Annual Permaculture & Rainwater Harvesting Gathering – Saturday, October 4, 2014
Editor’s note: As Autumn approaches and we delight in an unusual bounty of rainfall, let us not forget that it is unusual, and there are strategies that can bring us great benefit during normal times. This is an excellent event and we encourage everyone to attend, learn, socialize, and enjoy one of the tastiest and most interesting potlucks of the year!
by Christian Meuli
Saturday, October 4, 2014
12:00 PM Site Tour Visiting culverts, raintanks, and woodchip berms this year
2:00 PM Potluck Great food every year!
3:00 PM Climate Scenarios Dr. Dave DuBois, New Mexico State Climatologist
4:00 PM One Minute Announcements
4:05 PM The Peregrine Falcon Tom Smiley
Dr. Dave DuBois is the New Mexico State Climatologist. His interests include applying tree ring dating to large climate cycles. Rather than “forecasting” what the climate will do in our future, he is trying to anticipate various climate scenarios and how they might play out in real time.
Tom Smylie shares with us for the third time his lifelong learning of raptors. He is the retired Assistant Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He played an integral role in the peregrine falcon’s recovery from near extinction in North America and continues to be actively involved with the Peregrine Fund.
This free gathering will include a site tour and discussion of culverts, raintanks, and woodchip berms. Please bring friends and children, your favorite dish to share and your finest sunhat. Please car pool and leave pets at home.
Take I-40 to exit #187 (25 miles east of Albuquerque and 8 miles west of Moriarty). At the end of the off-ramp, go south two blocks to the stoplight at the intersection with H #333 (Smith’s Grocery will be on your left). Go straight up the hill on Edgewood Road #7 and turn right in ½ mile onto Moriarty Road (now paved). Go ¼ mile to #24 and turn right into my driveway or go straight ahead down the hill and park on your left.
I look forward to seeing everyone and meeting new friends! If you need a map or a timely update, please e-mail me or call me at (505) 331-0245.
Christian Meuli
Grow Your Own: We hope…
by John Weckerle
As the keyboard clicks away just now, the gentle patter of rain reaches through the window to remind us of the season and what we hope the summer will bring. The garden currently holds court with tomatoes, snow peas (might be too late, but we’ve been surprised before), zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli, cucumbers, several varieties of green beans, and Big Jim chiles. We have a good bit of room left, and will be visiting Parker’s in Edgewood this weekend in the hope of filling out the beds. We’re definitely hoping they have the excellent New Mexico 6 chiles we grew last year – super mild, but flavorful and a good complement to the hot Chimayos they also had last year.
The mid-May two-night freeze apparently took the gardening population by surprise, and this is one of the few years your editor has not started plants by seed. We see this as a temporary setback; with the plastic for winter production now in hand, we’re looking forward to late-season bounty!
Grow Your Own: Rise, Fall, and Impending Rebirth of the Cover; Bat Guano Experiments, and More
by John Weckerle
Our sinister plot (lame pun intended) to lengthen the growing season ran into a bit of a snag on its first round. Not a snag in the sense that the wind, which began rising during the effort, did something horrible to the plastic, but a snag of the basic light-transmission variety. Our original plan was to test the waters by using standard, home improvement store grade plastic, with which we had had some success overwintering kale on a small scale. However, about halfway into the effort, Senior Common Sense Editor Lucy noted that the plastic was casting about as much shadow as she was. After a brief discussion, Senior Materials Science Correspondent Wilson advised that a higher-transmission plastic, perhaps something in the 92% range with infrared retention properties, a 4-year ultraviolet warranty, and anti-condensate features would be more effective. The wind voiced its agreement, and we removed the offending product and stowed it for more productive uses (small scale overwintering, wrapping beetle-infested tree trunks, and so on). From there, we proceeded indoors to order the new plastic from Farmtek – a deluxe, 28 x 40 piece of greenhouse sheeting that should provide us with full cover for Bed 5 and some extra material for smaller covers. We also ordered some snap clamps from Amazon, and we regret to inform that we apparently got the last ones eligible for Prime shipping. Amazon still has them and Farmtek also carries similar products. We got a feel for these during the prior experiment; they’re easier to put on than to take off, but seem as if they’ll do the trick just fine. Let’s hope for less-than-hurricane strength surface winds Saturday or Sunday.
