Showing posts with label conservation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conservation. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Earth Fair 2011
The Earth Fair will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The Pine Cove Water District will have a booth there this year with lots of information and some demonstrations. We hope you will stop by and say hi to us. We will be there all day long and Vicki will be manning the booth. We hope to provide a lot of helpful information, not only on water conservation, but on some other subjects as well. Please drop by the Earth Fair and say hi. See you there.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Frequently Asked Questions
Since I will be in a meeting most of tomorrow, I decided to post Tuesday's FAQ's a day early. So here are the answers to more burning questions about the water district.
Q. How much do the board members get paid?
A. The board members get paid $50 for each meeting they attend.
Q. Are we still in Stage I conservation?
A. Yes, we currently are still in Stage I. We will advise our customers if and when that should change. However, even if we do come out of Stage I, it will still be a good idea to conserve as much as possible.
Q. We have had a lot of snow, so why are we still in Stage I?
A. First of all, it takes more than one wet winter to determine if the drought is truly over or not. The amount of snow on the ground is not always indicative of how much is actually going back into the water table. There are many different factors that need to be looked at prior to declaring the drought is over.
Q. Why do you want my email address?
A. Since most people today communicate by email, it is quicker and easier to contact people via email should an emergency arise, such as the one in January when there were many leaks around the district. We are not going to be bombarding you with junk emails or selling your information to anyone. We will only contact you via email if absolutely necessary.
Q. Do you add fluoride to the water?
A. No. The only fluoride in our water is the fluoride that occurs naturally.
OK, that is enough for today. More next Tuesday.
Q. How much do the board members get paid?
A. The board members get paid $50 for each meeting they attend.
Q. Are we still in Stage I conservation?
A. Yes, we currently are still in Stage I. We will advise our customers if and when that should change. However, even if we do come out of Stage I, it will still be a good idea to conserve as much as possible.
Q. We have had a lot of snow, so why are we still in Stage I?
A. First of all, it takes more than one wet winter to determine if the drought is truly over or not. The amount of snow on the ground is not always indicative of how much is actually going back into the water table. There are many different factors that need to be looked at prior to declaring the drought is over.
Q. Why do you want my email address?
A. Since most people today communicate by email, it is quicker and easier to contact people via email should an emergency arise, such as the one in January when there were many leaks around the district. We are not going to be bombarding you with junk emails or selling your information to anyone. We will only contact you via email if absolutely necessary.
Q. Do you add fluoride to the water?
A. No. The only fluoride in our water is the fluoride that occurs naturally.
OK, that is enough for today. More next Tuesday.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Sustainable Thursday
Today I was reading our latest copy of Waste Age Magazine. I know, not exactly my first choice in reading materials, but you just never know when they are going to have an article that is pertinent to PCWD. This time they had an article about composting and you know how we LOVE composting here at the water district. Some of the statistics they quoted were kind of surprising to me.
North America generates more than 80 million tons of organic waste each year, which includes food waste, yard waste and clean wood from forestry projects and the construction and demolition sector. In the U.S., the EPA estimates that about 1/3 of municipal solid waste is organic. While approximately 65% of yard wastes is being diverted for recycling, only around 2.5% of food was is currently being recycled.
(courtesy of Waste Age Feb. 2011 issue)
I am kind of shocked that only 2.5% of food waste is being recycled or composted. This is such a waste of resources, not to mention all the room it must be taking up in the land fills. While new technologies are being developed to capture methane gas from landfills to generate electricity or provide fuel, I am not going to get into that here. What I do want to discuss is composting. Just think if each household composted their food waste, how much trash could be saved from the landfills.
While I do think it is important that schools, restaurants, hotels and so on get on board with composting as well, that is too big a subject for this little blog. So we will keep it local and just think about what Pine Covians can do. While cities like Seattle are miles ahead of us here in Riverside County when it comes to sustainable living, we can follow their lead and set a good example and hopefully push the powers that be in the right direction.
Composting is an incredibly easy way to begin living sustainably. It is easier than you think. I know there is a lot of information out there on how to do it. You need 3 bins or a spinning bin or one big bin. You need to check the moisture content and temperature of your compost pile. You need to constantly turn your pile. You need to layer the greens with the browns, etc., etc., etc. Forget all that. Yes you can do it that way, but here is how I do it.
This is for household food composting. First, get a container for your kitchen counter or put it under your sink. You can buy these online or you can do like I do and use an old stainless steel bowl. What ever you decide to use, just make sure it is easy to clean and has a lid and don't get something so big that it will take 3 months to fill up. Stainless steel or ceramic work really well. I took an old lid from a stock pot and put it on top of my old bowl. Not the most attractive of kitchen accessories, but it does the job and is easy to keep clean.
Step two. Put all your scraps into this bowl. I put in everything but meat. That means veggies that have gone bad in your fridge, veggie peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds, scraps off your plate after a meal, egg shells, paper towel and toilet paper rolls and so on. When your container is full, simply take it outside, dig a hole somewhere in your garden and bury the scraps. That is it. It takes about 10 minutes out of my day once every week or two. I do this in my veggie garden in the off season and during the summer I put it around the yard near the trees and other plants. The scraps will compost themselves and you don't have to worry about doing anything else. Just make sure you dig down far enough that animals don't come buy and dig it back up. And if they do happen to do that, no big deal, just re-bury everything. Easy Peasy!
Compost is a wonderful addition to the garden. It provides nutrients for plants and trees and amended soil has better water retention, thereby conserving water. Add a layer of mulch to that and you are conserving even more water. Here on the hill it is important to conserve water no matter how wet of a winter we have had. Droughts are a fact of life and a few good years won't necessarily end the drought situation. Even if it does, we should always be conserving because you just never know when a drought will return. By making water conservation a way of life, we are caring for our resources and ensuring that we will have water for our future needs.
North America generates more than 80 million tons of organic waste each year, which includes food waste, yard waste and clean wood from forestry projects and the construction and demolition sector. In the U.S., the EPA estimates that about 1/3 of municipal solid waste is organic. While approximately 65% of yard wastes is being diverted for recycling, only around 2.5% of food was is currently being recycled.
(courtesy of Waste Age Feb. 2011 issue)
I am kind of shocked that only 2.5% of food waste is being recycled or composted. This is such a waste of resources, not to mention all the room it must be taking up in the land fills. While new technologies are being developed to capture methane gas from landfills to generate electricity or provide fuel, I am not going to get into that here. What I do want to discuss is composting. Just think if each household composted their food waste, how much trash could be saved from the landfills.
While I do think it is important that schools, restaurants, hotels and so on get on board with composting as well, that is too big a subject for this little blog. So we will keep it local and just think about what Pine Covians can do. While cities like Seattle are miles ahead of us here in Riverside County when it comes to sustainable living, we can follow their lead and set a good example and hopefully push the powers that be in the right direction.
