Aaron Goodwin

Add me to the list of people with the same problem. I'm looking into creating a bamboo hedge.

Sheri Menelli wrote:


I think another reason there is such a division among the northern and southern regions of California is that north has a lot more lakes, streams, ponds, etc. When they start to dry up, you notice it. Down here the only way most of the public knows there is a drought is because they said so on TV.

Good point! To us in the Mojave it's ALWAYS drought.

I think the most important change we need is for better-informed local governments. They stand a much better chance of actually incentivizing water-wise choices from the populace. In many places it's downright illegal to do most of what we've discussed. There are tons of codes having to do with waste water, grey water, and other things seen as a public nuisance, but which are actually beneficial.

This is some really good discussion!

One of the biggest difficulties with California, in general as well as with this specific issue, is that it's a very large state covering very different areas. The northern part of the state receives substantially more rain than the southern; and the weather is much more temperate on it's west side than it's east side (this is what happens when you have a mountain range running through the middle of a coastal state. There's a real sense for Northern residents that Southern California is steeling their water and wasting it, but at the same time most of the food is grown in Southern California so it's just all a recipe for catastrophe.

Also, on the black plastic—a major reason it's used (at least in the desert regions I'm more familiar with) is that the small amount of shade, cover, and retained moisture offered by rocks creates a boon for weeds. Since most people don't have the importance of soil on their radar, and most aren't looking to create more productive environments for food, they just throw down the plastic and say to hell with it. It's really sad.

In my neck of the woods you used to see a lot more front yards that hard dirt and shrubs and more native plants, but not anymore. Having dirt anywhere is viewed by people, as well as municipalities, as a poorly maintained yard and you'll get cited for it.

Peter Ellis wrote:
... The rock replacing grass - is better than dead sod on a number of levels (somewhat dependent n how they are doing the rock landscaping) . Dead sod is going to sheet water off and not infiltrate anything. Rock formations can create much better infiltration, as the rainwater is tumbled around passing by the rocks, slowing it down and giving it a chance to soak into the soil below. Also, in parts of California, fog can be a major source of water and a pile of rocks can serve to capture water from the fog in ways that dead sod simply cannot do. ...

Sadly, most of the rock being laid down is on top of thick black plastic, so most of the water either runs off into the streets or evaporates. I don't think it's a great solution.