Drought!

I doubt we've had 10 drops of rain since that last post.  It is now mid July, and as we found out the hard way, one gallon a week per plant is NOT enough when the temps are in the 80s and 90s without any rain. The exposed sides of those mounds just can't keep holding water.   (Oh how I wish we had more mulch!) A few of the bushes looked kind of droopy last week, but we figured it was just the heat, and they'd be fine at night, and until the next watering.  WRONG.  We now have about 22 very sad looking plants, mostly "Reka" variety.  It's so odd, though.  There will be one growing green and beautiful next to one that is crispy.  No accounting for it.  Could be the soil, the plant, the root mass, the  planting job, the amount of peat in the planting hole, how much innoculant it got, something munching or tunneling beneath, etc.  Mysterious.  But we should never have ignored those first warning signs of drooping leaves.  After all, it's their first year in the ground, and they have a lot of new growth to support.  This drought is a killer.  Lessons learned.  I do hope they will put out new leaves and keep going.  Praying for miracles!
  Today, C and a friend and Mom and I went to the free blue field in Tacoma off of D street.  Charlotte's Park.  It has really improved since the last time I was there 10 years ago.  Many volunteers have pruned and cleared and mowed until it's pretty easy to get into and pick.  Those bushes are 70+ years old and have huge canes, some big around as my arm.  They would not be profitable commercially, but free to the public, they are great.  Tiny berries, due to drough and age of plants, but packed with flavor.  We picked for 4 1/2 hours and got about 10 lbs each.  Not much, but free, so not complaining.
  This morning when I checked around for other fields in Thurston and Pierce, I found some out of business, some already closed for the season, and very few u-pick.  I am realizing that not many of these fields are irrigated.  We have an advantage there, because our berries will extend early to late season and will still be plump and tasty when all those non-irrigated fields are producing tiny berries due to higher temps and drought, which is becoming a trend.  I read that they expect drought conditions until Sept. 2016.  Bummer.  Hard time to be farming, especially establishing perrennial plantings. Thank God for good soil, watering system and mulch!  And for the advice of Fall Creek for creating a donut of peat around each plant.  Helps tremendously!
  One great thing is that our water bill for the field is about 1/5 of our house water bill!  Pretty good!  Less than $50 for a whole month.  Of course, we are now doubling our watering, having learned our lesson, but even $100 is not a terribly high price.   Nothing like we feared!!  And only for the summer months.  Once the rains come, we don't have to water anymore.  Yay!  Anyway, looking forward to rain.  Praying for rain!