Saving Energy in the Garden

Don't be mislead, you probably know my values well-enough by now to realize that "energy" in the title of this post means "net energy" expended - human and other.

Here are energy saving tips excerpted from the latest Sundance Power Systems newsletter.

Some tips to save energy in the garden this year:

• Plant natural grasses and shrubs that are native to your area and do not require a lot of extra water in the summer.
• Plant shade trees in the yard, by roadways and in vacant lots to combat the rising CO2 production.
• Plant native wildflowers in vacant lots, roadsides and other public areas so that the grass will not have to be mowed as often.
• Collect rain water in a rain barrel or cistern for watering plants, garden and landscaping.
• Looking for an easy way to save energy? Reduce your landscape watering schedule. Experts say that most yards are over-watered.
• Water lawns early in the morning and long enough for a deep soak to encourage deep root growth.
• Plants and grasses grow slowly in the cooler weather. Reduce your watering schedule accordingly.
• Keep an eye on the weather report and turn off your automatic irrigation system when rain is predicted. Keep it off for a week after the rain stops. Even longer in the winter.
• As a general rule, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.
• Check your sprinkler system and timer on a regular basis to be sure it is operating properly and giving you the right coverage.
• Install a rain sensor device or switch which will override the irrigation cycle of the sprinkler system when adequate rainfall has occurred.
• Use a "soaker" hose rather than a sprinkler, where possible. Less water is required because the water is concentrated on the soil nearer the roots and there is less evaporation.
• Water in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid evaporation. Avoid watering on windy days.
• Convert to a drip irrigation system that waters specific plants and avoids water waste.
• Looking for ways to save energy? Use electric instead of gas powered lawn and garden equipment, as they create less pollution and are usually more energy efficient.
• Buy a new push mower for your lawn. They are quiet, non-polluting and you won't have to drive to the gym.
• Use "hand" pruners, clippers and other yard tools rather than gasoline or electric-powered ones.
• One idea on how to save energy is to keep the cutting edges sharp on your gasoline and electric-powered yard equipment. The equipment will cut more efficiently and use less energy.
• Also, dull cutting edges tend to fray grass blades and increase water evaporation from the grass plants.
• If you reduce fertilizing the lawn, you'll have to water less and cut the it less frequently.
• Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.
• Leave lawn clippings after mowing to fertilize the grass, or collect the clippings and use them for mulch.
• You can save money and do your lawn a favor by using a mulching lawn mower instead of bagging and carting off grass clippings. The mulched clippings fall back to the soil and add nutrients.
• Mulch your planting beds to retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps to control weeds that compete with plants for water.
• Use a broom to clean the sidewalks and driveway. Using a hose to clean these surfaces wastes hundreds of gallons of water.
• Sweeping the sidewalks and driveway instead of using a noisy, polluting, blower is a good tip on how to save energy.
• Regularly check all hoses, connectors and spigots for leaks. Install new hose washers when needed.
• Plant native plants that are adapted to your area. They require less water and maintenance, and look great.
• If possible, use the grey water from the laundry and shower for irrigation in the yard.
• Choose the small solar powered lights for your landscape lighting. They're easy to find online or in garden stores and are just one way how to save energy in the garden.

Working Together to Conquer Waste

This is a great idea - The Repair Cafe. Take a look at the description as reported in the NY Times and let's consider doing one or more of these at High Vista in the near future. Perhaps we can incorporate it into our winter Community Connections Salon Series. If you're interested, let me know.

Summary: "At Amsterdam’s first Repair Cafe, an event originally held in a theater’s foyer, then in a rented room in a former hotel and now in a community center a couple of times a month, people can bring in whatever they want to have repaired, at no cost, by volunteers who just like to fix things. 

Conceived of as a way to help people reduce waste, the Repair Cafe concept has taken off since its debut two and a half years ago. The Repair Cafe Foundation has raised about $525,000 through a grant from the Dutch government, support from foundations and small donations, all of which pay for staffing, marketing and even a Repair Cafe bus. 

Thirty groups have started Repair Cafes across the Netherlands, where neighbors pool their skills and labor for a few hours a month to mend holey clothing and revivify old coffee makers, broken lamps, vacuum cleaners and toasters, as well as at least one electric organ, a washing machine and an orange juice press."