- WELCOME TO OUR NEWSLETTER
- WHAT IS A HEAT ADVISORY?
- UPDATE ON US WILDFIRES AND LOCAL ALERTS
- PAST DECADE WARMEST ON RECORD
- CANTALOUPE TRANSPLANTS CONT
- CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Welcome to H2O To Grow, a newsletter from a San Antonio Native for local Rainwater Harvesting and Gardening Enthusiasts.
With weather this extreme it feels like everyone in Texas has been affected by this incredible heat and drought.
What is a Heat Advisory?
With all the dire heat related information being kicked around on the news, it is a good idea to have a vocabulary lesson on "Heat Advisory".
According to the National Weather Service, it is a warning issued "within 12 hours of the onset of the following conditions: heat index of at least 105°F but less than 115°F for less than 3 hours per day, or nighttime lows above 80°F for 2 consecutive days". So what does that mean to San Antonio residents?
It means you should do everything in your power to stay inside during the hottest part of the day
It means you treat your pets to shade and water.
It means you drink plenty of fluids and avoid any strenuous activity outdoors during the hottest part of the day.
You should check on friends and relatives who are elderly or young for symptoms of; Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke.
And most importantly NEVER EVER leave a pet or child in a locked vehicle, even if you have the air conditioner on.
Next Weeks Word: Heat Wave.
Update on US wildfires and local alerts
The State of Texas has 254 counties, including our very own, Bexar County.
After reviewing the Texas Forest Service’s Outdoor Burn Ban Map of Texas, ONLY 32 counties do not have a burn ban at this moment. (see Texas County Burn Ban Map)
222 counties are currently in fear of wildfires starting and not having enough water to meet the demand.
Texas Forest Service responded to 12 new large fires yesterday alone. And a large fire is considered to be "more than 100 acres in timber, 300 acres in lighter fuels". Perhaps lighter fuels mean brush and shrubs.
There are too many to list so please follow this link: TFS news update
As for the Arizona Wildfires, they can now be called the Southern US Wildfires.
Arizona, California, New Mexico, Florida Colorado, Georgia & Texas have been seeing massive wildfires fueled by the drought and high winds. Burning several million acres of land and affecting thousands of households.
Past Decade Warmest on Record
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had posted the 2009 State of The Climate report that indicates without a doubt the Earth has been getting warmer for the last 50 years.
See link: NOAA: 2009 State of The Climate article
Per the report, "the scientific evidence that our world is warming is unmistakable."
In a nutshell, the report provides the guidelines to use to determine if the planet is warming globally.
No more guessing and no more wondering what method to use to determine if it’s getting warmer.
Here are the Top 10 Ways to know if Earth is getting hotter.
- Sea Ice: if it’s shrinking, it’s getting warmer
- Snow Cover: if it’s shrinking. Remember snow covered peaks of Kilimanjaro.
- Glaciers: if they’re shrinking.
- Temperature over land: if it’s rising.
- Humidity: if it’s rising
- Ocean Heat: if there are more patches of hot spots.
- Temperature over Ocean: if it’s rising.
- Sea Surface Temperature: if it’s rising.
- Sea Level: if it’s rising.
- Air Temperature in the Troposphere (where weather occurs): if it’s rising.
I don’t know why but images from Charlie Sheen’s 1996 movie, "The Arrival" keep flashing thru my mind. But that’s a topic for a different sort of news.
My Victory Garden
I have managed to transplant 3 more of my cantaloupe plants but that’s all I’m going to do.
So now I have 6 plants of cantaloupe in a 20ft by 2 ft flower bed, but I think that might be the right amount of space for them. I do have 15 other cantaloupe plants growing in a raised flower bed, but those grew from seeds and they feel pretty comfortable where they are.
Mental note for next year, find out more about the correct planting time for these things. Still, it is a lot of fun and very educational. The 6 cantaloupe plants and 1 rosebush are being watered using "Grey Water." In case you missed last week’s newsletter, it is recycled water from the home.
In my case I have a 5-gallon bucket that I place under the faucet in my shower. I use it to catch those first couple of gallons of water that normally wash away while the water is warming up.
If there is room in the bucket, then I also add the shower rinse water till it’s full. (Note: water weighs about 8lbs per gallon)
I am also planning on installing a bucket under the bathroom sink for the same reason. But the main reason I’ve been holding off is I’d have to go to the bathroom to spit out the toothpaste. After the bucket is full I take it to a 20 gallon container outside which has a drip irrigation system attached to it. This feeds the rosebush and the cantaloupe a steady 1 gallon per hour of water per plant. Since there are 7 plants and only 5 gallons of water, they get about 7/10 of a gallon each in the morning and at night.
The other vegetables in the raised bed take their water straight from the hose. This is a comparison to see if the "Grey Water" affects the taste or growth of the cantaloupe. Will keep you posted.
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