Composting is an incredibly easy way to begin living sustainably. It is easier than you think. I know there is a lot of information out there on how to do it. You need 3 bins or a spinning bin or one big bin. You need to check the moisture content and temperature of your compost pile. You need to constantly turn your pile. You need to layer the greens with the browns, etc., etc., etc. Forget all that. Yes you can do it that way, but here is how I do it.
This is for household food composting. First, get a container for your kitchen counter or put it under your sink. You can buy these online or you can do like I do and use an old stainless steel bowl. What ever you decide to use, just make sure it is easy to clean and has a lid and don't get something so big that it will take 3 months to fill up. Stainless steel or ceramic work really well. I took an old lid from a stock pot and put it on top of my old bowl. Not the most attractive of kitchen accessories, but it does the job and is easy to keep clean.
Step two. Put all your scraps into this bowl. I put in everything but meat. That means veggies that have gone bad in your fridge, veggie peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds, scraps off your plate after a meal, egg shells, paper towel and toilet paper rolls and so on. When your container is full, simply take it outside, dig a hole somewhere in your garden and bury the scraps. That is it. It takes about 10 minutes out of my day once every week or two. I do this in my veggie garden in the off season and during the summer I put it around the yard near the trees and other plants. The scraps will compost themselves and you don't have to worry about doing anything else. Just make sure you dig down far enough that animals don't come buy and dig it back up. And if they do happen to do that, no big deal, just re-bury everything. Easy Peasy!
Compost is a wonderful addition to the garden. It provides nutrients for plants and trees and amended soil has better water retention, thereby conserving water. Add a layer of mulch to that and you are conserving even more water. Here on the hill it is important to conserve water no matter how wet of a winter we have had. Droughts are a fact of life and a few good years won't necessarily end the drought situation. Even if it does, we should always be conserving because you just never know when a drought will return. By making water conservation a way of life, we are caring for our resources and ensuring that we will have water for our future needs.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Other Blogs
As promised, I am posting a link to another water blog. Some are more serious than others, some are global and some will be dealing only with California or the western states. It is your choice if you wish to read them or not. Water is an extremely large topic and there are a variety of blogs and websites out there discussing the subject if one takes the time to do a little searching.
Water Crunch
Our blog here at PCWD, is meant to be a local blog to keep our customers informed of what is happening at the district and sometimes around Pine Cove. It is not meant to be a serious commentary on the status of the water supply of the world. Obviously, if you live in Pine Cove, you are concerned with the water issues of Pine Cove, which we will discuss here. However, as with everything these days, our world is now global and being aware of water situations in other states and countries isn't a bad thing.
Water, or the lack there of, will have a great impact on the world in the future, so it could be pertinent to keep abreast of what is going on. Obviously Pine Cove does not face the same water issues as other places. We are perhaps, better off than some and maybe not as well off as others. We do need to be careful with our water use and it is our job here at the District to keep everyone informed of what our water situation is so that each person in the District is aware of what is happening.
It is always a good idea to come to our monthly board meetings as they are a great source of information. They are open to the public and held at 10 am on the second Wednesday of each month. If you are unable to attend, the minutes can always be found here at our website. Being informed will help our customers plan water usage and conserve water when possible. By reading about what is going on world wide, it makes a person realize how incredibly lucky we are here in Pine Cove to be able to turn on a faucet and get such wonderful tasting, fresh, clean water. Hopefully we will keep this in mind when choosing how to use our water.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these other blogs
Water Crunch
Our blog here at PCWD, is meant to be a local blog to keep our customers informed of what is happening at the district and sometimes around Pine Cove. It is not meant to be a serious commentary on the status of the water supply of the world. Obviously, if you live in Pine Cove, you are concerned with the water issues of Pine Cove, which we will discuss here. However, as with everything these days, our world is now global and being aware of water situations in other states and countries isn't a bad thing.
Water, or the lack there of, will have a great impact on the world in the future, so it could be pertinent to keep abreast of what is going on. Obviously Pine Cove does not face the same water issues as other places. We are perhaps, better off than some and maybe not as well off as others. We do need to be careful with our water use and it is our job here at the District to keep everyone informed of what our water situation is so that each person in the District is aware of what is happening.
It is always a good idea to come to our monthly board meetings as they are a great source of information. They are open to the public and held at 10 am on the second Wednesday of each month. If you are unable to attend, the minutes can always be found here at our website. Being informed will help our customers plan water usage and conserve water when possible. By reading about what is going on world wide, it makes a person realize how incredibly lucky we are here in Pine Cove to be able to turn on a faucet and get such wonderful tasting, fresh, clean water. Hopefully we will keep this in mind when choosing how to use our water.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these other blogs
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
4,000 Views!
We're back! Hope you had a great Martin Luther King Day. The weather this weekend has been absolutely spectacular. If this past weekend doesn't give you spring fever, then nothing will. It certainly doesn't feel like January out there. Most of the snow has melted and the sun has been shining. Quite the contrast to the 6 straight days of rain we had back in December. The swings in the weather are just amazing.
When I left the office on Friday afternoon, we had over 3900 hits to the blog and I was hoping we would hit the 4000 mark by the time I got back this morning. I was right. We have now had 4,073 hits to the blog! Wow, that is outstanding. We are very hopeful that this blog provides much needed information and perhaps a little entertainment and enlightenment to those viewing it. Please check it often to see what is happening here at the water district and around Pine Cove.
As always, I appreciate input from those reading here. If there is a topic you would like to see discussed, let me know. You can always email me at pcwd2675@yahoo.com and let me know what is on your mind. We try to keep things on the light side here with what is relevant to Pine Cove, green living, conservation, both inside and outside, and gardening. Much of the water use here on the hill revolves around those topics and so we try to provide information that is relative to those issues.
And don't forget to send your pictures. We love pictures here at the water district and are interested in what is happening around Pine Cove. Our goal in this new year is to get more pictures up on the blog. Is there something you are intersted in seeing from the water district? Let me know and I will try to get a picture of it posted. I posted some very pretty shots that were taken from the Rocky Point tank site, included a picture of the weather station.
We also wanted to thank everyone with their help with the recent leaks. We sent out an email to those who have left email addresses with us, to notify everyone of the high water usage that was occuring and to alert them that there were leaks somewhere. While some people took the email the wrong way and sent back messages that really had nothing to do with the leak situation, most took it seriously and many of you contacted us to check on your mountain home. It is like the old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
It is very important that we stay vigilant. Our water is precious and to see thousands of gallons of it wasted due to water not being turned off is such a shame. Lets try to prevent these types of situations in the future. And we hope that if we are ever in the position to send out an email alert again, that it will be taken seriously.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR WATER OFF AT YOUR CUSTOMER VALVE WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR MOUNTAIN HOME.
