them to better use in our own gardens.
From the research I have been doing, I have found that permaculture is primarily about design, while organic gardening is a way of gardening. While an organic garden is a part of permaculture, it couldn't be called a permaculture unless it has been permaculture designed, in which case it would then be more than just an organic garden. Here is a wonderful description of permaculture from the IDEP Foundation's website:
Permaculture design seeks harmonious integration of landscape and people to provide food, shelter, energy and other material or non-material needs in a sustainable way.
This holistic ecological approach to the design and development of human settlements takes into account food production, structures, technologies, energy, natural resources, landscape, animal systems, plant systems, and social and economic structures.
Permaculture is applicable to both urban and rural contexts, and to any scale of design. It is about working with, rather than against, nature.
Permaculture draws upon traditional practices of earth stewardship and integrates this with appropriate modern technology. The term ‘permaculture’ was coined in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. Work is now being carried out in over 100 countries by many thousands of permaculture design graduates.
Permaculture is about the whole picture, not just the how to's of composting or organic gardening. It is about designing a sustainable environment. It is about providing our needs in a way that works in harmony with nature. It is not only about food production, but about utilizing all our resources. It is about how and what we build and how we live. So just what would a permaculture look like?
Well, in addition to just growing food, it will have habitats for wildlife, birds and pest predators. It should consider the elements of fire, sun and wind in creating micro-climates for plants, animals and for the home. It will also address the cycles of water. It is about placing things in relationship to each other so that they work in harmony as a whole.
The following is a list of design principles from the IDEP Foundation's website:
Permaculture Design Principles
Diversity : Aims to integrate a variety of beneficial species of food, plants and animals into design. This builds a stable interactive polycultural system which provides for human needs and also for the needs of other species.
Edge Effect : In general, there is more energy and more diversity of life on the edge where two types of natural systems overlap. On these borders one can access the resources of both sides. Using the edge effect, and other natural patterns that you observe, creates the best effect.
Energy Planning : Placing the elements of your design in such a way as to minimize the use of energy (including fossil fuels and human labor). Utilizing the energy and resources that you have, first on-site and then from outside the system, as effectively as possible. Onsite energy resources include natural forces such as gravity, windpower and waterpower. This saves time, energy and money.
Energy Cycling : In a natural system there is no waste or pollution. The output from one natural process becomes the resource for another. Recycle and reuse all of resources as many times as possible.
Scale : Creating human-scale systems. Choose simple, appropriate technologies for use in designs. Only create systems that are manageable. Start small and take achievable steps towards an ideal goal.
Biological Resources : Use natural methods and processes to achieve tasks. Find things in nature (plants, animals, microbes) that are supportive of the system design and minimize outside energy input.
Multiple Elements : Support each vital need and essential function in more than one way, so that a temporary failure in one element will not stop the functioning of others. Also, recognize that there is almost always more than one way to achieve any task.
Multiple Functions : Most things can be used in a variety of ways and for a variety of functions. One rule of thumb in Permaculture is to try to design three uses for every element of the system. This can save space, time and complication in any particular project.
Natural Succession : Work with nature and the processes of natural systems. Anticipate future developments through research and observation when necessary.
Relative Location : Place every element of your design in relationship to others so that they benefit from each other. For example, store tools near where they will be used.
As I read more about permaculture, it is becoming very simple and clear. It is basically a method of living and working with nature instead of against it. It is using natural methods to accomplish what we need to do. Most of it is common sense and being organized. Things like putting your kitchen garden that needs tending the most, closest to your back door. Using trees to cool your house instead of air conditioners. Collecting rain water for use during dry periods. Having a compost pile near the garden.
An easy way to think of it is as zones. Zones are guidelines to help plan where things will be placed in a landscape. The key to efficient energy planning is the use of zone and sector planning. To plan what elements to put in various zones, consider how many times per year they will be visited. Put what you use most near to your house or the center of activity. Put those things which are visited least and need the least maintenance in areas farthest from the center of activity. Makes sense, right?
ZONE 0: This is your house zone and the center of activity. It should be an energy efficient, easy to maintain design that provides all your basic needs for your lifestyle.
