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One of the only websites in English that deals with the practical halachot of gardening during the shmittah year. Thanks for visiting us, I hope you will find it interesting and informative. Please write us back with your comments.

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The shmittah year is more than half over and iv'e had positive feedback from the my website. Even though I don't like to get up on my "soap box" besides cleaning for Pesach, we need to address the idea of saving water. My wife, a few weeks ago went with some of her friends to the Kinneret, she returned to tell me that it was shockingly low. You almost had to walk almost a kilometer to dip your toes in the water. Why am I belaboring this point, because the old attitude of "it will work out" doesn't address the severe situation that we are going through. We have a crisis of immense proportions. Yes, I can almost hear you saying, "Michael almost everything in Israel is a crisis". That's true, but if we don't cut back and fast then we'll have less, more polluted and saltier water. The good news is that their are many different ways to reduce the amount of residential water being consumed. My partner Richard Kovler www.richardsflowers.co.il and myself are available for free consultations for water saving and shmittah questions in the gardens. My number is 0527 642587, Richard's is 0523 722 470. Here is a list, if you have more water saving suggestions please email me at the website.

1. Get rid of those brown drip lines that my partner and I have found in many gardens; replace them with black blind pipes and insert bubblers where needed.
   
2. Most people overwater their lawns. Instead of using the sprinklers every day try 4 times a week at 15 minutes a day.
   
3. Water plants and lawns early in the morning to preserve the moisture in the soil.
   
4. Plant drought tolerant Mediterrian plants and bushes where ever possible
   
5. Use dishwashing or grey water from your sink or washing machine. The soup won't hurt the plants,we did it in California.
   
6. All of you plant lovers will hate me for saying this, why not install artificial grass or silk plants in your garden.
   
7. Fill up your toilet tank with plastic bottles.
   
8. Use low flow water saving devices on your sink faucets.

Here are a few ideas, lets see how creative you can be to solve this national problem.

Hag Kasher Ve' Samach

Michael Doniger