H2O To Grow Newsletter Volume #1 Issue #7

·        MAYOR JULIAN CASTRO SIGNS WATER PLAN WITH ISRAEL

·        GOING TO JAIL FOR VEGETABLES

·        ARE THE “DIRTY THIRTIES” BACK

·        GVST TALKS TOMATOES

·        CALENDAR OF EVENTS

·        FARMER’S MARKETS

Welcome to H2O To Grow, a newsletter from a San Antonio Native for local Rainwater Harvesting and Gardening Enthusiasts.

Water Deal With Israel

As written in The Jerusalem Post by Sharon Udasin, “Texas Signs Water Utility Deal with Eilat”.

Our Mayor, Julian Castro, continues the Green-City Movement started by former Mayor Phil Hardberger by signing a memorandum of understanding between San Antonio and Jerusalem.

The City of Jerusalem faces the same challenges we face here in South Texas. An arid climate, prolonged droughts, little rain fall and an increasing population which increases the amount of water required.

Perhaps Water will become the ultimate equalizer for our planet, for every population and civilization has risen and fallen over water, or the lack thereof.

Well, thirst is a feeling known the world over, and in some places more drastically than others.

At any rate, in the article they go on to describe the benefits of Brackish Water Reclamation and Desalination Plants currently in use by the Ein Netafim Eilat water utility.

And since San Antonio plans to start building a desalination plant within the next 3 years it is a great idea to get the information straight from the pros.

Best Quote of the Article: “Indeed, water consumption per capita there (San Antonio) was 200 gallons per day, and today it has dropped to about 130. Although the number of customers have (sic) grown since 1987 by 67 percent, the city uses the same amount of water that it did then, according to Castro”

GOING TO JAIL FOR VEGETABLES

This story makes me shake my head; (SMH) for you texters.

So apparently, feeding your family and Conservation take a back seat to The Rules.

In Jess Zimmerman’s article, “Jail Time for Gardening Now a Trend”, a British Columbia, Canada native is facing 6 months of jail time for turning a gravel pit that looked like a moonscape into a thriving vegetable garden.

The actual citation was for “Unsightly Premises”, a bylaw put in place I’m sure for people with cars on blocks and Sanford and Son type piles of junk in the yard. But in this case it was used against the piles of Dirt and Manure that Dirk Becker of Lantzville had throughout his garden.

Ironically, the day the Becker’s received the citation the city of Lantzville had passed out 8,000 compost bins to its residents.

The Rules also state that residentially zoned plots aren’t allowed to grow food for consumption so the Becker’s can grow all they want, but the bylaws won’t allow them to eat it. OK, I’m putting the soap box away now.

I’m hoping for the best in this case, and that is that common sense will break out in the small island community that imports over 90% of its food and only has about 2 days of perishable food supply on hand.

I’m hoping it won’t take a Natural Disaster or something equally drastic to make the residents realize that Victory Gardens are a good thing. That growing food is an honorable endeavor and easy to do. And that they should encourage this type of environmental landscaping.

"How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can't scare him--he has known a fear beyond every other."

- John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 19

ARE THE “DIRTY THIRTIES” BACK

The Dirty Thirties was the nickname for the gigantic dust storms that lasted almost until the 40’s in Oklahoma and Texas. It was also known as The Dust Bowl. The Winds eroded topsoil from farmer’s lands and pretty much shaped the landscape of Oklahoma into fields of rocks. They also affected vast portions of the prairielands all the way from Texas to Canada.

According to Robert Johnson’s article in the Business Insider; “THE GREAT DROUGHT OF 2011 Is America's Worst since the Dust Bowl”

They state that La Nina is the culprit in this drought, shutting off a “southern pipeline of moisture”, David Miskus with NOAA.

And the only silver lining I can see is that the price of beef is going to drop so ranchers can sell it fast instead of starving the cattle since there is no food for them.

On a bad note, the price of vegetables is going to rise because of a shortage of crops.

But what better time to get your own Victory Garden with a Drip Irrigation System designed and installed by H2O To Grow.

OK, so the numbers are in and the graphs and charts are up for the scientist and meteorologist to study and debate the causes.

But everyone has to own their part in this. There is no need to assign blame if there won’t be anyone left to be guilty.

But what does that mean for you and me.