When I left the office on Friday afternoon, we had over 3900 hits to the blog and I was hoping we would hit the 4000 mark by the time I got back this morning. I was right. We have now had 4,073 hits to the blog! Wow, that is outstanding. We are very hopeful that this blog provides much needed information and perhaps a little entertainment and enlightenment to those viewing it. Please check it often to see what is happening here at the water district and around Pine Cove.
As always, I appreciate input from those reading here. If there is a topic you would like to see discussed, let me know. You can always email me at pcwd2675@yahoo.com and let me know what is on your mind. We try to keep things on the light side here with what is relevant to Pine Cove, green living, conservation, both inside and outside, and gardening. Much of the water use here on the hill revolves around those topics and so we try to provide information that is relative to those issues.
And don't forget to send your pictures. We love pictures here at the water district and are interested in what is happening around Pine Cove. Our goal in this new year is to get more pictures up on the blog. Is there something you are intersted in seeing from the water district? Let me know and I will try to get a picture of it posted. I posted some very pretty shots that were taken from the Rocky Point tank site, included a picture of the weather station.
We also wanted to thank everyone with their help with the recent leaks. We sent out an email to those who have left email addresses with us, to notify everyone of the high water usage that was occuring and to alert them that there were leaks somewhere. While some people took the email the wrong way and sent back messages that really had nothing to do with the leak situation, most took it seriously and many of you contacted us to check on your mountain home. It is like the old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
It is very important that we stay vigilant. Our water is precious and to see thousands of gallons of it wasted due to water not being turned off is such a shame. Lets try to prevent these types of situations in the future. And we hope that if we are ever in the position to send out an email alert again, that it will be taken seriously.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR WATER OFF AT YOUR CUSTOMER VALVE WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR MOUNTAIN HOME.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Tuesday Talk
Since it is the New Year, I decided to make the resolution of trying to post each day that I am here at work. That will be no easy feat because sometimes, matters at hand that have deadlines and so forth, take presidence. But I am going to try.
A couple weeks ago I mentioned that someone sent me a wonderful list of other water blogs and I promised to post links to them when I can. So here is this weeks. It is called The Water Cooler, California's First Official Water Blog. While there are things on here that pertain to the central coast or nortern CA, there is lots that deals with So Cal and it is all interesting and informative.
Go here to read it. I hope you enjoy it.
A couple weeks ago I mentioned that someone sent me a wonderful list of other water blogs and I promised to post links to them when I can. So here is this weeks. It is called The Water Cooler, California's First Official Water Blog. While there are things on here that pertain to the central coast or nortern CA, there is lots that deals with So Cal and it is all interesting and informative.
Go here to read it. I hope you enjoy it.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Frugal Friday
Let's talk about frozen pipes. According to State Farm, approximately 250,000 families have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter by water pipes that freeze and burst. When the outside temperature drops below freezing, water pipes with little or no insulation can freeze and break.
Now, what does this have to do with Frugal Friday you might ask? Well, think of the cost of preparing your pipes for winter vs. repairing the damage done when they freeze and break. This is obviously a no brainer. Why would anyone want to deal the mess and disruption of frozen, broken pipes when it is so simple to prevent it? While it might mean a small cash outlay initially, the time, money, worry and inconvenience you will save is priceless.
Before the cold weather hits:
Insulate pipes in unheated areas and those that run along outside walls, floors or ceilings. There are several types of insulation available for this job and you can decide which one will work best for your situation.
Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located.
Disconnect garden hoses and cover faucets with special insulated faucet socks.
Once the mercury drops, you can open your cabinet doors to allow heat to get to the piping under sinks and vanities.
If you do experience frozen pipes or a leak, call a plumber immediately and turn your water off at your customer valve. Do not try to thaw the pipe with a torch or other open flame and do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water because you could be electrocuted.
The biggest thing you can do to prevent frozen pipes, is to turn your water off at your customer valve anytime you leave your mountain home. This is the single most critical step you can take in preventing frozen and burst pipes.
Don't let water damage dampen your life this winter. Spend a few minutes protecting your water pipes to save time and money down the road. Remember it is cheaper to prevent a problem than it is to repair one. And remember that there does not have to be snow on the ground for it to be cold enough for pipes to freeze.
Now, what does this have to do with Frugal Friday you might ask? Well, think of the cost of preparing your pipes for winter vs. repairing the damage done when they freeze and break. This is obviously a no brainer. Why would anyone want to deal the mess and disruption of frozen, broken pipes when it is so simple to prevent it? While it might mean a small cash outlay initially, the time, money, worry and inconvenience you will save is priceless.
Before the cold weather hits:
Insulate pipes in unheated areas and those that run along outside walls, floors or ceilings. There are several types of insulation available for this job and you can decide which one will work best for your situation.
Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located.
Disconnect garden hoses and cover faucets with special insulated faucet socks.
Once the mercury drops, you can open your cabinet doors to allow heat to get to the piping under sinks and vanities.
If you do experience frozen pipes or a leak, call a plumber immediately and turn your water off at your customer valve. Do not try to thaw the pipe with a torch or other open flame and do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water because you could be electrocuted.
The biggest thing you can do to prevent frozen pipes, is to turn your water off at your customer valve anytime you leave your mountain home. This is the single most critical step you can take in preventing frozen and burst pipes.
Don't let water damage dampen your life this winter. Spend a few minutes protecting your water pipes to save time and money down the road. Remember it is cheaper to prevent a problem than it is to repair one. And remember that there does not have to be snow on the ground for it to be cold enough for pipes to freeze.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Sustainable Thursday
Even though we are currently experiencing Indian Summer here on the hill, I know that Old Man Winter is lurking just around the corner. Yes it was beautiful on Halloween this year, but memories of my daughters Trick or Treating in snow linger in the back of my mind. It seems I get complacent during nice weather and tend to forget how it is all winter long. However, this year, I have been trying to plan and think ahead to the long, cold winter months when many of my sustainable practices have to change due to the weather.
The biggest change that the winter brings for me, is not being able to hang clothes outside to dry. Since I do this with a large majority of my laundry, winter presents a challenge when it comes to drying my clothes all indoors! In order not to just throw everything into the dryer, I have come up with the following solutions.
Since I normally use my shower curtain rod to hang wet clothes, I decided to add another shower curtain rod parallel to, but up higher than the one that holds the shower curtain. This has doubled my space to hang wet clothes. Since I put all my shirts on hangers to dry, this gives me double the space to hang them up to dry. These rods can also be used for large items such as table clothes, quilts or sheets.
