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Garden Gate:  Water-wise gardening? I'm trying to...  |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 12 2010 : 12:54:51 PM
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Learn what will grow with limited water in my area and what won't...gonna be a journey! Our well on the property serves both the landlords and us and it isn't a very fast filling well, so I need to learn to garden much differently then I did when I lived in Seattle!!! Anyone else interested in xeriscaping and water-wise gardening? I've lived in Idaho for a while, but haven't really done much gardening though I love to garden, I've lived in a lot of apartments. Now I have the space, but have to be careful with my water usage.
Lets chat, water-wise girls! 
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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chaddsgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
843 Posts
Sarah
Farmgirl Sisterhood #639
MO
USA
843 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2010 : 2:43:52 PM
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Annika, I can sympathize completely! Our well is on a very low water table and refills V E R Y S L O W L Y......I have to be careful not to do too many loads of laundry back to back, can't run the dishwasher and the washing machine at the same time, can't take a shower if another water type appliance is running.....I know you know exactly what I mean.
This is the same well I use to water my garden. I do have rain barrels set up to catch the rain water when it's available. This past year we had so much rain I didn't have to worry about it a whole lot. But, I have a feeling we're going to be in a drought this year and I'm already looking for ways I can reduce water usage. I have a few ideas from my dad I will be experimenting with. Like, digging a swale on the uphill side of the garden to catch extra water. And I plan to bury old coffee containers with holes in the bottom to catch extra rain water in the garden also.
One great water conservation technique is to mulch, mulch, mulch. It keeps the water from evaporating as quickly plus it helps keep down the weeds.
I'm open to any ideas and would be happy to experiment with anything.
A person is a success if they get up in the morning and get to bed at night and in between does what they want to do. Bob Dylan
Deeperrootsfarm.etsy.com |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2010 : 3:26:17 PM
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Old carpet strips laid down over good mulching does wonders, water goes thru, and if you are not careful, you will water too much. I never know how much and when we will get rain here, and i do have 4 of my own wells on this property, but I still try not to waste.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4863 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4863 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2010 : 6:40:38 PM
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We have rain barrels too and I love them. Since we have our own well, I am careful with watering from it. I love the rain barrels and am always amazed how fast they fill up with an average rain.
Dawn in IL |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2010 : 10:20:02 AM
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When I lived in Arizona, I learned to garden in holes rather than on hills. The Native Americans dug shallow spots and planted in them, making it much easier to water individual plants without precious water flowing away from the plant. Works great for heavy water users like melons, squash, etc. I also use this method for tomatoes, peppers, etc. I'm in Colorado now, where using a rain barrel is against the law (the utility co. owns the rain the second it falls from the sky) but I plan to set up barrels, anyway. I also use gray water when necessary, especially on non-food items like flowers.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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Garden Gate: Water-wise gardening? I'm trying to... |
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Water-wise gardening? I'm trying to...