Well it means that if you believe the doomsayers, it’s a climactic change which signals an irreversible Global Warming effect leading to the extinction of the human race. Too scary to believe.

If you believe the moderates it is a swing to one extreme in the climate which occurs from time to time, and nothing to be worried about. This one feels better.

If you believe the optimist, it means we’re gonna have a great winter. Time to go skiing.

Either way you want to believe, you have to prepare for what could possibly be another Dust Bowl.

Let me put it in perspective.

A quote from Legends of America, A Travel Site for the Nostalgic & Historic Minded website.

“The Dust Bowl exodus was the largest migration in American history within a short period of time. By 1940, 2.5 million people had moved out of the Plains states, headed primarily for the west coast. 200,000 of them moved to California.”

I think San Antonio’s population is close to that number, at least close to 2 million, but we are a densely populated city. The entire hill country probably doesn’t add up to that amount. So imagine almost entire states being left desolate.

Heck, remember Hurricane Katrina. That was just one small section of the tip of Louisiana and it clogged our highways and strained FEMA’s resources to the breaking point. Now imagine the population of Arizona or New Mexico moving to Texas.

In short we must learn to feed ourselves, return to the land that sustains us. And if you don’t know how, e-mail me at Cesar@h2otogrow.co

Or just look for the house on your block with the best garden and stop. Ask them for their advice, or just take in the landscaping and imagine what you could do. Either way, it’s time to get started.

“He who fails to plan is planning to fail.” - Sir Winston Churchill

GVST TALKS TOMATO’S

The Gardening Volunteers of South Texas put on a great class today. The guest speaker was Bill Adams, author of Texas Tomato Lover’s Handbook and followed by guest speaker, David Eastman, a Vegetable Garden enthusiast and home builder.

First off, let me say that I had no idea so many varieties of tomato existed. I was truly educated today and find I can’t wait to begin looking at farmer’s markets for some of the more exotic looking ones.

For example, the Sungold tomato was recommended as the Greatest Tasting tomato by Bill Adams, and I can’t wait to grow some.

Then David Eastman mentioned his Black Krim tomato, a Russian Variety that reminded me of their bread, black. But delicious.

Brandywine was mentioned as a great tasting tomato, but after I saw photos of it grow 14ft tall in David Eastman’s Oasis Garden, I knew it would be more than I can handle. I think I will stick with the Cherry tomatoes.

And there were plenty of those to choose from as well. Let me start off with the one that caught my eye. The Texas Wild, and not just because of the name. It is a type of tiny tomato that packs a lot of flavor. However, Bill Adams did say it throws downs a lot of seeds because of the fruit droppings that you don’t harvest in time, which will cause a denser growth next season.

But that suits my style of garden the best.

Only the strong will survive so I need a lot of plants to start with.

Even though I only got to meet the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas for the first time today, I could tell it was a group that I could learn a lot from.

Seriously, they have a doctor speaking next week. Tom Harris, Ph.D. aka; The Hill Country Gardener.

And now I leave you with photos of some of the more exotic varieties discussed today.

Calendar of Events

·         July 20th, 2011 (Wed.) - Wild Wednesdays: Ants in your pants: Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa Dr., 78256 – Cost: $5 per class - max $10/family

·         July 23rd, 2011 (Sat.) – 9:45am: “Do it Yourself” Drip Irrigation: GVST Present Dr. Tom Harris, The Hill Country Gardener. Shades of Green Nursery, 334 West Sunset, 78209 – Cost: Free

·         July 23rd, 2011 (Sat.) – 9am thru 1pm: Botanical Garden Plant Sale. 555 Funston, 78209 – Cost: Call Ahead

·         July 26th, 2011 (Tue) – 6:30pm thru 8pm: Effects of Climate Change on Native Plants: Native Plant Society of Texas, Lions Field Adult Ctr. 2809 Broadway, 78209 – Cost: Free

·         July 30th, 2011 (Sat) – 9:30am thru 11:30am: Pond Building 101: Water Garden Gems: 3136 Bolton Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108 -

·         July 30th, 2011 (Sat) 9am thru 12pm: Nature Challenge Closing Ceremonies: Brackenridge Park, 3910 N St. Marys St 78212 - Cost: Free

·         August 5th, 2011 (Fri) – 10:00am: San Antonio Botanical Garden Watersaver Tour: 555 Funston, 78209 – Cost: Call Ahead

·         August 10th, 2011 (Wed) – 9:30am: Wild Wednesdays: Water Water Everywhere: Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa Dr., 78256

Farmer’s Markets

·         Every Tuesday, 8am – 12pm - Main Plaza Farmer’s Market – 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX.

