There are only three left of his hardcover book. This book was copyrighted in 2008. Now we know where Palin got her 'fish comments' that she made in July 2009.
I like what he has to say. You know there is something average homeowners in Texas can do to reverse the 'impression' drought is making on that state.
Ever hear of "Drip Trickle Irrigation?" It is a form of irrigation that uses 'minimal' amount of water to irrigate crops. But, homeowners can reclaim their lawns and start to return biotic content to the parched land by applying that slowly and methodically.
Article from Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service:
Let me explain slightly more.
The land in Texas is far too, too parched to launch into lawn sprinkler or massive irrigation projects. It won't accomplish anything sustainable. But, if homeowners, as the sun is going down, puts drip trickle 'hoses' across their lawns, even if they are only dirt right now, and allows the soil to get moist, not muddy, but wet looking; the land will start to turn around. It won't be difficult.
To put these techiques to work during daylight hours will be self defeating. The water will dry up and never serve any good purpose during a hot sunny day on parched land.
Then an Australian method is really, really interesting. The Aussies have profound drought and are experts at this , but, they place 'tarps' over ground at night. If there is enough of a temperature drop to develop a 'dew' from whatever moisture might be in the air, they pick up the tarps in the morning before the sun comes up to secure the water gathered there overnight.
The image to the left is how the hoses are used to 'water' crops in a garden.
Now the 'idea' of using tarps over the ground can actually serve two purposes. To gather moisture in the air that might be there, but, also to protect the ground 'newly' watered with the irrigation method that just dampened it. The tarps will keep the ground from 'giving up' its acquired moisture from the evening before and will be ready to add more moisture to it the next evening.
It doesn't matter at this point if the ground is covered with a tarp during the day to create a shadow over it as there isn't anything growing yet. Start to get this picture. The soil is starting to build up moisture that will eventually 'saturate' it enough to allow seeds to be planted. There has to be a loose and good soil bed for the seeds. Seeds will germinate in the dark, so to preserve their integrity under a tarp until they push through the soil is just fine. It will protect them until they are ready to develop small roots and photosynthesis. It is fairly delicate work, it isn't as though one can simply saturate the ground and expect this to work, it might not. More than likely saturation will wash away valuable nutrients that might still be there for the seedlings.
Initially, a vigorous grass without necessarily a decorative quality, such as 'switchgrass' might be the best start. It is fairly hardy and won't succumb to daytime sun even if it is strong. The tricky part is nurturing the grass once it is sprouting to continue to thrive. Adding water to dampen the soil and enough shade, even by tarp, to prevent it from drying up. What will eventually occur is a 'crop like' grass lawn that will provide shade to its own roots. Once that is in place the more decorative grasses can be added in between the Prairie Grass while it is then trimmed back slowly to prevent it from going to seed but yet preserving the moisture in the ground.
The picture to the right is a 'drip trickle ring' for trees. Trees are vital to the re-establishment of 'water vapor' in the air. Their root systems take ground water and move it up the trunk of the tree to the leaves. There is evapotranspiration that occurs at the leaves in order to move more water up the trunk of the tree along with more nutrients. The more trees that can be 'estalished' the better. It is the water vapor that will reverse the trend of the drought.
Gardeners should love this stuff. It is a real challenge and if done correctly and with dedication there will be neighborhoods and even large areas depending on the resident that will see moisture back in the soil. That is not the best part though.
Even if the biotic content of the land returns to 'neighborhood' type setting, such as one sees in Bakersfield, California, that will start to create and nurture its own 'moisture content' in the air. As that occurs it will become easier and easier to bring back biotic content in the surrounding areas of the communities, then onto ranges and then before everyone knows it there will be prairie rather than parched land. That dynamic sometimes takes a season or so, but, with vigilance it is possible. The important aspect to fighting drought is to MAINTAIN the biotic content of the land without question. Vigilance and dedication to the land as a 'commodity' no different than cattle is the only way to stop this emergency, reverse its effects and start to keep 'water vapor' in the region of Texas so good things can happen.
Texas can do this. If Jim Hightower is worried about it and uses resources he can trust to achieve insight, I know Texas can do this. They will be doing it for themselves, the beauty of their state, their local economy and the well being of the nation and its economy. Humans can't live without water and a biotic content that drives that capacity is the only way anyone should consider to be important.
Good luck.
It doesn't matter at this point if the ground is covered with a tarp during the day to create a shadow over it as there isn't anything growing yet. Start to get this picture. The soil is starting to build up moisture that will eventually 'saturate' it enough to allow seeds to be planted. There has to be a loose and good soil bed for the seeds. Seeds will germinate in the dark, so to preserve their integrity under a tarp until they push through the soil is just fine. It will protect them until they are ready to develop small roots and photosynthesis. It is fairly delicate work, it isn't as though one can simply saturate the ground and expect this to work, it might not. More than likely saturation will wash away valuable nutrients that might still be there for the seedlings.
Initially, a vigorous grass without necessarily a decorative quality, such as 'switchgrass' might be the best start. It is fairly hardy and won't succumb to daytime sun even if it is strong. The tricky part is nurturing the grass once it is sprouting to continue to thrive. Adding water to dampen the soil and enough shade, even by tarp, to prevent it from drying up. What will eventually occur is a 'crop like' grass lawn that will provide shade to its own roots. Once that is in place the more decorative grasses can be added in between the Prairie Grass while it is then trimmed back slowly to prevent it from going to seed but yet preserving the moisture in the ground.
Gardeners should love this stuff. It is a real challenge and if done correctly and with dedication there will be neighborhoods and even large areas depending on the resident that will see moisture back in the soil. That is not the best part though.
Even if the biotic content of the land returns to 'neighborhood' type setting, such as one sees in Bakersfield, California, that will start to create and nurture its own 'moisture content' in the air. As that occurs it will become easier and easier to bring back biotic content in the surrounding areas of the communities, then onto ranges and then before everyone knows it there will be prairie rather than parched land. That dynamic sometimes takes a season or so, but, with vigilance it is possible. The important aspect to fighting drought is to MAINTAIN the biotic content of the land without question. Vigilance and dedication to the land as a 'commodity' no different than cattle is the only way to stop this emergency, reverse its effects and start to keep 'water vapor' in the region of Texas so good things can happen.
Texas can do this. If Jim Hightower is worried about it and uses resources he can trust to achieve insight, I know Texas can do this. They will be doing it for themselves, the beauty of their state, their local economy and the well being of the nation and its economy. Humans can't live without water and a biotic content that drives that capacity is the only way anyone should consider to be important.
Good luck.
