Water Conservation

[Just the facts]

Maybe it's already being done, but if an O&G exploration outfit develops better ways to utilize recycle water in their operations, reward that ingenuity and desire. Same goes for any other industry.

OR... the City can adopt a land-use and development plan that by its very nature reduces the very need for water (or oil and gas or whatever the resource may be).

[soonerguru]

What would be a better option would be instead of burdensome regulation (which is what it always turns about to be, although the intent is sound, the execution is always overkill and bureaucratic), offer incentives to those who find better ways to do business, by polluting less, using less water, etc. Maybe it's already being done, but if an O&G exploration outfit develops better ways to utilize recycle water in their operations, reward that ingenuity and desire. Same goes for any other industry.

This is a solid idea, but right now drilling already gets state and federal tax breaks. If I were a responsible operator, such as Devon, I would welcome environmental regulation, because companies like Devon would do it right anyway. Instead, by fighting regulation, they allow the irresponsible operators an advantage, and they allow the industry as a whole to take a major public relation hit.

[bradh]

Good point soonerguru, thought about that later after that post.

[RadicalModerate]

You really have to do something about that. Your neighbors are beginning to complain.

Perhaps a posted sign from OSU calling it an Environmental Experiment might trump a pissyprissy punk sign from a municipality? As long as you don't park a boat or any other RV or SUV on it?

That's an ominous sign in the lower right corner of the photo.
Looks like an oil spill of some sort invading the natural environment.

[RadicalModerate]

My lawn turned to dust bowl dirt after 2 decades of not watering, not fertilizing, not following "proper" turf care procedures along with the last few years of drought. Since the lot is sloped, that meant erosion when it did rain. This spring we knocked down all the furrowing, reseeded, poured the water and fertilizer to it and are now backing off to get the roots to grow down. It looks great, better even than when we moved in. I'm sure we'll find a happy medium, die or move before we kill it again.

I made a slight move in the direction of free-form semi-Xeriscaping.
It only cost about a grand in materials plus a week's worth of work.
A year later, I'm still enjoying it.

[Urbanized]

I'm a big fan of xeriscaping. If I were ever back in a house with a yard I would likely incorporate it heavily and then have just one small patch of show-stopping Bermuda.

Not sure how my employment is relevant to the discussion, but you are correct, mkjeeves.

[RadicalModerate]

I'm a big fan of xeriscaping. If I were ever back in a house with a yard I would likely incorporate it heavily and then have just one small patch of show-stopping Bermuda.

Good concept: Minimum watering/fertilizing/weeding/mowing.
(and then "the wife" starts planting non-edible decorative plants not of the succulent variety (eg cacti), I guess to dress the landscaping up a bit. Whattayagonnado? =)

Answer: You are obliged to water them. I guess.
Which, in a way, defeats the purpose of the initial design.
In terms of water conservation. =)

[Plutonic Panda]

Good concept: Minimum watering/fertilizing/weeding/mowing.
(and then "the wife" starts planting non-edible decorative plants not of the succulent variety (eg cacti), I guess to dress the landscaping up a bit. Whattayagonnado? =)

Answer: You are obliged to water them. I guess.
Which, in a way, defeats the purpose of the initial design.
In terms of water conservation. =)

I'll post some details on Xeriscaping. I've actually read up on it a bit and convert three yards into it. One in my neighborhood and two in my grandmother's. I actually did two for free, they just bought the supplies, and the third guy literally insisted I take the money, or he said I'd be sleeping with the fishes if I didn't accept his money. So once you of fear for my life, I accepted his offer

I like doing it though. I love connecting with the earth and sky as well as being around flori and succulents. Cacti is nice to, but be careful not to plant certain species that can't take the cold. Prickly Pears are great and taste good to.

I'd also recommend some native Buffalo Grass in really sunny areas. Very pleasant blowing amongst the wind and very drought tolerant.

Red Buds and Crate Myrtles are also good trees and don't forget your Blackjacks. I also believe Cottonwoods are native. Bald Cypress are great as well and can stand drought.

[Just the facts]

If I could go back to day one in my current house knowing what I know now - I would have never had grass put in the backyard and instead I would have put in an English garden. I would much rather trim a hedge row than mow grass.

[Plutonic Panda]

If I could go back to day one in my current house knowing what I know now - I would have never had grass put in the backyard and instead I would have put in an English garden. I would much rather trim a hedge row than mow grass.

hey man... It's never too late

[bradh]

man trimming hedges is much more a pain in the rear than mowing, just this man's opinion

[Just the facts]

man trimming hedges is much more a pain in the rear than mowing, just this man's opinion

I just bought a new hedge trimmer and now it is a piece of cake. I used to use bush clippers and it took forever. The beauty of hedge trimming is that I only need to do it about once a month, not every 5 days like mowing.

[okclee]

man trimming hedges is much more a pain in the rear than mowing, just this man's opinion

You could always get a riding mower like this......

[Just the facts]

hey man... It's never too late

I've thought about it. The hard part is getting up the grass and the brick work can get expensive. Plus, I want out of the house, not to spend more on it.

[mkjeeves]

With a big enough place you can have it all.

[Just the facts]

Funny you post that picture, because that is exactly what suburbia tries to recreate on a much small scale. A man's home is his castle - and all that jazz. While that is just one house the ratio of living space to yard is still consistent with modern subdivision standards and the amount of water to keep it all green is the same - whether it is one person paying the bill or 30 neighbors paying the bill. At least the French chateau is worth looking at and attracts visitors from the around world.

