hemmy
Omono
Thank you. I’m freaking out just a little thinking about crossing the desert on I-40! Hopefully, the reefer truck comes through otherwise we will be buying a lot of dry ice!
Nova bonsai garden
- Thread starter markyscott
- Start date
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
As the barn closes in, it’s getting time to focus on the watering system. This has been a bit complex, as there is no city water and there are no wells anywhere on the property. Initially, I had thought to put in a well near the barn for water. However, after considering the options, I’ve decided to put in a cistern instead. Here are the plans:
The cistern would be mainly filled by rainwater collected from the barn roof. However, as backup, I’m going to draw from a nearby creek. The plan is that the backup pump will be operated by limit switches inside the tank. If the water ever drops too low, it will turn on the creek pump and refill the tank, turning it off when the tank is full. Generally, I don’t think it will be needed, but I’m sure that there will be times when the rainwater will be insufficient.
Scott
The cistern would be mainly filled by rainwater collected from the barn roof. However, as backup, I’m going to draw from a nearby creek. The plan is that the backup pump will be operated by limit switches inside the tank. If the water ever drops too low, it will turn on the creek pump and refill the tank, turning it off when the tank is full. Generally, I don’t think it will be needed, but I’m sure that there will be times when the rainwater will be insufficient.
Scott
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
Based on a 34’x36’ roof and average rainfall amounts for Delaplane Va, here are the gallons of water I might expect to collect by month in an average year (basically, I’ll collect a bit over 750 gallons per inch of rainfall).
As I add infrastructure (greenhouse and an equipment shed), I’ll plumb them into the rainwater collection system and these totals will go up. I’m installing a 1500 gallon cistern.
Scott
As I add infrastructure (greenhouse and an equipment shed), I’ll plumb them into the rainwater collection system and these totals will go up. I’m installing a 1500 gallon cistern.
Scott
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
A couple of things that are nice about this system here. First, the highest average rainfall totals are in the summer when my water demand is the highest. During the winter, when the rainfall is less and at least some of the precipitation will come down as snow, my water demand will be significantly less. Second, the creek runs pretty clear year round. I imagine that there will be some turbidity after a heavy rain, but the system won’t draw from the creek after a heavy rain as the tank ought to be full at that point.
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
Here’s a picture of the cistern tank I’m installing.
hemmy
Omono
Very cool! Will you inject any nutrients or rely on surface fertilizers? Will you have a generator backup for electricity? Solar panels?
How does creek access work, it is permitted or just a free for all? Have you tested the water from the creek for general constituents? Of course, inflow and time of year will swing those values quite a bit.
How does creek access work, it is permitted or just a free for all? Have you tested the water from the creek for general constituents? Of course, inflow and time of year will swing those values quite a bit.
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
Initially, there will not be any injection system. Down the line, however, I will be installing a Dosatron injection system for fertilization and pH maintenance (if I need it - hopefully the pH will be fine if I’m using mostly rainwater).
Initially, the system will be powered by a generator. Later in the summer, the plan is to put in a more permanent power solution. My first option for power will be to tie it to the grid - I submitted a load letter to Dominion Energy and I’m waiting for an estimate. If it’s reasonable, I’ll go that way. If not, I’ll put in a solar system. I‘ve sized solar and I think I can get away with a 5k off grid system, but it might be pricey with all the batteries I’ll have to install.
I’ve looked into permitting, it’s not required for this application. Essentially, I’m installing a self-filling cattle trough. they are not permit regulated in Virginia and they are all over the place (I have three on the property right now).
I have a sample out for testing, but I’m expecting it to be good quality. It’s spring fed from Lost Mountain. The summit and most of the watershed is on the property or on the wooded neighboring lots. There is no agriculture upstream - just forest. Water from the creek is really just an emergency backup. I hopefully won’t have to draw from the creek more than a few times a year. The third backup will be to put a tank in the back of the truck, fill it with well water, and drain it into the cistern. Hopefully, I won’t have to do that very often.
- S
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markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
A narrow escape. Yikes! Stay cool, my Houston friends. 
