Annie DeMoranville

Work Wednesday: Home Stretch

two elevated garden beds against a fence backdrop

Ridiculously warm this week, so the gardening bug has fully bit me. I won’t be fooled though, I know this is fake summer. Winter is lurking behind that sun, just waiting to blow in for one last hurrah.

I am spending some time, though, getting ready for actual spring. I’m going with elevated beds for most of my veggies this year, though I also am going to try my hand at a three-sisters garden. The remainder will be mostly tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Maybe a few herbs.

Weekly Climate Solution Round-up

x-posted from Living Lightly

My intention for a while has been to put together a weekly round-up of climate solutions and good news. I had to wrap up a few other projects first. Now feels like a time I can commit to this idea.

To keep it within the time I have available, I’m going to limit each week to three items. Believe me there are many, many more if you are willing to seek them out. I’m hoping these weekly reminders will inspire you to learn more.

Here are this week’s three climate solution innovations:

Solar Panels In Unusual Places

Two people walking along a series of solar panels over a canal in the Central Valley

UC Merced project scientist Brandi McKuin and Zak Long walk along one of Project Nexus’ solar arrays. Credit: Fig. 1 by University of California

California is taking the first steps in realizing an idea to save billions of gallons of water each year and produce enough clean energy to power a city the size of Los Angeles for nine months annually.

The simple but brilliant concept? Cover as much of California’s roughly 4,000 miles of irrigation canals with solar canopies as possible.

Furry Friday: Snow Squalls

White duck in a blue pool surrounded by a dusting of snow

Nora does love snow. All my ducks have loved snow..and rain…just not wind and hail. Who can blame them.

We awoke to a smattering of snow today, which is to continue throughout the day. So happy for that, it has been unseasonably dry since fall.

Work Wednesday: Spring Fever

Iris reticulata purple iris flowers with yellow centers — Iris reticulata in my yard

We have had an unseasonably warm and dry winter here. I’ve had to water once a month per the recommendation from the city/county (and I have the water bill to prove it). I know for many of you that seems like small problems as you dig out from yet another storm. But we do worry about wild fires.

We are hoping to get at least a few inches of snow at the end of the week. We’ll see how that pans out. At this point, I’m ready for steady rain. Snow you had your chance, reapply in October.

And while I have been hard at work with the final edits to Full Sail, spring fever is hitting hard. What I really want to do is get my hands in the dirt and start cleaning up the beds. It’s too early, but I am already planning out this year’s veggie garden.

Next week will be spent hiking and spa-ing, so at least I have that to look forward to.

Spectacular: Blue Whales Feeding

Screen shot from the YT video of a Blue Whale feeding — Screenshot from the YT video

On my last trip to southern California, part work for Full Sail and part graduation trip for my niece, we went whale watching. I desperately wanted to see Blue Whales, but they eluded us that day. It was still a great day to whale watch on a small 8-person boat.

Someone shared this with me tonight and I was so moved by it, I needed to share it. You really need to click on full screen to experience the beauty of this drone footage.