No PCWD Board Meeting
Meeting scheduled for January 13, 2021 has been cancelled due to the state’s stay at home mandate.
Posted in: Board Meetings, From the Office
Leave a Comment (0) →Blog
Meeting scheduled for January 13, 2021 has been cancelled due to the state’s stay at home mandate.
Posted in: Board Meetings, From the Office
Leave a Comment (0) →Happy New Year from everyone at Pine Cove Water District.
During this influx of Covid cases, our office is closed to the public. We are still here doing the much needed work and being of assistance you you but with limited to no contact.
The mail slot in the front door is available for dropping off bills, paperwork, etc. You can always reach the office 9am – 12pm and 1pm – 4pm for any questions, concerns, over the phone payments, etc. 951-659-2675
If you need to physically come to the office, please wear your mask and give plenty of space to anyone that might be around you.
Stay safe everyone.
~Jennifer
Posted in: From the Office
Leave a Comment (0) →Pine Cove Water District would like to wish everyone a very happy new year! Next week the office will be closed Thursday December 31st and Friday January 1st in observance of New Years. If you would like to make a payment while we are closed you can do so online or drop it though the office door slot. If you have a water emergency like a burst pipe or leak please call the on call emergency line (951) 294-8282
Wishing everyone a very happy and safe New Year!
Posted in: From the Office, Holidays
Leave a Comment (0) →Pine Cove Water District would like to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. This week the office will be closed in observance of Christmas Eve and Christmas day on Thursday and Friday. If you would like to make a payment while we are closed you can do so online through our webpage or drop it though the office door slot. If you have a water emergency like a burst pipe or leak please call the on call emergency line (951) 294-8282
May your holidays be filled with love and laughter!
Posted in: From the Office, Holidays
Leave a Comment (0) →With the increase of cold weather, we are seeing the increase of fireplaces, wood burning stoves, heater usage, etc.
In my house, that means more static, dry skin, cracked lips, and dry nasal passages!
So what do we do? Extra dryer sheets in the dryer, dryer balls, WOOL dryer balls, lip balm, lotion, vapor rub under the nose…
Here are some additional tips:
Use a humidifier. Running a humidifier in your home will add moisture to dry, heated air. The moist air will help keep your skin, mouth, and nose lubricated, and helps prevent those nasty static shocks. Your goal is to aim for a comfortable home humidity level of between 30% and 50%. Don’t crank up the humidifier higher than that, though, or you could develop another problem — mold, fungi, dust mites, and other tiny critters. Make sure to keep your humidifier clean so that it doesn’t send dust and germs spewing into your house.
Seal your home. Prevent the cold, dry air outside from paying you an unwelcome visit. Insulate your home so you don’t have to turn up the heat. Close any air leaks in doors, windows, attics, and crawl spaces with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping. Sealing off air leaks will also help you save money on your monthly heating bill, because you’ll feel warm and cozy enough to turn down the thermostat a few notches.
Hydrate often. Keep your skin and mouth moist by drinking water throughout the day. Don’t like water? Try putting in a little tea or juice to add flavor.
Shorten your showers. Long, hot showers might feel great on frigid winter mornings, but the heat and steam can really dry out your skin. Turn the water temperature down to warm — not hot — and use a gentle soap. Get out as soon as you’re clean, or under 15 minutes, whichever comes first.
Moisturize. Rub a thick oil-based moisturizer onto your skin frequently each day, especially after you take a shower or bath. The oil in the product will lock moisture into your skin and keep it from drying out. Moisturizers come in different forms, but ointments will provide the most protection for dry skin. Make sure to apply moisturizing sunscreen with SPF 30 to exposed skin before going outside. Also apply a lip balm or petroleum jelly to protect against chapped lips. Help keep your nasal passageways moist by using salt water (saline) drops or rubbing a little petroleum jelly into each nostril gently with a cotton swab.
Although humidifiers are often an easy fix, they can be costly to purchase, and running them day and night can send an already high winter energy bill soaring even higher.