·         Every Wednesday, 4pm – Pearl Brewery’s Wednesday Market – Pearl Park parking lot (say that 3 times real fast!)

·         Every Saturday, 7am – 11am - Bracken Farmer’s and Artisans Market – 7561 E Evans Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266..

·         Every Saturday, 9am – 1pm - Pearl Farmer’s Market – At Pearl Brewery along the banks of the San Antonio River.

FOR A FREE RAIN WATER HARVESTING EVALUATION CONTACT Cesar@h2otogrow.co

Well, hope you like the newsletter.

Keep checking your e-mail or look us up at H2O To Grow on Facebook.

H2O To Grow Newsletter Volume #1 Issue #6

·         WATER, AT WHAT COST?

·          WATERING IN “TEXAS HOT” WEATHER

·          HEAT WAVES

·          FIRE THEN FLOODING!

·          CALENDAR OF EVENTS

·          FARMER’S MARKETS

Water, At What Cost?

Hallelujah for the Rain. Where were you when it started raining? I was on the trails at Brackenridge Park, when I smelled the wet soil, then felt the drops of water and the temperature dip.

I can’t tell you how great it was to feel Nature take a deep breath and exhale. That’s what the wind felt like blowing thru the trees.

But while it was a tantalizing taste of the future, Monsoon Season is approaching; it was not enough to satisfy the needs of lawns and plants in San Antonio.

This is the best time to discuss an article in mysanantonio.com by Bruce Davidson / Express News. It’s called “How much are we willing to pay for Green Grass?”

In it he discusses the current low prices of water for San Antonio, who receives this blessing thanks to the Edwards Aquifer.

But it is a bit unclear as to what the actual prices really mean to the average consumer, which pays by the gallon, not the acre foot. So I decided to break out Murphy’s Math again. This one is pretty straightforward.

1 acre/foot = 325,851 gallons

1 acre/foot = $283 (Edwards Aquifer)

100/gallons = 8.69¢

1 acre/foot = $668 (SAWS Storage)

100/gallons = 20.5¢

1 acre/foot = $1042 (Canyon Lake)

100/gallons = 32¢

1 acre/foot = $1094 (Regional Carrizo Aquifer)

100/gallons = 33.6¢

1 acre/foot = $3168 (Proposed Desalinization Estimate)

100/gallons = 97.3¢

Now we have numbers that we can wrap our head around. And remember, this is perhaps 1/3 of what it will ultimately cost to come out of the tap. This is just what it costs the city of San Antonio to purchase the water.

And the best quote of the article? {“By far, the best way to keep water costs down is conservation. Going to once-a-week landscape watering restrictions saves 45,000 to 60,000 million gallons a day, depending on the day of the week”, said Greg Flores, vice president of public affairs for SAWS}

Watering in “Texas” Hot Weather

Andrea DeLong-Amaya, horticulture director at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has written an excellent article on watering in hot weather, Texas Style!

When they wrote the book on Gardening in Hot Weather, Texas has its own chapter.

The article is called “Helping Plants Handle Summer Heat”

In it she describes the use of native plants and positioning in the yard to best suit the plant’s needs.

But what I like to hear was her advice regarding drip irrigation.

To summarize, if you are using drip irrigation then you are getting water directly to the roots and not wasting a drop on any other surfaces or areas where it would just evaporate without watering any of the plants.

That is what we at H2O To Grow recommend for all homeowners. If your lawn is not already xeriscaped, please, let it go brown for the summer.

The amount of water used on lawns is approximately 30% of SAWS daily water usage for San Antonio.

Contact H2O To Grow for more information on installing a Water Reclamation or Rain Water Harvesting system with an attached drip irrigation system. Each home is unique, so each home’s system will be unique based on your needs and structures.

Heat Wave

Let’s start off with the definition first, though there is no standard one: heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather.

Now, if you live in Syracuse, New York, 2 weeks of 85° weather might have people passing out in the street, but here in Texas, that’s a good golf day. So a heat wave is also defined by its geographical area.

Right now, The Southern United States is

suffering a heat wave, and that’s like saying it feels unusually cold in Alaska around Christmas.

