Speaking of Free Stuff!

While we are on the subject of free stuff, don't forget about our bark chip mulch.  We are giving that away free to anyone on the hill.  You can just stop by and load up what you need.  However, if you are wanting an excessively large amount, please call and talk to use about it first.  We like to make sure there is enough for everyone who wants it. 

Why should I use mulch you may ask.  Well, because it helps the soil retain moisture.  Water is a precious commodity and we have to be very careful how we use it.  We should all be taking steps to make our outdoor watering more effective.  Even if you aren't a gardener, putting mulch around the trees or bushes in your yard will help them retain the moisture from rain or snow, thereby giving Mother Nature a helping hand. 

Compost is also useful in the yard or garden, as well amended soil retains moisture much better than non amended soil does.  Ever notice what happens to the water when you try to water some thing and the soil has not been amended with compost?  That's right, it runs off or just sits there.  That is not an effective use of water and your plants won't be doing very well.  Unless you have a whole landscape full of native plants that need this unamended soil, it is a good idea to start adding manure or compost or making your own compost and adding it to the garden.  Many times plants fail because they do not have the right soil conditions, among other things. 

That is another benefit of using mulch in the garden.  It will slowly decompose into compost and you don't have to do a thing.  Passive composting I guess you could call it.  Set it and forget it!  What could be easier and cheaper? 

Bird Houses Replenished

There has been one really good side effect of all this snow and rain.  The boys have been stuck inside the workshop and as a result have made a large amount of bird houses.  As you all know by now, Jerry J. and Jeremy P. make this out of old fence boards, keeping them from cluttering up a landfill somewhere.  They make a great addition to your summer garden.  All you have to do is stop by the office and ask for one.  They are free to all Pine Cove Water District customers, so don't miss this opportunity.  They are very popular  and go quickly once the word is out that we have them available.  Stop by the office and pick yours up today.  They are FREE!!!!

Fresh supply of bird houses

Solar Roads

I got this video sent to me this morning from Sustainable Idyllwild and I thought it was worth passing along.  I think it is a brilliant use of solar technology and uses the trash from landfills as well.  It kills several birds with one stone.  This is such a sustainable idea I think.  I was amazed by this video.

http://www.wimp.com/solarhighways/

After you watch it, I hope you will post your thoughts about it here on the blog.  I think it is a fabulous use of technology and would free us from the the whole fossil fuel situation.  But I am no expert, so I would like to hear from those more knowledgeable than myself. 

Billing Time

The boys are working on reading the meter in our last meter book today, so bills should go out on Friday or Monday.  They will be due on April 25th.  We are using our new, customized format.  We think they are much easier to read and they contain more information.  If you have any questions about your bill, please feel free to contact us.  You can email Becky at becky@pcwd.org, or call us at 951-659-2675 or stop by the office which is located at 24917 Marion Ridge Road.  We are right next to the fire station.  You can't miss us!

We will be sending out a survey with the bills this month and we hope you will all take the time to fill it out and send it back to us.  We like to know what our customers around the district are thinking, so let us know!

Monday Musings

I am so happy to see some sunshine today!  Do you ever notice how the weather affects your mood and energy levels?  It seems that during the snowy, rainy &  foggy weather, I don't function very well.  My brain seems to be foggy and I have no desire or energy to do much of anything but lay around and drink hot tea.  But once the sun comes out, it is like someone changed my batteries.   I am re-energized and ready to tackle projects that I have let slide for months.

This week promises the arrival of spring like weather and I for one, am very happy about that.  I know we need the snow, but I really am anxious to get back to outdoor activities.  I hope by the end of this week, that I can see the ground in my garden again.  I have lots to do out there and it is time to get started.  Here at the water district, we will be working on some projects such as using ollas for conserving water when watering the garden, composting for soil improvement and water retention and rain water harvesting for making use of the moisture that falls from the sky.  All of these things are key to conserving water while still  enjoying the delightful benefits of a home garden.

Some of these projects will be done at my personal garden.  Since I was planning to do them anyway, I am more than happy to report the results back here on the blog so that everyone can benefit from what learn.   I am also looking forward to touring  a local garden that uses rain water harvesting in their garden.  Rain water is so much better for plants and between using that for the landscape and ollas for the veggie garden, I am hoping to reduce my outside water use drastically.  Of course you can put rain water in your ollas as well.

It is my hope that by using a variety of gardening methods, I can show people how to use water wisely and efficiently, thereby enabling everyone to have a garden they can  enjoy while doing what is right for the earth and conserving our precious water resources.  It is easy to get lax about water use when we have had a wet winter, but just remember that  we never know if we will receive abundant moisture or not during any given winter,so it is best to use as many water conserving techniques as possible, no matter what the moisture situation is like.  Conserving today, provides for tomorrow!

So here is hoping for springs arrival and getting started on some of my garden projects!

Meter Reading Time

Yes boys and girls, it is that time again.  The boys are out and about reading meters today.  It will probably take them until Wednesday to finish up due to the snow.  Luckily it is warming up and the snow is melting.  If you would like to help them out a bit, you can make sure your water meter is shoveled out so they can read it.  This really helps the process along.  Other wise they have to stop and shovel out each meter before they can read it.  Since we have almost 1100 meters in the district, you can see how time consuming this could become.  We appreciate any help you can give us with this matter.

