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Greetings!
We were pleasantly surprised to see our rain barrels topped off by so much late spring rain. These record-breaking above-normal rains remind us how important it is to frequently adjust controller programs and to invest in smart irrigation technology. July is Smart Irrigation Month because it's the month with the highest water needs-so next month we'll focus on smart technology updates. This month we share important information about much you should usually be watering your landscapes each month, expressed as a percentage of July's water needs. Many factors need to be considered but a set-it-and-forget-it irrigation program won't do! Visit the store for more information on the latest technology and products to save time, money, power, and water. We appreciate your business! |
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CUT LANDSCAPE WATER USE BY 30% WITH MONTHLY CONTROLLER ADJUSTMENTS
Weathermatic's ProLine Eleven Makes it Easy & Automatic!
Start with our recommended schedule!
We don't get rain when our plants need it most during the longer days of summer. Day length is an easy way to remember a controller adjustment strategy. By the spring equinox most of the winter rains are over. Summer solstice, the longest day of the year, plants need the most water, and by the fall equinox plants don't need as much water and our rainy season usually begins shortly thereafter.
 | | Set-it-and-forget-it program wastes the amount of water shown in pink! |
The graph above leads to the table below of approximate water needs by month expressed as a percent of July water needs.
Many controllers have an adjust by percent feature (sometimes called "seasonal adjust") making these monthly controller adjustments possible, but it's a manual operation that must be done every month. If a controller you use does not include this feature, it's probably time to replace the controller. A simple low-cost controller by Weathermatic, the Proline Eleven (1.9mb pdf download), will sport an elegant implementation that lets you pre-program the zone run times by percent for every month of the year. We expect to have these controllers in stores before the end of June.
Percent adjustments require that you first set for the highest July water needs program for each zone. Soil type, watering method, and plant type all must be considered when determining your maximum July program. Download this handy schedule we developed for the San Francisco Bay Area to help you figure it out! |
San Francisco Sidewalk Landscaping Contest-less concrete. more jungle.
Grey2Green!
 | | Click image to visit Grey2Green web page |
Do you have an idea for the winning sidewalk garden? The Grey2Green program invites San Franciscans to enter the Best Sidewalk Garden Contest. Categories include: the California Natives Garden, Drought Tolerant Garden, and the Biodiversity and Pollinators Garden. The Grey2Green program encourages property owners to 'green' their sidewalks with gardens that are good for nature and the neighborhood. Prizes will be awarded to first place and runner-up gardens in all three categories. First prize in all three categories receive $50 gift certificates to The Urban Farmer Store. Second place in all three categories receive $25 gift certificates to The Urban Farmer Store. Contest participants must attend one free Grey2Green workshop (held every second Saturday at 9:00am, through November 2011) at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. The workshops focus on how to replace a sidewalk with a landscaped area that is beautiful, manageable, and sustainable, providing step-by-step instructions including navigating through the permitting process, plant selection, and design. Gardens must meet all SF Department of Public Works requirements for the Sidewalk Landscape Permit. Only new sidewalk gardens are permitted to enter. Contest closes November 30, 2011. Grey2Green is a project of The City of San Francisco's Department of Public Works, The San Francisco Botanical Garden, and the San Francisco Parks Trust, funded by a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. |
Making Every Drop Count Free June Classes at the Urban Farmer Store
Learn what's new & build your water efficiency knowledge
 | | Make every drop count! |
Your seasonal employees and clients will appreciate this introduction to water-saving sprinkler head retrofits and drip irrigation solutions.
Learn about system automation with valves, timers, rain sensors and the new smart self-adjusting controllers. This class will teach how to plan efficient irrigation systems.
This new technology can help us conserve more than half of the water we use in the landscape! Mill Valley Classes are held at the Mill Valley Community Center. San Francisco and Richmond classes are held at the store.
Register now for all dates: Mill Valley, San Francisco, Richmond
Download a printable PDF schedule to share with a friend.
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San Francisco residents only
Laundry to Landscape pilot program participants needed!
