California native plants are best placed in the fall, when native species are in their dormant phase. "This gives them the opportunity to put their energy into root development. The reward is increased flower and leaf production in the spring,”
Nancy commented.
Her beautifully landscaped native California gardens, in Ladera Heights, were featured on the 2015 annual Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour.
Nancy commented.
Her beautifully landscaped native California gardens, in Ladera Heights, were featured on the 2015 annual Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour.
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Some native plant nurseries: theodorepayne.org laspilitas.com californianativeplants.com |
A few online resources: calflora.org cmps.org cal-ipc.org |
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Learning about Water Conservation on the Farm
Learning about Water Conservation on the Farm
Nancy learned about rationing water starting early in life when she started visiting her grandparents’ Bozoo, West Virginia farm, as a little girl. It was not far from the New river and down a bit from Lick Creek, all tiny little communities with miles of sprawling farmland, cattle, sheep, and chickens interspersed with rolling hills and picturesque groves of hickory, poplar, pine, oak, and locust trees. Summer rains brought bursts of fireweed, buttercups, ladyslippers, and black-eyed Susans.
“My mother was one of 16 children raised on that farm,” Nancy recalled. “Before President Roosevelt’s rural electrification program made inside plumbing possible with electric pumping, every drop of water used for drinking and washing came from the well. It was drawn up, one bucket at a time. There was no irrigation system for the crops. If there was no rain, there would be few crops that season.”
“My mother was one of 16 children raised on that farm,” Nancy recalled. “Before President Roosevelt’s rural electrification program made inside plumbing possible with electric pumping, every drop of water used for drinking and washing came from the well. It was drawn up, one bucket at a time. There was no irrigation system for the crops. If there was no rain, there would be few crops that season.”
“First we had to draw the water from the well, heat it and fill the large washtub. The cleanest articles were washed first, so the sheets were followed by towels, dresses, underwear, dresses, and finally work clothes.”
Washing dishes was simple. “There was one pan of heated water for washing and one pan for rinsing. So that was two trips to the well to get water for each. Every food scrap was collected and used to feed the hogs and chickens. So there was no need for a garbage disposal. ”
During spring and summer, a galvanized tub would be set out to collect rainwater. After the sun heated the water during the day, any visiting babies and young children would be bathed in that tub.
Washing dishes was simple. “There was one pan of heated water for washing and one pan for rinsing. So that was two trips to the well to get water for each. Every food scrap was collected and used to feed the hogs and chickens. So there was no need for a garbage disposal. ”
During spring and summer, a galvanized tub would be set out to collect rainwater. After the sun heated the water during the day, any visiting babies and young children would be bathed in that tub.
Her grandparents did not have any money for hired hands. When Nancy and her parents came out to visit the Bozoo farm from Charleston, West Virginia, everyone was assigned chores.
Nancy watched her mother and grandmother do six or seven loads of laundry in the same large washtub of water.
All of that water had to be heated on the wood-burning stove.
Nancy watched her mother and grandmother do six or seven loads of laundry in the same large washtub of water.
All of that water had to be heated on the wood-burning stove.
“When the kids (anyone old enough to work) returned from a day working in the fields, each one took turns bathing out back, using one bucket of water. We’d use washcloths my grandmother made by cutting up squares of rags and sewing an edge on them. We also used the bars of soap she made from scratch. I would soap up and then pour the water over my head to rinse off. After a day of working in the sun that cold water felt great.
“After a big breakfast, there were almost too many chores to be done before the sun set, from feeding the farm animals, milking cows, gathering eggs, and tending to the acres of crops. Granny packed up leftover breakfast biscuits, pork and whatever else she had available for our lunch. Our drinking water was contained in big glass gallon jugs of water carried to the fields.
“My mother never forgot the water conservation lesson learned growing up. In her 80s, she lived in California and she would take an empty bucket into the shower to collect the water that would otherwise go down the drain. Then she took that water and put it in her washing machine for later use. “
“I have never forgotten all the happy memories and the water conservation lessons I learned on that farm.”
“After a big breakfast, there were almost too many chores to be done before the sun set, from feeding the farm animals, milking cows, gathering eggs, and tending to the acres of crops. Granny packed up leftover breakfast biscuits, pork and whatever else she had available for our lunch. Our drinking water was contained in big glass gallon jugs of water carried to the fields.
“My mother never forgot the water conservation lesson learned growing up. In her 80s, she lived in California and she would take an empty bucket into the shower to collect the water that would otherwise go down the drain. Then she took that water and put it in her washing machine for later use. “
“I have never forgotten all the happy memories and the water conservation lessons I learned on that farm.”