Fire Safe Gardening » admin

A crop of mixed lettuce and spinach

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:30:46 +0000

I sowed a crop of mixed greens and spinach in my new raised bed back at the beginning of December. The raised bed includes uprights at each corner to help support a floating row cover, so important in winter. The row cover keeps the tender seedlings protected from drying winds and frost and keeps the gold crown sparrows from picking. I set out onions in the next bed over. They won’t need any special protection, only the long deep rains of winter to build strong roots and thick bulbs.

Azaleas blooms next to this edible garden at the Wichita Garden Show.

Frost Fighting Facts

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:06:08 +0000

Cold nights can be hard on your tender plants, but there are ways to protect them from freezing that are easy to do.

Plant are damaged when cold temps freeze the water in the stem and leaf cells. The cells swell as they freeze then burst. Holding the air temperature around the plant from dropping to 32F can save them from frost.

The easiest way is by covering. Covering the plant with a drop cloth or shade cloth will create a static airspace that will stay slightly warmer than the outside air. The cover can be porous such as floating row cover or shade cloth or solid such as a old bedsheet. The cover should be held away from the foliage by propping it up with stakes.

Spun row covers on frames protect young crops from harsh weather

A quick fix for larger plants such as citrus or beds of annuals is to drape large, old fashioned holiday lights over and through the plant. The lights give off enough heat to keep the frost at bay.

Cold air settled in low spots and in confined spaces where the air is still. Large citrus growers keep frost from damaging crops by using large propeller fans in the orchards. A patio can be protected to some extent by using am oscillating pedestal fan set up to keep the air moving all night.

Combined with other protection methods, you can protect your plants, at least temporarily from damaging frosts.

Fine Furniture for Fire Safe entertaining

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:23:04 +0000

The sustainable, fully recyclable, ultra modern chic, fire-safe tables and benches by Orange 22.

Save 10% with Savings Code BOT_AF_DE when you click on the photo

Epigram is the new series with quotes by Milton Glaser with proceeds benefitting the International Rescue Commitee

Botanist: sustainable, fire-safe outdoor living

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:48:14 +0000

Ultra modern Chic Botanist series by Orange 22 Design Lab, Click on photo for link

Botanist benches and tables are fully recyclable and fire resistant

save 10%with Offer Code BOT_AF_DE

Incident summary 2/28

admin — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:40:02 +0000

Check out the New Page, Incident Summaries 2009 to see the latest info on incidents in the Big Sur response zone!