AND THIS TOO SHALL PASS - AND IT DID ! by Steve Economou
This value of the above saying cannot be over stated . It is as true in all aspects of life as it is in landscape management , as it is in the case of drought .
On September 30 , 1859 , Abraham Lincoln told the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society in Milwaukee :
“ It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence , to be ever in view , and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations . They presented him the words : “ And this , too , shall pass away .” How much it expresses ! How chastening in the hour of pride ! How consoling in the depths of affliction !”
This is the philosophy that I espoused during our recently passed drought .
In the 35 years that I have worked professionally in the landscape industry in San Diego County the past water shortage was my third sky is falling drought .
Let us continue then with the belief and practical understanding that water – no matter whether we find ourselves in a condition of drought or surplus – shall always be a resource that we should not waste or use unnecessarily .
Before Redevelopment
AfterRed evelop ment
I do indeed encourage Associations to proceed in a planned sustainable method . There is no need to exhaust reserve funds or be hurried into replacing irrigation systems that are functioning effectively . There are those that will encourage the complete replacement of irrigation systems with drip when perhaps a little careful management of the system that has been serving for years is the only thing needed .
In my last article I encouraged all communities to aspire to connect their irrigation systems to reclaimed water . Some communities have contacted me regarding such connections and are making progress in obtaining reclaimed water services for their landscape irrigation needs . Indeed Associations that we have aided in connection to the supply have now seen their water bills reduced by 80 %. Return on investment periods in these communities have been aided by state assistance funds resulting in total costs of conversion being salvaged in as little as three months . If your community has not investigated this opportunity may I encourage an effort to do so as soon as possible .
Even reclaimed water costs money and will not always be infinite . Our belief is that the future is most well approached by redevelopment of outdated landscapes with plants that convey beauty beyond what traditional landscapes offer .
To this end we have spent over a decade developing The San Diego Hybrid Palette . The Hybrid Palette is a specifically selected group of approximately 75 species that evolved in dry climates . The selected species have been hybridized so that they flower and flourish year round with very little water . In summer , conventional outdated landscapes require water three to five days per week . Our redeveloped Hybrid beautiful landscape areas require 80 % less water .
The goal is to save water while intensifying the natural beauty of your association common areas .
Your start point is to contact a Hybrid professional such as myself to meet with your Board of Directors to provide a full explanation of the process .
Steve Economou is the President of Rainscape Environmental Management working as a Landscape Professional for more than 33 years . He can be contacted directly at : steve @ rainscape . com
6 | The HOA Board Quarterly | Issue # 18 | Summer 2017
Contributed by Steve Economu Rainscape Environmental Management 619.229.0360 • Steve @ rainscape . com or visit them at www . rainscape . com