Frugal Friday

Even though the weather is rainy, foggy and cold today, I decided to post a Frugal Friday garden tip anyway!
I have been looking through some gardening blogs this past week for some inspiration.  Wow,  there a lot of fabulous gardeners across our country.  There are more blogs than I could ever read and they are extremely inspirational. And even though I can't even see my garden right now due to the 3 feet of snow that is covering it,  it is still fun to plan ahead.  Next week promises spring like temperatures so perhaps we will be able to get out and start gardening sometime next week.

It never fails to amaze me at the amazing ways people find to re-purpose items.  Yes, we have all seen people plant flowers in old boots or old sinks and things along those lines, but when I was over at Garden Fresh Living yesterday, I took the time to watch some of the videos that Theresa Loe, the owner of the blog and the Associate Producer of the PBS show Growing a Greener World, has posted.  You can actually watch the shows from her blog and so I decided to watch the one that featured her garden on less than 1/5th of an acre in Los Angeles.  Since I too live on about 1/5th of an acre, I am always very interested in seeing how other people create sustainable gardens in such a small space. 

Her garden is a lovely cottage style garden and has a mix of flowers and vegetables and she even has a chicken coop with several backyard chickens.  A girl after my own heart!  While she has a lot of re-purposed items throughout her entire garden, the one thing that really caught my eye, was the old glass doorknobs that she had attached to the top of metal pipes and put into the ground to use as a hose guards.  I thought that was very clever and I am definitely going to use that tip in my garden this summer.  How many times have you smashed down a plant when the hose got drug over it?  I have done it plenty!  Her re-purposed hose guards kept the hose out of the flower beds and they looked adorable as well. I am going to write to her and see if she will tell me how she attached the door knobs to the metal pipes.  Perhaps you can find a piece of pipe that fits right into them.  I am not sure.  But I will be sure to let you all know. 

I hope you will return often to our blog because as summer approaches because I will be posting lots of pictures of the projects I undertake here at the office, as well as at my home garden in hopes of helping and inspiring others here in Pine Cove to garden more.  Ideas will include re-purposing items, water saving ideas, composting, mulch, plants that do well up here, natives and many other things along the way.

Water Bills

The next billing cycle will occur on or about April 1st or 4th.   We bill every other month, on the even months.  Water bills will be due on April 25.  Remember, we can now take Visa, MasterCard or Discover cards, but there is  $2.50 convenience fee that is charged by the company that processes these transactions for us.  We do not get that money.  We are trying to make paying easier for those who are not on the hill or prefer to pay their bills in this way.  You can pay by phone or in person when using a credit or debit card.

Unfortunately, we cannot set you up on automatic payments, as our billing system is not online at this time.  We feel that our customer's  information is safer by us not putting it online.  We would suggest you check with your bank to see if you can set up automatic payments if that is how you prefer to pay.

As always, we gladly accept checks and cash.  However, please do not send cash in the mail. You can also slip your payment through the slot in the office door if you arrive to pay it after normal business hours.   If you have any questions on how to pay your bill, please contact us at 951-659-2675 and we will be happy to answer your questions and help you in any way we can.

Meter Reading

Jerry J. and Jeremy ( a.k.a., "the boys") will be out and about next week reading meters.  Starting on Monday, they will begin reading.  Hopefully, some of this snow will have melted by then.  It always takes them longer when they have to dig out meters.  So if you see them out and about, say Hi!

Ok, who canceled spring?

The snowy weather just keeps on coming.  I have to admit, even though we need all the snow and rain we can get, I am tired of it.  Physically tired.  I am tired of being cold.  My dogs are tired of walking around on the snow and ice to go potty, my husband works outside mostly and he is tired of being cold and wet all day.  We are both tired of shoveling and tired of having snow piled up to our window sills.  I am tired of not being able to open the windows and I am tired of the ever white landscape. I am tired of all the extra coats, boots, sweaters, gloves and hats that are cluttering up my laundry room and snow shovels and snow blowers cluttering up my back porch.

 I think this is the time of the year when cabin fever really sets in .  In January and February, you can tell yourself it is winter and this is to be expected.  But, by the end of March, it is spring and I WANT spring weather.  We have done our time in winter and it is time to reap our reward for making it through yet another cold season.  I want to dig in the dirt, see some green and sit out in the sun without a heavy coat on.  I want daffodils and tulips and yard sales. I want to hang my sheets out on the line.  I want to be outside working in the garden for hours on end.  I want to swap out snow boots and Uggs, for Birkenstocks and Wellies.  I want to play my harp out in the garden on a warm afternoon. I want to  let the gentle breeze waft through the strings and just listen to the song Mother Nature creates.  So much to look forward to....I can hardly wait.

