#port-alberni — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #port-alberni, aggregated by home.social.
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One extra large soft (soft fabric, not plastic or leather) bean bag! Free to a good home.
3854 6th Ave #PortAlberni
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One extra large soft (soft fabric, not plastic or leather) bean bag! Free to a good home.
3854 6th Ave #PortAlberni
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2/2 Along the same plumbing lines... I am also preparing the pumps themselves.
One major thing to do was to splice in an extension cord to the cord for the pump. Obviously this is a "break the warranty" situation, but there is no way around it really. The included cord is only about 6ft to the electronic controller unit and AC/DC transformer. It needs to be much longer to reach even just the shed beside the intake bay where the main pump lives.
I do have two of these pumps so I am holding off extending the second one until I know this first one is successful and happily pumping away in the pond.
The second one will take water directly from the bottom of the main pond as opposed to the intake bay, but it is only additional capacity and isn't critical. Ideally I will have both on at half power normally. But for now, we start with this one!
Need to get butt connectors and heat shrink tubing tomorrow. Ill probably do this electrical work on Thursday or Friday night so I can test it out hopefully Saturday!
#poolpond #pandemicpond #backyardProject #portalberni #gardening #diy -
2/2 Along the same plumbing lines... I am also preparing the pumps themselves.
One major thing to do was to splice in an extension cord to the cord for the pump. Obviously this is a "break the warranty" situation, but there is no way around it really. The included cord is only about 6ft to the electronic controller unit and AC/DC transformer. It needs to be much longer to reach even just the shed beside the intake bay where the main pump lives.
I do have two of these pumps so I am holding off extending the second one until I know this first one is successful and happily pumping away in the pond.
The second one will take water directly from the bottom of the main pond as opposed to the intake bay, but it is only additional capacity and isn't critical. Ideally I will have both on at half power normally. But for now, we start with this one!
Need to get butt connectors and heat shrink tubing tomorrow. Ill probably do this electrical work on Thursday or Friday night so I can test it out hopefully Saturday!
#poolpond #pandemicpond #backyardProject #portalberni #gardening #diy -
1/2 #poolpond update since my last post got unintentionally deep-sixed and now there is further progress!
on Saturday and Sunday we got supplies and I installed the irrigation box. It involved digging Yet Another Hole, plus small trenches on three sides to accomodate pipes from the main water areas.
Convincing the valves/manifold to fit into the box was a chore, but we got there!
Also fed the main pipe line through the box which yes, involved disconnecting it from the filter pond end, and basically feeding the filter box along the pipe, back to the hole.
In all it turned iout well. I will be removing/rearranging the stream near the tree and adding another layer of liner just for that doversionary stream so I can contain/isolate it fully if I want and also feed the two pipes exiting toward the big pond under the stream so it is less visible in the end.
Sometimes I feel like as this goes I think up more things to do and it makes it all interminable, but really, it just makes it better!
but wait there's more after the pictures...
#pandemicpond #backyardProject #portalberni #gardening #diy -
1/2 #poolpond update since my last post got unintentionally deep-sixed and now there is further progress!
on Saturday and Sunday we got supplies and I installed the irrigation box. It involved digging Yet Another Hole, plus small trenches on three sides to accomodate pipes from the main water areas.
Convincing the valves/manifold to fit into the box was a chore, but we got there!
Also fed the main pipe line through the box which yes, involved disconnecting it from the filter pond end, and basically feeding the filter box along the pipe, back to the hole.
In all it turned iout well. I will be removing/rearranging the stream near the tree and adding another layer of liner just for that doversionary stream so I can contain/isolate it fully if I want and also feed the two pipes exiting toward the big pond under the stream so it is less visible in the end.
Sometimes I feel like as this goes I think up more things to do and it makes it all interminable, but really, it just makes it better!
but wait there's more after the pictures...
#pandemicpond #backyardProject #portalberni #gardening #diy -
oh boy HGTV just picked #PortAlberni for a hometown makeover!
The first seas for Hometown Makeover Canada!
https://vancouversun.com/news/port-alberni-wins-community-makeover-tv-show
#hometown #hgtv -
oh boy HGTV just picked #PortAlberni for a hometown makeover!