As our readers well know, we start getting antsy after the first of the year, and we do still have the indoor seed starting setup. We’ve put this to good use in testing seed to see if it is still viable, and so far everything but the chives has come up (although the kale’s not doing well). The gold star goes to the lone string bean (Blue Lake, a bush variety), which has yielded its first nibble to the testing authorities and been found far from wanting. Hats off to the old Martian Giant tomato seeds; we had little hope that these would come up, but having put four seeds into the pot, we ended up murdering three plants so that the fourth would survive. Similar results were seen with the two Mortgage Lifter pots, and here is where the aerobatic mammal droppings come into play.
The two Mortgage Lifter pots were planted one week apart, with the later planting supplemented by Happy Frog bat quano fertilizer, a purported source of phosphorus. We have long suspected that our small (but tasty and plentiful) tomatoes have been, in part, an issue of less-than-optimal phosphorus availability. At this time, the two plants are of equal height, with the earlier-planted one having open flowers and the latter-planted one having plenty of flower buds. These will be grown in pots; one will continue to have phosphorus added at subsequent repottings and the other will not. Other than the week’s difference in planting date, we’ll treat them the same, and see if there is a difference in fruit size down the line.
For the garden, we’ll be working some phosphorus into the soil for the tomatoes, and probably the other nightshades (peppers, eggplants, etc.). Also, the composter continues to house a substantial community of earthworms, and some of those will eventually find their way into the garden as well. We’re also considering a shading strategy for the hotter parts of the summer, as this may also have contributed to last year’s fruiting sizes; we got some wonderfully large Pink Brandywines before the heat waves last year, and some wonderfully tasty but much smaller ones afterward, notwithstanding adjustments to the watering schedule to accommodate the higher temperatures.
Bed 4 has been decommissioned, with the intent of providing hummingbird, bee, and butterfly forage as well as forage for the “beneficial predator” insects we’d like to see around the grounds in general. Our attempts to breed a ladybug big enough to carry marauding deer and squirrels safely outside the fenced area have thus far been unproductive. Having now realized that tarragon is more aggressive than we might have liked, we expect that Bed 6 will likely undergo a facelift and re-planning this Spring. As for Beds 1-3, if time permits we’ll get them back into the mix this year. We’re thinking of asparagus for one of them, and the prospect of oddly colored potatoes continues to intrigue us.
Get Ready for Fire Season!
From the East Mountain Fire Protection Association
On March 1, 2014 the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association (EMIFPA) will hold an all day, multi-topic “Fire in the East Mountains – Are We Ready” training session at the McGrane Safety Center in Tijeras. Representatives from local fire management agencies will deliver presentations and talk individually with attendees to help residents prepare for fire season. The day will start at 10 am and will wrap up approximately 4 pm. Lunch will be provided but attendees are asked to bring water to drink. This program is strictly limited to 46 attendees on a first come-first serve basis. The event is filling up quickly, so make sure you RSVP soon to Sue Hansen-Putze at Sue.Hansen@nm.nacdnet.net or on the EMIFPA web site, www.emifpa.org.
EMIFPA will be holding a silent auction in conjunction with the March 1 training session. EMIFPA is a non-profit organization supported largely by local fundraising. Bring your wallets and get some deals while helping to support wildfire safety in our community. If you have items that you would consider a worthy contribution to the effort, please contact Deb at albuturkey@hotmail.com to make arrangements regarding your item(s).
