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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Apr 6, 2016 11:22:59 GMT -5
It may look more economical to go with cheaper, but how long do you plan to be in the game? Today's hard bite can save many annual nibbles. My family is still using metal irrigation pipe that was purchased 40 years ago. It's 4" in diameter, and 40 feet long, and a bitch to move. But it's been as reliable as one could ever hope for. Some of the sprinkler heads are worn out and need to be replaced. It's gonna suck to pay the price for brass sprinklers. But they'll last for decades, while it's questionable if a plastic sprinkler head will make it through the first summer. |
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Post by steev on Apr 6, 2016 21:39:48 GMT -5
Exactly! It's like docking your dog's tail (which I would never do, anyway); one shot or a little bit at a time?
One may not see the point of straining to buy quality, but it's generally less expensive in the long-run, so the real question is the time-frame one expects to be involved with it (will one's progeny be involved with it; does one give a husky fuck about one's heritage to one's progeny?). It's interesting to note that there was a generation or two, in the USA, during which many people expected to move about every five years, so they didn't plant fruit trees (Why should I plant what I won't harvest?); thankfully, that seems to have changed, people having realized that they might not move and, if they did, they would appreciate fruit trees planted by previous owners. The question is: would you or your progeny benefit, today and in the future, more from stocks/bonds or a functional irrigation system and the knowledge of how to use it?
It's the same general concept as landrace planting; it may seem wasteful or unproductive at first, but it can result in lasting, better production, not to mention a more adaptable way of seeing things; that adaptive attitude being very valuable, in itself.
In a less horticultural mode, one encounters the "why should I pay to educate other people's children?" or "why should I pay to up-grade infrastructure, when this will serve as long as I need?"; it's about civil society. Damned few of those who think they are entirely capable of taking care of their own needs are not ignoring the contributions of others, on which they depend, benefit, and regard as their right by existing.
Ya gotta pay ya dues!
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Post by johninfla on Apr 7, 2016 4:43:10 GMT -5
Good points about the bitter flavor of cheap quality lasting much longer than the sweet taste of a good price! As I have been working with it, I realize that the 8 mil is really thin and is a pain in the neck to connect. (also have to be careful of the dog and kids). My previous drip (on the fruit trees) has been 1/2 inch black pipe with 2gph drippers insert It is MUCH easier to work. Joseph, your comment about the sprinklers is right on target. Cheap sprinklers don't even last a year! I think, I have learned that: drip is good, BUT when I replace I need to go to the higher quality. Philosophically speaking.... an investment in a semi-permanent/permanent system will mean my kids don't have to replace it every couple of years. (Although, 39 bucks for 1000 feet was a sweet deal---  |
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Post by steev on Apr 11, 2016 23:14:35 GMT -5
True, but $10,000 in Enron stock would have been worth diddly-squat had you bought at the wrong time.
Don't get me wrong; I've bought "poorly-timed Enron stock" more than once; have I told you about my marriage?
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