According to Jacqui Jeras, CNN article; “Record temperatures seen as heat wave plagues 23 states”, there are areas where the heat index has reached 110-115° this week.

Now, I have installed fencing and trellises in Ft. Worth, TX when the temp was at 113°, but that was what we were used to (and we took 15 minute breaks every 30 minutes). These neighbors to our North aren’t used to this.

We must prepare for prolonged periods of drought and heat hitting San Antonio and continuing on into October. And we must use as much care as possible to survive it. Here is an excerpt from CNN about that.

“Excessive heat is extremely hazardous to human health. According to information on the National Weather Service website, heat disorders can develop when the body heats too quickly to cool itself safely, or when a person loses too much fluid or salt by sweating or dehydration.

Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, pale and clammy skin, weak pulse, fainting and vomiting.

The agency suggests that people protect themselves from heat disorders by reducing activity during the hottest part of the day, wearing lightweight clothing and drinking plenty of water.” National Weather Service. So remember, check on your neighbors; check on your kids when they are outside playing; check on your pets. Drink Water!

You can also use Nature in your home to decrease energy costs and keep cool. The temperature is only going to get higher, and with May having triple-digit temperatures, I’m afraid of what August is going to bring.

“The trouble with weather forecasting is that it's right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it.” ~Patrick Young

Here are some hints on keeping your home cool using Nature:

1. Install Trellises on the South-West side of the house and allow vines to grow there. This will act as a solar shield decreasing the amount of heat reaching your homes surface. And in the fall, you can use the vines as compost to feed a whole new set of plants next summer.

2. Plant Trees in strategic locations throughout your yard to block the wind, retain soil, and of course provide shade. Always seek the advice of a professional landscaper, since the roots will be an issue when the trees mature. And again, the leaves in fall are going into the compost heap.

3. Potted Plants in the home can clean the air. According to a NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) 2-year study, “common indoor plant may provide a natural way of helping combat “SICK BUILDING SYNDROME”.” So now you can get fresh air and keep the windows closed, keeping the heat out.

If you have any questions or require more information on the trellises or what vines to use, contact Cesar by e-mail at Cesar@h2otogrow.co

FIRE THEN FLOODING?

Yes, that’s right, it’s almost Biblical. But the truth is, New Mexico and Arizona have suffered terrible wildfires and are now in for possible Flash Floods.

But you see that is the domino effect of weather events. You must think 10 seasons back and 5 seasons forward to get a more accurate prediction of what’s happening.

Here is how I see it working. First, you are already in a desert climate, so expanding cities without greenbelts only serves to raise the local temperature via an Urban Heat Island effect.

Next, you get a drought brought on by the excessive heat. This drought begins killing any vegetation not receiving an adequate supply of water, which was any vegetation not being irrigated by humans.

So while you might see beautiful landscaping around the Commercial Buildings downtown, the surrounding environment is drying up and blowing away.

Now, you have lost the plants and the roots have withered away. Then you get some sort of Natural or Man-Made fire started that begins burning out of control. This fire eats up all the vegetation that might have made a comeback when the rainy season returns, and the fire scorches the roots.

OK, so now the landscape is barren, dry and loose. The wind can pick it up and blow it away. There is no vegetation anywhere.

And “Here Comes The Rain Again” – Eurythmics. Great song.

Now, we have heavy rains, dropping inches per hour, not weeks.

The soil begins to sheet up because it cannot absorb all the water.

There are no plants or trees to break the flow of water. And we now have half the city washed away by Flash Floods and communities on hillsides buried under mud slides.

"It will simply take just one thunderstorm in the right area of a burn scar to potentially have devastating effects," National Weather Service meteorologist Kerry Jones said. "That could happen [Monday] or Tuesday, or a month from now, or both."