The next problem I had to solve was for things like sweaters that need to be laid flat to dry. During summer, it is easy enough to lay a clean sheet or quilt on the ground and put things on that to dry in the sun. But with the onset of cold weather, the amount of sweaters being worn goes up and I quickly run out of drying space on the kitchen table. Plus we do like to eat there once in a while. So a quick trip to Amazon dot com helped solve my problem. They now make nifty little contraptions that can be laid over your tub and then folded back up when you are done. So after purchasing a couple, I had another problem solved.
Then came the real challenge. Pants, jeans, pillow cases and so on. Where was I going to dry them? They take up too much space on my shower curtain rods and were hard to move should anyone actually want to take a shower. I thought fleetingly about hanging a couple of clothes lines up in my living room, but I didn't think my husband would prefer that, so I ended up purchasing a very old fashioned drying rack. It is made out of stainless steel and works great! It is extremely light weight and I can move it around or fold it up and put it away. I can sit it in the bathtub if I have something that is dripping wet or put it in front of the heater, or just off to the side behind the sofa. On nice days, it can even be toted outside to the deck.
It holds anything and everything. Jeans to delicate hand washables. Come winter it will be a lifesaver when my husband comes home from work soaking wet from delivering gas in the snow or rain all day long. His previous solution was to hang his work coat on a dining room chair and put it in front of the heater and then spread the rest of his gear around the heater on the floor. Needless to say, this wasn't a great solution and my wooden chairs were taking a beating from it.
Now I can just put the rack in front of the heater and all his outerwear fits on it! Oh happy day. Plus when the grandkids come up, all their snow gear will be happily accomodated on this one rack. No more hats, mittens, coats and snow pants strewn all over my house!
So that just left one more problem to solve. Little things like plastic bags, socks and so on. Once again, Amazon came to my rescue. I found a nifty little plastic frame that comes complete with clothes pins and a hook for hanging. It fits right over my shower rod and has close to 2 dozen pins on it. So now all winter long I can continue to wash and re-use my freezer bags and I now have a place to hang them to dry.
With a little creativity, a little research, a little effort and a little money, I solved all my laundry problems. Living sustainably might take a little extra effort, but I just think of all the electricity and propane I am saving, which then translates into money saved, and the good I am doing for the earth and I am happy to exert the extra effort.
So, what clever solutions have you come up with to living sustainably throughout the winter months when it can become challenging?
The biggest change that the winter brings for me, is not being able to hang clothes outside to dry. Since I do this with a large majority of my laundry, winter presents a challenge when it comes to drying my clothes all indoors! In order not to just throw everything into the dryer, I have come up with the following solutions.
Since I normally use my shower curtain rod to hang wet clothes, I decided to add another shower curtain rod parallel to, but up higher than the one that holds the shower curtain. This has doubled my space to hang wet clothes. Since I put all my shirts on hangers to dry, this gives me double the space to hang them up to dry. These rods can also be used for large items such as table clothes, quilts or sheets.
The next problem I had to solve was for things like sweaters that need to be laid flat to dry. During summer, it is easy enough to lay a clean sheet or quilt on the ground and put things on that to dry in the sun. But with the onset of cold weather, the amount of sweaters being worn goes up and I quickly run out of drying space on the kitchen table. Plus we do like to eat there once in a while. So a quick trip to Amazon dot com helped solve my problem. They now make nifty little contraptions that can be laid over your tub and then folded back up when you are done. So after purchasing a couple, I had another problem solved.
Then came the real challenge. Pants, jeans, pillow cases and so on. Where was I going to dry them? They take up too much space on my shower curtain rods and were hard to move should anyone actually want to take a shower. I thought fleetingly about hanging a couple of clothes lines up in my living room, but I didn't think my husband would prefer that, so I ended up purchasing a very old fashioned drying rack. It is made out of stainless steel and works great! It is extremely light weight and I can move it around or fold it up and put it away. I can sit it in the bathtub if I have something that is dripping wet or put it in front of the heater, or just off to the side behind the sofa. On nice days, it can even be toted outside to the deck.
It holds anything and everything. Jeans to delicate hand washables. Come winter it will be a lifesaver when my husband comes home from work soaking wet from delivering gas in the snow or rain all day long. His previous solution was to hang his work coat on a dining room chair and put it in front of the heater and then spread the rest of his gear around the heater on the floor. Needless to say, this wasn't a great solution and my wooden chairs were taking a beating from it.
Now I can just put the rack in front of the heater and all his outerwear fits on it! Oh happy day. Plus when the grandkids come up, all their snow gear will be happily accomodated on this one rack. No more hats, mittens, coats and snow pants strewn all over my house!
So that just left one more problem to solve. Little things like plastic bags, socks and so on. Once again, Amazon came to my rescue. I found a nifty little plastic frame that comes complete with clothes pins and a hook for hanging. It fits right over my shower rod and has close to 2 dozen pins on it. So now all winter long I can continue to wash and re-use my freezer bags and I now have a place to hang them to dry.
With a little creativity, a little research, a little effort and a little money, I solved all my laundry problems. Living sustainably might take a little extra effort, but I just think of all the electricity and propane I am saving, which then translates into money saved, and the good I am doing for the earth and I am happy to exert the extra effort.
So, what clever solutions have you come up with to living sustainably throughout the winter months when it can become challenging?
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday Musings
Well, another month has gone by. What a beautiful weekend we had to end October with. Rain on Saturday then giving way to the most beautiful autumn day on Sunday. Very pleasant weather for trick or treaters to prowl around Idyllwild. With weather predictions being sunny and mild for the next few days, I am looking forward to getting out into the garden and finishing up my end of summer chores.
One thing I always try to do at this time of year is to add compost and/or manure to the garden so it can sit all winter long. I have noticed that sometimes when I add it in the spring, it is a little to potent and by letting it sit all winter, it mellows out just a little and my little seedlings love it.
With winter fast approaching, now is the perfect time to get the garden ready to go to sleep for the long winter months ahead. With predictions of a dryer than normal winter ahead, it is also the perfect time to get your trees and plants all mulched in as well. This not only protects the roots, but helps the soil to retain what ever moisture we do happen to get. We have to make the most of the moisture we do receive, so being that we have FREE mulch available, why not take advantage of the situation and do your garden a favor?
You can also mulch down your veggie garden, even though there is nothing growing in it right now. This helps prevent it from getting water logged through out the winter. The snow will gently melt down through the mulch and into the soil, rather than sitting on top of it and melting and creating mud puddles.
Remember we have FREE mulch for anyone to help themselves too and we also have bags of manure available for Pine Cove Water District customers as well. Each customer can have one bag for free. Just come in and ask for it!
One thing I always try to do at this time of year is to add compost and/or manure to the garden so it can sit all winter long. I have noticed that sometimes when I add it in the spring, it is a little to potent and by letting it sit all winter, it mellows out just a little and my little seedlings love it.
