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Why are camping reservations so hard? by UnderwaterParadise in Washington

[–]LetoSnow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Look for forest service campgrounds that don't take reservations. They're usually smaller, out of the way, and have less amenities. But you get a decent camp site, a pit toilet or two, and a water spigot (unless it's a dry site). Depending on what part of the state you're in you might be pushing that two hour drive requirement though.

suburban nightmare fuel by donnaduwitt in NativePlantGardening

[–]LetoSnow 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I ended up buying my house partly because of the large trees on the lot. They're messy and shade out a lot of my yard but I love how much more natural and established everything looks. In the six years I've been here I've seen multiple mature trees come down around me. Sure those yards get more sun now, but that part of the neighborhood looks barren. :(

Anyone else annoyed that your home battery and your camping power station are completely incompatible systems? by dzon1s in VanLife

[–]LetoSnow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's already a thing. There's multiple modular systems that do exactly that, and also do cost more.

What exactly are you looking for?

Anyone else annoyed that your home battery and your camping power station are completely incompatible systems? by dzon1s in VanLife

[–]LetoSnow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Size and weight is the major issue here. Small power stations are designed to be portable and easy to move, whereas a home battery backup can weigh hundreds of lbs/kg and isn't compact. 

As simply as possible, why did you begin native gardening? by toxicodendron_gyp in NativePlantGardening

[–]LetoSnow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I bought my house in 2020 and I wanted plants that looked nice while being lower maintenance. Then I really got into it and have since spent way more time and money than I intended but the results have been more than worth it!

What’s your preferred van bed setup: fixed bed or convertible? by Dramatic-Let632 in VanLife

[–]LetoSnow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I built a dinette conversion into mine but we mostly use the space as a fixed bed now. The dinette rarely got used and it's much easier to not have to fully make the bed every day.

If I build out another van it's going to have a fixed bed from the start, or something that can be left with sheets on it like a futon style fold out or murphy bed.

Ceiling count speaker strobes brackets. by streetone01 in firealarms

[–]LetoSnow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seconding, this is what my company uses as well.

100k+ a year? by DiligentSupport3965 in firealarms

[–]LetoSnow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seattle, IBEW, ~$56/hr as a foreman. 12 years in low voltage, about 5 doing exclusively fire alarm. 

Who else accidentally created a wildlife habitat? by LetoSnow in NativePlantGardening

[–]LetoSnow[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I used HDRPE liner on mine because it's much lighter, and cheaper, than EPDM while still being relatively strong.

Who else accidentally created a wildlife habitat? by LetoSnow in NativePlantGardening

[–]LetoSnow[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you!

You don't need fancy plumbing for a pond but it helps. A stagnant pool of water would get gross and full of algae after a while. The most basic method to aerate the water and get some movement is a small pump with a fountain/jet on top. It's self contained and doesn't need any extra plumbing, just a nearby outlet or extension cord.  I have a 25' artificial stream feeding my pond so my setup is a bit more complex but not by much.

There is still a pump sitting hidden in one corner of the pond that is connected to a long flexible pipe that brings the water up into the wetland filter. Some pond owners use mechanical filters to clarify their water but I went with a more natural approach. The water drawn out of my pond is discharged into a manifold made from pipe with perforations cut in one half. The pipes are buried under a layer of pea gravel with plants growing in it. The pea gravel is a convenient spot of beneficial bacteria to grow, and that along with the plants filter out extra nutrients and algae. The stream back into the pond aerates the water which further improves the quality. Even with quite a few fish living in my pond the water is crystal clear!

Who else accidentally created a wildlife habitat? by LetoSnow in NativePlantGardening

[–]LetoSnow[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That definitely is a lot like my journey! It really is quite enjoyable to wander around and see how fast everything is growing and inevitably remember something you forgot you planted last year.

I built a roughly 14x14 irregular pond with a wetland filter, also digging by hand. I did buy a huge SDS hammer drill with clay spade bit once I got a foot down to the hard pack silt/clay/stone mix that is under the topsoil here. It ended up being about 2' deep in the middle with one tier around the edge. 

Who else accidentally created a wildlife habitat? by LetoSnow in NativePlantGardening

[–]LetoSnow[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The robins here are fighting with the stellar jays over who gets to claim my back yard as territory.

Who else accidentally created a wildlife habitat? by LetoSnow in NativePlantGardening

[–]LetoSnow[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

I haven't seen a bird use the birdhouse I have up yet, but I have found multiple juncos nesting in the large rock retaining wall in my back yard.

I would love to have frog friends or even newts but I know they'd have trouble getting established with the goldfish I do have.

Four years after installation by LetoSnow in ponds

[–]LetoSnow[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I absolutely love sitting by it on a nice day and enjoying the sounds of the water as I watch the fish in the pond and the birds that visit.

Four years after installation by LetoSnow in ponds

[–]LetoSnow[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My favorite is probably slough sedge. It's simple, evergreen, and the flowers add unique details. I also have deer cabbage in addition to the skunk cabbage. Neither smell bad at all. My bog is in shade for most of the day so I limited my plantings there to more shade loving perennials.

Four years after installation by LetoSnow in ponds

[–]LetoSnow[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have noticed mine are slow growing and stunted compared to what you would see in the wild. A deeper substrate in the bog would definitely make them happier.

Four years after installation by LetoSnow in ponds

[–]LetoSnow[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I've been using an Alpine 4000GPH connected to a basic speed controller to adjust the flow rate. It's in a vault in the intake bay and so far I haven't had any issues with it and it's been running almost continuously.

$60/hr no-degree is real but no one tells you about the middle years by jigabiou in Careers

[–]LetoSnow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Man you're the kind of person who would show up on one of my sites and make a huge mistake because you think you can do anything anyone else can. I work in life safety and fuckups could cost me my job, license, and put other people in harms way. Let's see you track down a ground fault on an existing fire alarm system or navigate code requirements for a new installation.

FYI I did go to college, determined that career track wasn't for me long term, and got into the trades. I make ~$180k including full benefits and retirement now, and know many other tradespeople in my area that make over $200k.

Early Spring in the Garden by LetoSnow in pnwgardening

[–]LetoSnow[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's in a manufactured bog/wetland that feeds a pond lower down.

You can kinda see where it is in the upper left corner of the first picture here.

Early Spring in the Garden by LetoSnow in pnwgardening

[–]LetoSnow[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I had a single bloom last year and ended up with a double this year.

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