Hi Organic Community,
Upon reading an article concerning our fellow gardners in Austin having trouble legally watering thier plants, I called the folks that handle the code for my Town of Little Elm in North Texas. The Water Bill Dept told me absolutely no watering under Level 3 which we are at, even after I explained that plants, vegetable and foundations have to excluded somehow. I asked her to transfer me to the group that enforces the code and low and behold, here is the REAL deal:
Vegetable and flower gardens, foundations, and new plantings less than 1 year old can be water on any day and at anytime for any length of time as required to maintain them so long as they are being watered by hand. Hose and nozzle, bucket etc...manual watering is fine. I didnt ask about soakers hoses and drip lines (not recommended in our organic program anyway) but i think those two are not allowed since the owner is not there to monitor them.
If we go to level 4, this will change. I was also informed that level 3 is expected to remain in place at least till June. (Let's keep praying for rain people!
)I hope this helps.