Forward Thinking Irrigation in The Sacred Valley of the Incas

A Trip to the Origins of Agriculture




Leon at Tipon Farming Terraces, Peru

This past March, my wife Nancy and I had the good fortune of spending 23 days in Peru and Ecuador. We hiked Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley leading to it, sifted through the Amazon basin, and explored the Galapagos Islands where Charles Darwin came up with the theory of evolution and natural selection in the 1830’s. My wife and I covered many miles and took many flights. Our tour group returned home with pictures and memories, as well as a newfound sense of respect for the ancient art of irrigation.

For all of the time we spend innovating the way we water our crops, it’s amazing to see how irrigation has both evolved and stayed the same in Peru. All of us irrigation buffs will be taken by the fact that the farming methods of contemporary Peruvian culture are very similar to what the ancient Incas did in the 1400's.

The Andean territory where the Incas lived is considered one of the eight centers from around the world where agriculture originated. The Incas native to Peru compensated for the steep terrain in the Andes by constructing terraces that overcame problems of water supply, soil erosion, and unstable climate.



Terraced Farming Area - Tipon Farming Terraces, Peru

In the rough terrain of the Andes my wife and I saw mountains terraced from top to bottom, but that wasn’t their only achievement. In a little more than 100 years (from about 1400-1532), the Inca Empire ruled more than 12 million people from 100 different cultures, consolidating its rule over thousands of square miles in Peru and Ecuador using a superb highway system. These intermittently paved roads were up to 24 feet wide, with tunnels, bridges, and stepped pathways cut into existing rock. This technology was very sophisticated, very exacting and its construction methods are still a mystery as there were no written records. It ran atop the spine of the Andes and down into the valleys for 3,450 miles from the Colombia-Ecuador border to central Chile.

We saw terraces along the entire stretch through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu through towns with exotic names like Urubamba an Ollantaytambo, and Aguas Caliente. The bottom layers of these terraces were filled with different strata of crushed rock and small river rock. These stones provide drainage and also filters water to the terraces below. The farmers were also able to take advantage of microclimates by situating crops so they received optimal sunlight and temperature. The Incan terraces follow the form of the hillsides and the mountains and are supported with beautiful, precisely stacked stonewalls. The Incas considered these stonewalls utilitarian but we saw them as awe-inspiring.

After the plants produced their mature seed, the Incas harvested a portion of each crop to ensure the success of the next planting season. Some seed was often given to the local chiefs from neighboring communities in exchange for loyalty. Food was life, seed was sacred, and a variety of crops meant security.

Scroll down to see more great images at the very bottom of this page

 

Growing with the Land

Farmer's Market in Aguas Caliente near Machu Piccu

The main crops of Peru are potatoes, quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wa), cotton, cocoa, corn, fava beans and barley. On our trip we had potatoes at every meal for 23 days. In Peru there are between 3,000 and 4,000 distinct varieties of potatoes varying in size, color, and taste according to where they were grown. The elevation range where they are grown varies from sea level to about 14,000 feet. As Peru is near the equator, farming goes on year round. There are wet and dry seasons, but not much variation in temperature.

The Amazon basin is a rainforest but large areas in southern Peru are desert, and then there are huge elevation differentials so crop varieties change from region to region. This reality has been the norm for the last thousand years. Mono cropping is unheard of, with small farms and gardens near every home the rule. Recently the government of Peru said "no" to the cultivation of genetically modified foods to protect this rich diversity that has sustained the many civilizations of Peru for millennia. The people of Peru and its government know that GM seed would greatly reduce the biological diversity that has always been its hallmark. They feel that GMO crops would contaminate traditional farms that grow by traditional, time tested, and organic methods. Peru is the first country in the Americas to ban GMOs.

Leon Harvesting Potatoes in Peru

Quinoa (the leading crop in acres planted) is an extremely valued valued grain because of the high protein it provides. Potatoes in every size, shape, and color imaginable were tasty, interesting, and are a staple of the Peruvian diet. Huge fava beans, very large starchy kernels of high altitude corn, and even lupine beans grown on two-foot tall gorgeous deep blue flowers native to Peru, added to this unique culinary experience. Fortunately for us, we burned thousands of calories every day as we hiked the Andes mountain trails and the smaller towns of the Sacred Valley leading to Machu Picchu at high altitudes. We also walked the high altitude (11,000 feet) traditional city of Cusco and crowded coastal capital city of Lima, Peru (population 11,000,000). After that we hiked the historic mountain capital of Ecuador, Quito, which sits 9,350 feet above sea level.  In all, we were between 8,000 feet and 12,500 feet for two weeks.

