Irrigation
Another month has gone by and the pace has slowed dramatically. After I was talked into allowing the gravel and filter fabric to be placed BEFORE I finished my irrigation and planting,the pace has slowed dramatically.
After they were finished I realized that I did not take pictures of all of the irrigation locations! Now it hunting for pipes and irrigation heads which are under filter fabric and a few inches of coral gravel! Every time I cut the fabric I created bore opportunities for weeds to defeat the purpose of the fabric.
As for cistern irrigation systems in the Keys, there are many who say they can, we found those who can’t!
The first guy took out the downspouts and attached them to the cistern.
The second guy took out the first guy’s work and installed a”better” system. It connected to hose bibs but not the automatic irrigation system!
The third guy changed over to an automatic system, the manual hose bibs for the cistern water doesn’t work now. He promises to fix that, as I’d like to water everything with “free” cistern water!
Irrigation Consultant
After finding all the irrigation heads I turned on the cistern pump only to find out that pump water pressure is not even close to powering an automatic irrigation system. So, I had to go out an hire an irrigation consultant to help me with the system. His plan is to buy a larger pump to power the system and get to a normal 20-30 PSI. More money!!! It never ends!!! Actually after all this, it’s damned expensive water! I should use Avian water, it’s probably cheaper.
The third guy will be back to install the updated pump system.
I did not want to wait for the irrigation system to be finished because short tern insurance is running out! I went ahead and planted my required native plants along the irrigation lines, but I’m watering them with City water. When the irrigation system is fixed I’ll go to cistern water.
Plantings
When that is finished I can get my Certificate of Occupancy!!! And then starts the next steps; residency for homestead tax purposes, change address from temporary mail box to house, finding furniture, keeping plants growing until the guarantee period is completed, etc, etc.