The first seas for Hometown Makeover Canada!
https://vancouversun.com/news/port-alberni-wins-community-makeover-tv-show
#hometown #hgtv -
I have been itching to do a #poolpond update because today was a good day! Yesterday we went to Rona for some supplies including an irrigation box to hide the valves and a few cans of foam sealant to start foaming in the rocks and waterfall at the head of the poolpond.
Today was irrigation box day and it was not light work! I also managed to squish a finger between two rocks… twice.
Had to dig a hole to hold the box and get the top reasonably close to ground level. That took a bit plus three small trenches to allow the 2” hose to reach down into smoothly. (I avoided elbows and stuff because they slow/impede the flow of the water)
Also had to use some leftover cloth and pond liner to make sure the hole was within the system and would not lose water out of the system if any connections leaked.
One hose goes straight from the main pond in the pump bay pond to the bog filter.
The second hose goes into the manifold (set of red/white valves) and the flow can be split between going to the poolpond to act as water recirculation and flow from outlets in the bottom and outlets near the top of the water, or into the bog filter. (Note to self at least ONE of these valves MUST be open at all times)
Next weekend I will work on foaming in the rocks on Saturday and hopefully fill the system Sunday!
#gardening #pond #irrigation #yardwork #backyardProject #portAlberni
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I have been itching to do a #poolpond update because today was a good day! Yesterday we went to Rona for some supplies including an irrigation box to hide the valves and a few cans of foam sealant to start foaming in the rocks and waterfall at the head of the poolpond.
Today was irrigation box day and it was not light work! I also managed to squish a finger between two rocks… twice.
Had to dig a hole to hold the box and get the top reasonably close to ground level. That took a bit plus three small trenches to allow the 2” hose to reach down into smoothly. (I avoided elbows and stuff because they slow/impede the flow of the water)
Also had to use some leftover cloth and pond liner to make sure the hole was within the system and would not lose water out of the system if any connections leaked.
One hose goes straight from the main pond in the pump bay pond to the bog filter.
The second hose goes into the manifold (set of red/white valves) and the flow can be split between going to the poolpond to act as water recirculation and flow from outlets in the bottom and outlets near the top of the water, or into the bog filter. (Note to self at least ONE of these valves MUST be open at all times)
Next weekend I will work on foaming in the rocks on Saturday and hopefully fill the system Sunday!
#gardening #pond #irrigation #yardwork #backyardProject #portAlberni
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My water bill came in recently, which is kind of appropriate considering all the pond talk.
Since building it, the front yard #pandemicPond very very rarely is topped up on its own from tap water. Generally we keep it full from rain water, the rain barrel, or as part of the general low-flow spray/water system for the yard in the summer. So our water consumption really is dependant on how much garden watering we are doing. I'm not surprised we were high last year as we watered the new green-driveway and young trees.
The #PoolPond might, or might not, be different given the sheer volume *and* surface area (ie. evaporation). We have a 1000L rainwater barrel in the back yard, but that would only be useful for replacing evaporation losses at best in the poolpond.
I'll have to fill it once or twice in the coming weeks and possibly once a year if I do an annual cleaning at the end of the summer. We'll see. This year will also feature a return of vegetation to the back yard, so we'll likely be watering it more than when it is established in a year or two.
The city splits our bill into 3 periods per year, which is a little weird but ok...
Our household consumption has varied quite a bit since the pandemic due to changes in household composition (kids moving to uni etc) or us being more or less active in the garden.
I am happy that we used very little water this winter/spring, the least since 2022. I expect it to spike in the current April-August period as both kids have returned and I'll be doing all this pond stuff. But if I can keep it under 150,000L ($150) on the August bill, I'll be happy.
In the coming years, if I can use less in the Fall, Winter and Spring to "save up" for Summer, that would be nice but minimizing all seasons will always be the goal. That's why more trees are going to happen in the backyard at some point. Shade=Less watering!
In all, I'm happy with the only modest rise in our water consumption over the past few years.
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My water bill came in recently, which is kind of appropriate considering all the pond talk.
Since building it, the front yard #pandemicPond very very rarely is topped up on its own from tap water. Generally we keep it full from rain water, the rain barrel, or as part of the general low-flow spray/water system for the yard in the summer. So our water consumption really is dependant on how much garden watering we are doing. I'm not surprised we were high last year as we watered the new green-driveway and young trees.
The #PoolPond might, or might not, be different given the sheer volume *and* surface area (ie. evaporation). We have a 1000L rainwater barrel in the back yard, but that would only be useful for replacing evaporation losses at best in the poolpond.