[MadMonk]

man trimming hedges is much more a pain in the rear than mowing, just this man's opinion

I agree. I hate trimming hedges. I love a good patch of grass though and I really don't mind mowing all that much. Ever try to play a family badminton game on a hedge-lined patch of rock and cacti?

[ljbab728]

I agree. I hate trimming hedges. I love a good patch of grass though and I really don't mind mowing all that much. Ever try to play a family badminton game on a hedge-lined patch of rock and cacti?

I agree. I used to have so many hedges that it would take me a good two hours to trim them. They look wonderful but the work is a pain.

[RadicalModerate]

I agree. I hate trimming hedges. I love a good patch of grass though and I really don't mind mowing all that much. Ever try to play a family badminton game on a hedge-lined patch of rock and cacti?

You think it makes badminton difficult, try croquet.
(still, it is a small price to pay to minimize the squandering of a precious resource necessary for life.)

(yet, all of those hedges encourage the production of lots of hedgehogs that make really great, organic, croquet balls.)

Edited to add: "Redneck Zen Meditation Garden on a Budget"







I even repurposed some of the cutoffs to make a piece of Yard Art:
"Jenga Gone Wild"


Grass wouldn't grow under the tree and I like the tree a lot more than I like grass.
You don't have to water or mow it. Plus it was here way before we were.
Well, at least long before the house was built and we moved into it.

That last shot makes me wonder why I can't stand Stage Center . . .
(cognitive dissonance . . . i'll get over it. =)

[mkjeeves]

Croquet, badminton, lawn tennis, meh...my new grass is all about spendour.

I did find one of the kiddo's croquet balls in a tree surround when I cleaned up this spring. He left home for college about 8 years ago.

[RadicalModerate]

Croquet, badminton, lawn tennis, meh...my new grass is all about spendour.

I did find one of the kiddo's croquet balls in a tree surround when I cleaned up this spring. He left home for college about 8 years ago.

Are you sure it wasn't a petrified hedgehog? =)
Put a little water on it and see what happens.

Sitting in an English garden
Waiting for the sun.
When the sun don't shine
You get a tan from
Standing in the English rain.

(On another Pleasant Valley Sunday.) =)

I call this one--another example of Redneck Steampunk--
"Protecting the Egg"



Sometimes I refer to it as "Blockhenge"

Even on the hottest summer days, the shade that the tree provides makes it feel close to perfect.
And if you put one of those little Votive Candles on top of "the egg" at night it really adds to the ambiance. =)
For Blockhenge. Not so much for Redneck Steampunk.

Please be advised: This thread is about Water Conservation.
This is simply one illustration to suggest that there are alternatives to Pet Lawns.

I'm thinking about replacing about 80% of the weedpatch out back with sand.
To imitate dunes, sorta like those found up a little Northwest of here.
Not too far from Canton Lake as the crow flies.
Dunebuggys . . . even little fake ones . . . will be forbidden.
except, of course, for the right price . . . =)

[PennyQuilts]

I agree with the folks irritated by sprinklers going in the rain/hitting the street. Global warming debates, aside, it's just wasteful and evidences being out of step with working with the land instead of against it. Being in an area where we have wild temperature and precipitation extremes has contributed to having some rather amazing native plant life. We may not look like a picture postcard or a hallmark card, but our native plant life is just wondrous.

Since we moved out to a semi rural area, we stopped watering the lawn, years ago. Looks great. We have a seepage watering system for the flowerbeds and garden (raised bed) but don't water the lawn. I have pvc pipes pounded in next to my baby trees (caddo maples, live oak, native pecans, chaste tree and various oaks) and hand water them in times of drought. The caddos don't need/want much.

[RadicalModerate]

Actually, Penny, doesn't it really--and actually--provide evidence of robotic adherence to directives from above to do assuredly stupid things on account of "that's the way we've always done them because we were told to so do"? Or at least provide a clue pointing in the direction of the real reason: Lazy Stupidity and Greed.....? (which, in fact, isn't reasonable at all . . ? =)

Remember: We are talking about WATER (Conservation) here.
(of course, UpNord they are worried about flooding and whatnot, so I guess Nature is All In Balance, eh? . . .
or at least Human Nature . . . =)

ps: i think that "businesses" who water the street should be "Double-Fined" as a sort of Tax on Incredible Stupidity:
(to wit)
1) Wasting Water
2) Creating a Traffic Hazard

make that "Triple-Fined":
3) Really pissing me off for their continued lack of what should be considered "Common Sense" geez. (imho)

[mkjeeves]

Actually, Penny, doesn't it really--and actually--provide evidence of robotic adherence to directives from above to do assuredly stupid things on account of "that's the way we've always done them because we were told to so do"? Or at least provide a clue pointing in the direction of the real reason: Lazy Stupidity and Greed.....? (which, in fact, isn't reasonable at all . . ? =)

Remember: We are talking about WATER (Conservation) here.
(of course, UpNord they are worried about flooding and whatnot, so I guess Nature is All In Balance, eh? . . .
or at least Human Nature . . . =)

ps: i think that "businesses" who water the street should be "Double-Fined" as a sort of Tax on Incredible Stupidity:
(to wit)
1) Wasting Water
2) Creating a Traffic Hazard

make that "Triple-Fined":
3) Really pissing me off for their continued lack of what should be considered "Common Sense" geez. (imho)

The fines are tiered and go up each time you are cited. Meanwhile, the city is studying charging for use in a similar manner, where the more you use the more it cost per unit.

[mkjeeves]

That's pretty Modernist, if not Brutalist. Not sure the city will approve of such a thing in our neighborhoods.