National Wildfire Awareness Week is March 30th– April 5th
Bernalillo County Green Waste Days April 5-19th
Weather Permitting, Sandia Ranger District Continuing Prescribed Burning Program Tuesday, February 25, 2014
by Karen Takai, Sandia Ranger District
Tijeras NM, February 24, 2014: The Sandia Ranger District will be continuing with the Hondo prescribed burn program, February 25, 2014 weather permitting. The East Mountain indices are at Moderate in the project area. What that means is that area is still safe for a prescribed burn project. We are carefully watching the weather for tomorrow and will notify you when and if it does happen. Please note the fires you are hearing about are in the Bosque area are one to two indices higher than ours. (Fire Danger Ratings)
There are 10 acres targeted for Tuesday. Prior to ignition, fire managers consider many factors including: fuel moisture levels, current and projected weather forecasts, fire personnel resources available, and air quality. All these factors need to be in alignment in order to carry out a successful and safe prescribed burn treatment.
This project is a continuation of a three year fuels reduction program in on the Sandia Ranger District. Smoke will be visible from I-40, Hwy.14 North, Frost Rd and the surrounding communities of Cedar Crest and Tijeras. The project is located west of Cedar Crest.
Fire managers make every effort to minimize smoke impacts to the communities while continuing to address the critical need to reduce the risk of severe wildfires around communities. Tactics are used to keep smoke impacts as minimal as possible including canceling approved burns when conditions aren’t favorable, finding alternative uses for the debris in slash piles, timing daytime ignitions to allow the majority of smoke time to disperse prior to settling overnight. Another strategy is to burn larger sections at a time when conditions are favorable to reduce the overall number of days smoke is in the area. All prescribed burning is coordinated with NM Air Quality Bureau.
Smoke from prescribed fires is considerably less and of a shorter duration than smoke of wildfires which can burn for weeks and even months at a time. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are urged to stay indoors with windows and doors closed when possible.
We welcome questions and if there are concerns join me at the district to review our burn program on the district.
For additional information contact Sandia Ranger District 505-281-3304
Sponge and A-Frame Workshop, Saturday, March 22, 2014
by Christian Meuli
The sponge is a useful rainwater harvesting technique that needs little maintenance. A sponge is a hole dug into the ground and filled with moisture-holding household waste. I find sponges to be invaluable in establishing tree saplings on windy, dry sites with poor soil and in reinvigorating old trees.
Sponges made of carbon materials passively hold winter snows and summer rains for months afterward, storing moisture efficiently in the soil and recycling carbon back into our depleted desert soil. Sponges retain moisture safely out of the harsh sun and drying wind right next to growing roots. Sponges are a simple and convenient way to very-locally recycle newspapers, cardboard, magazines, phone books, junk mail, confidential papers, yard cuttings, clothes, etc.
First we will visit a variety of mature sponges and their effects on nearby plants. Next we will dig and install several sponges with the carbon material that each attendee will bring with them. We’ll use an A-frame to identify the contour and to design how to harvest the rainwater most efficiently, dig and fill the sponge, and mulch it to look as natural as possible.
Then we’ll form groups of three to make state of the art A-frames that are durable, light-weight and foldable. I aspire for these groups to share an A-frame together, using them in varied conditions over the seasons and sharing outcomes with each other. I’ll give everyone marking flags so you can immediately begin implementing sponges on your own site!
Schedule:
Saturday, March 22, 2014
9AM – 1PM at La Resolana, Edgewood
9 AM Site tour of successful sponges and a sponge ladder
10 AM Make several sponges: identify contour, dig hole and berm the
downhill side, fill with carbon waste, step down the materials,
mulch, armor the downhill berm, water(?), extend arms of berms,
and take pictures
11 AM- 1 PM Make A-frames (the rainbarn has a woodstove)(I have tools and materials
Cost:
$25 with scholarships available. Limited to 18 people. Please e-mail me your contact information including a current e-mail and phone number. Participants will bring a large bag of sponge material, gloves, and a shovel.
I cancelled the sponge workshop last fall due to a 14” snow. I hope each of you that had signed up previously will be able to attend this next workshop. I plan on having a woodchip berm and A-frame workshop before the summer rains begin.