I highly recommend visiting this part of the world. Traveling was safe with just enough comfort and plenty of exercise. The culture is truly fascinating, the sites extraordinary, and the history worth investigating. The people were very sweet and helpful. The huge stone structures in their magnitude and beauty will leave you with some real sense of wonder.

Scroll down to see more great images at the very bottom of this page

Part II:  The Beginning and the End of Our Trip: Not Exactly Farming

When we’re working in irrigation it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day routines. But trips like this, if we let them take us away, are life changing. We spent the first six days of our trip in the Amazon basin, the headwaters of the Amazon River. These tributaries of the Amazon emanate in the high mountains of Peru and Ecuador. The rivers start in the highest mountains of the Andes, giving them an incredible amount of force. The water was opaque brown because it carried so much silt, and so we never went swimming.

The jungle walks, boating on the longest river in the world, and visiting local villages and learning about their cultures made this experience enriching. The end of our journey in the Galapagos Islands was equally stimulating. The Pacific Ocean was clear, warm, and inviting. We found comfort living in a trimaran for a week and then challenged ourselves trekking the exotic and rocky (volcanic) landscape and going face to face with a treasure trove of unique species of animals.

The Amazon Basin

We started our trip in the hot, steaming jungle by the Amazon River. Our challenge was living with the humidity and the mosquitos. It took a few days to get acclimatized for most of our small group, and then a few days to recognize whose hiking abilities in our group matched up with our own. There were many opportunities to shoot startlingly beautiful, chance-of-a-lifetime pictures of birds, creatures such as sloths, and see an amazing variety of trees and vines. Hiking at night through the jungle, we saw caiman (small alligators) and huge, I mean HUGE lotus flowers that spanned four feet across. In the day, we motored in small boats (called pangas) to an eddy off to the side of the Amazon. There, we fished for, caught, and later ate piranhas. On another day our guide took us to a tributary where the pink dolphins (Amazon River dolphins, Inia geoffrensia) lived in an estuary.  We only saw them breach for a split second in an OMG moment. Nearby, there were grey dolphins in greater numbers. Those were eye-opening experiences.

The Galapagos

Blue Footed Boobies

Located 600 miles off the west coast of Ecuador, this was a unique experience for us as we lived on a large trimaran boat for five days off the coasts of three of the islands in this chain. The Galapagos are an archipelago of volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean 600 miles off the coast of Peru on both sides of the equator.  First, we hiked to a refuge where the largest land tortoises in the world lived in their native habitat. These reptiles can live for more than 100 years, grow to 800 pounds, and are five to six feet long and four feet wide. They are an astounding site to behold. Their relative, the sea turtle, are just as big as we found out during one of the daily snorkeling trips when Nancy and I swam alongside one mesmerizingly beautiful and graceful gliding turtle for a full two minutes. This was all in 80-degree water surrounded by beautiful fish. On land our hikes took us to see very picturesque indigenous seabirds called boobies and large and colorful iguanas. The unbelievably bright blue footed booby are most visible and recognizable as they fish close to shore, the red footed booby that has brown plumage, and the Nazca booby with the whitest white plumage in the natural world were all easily recognizable (duh!). The iguanas came in many hues too and were very large and prehistoric looking and not afraid of humans. It was an amateur photographer’s dream come true.

- Leon Springer
Dripworks Owner 

A special thanks to our tour company Overseas Adventure Travel!  https://www.oattravel.com/



Giant Tortoises in the Galapagos

Blue Footed Boobie

Cusco Peru



Irises in Cusco Peru

Farmer's Market in Aguas Caliente near Machu Piccu

Iguana in the Galapagos

Nancy at Tipon Terraces in Peru



Leon at Tipon Terraces in Peru



Gravity Spring Fed Irrigation System in Tipon, Peru

Terraces in Machu Piccu



Leon and Nancy at Machu Piccu



Farming Terraces at Machu Piccu



More Terraces at Machu Piccu



Thatched Covered Structure at Machu Piccu



Leon and Nancy at Machu Piccu

Nazka Boobies

Blue Footed Boobies



Iguanas on the Beach in the Galapagos



Sunset in the Galapagos



Giant Iguana in the Galapagos

Clustered Iguanas in the Galapagos



Blue Footed Boobie

Sunset in the Galapagos

Scene from the Trimaran

Iguana on the Beach in the Galapagos



Leon and Nancy at the Equator - Latitude 0

Nancy's Catch

Catch of the Day:  Piranha for Dinner

Amazonian Avocado!!!

