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!

Starting your Veggies from Seed

In a Greenhouse

  In your Home

    In your Garden

Starting a vegetable garden from seed is an age old tradition. At Dripworks I am once again getting the display garden ready for planting. With Spring less than a month away, I have the “itch” to roll out the electric heating mat on an upper shelf in our little Solexx greenhouse and plug it in. The mat has a thermostat that controls the temperature to give the seeds in the seed tray a nice constant 68-72 degrees. These seeds will then have a good chance to germinate quickly. Our trays have clear plastic lids to keep the moisture and heat in and can be bought at most nurseries. Using last year’s plastic six-pack seedling container, waxed paper cup, or small yogurt container works well too for seed starting.

Trays of seeds germinating in our greenhouse

At home, putting the seed starting tray on a table or window sill in front of a south facing window or under a “grow light” would work well as long as you rotate the tray every few days. The seed tray should come with a “drip tray” underneath that will collect water as it drains through. You can use a spray bottle or an empty and clean dish soap bottle to add a tiny bit of water when dry. Use your finger to feel the soil for moistness. Try not to overwater. This might cause root rot and drive the oxygen out of the soil.

A seed tray on a window sill

Fill the tray with a seed starting soil mix or other sterilized bagged soil. Soak the soil with water and then squeeze out the excess water before adding it to the tray or container. Compress the soil into each square of the tray of each container before adding the seed. I find that pushing a pencil point into the soil a quarter of an inch makes a “perfect” depression in which to plant the seeds. Cover the seeds and pat down.

In the first two weeks it is important to check the seed tray daily. If the seeds have poked through the soil and are under the clear plastic cover, additional water isn’t necessary right away. If more than one seed sprouts, snip out the runts with a scissor so as not to disturb the one you are leaving.

You’re better off planting certain types of vegetables by seed directly in your garden. Peas and beans are quite cold hardy and do best directly sowed. Squash is fairly hardy and can be planted when the danger of frost is past. Use a row cover such as Agribon for protection from the cold. Corn and melons thrive if planted as the temperature starts to climb in the middle of May and the days get longer.

Beans being planted in a raised bed with Soaker Dripline

Your local garden center or favorite online gardening site should have a wide variety of seed. I’m a little particular about what I want to grow. I want my food to be as healthy as possible. To start with, I use organic soil and compost in my beds and also choose heirloom (non GMO) seed from Baker Creek Seed or Sustainable Seed Company. Genovese basil (for pesto), a variety of tomatoes and lettuces, hot habanero or serrano peppers, red bell peppers, Delicata squash, rainbow chard, and dinosaur kale are must haves for me. Carrots (Nantes or Chantaney), beets for roasting and salads, radishes, red onions for sandwiches, and a small bed of potatoes will fill in any space in your garden that may be available. Another favorite, Garlic must be planted in the Fall for a June harvest.

My mom was always in the garden. Although it didn’t look as much fun as playing catch with dad or shooting baskets with my brother, I saw what she was doing. Seeing her beautiful flower arrangements and tasting the some of her home grown vegetable dishes evidently got me hooked on eating some greens and gardening. If your kids don’t care to eat vegetables, getting them to help with seed starting might coerce them to get on board.

Dripworks 2016 Catalog – the 25 Anniversary Issue

Twenty five years ago, three men with a vision, technical know how, and a lot of energy started DripWorks. Our goal was to provide a way for gardeners and farmers to buy top quality drip irrigation products so they could save water, time, and money. Drip works! Its that simple.

In the summer of 1991, Eric Glassey was taking his family on vacation and went to a local gardening store in Willits, California to ask them for some ideas on how to efficiently water his landscape and vegetable garden while they were gone. Their salesman Jerry Jordan, told him about drip irrigation, sold him the parts, and explained the installation steps that would make Eric’s project successful. After purchasing and installing a complete system setup including a timer, it occurred to him that many people faced the same situation. He soon went back to talk to Jerry about starting a mail order catalog company that would sell drip irrigation supplies. A few weeks later Leon Springer was brought into the picture as Leon had recently sold a company where he was doing the marketing, had a lot of gardening experience, and could provide the start up funding to get Dripworks off the ground. He was asked if he would like to come to their next meeting.