I look forward to sharing this simple rainwater harvesting technique that is extremely beneficial,
Christian Meuli
Adios, et al…
by John Weckerle
We have begun a little fall cleaning, and have made the first of some changes. We’ve eliminated the “Springergate” category, and have at last thrown in the towel and renamed our “West Mountains” category to “East Mountains.” Nobody seemed particularly enthused about the West Mountains concept, although we’re keeping references to it elsewhere intact.
Annual Permaculture Gathering At La Resolana In Edgewood – Saturday, October 5
Editor’s Note: The Annual Permaculture Gathering is a personal favorite of ours, and we strongly recommend it. There will be plenty to learn, and the potluck always provides a delightful assortment of creative dishes.
by Christian Meuli
12:00 PM Site Tour
2:00 PM Potluck
3:00 PM “Trees are Killing our Forests” — George Duda
4:00 PM One Minute Announcements
4:05 PM “I Started with Nothing but a Dream” — Roger Alink
George retired from the New Mexico State Forestry where he served as our Urban Forester. He continues to actively volunteer throughout New Mexico and will join us on the site tour at noon to identify the differences between drought stress and disease in pinon and juniper trees. He will present his video “Trees Are Killing Our Forests!” before entertaining questions.
Roger is Founder and Director of Wildlife West Nature Park, an un-releasable native animal zoo in Edgewood. He taught for ten years at my alma mater, Valley HS, before beginning WLW in 1992 “because I didn’t know any better.” He is a passionate teacher of young adults and a long-practicing rainwater harvester. WLW also holds a number of musical and other community events.
This free permaculture gathering will include a site tour of evolving passive rainwater harvesting practices (including culverts) and George will show us how he reads the effects of drought on trees while identifying pests and diseases.
Please bring friends and children, your favorite dish to share and your finest sunhat. Please car pool and leave pets at home.
Take I-40 to Exit #187 (25 miles east of Albuquerque and 8 miles west of Moriarty). At the end of the off-ramp, go south two blocks to the stoplight at the intersection with H #333 (Smith’s Grocery will be on your left and Walgreens’s on your right). Go straight through the intersection, up the hill on Edgewood
H #7 and turn right in ½ mile onto Moriarty Road (now paved!). Go ¼ mile to #24 and turn right into my driveway or go straight ahead down the hill and park on your left.
I look forward to seeing everyone and meeting new people! If you need a map or a timely update, please call me at (505) 281-4871.
Christian Meuli
County Homeowners to Receive Discounts on Flood Insurance Premiums: Premiums Will Be Discounted 5 to 10 Percent
Editor’s Note: In the midst of daily red flag fire danger warnings, it may be hard not to chuckle at this news, but this is good news for many and obviously took a great deal of work.
by Catherine Lopez, Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has upgraded Bernalillo County’s Community Rating System (CRS) classification. As a result, flood insurance policy holders in Bernalillo County will receive a discount on their insurance premiums.
The CRS rating improved because the county implemented additional floodplain management programs that exceed FEMA requirements.
“This upgrade in our CRS rating is a reflection of the county’s diligent efforts to help people lower flood insurance costs, as Bernalillo County continues to address the impact of how much people pay for flood insurance,” says Commissioner Art De La Cruz. “The savings will benefit all county residents, who are paying the floodplain premium, whether they live in the city or the unincorporated area.”
The county implemented new programs to receive the upgraded rating including making flood risk information more easily available to the public, implementing an annual outreach program to lenders, real estate agents and surveyors, and the implementation of stricter floodplain development standards.
These additional programs earned Bernalillo County a class 8 rating. All communities start out with a class 10 rating and as they improve their floodplain management programs, they can raise their class rating. A class 1 rating is the highest possible rating. The county’s new rating became effective on May 1.
The benefit of a class 8 rating is a discount for flood insurance policy holders. Flood insurance policy holders that are located within a flood zone will receive a 10 percent discount on their insurance premiums. Flood insurance policy holders that are not within a flood zone will receive a 5 percent discount. The reductions will automatically be applied to all new policies and to existing policies at their time of renewal.