The SFPUC is now accepting applications for a Laundry-to-Landscape Pilot Graywater Program. The pilot will help the SFPUC and building inspection and health departments evaluate how laundry to landscape systems work in the City. Up to 150 qualifying single-family and two unit San Francisco residential properties will be eligible to participate.
 | | L2L saves potable water! |
Participants are required to attend a free workshop, review and use a free guidance manual and meet the program requirements to receive a $95 subsidy toward the purchase of a $100 laundry-to-landscape starter kit that includes a 3-way valve, piping, tubing, fittings, and other materials for installation.
Interested participants must meet the following initial requirements: - Have a working washing machine onsite.
- Have a yard that is level or down-sloping from the location of the clothes washer.
- Own a one- or two-unit home in San Francisco; renters of one- or two-unit homes in San Francisco may participate with property owner approval.
If you or one of your clients meet the criteria above, please proceed with submitting an application. Final eligibility to participate will be determined upon review of applications. The SFPUC has partnered with The Urban Farmer Store to help implement the Laundry-to-Landscape Pilot Program. For further questions about the program, contact The Urban Farmer Store at (415) 661-2204 or contact the SFPUC Water Conservation Section at (415) 551-4730.
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Non-toxic weed control options-
sheet mulch, clove oil, and flame torch
 | | Palm fronds make excellent sheet mulch! |
When maintaining sensitive habitats it's important not to contaminate the soil or water with toxic chemicals. The Urban Farmer Store recommends these non-toxic weed control options.
Mulching keeps weeds down and moisture in the soil.
Palm fronds work great if you have them. Simply cut off the woody stems and lay them flat. Flattened cardboard boxes work well also but all labels and tape must first be removed from the boxes and can be labor-intensive and time consuming. We carry recycled corrugated cardboard sheet mulch in 4' x 250" rolls. Use standard staples (pins) to secure whatever sheet mulch you choose.
Burn-Out Certified Organic Weed and Grass Killer works great! Use it wherever you would may have used Roundup in the past. Burn out is available in ready-to-use spray bottle or economical mix-it-yourself concentrate.
The Mini Weed Dragon Portable Torch Kit provides the perfect pin-point flame for chemical-free spot weeding around the home & garden. For best results "sear" the plant by slowly passing the flame 3-6" over it; burning is not necessary. Ideal for clearing unwanted vegetation between garden rows, brick paths, fence lines and sidewalks. Easy to use, simply connect the Mini Dragon to a disposable propane cylinder (not included). Safety tip: Always have a water hose handy while using this tool.
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Staff Tips!
How to keep a can of of our best Red Hot and Blue "glue" good until it's empty
 | | After you've tightened the lid with channel lock pliers, store the can upside down! |
PVC "glue" is not really glue. It's a solvent cement that softens the PVC, welding the pipe and fittings into one. And the "hot" means that it's a highly volatile solvent! Wet or dry, rain or shine, no other PVC solvent cement works as well across all weather conditions. Make repairs in wet or rainy conditions with confidence. It is chemically the hottest solvent cement formulation available on the market today. Always tighten the lid with a pair of channelock pliers when finished and store the can upside down. Hand tightened cans will quickly dry up. These simple tips will save you money, assure permanent bonds, and reduce VOCs pollution in the environment. For over 35 years, professional contractors have relied on Red Hot Blue Glue to make strong and permanent joints for PVC
pressure and drainage lines.
Red Hot Blue Glue works fast and sets fast. So you maximize productivity and enjoy quick pressurization after installation. With a proprietary formula, only Red Hot Blue Glue is truly "red hot fast".
Red Hot Blue Glue is designed for use on all schedules and classes of PVC pipe through 6" diameter, schedule 80 through 4" diameter, including flexible!
Visit www.tchristy.com for complete benefits and usage instructions. |
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Our Store Locations:
San Francisco:
2833 Vicente Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
Phone: (415) 661-2204
Fax: (415) 661-7826
Marin:
653
East Blithedale
Mill Valley, CA
94941
Phone: (415) 380-3840
Fax: (415) 380-3848
Richmond:
2121 San Joaquin
Street
Richmond, CA
94804
Phone: (510) 524-1604
Fax: (510) 524-9797
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