With winter fast approaching, now is the perfect time to get the garden ready to go to sleep for the long winter months ahead. With predictions of a dryer than normal winter ahead, it is also the perfect time to get your trees and plants all mulched in as well. This not only protects the roots, but helps the soil to retain what ever moisture we do happen to get. We have to make the most of the moisture we do receive, so being that we have FREE mulch available, why not take advantage of the situation and do your garden a favor?
You can also mulch down your veggie garden, even though there is nothing growing in it right now. This helps prevent it from getting water logged through out the winter. The snow will gently melt down through the mulch and into the soil, rather than sitting on top of it and melting and creating mud puddles.
Remember we have FREE mulch for anyone to help themselves too and we also have bags of manure available for Pine Cove Water District customers as well. Each customer can have one bag for free. Just come in and ask for it!
Monday, August 2, 2010
The Pine Cove Conservation Cafe
I am announcing a new feature on the blog that I hope will go over well. It is the Pine Cove Conservation Cafe. It is all about water saving tips that our customers are using in their homes and gardens. Do you have a great water saving tip? If so, send it in to us at pcwd2675@yahoo.com and I will post it here on the blog. Have pictures of your garden? Send them in and I will post them also.
Just make sure you send your name, street address and what the picture is of. We love to see what is going on in the gardens around Pine Cove. I will start off by posting some pictures of my garden, which is located at 25150 Marion Ridge Dr. within the next couple of days.
Some things I have been doing in my garden are adding compost to the soil for several years now to improve the soil and it's water retaining abilities. I am also using the free mulch we have availabe here at the water district to reduce watering and help retain moisture. I am watering in the evening or in the early morning to avoid mid day evaportation and I have started adding soaker hoses and will eventually move up to a drip irrigation system. I have also started a compost pile, but I need to be more diligent with it as it is just kind of sitting there. I plan to go out and turn it and add some water to it this week and see if I can get it going. I will try to get some horse manure to add to it as well. That usually helps it heat up.
So get out into your yard and take some pictures and send them in. We look forward
to seeing what is happening the the gardens of Pine Covers.
Just make sure you send your name, street address and what the picture is of. We love to see what is going on in the gardens around Pine Cove. I will start off by posting some pictures of my garden, which is located at 25150 Marion Ridge Dr. within the next couple of days.
Some things I have been doing in my garden are adding compost to the soil for several years now to improve the soil and it's water retaining abilities. I am also using the free mulch we have availabe here at the water district to reduce watering and help retain moisture. I am watering in the evening or in the early morning to avoid mid day evaportation and I have started adding soaker hoses and will eventually move up to a drip irrigation system. I have also started a compost pile, but I need to be more diligent with it as it is just kind of sitting there. I plan to go out and turn it and add some water to it this week and see if I can get it going. I will try to get some horse manure to add to it as well. That usually helps it heat up.
So get out into your yard and take some pictures and send them in. We look forward
to seeing what is happening the the gardens of Pine Covers.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Free Water Saving Kits Available!
We still have water saving kits available for our customers and they are yours just for the asking. That's right. There is no charge for them! Stop by the office at 24917 Marion Ridge Road and ask Becky or Vicki to give you one. They are generally in a good humor and will fulfill your request happily.
The kits contain:
one Earth Massage 1.5 GPM Showerhead with a two setting massage spray.
one Kitchen Swivel 1.5 GPM Aerator with dual spray functinality.
two Bathroom Faucet 1.0 GPM Aerators for half the flow but twice the power. These are commercial grade aerators.
Toliet Water Saver which takes excess water from the bowl and diverts it to the tank to reduce water consumption.
Toilet Leak Detection Tablets which are FDA certified, non-toxic dye tablets used to detect leaks in toilets.
Flow Meter Bag. The bag your kit comes in doubles as a flow meter to identify water wasters throughout the home.
Water Conservation Wheel provides useful ways to conserve water around the house.
Rain Water Harvesting
As the temperature rises, so does the need for water in our gardens. We could debate if we are in a drought or just returning to a normal weather pattern, but the fact is we aren't getting as much water as we would like to have. Yes, this past winter was better than some, but one never knows what the next winter will bring and therefore one good winter tends to leave us with a sense of false security.
We can also discuss water saving methods over and over again, but I think most people know what they are and I also think that most people are actually using them and trying to conserve water. However, the question remains as to what to do in the garden to further reduce water usage? You have added compost to the soil, you have added mulch to retain moisture, you are using a drip irrigation system and have even planted some native plants. But what if you want to grow vegetables or other types of plants? These take water and lots of it. What if you just want to keep your plants alive that are already there?
That leaves one in a quandry. Does one give up gardening of all sorts? Should we let everything die? Should we not try to grow our own food? Should we not plant new trees or beautiful flowers. I hope not, because what kind of a world would we have without the beauty and tranquility of gardens?
The benefits of a garden are many. Housing developments with rocks for yards and no trees for miles around are not my idea of a great way to live. I for one, cannot even begin to imagine living without the benefits of cooling shade from the trees, the privacy that shrubs and bushes provide, the fragrance and color from all the different flowers, the delicious goodness from homegrown vegetables and fruits or the peace and tranquilty provided on a quiet afternoon in a garden.
And what about the wildlife? They too are receipents of the benefits of a green and healthy garden. A garden provides them with food, shelter and protection from the elements. What happens to the wildlife that inhabits our gardens if we had to just let everything die off?
So what is the solution? Is there even a solution at all? I think so. As the drought looms over us year after year, ready to eliminate our ability to maintain our gardens at any moment, we have got to plan ahead and find solutions to provide water for ourselves and our gardens. So what is the solution? Well, I personally think it is rain water harvesting and this is what I will be working towards at my home. When you think about the amount of water just running off our roofs and how it could provide a sustainable source of irrigation water during the summer, why not try to capture it?
One of the many obstacles to this is, of course, the cost. But luckily, there are many ways to do this and I think that it needs to be incorporated more and more into our overall water conservation plans. Yes we have to be good stewards and conserve as much as possible, but why not add rain water harvesting to our bag of tricks?
I have read lots of articles that recommend adding a rain barrel to your downspout to water your garden with, but since the average rain barrel can only hold about 50 to 75 gallons of water, this isn't going to sustain you throughout a long, hot and dry summer. Plus during a rain storm or when snow is melting, it won't be long until it is overflowing. Most people are going to need something larger.
The key is to add as many rain water storage tanks as possible or put in one of those large ones that hold several thousand gallons. If you are opposed to the look of that or don't have the room to put one, here is a nifty solution.
http://www.aquascapeinc.com/why_rainwater_harvesting
While this is pricer than using 55 gallon drums and creating a daisy chain, it is much more attractive and since it is underground, it obviously doesn't take up a lot of room in your yard. I never knew this option existed and for some, it could be the perfect answer. For those of us on smaller budgets, I recommend looking for used 55 gallon drums and you can connect them together with PVC pipe. This is a good way to start capturing rain water, even while on a small budget.
