6 Tips to Winterize Your System

The time to put most gardens to bed is drawing closer as the days get shorter and the temperature drops. As we savor our garden’s bounty by canning, drying, freezing, and eating the wonderful fruits and vegetables, we must keep in mind that an unexpected frost might be on its way.

In most parts of the country there is a real concern about freezing and frost damage to a drip system during winter. There are two areas of concern: the beginning of the system (timer, valves, and filter) and low spots in the system where water may settle.

1. Battery timers, filters, and regulators should be brought indoors with the batteries removed from the timers.
2. When the battery timer is removed from the faucet and system, use the HPLUG to plug the beginning of the mainline tubing or use a plastic bag over the opening. Do not leave the lines open.
3. After the main water supply is shut off, open all manual valves and set automatic valves to manual open. Remove all end fittings, drain any water, and then loosely replace the ends.
4. In flat areas elevate the mainline to make sure all water drains out of the fittings.
5. For low spots in the mainline tubing, either use a flush valve or insert a basic emitter at the lowest point.
6. Another practice is to blow compressed air through the lines after opening the end cap.

To protect your late summer garden and extend your growing season, a protective lightweight row cover material such as Agribon protects early and late season crops from both wind and frost. It can be placed over your veggies and weighted down with wood or metal stakes. Heavyweight galvanized loop hoops are available to help support the row cover fabric.

Cody is an employee and used the produce which we grow for employees to make this tasty salsa.
Here is one of his salsa recipes to spice up your harvest. The tomatoes, tomatillos, and peppers are from the Dripworks demonstration garden.

For a chance of all year gardening Dripworks offers hoop houses and Solexx greenhouses. Check them out at Dripworks.com.

The World's Pure Food Fair

                                                   
The National Heirloom Expo                                   
September 6, 7, & 8
Santa Rosa, California

• 4000 Varieties
• 75 Speakers
• 300 Vendors
• 3 Fun Days
• Demo Gardens
• Seed Swaps

Dripworks is a proud sponsor of the 6th annual “World’s Fair” of the heirloom seed industry.  The Heirloom Expo is taking place at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds in northern California Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday September 6th, 7th, and 8th.  You’ll be able to walk the aisles along with home growers, farmers, school groups, and others like you seeing and tasting over 4,000 varieties of fruits and vegetables. What will be showcased is the diversity of plants that our planet has to offer, and the incredible farmers that grow them.

Amazing Speakers!

Over 75 nationally and internationally acclaimed on-topic speakers will talk about the secrets and the challenges of sustainable farming practices. Some of the people who will educate everyone include Jeffery Smith, Dr William Woys Weaver, Kate Frey, Vani Hari, Jere Gettle, Sara Patterson, John Jeavons, Dr. Vandana Shiva, and 70 other world renowned speakers who will concurrently be in three separate buildings for all three days.

The Mission is to reconnect us to our food heritage. What is needed is getting people with a passion for gardening and growing food educated on how to grow quality organic food.  The food industry and all of its major players are rightfully concerned with their bottom line. GMO food seed has been developed to raise the productivity of crops, to enable plants to be shipped long distances more easily, and to help provide the world with enough food to stave off hunger. All of these claims are coming under question by the general public and many in the scientific community. The National Heirloom Expo examines these issues thoroughly.

Enjoy the many garden based companies showing off their cutting edge, quality products. You’ll find many colorful,  trend setting businesses from all over the United States that offer quality tools and information, books, plants, and products that will compliment your gardening skills. A large variety of delicious food is also available. You’ll have the opportunity to broaden your awareness of what you can grow with heirloom seeds. Stop by the Dripworks booth.