Liz Writes Life
October 30, 2019
Yep, it is a dry fall. The soil in my garden is so hard that
I haven’t gotten it cleaned-up. At least that is my excuse. I did get started a
month ago, but got busy doing other stuff. I’ve shut-off the water to the
garden and outside area. Frosts have pretty much killed the plants especially
the annual flowers and vegetables. Fluffy asparagus tops are finally turning
yellow and the autumn leaves throughout the valley have been gorgeous.
I have a bush that is supposed to turn red in the fall, but for
years its leaves only turned ugly dark burgundy. It is located at the entrance
of the garden and I’ve had great expectations. So, I thought about getting rid
of it, but first contemplated what it might need to turn red. Because it was
planted before I brought in several dump truck loads of manure 16 years ago (or
so) -- it is actually just growing in some dirt between rocks.
Maybe it needed
more consistent irrigating? So, at least twice a week I watered it really well
throughout the summer. Guess water was the magic potion, cuz it has been
gorgeous red this year. Yay!
I am worried about the lack of irrigation for some
perennials, especially when we had some really warm days. The rhubarb looks
quite sad. I don’t usually harvest it in the fall, but I did and that may have
been a mistake. Because we are going into colder temps, I certainly don’t want
to perk it up, cuz it needs to go dormant. So, in more contemplation, I decided
it is time to put a big bunch of steer manure on each of them and stop
fretting.
Protect Our Water
Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for Dist. 5., will be the
speaker at the Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting this Thursday, Oct. 31,
2019 (Halloween) at the Fort Jones Community Center in Fort Jones. Time is 7
p.m. A big thanks goes to Mike and Pauline Cramer, who set-up the room and get
the coffee made. Bring a dessert to share or maybe we can trade Halloween
candy!
Veterans Parade
Everything is set for the 19th Veterans Parade in
Etna this Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Theo and Dave Johnson will be leading the
parade on horseback carrying the colors. Various groups and individuals have
said they will be participating. The Siskiyou Mountain Men just called to
enter. Hopefully, we will still have fire engines that haven’t been sent to
fires south of us.
Joe Hudson has dusted-off his Army uniform and can still fit
in it. Quite a feat, because he is 88 years young! He will proudly wear it,
while serving as grand marshal. Veterans and other supporters of our military
are encouraged to participate – just call me by Thursday, Oct. 31 so I can get
you in the line-up. My number is 530-467-3515.
There are several activities planned for downtown Etna during
the parade. The Sutter, Whipple and Farrington families will be barbecuing
hotdogs on Main Street. The dogs are free to veterans. Members of the Native
Daughters of the Golden West will open the Museum and there will be uniforms
and information on soldiers from Scott Valley. It is quite interesting and
includes women who served in the military. There will also be a book sale at
the Etna Library.
U.S. Census
Denise Whitman is organizing workers for the 2020 U.S. Census
that will take place early next year and will have a recruiting table set-up
during the parade. Census-taking is a temporary job lasting about four to eight
weeks and begins in April 2020. Workers must pass a background check and
training. Pay is $16.50 an hour. Not bad for a part-time job in our area.
Fires and electricity
It is so sad. Fires are causing such havoc throughout
California. The high winds are natural. Dry falls have been typical throughout
my life, here in California, and the outrageously silly idea that the
environment will be pristine, if man leaves it alone, is the major problem.
The environment must be managed, especially near human
interface. Trees are hugely over-crowded and must be thinned. Brush must be
removed and then constantly controlled. The power companies must have the
ability to do both, which they have been denied – by government -- for years.
We are lucky to be on a different grid than PG&E. Ray
Haupt told me he did get a phone call from a constituent down at Somes Bar, who
had his power shut-off earlier this month and may be out of electricity as you
read this, so Siskiyou Co. has been affected by the power shut-offs.
Remember, it is the state legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom
who signed the bill with a variety of policies that mandate the utility
companies to shut-off power. Yes, utility companies likely have some blame if
their equipment and infrastructure is not impeccable.
Lots of finger-pointing is going on. The vast majority of
people don’t like their power shut-off. They also really don’t like wildfires
destroying their homes and businesses. So, what is the solution? Thinning and
harvesting lots and lots of trees. And not just removing, but clearing huge
swaths of brush. Creating open space boundaries around homes, towns and cities
is the first monumental solution. This will also create an important industry
and economy. Get moving California. I am likely preaching to the choir, who
already believes. Yep, the rest of society needs to change its mindset. Trees
should not be sacred.
Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm
news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and
lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at:
lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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