Calendar of Events

July 16th, 2011 (Sat.) – 11am thru 12pm: Discover the Edwards Aquifer - Recharge Zone Water Filters: San Antonio Children’s Museum, 305 East Houston Street, San Antonio, TX 78205 - FREE

July 18th, 2011 (Mon.) – 12pm thru 3pm: Gardening Volunteers of South Texas Presents Dr. William D. Adams: The San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N New Braunfels, San Antonio, TX , ph#210-650-9720 – FREE

July 23rd, 2011 (Sat.) – 9am thru 1pm: Botanical Garden Plant Sale: San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston, San Antonio, TX, ph# 210-829-5100, www.sabot.org – Cost: Call ahead

July 26th, 2011 (Tue.) – 6:30pm thru 8:00 pm: Effects of climate change on native plants: Lions Field Adult Center, 2809 Broadway – FREE

August 5th, 2011 (Friday) – 10:00am: Watersaver Tour: San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston, San Antonio, TX, ph# 210-829-5100, www.sabot.org – Cost: Call ahead

August 10th, 2011 (Wed.) – 9:30am: Wild Wednesdays-Water Water Everywhere: Friedrich Park, 21395 Milsa Dr, San Antonio, TX 78256 – Cost: $5

“In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indifference.”

– Rachel Carson

Farmer’s Markets

·         Every Tuesday, 8am – 12pm - Main Plaza Farmer’s Market – 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX.

·         Every Wednesday, 4pm – Pearl Brewery’s Wednesday Market – Pearl Park parking lot (say that 3 times real fast!)

·         Every Saturday, 7am – 11am - Bracken Farmer’s and Artisans Market – 7561 E Evans Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266

·         Every Saturday, 9am – 1pm - Pearl Farmer’s Market – At Pearl Brewery along the banks of the San Antonio River.

·         Every Saturday, 9am – 1pm – New Braunfels Farm To Market – Downtown New Braunfels, 148 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels, TX 78130. Cost: $?

For back issues of H2O To Grow Newsletters, visit www.h2otogrow.co under the newsletter tabs.

“There seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering their conquered neighbors. This is robbery. The second by commerce, which is generally cheating. The third by agriculture, the only honest way, wherein man receives a real increase of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of continual miracle, wrought by the hand of God in his favor, as a reward for his innocent life and his virtuous industry.” – Benjamin Franklin

H2O To Grow Newsletter Volume #1 Issue #5

·         OIL SPILL IN YELLOWSTONE RIVER

·         DUST STORM HITS ARIZONA, NEW DUST BOWL?

·         HOW SOON TILL STAGE 3

·         IS YOUR RAIN HARVESTING SYSTEM READY

·         NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN ECOLOGY?

·         CALENDAR OF EVENTS

·         FARMER’S MARKETS

Welcome to H2O To Grow, a newsletter from a San Antonio Native for local Rainwater Harvesting and Gardening Enthusiasts.

First of all, I hope all my readers had a happy and safe 4th of July Celebration. In San Antonio and many, if not all, of the counties in Texas there was a fireworks ban for the 4th of July weekend celebrations.

I found this great, since most of us would get the chance to enjoy this holiday with a quiet remembrance of those who fought against tyranny and oppression to carve out a new country which values the rights of all men equally.

Usually it is a drunken revelry and excuse to have a great time watching some fireworks and parades, but this year I sensed a change in the atmosphere, a patriotism that had been missing for some time. God Bless the USA!

Oil Spill In Yellowstone River

As much as I hate to hear and write about damage to our rivers and waterways, sticking my head in the sand and being thankful it occurred somewhere else is not going to help.

The spill occurred near Laurel, Montana, but the spill went directly into the Yellowstone River, which is the largest undammed river in the United States. Exxon-Mobil is the owner of the pipeline and the smokescreens have already begun.

It’s estimated that over 42,000 gallons have escaped into the river, or 1000 barrels. Now, to give you an idea of what 1000 barrels looks like, a trailer for oil that you see on all the highways is designed to hold 200 barrels.

So the amount of 5 of those trailers is estimated to have spilled into the Yellowstone River. Now, I usually triple the amount using a reverse calculation I modified for oil spills called Murphy’s math. (Amount of trouble you will be in) x (Amount of money it will cost you to accept blame) / (divided by the cost of hiring lawyers to confuse the issue) = (the percentage of the true oil spill you are willing to admit to) It is not supported in most mathematical circles, but if you’ve ever been a soldier, you know what I’m talking about.

Montana’s Governor, Brian Schweitzer, has declared a state of Emergency, as the Yellowstone River’s surge is pushing the oil into North Dakota. From there it will flow into the Missouri River and then down thru South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and finally Louisiana.

Now, I once heard that a tablespoon of oil in a Naval Ship’s drinking water is enough to poison the entire supply. So how much drinking water did this just poison?