You can do a search on the internet as well and it will reveal many clever ways people across the country and the world are using to capture rain water. Ingenuity is very prevalent in some of these homemade systems and we can get a lot of inspiration and ideas from them.
The whole point is to start saving that rain water and snow in the winter. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all save rainwater and eliminate using our tap water for outside irrigation? Rainwater is so much better for plants and trees since it doesn't contain any chlorine or other chemcials. Think about it. Perhaps rainwater harvesting could be an important tool in our water conserving arsenol.
We can also discuss water saving methods over and over again, but I think most people know what they are and I also think that most people are actually using them and trying to conserve water. However, the question remains as to what to do in the garden to further reduce water usage? You have added compost to the soil, you have added mulch to retain moisture, you are using a drip irrigation system and have even planted some native plants. But what if you want to grow vegetables or other types of plants? These take water and lots of it. What if you just want to keep your plants alive that are already there?
That leaves one in a quandry. Does one give up gardening of all sorts? Should we let everything die? Should we not try to grow our own food? Should we not plant new trees or beautiful flowers. I hope not, because what kind of a world would we have without the beauty and tranquility of gardens?
The benefits of a garden are many. Housing developments with rocks for yards and no trees for miles around are not my idea of a great way to live. I for one, cannot even begin to imagine living without the benefits of cooling shade from the trees, the privacy that shrubs and bushes provide, the fragrance and color from all the different flowers, the delicious goodness from homegrown vegetables and fruits or the peace and tranquilty provided on a quiet afternoon in a garden.
And what about the wildlife? They too are receipents of the benefits of a green and healthy garden. A garden provides them with food, shelter and protection from the elements. What happens to the wildlife that inhabits our gardens if we had to just let everything die off?
So what is the solution? Is there even a solution at all? I think so. As the drought looms over us year after year, ready to eliminate our ability to maintain our gardens at any moment, we have got to plan ahead and find solutions to provide water for ourselves and our gardens. So what is the solution? Well, I personally think it is rain water harvesting and this is what I will be working towards at my home. When you think about the amount of water just running off our roofs and how it could provide a sustainable source of irrigation water during the summer, why not try to capture it?
One of the many obstacles to this is, of course, the cost. But luckily, there are many ways to do this and I think that it needs to be incorporated more and more into our overall water conservation plans. Yes we have to be good stewards and conserve as much as possible, but why not add rain water harvesting to our bag of tricks?
I have read lots of articles that recommend adding a rain barrel to your downspout to water your garden with, but since the average rain barrel can only hold about 50 to 75 gallons of water, this isn't going to sustain you throughout a long, hot and dry summer. Plus during a rain storm or when snow is melting, it won't be long until it is overflowing. Most people are going to need something larger.
The key is to add as many rain water storage tanks as possible or put in one of those large ones that hold several thousand gallons. If you are opposed to the look of that or don't have the room to put one, here is a nifty solution.
http://www.aquascapeinc.com/why_rainwater_harvesting
While this is pricer than using 55 gallon drums and creating a daisy chain, it is much more attractive and since it is underground, it obviously doesn't take up a lot of room in your yard. I never knew this option existed and for some, it could be the perfect answer. For those of us on smaller budgets, I recommend looking for used 55 gallon drums and you can connect them together with PVC pipe. This is a good way to start capturing rain water, even while on a small budget.
You can do a search on the internet as well and it will reveal many clever ways people across the country and the world are using to capture rain water. Ingenuity is very prevalent in some of these homemade systems and we can get a lot of inspiration and ideas from them.
The whole point is to start saving that rain water and snow in the winter. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all save rainwater and eliminate using our tap water for outside irrigation? Rainwater is so much better for plants and trees since it doesn't contain any chlorine or other chemcials. Think about it. Perhaps rainwater harvesting could be an important tool in our water conserving arsenol.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Gardens
Well folks, with the 4th of July holiday behind us, summer is in full swing. That means outdoor gardening efforts are stepping up. We want to remind everyone that we have lots of mulch available FREE OF CHARGE to help you conserve water in your garden.
If you haven't already, now might be a great time to start a compost pile. Soil that has been amended with compost retains more moisture and therefore makes your watering efforts more productive.
Even if you don't garden, the trees and other plants that are in your yard can benefit from the addition of compost. Compost not only helps the soil retain water, but it nourishes it as well, providing much needed nutrients to trees and other plants you may have in your yard. If you do nothing else, add some compost to your soil.
If you do enjoy gardening and would like to share your garden with others, please feel free to email me your pictures at pcwd2675@yahoo.com and I will happily post them here on the blog.
In fact, I would love to post any pictures you take around the Pine Cove area. So go ahead and email them to me.
o
If you haven't already, now might be a great time to start a compost pile. Soil that has been amended with compost retains more moisture and therefore makes your watering efforts more productive.
Even if you don't garden, the trees and other plants that are in your yard can benefit from the addition of compost. Compost not only helps the soil retain water, but it nourishes it as well, providing much needed nutrients to trees and other plants you may have in your yard. If you do nothing else, add some compost to your soil.
If you do enjoy gardening and would like to share your garden with others, please feel free to email me your pictures at pcwd2675@yahoo.com and I will happily post them here on the blog.
In fact, I would love to post any pictures you take around the Pine Cove area. So go ahead and email them to me.
o
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.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
EARTH DAY!!!
Today is Earth Day! It is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day as well. For the first time, the Pine Cove Water District will be participating in the Idyllwild Earth Fair, which will be held on May 15, 2010 from 11 am until 5 pm. It will be held at the Idyllwild Town Hall and admission is free. Here is a link to their website if you would like more information.
http://www.earthfair.com
We hope to see you there and have a Happy Earth Day!
http://www.earthfair.com
We hope to see you there and have a Happy Earth Day!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Sustainable Thursday
This week while searching for an interesting topic to discuss, I came across something I had never heard of before. Keyhole gardens. While they are used a lot in Africa, I had never heard of them before. Their design is very simple and uses permaculture methods and would be very beneficial to gardeners everywhere. Their unique design makes them a combination of a raised bed garden and a compost pile all in one structure. They are extremely efficient and can be custom built to an individuals specific needs. By building the garden about 3 feet high, they are easy for people who may be older, disabled or have back problems to care for. In fact, that is one of the reasons they use them in Africa. Since so many are chronically ill there, these gardens make it possible for them to grow food for themselves and their families.
After doing some research this week, I have found you can make them from a variety of materials and in any size you desire. As the name implies, they are shaped like a keyhole. They are round with a small, angled path on one end. The compost section is right in the middle and the path makes it easy to walk up to the compost pile and add to it. If you don't prefer to have a compost pile in the middle of your keyhole garden, you could have a tree, a water feature or a rain barrel there instead.