This will result in an average annual savings of $88 per policy for properties within the flood zone and $45 per policy for properties outside the flood zone. Total annual savings for residents in the unincorporated area of the county is projected to be about $68,000.
The community rating system is a voluntary incentive program that’s part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The National Flood Insurance Program recognizes and encourages communities to implement floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. Bernalillo County has participated in the NFIP since 1983.
Residents can contact Bernalillo County floodplain administrator Don Briggs at 505-848-1511 for more information.
And Never The Twain Shall Meet
by John Weckerle
We now turn the baleful eye of New Mexico Central* to none other than the Mountain View Telegraph, the progenitors of lies, deceit, disease, and filth.** In their recent article “Organization lauds 1983 move to N.M.,” the Telegraph opens: “The American Society of Radiologic Technologists threw a grand opening and anniversary party last Friday to unveil its greatly expanded and renovated East MountainsTM © headquarters and to celebrate 30 years in the Land of Enchantment.” The article then goes on to describe the location as “…just west of Carnuel on Old Route 66.”
WHAT???
Ignoring the split infinitive in the first sentence, let us begin with the concept of “East Mountains.”TM © We at New Mexico Central have always taken issue with this moniker, given that the entire “East Mountain”TM © area is, in fact, wholly within the western half of the state. The term is essentially a geoegocentrism propagated by the schweinhunde in Albuquerque.*** However, since most of this area seems perfectly fine with accepting Albuquerque’s self-referential definition of the area to its east as the “East Mountains,”TM © we consider it worthwhile to examine the Telegraph’s description of this organization’s headquarters. The web site for the American Society of Radiologic Technicians (ASRT) lists its address as “15000 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123-3909.” We performed the inevitable Google Maps search, of course, and found that a line drawn north-south intersects Albuquerque – well, to the north and the south.
There are few who would argue, we think, that any location that is not entirely east of Albuquerque is situated within the East Moutnains.TM ©
Armed with this information, we sought to consult with the appropriate authority on geographic descriptors within New Mexico to put the last nail into the lid of this one. After a protracted**** search, we were surprised to find out that…
We’re it.
That’s right: New Mexico Central is now the only Recognized Authority on the Application of Regional Descriptions in New Mexico, TM © and the first thing we’re doing is copyrighting/trademarking “East Mountain,” TM © and associated plurals, abbreviations and colloquialisms. Communities, businesses, and individuals who wish to describe themselves as being within the East MountainsTM © must contact us and request an application. Following the payment of the fee (which we will determine based on a variety of factors, including the balance in the community’s bank account), Senior Geographic Descriptor Correspondent Wilson will conduct an analysis and render an opinion. As should be expected, the application fee is non-refundable.
* We’re like Sauron. Only worse.
**Just kidding, Telegraph folks. We know you try to do (and generally succeed in doing) a good job at reporting in an environment in which it is increasingly difficult to practice anything that resembles journalism. This does not waive a reasonable expectation of accuracy, though; while we understand that the Telegraph has to do what they can to expand readership, expanding geography is another thing.
*** Just kidding, Albuquerque. We love ya. We’d love ya more if you’d bring in an Ethiopian restaurant, though. No kidding; that is some really great food. Plus, we’d like our own commuter rail system. Thank you.
**** As far as you know.
Reinforcing Sandia Ranger District Mountain Closure
by Karen Takai, Sandia Ranger District
REMINDER: THE SANDIA RANGER DISTRICT IS CLOSED TO HIKING, BIKING, DRIVING, HORSEBACK RIDING, PICNICKING
The La Luz Trail is closed!
The Crest Highway from the forest boundary is closed!
Las Huertas Canyon Hwy 165 is closed!
All Sandia District lands from Placitas to Oak Flats and trails within that area are closed north and south of I-40 and including the east and west sides of the mountain.
