The importance of flat and sunny.............

where I want to · #1 08/24/12, 01:07 PM

So very many years ago, I was transferred to the area where I now live. I asked the new office to send me a news paper classified section so I could check out places to rent before I arrived.
One thing that really puzzled me was that so many of the ads started off by saying "Flat and Sunny." It meant almost nothing important to me. Sunny- what else yet.......
Then I got here. Coastal fog pushed up against coastal mountains. Where it's flat (coast and river plains) it's not sunny. And where it's sunny, it's rarely flat. And I mean hills like what the Ozark people call mountains- a real mountain pass will start at about 7,000 feet.
I got to thinking about this when reading a thread seeking advice on a new piece of property. How little so many people realize about other locations across country and how very, very different they are.
Like here- on the coast, it's how many cows per acre. Less than a mile away, it's how many acres per cow.
A thought to keep in mind before assuming the person posting is stupid and ignorant.

buffalocreek · #2 08/24/12, 01:32 PM

When I went to Humboldt State many years ago, I was in a constant fog. But it was mostly due to the fact Humboldt County was King of Pot and had little to do with the weather.

where I want to · #3 08/24/12, 02:33 PM

Couldn't resist, could you?

hotzcatz · #4 08/26/12, 03:52 AM

Yup. We get hordes of folks who just don't know that they don't know and when we try to tell them that it ain't like it is on the mainland they tell us we are being "negative" and trying to wreck their dreams. They come over, they last about six months to a year or maybe even as long as two years and then they leave and have the best yard sales before they go since they can't afford to ship back all the stuff they brought with them.

Rick · #5 08/26/12, 07:28 AM

Flat can be overcome, but sun without constant 105 deg heat, and water from rain, below the ground, and/ or at a waterway are priceless.

We bought our place intending on using the sun for power, but not realizing it could take twice the number of solar panels here as in other places.

We have 500 watts of panels which actually is enough for a Sundanzer freezer and fridge, movies when wanted, occasional fans and charging cell phones and hand-held batteries. Another 250 to 500 watts would be more than we would ever want.

geo in mi · #6 08/26/12, 08:12 AM

The microclimate areas of the US haven't been documented yet, but the USDA Hardiness Zone mapping system, and the American Horticultural Society map of heat zones will give you some indication of an area. But there are probably too many small microclimates to list--as where I want to mentions, flat and sunny, backed up against a mountain. Or here, the western side of Lake Michigan, just to name a couple.

The AHS heat zone map is probably outdated, but maybe it can still be useful. For both, here is the site: Publications - American Horticultural Society - USDA Hardiness Zone Map

geo

tinknal · #7 08/26/12, 08:24 AM

This is why people need to post general locations and localized conditions when asking climate related questions. It drives me nuts when someone asks questions but refuse to post where they live!

cindy-e · #8 08/26/12, 11:59 AM

Thanks for saying that. =0)

flat and sunny... yes that is why we searched and searched for a place. Cause flat and sunny without wetlands on it is HARD to find here -and usually cost prohibitive. We did find it. But we are on the "wet" side of the mountains and it rains a LOT for 8 or 9 months out of the year, and we are far enough north that light is an issue for 6 months out of the year too. And then there are predators. Bears (but not often, and I am not sure there are as many over on that side of the water as there are here). Coyotes. Hawks. Eagles. etc...

And this is a difficult micro climate for animals and even gardening. It just is. If this was back where I used to live I wouldn't need to ask questions, and I would know exactly what I needed to do. But nothing is the same here, from what grows, to how you grow it, to what species of animal can thrive. And I have read all of the books, which were written for the heartland, and many of the things suggested would NOT work here. (You'd have to be here to know what I mean.) That doesn't make me ignorant. There is a 4 or 5 degree temperature difference between where I am now, and where the property is. That doesn't sound like much, but when it means that you have a chance to get up over 80 for a portion of the summer - which does not happen where I am for any length of time-, it means maybe you can grow more summer things. It also means (possibly) a shorter growing season for what is called "winter" vegetables in the rest of the US, but grows year round where I am now. That 4 or 5 degrees is important!

This is not an easy area to homestead.

This board loses it's usefulness quickly if people who need to learn cannot come and ask their questions without beaing answered with snark, superiority, and shortness. The intent of the board from the beginning was for it to be a place to share knowledge and ideas. I hope that never changes.

edcopp · #9 08/26/12, 02:24 PM

This board loses it's usefulness when questions are asked in a way that there is no possible answer.

geo in mi · #10 08/26/12, 03:24 PM

For cindy-e:

Don't know if you have read it or not, but Carol Deppe lives and gardens in the Willamette valley(?) . She has writen "The Resilient Gardener"....maybe you are in the same area and could use some of her information?

geo

oregon woodsmok · #11 08/26/12, 06:12 PM

Cindy-e, I forgot to mention it. Go the The Home Orchard Society for advice on fruit trees. That's a forum for fruit growers based around Portland, Oregon. There are members from all over Washington, Oregon, and Idaho and they know how to grow fruit in the rain and can tell you what varieties will grow for you.

lmrose · #12 08/26/12, 08:52 PM

Cindy-e; Where do you live and where did you live in making the comparison?