I'll have to fill it once or twice in the coming weeks and possibly once a year if I do an annual cleaning at the end of the summer. We'll see. This year will also feature a return of vegetation to the back yard, so we'll likely be watering it more than when it is established in a year or two.
The city splits our bill into 3 periods per year, which is a little weird but ok...
Our household consumption has varied quite a bit since the pandemic due to changes in household composition (kids moving to uni etc) or us being more or less active in the garden.
I am happy that we used very little water this winter/spring, the least since 2022. I expect it to spike in the current April-August period as both kids have returned and I'll be doing all this pond stuff. But if I can keep it under 150,000L ($150) on the August bill, I'll be happy.
In the coming years, if I can use less in the Fall, Winter and Spring to "save up" for Summer, that would be nice but minimizing all seasons will always be the goal. That's why more trees are going to happen in the backyard at some point. Shade=Less watering!
In all, I'm happy with the only modest rise in our water consumption over the past few years.
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4/4 Spent the day today with @Tree turning the water on and off, and the pump on and off.. watching how the water comes out of the bog filter and down into the poolpond. Pump is only at 25%, which is more like 15% as there will be a second pump as well in time.
Shifted some of the flat stones around and got them in a nice place. I had to do some hand digging under the lining near the tree. I am pretty sure the berm is too low there for when the pumps are at full force, but I am ok with where things are now. There is lots of opportunity to build the edges up if need be.
For now, I am going to work on sealing the rocks along the edge in to help direct the water.
I also need to splice in an extension cord into the pump wiring so that I can run a long enough distance to have the power supply and controller in the small shed and not hiding under the liner at the top of the pond. 🤣
#pandemicpond #PoolPond #gardening #portalberni #home #yard #bloomscrolling #BackyardProject
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4/4 Spent the day today with @Tree turning the water on and off, and the pump on and off.. watching how the water comes out of the bog filter and down into the poolpond. Pump is only at 25%, which is more like 15% as there will be a second pump as well in time.
Shifted some of the flat stones around and got them in a nice place. I had to do some hand digging under the lining near the tree. I am pretty sure the berm is too low there for when the pumps are at full force, but I am ok with where things are now. There is lots of opportunity to build the edges up if need be.
For now, I am going to work on sealing the rocks along the edge in to help direct the water.
I also need to splice in an extension cord into the pump wiring so that I can run a long enough distance to have the power supply and controller in the small shed and not hiding under the liner at the top of the pond. 🤣
#pandemicpond #PoolPond #gardening #portalberni #home #yard #bloomscrolling #BackyardProject
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PS.
Here are the two outlets. This is probably not how it will look in the end, but just a starting point. Once I have the water flowing how I want it to, I will use pond foam sealant to lock the rocks into place and force the water into its final channels and patterns but as you can imagine there is some trial and error to be done before that big step.
For noe you can see there is a fold of liner sitting vertically betwewn the rocks to split the channel. I really have no idea where the water will get to once at full force so this might be too high, or too low but it should not be too far off.
The main thing is that the water is contained within the greater system around the tree. That's the trickiest part right now.
It is a wonderful tree. We don't want to drown it.
Speaking of which, if you are wondering about water. Yes. This is thousands of litres of water. But at this point I am not worried if I need to fill up and drain the bog filter a few times. All extracted water will go into the rest of the garden anyway, so aside from a little evaporation, nothing will be wasted.
Still waiting on it to fill. Looks like it won't be full before quitting time. oh well! Back tomorrow water experiments!
#pandemicpond #PoolPond #gardening #portalberni #home #yard #bloomscrolling #BackyardProject -
PS.
Here are the two outlets. This is probably not how it will look in the end, but just a starting point. Once I have the water flowing how I want it to, I will use pond foam sealant to lock the rocks into place and force the water into its final channels and patterns but as you can imagine there is some trial and error to be done before that big step.
For noe you can see there is a fold of liner sitting vertically betwewn the rocks to split the channel. I really have no idea where the water will get to once at full force so this might be too high, or too low but it should not be too far off.
The main thing is that the water is contained within the greater system around the tree. That's the trickiest part right now.
It is a wonderful tree. We don't want to drown it.