Unfortunately, I will have to wait, as they are calling for more snow tonight!  When will it end?  Too bad we can't bottle some of this cold weather up and use it in July or August when we are having a heat wave, dry spell and feel as if it will never, ever be cool or wet again.  One thing about the weather, it always gives us something to talk about, complain about or rave about.  Be it nice or nasty, we have to take it as it comes.  I guess that is what makes living her in Pine Cove so special.  While is is frustrating now, I know in a few weeks or so we will be rewarded with the most glorious sunny days and cool, crisp, star filled nights.  The trees will leaf out and the lilacs will bloom.  The smell of cedar and pine will perfume the early morning air and we will once again be sure that there is no better place on earth to live.  Our summer time activities will be in full swing and another glorious summer in the mountains will envelope us.  Soon, I hope!

Cal Fire News Release

In light of the recent events in Japan, Cal Fire has put out a news release about earthquake safety.  It is posted on our website at www.pcwd.org.  It might be a good idea to pop over and take a look at it.  It is easy to forget we need to be prepared as well.  Sometimes fire seems to be our main adversary, but we can't let our guard down when it comes to earthquake preparedness as well.  As for myself, I will be working on my to go box this week and making sure it is up to date and that everything that should be in there is.  Once the weather warms up, I will get out in the shed and make sure my other supplies are up to date as well.  It is easy to forget to replace the food in your emergency kit or make sure you have enough water stored and so on.  I guess the old saying, prepare for the worst and hope for the best, applies here. 

We see these disasters on TV and figure they will never happen to us, but they could.  We could easily be isolated should a major disaster happen and who knows how long it would be until help would arrive.  So it is best to prepare and hope it never comes to that.   I hope as a community, everyone here in Pine Cove would come together and help each other out in a time of disaster.  I know all of us here at the water district would do whatever we could to help out during an emergency situation such as an earthquake. 

Web Cam working

Great news!  The web cam is up and running again!  You can view it from our website at http://www.pcwd.org/.  There is also a link to our website on the right sidebar here on the blog.  It is kind of fun to watch it snowing up at Rocky Point.  Take a look for yourself.

Still Snowing!

Well, it doesn't look like we are going to get a break from winter any time soon.  At least not until Saturday by the looks of the weather forecast.  On the water front, this is good.  The more moisture the better.  While this type of weather does make life tougher, it is wonderful for our water situation.  Plus we were lucky that at least this recent storm held off until the snow from the previous storms melted off.  So at least it isnt' piled up over our windows or anything. 

So even though it says spring on the calendar, here in Pine Cove it is still winter for now.  It will make spring and summer all that much sweeter and hopefully give us another year where we don't have to move into a higher stage of water conservation.   While we aren't out of the woods drought wise just yet, having these wet winters is certainly a welcome relief.  It may not end the drought, but at least it keeps it from getting worse.  It is so easy to forget we are in a drought when we are sitting here with all this snow, but we have to remember that it isn't what is on the ground that counts, it is what percolates back down into the ground.

So don't put those boots and heavy coats away just yet.  Perhaps in a few weeks we can think about doing that, but for now keep your snow shovel and boots by the door and make sure you have an adequate supply of propane and/or wood so you can stay toasty warm. 

Spring has Sprung?

Not!  Yesterday may have been the first day of spring, but Old Man Winter isn't ready to leave just yet.  The weather reports I received over the weekend are predicting up to 31 inches of snow!  Yes, you read that right.  31 inches. 

This isn't all that unusual for the hill though.  Anyone who has lived here for any length of time can tell you all sorts of snow horror stories.  Just last year, we had snow in May.  So while it may be spring on the calendar, it is probably not spring here in Pine Cove just yet. 



Looking up Marion Ridge Road from the water district office.




Looking down Marion Ridge Road to Highway 243 from the water district office.




Pine trees outside the water district office covered in new snow.

It would be a good idea to stay inside if you don't absolutely have to go out anywhere.  The roads are fairly clear, but why take the chance?  Please be sure you have provided adequate shelter, food and water for outdoor animals.  If possible, bring your dog inside during this bad weather.  Remember, they get cold too!

Spring arrives with snow

Well, I knew the weather has been too good to be true.  As spring arrives this Sunday, they are calling for snow.    Up to 11 inches.  While the moisture is fabulous and we can certainly use all we can get, snow in the spring is just cruel and unusual punishment.   I would much prefer it to be in the form of rain, because after all April showers bring May flowers, right?  No where is there a saying about Spring Snow, but what can we do?  We just will have to deal with it and continue to suppress our urge to get outside in the garden.

I noticed some trees are flowering and budding up.  I hate to see this happen.  I always think these plants and trees will acclimate, but they never seem to.  Each year as soon as the weather gets nice, they start to grow or bloom, even if it is only February or March.  Then bam, it snows and they get frozen again.  They never seem to learn or get with the program.  The oak trees seem to be the only ones with enough sense to wait until the end of May before emerging from their long winter nap.  I don't even know if it is possible for other species of plants to acclimate to our climate.  They seem programed to spring to life after a few days of warm weather no matter when it arrives.

So, I guess all we can do is be thankful for the  moisture and take consolation in the fact that spring has to arrive sooner or later and when it does, we will be ever so grateful and excited!