[Scpg] Fire control, green orchard belts

[Jack Ruskey]

It is very encouraging to read that there are so many citizens who are aware
of the crisis and who are willing to address the realities of our situation.
The are no silver bullets to cure the issues of public safety by having an
adequate supply of water for all of the community's foreseeable needs.

Friday there is going to be a show and tell session for the committee of the
GWD who are doing the preliminary review of the expansion plans of UCSB. The
meeting starts at 10 am at the offices of the GWD and then will proceed to
the campus for a guided tour and the answering of questions as to the
supplying of water per the development plans of the University.

Jack Ruskey

 

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From: LBUZZELL at aol.com [mailto:LBUZZELL at aol.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 8:22 AM
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Scpg at arashi.com
Subject: Re: Fire control, green orchard belts

 

Hi Geoff,

 

I wonder if controlled burns are really cheaper in the long run than
water-thrifty orcharding?  There are costs involved with regular burning --
fire personnel and sometimes even chemicals too.  And what is the "yield"?
A lot of lung-unfriendly smoke and ash.  

 

I'm guessing you may not be convinced that water-thrifty orcharding is a
real possibility, but I assure you it is!  Shaping the land to retain water,
opening the soil with non-destructive keyline plowing, using edible,
deep-rooted underplantings and living mulches, harvesting all available
water in various ways -- these techniques all help the soil absorb water
deeply during rain season. This is all being done now both locally and in
other locations and can be done more widely here in Santa Barbara.  And what
is the "yield" of an orchard belt to the citizens of Santa Barbara? A secure
food supply, beauty, climate mitigation, erosion control, fire protection,
bee nectar and more...

 

I think as we reshape our economies towards sustainability we're going to
need to adjust our interpretation of costs and profit.  Truly sustainable
solutions are often slower and gentler than the "solutions" we've been using
without counting their true costs and genuine yields.

 

It's great that we're having this discussion of possible solutions for such
important local challenges as fire danger and water shortages!

 

Linda  

 

In a message dated 2/24/2009 8:02:17 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, Avoman202
writes:

Hi Linda 
Intresting idea....but with scarce water and all the other things  to manage
an orchard  I find it not practical..
Having lived  with the brush since 1974 and being burnt in the Egale canyon
Fire in 1979. Im convinced that controled burns are the way to go.... cheap
and usually safe... The type of brush we have here mostly burl sprouts and
is very effective in holding the hillsides during rainstorms...
Part of the problem is that people have gone higher and higher into the
hills.. and also want privacy...so the houses are mostly surrounded by
flamable plants and trees,,,,A controlled burn ever 5 years  or so would go
a long way to making safe areas and blocks to fire;s.. because no matter
what you plan fires happen in So Cal when the Santa winds blow.
thats my 2 cents  Thanks geoff Bloomingdale

 

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