Poll Position

Four votes for water, one for air, and one reported to me that didn't count for dry land.

I saw something recently where the writer claimed that water was California's most important resource. I sympathize with this claim, but I have to ask the question Holly D asked lo those many years ago: how long can you go without breathing? (I voted for water, too.)

He Probably Wouldn't Like That Much, Either

When I first moved to this hot valley, stumbling through my overheated daze one evening I passed by a yard full of chaotic sunflowers. They were so lively and so significant and so flamboyant. I vowed someday, if ever I had a yard of my own, to plant some in it. Maybe not this front yard, though. Too much shade.

This Little Experiment Went in the Backyard

Sunset magazine arrives in the mail with its perfect yards and planting suggestions. I of the crazybusy year but the gardening desires flip to the part where it tells me that I can finally start planting again (once tomorrow comes). Carrots, they say. Corn is okay. Lettuce soon. Edamame! Edamame is big in our hapa house, lemme tell ya. I of the minimal gardening know how but the planting & feeding yen visit my two neighborhood seed outposts. No edamame for this mami. Will it work to plant those little guys that I liberate from the clutches of the bean eaters in my brood? I've got a whole bagful in the freezer. Will they turn into bounteous plants? I suppose time will soon tell...

The Things One Can Learn

At home with I sick child today, I've taken the opportunity to catch up on some of my reading and have come across this rather startling piece of information, courtesy of Matt Weiser, my favorite SacBee reporter (natch):

"Throughout California, urban water agencies have generally failed to make good on conservation promises made during the state's last major water fight.

No concentration of residents and businesses, however, uses as much as Sacramento: 25 percent more per capita on a daily basis than Las Vegas, and nearly 50 percent more than Los Angeles. Those cities have cut use despite massive growth."

We use more than Las Vegas? I guess we make up for all their spectacular fountains with all of our sidewalk washing (see above link)...

This is just to say...

...that I don't dislike
the green patch you keep
for your children

or your grandchildren
who frolic and gambol
(in child-like fashion) and

your neighbors who join
you once or ten times
per year for
a lawn party.



(apologies to Dr. W.)

Wild Ones

This organization looks like the Native Plant Society on a mission. They've got model ordinances, planting strategies, activism strategies - it's all there!

The New Yorker Article

My mother-in-law sent the New Yorker with the controversial cover, with a note to check out page 82. Lots of gems, including this:

"...the risks of the chemical lawn are not confined to the people who own the lawns, or the the creatures that try to live in them. Rain and irrigation carry synthetic fertilizers into streams and lakes, where the excess nutrients contribute to algae blooms that, in turn, produce aquatic 'dead zones.'"

and this:

"...the American lawn now represents a serious civic problem. That the space devoted to it continues to grow—and that more and more water and chemicals and fertilizer are devoted to its upkeep—doesn’t prove that we care so much as that we are careless."

So Tempting...

I was recently alerted to this essay by Michael Pollan, containing the following strategy:

"My father's reply could not have been more eloquent. Without a word he strode out to the garage and cranked up the rusty old Toro for the first time since fall; it's a miracle the thing started. He pushed it out to the curb and then started back across the lawn to the house, but not in a straight line: he swerved right, then left, then right again. He had cut an ''S'' in the high grass. Then he made an ''M,'' and finally a ''P.'' These are his initials, and as soon as he finished writing them he wheeled the lawn mower back to the garage, never to start it up again."

Walk'n'Roll

So here's a cool walkability site - you can see how walkable your neighborhood is. Both sets of my kids' grandparents had scores of 98. Pretty good!

TGIDLIU

At least I don't live in Utah: 70 year old woman arrested for her brown lawn

What I've Been Reading For Pleasure Lately

The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan

Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

The Moon hiking and camping guides to California

Clearinghouse

I've recently become a clearinghouse of sorts for water conservation information.

From a source in the know:

"The state's model water efficient landscape ordinance:

http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/landscape/ord/ord.cfm

"One model is currently in place and a revision is underway.

"When Sacramento signed the CUWCC MOU, it promised to have full metering within six years of signing MOU or by 2012, whichever is later. In addition it promised to bill all metered customers using volumetric billing within one year of signing MOU. ...for the few meters already installed the city only uses volumetric billing for customers volunteering for this."


*************************


A big bouquet of native plants to the concerned citizen who brought me a goodie bag from Placer County. Said goodie bag contained all sorts of useful info about water conservation (including a caution about lawns), some stickers for the kiddies, low flow showerheads, and a spray top thingy for the hose.

And thanks to all the friends who deluged us with sprinklers & cacti recently. Happy days!

Origins

Greetings, friends. My name is Anne Hartridge, and this is my blog.

The idea for this blog came after our big media splash last week, thanks to Matt Weiser and the Sacramento Bee: Sacramento couple who let lawn die to save water face $746 fine.

Or if you saw it in print: Water savers soaked?

The buzz really surprised us, but clearly the story touched a nerve. Libertarians were the first to pick it up, then the picket fence crowd, trailed by conservationists and everyone else. According to some, I'm a hero. To others, I'm lazy. The truth is this: I'm a working mom of two little kids whose time is rarely my own until late at night when everyone else is asleep. I get a few minutes here and there for independent thought, yes. Independent action is another matter entirely.

So, in one of these moments of independent thought, I thought: what should I do with this brief moment of name recognition? Is there any way to transform this moment into an opportunity to make the world a better place? There must be.

I'm not here to sell anything. I'm not here to preach anything. I just want to share what I've seen and learned and maybe hear about what you've seen and learned. What brings you joy? What makes one moment stand out from another such that you desire more time on this planet?

For me, it's always been about the water.

I'll stop there for now.