DUST STORM HITS ARIZONA, NEW DUST BOWL?

So what’s the big Haboob all about? According to Wikipedia, Haboob, is an Arabic term defining “a type of intense sandstorm commonly observed in arid regions throughout the world.” And the way the southern US is being hit by heat and drought, we should probably prepare for many more of these.

Arizona, on top of the wildfires and drought, is also being hit with a dust storm which stretched 30 miles wide at some points and had very high winds. According to CNN, up to 10,000 people were without power and the FAA issued a ground stop at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.

In the 1930’s as the United States was in the grip of the Great Depression we were hit by the “Dirty Thirties.”

"How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can't scare him--he has known a fear beyond every other." - John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 19

Now, I believe it is important to understand history so as not to repeat it, but as a culture, we seem to have amnesia when it comes to our past. But our Earth doesn’t forget. She bears the scars of our use and abuse, without which we would not have had the Industrial Revolution, Computer Revolution or any type of modern advancement. So I understand the dangers of the double-edged sword.

However, I don’t believe in burning down the house to light up the kitchen. It is counterproductive.

The Dust Bowl was caused by an overuse of the land, severe drought, and the displacement of the natural grasses of the area whose roots kept the soil in place and moisture trapped, even in the worst droughts. Sound familiar?

The virgin soil, which is what drew agriculture to this place, was blown away like the flames of a child’s birthday cake and deposited in the Atlantic ocean. Where it is of absolutely no use in feeding the population of our country.

How soon until Stage 3?

According to the standards which SAWS has set, we should have already entered Stage 3 drought conservation levels. The Aquifer Level has fallen below 640 feet.

Here is a summary of the Stage 3 Restrictions:

·         Landscape watering allowed only EVERY OTHER WEEK with an irrigation system, sprinkler or soaker hose. Weeks when no watering is allowed will be announced via local media and online.

·         Landscape watering is allowed only from 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m. on your designated watering day, as determined by your address.

·         Watering with drip irrigation is allowed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but only from 3-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m.

·         Watering with a hand-held hose is allowed any time on any day.

·         Use of fountains, waterfalls, or other aesthetic water features — outdoors or indoors — is prohibited, unless a variance has been granted for 100 percent non-potable water use.

However, since SAWS is “Robbing Peter to Pay Paul”, we have been able to push back the Stage 3 Drought restrictions.

What do I mean by this?

SAWS is currently pumping 40 million gallons per day from Twin Oaks Aquifer Storage and Recovery facility. (see link: SAWS increasing production from diverse supplies) According to them, that is enough for 20% of San Antonio’s daily demand. So San Antonio uses approximately 200 million gallons per day.

What if 20% of that were re-claimed water. That means we could potentially save an entire lake of water every week if we re-used water in the home for agricultural or lawn maintenance.

More trees would grow absorbing more CO2 and providing more Oxygen, more grass roots would hold the soil down, less chance of wildfires, Urban Island effect could be reversed, and more people would be able to grow their own vegetables.

“The trouble with weather forecasting is that it's right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it.” ~Patrick Young

But just like any diet, you won’t see the results in 1 day. You won’t even see it in 1 year. But at the end of your life, when you look back at all the years you spent active instead of sedentary, you will see how much good it did you.

And like any diet, in order to work, it has to be a lifestyle change. It begins one day at a time. And the setbacks are only temporary, because the next day you can start again, only you’ll be a little further along when you do.

Is your Rain Harvesting System Ready?

Based on San Antonio’s 30 year Normal rainfall period, the Autumn is typically the rainiest season of the year, slightly beating out Spring.

Knowing that, is your Rain-Water Harvesting System ready for use?

To begin, let’s start where the rain will start and work our way down to the soil.

1. Debris on the roof – remove any branches, leaves, Frisbees, toys, etc; which would possibly contaminate your water or clog your rain gutters.

2. Rain gutters – make sure your gutters are free of any debris, and that the attachments used to connect them to your roof are secure. Seal any leaks in the gutter seams.

3. Downspout cleaning – Use the hose from the bottom up to remove debris that could be clogged up in there, or use a plumber’s snake.

4. Rain Barrel Screen – Make sure your screen on the rain barrel is clean and in working order.

5. Rain Barrel – Make sure your rain barrel is secure and the foundation has not shifted which could cause it to tip over. Make sure your rain barrel is clean, with no stagnant water at the bottom

6. Enjoy the Rain!

Nobel Peace Prize in Ecology?

