On hoses...


Here’s something almost no one knows outside of California (because California makes hose companies put a label on their products saying this):  almost every single garden hose is made of materials known to cause cancer.  They are not safe to drink from.  They contain LEAD, which is used to soften PVC.  But if that doesn’t scare you, the labels also read:  “Wash hands after use.”  Maybe that’s something we should pay attention to!  My theory:  if they’re not safe to drink from, they’re not safe to touch, and you’re gardening organically to keep the chemicals out, you probably should find a different hose that won’t cause cancer!  But that’s more difficult than it sounds.


Here’s what we’ve been using: click here.  They’re about $20 for 40 feet at Target.  Our hardware store now carries a similar but better-looking one - 50 feet for $30 (I think they started stocking these after I asked about drinking-water safe hoses - the garden supplier was astonished, too, when I pointed out the California warning label).  Because we have such a large yard, we have to buy connectors to double up the hoses (the connectors are also great for interchanging various nozzles on a watering stick - eg, I use a fine spray nozzle on new seeds, and a rain-like nozzle on established plants).


Here’s my dream hose:  click here or here.  (Personally I like the terra cotta - it comes in several colors.)


The only other hoses I’ve found that are drinking water safe are boating/rv hoses, and some of the coil garden hoses.


You want a 5/8”-3/4” hose.  Our Target-bought “as seen on tv” hose is smaller and it’s annoying.  And if you pay a lot for a hose (my dream hose is $80), don’t forget you’re paying for health and longevity (for you and the hose - most expensive hoses last a long time).


While searching for drinking-water safe hoses I found this Seattle P-I article on the topic.  She lists the top Consumer Reports drinking-water safe hoses, which you can find here.

 

ELEMENTS IN TIME:  Creating Edible Landscape

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Inoculant:  Inoculant is rhizobium, a type of soil bacteria.  Legumes and this bacteria live in a symbiotic relationship which allows the beans to fix nitrogen (ie, add nitrogen back into the soil - a great thing for gardeners!).  Because each legume needs a different kind of inoculant, most soils don’t have the particular rhizobium necessary to make your beans thrive.  So you have to buy it - it’s available at most good seed shops (see our “Links”).  Make sure to get the right inoculant for whatever you’re planting.


From what I’ve learned, there are two good ways to inoculate:  either the “slur” method, or the “stir” method. 


To slurry:  Lay out the seeds in the shade.  Spray the seed with non-chlorinated, clean, cool water.  Shake the inoculant onto the seeds and make sure they are thoroughly coated.  Plant immediately.  Then water immediately.  (Apparently you can also dampen them with a mixture of 1 quart milk to 2 T molasses.)


To stir:  Mix the inoculant in a small amount of water (approximately 1:1).  Put the seeds in the mixture and coat them thoroughly.  Plant immediately.  Then water immediately.  (This is the method I used.)


Note:  because inoculant is alive, make sure you check the expiration date, and keep it cool and out of sunlight.  You can store inoculated seed for a few hours, but it’s best to plant it immediately.  And according to “Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply”, “you cannot use too much inoculant; but you can use too little.”