ZONE 1: Contains your kitchen gardens. These are gardens which need continual observation, frequent visits, watering and work input. This zone would include garden areas for vegetables and herbs, small animals, a place for your garden tools, a compost system, rain water storage, clothes lines, greenhouses and so on.
ZONE 2: This is your Food Forest. A food forest is a dense planting of mixed orchard trees, shrubs, windbreaks, larger vegetables, terraces, possible grey water drainage, bees, bird and bee-attracting plants and so on. Plant and animal species which require care and observation would go in this zone. For example, milking goats or a flock of backyard chickens, fenced in from a pasture.
ZONE 3: This is a Farm zone. Most of us won't have this zone unless we have a large amount of land and live somewhere like Anza. It would include commercial crops, pastures for animals, green manure, aquaculture, low maintenance trees, large systems, big sheds, woodlot, windbreaks and so on.
ZONE 4: This is known as the Harvest Forest and again, most of us won't have this zone in our yards here on the hill and won't be chopping down trees for wood. Zone 4is a semi-managed/semi-wild area which borders forest and is managed for wild gathering, forest and fuel needs, hardy food, unpruned trees, grazing and so forth.
ZONE 5: This is a Wilderness Unmanaged area or a barely managed natural wild area. If you have a large property, you might have a zone like this. Again, many of us will not. This zone is a place for learning and observing. A place where we are "visitors", not "managers".
When you start looking at your house and your yard as zones, it soon becomes clear what the principles of permaculture are and with a little research, you will soon be making effective use of the property you have, not matter how large or small it is. From there you can move onto sustainable and organic practices both in your home and in your garden. Before long you will have your own permaculture happening right in your own backyard.
From the research I have been doing, I have found that permaculture is primarily about design, while organic gardening is a way of gardening. While an organic garden is a part of permaculture, it couldn't be called a permaculture unless it has been permaculture designed, in which case it would then be more than just an organic garden. Here is a wonderful description of permaculture from the IDEP Foundation's website:
Permaculture design seeks harmonious integration of landscape and people to provide food, shelter, energy and other material or non-material needs in a sustainable way.
This holistic ecological approach to the design and development of human settlements takes into account food production, structures, technologies, energy, natural resources, landscape, animal systems, plant systems, and social and economic structures.
Permaculture is applicable to both urban and rural contexts, and to any scale of design. It is about working with, rather than against, nature.
Permaculture draws upon traditional practices of earth stewardship and integrates this with appropriate modern technology. The term ‘permaculture’ was coined in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. Work is now being carried out in over 100 countries by many thousands of permaculture design graduates.
Permaculture is about the whole picture, not just the how to's of composting or organic gardening. It is about designing a sustainable environment. It is about providing our needs in a way that works in harmony with nature. It is not only about food production, but about utilizing all our resources. It is about how and what we build and how we live. So just what would a permaculture look like?
Well, in addition to just growing food, it will have habitats for wildlife, birds and pest predators. It should consider the elements of fire, sun and wind in creating micro-climates for plants, animals and for the home. It will also address the cycles of water. It is about placing things in relationship to each other so that they work in harmony as a whole.
The following is a list of design principles from the IDEP Foundation's website:
Permaculture Design Principles
Diversity : Aims to integrate a variety of beneficial species of food, plants and animals into design. This builds a stable interactive polycultural system which provides for human needs and also for the needs of other species.
Edge Effect : In general, there is more energy and more diversity of life on the edge where two types of natural systems overlap. On these borders one can access the resources of both sides. Using the edge effect, and other natural patterns that you observe, creates the best effect.
Energy Planning : Placing the elements of your design in such a way as to minimize the use of energy (including fossil fuels and human labor). Utilizing the energy and resources that you have, first on-site and then from outside the system, as effectively as possible. Onsite energy resources include natural forces such as gravity, windpower and waterpower. This saves time, energy and money.
Energy Cycling : In a natural system there is no waste or pollution. The output from one natural process becomes the resource for another. Recycle and reuse all of resources as many times as possible.
Scale : Creating human-scale systems. Choose simple, appropriate technologies for use in designs. Only create systems that are manageable. Start small and take achievable steps towards an ideal goal.
Biological Resources : Use natural methods and processes to achieve tasks. Find things in nature (plants, animals, microbes) that are supportive of the system design and minimize outside energy input.
