tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post1034057589677244500..comments2024-02-10T18:50:01.193+10:00Comments on Gully Grove: How to plan for a tsunamiChris http://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-35940558678690981062010-12-23T23:29:23.409+10:002010-12-23T23:29:23.409+10:00One solution our Amish friends have suggested for ...One solution our Amish friends have suggested for clay soil is gypsum. I haven't looked into it myself so can't recommend it, don't know how fast acting it might be, etc. They use extensively and they are organic certified. I know they tested their clay first though. <br /><br />I prefer to take the slow route myself and the clay is in our subsoil which actually is a gift to us. We don't need to water very often. <br />I am sure you will have a wonderful, peaceful holiday but I hope you all stay safe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-16870076672880799682010-12-23T23:29:07.589+10:002010-12-23T23:29:07.589+10:00One solution our Amish friends have suggested for ...One solution our Amish friends have suggested for clay soil is gypsum. I haven't looked into it myself so can't recommend it, don't know how fast acting it might be, etc. They use extensively and they are organic certified. I know they tested their clay first though. <br /><br />I prefer to take the slow route myself and the clay is in our subsoil which actually is a gift to us. We don't need to water very often. <br />I am sure you will have a wonderful, peaceful holiday but I hope you all stay safe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-59684308799395718142010-12-23T08:23:02.651+10:002010-12-23T08:23:02.651+10:00Good deductions there - we are on clay. That's...Good deductions there - we are on clay. That's probably why the water keeps skiing off everything to get to the bottom of the hill.<br /><br />What you describe about the soil in your area, is what we're trying to achieve here. We need to improve the organic matter, but that takes time.<br /><br />The rain has hit us again and they're predicting a deluge again this afternoon. My hope is that it just misses us by a fraction, LOL. Looks like our family Christmas get together is cancelled though. We all made an agreement if it was too wet on the roads, no-one was to travel.<br /><br />Better safe than sorry. :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-68911757996922595512010-12-22T22:07:21.122+10:002010-12-22T22:07:21.122+10:00I didn't realize that you were on high ground ...I didn't realize that you were on high ground in actuality! <br />Its hard for me to judge based on photos alone but what kind of soil do I see there? Is it sandy or clay? And is this same soil most common in your entire neighborhood? <br /><br />We have excellent soil on most of our property and we have lots of native grasses. Being high up isn't the only saving grace for us. Its the land itself. We have neighbors close by who are higher up but have more clay and they have more problems than we do but these types of problems are not affecting the overall area during the heavy rains. <br /><br />We deal with this kind of weather on a regular basis in the Midwest and we generally only see the types of problems that you have when rivers rise. But again, rivers will rise. Why do they rise so much? Poor planning. <br /> However, I grew up in California which is in a state of emergency now with all the rain they are getting. I think that the problems there are more akin to what you are writing about than where we are now. <br />Anyhow, glad that you are safe. I hope the Christmas rains are minimal enough to not cause problems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-40003424501455185232010-12-22T09:52:32.639+10:002010-12-22T09:52:32.639+10:00Yes, the local paper surprised us the day after to...Yes, the local paper surprised us the day after too. We guessed they must have listened to the police line that night, as my mum made a call to the SES on our behalf.<br /><br />I'm hopeful the rain predicted over Christmas, is at least a bit more moderate, LOL. This was an extraordinary amount of rain that fell on us - more so than in 2007.<br /><br />I'm loving the sun while it's out though. :)<br /><br />That was my favourite picture of the day (of our daughter) as it said amongst all that went wrong, we can still smile, play and be hopeful in the future. Thanks for your comments.<br /><br />I hope you, hubby and the boys have a safe and merry Christmas.Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-4396514647784152842010-12-21T15:51:12.501+10:002010-12-21T15:51:12.501+10:00Oh Chris, How glad I am to hear you're all ok....Oh Chris, How glad I am to hear you're all ok. What an incredible amount of rain we received!<br />(It was a suprise to see you saturday morning!)<br />I believe we are excepting more rain! Oh my it is wonderful, but so dangerous. <br />I hope your clean up goes quickly and easily.<br />And I must say you have a beautiful daughter! - EmilyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-42665635348104982592010-12-21T11:14:30.106+10:002010-12-21T11:14:30.106+10:00I'm in full agreeance with you, that the probl...I'm in full agreeance with you, that the problem became amplified by all the ill thought out levies and dams (I will add spoon drains here too).<br /><br />The interesting part though, is we are high up too. The problem was high volume, high velocity water trying to escape down hill.<br /><br />Now that we're living with all these prior decisions, it's up to our neighbourhood to slow the water flow from the highest point downwards. <br /><br />Softscaping improvements, reduces the velocity of water (holding it longer) so the existing structures have more time to drain.<br /><br />My only hope is that council is happy to allow it. Some councils allow people to plant out their verges, others don't. We'll have to see. :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-43891244500481012782010-12-20T23:37:09.220+10:002010-12-20T23:37:09.220+10:00Wow! Just wow!
I like that this event has proved ...Wow! Just wow! <br />I like that this event has proved to be a catalyst for positive community change. I wish you luck.<br /><br /> I know the feeling you went through while driving around. We had a horrific amount of rain last summer at the farm. We are high up and don't have flooding issues at all but the lower lying areas flooded heavily. One entire town is now relocating to higher ground as the result of the changes in weather patterns but the real problems are not caused by weather so much as by all the ill thought out levies and dams.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com