Keyhole gardens can be as simple or elaborate as you want. Some are made from stone and others just from wire fencing. You could use bricks, landscape stones, river rocks, fencing or whatever strikes your fancy. You can use recycled materials or have it made to match your home. Let you imagination run wild.
There are many benefits of these types of gardens. It is an excellent way to grow a lot of vegetables in a small space. There is a wonderful article on permaculture and keyhole gardens at www.gardeningknowhow. com/organic/the-essence-of-permaculture-gardening.htm. Also if you do a search on Google for keyhole gardens, you will be able to find a wealth of pictures of keyhole gardens which will give you many ideas on how you too can build one in your own yard. There are many other wonderful articles online as well. This is a topic well worth researching.
Since they retain water better than a traditional garden, this makes them ideal for here on the hill. If you are wanting to do some gardening this summer, I would suggest giving a keyhole garden a try. If you do, send us pictures and let us know how it turns out. We love to hear of everyone's gardening adventures.
After doing some research this week, I have found you can make them from a variety of materials and in any size you desire. As the name implies, they are shaped like a keyhole. They are round with a small, angled path on one end. The compost section is right in the middle and the path makes it easy to walk up to the compost pile and add to it. If you don't prefer to have a compost pile in the middle of your keyhole garden, you could have a tree, a water feature or a rain barrel there instead.
Keyhole gardens can be as simple or elaborate as you want. Some are made from stone and others just from wire fencing. You could use bricks, landscape stones, river rocks, fencing or whatever strikes your fancy. You can use recycled materials or have it made to match your home. Let you imagination run wild.
There are many benefits of these types of gardens. It is an excellent way to grow a lot of vegetables in a small space. There is a wonderful article on permaculture and keyhole gardens at www.gardeningknowhow. com/organic/the-essence-of-permaculture-gardening.htm. Also if you do a search on Google for keyhole gardens, you will be able to find a wealth of pictures of keyhole gardens which will give you many ideas on how you too can build one in your own yard. There are many other wonderful articles online as well. This is a topic well worth researching.
Since they retain water better than a traditional garden, this makes them ideal for here on the hill. If you are wanting to do some gardening this summer, I would suggest giving a keyhole garden a try. If you do, send us pictures and let us know how it turns out. We love to hear of everyone's gardening adventures.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Free Wood Chips!
We have free woodchips available to anyone who would like to have some. Just come on up and help yourself. They are located behind the water district's workshop. You may come anytime to pick them up. They are great around plants and trees to help with water retention.
Water Saving Kits
Please don't forget to stop by and pick up your free water saving kit. They are free of charge to all Pine Cove Water District customers. Just stop by the office, located at 24917 Marion Ridge Rd during normal business hours and pick one up.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Sustainable Thursday
As Easter looms in the not to far off distance, we are reminded that spring is a renewing time of year. It never ceases to amaze me each year how the plants here on our mountain know it is spring and time to bloom and grow. While some are slower than others, it is amazing to walk through the yard and see all the activity going on. Bulbs are springing to life, leaves on certain trees are budding up. Roses are growing after being dormant for the long, cold winter. Things just seem to be re-born everywhere you look.
It doesn't stop with the plants either. All of a sudden the birds are a buzz with activity and the squirrels are out and about in full force. I am sure it won't be long until the insects figure out it is spring and arrive in full force as well. The ants already seem to have figured that out, so the others can't be far behind.
In order to avoid a mosquito invasion, make sure you do not have any standing water around your house or yard. With all the snow we have had this past winter, it is easy for any type of a container left outside to become full of water and harbor a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check around your property and make sure you empty out any standing water. Mosquitoes can carry diseases and it is best to play it safe.
As always, we have to be aware of the danger of rattlesnakes. While this is a subject that sends fear through my entire being, it is something we must be aware of. Always take precautions around wood piles and any other places you think a snake could be hanging out. After almost stepping on a rattlesnake in my own front yard one day, I am now more observant when I am outside gardening or walking around. One favorite hide out for them is under propane tanks and under the lids on the propane tanks. While rattlesnakes are a part of nature, they are a part I do not wish to encounter, so being extremely cautious is how I deal with the situation. As it warms up and we are outside cleaning up our yards, remember that the rattlesnakes may be warming up as well and ready to come out for that first sunbath of the year. Keep yourself safe.
If you have the urge to start planting, remember to add compost to your soil so that it will retain water better and then top that with mulch to keep the moisure in. We are still offering a free bag of compost to Pine Cove Water District customers and we are offering FREE wood chips to anyone who wants them. Come and take advantage of these offers while you can.
We are also giving away blue bird houses. Now is the time to come and pick one up and get it hung up in a tree so the birds can make their nests. We also have water saving kits available to our customers. They contain a water saving shower head as well as an aerator and low flow spigots and they are absolutely FREE!
It doesn't stop with the plants either. All of a sudden the birds are a buzz with activity and the squirrels are out and about in full force. I am sure it won't be long until the insects figure out it is spring and arrive in full force as well. The ants already seem to have figured that out, so the others can't be far behind.
In order to avoid a mosquito invasion, make sure you do not have any standing water around your house or yard. With all the snow we have had this past winter, it is easy for any type of a container left outside to become full of water and harbor a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check around your property and make sure you empty out any standing water. Mosquitoes can carry diseases and it is best to play it safe.
As always, we have to be aware of the danger of rattlesnakes. While this is a subject that sends fear through my entire being, it is something we must be aware of. Always take precautions around wood piles and any other places you think a snake could be hanging out. After almost stepping on a rattlesnake in my own front yard one day, I am now more observant when I am outside gardening or walking around. One favorite hide out for them is under propane tanks and under the lids on the propane tanks. While rattlesnakes are a part of nature, they are a part I do not wish to encounter, so being extremely cautious is how I deal with the situation. As it warms up and we are outside cleaning up our yards, remember that the rattlesnakes may be warming up as well and ready to come out for that first sunbath of the year. Keep yourself safe.
If you have the urge to start planting, remember to add compost to your soil so that it will retain water better and then top that with mulch to keep the moisure in. We are still offering a free bag of compost to Pine Cove Water District customers and we are offering FREE wood chips to anyone who wants them. Come and take advantage of these offers while you can.
We are also giving away blue bird houses. Now is the time to come and pick one up and get it hung up in a tree so the birds can make their nests. We also have water saving kits available to our customers. They contain a water saving shower head as well as an aerator and low flow spigots and they are absolutely FREE!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Sustainable Thursday
After a week of fairly nice weather, it seems everyone is ready for spring to arrive. It feels good to have the sun upon my face when I go outside and it is wonderful to see the actual ground again. I know it is early and I shouldn't get too excited yet as Old Man Winter could still throw us a few punches.
