Our local rose society has strongly promoted Earthkind, shrub and OGRs. We've had seminars and we've gotten the local paper to run several stories. For 3 years running, we sold them at our annual fundraiser. To really succeed with them and replicate the conditions used while on trial, you need to augment your soil with expanded shale, which is expensive. I have fabulous soil, so I skipped that step. Shipping costs are really what makes the shale pricey. I did amend my soil somewhat since those roses will not get additional feeding, and of course, no insecticide or fungicide. I topdress each year with compost and mulch, but that's it.
We started getting light rain yesterday morning, and the paper today says there were 28 wrecks in just a few hours, when average is 7 or 8. The rain was light enough that "particles" got stuck on electric lines, causing power outages, and traffic signals were down. Since we've not had rain for a few months, the oil on the streets made it really slippery! If it had been a downpour, we would not have had those issues.
Our power stayed on, but my computer has had issues with this site and Cubits. I keep getting an error message saying that there is no website configured at that address. It says the server may be down. I sent Dave an email, but I'm wondering if that has to do with the weather, even though I'm on an aircard.
We need the generator because not only does the electric well pump run our only water source, but that water runs our heating and cooling, and without an electric sump pump on backup, the groundwater would potentially fill the basement. We do have battery backup on the security system, which sends an alarm to our phones if the basement has any moisture. That has saved us a few times! It's incongruent that living in the country, away from it all, means you have to buy more advanced technology, but that's how it is. The previous owners used propane for heating but we only use it for the cooktop, so when I get the generator, it will have the huge propane tank as a fuel source. The windmill/well is my backup to the backup. The pond is the 4th backup, i guess. I still felt more secure in the city, but there, I had no backup!
Since I would like to stay in this house for a bit, and we just remodeled it to accomodate aging people,
, I'm also trying to deliberate more on the landscaping. I've been studying permaculture and self sufficiency, and moving steadily in that direction. I used to buy one of everything, pushing zones, tending high maintenance plants day after day, thinking I could grow them all. Now, I'm definitely selective. Plants have to earn their space.