Multiple Elements : Support each vital need and essential function in more than one way, so that a temporary failure in one element will not stop the functioning of others. Also, recognize that there is almost always more than one way to achieve any task.
Multiple Functions : Most things can be used in a variety of ways and for a variety of functions. One rule of thumb in Permaculture is to try to design three uses for every element of the system. This can save space, time and complication in any particular project.
Natural Succession : Work with nature and the processes of natural systems. Anticipate future developments through research and observation when necessary.
Relative Location : Place every element of your design in relationship to others so that they benefit from each other. For example, store tools near where they will be used.
As I read more about permaculture, it is becoming very simple and clear. It is basically a method of living and working with nature instead of against it. It is using natural methods to accomplish what we need to do. Most of it is common sense and being organized. Things like putting your kitchen garden that needs tending the most, closest to your back door. Using trees to cool your house instead of air conditioners. Collecting rain water for use during dry periods. Having a compost pile near the garden.
An easy way to think of it is as zones. Zones are guidelines to help plan where things will be placed in a landscape. The key to efficient energy planning is the use of zone and sector planning. To plan what elements to put in various zones, consider how many times per year they will be visited. Put what you use most near to your house or the center of activity. Put those things which are visited least and need the least maintenance in areas farthest from the center of activity. Makes sense, right?
ZONE 0: This is your house zone and the center of activity. It should be an energy efficient, easy to maintain design that provides all your basic needs for your lifestyle.
ZONE 1: Contains your kitchen gardens. These are gardens which need continual observation, frequent visits, watering and work input. This zone would include garden areas for vegetables and herbs, small animals, a place for your garden tools, a compost system, rain water storage, clothes lines, greenhouses and so on.
ZONE 2: This is your Food Forest. A food forest is a dense planting of mixed orchard trees, shrubs, windbreaks, larger vegetables, terraces, possible grey water drainage, bees, bird and bee-attracting plants and so on. Plant and animal species which require care and observation would go in this zone. For example, milking goats or a flock of backyard chickens, fenced in from a pasture.
ZONE 3: This is a Farm zone. Most of us won't have this zone unless we have a large amount of land and live somewhere like Anza. It would include commercial crops, pastures for animals, green manure, aquaculture, low maintenance trees, large systems, big sheds, woodlot, windbreaks and so on.
ZONE 4: This is known as the Harvest Forest and again, most of us won't have this zone in our yards here on the hill and won't be chopping down trees for wood. Zone 4is a semi-managed/semi-wild area which borders forest and is managed for wild gathering, forest and fuel needs, hardy food, unpruned trees, grazing and so forth.
ZONE 5: This is a Wilderness Unmanaged area or a barely managed natural wild area. If you have a large property, you might have a zone like this. Again, many of us will not. This zone is a place for learning and observing. A place where we are "visitors", not "managers".
When you start looking at your house and your yard as zones, it soon becomes clear what the principles of permaculture are and with a little research, you will soon be making effective use of the property you have, not matter how large or small it is. From there you can move onto sustainable and organic practices both in your home and in your garden. Before long you will have your own permaculture happening right in your own backyard.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Storm Brewing
Well it looks like old man winter isn't going away any time soon. Another storm is on the horizon and it looks like we are going to have a cold and snowy weekend ahead of us. Please make sure you have wood where to get easily get to it, propane in your tank, food in your cupboards and some emergency supplies on hand such as flashlights. You just never know when the electricty will go out. Don't go out driving on snow and ice covered roads if it isn't absolutely necessary. Please remember your pets. Don't let them outside in this kind of harsh, cold weather. Give them somewhere warm and dry to stay during the storm. Also check on neighbors if you know someone is elderly or has difficult getting around. Checking on each other can really help prevent a tragedy in cold weather emergencies. If you leave the hill, please remember to turn your water off at your customer valve. We cannot stress this enough. Keep warm and stay safe.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Squirrel Appreciation Day!
With all of this weather being formost in our thoughts, you might not have had the time to realize that today is Squirrel Appreciation Day. According to the National Wildlife Federation, it is time to tip our hats to one of North America's most ubiquitous mammals. If you want to read more about it, you can go to nwf.org and read all about it for yourself! Who knew these little guys had their own day?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)