Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["John D'hondt" <dhondt@eircom.net>]

> John, I'm sure you know but it made NPR here:
>
> Water Will Be Off Or Restricted Across Ireland Into Next Week
> http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/30/132473840/water-will-be-off-or-restricted-across-ireland-into-next-week

The reason for this is that Ireland just is not used to temperatures 
of -18, -20. Many water pipes run above ground and on the outside of houses 
where they have to freeze and burst at these temperatures. The only 
precaution people can take and most do is let the water run day and night 
since moving water does not freeze as fast. This lowers the municipal 
reserves which is OK if not a lot of pipes spring leaks when it thaws.

In rural areas most people are responsible for their own water and freezing 
pipes. We have several streams and wells we can use and even if our water 
pipe to the kitchen froze for ten days it was not a big problem. It took me 
half a day afterwards to get everything running again. We have no need of 
electric pumps here, everything is gravity powered.
john