Mid Summer Bits and Bobs.

[tigerburnie]

I fear there are just too many people for the planet to support them all.

[Stephen]

If you fancy a bit of reading just google "how much energy does it take to desalinate water" for all sorts of articles.

And even more to produce hydrogen.

[oldherbaceous]

I have just sown a final batch of Runner beans, in pots….if we don’t get an early frost, or strong drying winds, it will help to extend the season by a few weeks.

[Primrose]

You,re a brave man OH given the current drought. Perhaps we need a new Ben variety called Drought Special.
The leaves on our climbing French beans are all turning yellow and dropping off despite regular watering. Dan's don,t seem to thrive in dry weather
I suspect we will have a hosepipe ban imposed here soon.

When this happened last time I think the regulations directed thst a hosepipe COULD be used to fill a watering can. Because spinal surgery meant I could no longer lift or carry heavy weights any distance I took the hosepipe to the edge of the vegetable growing areas in the garden and then filled the watering can at that point. I was prepared to let flowers and grass die, but not plants which were being grown for food.

[Geoff]

All this talk of drought makes me realise the Government's levelling up policy simply isn't working! It's just stopped raining for about the first time in 24 hours although it has only accumulated about 20mm over three days. National grid down to you required.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Primrose, i’m a brave man in any weather conditions….

I’m sure unless you leave a sprinkler going on the end of a hose….they would turn a blind eye….wouldn’t they!

[snooky]

In 1976 I was away at sea so I missed the drought then but when I came home the Government of the day were proposing that the wetter parts of the UK would be linked to to drier parts by pipelines linked to rivers and canals to move the water around.As usual nothing done,too expensive, not enviromentally friendly.So,hosepipe bans,pleas to use less water etc seemingly might become the norm.Especially here in the south-east.Locally there is a proposal to build a rather large reservoir but the Eco-warriors are against it so we might get it in ten years time after it goes through due process,planning,courts,and judicial reviews.

[snooky]

Stephen,If desalination plants produce Hydrogen then that can be harvested to power Hydrogen fuelled cars etc cutting down on pollution and we wouldn't have the problem of disposing Lithium batteries from electric cars.

[Stephen]

Primrose, similarly here. I'm going to harvest what I can quickly.

[Westi]

Hampshire & IOW have their hose ban starting from Friday - why Friday?? Anyway I suspect Dorset will be next as we pretty much share what rainfall that comes along. When I go down next I plan on filling all the butts as a standby but I also have issues carrying more than 1 watering can so it is going to take quite a while to water. No rain predicted over the next 2 weeks so pretty much inevitable.

At least my crops are used to just a little drizzle not a flood so should be OK. Unlike others at the plot who sneak down overnight & put a sprinkler on! What bit of 'CCTV in operation' signs do they not get? Final warning given to these & I suspect their crops will suffer more as a result!

[Stephen]

No rain predicted over the next 2 weeks so pretty much inevitable.

Just the same here, just one day in the next fortnight has a % chance of rain in double figures.
I think my arms will be longer by that time from carrying the watering cans!

[Shallot Man]

I fear there are just too many people for the planet to support them all.

tigerburnie. Are you suggesting a cull ??

[tigerburnie]

I think the planet might just be implementing one as we speak, if you look at history, there seems to be something that is not far short of catastrophic every so often.

[tigerburnie]

Raining here, not heavy, but most welcome, almost filled the water butts, should help the nature, the rivers have never been so low.

[peter]

As close as a lycra jumpsuit two sizes too small!

But no rain.