Busted, or so they thought.

[SeaCat]

I had the Code Enforcement Police called on me today. My neighbors saw me watering my Orange Tree. (I just planted it last week so it needs to be watered daily.) Not a big deal excet we are in water conservation mode down here. We can only water on certain days and during certain times.

Well the Compliance Officer showed up and started his investigation. Before long he was shaking his head and congradulating me.

You see I took a 30 pound plastic bucket for Kitty Litter and drilled several small holes in the bottom of it along one side. Into this bucket goes the water I use to wash dishes. (I use a biodegradable Dish Soap.) All the water for this is caught in a large basin and poured into the bucket, from which it slowly trickles into the ground right at the base of the tree.

Another source for the water is our dehumidifier. Instead of dumping the water from this down the drain we dump it into the bucket.

The Code Compliance Officer informed me that he would have this put up on the county website. It's much better than letting that water just run down the drain.

Then again when I invited him into our place he couldn't believe it. You see here I come from we lived with the idea of a limited water supply. It became a way of life. I grw up with things like low volumn toilets and shower heads with cut offs. As soon as I moved into this place I changed everything over to use less water. (Why use more water than you need to?)

Cat

 

[Guest]

Which idiot neighbor called on you, Cat?

But well done, as usual.

 

[SeaCat]

Which idiot neighbor called on you, Cat?

But well done, as usual.

I'm not sure who called me in but it really doesn't matter.

As for what I'm doing, well I'm just using a bit of the brain power. You can get Biodegradable soaps, shampoos and other cleaners in camping stores. Hell you can often find them in Wal-Mart. (That's all we use, and because of this I have been thinking of a way to dump the water from the sinks and showers to a holding tank to water the lawn.)

I recycle as much as is possible down here. Not as much as you would expect. I was surprised that Southern Florida doesn't recycle to the extent that Cape Cod does.

I keep the windows open most of the year. I only close them and turn on the A/C when the temps get over 90 degrees or the humidity rises above 80%. (It's 74 degrees out right now and all of my neighbors have their windows closed and their A/C's going.)

Cat

 

[S-Des]

Which idiot neighbor called on you, Cat?

But well done, as usual.

I have to say, I'm not against neighbor's calling in violations (or apparent ones) in. My sister's entire neighborhood was on water restriction and everyone sat glumly watching their lawns die. Then one of the women in the neighborhood was seen blatantly watering hers. She was heard to say, "The hell if I'm going to let my lawn die..."

She was the Fire Commisioners wife. *shakes head*

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I have to say, I'm not against neighbor's calling in violations (or apparent ones) in. My sister's entire neighborhood was on water restriction and everyone sat glumly watching their lawns die. Then one of the women in the neighborhood was seen blatantly watering hers. She was heard to say, "The hell if I'm going to let my lawn die..."

She was the Fire Commisioners wife. *shakes head*

The problem is that the lawns don't die, they just go dormant. The next rain brings them right back, unless you have a herd of cattle roaming around on them.

 

[S-Des]

The problem is that the lawns don't die, they just go dormant. The next rain brings them right back, unless you have a herd of cattle roaming around on them.

I think she was so shallow, she was just worried that it wouldn't look nice enough. Some people deserve to have the authorities called on them. It's nice to see Cat is so thoughtful about how he does things. Makes me feel bad I don't do more.

 

[SeaCat]

LOLOLOLOL

My lawn right now is a barren field. It is brown and covered with Pine Needles. It will stay this way until we hit the rainy season again.

Once the rains start and the water conservation stops I will be planting grass. The grass seed I have picked up is drought resistant. (Without peeling my lazy butt out of my chair I would have to say it's Savanah but I can't be sure.) I do know it has deep roots and grows thick. I also know I won't cut it short, I'll let it grow to at least three inches.

Cat

 

[3113]

My sister's entire neighborhood was on water restriction and everyone sat glumly watching their lawns die. Then one of the women in the neighborhood was seen blatantly watering hers. She was heard to say, "The hell if I'm going to let my lawn die..."

She was the Fire Commisioners wife. *shakes head*

We still have folks with lawns, but more and more places are switching over to drought resistant plants--succulents and such--which need very little watering....and no mowing

 

[starrkers]

My back lawn looks pretty damn good, despite the water restrictions and major drought. I pipe the outflow from the laundry onto it.
The front lawn is a desert, but the kids can still play footy out the back without raising a dust cloud.

 

[S-Des]

I also know I won't cut it short, I'll let it grow to at least three inches.

Cat

Great, then someone will report you for not mowing your lawn and bringing down the property values.

 

[Vermilion]

can you get biodegradable laundry detergent?
x
V

 

[SeaCat]

can you get biodegradable laundry detergent?
x
V

As far as I know you can.

Cat

 

[starrkers]

Yeah, you can. In Oz you've just got to watch the potassium levels though - can play havoc with the natural balance.

 

[SeaCat]

Great, then someone will report you for not mowing your lawn and bringing down the property values.

LOLOL

My neighbor bought her place for $12,000. My other neighbor is trying to sell his place for $11,500. (I paid $1,000 for mine. )

Their yards are in the same sorry state mine is in, although they don't have trees.

I have replaced the flooring i most of my place, they have done shit. If they complain I will be laughing.

Cat

 

[SeaCat]

Okay it rained today. Not a whole lot but more than it has in about a month. I had just arrived home from work when the rains started.

I was smart, I set out more than a coupe of buckets under the eaves to catch the run off from the roof. I dumoped these buckets into a trash can when the rains stopped. It half filled the trash can so I was happy.

Between the rain and the water from the dishwashing as well as other washing I have almost filled the trash can. This should last a couple of days.

Cat