Green Living Thursdays

With all the talk about conservation, sustainability and green living, I thought it might be a good idea to start posting some green living tips. I will try my best to do this each Thursday. If you have any suggestions or any topics you would like to see addressed, please feel free to email them to me at pcwd2675@yahoo.com .

Since we live in this wonderful forest, I thought I would start off by discussing ways to have a tree free home. A sustainable household should try to create as much as possible, a tree free home. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

1. Replace paper napkins with cloth napkins. Cloth napkins are a wonderful alternative to paper napkins and can be easily made by recycling fabrics you already have around your home or can purchase second hand. Sheets, towels, tablecloths, curtains and clothing are easy to turn into napkins. It only takes basic sewing skills to make a napkin or if you prefer a non sewing project, you can make them buy using iron on tape. By recycling fabrics into napkins you are not only taking a step towards reducing your dependence on paper products, but you are also reducing the amount of waste in our landfills.
2. Replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels or napkins or cut up old T-shirts. As with the napkins, just wash and re-use. These items can all be washed with your normal laundry. There is no need to make a special load.
3. Take your own cloth shopping bags with you to the store.
4. If you pack a lunch, don't use a paper sack. Use a re-usable insulated lunch bag and tuck a cloth napkin and a set of real silver ware inside. Also pack your food items and drinks in re-useable containers that can be washed out nightly and re-used.
5. Purchase bleach-free toliet paper that is made from the highest post-consumer waste content you can find. (80% minimum)
6. If you print documents, print on once-used paper and/or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available.
7. Create and use note pads from once used paper. Leave messages for family members on a reusable message boards or chalk boards instead of using note pads. Put one in a central location so everyone can see it.
8. If you will be doing construction on your house, search out alternatives to using newly cut wood. Check for eco-friendly floorings such as bamboo, previously used wood or composite decking.
   

We hope you find these tips helpful and we look forward to hearing from you. Good luck in your quest for having a tree free home.

FREE COMPOST!!!

In order to help encourage people to amend their soil during the fall season, we have decided to give away one bag of compost to the first 50 people who come into the office and ask for it during the month of November only. We have been giving away free bark chips for quite a while now and it has become very popular, so we thought we would take it one step further and give away some free compost. So don't wait. Come and get your bag before they are gone.

Weather Station Working

After the weather station being down for a short time, it is up and running again. If you would like to see what the current weather conditions are, just go to our website at www.pcwd.org and click on the link at the top of the page that says "click here for current weather condition. It will give you current conditions as well as graphs charting what the weather has been since midnight.

We hope you find this to be a useful addition to our website. We think it will be especially helpful to those of you who live off the hill and would like to see what the weather is doing prior to making the trip up. We get many calls on road conditions, amount of snow fall and weather conditions in general, so we thought this would be a useful addition to the water district.

For those of us that live here full time, it is helpful to see what the temperature is prior to venturing outside or how fast the wind is blowing. We hope it is something that you find useful. Please let us know how you like it.

Compost, what good is it?

While living in Pine Cove is generally a good thing, trying to have a garden or grow things up here can be a challenge. Between the short growing season, the poor soil, the altitude and the lack of moisture, one can begin to wonder if gardening is an exercise in futility.

The good news is that you can have a sucessful garden, but it will take a little work. One of the best things you can do to ensure gardening sucess, is to add compost to your soil. This applies to your native plants as well as any areas you wish to plant in. This is beneficial in several ways. In an article written by Gary Nakamura, of the University of California, in July 2003 entitled Living in Southern California Forests, he briefly explains the benefits of compost.

"In California’s Mediterranean climate, water is usually limited during the growing season. Most of the precipitation occurs in the winter and runs off. All the water plants have for growth is that retained in the soil, so the depth, texture (sandy, clay, rocky), and organic matter content determines how much water will be available to plants. Protecting the soil from erosion and compaction is important to maintaining its waterholding capacity."

Now, if you are trying to grow vegetables for instance, you are going to have to water your garden. Since we are all trying to conserve water, you certainly don't want to waste it in the garden. Every drop needs to count. By amending your soil with compost, whether bought from the store or made in your own yard, you are not only increasing the nutrient content of your soil, but you are improving the soils ability to absorb and hold water, thereby making the watering you do much more efficient. If you go one step further and add a layer of mulch after the garden is planted, the mulch will help retain the moisture and in turn, save water. If you use a natural material for your mulch, such as bark chips, which we offer for free here at Pine Cove Water District, you will have the added benefit of the bark chips slowly decomposing over time and themselves turning into compost as well.