HENDO
Shohin
Ya, just enjoying some NoVa posts while MELTING over here!
The cistern plans look awesome - can't wait to see more Scott! Glad the trees all made it safe and sound
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
Turns out that Japanese beetle like cedar elm. 
We don't get them here every year, but when we do they are so destructive.Turns out that Japanese beetle like cedar elm.
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rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Interesting that you have so many of these damn things out that way. I have only seen one or two this summer here in N. Va. Haven't seen many for the last five or six years (knock wood).Turns out that Japanese beetle like cedar elm.
Colorado
Masterpiece
Turns out that Japanese beetle like cedar elm.
I went on a week trip last year, came back and Japanese beetles completely defoliated my Siberian Elm! It recovered fine, but man those beetles are a menace!
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
I had a similar experience with a caterpillar last year. Haven't spotted any Japanese beetles down here this year, but the grasshoppers are making up for them.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
The Japanese Beetles here are out in full force.
Been here over 30 years, I'm ready for them.
Seems all chewing insects love elms.
Been here over 30 years, I'm ready for them.
Seems all chewing insects love elms.
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
I sprayed malthion, but they seemed to shrug it off, so I ended up handpicking them. Interestingly, I filled the cup I dropped them into with soapy water - that did nothing. I poured a bit of malthion into the cup and it killed them right away. The hand-picking was not a problem and I’ll probably just keep doing that. However, if they show up again in numbers, I might add some soap to the malthion as a surfactant and see if its more effective when I spray it on.
Out of curiosity, have any of you found that the use of a systemic is effective?
- S
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Interesting link. Seems Va. is a preferred location for Japanese Beetle--I'd bet all that agricultural (vineyards in particular out there) have something to do with the abundance, as well as the wet spring we've had.
"Apparently Japanese beetle is more abundant on grape in Virginia than in other eastern states. In Ohio it rarely necessitates control, and in both Pennsylvania and North Carolina it is more abundant in counties near Virginia. In Virginia there are large acreages of larval habitat (pasture) adjacent to preferred adult food (vineyards); this combination is favorable for Japanese beetle populations"
Some recommendations on control here--I knew the Viette family when I lived out in the Shenandoah Valley. Great people
viettes.wordpress.com
inthegardenradio.com
"Apparently Japanese beetle is more abundant on grape in Virginia than in other eastern states. In Ohio it rarely necessitates control, and in both Pennsylvania and North Carolina it is more abundant in counties near Virginia. In Virginia there are large acreages of larval habitat (pasture) adjacent to preferred adult food (vineyards); this combination is favorable for Japanese beetle populations"
Some recommendations on control here--I knew the Viette family when I lived out in the Shenandoah Valley. Great people
Japanese beetle damage – Viette's Views
Posts about Japanese beetle damage written by Lori Jones
viettes.wordpress.com
Welcome to Viette Farm and Nursery in Fishersville, VA.
Viette Farm and Nursery, located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, features thousands of varieties of perennials, trees, shrubs, and evergreens.
inthegardenradio.com
VAFisher
Masterpiece
I have been using a systemic for a while. In years when the Japanese beetles are bad, the tops of my benches sometimes look like a beetle graveyard. It's definitely an effective strategy against them. I've got a love/hate relationship with them - the trout in the Shenandoah Valley spring creeks love them and a foam beetle pattern is easy to tie and fun to fish. Nothing like watching a big brown slowly rise and sip in a floating beetle or hopper.
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penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
I have been using Sevin for over 30 years now. In class I was taught that Sevin was only effective when consumed by chewing insects. In use I found I get a very quick knockdown by contact. They start dropping within minutes and after about an hour or so they are gone.
I only need to do this once a year and it has been effective for me.
The smell of malathion is very disagreeable to me. I have no problem with Sevin.
I only need to do this once a year and it has been effective for me.
The smell of malathion is very disagreeable to me. I have no problem with Sevin.
VAFisher
Masterpiece
I use a product called ferti-lome insect drench. I also use it once per year in Spring and it's effective for the entire growing season. Kills beetles dead as doornails for months.