The 3 DripWorks Co-founders, Leon Springer, Jerry Jordan, and Eric Glassey.

At the meeting all of the pieces started to fit together. Eric had the basement where the business could operate and the computer that the business needed to do its bookkeeping and take orders. Jerry had been working in the drip business, had hands on experience, and knew the vendors. Leon was an avid gardener who could also “talk-the- talk” with prospective customers.

It took four months to set up the warehouse in the basement, hook up the three phones, line up the sources for products, strategize on a marketing plan, and develop the 1992 Dripworks catalog. The challenge was getting known by people who had a passion for gardening and those who were trying to make a living on their farms, and explain the advantages of drip irrigation.

There weren’t many people buying online in 1992 so we spent 90% of our Marketing budget on advertising in gardening and farm magazines. We also set up booths at expos, shows, and fairs and gave out catalogs to potential customers who showed interest. Our efforts succeeded as we got thousands of requests for catalogs resulting in $78,000 in sales the first year to give us a glimmer of hope.

The first DripWorks catalog, mailed in 1992.

Through the 1990s Dripworks grew to the point where right after launching our Dripworks.com website in 1998, we had an opportunity to buy a few flat acres and build 15,000 feet of office and warehouse space. The next year the internet (remember the “bubble”!) and Dripworks took off. We hired people to design drip systems for customers, UPS started leaving their trailer at our shipping department door, and the phones were ringing off the hook. By then we had about 10 committed employees. Very challenging times!

Construction of our second warehouse.

Our second decade saw us filling every inch of our buildings, hiring people to fill the “call center”, the marketing department, the front office, the warehouse, the shipping department, the purchasing department, the IT department, and bookkeeping. Dripworks.com has become a website that is easy to navigate and is full of resources on all the products necessary to set up a system.

In the last few years we have seen the start of our very popular “chat room” available for people to ask questions regarding drip irrigation, specific products, or challenges they may be having while setting up their system. Yes, a live human to talk to! You can also watch more than 60 “how to” videos on our website, dripworks.com. Our “Gallery of Plans” is a very helpful resource showing many different garden or farm setups with all of the products necessary.

The 2016 catalog, our 25th anniversary edition is a result of the experience, hard work and focus of our team of employees. We hope you enjoy and benefit from reading it. You’ll notice the beautiful plant pollinators that are spread through the pages giving you a hint of our commitment to a beautiful, safe, and healthy environment and future we all hope to share.

Thank you to all of our loyal customers and employees through the years. It’s been a wonderfully rewarding experience owning a business that helps people who want to grow their own food without wasting water, irrigate their landscape more efficiently, or turn a profit on the farm.

Have fun in the garden, and
Success on the farm,
Leon Springer
Owner
Dripworks.com

Creating a Spring Pollinator Garden

Pollination is vital to the fertilization, reproduction, and survival of all non-GMO food and flower species. We have talked before in this blog about the plight of the pollinators. Pollination occurs when insects or animals move between flowers of the same species carrying with them the essential powdery pollen granules necessary for fertilization. The result is successful seed and fruit production that will enable your plants to provide tasty, full-bodied fruits and vegetables, year after year.

Exactly who are these pollinators? Birds, bees, bats, butterflies, moths, beetles, ants, and other small insects, as well as some larger animals, are all pollinators and, if they are to do their job, we must pay attention to, protect, and provide habitat so they can survive the dual threats of habitat destruction and poisoning due to chemical misuse. We know this threat is real because bees are our "canaries in the coal mine" and we have seen their colonies decline steeply due to the aforementioned habitat destruction and the use of Neonictinoids, a class of powerful pesticides currently used on over 140 different crops. These "neonics" are applied to the coating of GMO seeds and, once introduced into the environment, kill indiscriminately by poisoning the plant's pollen and nectar as well as the surrounding soil and runoff.