Now that we are in the throws of autumn, it is the perfect time to get out there and amend your soil. There are many types of soil amendments available at hardware stores, home improvement centers and garden centers. Starting now will enable you to reap big rewards come spring.

Throught the month of November, we are giving away a free bag of compost to the first 50 people who come to the water district and ask for it!

Reminder!

Just a quick reminder that water bills are due by October 25. The next billing cycle will be on or about December 1. If you have any questions regarding your bill, please call Becky at 951-659-2675 and she will be more than happy to explain our billing procedures to you. Thank you.

Chilly Morning

Yesterday and today, the temperatures have been a bit cooler. Since it is autumn, this is to be expected. These chilly days are the perfect time to remind everyone to get their homes winterized.

The Town Crier will be publishing a Winterizing Guide at the end of October and there will be lots of helpful information to help you get ready and prevent an unexpected problem such as a frozen water pipe.

Please remember to call us if you have any questions what so ever about what to do once winter arrives. If you cannot locate your customer shut off valve, please call us a 951-659-2675 during normal business hours when the weather is good and we will be more than happy to send someone over to help you locate you valve and show you how to turn it off.

It's like that old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Very true when it comes to preventing a problem with your water pipes this winter.

School Daze

This week Vicki Jakubac and Jerry Holldber are making a presentation at Idyllwild Elementary School. On Tuesday, Vicki discussed groundwater and the water cycle with Mrs. Tirheimer's 3rd, 4th and 5th grade GATE class. On Wednesday, Jerry will be presenting some sample boards of a water meter as well as an outside drip irrigation system. Vicki will be discussing conservation with the children after Jerry's presentation and give them some tips on how they can save water at home. On Thursday, Vicki will end the presentation by having the kids make Edible Earth Parfaits to teach them about geologic formations in an aquifer. We will end the day by presenting each child with a Certificate of Participation for their efforts in learning about ground water and conservation. This has been quite an experience and we hope the kids have learned a lot and enjoyed our presentation.

Snow Guessing Contest

This year, Pine Cove Water District is participating in the Idyllwild Town Crier's annual Snow Guessing Contest. The contest ends on Oct. 30, 2009, so you will want to stop into the office and get your guess in as soon as possible. As an added bonus, we are giving away a free ice cream or candy with each guess, while supplies last. So come on in and put in your guess and you could win $100 Idyllwild Shopping Dollars and get a free treat at the same time.

First Day of Fall!!

Today is the first day of autumn, so it is a good time to start getting things in order for the upcoming winter season. If you do not already know where your customer shut off valve is, please call the office at 951-659-2675, during normal business hours, Mon thru Fri from 9 to 12 and 1 to 4, to arrange for someone to come out to your home and show you where it is located. Please call if you do not know how to turn your customer valve off. We will be more than happy to come out and show you how to do it.

Everyone should know where their customer shut off valve is and how to turn it off. It is better to get prepared now while the weather is nice, rather than to wait until you have a pipe burst during a snow storm and then try to work it out. We can't say it enough. If you leave your mountain home, no matter what the weather, please turn off your customer valve. And don't forget, all weather that passes through the meter is the homeowner's responsibility, even water lost due to frozen or broken pipes.

Just a Reminder

Next week, "the boys," aka Jerry and Jeremy, will be out and about reading meters. New bills will be mailed out by approx. Oct. 2 and due on Oct. 25th. Hope this helps clear up some of the confusion about the billing cycle. The next billing cycle will occur Dec. 1.

Changing of the seasons

It is the middle of September, so autumn can't be far off. This past Monday gave us a hint of the cool weather that lies ahead. Now is a good time to get some fall housecleaning done before the snow flies. It is no fun to be hold up during bad weather in a house that isn't fresh, clean and cozy.

However, cleaning the house from top to bottom with toxic cleaners isn't the way to go. If you never have tried using natural cleaners, why not give them a try? Most are made with simple ingredients that you probably already have around the house and are gentle and non toxic.

Some common housecleaning ingredients:

• Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) – Mild abrasive, odor neutralizer, cleaner, water softener. Baking soda has a high pH and is therefore able to neutralize odors by changing their pH instead of just masking them.
• Borax (sodium borate) – Found in the laundry detergent section of the grocery store, borax is an alkali that is toxic if swallowed, but has strong cleaning powers: cleans, deodorizes, softens water, and disinfects
• Washing soda – “SAL” soda, sodium carbonate decahydrate, is a mineral. It cuts grease, removes stains, can be used to clean walls, sinks, tubs, and tile. Found in the laundry detergent section, it’s made by Arm & Hammer. (Caustic! Wear gloves.)
• Cornstarch – Use to clean windows, carpets and rugs as well as for polishing furniture
• Hydrogen peroxide – Antiseptic useful in kitchens and bathrooms and also a bleach alternative.
• Lemon juice – Bleach alternative, also has deodorizing qualities.
• Liquid soap – Unscented castile soap made from of vegetable oil can be found in many health food stores, it’s a good base for all-purpose cleaners. (For areas where hard water is common, buy biodegradable detergent instead.) Alternately, save soap slivers and make your own liquid soap by combining them with water.
• White distilled vinegar – Good for removing mildew, cutting grease, dissipating odors, and removing stains and wax build-up
• Distilled water – Better for mixing with your other ingredients that tap water which may contain some minerals or chlorine depending on your local water supply.
• Isopropyl rubbing alcohol – Disinfectant.
• Bleach — Alternative disinfectant and stain remover. Chlorine bleach is toxic but used judiciously can be very effective. Never combine bleach with other substances.
• Salt – Use as a mild abrasive.
• Super fine steel wool – Restores luster to some surfaces such as stainless steel sinks.

We all know that white vinegar and water makes an excellent cleaner for windows and surfaces such as kitchen counters and bathroom fixtures. Another easy way to clean in the bathroom is to mix up a little liquid clothes detergent with baking soda into a paste and use that to scrub tiles, tubs, sinks and toliets. It is gentler on your skin than harsh chemicals and smells lovely. It leaves porcelin shining and beautiful and you won't leave the room choking on chemical smells.

There are many websites out there that have recipes for natural cleaning solutions. I think you will be amazed at how well they actually work. Your wallet will thank you as well because you won't be spending money on all sorts of cleaners. The information in this blog post is from www.demesne.info/Sustainable-Living/Greener-Cleaning.htm.

Remember: Store ALL cleaning solutions in clearly marked bottles or containers away from children or pets. Though less toxic than other cleaners, some ingredients are poisonous and can still hurt or kill humans and pets.

Fall/Winter Newsletter

Before you know it, the time will be here to send out our semi annual newsletter. We try to make it as interesting and informative as possible. If you would like to see something addressed in the newsletter, please let us know. You can post a comment to this post, email us at becky@pcwd.org, call us at 951-659-2675 or stop by the office located at 24917 Marion Ridge Rd. We love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Even if you don't have any newsletter suggestions, just stop in and say hi!

Bills are due!

Just a reminder. If you haven't paid your water bill yet, please do so before Sept. 10 to avoid a disconnect notice and/or a late fee. We mailed the bills on Aug. 3 and they were due by Aug. 25th. If you are having a problem, please call Becky at 951-659-2675 and discuss the situation with her. Our next billing date is Oct. 1, 2009. Thank you.

The value of water

We all know that water is a priceless commodity. Where would we be without fresh, clean water? Besides being a necessity for life, it is an incredible bargin! In a world of sky-rocketing prices on everything from food to homes to fuel, tap water remains one of the best deals around. At a fraction of a penny per gallon, tap water provides safety, convenience and freedom. Less than 1% of the average person's total personal income is spent on water and wastewater services.

Consider the prices you pay for other things as compared to water. How much would you be willing to spend on a nice dinner out? Chances are that one dinner would cost more than a water bill for one month. An 8 oz. glass of water can be refilled approximately 15,000 times for the same price as a six-pack of soda. How much was that bottle of wine you had with dinner last night? How about that blended coffee drink you had this morning?

The price of milk is around 3 to 4 dollars per gallon. One gallon of olive oil can set you back quite a bit as well. What about the price of juice these days? Studies show that bottled water is no purer than tap water, yet bottled water costs about 1,900% more. When you get right down to it, water is the best deal in town.

Add to that the fact that your water bill pays for a lot more than simply water. You get sophisticated water treatment, frequent testing and monitoring and a vast underground infrastructure that delivers safe, plentiful water right to your tap. We have knowledgeable, helpful staff manning the office and working in the field. As your water provider, we serve more than water. We provide value, public health, fire protection, reliability and peace of mind. Our job is to ensure that your water keeps flowing, not only today but well into the future. It's all part of our service commitment to you and everyone in our community. If you have any questions about your water bill, please feel free to call us at 951-659-2675 or stop in the office which is located at 24917 Marion Ridge Road, Mon thru Fri from 9 to 12 and from 1 to4.

It's raining, it's pouring!

This morning brought some surprise wind and clouds. This afternoon brought a surprise thunderstorm! We even had some hail. What a wonderful way to start September. Hopefully this moisture is wide spread and will help all the firefighters with their fight against all the fires. We are blessed that ours is out and we dodged the bullet once more.