CALIFORNIA
RURAL HOMESITE
The Environmental
Land Owner
You may or may not consider yourself
an environmentalist. Most people that move to rural areas are
concerned about maintaining the beauty and character of the
area. Whatever your beliefs, the following sections will help
you fit most logically into your surroundings.
Clearing
Avoid excessive clearing. Limit the
removal of vegetation to the area needed to build your home and
provide wild fire protection. Clearing alters wildlife habitat
and diminishes wildlife numbers. Retain natural vegetation to
provide buffers between your home and surrounding properties.
Why tear it out only to buy replacement plants that the deer
will eat?
Grading
Avoid excessive grading for driveways
and building pads. Consider a stem wall foundation with stepped
footings rather than grading a large pad for a concrete slab
floor. Use decks to provide outdoor flat areas. Use retaining
walls to avoid excessive vegetation removal. An architect can
assist you with building designs that are both site sensitive
and functional. Depending on the species and the setting, tractor
work within the drip line of trees may kill them over 2-3 years.
Plan your grading accordingly. A landscape architect can assist
you with saving trees. The Uniform Building Code and other laws
require a grading permit under certain circumstances. Check with
your local Building Department for requirements and local practice.
Often, precious topsoil is covered over or lost during grading.
Ask your engineering contractor to stock-pile topsoil from the
graded areas and place it back in finished landscape locations.
A landscape architect or landscape contractor can help supervise
this effort and to assist you with a final planting program that
meets your needs.
Erosion Control
Erosion control means keeping all
of your dirt in place on your land. Good soil took ages to be
created, but when soil washes away, it is lost forever. After
it leaves, it plugs culverts and drainageways increasing flooding.
It carries nutrients that interfere with fish and other water
life. Cover all exposed earth during winter months with some
type of protection. The easiest and cheapest temporary protection
is to seed exposed soils with annual rye grass and to cover the
areas with straw. Both are obtained from a local feed store.
Usually this is used as a temporary measure and then final measures
are installed with landscaping. Permanent erosion control can
be accomplished with gravel, mulches, grass or lawn, landscaping,
and other techniques. Contact your local U. S. Soil Conservation
Service or Resource Conservation District for help. They provide
excellent, free information on erosion control plans. Your local
farm bureaus and agriculture supply stores can help, too.
Pets
You can help the natural environment
by reasonably containing your pets. Dogs chase deer and even
domestic animals. Cats chase birds, lizards, and rodents. It's
not a big deal for one house, but by the time a thousand households
are out there, it gets significant. I've been using a radio fence
for my dog that works pretty well. About 3/4 acre is ringed by
a small buried wire leading to a little electrical box. The dog
wears a radio collar that warns when she's too close, and gives
her a mild static electricity shock if she starts to cross. It
might not work for every dog, depending on how difficult they
are to train.
Energy
Regardless of the price of gas this
week, rest assured that energy prices of all types are going
up. Plan for it now to minimize your future problems. Many rural
sites are above the foggy areas and offer excellent opportunities
for passive and active solar homes. Look for south facing site
with deciduous trees. Consult an architect if you need assistance.
Don't move too far out in the country if you have to go into
town everyday. That long commute burns a lot of gas. Check into
telecommuting. What could be better than earning your living
from the comfort of your country home? Air Quality Speaking of
that long commute, it's not good for air quality either. Rural
areas are getting much worse in terms of air quality. The automobile
is a major contributor to poor quality. As much as I love mine,
I must tell you that the wood stove is also a major problem.
Many areas are adopting regulations establishing emission control
standards for wood stoves. Everyone needs to comply with these
as soon as possible. I'm saving up for propane! Choose chipping
or composting yard waste over outside burning.
Historical/Archeological Resources
Many rural homesites contain historical
resources such as Indian grinding rocks, old structures, even
cemeteries. Such resources are important to preserve for further
study and as incredibly valuable antiques and artifacts for our
descendants. There are various local, state, and federal agencies
that can assist you with the identification, preservation, and
restoration of historical resources. Most agencies aren't interested
in taking over these sites, just in preserving them.
Water Quality
Follow the advise under erosion control
to help protect water quality. Minimize the use of pesticides
and herbicides. Keep your septic system working properly. Take
used oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, and other toxics to recycling
centers.
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Andy
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