Jesús León Santos is the 2008 winner of The Goldman Environmental Prize AND the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize in Ecology (see link: 2011 Nobel in Ecology)

In Mixteca region of what is Oaxaca, Mexico, he has led a 20 year revolution in land renewal and economic development. Starting as a grass-roots effort, the ”Center for Small Farmer Development in Mixteca (CEDICAM), a democratic, farmer-led local environmental organization, León has united the area’s small farmers. Together, they have planted more than one million native-variety trees, built hundreds of miles of ditches to retain water and prevent soil from eroding, and adapted traditional Mixteca indigenous practices to restore the regional ecosystem.” (see link: The Goldman Prize 2008)

Our hat is off to you, and if I accomplish 1% of what he has done, I will consider myself a successful man. VIVA Mexico!

Calendar of Events

July 7th, 2011 – 4pm thru 5pm: Water for Life / Adapting to a Warming, Water-stressed World: UTSA Main Campus, 1 UTSA Circle, SA, TX 78249 – FREE

 July 9th, 2011 – 9am thru 12pm: Companion Planting, Crop Rotation, and Bugs Work(ing) Shop: Jefferson Community Garden, 2350 W Gramercy Place – FREE

 July 26th, 2011 – 6:30pm thru 8:00 pm: Effects of climate change on native plants: Lions Field Adult Center, 2809 Broadway – FREE

“There seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering their conquered neighbors. This is robbery. The second by commerce, which is generally cheating. The third by agriculture, the only honest way, wherein man receives a real increase of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of continual miracle, wrought by the hand of God in his favor, as a reward for his innocent life and his virtuous industry.” – Benjamin Franklin

Farmer’s Markets

Every Tuesday, 8am – 12pm - Main Plaza Farmer’s Market – 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX.

Every Saturday, 7am – 11am - Bracken Farmer’s and Artisans Market – 7561 E Evans Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266.

Every Saturday, 9am – 1pm - Pearl Farmer’s Market – At Pearl Brewery along the banks of the San Antonio River.

Every Wednesday, 4pm – Pearl Brewery’s Wednesday Market – Pearl Park parking lot (say that 3 times real fast!)

H2O To Grow Newsletter Volume #1 Issue #4

• TEXAS GREEN NETWORK
• TEXAS "FRACKING" AT EAGLE FORD
• FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS BAN
• RAISED FLOWER BEDS
• WHY IS VICTORY GARDENING IMPORTANT
• CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 Welcome to H2O To Grow, a newsletter from a San Antonio Native for local Rainwater Harvesting and Gardening Enthusiasts.

TEXAS GREEN NETWORK

This week I am attending a meeting by the Texas Green Network, "a modern chamber-of-commerce, a community of Texas businesses, organizations and individuals committed to accelerating the adoption of sustainable best practices in the way we do business".

You should definitely check out their website: http://texasgreennetwork.org/

Green Business is the wave of the future. Take for example, Japan. The tragedy at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant will definitely be causing a mind-shift into alternatives for future electricity needs.

And in this modern age of instant news and YouTube videos, the results of these disasters are plastered across the screens and minds of billions of people at a time. No more is this happening in some remote city like Chernobyl that everyone seems to have forgotten and which their government effectively hid from the world.

But I digress; let me get off my soapbox for a second.

The Texas Green Network is a non-profit, 501(c)6. Basically they promote businesses that support sustainable and eco-friendly business habits. This is something H2O To Grow also supports.

So the mixer is being held at The Cove, a favorite place of mine for fish tacos. And it’s on Monday, which is a perfect way to end the first weekday. And it’s free.

So I’m going to get those business cards handed out and network with some like-minded green business owners.

TEXAS FRACKING AT EAGLE FORD

I’m not sure if any of you are familiar with the term Fracking. It is a term being used to define the practice of pumping thousands of gallons of treated water into natural gas pockets to break up the rock and release the natural gas.

It is an ugly sounding word for an ugly practice. There has been no scientific evidence that the practice poisons water tables, but hey, there is also no scientific proof of how the universe started, YET.

The rumors that follow this type of natural gas drilling are water coming out of faucets which can be caught on fire. There are breathing and health factors which residents around these waste water wells residents say didn’t exist before the drilling.

