Summer is off to a hot, dry start here in southeast Idaho. It is worrying, because I have been expecting this based on the scientific community’s anticipation of global warming or climate change. They have said they anticipate ‘X,’ and me being optimistic as I am, I have expected ‘Z.’ Hopefully this hot start is just a heat wave. As for the dry bit, that has also been anticipated, and it looks to be historic and out of place. I am upgrading our waterers so we are making better use of the water we do use, and we are also already practiced in not watering a grassy lawn, and holding that silly expectation. I don’t really know why Americans are so persistent on keeping expansive green lawns at great cost to the water supply, but give little thought to changing to something more native and natural. Sure, keep a small spot for a picnic or whatnot, but lawns in this country are generally huge, and then we walk so close to the delicate balance of maintaining the water supply, which we need to drink far more than we need to make our house look pretty. The piper is coming home to roost. It’s time to pay the chickens.
Between this and now ransomware and the effects of Covid on supply chains, we are already starting to lose our balance on supply security. It is a good time to live on a homestead! Now we just need to produce food!
I tested the lantern last night that I had bought at the antique store for a mere $20. It is an 1973 Coleman that was in pretty much mint condition, and it worked perfectly with a new set of mantles. It is bright enough to work outside at night with for a pretty good portion of the garden, so I think we will be good to work after dark when it is cool out. I’d like to set up a watering trough that is kept back for us to fill up with water and sit in when it is too hot, or whenever someone is on the verge of a heat stroke. I can cover it with a tarp or make some boards for it, as it does not have to be too big. I think with ideas like this, we can mitigate the heat, and our lack of air conditioning.
I am updating things on the farm such as gates this year, and will probably be rearranging some of the pens for other uses, as we don’t need them to be quite as big as they are on the front quarter of the house lot. I want the damned gates put in on the canal access and the paddocks properly divided and gate, too. Rotational grazing is not something that just gets done once in a while. It needs to be done consistently, and on a long term basis.
Well, just a few thoughts before I get started on my chores for the morning, but it is past time for me to pick up my arse, and get at it!