Blog Response

I got on my soapbox this morning over at Root Simple about leaf blowers and water. Figured I'd print it here also.


Mow, Blow and Go is the mantra here for many landscapers. The drought is starting to change some minds, though. Many of the landscapers are using this job as a step up from farm work or as a replacement for lost ag jobs because of political water displacements.

The real issue is that many landscape as if they are living in the Northeast with a climate of summer rain. CA is more like a desert. If water is going to be used on land it should be for growing crops, either farmers or home gardeners.

We have no grass in our yard nor in the garden we work in our neighbors back yard. All water used is for food production. We use drip irrigation and minimize the water usage to what the plants need to survive and produce. Yet if you look at many of our small town's yards they are lush and green. A huge paradigm shift needs to take place or we will be the next Dust Bowl here in the San Joaquin Valley.