The City Open Space Trail System (IN Albuquerque) Foothills Trail 365 including some district lands on that trail system are the only trail systems open on the west side of the mountains.
- The Foothill Trail No 365 parallels the western foothills of the Sandia’s. It is open south of the Tram to Copper (13 miles). Any trails off this trail system going East off of Trail 365 ARE CLOSED
- The Tram, High Finance Restaurant and associated observation deck are open.All trails off of the deck are closed.
- The Sandia Ranger District Administrative Offices and associated Interpretive Archaeological Site on South 337 in Tijeras are open.
We would like to thank everyone who has followed the fire closure restrictions that are in place. It is due to your vigilance and cooperation that we able to protect this area. If you think about it, this is a very small sacrifice for all of us, to abide by the rules and try to protect this mountain. We want to see it standing at the end of this fire season and 100 years from now. Thank you again!
For additional information contact the Sandia Ranger District
505-281-3304
Interesting Questions That Come Up During Closure
Q – Why can’t I go into the forest? I am not going to start a fire.
A- We are concerned for anyone entering the forest when conditions are so extreme and volatile. We understand that 99% of our visitors plan to be safe but fact is 50% of our fires start from human cause. If we can lower the exposure from human caused starts then we can cut fire starts by %50. The only other start would be from lightning and we work with our patrols to identify, respond and monitor the area of lightning strikes that happen during the storms.
In addition, if a fire started while you were hiking in the area, with conditions like we have, you could not outrun the flames. We would not be able rescue you. Fires in this extreme condition are explosive and ignite a football field size area in a minute. Fire behavior is extreme.
Q – My house abuts the National Forest. Can I hike out of my property into the forest?
A – No sorry, we have 95 miles of residents that abut the forest. If we allow one person to enter we would have to allow the rest of the homeowners along the 95 miles to enter and then we would have to allow the general public to enter to be fair to everyone. That would defeat the reason for a closure and that is to keep visitors out of a very dangerous area and stop human caused fires.
Q – How long will this closure last?
A – We will be in closure till we get enough rain to heavily blanket all the Sandia and Manzanita Mountains.
Q – What is the fine for breaking the forest closure?
A – Depending on the type of closure CFR Rule broken: hiking, driving , resource damage etc. in a closed area the ticket can go anywhere from $125.00 to $5,000.00.
BernCo Urges Simple Precautions to Prevent West Nile Virus – Peak Mosquito Season Is Late June Through September
by Andrew Lenderman, Bernalillo County Public Information Office
Bernalillo County – Summer is here and so are the mosquitoes, which means common sense precautions are recommended to prevent the spread of West Nile virus.
The peak mosquito season in this region starts now and runs through September, according to Bernalillo County’s Office of Health and Social Services.
West Nile virus, carried by infected mosquitoes, can cause disease in people, birds, horses and other animals. Most cases appear during August and September, state officials report.
Bernalillo County residents can report standing or stagnant water or request mosquito spraying for their neighborhood by calling 311 for response from the City of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Vector Control Program.
Please call Bernalillo County’s Office of Health and Social Services at 505.314.0310 or download this West Nile virus flier for more information.
Detailed information about this issue can be accessed via the New Mexico Department of Health here.
Additional information from the Albuquerque Urban Biology Division can be viewed here.
The state Department of Health has also recommended the following precautions to prevent the spread of West Nile virus:
To protect against West Nile:
- Use insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing when outdoors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 for use on skin, and permethrin for use on clothing. Always follow label directions when using insect repellents.
- When weather permits, wear protective clothing such as loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks.
- The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for mosquitoes. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing or avoid outdoor activities during these times.
- Eliminate water-holding containers where mosquitoes lay their eggs, such as empty buckets, flower pots and old tires. Regularly change the water in birdbaths, wading pools and pet water bowls. Make sure rain barrels are tightly screened.
- Keep windows and doors closed if not screened. When leaving your home’s doors or windows open, make sure they have screens that fit tightly and have no holes.