Don’t have a humidifier? Looking for alternative or additional ways to increase moisture in the air?
Get Houseplants. Moisture evaporates from the leaves and stems of plants, adding humidity to the air in your home. Be sure to keep them well-watered.
Put Vases in Sunny Places. Water filled vases put in the window sills will slowly evaporate releasing moisture into the air.
Cook on the stovetop. Increase your stovetop cooking to not only take advantage of incidental moisture release while increasing the warmth in your house. And of course, using a tea kettle for your morning cup helps.
Showering with the door open. Leaving the door open is an easy way to add a little extra moisture to the air. If taking a bath, leave the tub filled when you get out for a little longer to take advantage of the residual heat that will add a little humidity to the air.
Place bowls of water on registers. You may be surprised by how much water is released during cold months when the furnace is on full blast. Place a metal or ceramic bowl of water on heat registers, radiators, or near heater vents to push humidity into the air.
Dry clothes on racks. I usually do this in the summer time to save on dryer usage but using a rack to dry clothes at room temperature during the winter releases moisture into the house as well as saves on the utility bill.
Are there other hints and tips you’ve come across that work? Share your information here!
Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t have enough fluid to function properly. While there are a number of factors that affect how much water you need in a day, the average adult needs roughly 100 ounces of water on an average day. It’s possible to get dehydrated when it’s cold outside, just like it’s possible to get dehydrated when it’s hot outside.
Recognize the signs of dehydration. This can help you remember to drink more water and stay hydrated. Thirst, dark-colored urine, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps, and dry skin can all indicate dehydration.
Stay safe, warm, and hydrated this winter!
There is no doubt that mulching builds soil, reduces the need to water, and helps control weeds. But what does it do to protect plants from the cold? In many climates, perennials will survive just fine without any protection. In cold areas, snow is an excellent insulator; it keeps plants underground at a temperature around freezing and protects them from the worst of winter conditions. If we could be sure that there would be a good layer of snow throughout winter, our gardens wouldn’t experience many problems at all. Without snow or other mulch in tough winter months, however, plants may suffer heaving and freezing, which can damage their root systems.
The best time to apply winter mulch is just after the first hard frost. By putting mulch down at this time, you will help stabilize the temperature of the soil right around freezing. Applying mulch too soon may delay freezing and encourage heaving and thawing. Applying it too late may cause the roots of plants to experience temperatures below that which they can handle.
Pine bark or wood chips are the best mulches; they enrich soil as they degrade. A layer of mulch about 4 to 6 inches deep over the plants works well. Most perennials will pop through the mulch in spring. If the plants are young, small, or newly planted in fall, you may need to clear some of the mulch in spring so that the plants can emerge without difficulty through the winter protection.
Organic mulches cushion the soil from compaction and erosion caused by heavy winter rains while safeguarding the soil’s storehouse of nutrients. In addition, winter mulches can enhance the cold tolerance of perennial vegetables, herbs and fruits, helping to insure a strong comeback in spring.
What are woodchips?
Woodchips are small pieces of wood.
Why would I want woodchips in my garden design?
The most common way of using woodchips for gardening is to spread them on the ground as mulch.
How?
It is important to remember that, as with any permaculture technique, every site is different and every plant species has its own unique requirements. You may find woodchip mulching in one part of your site does not work, while in another place it does wonders.
• Spread the woodchip mulch at least 2-3 inches deep
• Plant seedlings in the soil just below the woodchips
• It may be too difficult to move the woodchip layer for seeds which are small or closely spaced, such as carrots, beetroots, spinach, and onions, so maybe use a different mulch material if you are planning to grow these kind of crops
• Squash grow particularly well in woodchips
Where can you get woodchips?
We currently have a large pile at our Dutch Flats location that Pine Cove residents can go and gather as much as they’d like for free.
