Comments on: pleasures of hand-watering http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/27/pleasures-of-hand-watering/ Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:20:46 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: lostlandscape http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/27/pleasures-of-hand-watering/comment-page-1/#comment-2955 lostlandscape Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:33:47 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6457#comment-2955 Bird and Sylvana, I'm glad to hear of your successes with the biodegradable soaps and detergents. Bird, my current proper watering can is more of a one-quart little dinky thing that delivers water slowly and weighs next to nothing. Not much of an upper body workout hefting it around... Fountains, it stands to reason that the soaps in water could affect moisture retention and soil structure. I'll be curious to see how the garden takes to more recycled water. The water out of the tap is gross enough. I suspect some plants will be thrilled with the extra water. Others will probably complain at the quality of the water. Sylvana, I'm bothered whenever I dump a pot full of pasta water down the sink. It seems like such a waste. I should follow your example and keep a bucket in the kitchen. Bird and Sylvana, I’m glad to hear of your successes with the biodegradable soaps and detergents.

Bird, my current proper watering can is more of a one-quart little dinky thing that delivers water slowly and weighs next to nothing. Not much of an upper body workout hefting it around…

Fountains, it stands to reason that the soaps in water could affect moisture retention and soil structure. I’ll be curious to see how the garden takes to more recycled water. The water out of the tap is gross enough. I suspect some plants will be thrilled with the extra water. Others will probably complain at the quality of the water.

Sylvana, I’m bothered whenever I dump a pot full of pasta water down the sink. It seems like such a waste. I should follow your example and keep a bucket in the kitchen.

]]> By: Sylvana http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/27/pleasures-of-hand-watering/comment-page-1/#comment-2951 Sylvana Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:44:31 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6457#comment-2951 I have been using grey water for a few years now. I always have a bucket by the sink when I wash dishes and have purchased plant-safe, biodegradeable detergents. I catch wash and rinse water and water the garden with it. It makes me water the plants that like lots of water a lot more which is better for them. I haven't worked out a shower or laundry system yet, but have been thinking about it! I have been using grey water for a few years now. I always have a bucket by the sink when I wash dishes and have purchased plant-safe, biodegradeable detergents. I catch wash and rinse water and water the garden with it. It makes me water the plants that like lots of water a lot more which is better for them. I haven’t worked out a shower or laundry system yet, but have been thinking about it!

]]> By: fountains outdoor http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/27/pleasures-of-hand-watering/comment-page-1/#comment-2949 fountains outdoor Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:36:42 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6457#comment-2949 I also handwater because my garden is too small for automatic watering... I never tried gray water, I heard using them over an extended period can damage the soil structure and maybe damage the plants. I will check the posts you mentioned. I also handwater because my garden is too small for automatic watering… I never tried gray water, I heard using them over an extended period can damage the soil structure and maybe damage the plants. I will check the posts you mentioned.

]]> By: Bird http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/27/pleasures-of-hand-watering/comment-page-1/#comment-2936 Bird Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:35:44 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6457#comment-2936 We've always handwatered, and when it's summer bathwater is saved specially. We use biodegradable soaps so it's fine to put on the garden and none of our plants appear to have suffered. And I'll tell you one good thing about using watering cans... it does wonders for upper body strength! Why pay money to go to the gym when you can get a healthy colour, bond with your seedlings and work out in the sunshine? We’ve always handwatered, and when it’s summer bathwater is saved specially. We use biodegradable soaps so it’s fine to put on the garden and none of our plants appear to have suffered. And I’ll tell you one good thing about using watering cans… it does wonders for upper body strength! Why pay money to go to the gym when you can get a healthy colour, bond with your seedlings and work out in the sunshine?

]]> By: lostlandscape http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/27/pleasures-of-hand-watering/comment-page-1/#comment-2932 lostlandscape Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:18:04 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6457#comment-2932 Alice, I'm looking forward to your piece on watering by hand. It's a rich subject that could easily become a book. Graywater systems are so slow getting online, but fortunately there's movement locally where people may soon be able to make modifications without special permits. Bangchik, for us, the drip systems are a better choice for many plants in that they can use less water. But it's still an automated system that separates you from the plants. Tina, watering in the heat of summer might get a tad unpleasant. You'd almost need to water the gardener at the same time just to stay cool. Country Mouse, I haven't been dive bombed by hummingbirds while watering, but birds of every kind seem to congregate around a dripping water feature we have in the back yard. Even recycled city water is better than nothing during these dry months. Alice, I’m looking forward to your piece on watering by hand. It’s a rich subject that could easily become a book. Graywater systems are so slow getting online, but fortunately there’s movement locally where people may soon be able to make modifications without special permits.

Bangchik, for us, the drip systems are a better choice for many plants in that they can use less water. But it’s still an automated system that separates you from the plants.

Tina, watering in the heat of summer might get a tad unpleasant. You’d almost need to water the gardener at the same time just to stay cool.

Country Mouse, I haven’t been dive bombed by hummingbirds while watering, but birds of every kind seem to congregate around a dripping water feature we have in the back yard. Even recycled city water is better than nothing during these dry months.

]]> By: Country Mouse http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/27/pleasures-of-hand-watering/comment-page-1/#comment-2925 Country Mouse Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:38:08 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6457#comment-2925 I agree - a lovely activity for slowing a person down. Water absorption is not to be hurried. I love seeing the humming birds hover and dive across the stream of water - I usually water with a hose. I agree - a lovely activity for slowing a person down. Water absorption is not to be hurried. I love seeing the humming birds hover and dive across the stream of water - I usually water with a hose.

]]> By: tina http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/27/pleasures-of-hand-watering/comment-page-1/#comment-2922 tina Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:06:37 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6457#comment-2922 Ha! The gray hair is the word of the day, lots of it here too. I think it great to water by hand-you need some patience and time though, both in short supply in the heat of the day, but occasionally. Ha! The gray hair is the word of the day, lots of it here too. I think it great to water by hand-you need some patience and time though, both in short supply in the heat of the day, but occasionally.

]]> By: bangchik http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/27/pleasures-of-hand-watering/comment-page-1/#comment-2921 bangchik Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:14:30 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6457#comment-2921 Watering has always been real pleasure to many people. Modern water saving technique in drip system is good, but the pleasure is gone.... The place i live, Putrajaya, water is in abundance. Happy watering, ~ bangchik Watering has always been real pleasure to many people. Modern water saving technique in drip system is good, but the pleasure is gone….

The place i live, Putrajaya, water is in abundance.

Happy watering,
~ bangchik

]]> By: Alice Joyce http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2009/06/27/pleasures-of-hand-watering/comment-page-1/#comment-2912 Alice Joyce Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:21:50 +0000 http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/?p=6457#comment-2912 Good morning LL, I also handwater, and fill buckets while waiting for hot water from the tap! I'm planning to write about the process of creating a hand-watered garden, and share some tips that have developed over the years of gardening in California. A graywater system would be great. Hopefully one day in the not too distant future, it will be an integral part when building or renovating. For now, it's incredible costly to install in an older home, as I understand it. Alice aka BayAreaTendrils Good morning LL,
I also handwater, and fill buckets while waiting for hot water from the tap! I’m planning to write about the process of creating a hand-watered garden, and share some tips that have developed over the years of gardening in California. A graywater system would be great. Hopefully one day in the not too distant future, it will be an integral part when building or renovating. For now, it’s incredible costly to install in an older home, as I understand it. Alice
aka BayAreaTendrils

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