Bernalillo County to Close East Mountain Open Space Areas Due to High Fire Danger
by Larry Gallegos, Bernalillo County Public Information Department
Bernalillo County- All of Bernalillo County’s East Mountain open space properties will be closed due to the high fire danger in those areas starting Monday, June 10, at 8 a.m.
Carlito Springs, Ojito de San Antonio, Sandia Knolls, Sedillo Ridge and Sabino Canyon Open Space Properties will be closed until further notice.
“The importance of the closure of the county open spaces in the East Mountains is that it reduces the likelihood of a human-caused fire,” says Bernalillo County Fire Marshal Chris Gober. “It also keeps residents from being trapped on the mountain in case a fire does start.”
Because of the countywide drought conditions, the Bernalillo County Fire Department will go before the Board of County Commissioners next Tuesday, June 11, to ask for a resolution to impose restrictions on fireworks outside the city limits in the unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County.
Those restrictions would ban the sale and use of missile-type rockets, helicopters, aerial spinners, stick-type rockets and ground audible devices. The restrictions would limit the use of ground and hand-held sparkling and smoke devices to areas that are paved or barren or that have a readily accessible source of water for use by the homeowner or general public. There would also be a ban on the use of all fireworks in the bosque and other wildland areas of unincorporated Bernalillo County.
Residents are reminded that open burning restrictions have been in place countywide since May 14.
EMIFPA Fire Info – June 10: forest closure
Editor’s note: EMIFPA is the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association. For more information, visit the organization’s web site or follow them on Facebook or Twitter (@EMIFPA_NM).
by John Helmich, EMIFPA Community Education Outreach Coordinator
EM Residents,
Reminder: the Sandia and Mountainair Districts of the Cibola National Forest are closed as of 8 am today, Monday June 10. More information regarding these closures is available here.
The Fire Danger Indices rating was raised from “very high” to “extreme” today. This means: “Fires start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious. Development into high intensity burning will usually be faster and occur from smaller fires than in the very high fire danger class. Every fire start has the potential to become large. Expect extreme, erractic behavior. NO OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN AREAS WITH EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. Fire restrictions are generally in effect.”
Excellent information concerning heat stroke issues and concerns can be sent to you from Ken Oswald, Plateau Telecom. His email contact is keno@plateautel.com. Request the “Safety Alert – Heat Wave.”
Gwow Youw Own, You Wascaws!
by John Weckerle
Having enhanced Bed 5’s ability to deter invasion from above, about a week and a half ago we found ourselves suddenly plagued with visitors from below…
Wabbits. And squiwwews.
We were faced with a nightmare of Fuddian proportions: for the first time, wildlife was digging under the side of the bed, at a point where the bed simply rests on the ground rather than extending beneath the land surface. Casual efforts to halt the incursion – placing rabbit fencing and debris in the way – had no effect, so we dug down to about a foot, set chicken wire and some pieces of 2 x 12 lumber in the trench, and extended chicken wire another 3 feet out along the ground. We then buried the chicken wire under several inches of dirt. Of course, the squirrels, at least, just burrowed in at another spot. In the end, we stapled chicken wire (or, in a couple of places, poultry fencing) to the bed at ground level, and spread it across the surface, extending a barrier three feet across the ground in all directions. We covered this with wood mulch, and this seems to have done the trick as there have been no additional excavations.
Bed 5, inside and out.
The damage was, in some cases, substantial. We think the kale and broccoli will recover, but the future of the Japanese eggplant, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are uncertain. Fortunately for us, the tomatoes, squashes, and peppers (all of them) came through relatively unscathed.
To complete the summer planting, we’ve added eggplant, some more yellow squash and zucchini, mustard greens, dill, and cilantro. Every plant has its own adjustable drip emitter except the string beans, for which we used dripline. The beans have just begun popping up from under the mulch; at last count, five of the twenty positions had a plant above ground. There are also already some tiny fruits on the green bell and hot chile peppers. With luck, we can now leave planting and protection efforts behind us, and look forward to the start of the harvest!