Cute Amazonian Children

Nancy with her New Amazonian Friends

Catamaran in the Galapagos

Growing Your Own Herbs

Every Day is Earth Day at Dripworks.  I know the theme this year is all about planting trees, but today I was inspired to write about how I celebrate our planet every day in the meals I prepare with my own fresh culinary herbs.  They don’t take up much space to grow and they add spice to the rice, and a lot of flavor to meat, fish, poultry, or veggies.  Sun and drainage are essential for most herbs.  Some herbs double as every-day home remedies.  They can be grown in a sunlit corner of your garden, on your deck, or even in your home on a south facing windowsill.  Pick a spot that gets at least 4-6 hours of sunlight and allows for easy picking at mealtime.  We plant most of the herbs mentioned here in the Dripworks Demonstration Garden.

Basil

If you love pesto, you’ll be happy to know that basil is very easy to grow, has a wide variety, and it can be harvested continually all summer until frost.  I always plant two or three of the “Genovese” variety spaced three feet apart as it makes a very flavorful pesto.  Its leaves are also excellent in salads or sandwiches.  It’s easy to grow in a sunny spot if you use a fair amount of good organic compost and water moderately for vigorous growth all summer.  Once the plant is 2’ tall, regular pruning back 1/3 of the plant will keep the stems strong and the growth habit thick.  Using your blender, just add the basil leaves, olive oil, pine nuts or walnuts, and garlic cloves.  Go online for basic recipes and customize to your own taste.  At our house we freeze the pesto in small half pint ball jars for an entire year of pesto.

Cilantro

A staple of Mexican cooking, cilantro is an essential ingredient when making salsa and in so many other dishes.  When baking, bar-b-quing, or frying fish, cilantro will add a distinctive flavor.  Its young leaves are known to aid digestion and are touted to offer some protection from heavy metals sometimes found in fish.  To grow cilantro, sow the seeds directly into your garden soil when warm spring weather arrives.  Its leaves can be harvested all summer long.  Regular pinching/pruning is essential to keep it from flowering so that the leaves stay strong and thick and the stalks don't shoot up and start to droop.  Its seed, known as the herb coriander, can be harvested in late summer.  

Echinacea

Also known as purple coneflower, Echinacea is a favorite of mine for its beauty and its medicinal value.  This flowering plant will bloom profusely all summer long and grow into a 3’ x 3’ spread.  Its roots, when dried and ground up are known to improve the immune system and as being a mild antiseptic for cuts or wounds.  Steeping the fresh cut flowers in warm water and making a wash or poultice can relieve the sting of insect bites. Although harder to find, this perennial also comes in white and yellow.  This drought resistant perennial is easy to grow and will stand out in your herb garden.  Echinacea grows best in full sun.  Dig a hole 8”-10” deep and wide, fill it with good organic soil or compost, and plant. Make sure you have a drip emitter on either side of the plant.

Chamomile

Chamomile has endless uses.  Its tiny yellow flowers bloom perennially, and it doesn’t need much attention.  We have seen it used as a sleep aid and as a tea to calm the nervous system and the digestive system.  Its list of remedies is quite extensive as it is used as a potion for cuts and bruises, as a hair rinse, and as a skin tonic.  Often seen growing wild, this low growing plant can be planted from seed in thin soil or near pathways. It will need some water to get going but not much attention or water after a few months.  In a garden bed, sow the seeds thinly and then cover lightly.  Like other herbs, its potency or flavor improves when it is watered sparingly.  Drip irrigation is perfect for this plant.

Calendula

Calendula is a beautiful perennial with bright yellow or orange flowers.  It is very hardy and will offer a colorful display for many years.  It grows well in almost any situation or soil.  Choose a partial or full sun spot and start this plant when the soil reaches 60 degrees.  In the old days the petals were used to staunch wounds.  The petals are still a good treatment for cuts, bruises, spider and mosquito bites.  When boiled, its flowers make a good face wash and acne scrub.