And if that wasn’t scary enough, they may even be able to cause earthquake clusters. Possibly from forcing hundreds of thousands of years of wear and tear on the land within a matter of months.

 But to be fair, I don’t have a solution for the energy crisis. People are going to continue to drive gas guzzlers, build mansions for 2, and tear up green belts to install more parking lots.

It will take an act of God to change people from their ways, it usually does. But without that happening, I don’t see how people will turn the corner and become better stewards of our planet.

There is a very great article in THE CURRENT about it. You should read it!

"I’m not opposed to natural gas drilling, I’m not some wacko environmentalist … I am against being poisoned, though, and I’m certainly against my children being poisoned." – Calvin Tillman, Mayor of Dish, TX

4th OF JULY FIREWORKS BAN

This is just a friendly reminder. No fireworks in the city limits.

Even with the rain we had on Wednesday night, the conditions are still very good that someone is going to set their lawn on fire. Or set their neighbor’s lawn on fire.

So please, don’t be that guy who was just gonna light a couple of sparklers for the kids who ends up burning his "chanclas" putting out the grass fire.

RAISED FLOWER BEDS

Raised flower beds are handmade beds that are elevated for ease of use. They usually stand 12" above the ground and can be bordered by stone, wood or any other ornamental object which will hold the dirt in place.

The reason they are so awesome for home gardeners is they allow ease of preparation and maintenance. No more digging through your lawn and making permanent holes.

They are also very easy to prepare, since most of the soil will be added at the exact levels you need for the optimum growth.

Installing a drip irrigation system being fed by a rain water harvesting  or reclaimed water irrigation system will save you money and save Texas water.

Since raised flower beds can be made in any size, you can have multiple flower beds with varying soil types for different plants growing at the same time.

I’d like one for growing strawberries, one for cantaloupe, one for watermelons and one for tomatoes. And of course one for spinach.

By using drip irrigation with varying flow rate drippers, you can create a unique ecosystem for any and every type of plant you could ever want to grow.

And if you ever decide to move them, dismantling is easy since they are above ground.

Send me an e-mail for more information on installing a raised flower bed garden in your home. Cesar@h2otogrow.co

WHY IS VICTORY GARDENING IMPORTANT?

Why is any type of Gardening important? Well, it’s so we can continue to live.

Our land, Texas, has lost many of its green areas to development and suburban sprawl. All the wildflowers and prickly pear that fed the butterflies and the bees have been pushed outside the city limits. And we sit and wonder where have the bees gone?

We need to garden to bring back the bees, to soothe your soul, to feed your family or community, to reduce "urban heat island" effect.

Whatever the reason for gardening you choose, it will be the right choice.

You will feel the plight of the farmer who is facing a drought so bad he may go out of business and perhaps you will choose to shop at a Farmer’s Market to support a local grower.

Maybe your neighbors will grow their own gardens and you can share the literal "fruits of your labor" with each other, building a stronger community.

Maybe your kids will learn the lessons their great-grandparents already knew, the land is your life, treat it well and it will treat you well.

CALENDAR

Monday, June 27th, 6pm to 8pm – Texas Green Network San Antonio Meet Greet & Eat Mixer. Location: The Cove, 606 W Cypress St, 78212. Admission is free and free appetizers will be provided by The Cove.

Tuesday, June 28th, 6:30pm thru 8:00pm – meeting of the Native Plant Society of Texas - hands-on instruction on the basics of native-plant propagation. Native plant & seed exchange. Location: Lions Field Adult Center, 2809 Broadway. FREE!

Wednesday THRU Friday - July 6th, 7th and 8th 7:30 am to 4:30pm – 8TH Annual Summer Water Conference for Educators – (FOR TEACHERS!!!) - To explore practical strategies to teach water concepts and issues.

FARMER'S MARKETS

Every Tuesday, 8am – 12pm - Main Plaza Farmer’s Market – 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX. Repeats every Tuesday

Every Saturday, 7am – 11am - Bracken Farmer’s and Artisans Market – 7561 E Evans Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266. Repeats every Saturday.

Every Saturday, 9am – 1pm - Pearl Farmer’s Market – At Pearl Brewery along the banks of the San Antonio River.

Every Wednesday, 4pm – Pearl Brewery’s Wednesday Market – Pearl Park parking lot