Swamp Coolers no longer an acceptable substitute for A/C as heat rises

Investment Analysis Clubs Macro Economic Trends and Risks
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About 50 years ago I had summer job as an engineering intern doing US Defense Dept fallout shelter surveys North of Amarillo. While even the Holiday Inn had real A/C, the cheap apartments we rented to save money had swamp coolers.

Fortunately I grew up in a Connecticut River Valley home without air conditioning and the area around Hartford was then famous for it’s profitable shade tobacco industry since the Summer growing climate was similar to Cuba’s. I was accustomed to the heat and humidity.

In my youth, you could get a summetime job at age 14 in the tobacco fields. But eventually they were scooped up by harder working Puerto Ricans who stayed and prospered under the robust Connecticut social safety net. They are now the largest ethic group in Hartford at 44% while non-Hispanic whites have dwindled to 12%.

Through my brother decamped to a seaside home on Prudence Island in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island about 5 years ago. I used to joke that when he was occupying our childhood home, he was surely the only Fellow of the Casualty Actuary Society residing in the zip code. {{ LOL }}

intercst

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Yep, I had young friends in Bloomfield who worked the tobacco fields and sheds.

MLK worked in tobacco in Simsbury around that age.

Most of the industry is in Windsor now. Bloomfield and Simsbury have very little of it left.

I was friends as a young kid with one of the Culbro kids. We may have discussed that at one time.

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USDA has changed NYC’s plant hardiness Zone from 7a to 7b due to warming. This refers to the lowest expected winter temperature which can kill plants.

I wonder how the warming climate will affect traditional crops like the tobacco in CT.
Wendy

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Given that tobacco is grown commercially as far south as Georgia and South Carolina, I think tobacco will be safe with a little warming in CT.

DB2

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The AHS (American Horticultural Society) has Heat Zones. Basically the average number of days above 86F/30C which triggers stress in many plants. So a cold tolerance zone change doesn’t necessarily mean a heat zone change.

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Thanks for sharing this Heat Zone map. Like plants, I dislike temperatures over 86 degrees. I like living in Sequim, WA which has the among the most consistent cool temperatures year-round. If I were to move I would consult the Heat Zone map.

Wendy

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I’ve been watching a lot of gardening videos on Youtube lately. People seem to make a big deal about the hardiness zone. But it can be a little misleading. I live in Seattle in Zone 9a. I have a friend who lives in Texas, also in 9a. He’s harvesting his peppers before I even plant mine.

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CT is different. We grow the wrapper leaf. That might move further north.

Windsor is already north of Bloomfield and Simsbury but only a tad so.

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Cuban, Dominican, Honduran, n Nicaraguan tobacco farms all grow tobacco wrapper and filler.

Tobacco is gonna survive.
:cigarette:
ralph

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It offers a mild creamy flavor unlike the others. Not better just its own thing.

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Mostly likely has to do with overnight temps. TX has probably had 70+ night time temps since May. Guessing you’ve just gotten there. Have you checked out the Pepper Geek on Youtube? They have good tips on peppers.

To me, hardiness zone is more important with perennials/shrubs/tress where heat zones are a little more important for annuals.

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