Aloe Vera

I know aloe Vera is not a culinary herb but it’s a well known remedy for its healing ability.  It doesn’t require much water and is easy to grow.  A sandy or light soil would be fine.  Not much organic matter is necessary, just good drainage.  Aloe can be grown in containers on a windowsill, on your deck, or in any sunny location.  If the temperature in your area gets below 35 degrees, plant aloe in a container so that it can be brought indoors.  When needed, just cut off a lower branch or part of a lower branch and use the juice on the affected part of your body for cuts, sunburn relief, wound healing, and it even helps acne problems.

These are obviously just a few herbs that can be easily grown and will add some spice to your life and wonderful flavor to your favorite dish.  You can Google “growing herbs” to get a long list of ones that will do well in your area.  Use them fresh all season long or they can be dried (basil can be used fresh or frozen for later) and containerized for future use in your kitchen or medicine cabinet.

Gardening & Baseball - Our National Pastimes

Leon and his "unconventional gardening glove" in the Demo Garden this morning at DripWorks HQ

I was driving to work the other day, radio tuned to my usual sports talk station, and the airwaves were all abuzz with chatter about opening day for the 2016 baseball season.  It made me think of the work (dedication and sweat), thought (planning and strategy), and emotion (the thrill when the work pays off) that comes into play in both gardening and baseball.  Baseball fans and gardeners alike have soul touching experiences that are triggered by simply stepping onto the landscape where they get to play.

                                                                                                                                          
The feeling I get when stepping into my garden every day (whether at home or at work) is the same feeling I get when I step into a major league baseball park.  Walking into a beautiful flower or vegetable garden is a breathtaking experience.  A baseball stadium is similarly awesome.  In baseball the venue is a “ballpark’ where the grass is called the “outfield” and the “infield.”  It’s an area tended with care, a magnificent site, and a joy to the senses.  Gardening and baseball…I could contemplate the similarities of these two passions of mine for hours on end.

Preparing for the next years' garden is a gardener’s “off season.”  The fields lay fallow, the trees dormant, and the garden is at rest.  During the winter we plan what to plant next year by reviewing the successes of last season (basil = pesto and caprese sandwiches, tomatoes = salads, snacks and sauces, onions, cilantro, and peppers = salsa, chard = steamed veggies, and kale = green smoothies, etc).  We think about what we want to adjust (more compost for the strawberries and raspberries, plant lettuce under Agribon for the cooler fall season or early spring) and what kind of amendments the soil needs (beneficial microbes and bat guano, etc.).  Finally, we do a tour of the garden to see where we need to fine tune, alter or update the drip system. 

Winter presents a similar scenario for baseball players and teams as it's their “off season.”  To be successful, players need continue to hone their skills.  If teams have finished in first place, they still must look for replacements for players who have left. The coach works with the players, scouts look for new players, the general managers explore and execute trades, and the players need to take a break.  They go dormant for the winter and return with a renewed energy just as perennial plants do in their "off season."

Spring is a magical time for gardeners and ballplayers.  The air is warming up.  Working the soil and planting seeds gets gardeners outdoors with an air of hope and excitement.  Trusted seed sources are tapped.  Our bodies are tested.  Spring training is a time of renewed commitment for baseball players, too.  They go through all of the drills and the strongest and most skilled get to play on opening day!

Spring and summer is when gardeners must pay attention, when our commitment is put to the test, and when all the preparations hopefully pay off.  We must keep an eye on each plant’s development.  We need to make sure that our drip system is doing what is needed.  Feeding the plants through your drip system by using a fertilizer injector will optimize your efforts.  Pests and critters have to be dealt with.  We keep our eyes peeled for soil deficiencies and disease.  And then we get to jump for joy when the first tomatoes appear, the first head of lettuce is ready to pick, and when the chard and kale are ready to steam.  

Baseball players need to keep their minds in the game all season long, stay loose, hydrated, and strong.  As gardeners we also need to stretch and drink water before and after working in the yard.  Ballplayers have a regular routine and stick to it, taking batting practice, fielding ground balls, catching fly balls, running regularly and stretching on the field.  They need to endure a long season of extreme effort.  I stretch in the garden, play catch with the grandchildren using lemon cucumbers, ride my bike, and take walks regularly.  Staying in shape and having fun too are very important.