However, while the weather is nice it gives us a break and we can enjoy a few spring time activities while waiting to see if winter is gone for good.
1. Hang your clothes outside to dry. Since the sun has been shining and it has been over 50 degrees outside, why not use your solar clothes dryer? You will save energy and your clothes will smell so fresh and good. I can remember during the summer as a child, climbing into freshly washed sheets that were dried on the line outside and smelled so good that I would just bury my face into my pillow and take a deep breath. Then my mom got a new dryer and all that ended.
At my house though, that tradition was revived. When my first child arrived in May of 1977, it turned out to be twins and so I spent all summer that year hanging out dozens and dozens of receiving blankets, crib sheets, undershirts and sleepers. Even though I had a dryer, the clothes came off the line smelling so fresh and clean that it was worth the extra effort. Add to that a couple of freshly bathed and powdered baby girls and the sweet smell of the baby and the line dried clothes mixed together was intoxicating to a then new mom.
It is my hope that all 4 of my daughters will have memories of climbing into sheets dried outside on the clothes line and I hope my grandbabies will have memories of visiting Grandma & Grandpa in the mountains and remember how good the sheets smelled when they were tucked into bed while visiting. Drying clothes outside on the line not only saves energy, it makes memories!
2. Get some compost and mulch into your yard. I love working in the yard at this time of year. Mainly because the soil is so moist and easy to dig up. While it is still to early to do a lot of serious planting, it is a great time to add compost to your soil. We sometimes forget that our trees can use some extra nutrients as well as our garden plants. Once you get your soil amended, don't forget to add a layer of mulch to help the soil retain moisture. Well composted soil holds water much better than uncomposted soil and a layer of mulch will not only help retain moisture, but if you use something natural like woodchips, they too will break down into compost over time and add even more nutrients to the soil.
If you are gardening on a budget, don't forget that Pine Cove Water District is giving away FREE bark chips to be used as mulch. We are also giving away one free bag of COMPOST to any Pine Cove Water District customer that comes in an requests one. We want to get everyone off to a good start this spring, so stop by and pick yours up now!
3. Stop water runoff in your yard. Now is also a great time to go out into your yard and add berms and swales to retain and hold water and/or snow runoff. Check your rainspouting for leaks and add rainbarrels to catch the runoff from your roof. This water can then be used later in the year for irrigation. Check for leaks and repair any you find immediately. Winter can be hard on our pipes and our outdoor irrigation systems. Customers are responsible for all the water that runs through their meter, so catching leaks early saves money, time and property. Don't wait until it becomes a major problem that is going to cost thousands of dollars to fix. What is that old saying? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is very true when it comes to keeping your irrigation system in top notch shape.
4. Get a jump start on your fire abatement. I know it is hard to think of fire season when we have just seen the last of the snow melt, but we have to remember it is fire season up here all year round. Take advantage of this nice weather to clean off your roof and get your yard raked up. It is easier to work in this cooler weather than it is to work in 80+ degrees. Plus, if you do it now, while others are scrambling to get their abatement done, you can sit smuggly back with your feet up, sipping on an iced tea, reading a good book. When it comes to fire prevention, you can never do too much or do it too soon. Keeping up with fire abatement makes the job easier than when you let it go for long periods of time and saves you from being cited or fined for not complying.
So even though spring may or may not have sprung, there are still somethings we can get a jump start on. Doing some of your gardening chores now will leave you more free time to play when the nice weather does finally comes to stay.
However, while the weather is nice it gives us a break and we can enjoy a few spring time activities while waiting to see if winter is gone for good.
1. Hang your clothes outside to dry. Since the sun has been shining and it has been over 50 degrees outside, why not use your solar clothes dryer? You will save energy and your clothes will smell so fresh and good. I can remember during the summer as a child, climbing into freshly washed sheets that were dried on the line outside and smelled so good that I would just bury my face into my pillow and take a deep breath. Then my mom got a new dryer and all that ended.
At my house though, that tradition was revived. When my first child arrived in May of 1977, it turned out to be twins and so I spent all summer that year hanging out dozens and dozens of receiving blankets, crib sheets, undershirts and sleepers. Even though I had a dryer, the clothes came off the line smelling so fresh and clean that it was worth the extra effort. Add to that a couple of freshly bathed and powdered baby girls and the sweet smell of the baby and the line dried clothes mixed together was intoxicating to a then new mom.
It is my hope that all 4 of my daughters will have memories of climbing into sheets dried outside on the clothes line and I hope my grandbabies will have memories of visiting Grandma & Grandpa in the mountains and remember how good the sheets smelled when they were tucked into bed while visiting. Drying clothes outside on the line not only saves energy, it makes memories!
2. Get some compost and mulch into your yard. I love working in the yard at this time of year. Mainly because the soil is so moist and easy to dig up. While it is still to early to do a lot of serious planting, it is a great time to add compost to your soil. We sometimes forget that our trees can use some extra nutrients as well as our garden plants. Once you get your soil amended, don't forget to add a layer of mulch to help the soil retain moisture. Well composted soil holds water much better than uncomposted soil and a layer of mulch will not only help retain moisture, but if you use something natural like woodchips, they too will break down into compost over time and add even more nutrients to the soil.
If you are gardening on a budget, don't forget that Pine Cove Water District is giving away FREE bark chips to be used as mulch. We are also giving away one free bag of COMPOST to any Pine Cove Water District customer that comes in an requests one. We want to get everyone off to a good start this spring, so stop by and pick yours up now!
3. Stop water runoff in your yard. Now is also a great time to go out into your yard and add berms and swales to retain and hold water and/or snow runoff. Check your rainspouting for leaks and add rainbarrels to catch the runoff from your roof. This water can then be used later in the year for irrigation. Check for leaks and repair any you find immediately. Winter can be hard on our pipes and our outdoor irrigation systems. Customers are responsible for all the water that runs through their meter, so catching leaks early saves money, time and property. Don't wait until it becomes a major problem that is going to cost thousands of dollars to fix. What is that old saying? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is very true when it comes to keeping your irrigation system in top notch shape.
4. Get a jump start on your fire abatement. I know it is hard to think of fire season when we have just seen the last of the snow melt, but we have to remember it is fire season up here all year round. Take advantage of this nice weather to clean off your roof and get your yard raked up. It is easier to work in this cooler weather than it is to work in 80+ degrees. Plus, if you do it now, while others are scrambling to get their abatement done, you can sit smuggly back with your feet up, sipping on an iced tea, reading a good book. When it comes to fire prevention, you can never do too much or do it too soon. Keeping up with fire abatement makes the job easier than when you let it go for long periods of time and saves you from being cited or fined for not complying.
So even though spring may or may not have sprung, there are still somethings we can get a jump start on. Doing some of your gardening chores now will leave you more free time to play when the nice weather does finally comes to stay.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)