For years, Kevin Steed has been working on ways to save water. His efforts led to the development of Watering Today, a recently released app that helps reduce the amount of the precious resources used for irrigation. The app tells users the amount of water needed to irrigate a piece of land, the best days to water, and the recommended run times for each sprinkler zone based … [Read more...]
Cataract Canyon – Taming the Wild Beast
"What's the difference between a mutual fund and a river guide?" asks Aaron Rappleye as we swap jokes at camp on the river. “A mutual fund matures in four years and starts paying out." There are plenty of applicants with delayed maturity, or Peter Pan syndrome, who would gladly love to become a river guide on the Colorado River in Moab, Utah. The job is seasonal and it … [Read more...]
Gardening in a Desert – Utah Water Conservation
Though we have been inundated with heavy rainfall this spring, our hot, dry summer nonetheless looms on the horizon. And, with the summer’s arid conditions comes a significant surge in lawn and garden water consumption. According to the Utah Division of Water Resources,we use twice the amount of water outside as we do inside. There are, however, many simple and cost effective … [Read more...]
Wasting Water Along the Wasatch Front
WATERLOGGED The states of Nevada and Utah are leading the nation in two undesirable categories, sprawl and water usage. In Utah’s case, population growth is the primary culprit. More people and more houses use more of everything, including water. Lots of water. As the second driest state, Utah is the second largest consumer of water per person in the nation (295 gallons … [Read more...]
Every Drip is a Drop in the Bucket
For the first time in 15 years of gardening I’ve installed drip irrigation. And perhaps I’m a johnny-come-lately to this technology that many people have already discovered, but even at that, it’s worth sharing the experience I’ve had converting my vegetable garden into a high-performance farm. It would never have happened had I not stumbled upon a farmer who preaches as gospel … [Read more...]
Utah’s Conservation Garden Park
The average Utah household spends 65% of its water usage on the outside of the house. The Conservation Garden Park, located in West Jordan, faces the tough job of reminding people that, in spite of the desert climate where water becomes more scarce every year, a lush, green landscape can still be accomplished with minimal resources. “The main problem is that most people … [Read more...]
How to Water Your Yard with Little Water
The desire for an English pastoral-style yard has been a Utah obsession since the days of the pioneers. With over a million people living across the Wasatch front, water is becoming scarcer (and more expensive) every year. Though we live in a desert, there are ways to conserve, while still maintaining that lush, green landscape you’ve always wanted. 1) Cut down on the … [Read more...]