The proliferation of GMO seed by one of the largest companies in the world, Monsanto, goes hand in hand with their production of chemicals such as Roundup that kill any weeds, insects, birds, or mammals that might potentially compete with their plant. Commercially, these GMO seeds are marketed as being "Roundup Ready" and the plants grown from them are formulated in their labs to withstand huge repeated doses of this chemical. In the opinion of  many, the person who eats these plants is taking a long term risk of health problems. To make matters worse, the GMO seeds sold by Monsanto, either commercially or on retail seed racks, will not produce a plant that is viable for reseeding, meaning you have to purchase new seed from them every year!

Our best bet is to promote pollinators and ensure a future where we can produce our own food, and the best way to do that is to see that bees and other pollinators have the habitat that they need. Your own property is the most obvious place to start. Flowers grown with untreated seed, and organic vegetable starts will provide beauty, good food, and a chance to produce viable seed for next year.

Here are a few favorite plants that will attract beneficial pollinators:

Rosemary

     

Lavender 

Geranium

Dahlia

Daffodil

Borage

Sunflower

Alpine Strawberry

Allium

 

     

Sweet Pea

Spearmint

Foxglove

Poppy

Fruit Trees

Berries

Another way you can help is by adding your voice to an organization like the Pollinator Partnership. Sign up for their Million Pollinator Garden Challenge at:

http://pollinator.org/million-pollinator-garden-challenge.htm

Plant photos courtesy of rareseeds.com and anniesannuals.com

Vertical Gardens

Want an artistic twist to your garden, patio, or landscape? Wish you could grow more flowers or veggies in the space you already have? Vertical gardening is a way to add creativity, beauty and dramatic appeal while maximizing your space. If you live in an urban area with only a small patio, balcony, or deck, vertical gardening can provide room to grow. If you presently have no garden it’s still possible to grow edibles or raise beautiful flowers in whatever space you have available. Just do a web search for the term “vertical gardens” and you’ll find plenty of ideas to get you started.

Vertical Garden Center-Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia

Public vertical gardens are being constructed and displayed all over the world. The sides of buildings, park structures, and bridges are being covered with hundreds of species of plants arranged to complement each other and the results are breathtaking. The wilds of the natural world are being brought into the city, improving air quality and the emotional well-being of passersby as well.

Vertical Garden Wall at Bay Meadows

Vertical Lettuce Patch

If you are running out of space in your own garden, growing vertically may provide a solution. Growing flowering vines on the south side garden fence will provide a shaded area for plants that don’t do well in direct sun, such as lettuces, parsley, and beets. You can use the fence on the north side that encloses the garden by planting peas, beans, squash, luffa (or loofah), and melons to get plenty of southern exposure without shading other plants. If you have a solid wooden fence or building in your garden area, running string or wire attached to nails or screws vertically or horizontally will work well and enable climbing plants to flourish.

Vertical Luffa Arch

Flowering vines, such as clematis, purple passion flower, trumpet vine, moonflowers, or morning glories, are available in an amazing range of colors. They can be trained to climb a redwood trellis supported by 4’ x 4’ posts, a tepee of wooden stakes or poles wire together at the top, or a wooden arbor or archway that you pass through as your enter your garden area.

Wisteria Covered Pergola

If you have a pergola or covered shade area in your yard, putting tall ceramic or wooden planters next to the base of the supporting posts and planting climbing vegetables in them can give you an assortment of beautiful hanging squash, melons, cucumbers, grapes, or climbing flowers by midsummer. It’s also quite a head turner.

Arbor at Temple Rose Garden

Adding levels to your landscape, deck, or vegetable garden will give you more room to garden and add beauty. Think of adding a stone wall or crushed gravel pathway to turn your flower garden into a botanical garden. Put up a trellis and grow climbing roses for a burst of scent and color. Do some research online and make the entry to your home, backyard, or garden as inviting as you’ve always wanted. 

The Nourishing Gardens of Esalen

Esalen, a haven devoted to the exploration of human potential, is located in Big Sur, California. Recently, my wife, Nancy, and I had a very enriching experience while visiting with our nephew, Sam, who works there.