Small talk with neighbors and friends about the drought is
not small talk anymore. The extended drought and low water levels
now has the governor talking about mandatory water restrictions.
Those with or without gardens now have to be concerned about our
water supply. Cooperative Extension is planning educational
efforts to help consumers cope with our serious drought problem.
 In an effort to help citizens cope with the drought,
Cooperative Extension and Rowan County Master Gardener Volunteers
will conduct two workshops on drip irrigation and a Public Water
Forum at Catawba College.
 
 The first workshop will be Friday, July 26th, 9:00 a.m, at
the West End Community Garden on Brenner Avenue. The workshop
will focus on drip irrigation and other techniques on conserving
water in the vegetable garden.  The garden has many different
types of drip tubes and tapes that will provide gardeners
information on water conservation.
 The second irrigation workshop will be Saturday, July 27,
9:00 a.m. at the residence of Amelia Watts, located at 235
Pinevale Drive in Salisbury.  Pinevale is off of Sells Road
toward Mocksville.Directional signs will be posted. This workshop
will feature information and demonstrate drip or trickle systems
for residential landscapes around shrubs and flower beds.
 Drip or tickle irrigation is a type of irrigation which uses
low water pressure and compression fittings.  The object of drip
systems is to keep the soil evenly moist with a constant drip not
allowing the soil to completely dry out.  Correctly designed
systems  meter specific amounts of water near the plant avoiding
waste of overhead systems.
  North Carolina Cooperative Extension is also sponsoring a
public Water Forum on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 at the Tom Smith
Auditorium, Catawba College in Salisbury. The forum entitled
"Water­Wise Rowan"  will provide information to help citizens
cope with the extreme drought. Guest speakers will provide
information on the ground water situation, City of Salisbury's
water supply and it current status, private wells,community
wells, and information on weather patterns from a local
meteorologist. More complete information will be provided closer
to the event. The forum is free to the general public, but
registration is required. For more information or to register,
contact the Cooperative Extension Office at 704­633­0571.