Special for December – have a truckload delivered for only $100
Posted in: Garden, gardening, Mulch, Raised Bed Gardens, The Garden, winterizing, Wood chips
Leave a Comment (0) →This time of year as the Autumn air crisps and the leaves start to turn and fall, we start to think of all we have to be thankful for. For us at Pine Cove Water District we are grateful for the clean mountain air, fresh water from the mountain top, the peaceful sound of our quiet community and the wonderful neighbors, family and friends. This week is Thanksgiving and most of us are celebrating a little differently this year. Whether you are having a feast with a small intimate group or visiting virtually with friends and family through the extended hours that zoom is giving out, we wish you the best.
In observance of this holiday the office will be closed on Thursday the 26th (Thanksgiving day) and Friday the 27th.
If you have a water emergency during the holiday thru the weekend please contact the emergency number and the on call staff member will be able to help you. (951) 236-9163
For any non-emergency calls feel free to leave a message on the office line and we will get back to you on the next available business day.
We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Resources on the hill to help through the holidays (as well as any time).
Idy’s Helping Hands: Offering a Call Chain to check in with those in need, Food Boxes, Errand Services, Utility Payment Assistance, and other resources through Riverside County.
Admin@IdysHelpingHands.org
PO Box 1501, Idyllwild CA 92549
Mountain Communities Mutual Aid: Offering food, goods, and assistance.
951-468-0110
mountainaid@idyforest.org
Idyllwild Help Center: Offering (limited) Medical Assistance, Children’s needs, Food Assistance, Help with Utility Payments, Split Firewood, Women’s needs, and additional resources throughout Riverside County.
Phone: (951)659-2110
Email: info@idyllwildhelpcenter.org
Hours: Tuesday: 9am-12pm, Wednesday: Food Delivery, APPOINTMENT ONLY
What additional resources do you know about on the hill?
Posted in: Around the District, Community, Holidays
Leave a Comment (0) →As a Pine Cove resident, you are welcome to our offer of FREE Wood Chip for your Garden.
Our wood chips are from local wood and kept as clean from twigs and leaves as possible.
We have an abundance of wood chips at our Dutch Flats location that you can help yourself to. Please bring your own materials to gather or shovel and haul the wood chips away. If you need a larger load call the office and we can deliver a dump truck load for a delivery charge.
Our regular rate for delivery is $125 but we are having a SPECIAL FOR DECEMBER where you can get a delivery for ONLY $100. Our deliveries are around 9 cubic yards and you just need to indicate where to leave the pile.
If you are planning on gathering a large amount of wood chips on your own, please check in with us at the office first, as we want to be sure there is enough for everyone.
We still have a small amount of compost if you would like that as well. Same pick up or delivery situation; help yourself to the pile at Dutch Flats or call for a delivery at $125 a load.
Pine Cove Water District hours M-F 9am – 12pm, 1 pm-4pm
951-659-2675 or email info@pcwd.org
Welcome to winter!
We’ve had our first snowfall and man was it a doozy.
One of the main things I see that causes me pause is people driving around with snow / ice on the top of their vehicles. Although not illegal in California it could be potentially dangerous.
While you might think that clearing the snow /ice is just for your visibility, there is quite a hazard to leaving snow on the top.
Leaving snow on top of your vehicle could result in bits falling forward onto the windshield causing low visibility but it can also fall backwards onto cars and pedestrians behind you causing “ice missiles”, in which sheets or blocks of snow and ice fly off roofs or windshields of cars and trucks, endangering those in vehicles behind them. Ice missiles can distract drivers and cause them to swerve into other cars. And they can crack windshields, and sometimes cause injuries — even deaths.
Aside from parking your car under a covered awning or inside a garage, you’ve basically got 2 options:
My friend thinks placing a heavy-duty tarp over the roof of your car that you simply tug off in the morning (pulling all the snow off your vehicle in the process) is also a great idea. I agree! They happen to make something similar: a car top roof cover & windshield cover.
Information taken from https://weather.thefuntimesguide.com/snow-broom-for-car/
Stay safe friends!
Posted in: Community, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Snow, Winter
Leave a Comment (0) →Pine Cove Water District
24917 Marion Ridge Road • P.O. Box 2296 • Idyllwild CA 92549-2296 • 951.659.2675