Green-Trust.Org

A common objection to biomass energy production is that it could divert agricultural production away from food crops in a hungry world — even leading to mass starvation in the poor countries.

True or not?

Not true: at best it’s an oversimplification of a complex issue. It just doesn’t work that way, and neither does hunger.

“A major criticism often levelled against biomass, particularly against large-scale fuel production, is that it could divert agricultural production away from food crops, especially in developing countries.

The basic argument is that energy-crop programmes compete with food crops in a number of ways (agricultural, rural investment, infrastructure, water, fertilizers, skilled labour etc.) and thus cause food shortages and price increases.”

-Read More-

RIP Bernie Mac …..

Last weekend we were at Woodhenge.org helping and filming the construction of two solar power systems with workshop attendees. Then it was off to South Colton this week helping Roger set up his off-grid system at his new Adirondack Cabin in the woods, then this weekend it’s off to VT to help Ellen build a solar water heater. You can see the project Pics at http://www.green-trust.org/2008-08-03%20assorted/. We even saw a Moose last night on our way home from South Colton.

Dear Steve,
David Blume to be interviewed on a special 3 hour Coast to Coast Radio Program
Thursday 7/15 Starting 10:00pm PT
hosted by George Noory - talk radio’s 2nd most popular commentator reaching millions of Americans nightly

TUNE IN AS DAVID SHREDS BIG OIL AND ITS ANTI-ETHANOL CAMPAIGN
(click this link to find the Coast to Coast radio station in your area www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/07/17.html)

It’s finally our turn at bat! Renewable energy expert David Blume, author of the widely acclaimed new book Alcohol Can Be a Gas! (www.alcoholcanbeagas.com) is going to expose and dispel the propaganda and misinformation about Ethanol and renewable energy. The program promises to deliver the truth about how we can be producing clean and sustainable energy and food at fractions of the cost of toxic fossil fuels.

This is our chance to show big media that the public demands better and more in-depth information about Ethanol, the best solution available to battle climate change, famine and fuel lines.

What can you do:
Tell all your friends about the book (www.alcoholcanbeagas.com) and the Coast to Coast radio interview Thursday July 17, (www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/07/17.html).

Tune in to Coast to Coast and don’t hold your opinion, it’s a call in program so let them know you support David with comment and questions.

The program will be archived, so if you happen to miss it Thursday night, go on-site at www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/07/17.html, listen there and copy the interview link to send on to your network

Keep alert for, attend and advise your friends and colleagues about David’s coming appearances and presentations.
American Independence Hour radio - Tues, July 15
Coast to Coast Radio with George Noory – Thurs, July 17
EORenew/SolWest Fair - July 25, 26, 27 - Canyon City OR
MidAtlantic Renewable Energy Association Conference - Kutztown PA - September 19-21
SolFest - Hopland CA - August 16 - 17
* The University of Guadalajara Mexico - August 23rd 8 hr workshop for teachers as well as conference plenary speaker
Renewable Energy Roundup Sept 13- 14 Carson City, NV.
Workshop Hopland CA Oct 5

Thank you for your support and interest in a Green and sustainable world
For more information about David, Ethanol, IIEA or Permaculture, visit
http://www.alcoholcanbeagas.com

Presented by

The Martin Family, friends &

Martins Roadside Market 1260 SH 11-B; Potsdam, N.Y.

July 19, 2008

Topics to be covered:

1.    Farm Tour w/ Organic Nutri-Farming discussion 2-5pm Call Luray at 315-268-0309

2.    Cheese Making & Hot Water Bath Canning 12-5pm Call Rachel at 315-265-0026

3.    Bee Keeping 12-2pm Call Luke at 315-265-0026

4.    Natural Herb ID & Use Nature Walk 12:45-1:45 Call Dawn at 315-244-6061
5.    Timber Framing & Passive Solar Construction 12-2pm+ Call Cherie at 315-328-5559
6.    Children’s Programs (Singing, Storytelling, Berrypicking…) Call Cherie at 315-328-5559

Please call by July 16^th to Signup for your area of Interest

Workshops are flexible and you can attend more than one at the same time (kinda)

Followed by a Potluck at 5:30pm & a Singing at 7:00pm

Rain date July 26^th

Unsurprisingly, inevitably, rising gas prices have brought increased interest in the water-powered car. Is there really a simple technology that can dramatically boost the efficiency of conventional cars or, better yet, allow you to run your car entirely on tap water?

http://tinyurl.com/watercar

Want to get our DIY Solar install guide for free? Visit http://www.green-trust.org/ebooks/ and try out our new tell-a-friend application. Tell 9 friends about our website, and we will give you our solar install guide absolutely free. So go ahead, with the price of everything including fuel rising these days, take advantage of a free offer.

In an ongoing process of improving our DIY Generator / Battery Charger, we are now experimenting with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This will be used to match engine rpm with load, instead of maintaining a high engine rpm regardless of load. Go Carts, Snowmobiles, Cars, and now even bicycles are being produced with this “simple” gadget. To learn more about CVT’s visit wikipedia, and stay up to date on our progress, by picking up our DIY Gen eBook and joining the discussion group.

http://www.green-trust.org/ebooks/

The PowerCost monitor comes in two parts. The first, a sensor, is attached to your electricity meter. It works on all standard residential meters and is easily installed (no electrician required). The sensor sends a wireless signal to a small display unit. You can put this anywhere in the house.

The unit can be configured with your local electricity rates (it can even cope with differing billing systems, including tiered rate and peak/off-peak rates) to show you the amount of money your energy use is costing you at any one time. Watch it get cheaper as you turn off the unwanted items around the house…and that’s how you save.

Terra Blog

Car alternators don’t typically make good battery chargers for off-grid homes. The deep cycle battery requires special charging to maintain a long life, as it gets discharged and recharged deeper, and more often than a car battery. There is hope, however, for the ubiquitous car alternator. By driving it with a small engine, and adding a smart regulator to vary it’s field coils, you now can build a high amperage portable battery charger, as we have outlined in our eBook at http://www.green-trust.org/ebooks/. The Smart Regulator of choice is the Ample Power SARV3. It includes the ability to also charge a starting battery, control two alternator fields connected to the same engine, and offers battery temperature compensation. We highly recommend it.

Wikipedia defines Appropriate Technology as follows:

Appropriate technology (AT) is technology that is designed with special consideration to the environmental, ethical, cultural, social and economical aspects of the community it is intended for. With these goals in mind, AT typically requires fewer resources, is easier to maintain, has a lower overall cost and less of an impact on the environment.

Proponents use the term to describe technologies which they consider to be suitable for use in developing nations or underdeveloped rural areas of industrialized nations, which they feel cannot operate and maintain high technology. Appropriate Technology usually prefers labor-intensive solutions over capital-intensive ones, although labor-saving devices are also used where this does not mean high capital or maintenance cost.

In practice, it is often something that might be described as using the simplest level of technology that can effectively achieve the intended purpose in a particular location. However, the terminology is not very precise.

Come visit our Appropriate Technology Design group to discuss and develop Appropriate Technology Solutions. Discussion of what is appropriate technology, where it can be used, and how to build it is the focus of this group.