Autumn is harvest season when our crops mature and ripen.  This is the time we fill our harvest basket and enjoy those fresh veggies on the dinner table.  It’s also time to dry, can, or freeze fruits and veggies for the long winter.  We get to share or show off our bounty to family and friends.  And don't forget the thrill of entering the county fair competition for biggest pumpkins, tastiest and most beautiful apples, award winning jams, or sauces and salsas with the hope of snagging the top prize.

                                                                                                                                       

For baseball, autumn is heavy with excitement for the playoffs and the World Series, the fall classic!  After training, coaching, and competing, the best teams with the best players and the best teams compete for the top prize.

DripWorks mirrors both of these pastimes by offering the best quality products in the irrigation field backed by the best and most knowledgeable employees in the industry.  We pride ourselves on careful strategic planning (see DripWorks garden planner) for the next year, and hard work year round.

                                                                                                                                                 Wishing everyone a winning 2016.

The Dripworks Team

               

World Water Day

March 22 is World Water Day.  Nearly 25 years ago, the United Nations recommended an international observance of water in effort to raise awareness of our dependence on this critical resource.  Each year this campaign for awareness adopts a different theme.  We here at DripWorks find this year’s theme very appropriate for our own 25th year in the irrigation business because the theme this year is “Water and Jobs.”  The goal this year is to shine a spotlight on the labor rights and practices of workers in all water-related industries worldwide.
                                                                                                                                                             
At the current rate of population growth in the world, agriculture is having a hard time producing the food the world needs with the fresh water available. In addition to securing sustainable, efficient, and equitable management of scarce water resources, governments locally and around the world need to consider the working conditions of those who are responsible for managing these demands.  We all need to inspire political and community action to encourage greater global understanding of the need for more responsible water use, conservation and gratitude towards the people who manage these goals.

The UN is concerned about three primary gaps in groundwater management which have enormous implications for the sustainable development of water:

1) Increased degradation of groundwater through pollution.
2) Lack of public and corporate awareness about the sustainable use and economic importance of our groundwater resources
3) Impact of not resolving groundwater supply and demand management which is at a critical stage right now.

Water and energy are linked. The generation of energy uses copious amounts of water resources for producing hydroelectric, nuclear, and thermal energy. Pumping, transporting, and treating the water sent to its customers by municipalities uses over 8% of the global energy generation. Attention has to be paid to identifying and instituting best practices in making the energy industry an efficient green industry.

Almost a billion people around the world don’t have safe drinking water. Government policies (or lack of them) and governments at war currently curtail or cut off water supply or access to purification systems for many. We only need to read the headlines or watch the news to have a good idea where in the world people must resort to sources of water with a high health risk.

World Water Day is a serious subject these days with either droughts or floods in the headlines. At home, we can all do our part to conserve water in our landscape by using xeriscape practices and responsible water use around the home. Here are some simple ways you can reduce your own water consumption:  

1) Decrease the size of your lawn or eliminate it altogether.  This is a great way to save water and money while maintaining a beautiful, eye appealing yard.  Bonus:  No more mowing or storing the lawnmower.

2) Drip irrigation supports a varied landscape.  Set your timers to water early in the day to lessen the rate of evaporation.

3) Choose drought tolerant/native shrubs and trees when possible. Always mulch the ground around the base of your plantings.

4) Install a rain catchment system to capture water when it rains to be used later.

5) Use your washing machine/dishwasher only when you have a full load. Buy “Energy Star” appliances that use less water and energy.

6) Get a low flow “Energy Star” toilet to cut you water usage in half. Even then you can help further by putting a brick or a plastic bottle filled with sand in the toilet tank to save even more water. Put some food coloring in the toilet tank to check for leaks. If the color seeps out into the toilet, you might need a new plunger mechanism.

7) Use your water meter to check for leaks. When all of your water usage is off, the meter should not be running. If it is, you have some investigating to do.

8) Install water saving low flow shower heads. These are inexpensive and easy to install.  A long shower can use 5-10 gallons per minute. Low flow heads can get it down to 2.5 gpm.

9) All of your indoor faucets should have little aerators installed. These will save a lot of water and are super inexpensive.

10) To get hot water faster, insulate your hot water pipes. Save water and pumping energy.  Use a bucket to capture your shower water while you wait for it to heat up.  Use the bucket stores to water house plants or to “flush” the toilet with a quick pour directly into the bowl.

Saving water at home is easy.  Be conscientious.  Most of the water usage indoors is in the bathrooms. Low flow toilets will save you 2 gallons each time you flush.  Currently the average person uses 70 gallons per day. You could easily save one third of this with just a little effort. Multiply that number by the number of people in your home and the figures start to add up.  About 20,000 - 40,000 gallons can be easily saved each year, by you and your family!

