water wisdom
coping with aridification in Southern California
Multi-year drought, megadrought or Aridification
"Drought" is a really lightweight term for what we're experiencing. We should really be using far stronger terms. A multi-year drought? A megadrought? Aridification?
Hydrophobic: What to do when your soil is too dry
You pour water on your garden soil but it rolls right off the surface. It won't soak in! Here's what to do.
Drought-ready gardens
We know already that it’s gonna be a long hot summer. And (despite LA Times misleading headlines) Southern California is STILL in extreme drought conditions. That means we’ve got to adapt our gardens. Here’s what I’m doing at mine:
What’s your get-ready-for-rain routine?
We’re ever hopeful that we’ll get some rain. Here in L.A., deep into this historic drought, that still remains a big hope! But each time the weather forecasts call for precipitation, I run around doing my routine … garden tools…
El Niño: What to check on your downspouts
In usually-water-lean Southern California, most of us have directed rain gutter downspouts to run into our gardens, so that we can make the most of every drop. (drawing A) This is a great setup for most years, when we get…
El Niño: Know your Big Picture
As city creatures, most people know streets and shortcuts. They know the municipal grid. But they are very unaware of the geologic watershed that runs beneath their feet.
El Niño: Protect garden pets
At my house, we have city chickens. At the Community Garden at Holy Nativity, we have bunnies. With a Godzilla El Niño coming, all of these delightful little critters need rain protection.
Are you prepared for El Niño?
Looking for guidance on what to do to get ready for the Godzilla El Niño storms? If you missed our workshop last weekend, here are other places to get the info…
Making the best of drought and flood
Seems like we’re getting the weather extremes this year. A summer of extreme drought, water rationing, and lawn removal. And winter forecasts are for record-breaking rains (but all that water isn’t here yet). How do we make the best of…
Rainwater harvesting: Infiltration features
One category of rainwater harvesting uses Mother Earth as your “storage device.” You design your landscape, including choices on surface materials and making decisions about the grading (land sculpting), with the goal of making water soak into the ground. Up until fairly…