Speaking of which, if you are wondering about water. Yes. This is thousands of litres of water. But at this point I am not worried if I need to fill up and drain the bog filter a few times. All extracted water will go into the rest of the garden anyway, so aside from a little evaporation, nothing will be wasted.
Still waiting on it to fill. Looks like it won't be full before quitting time. oh well! Back tomorrow water experiments!
#pandemicpond #PoolPond #gardening #portalberni #home #yard #bloomscrolling #BackyardProject -
2/2 Then I moved on to working on finalizing the stream and edges of the poolpond.
After a trial run last fall I realized I needed to do a little more sculpting of the clay at the front of the pond where the bog filter and poolpond meet.
I would like to encourage a long waterfall along the front edge.
So after some peeling back of the liners to reinforce the berm in a few spots near the tree especially, I made a proper ledge at the front and am laying down some of the slate that we also used on the #pandemicpond in the front yard. It'll tie the two in conceptually.
Now I am filling the bog filter with city water (the likelihood of filling from the skies is long gone now) but I will only fill it enough to get a read on where the water is wanting to flow.
Ideally I would like two channels from the bog filter.
The main one will go toward the poolpond, along the front and spill over from there.
A secondary one will go close to the tree to be used if I need to divert the water from the poolpond but still want to keep the filter and system active.
Now I wait... I'm running out of time for today but will be back tomorrow. If I'm lucky, I might be able to get a pump back in and start up the system!
the apple waych strap is hiding a tan line... but it is not just a tan unfortunately lol
#PoolPond #gardening #portalberni #home #yard #bloomscrolling #BackyardProject
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2/2 Then I moved on to working on finalizing the stream and edges of the poolpond.
After a trial run last fall I realized I needed to do a little more sculpting of the clay at the front of the pond where the bog filter and poolpond meet.
I would like to encourage a long waterfall along the front edge.
So after some peeling back of the liners to reinforce the berm in a few spots near the tree especially, I made a proper ledge at the front and am laying down some of the slate that we also used on the #pandemicpond in the front yard. It'll tie the two in conceptually.
Now I am filling the bog filter with city water (the likelihood of filling from the skies is long gone now) but I will only fill it enough to get a read on where the water is wanting to flow.
Ideally I would like two channels from the bog filter.
The main one will go toward the poolpond, along the front and spill over from there.
A secondary one will go close to the tree to be used if I need to divert the water from the poolpond but still want to keep the filter and system active.
Now I wait... I'm running out of time for today but will be back tomorrow. If I'm lucky, I might be able to get a pump back in and start up the system!
the apple waych strap is hiding a tan line... but it is not just a tan unfortunately lol
#PoolPond #gardening #portalberni #home #yard #bloomscrolling #BackyardProject
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1/2 lots of yard work today. Cleared out the evil invasive blackberry stalks trying to gain a foothold in our blueberry/rose/rhodo/otherthings garden.
You don't realize how much there is until you pull it all out and pile it in one place!
We are slowly leveling the mountain from the #PoolPond so this was helpful progress on that front.
Managed to extract the biggest blackberry root ball I have ever seen from beside our tinkerbell lilac.
#gardening #portalberni #home #yard #bloomscrolling #BackyardProject
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1/2 lots of yard work today. Cleared out the evil invasive blackberry stalks trying to gain a foothold in our blueberry/rose/rhodo/otherthings garden.
You don't realize how much there is until you pull it all out and pile it in one place!
We are slowly leveling the mountain from the #PoolPond so this was helpful progress on that front.
Managed to extract the biggest blackberry root ball I have ever seen from beside our tinkerbell lilac.
#gardening #portalberni #home #yard #bloomscrolling #BackyardProject
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Time to tackle a blackberry bush.
Wish me luck.
#portalberni #gardening -
Time to tackle a blackberry bush.
Wish me luck.
#portalberni #gardening -
RE: https://socialbc.ca/@alberniweather/116637238458327305
I was part of a panel of speakers at the AVTTS "When Smoke Clears" Public Forum last week in Port Alberni. I wasn't able to give my whole presentaiton as we were short on time, so I've uploaded a podcast version of it to @alberniweather
Check it out! New data from Environment Canada make it pretty clear why we are losing our snowpack. Plus... I believe 50ºC is in our not-too-distant future.