Buy in to World Water Day. All of us here at DripWorks are believers.  

Springtime Checklist

It doesn’t matter how long the winter lingers, spring is always sure to follow. It is never too early to start prepping for your spring garden. Don’t let the chilly weather stop you from getting your garden off to a good start.

[   ] Prepare your soil 

It is a good idea to till your garden area, a good 8 to 12 inches beneath the surface. Be sure to remove any unwanted debris and rocks. You don’t want to dig or till your garden if the soil is too wet as this can ruin the soil structure. It is also crucial to add back any nutrients that may have leached away. Spread a layer of compost to provide plants with a good fertile foundation for a healthy start. You may also need to add a good fertilizer into this mix.  Select a fertilizer that will meet the needs of your garden, follow the application rates listed on the label and then mix this into your soil. DripWorks has a variety of Fertilizers and Amendments to meet your diverse needs. Finally, top things off with a fresh new layer of good mulch.

[   ] Weeding

While some gardeners find it to be meditative and others may despise the task, weeding is very necessary. Although a few weeds can be valuable for increasing our gardens biodiversity, too many can look unsightly and may spread out of control. If you choose to pull them, try to pull up the whole weed including the root rather than snapping it off at the base. A helpful tool for removing weeds is the CobraHead Weeder & Cultivator. To avoid harsh chemicals and the extra time it takes to pull weeds, you can simply add Bio Paper Weed Barrier. Just place it on top of the soil, secure it with U-Shaped Wire Hold Downs and cut slits to insert your plants.

[   ] Pruning  

Early spring is the best time to shape non-flowering shrubs and trees.

• Remove dead or diseased branches
• Remove branches that rub or touch other branches
• Remove old unproductive branches

Pruning is a horticultural practice that alters the form and growth of plants while encouraging the development of flowers, fruits, trees and shrubs. It is done to supply additional energy for the development of flowers and fruits. Like any other skill, pruning requires knowing what you are doing to achieve success. The old idea that anyone with a chain saw or a pruning saw can be a landscape pruner is far from the truth. More trees are killed or ruined each year from improper pruning than by pests. Remember that pruning is the removal or reduction of certain plant parts that are not required, that are no longer effective, or that are of no use to the plant.

[   ] Selecting Plants

Some of us choose plants based on looks, but for best results, select plants based on which ones can best adapt to the climate in your area. If you are new to gardening and don’t know where to start, talk to your local nursery and ask which plants are native to the region. If you’re a gardener who prefers growing flowers, we suggest planting ones that will encourage pollinators to visit your garden. For a list of plants that will attract beneficial pollinators, visit our Creating a Spring Pollinator Garden blog. If you’re a gardener who prefers to grow vegetables, easy-to-grow vegetables include: lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Some plants, such as pansies and kale do great in cold weather and can be planted in late winter to early spring. Tomatoes and most annual flowers are touchy and should not be planted until the danger of frost has passed in your area. For a list of vegetables that grow well together, visit our Companion Planting for the Vegetable Garden blog.

[   ] Starting Seedlings

Whether you’re sowing seeds indoors or outdoors, make sure that the growing conditions are ideal. Water the seedlings frequently so they never dry out.  They will require daily watering when they’re small.  Get a head start by starting seeds indoors before the last frost date. You can place them in containers or flats designed for seedlings. Place the seeds into seed-starting soil mixes. Make sure that the seeds get plenty of sunshine or artificial light. Keep seeds moist but not wet or they may rot. For helpful tips on starting seedlings, you can refer to our Starting your Veggies from Seed blog.

[   ] Tune- Up 

There is no better time than now to check that your irrigation system is ready for another season. Here are the things you want to look for:

• Check for leaks
• Damaged or worn out fittings and tubing
• Missing or damaged sprayer heads or emitters
• Inspect for clogs on screens or nozzles

Mark areas that need improvement or that need fixing. Make a list of items that need to be replaced and have things ready before you have to start irrigating. When starting up your system for the first time make sure to remove end fittings from the feeder lines to drain and wash away any insects or debris that may have gotten inside of the lines. Once you have flushed out the lines, place the end fittings back on and let the system run for a few minutes to inspect and ensure that everything is functional.

Happy Spring Gardening!