I wonder, have you guys considered installing a cistern? Also, do the hamlets and burgs around you have central water taps locals can draw on?(back in the BF, ID days many a valley resident took to town with giant containers in truck beds for their water).
We haven't really started looking into the "next generation" setup. I haven't seen any central water taps like what you describe, nor have I seen the "giant container in truck bed" in practice. We saw quite a lot of that on vacation in AZ several years ago.
As someone who is also on a well, who also waters by hand, I share your dry weather concerns. What a gift that spring house has turned out to be! Although our well taps into an underground stream, with water tables going down as things heat up, I have been planting more indigenous species which can tolerate a longer period of dryness than my peonies and roses. Once your trees get firmly rooted, will that free up your watering demands a bit?
I wonder, have you guys considered installing a cistern? Also, do the hamlets and burgs around you have central water taps locals can draw on?(back in the BF, ID days many a valley resident took to town with giant containers in truck beds for their water).
We haven't really started looking into the "next generation" setup. I haven't seen any central water taps like what you describe, nor have I seen the "giant container in truck bed" in practice. We saw quite a lot of that on vacation in AZ several years ago.
As someone who is also on a well, who also waters by hand, I share your dry weather concerns. What a gift that spring house has turned out to be! Although our well taps into an underground stream, with water tables going down as things heat up, I have been planting more indigenous species which can tolerate a longer period of dryness than my peonies and roses. Once your trees get firmly rooted, will that free up your watering demands a bit?
I hope so, Tui, although that's assuming conditions remain the same despite climate change. We'll be keeping close watch for a while yet.