LAST WEEKEND I HAD A CHANCE TO FILM Denise Rushing at Benicia Public Library. She was the fourth and final presenter in the comprehensive introduction to permaculture gardening and farming presented by the Benicia Community Gardens. Denise’s presentation was substantive and filled with practical and philosophical advice that extended beyond farming and gardening.

I’ll put the link below to all four excellent Benicia Community Gardens presentations. But if you have time to view only one presentation, my choice would be Denise Rushing’s talk.

During the Q&A, Denise suggested that people keep and eye or an ear out for anyone doing tree removal or cleanup in their neighborhood. Often the tree service folks are very pleased, if asked, to dump the wood chips from a job on your driveway. It’s a win-win since the service doesn’t have to haul the debris away and pay for dumping — and if you are the lucky homeowner, you get a lot of wood chips for free that can be used as mulch.

Last Friday morning I happened to hear the buzz of a chainsaw and the grind of a wood chipper in my neighborhood. Out I dashed to ask the men working on a tree removal job if they would be willing to dump their wood chips in my driveway. They were happy to agree, and by mid-afternoon the truck, fully loaded, deposited a LOT of wood chips and pine needles in my driveway. By Sunday afternoon, I am happy to say, all but a very small pile of chips remained in my driveway. The rest of the mound was now spread on my hillsides, nice and deep. And, I might add, my yard really smells like a Christmas tree lot with that rich cut-pine fragrance.

It was a huge job to load the wheelbarrow and to spread the chips, but while I am a bit weary from the effort, I really am pleased to think that this beautiful mulch will help preserve whatever moisture we get in the soil.

I also had a chance on Saturday evening to see, and remember, the effect of composting chemistry on a BIG pile of organic material. There in the darkness of the driveway I could see steam rising from the mound of wood chips. When I stuck my hand into it I could feel the heat being generated. Growing up in Minnesota just three houses down from the Kaeders’ Farm, I recall seeing the steam rise in the night air from mounds of manure and hay.

Thank you Benicia Community Gardens and Denise Rushing for “preparing my mind” for the chance to save some money and conserve some moisture.

Time to think ahead

This last Thursday, a public workshop was held by the city of Benicia on the first findings of a study being conducted about Benicia’s options for adapting to the impacts of climate change. I didn’t have a chance to write the numbers down specifically, but it is going to get a lot hotter for many more days in Benicia in the coming years. And some of you living below Military and above D Street may truly be looking at waterfront property. Businesses along Industrial Way will want to follow the forecasts as well. It also seems more than prudent that anything to do with rail traffic be considered very carefully.

More information will be available in the months ahead as this study continues but, in my mind, it is time to start thinking ahead. If you are interested in following or commenting on the issue, follow the “Climate Change Adaptation” link provided below.

The implications about the significantly greater number of days above 90 degrees have me very concerned about water. If it will be that hot in Benicia, I can’t imagine we can count on snowpack in the Sierras releasing water over spring and summer to quench our needs. Anything we might consider in terms of rain harvesting with cisterns, landscaping features like swales and drought-tolerant gardens are things we might start to integrate now.

Then there’s home energy upgrades. I’ve been writing about the new Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) program, and it was nice to see a representative of the program at the Thursday workshop with information on the products eligible for financing and how the process works. I also noted there will be an Energy Upgrade California home upgrade workshop on Dec. 9 in the Multi-Purpose Room of Benicia Community Center, 370 East L St. If you plan to go, there is a RSVP requested at SolanoHomeUpgrade.eventbrite.com.

As we conclude this extraordinary year, I hope there is time to pause to think about the upcoming year and years ahead and what we can and must do to lessen our detrimental impacts and enrich, deepen and extend our beneficial contributions.

Learn more

Benicia Community Gardens series on Permaculture:
• Trathen Heckman: youtu.be/104ib1r-9gg?list=PL4CEB0F984F43D37D
• Toby Hemenway: youtu.be/98UViVHidPk?list=PL4CEB0F984F43D37D
• Christopher Shein: youtu.be/C8TGluzXr6s?list=PL4CEB0F984F43D37D
• Denise Rushing: youtu.be/nWvheB50Is0?list=PL4CEB0F984F43D37D
• Climate Change Adaptation: sustainablebenicia.org/files/home/CommunityResiliencyWorkshop11%2020%2014.pdf
• heroprogram.com/benicia/

Constance Beutel is the chair of Benicia’s Community Sustainability Commission. She is a university professor and videographer and holds a doctorate from the University of San Francisco.

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