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RE: https://socialbc.ca/@alberniweather/116637238458327305
I was part of a panel of speakers at the AVTTS "When Smoke Clears" Public Forum last week in Port Alberni. I wasn't able to give my whole presentaiton as we were short on time, so I've uploaded a podcast version of it to @alberniweather
Check it out! New data from Environment Canada make it pretty clear why we are losing our snowpack. Plus... I believe 50ºC is in our not-too-distant future.
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Public Forum today – 7PM at Char’s Landing – When Smoke Clears: Wildfire Risks and Mitigation
Just a quick note to let you know I will be on the panel this evening at the forum hosted by Alberni Valley Transition Town Society titled "When Smoke Clears: Wildfire Risks and Mitigation". This is in response to the Alberni Inlet wildfire last year and other nearby wildfires of late. There will be representatives from the ACRD, Island Health and BCWildfire as well as hopefully our MP Gord Johns and Tseshaht Chief Councillor Wawmeesh Ken Watts. I'll be on the panel as a member of AVTTS and […] -
Public Forum today – 7PM at Char’s Landing – When Smoke Clears: Wildfire Risks and Mitigation
Just a quick note to let you know I will be on the panel this evening at the forum hosted by Alberni Valley Transition Town Society titled "When Smoke Clears: Wildfire Risks and Mitigation". This is in response to the Alberni Inlet wildfire last year and other nearby wildfires of late. There will be representatives from the ACRD, Island Health and BCWildfire as well as hopefully our MP Gord Johns and Tseshaht Chief Councillor Wawmeesh Ken Watts. I'll be on the panel as a member of AVTTS and […] -
my least favourite part of our garden is the hedge we share with the neighbour (who are extremely nice).
Thus, when I do maintenance of it... I tend to be a little more brutal.
like say.... cutting any branches on our side down to the stump.
it grows so fast! it also harbours evil ivy and holly bushes
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my least favourite part of our garden is the hedge we share with the neighbour (who are extremely nice).
Thus, when I do maintenance of it... I tend to be a little more brutal.
like say.... cutting any branches on our side down to the stump.
it grows so fast! it also harbours evil ivy and holly bushes
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best secondary car-related purchase (trailer) i have ever made beside the next best car-related purchase i have made.
This trailer has been infinitely useful even if the car is not technically "rated" for it, a cross-Canada trip and endless runs to the transfer depot, stores, soil dispensary, and rock yard have made it a huge part of our home life. Even if the lights on it only work 75% of the time (seriously... how can they not make these things more robust?)
And the little electric pump is so great. Can plug in to both 120V home and 12V car outlet, has multiple ends for different types of tires and inflatable things. Great for home, car and camping. Set a PSI or kPa, hit the go button and it runs until the pressure is met.
Highly recommend! (both purchased at CanTire but the trailer comes from many places under different names (all made in Ontario). The pump is CanTire brand Motomaster
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best secondary car-related purchase (trailer) i have ever made beside the next best car-related purchase i have made.
This trailer has been infinitely useful even if the car is not technically "rated" for it, a cross-Canada trip and endless runs to the transfer depot, stores, soil dispensary, and rock yard have made it a huge part of our home life. Even if the lights on it only work 75% of the time (seriously... how can they not make these things more robust?)
And the little electric pump is so great. Can plug in to both 120V home and 12V car outlet, has multiple ends for different types of tires and inflatable things. Great for home, car and camping. Set a PSI or kPa, hit the go button and it runs until the pressure is met.
Highly recommend! (both purchased at CanTire but the trailer comes from many places under different names (all made in Ontario). The pump is CanTire brand Motomaster
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This transplanted arbutus tree has established itself and is reaching for the sky now!!
#arbutus #madrone #gardening #portalberni -
I love my driveway.
#altgrass #home #portalberni -
The daughter @Jade came home last night from a semester in Cork, Ireland and she is trying to deal with the fact that it is literally double the temperature today — at 26.6°C — of anything she experienced in the green vistas of windy and misty southern Ireland. 🇮🇪 ☔️ 🍀
(These are firmly first world problems, but her confusion and pale skin is funny nonetheless especially considering Vancouver Island is the “rainy” place of Canada )
#weather #ireland #canada #portalberni -
@NuanceRhymesWithOrange meanwhile: 29, 30, 31°C forecasts this weekend in #portalberni 😬 🥵
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@NuanceRhymesWithOrange meanwhile: 29, 30, 31°C forecasts this weekend in #portalberni 😬 🥵