Green 101: Intro to Sustainability Week 5 – Energy

Week 5 was all about energy, both non-renewable (fossil fuels) and renewable (hydro, wind, solar, biofuel, etc) and what we can rely on as a society in the future.

In short, the problem with fossil fuels is that they not only come from finite sources, but negatively affect the atmosphere with harmful CO2 emissions. Not to mention that the instability of the areas where oil comes from jacks the prices up, which makes it economically feasible for oil companies to drill in places that are difficult to get at (oil sands, offshore drilling, etc). Same with natural gas and hydrofracking. While these methods will produce more reserves (therefore extending the time until we run out of oil), it really only delays the inevitable and keeps us dependent on an unsustainable resource.

And while an option like nuclear power produces less CO2 with energy production that can be scaled up manually, there are very real concerns of security and danger of contamination (NIMBY). Enter well-known renewable energy sources, and there are limitations there as well.

Green 101: Upcoming Permaculture/Sustainability Classes

I haven’t listed classes in a while, but there’s always something going on in the world of Permaculture! To see previous classes I’ve posted, click here.

Nutritious Delicious! Cooking Seminar – Wild Game and Pasture-Raised Meats: A Savory Natural Meat Cooking Seminar

Tuesday, October 2, evening workshop times TBA
Part of a series of six seminars covering both basic and advanced culinary skills.  Held roughly every other month on a topic related to the season, these sessions are designed to assist those interested in eating “lower on the food chain”, more in keeping with the freshness of the season — and more economically as well!

Green(ish) Guest Post: Ditzy Druid Learns Homesteading

 

Not technically a guest post for F that S, but the Ditzy Druid went to the local Homesteading Fair a couple of weekends ago and did a recap on her blog. Here is a snippet of what she experienced:

A Great Time at the Homesteading Fair in Lowville, NY

September 9, 2012 by greycatsidhe

Yesterday I went to a Mother Earth News Homesteading Fair in Lowville, NY.  It was located at the Maple Ridge Center, kind of a hybrid farm, winter recreation retreat, and Christian education facility.    Thankfully, the event was secular in nature and thus very accessible.  The cost was only $10 for a whole day ($15 for the weekend) consisting of vendors, food, children’s activities, live demonstrations, and workshops.  The workshops and demonstrations were lead by experts such as educators in the Jefferson County Cornell Cooperative Extension, farm vets, the New York State DEC, maple syrup orchards, the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, alternative energy experts, and the Sustainable Living Project.

All Cooped Up

Over the course of a weekend, Butch built us a chicken coop! He designed it himself and got the materials mostly free from work. And despite how the photos make it look, I did help out (mostly with the painting/decoration side of things). Butch has been researching heritage breeds that are both good layers and meat birds. We’ll be ordering in the spring from a supplier that doesn’t require a minimum (since we’re not planning on having more than 8 or 10 total). I grew up with chickens (and one mean rooster that loved to trap me on the jungle-gym), but this will be a new experience for Butch.

Between our expanded garden, the upcoming chickens, working out a quarter-share situation on our neighbor’s cows down the street (and cutting down on beef-consumption in general) and trading in a clunky gas-guzzler for a new fuel-efficient Subaru, we are trying to do our part to live sustainably in our small corner of the world!

Green 101: Intro to Sustainability Week 3 – Tragedy of the Commons

This past week was all about “Tragedy of the Commons,” which is  defined by Wikipedia as: “A dilemma arising from the situation in which multiple individuals, acting independently and rationally consulting their own self-interest, will ultimately deplete a shared limited resource, even when it is clear that it is not in anyone’s long-term interest for this to happen. This dilemma was described in an influential article titled “The Tragedy of the Commons”, written by ecologist Garrett Hardin and first published in the journal Science in 1968.”

The example used by Hardin was a public-use field that was improperly managed and had become overgrazed by cattle. In his view, it is human nature to get as much as we can out of a common resource, with no regard to the long-term effects or the effects on the community/world as a whole. This inevitably causes an irreversible degradation of that shared resource. Many authorities chose to interpret this theory as suggesting that the only solution would be to privatize the resource, which has proven to be effective in the case of fisheries world-wide. Hardin has since clarified that “A ‘managed commons’ describes either socialism or the privatism of free enterprise. Either one may work; either one may fail.”

Not everyone is so doom-and-gloom. In this article, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elinor Ostrom talks about how humans can (and do) self-organize and solve problems. Communication and a well-defined, common goal is key, but her research has concluded that it’s usually the people using that resource who are best able to come up with a solution, without any outside authority intervening. Her examples seem to focus mostly on the local level, but there are definitely ways cooperation can be translated to national and international problems as well! As Ostrom says, “there are no panaceas,” meaning, the same solution can’t be used every time – each issue has to be examined and worked out in a custom way. Sure, it’s extra work, but there’s nothing more beautiful than true community in action!

Naturally the community-based focus of this week got me all fired up! And despite what I said last week, I did wander back into the forums again…

Communal Spirit: Learn Homesteading Skills

Homesteading Fair 2012

September 8 & 9
Saturday 8AM-5PM   Sunday 8AM-4PM
Maple Ridge Center, East Rd., Lowville, NY

$10/person or $15/weekend pass
(children 17 and under free when accompanying a paying adult)

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County in conjunction with Mother Earth News are responding to the increasing numbers of people inquiring about raising backyard poultry, beef, and other livestock, food preservation, energy alternatives for homes and farms, and back-to-the-land management skills with a new educational event.

Workshops * DIY Projects * Demonstrations
Gardening: Vegetable–Herb
Canning & Preserving * Beekeeping
Maple Syrup Production * Woodlot Forestry
Small-scale Farming * Raising Poultry-Livestock
And much more!
Vendors * Farmer’s Marketplace * Food

For a schedule of workshops, click here.
For directions to the Maple Ridge Center, click here.
Check out the Homesteading Fair Facebook page here.

Presented by the Cornell Cooperative Extension Lewis County
For more information: Call (315) 376-5270

Related articles

• Homestead Resources (sheryltwitty.com)
• Mother Earth News Star Homesteaders 2012 (slowfoodsmama.com)
• Roomorama Approved: Thousand Islands! (roomorama.com)
• Preserving classes bolster can-do spirit (redding.com)

Bounty in the Land of No Rain

 

While I’ve been taking random photos throughout the summer (and I’ll get them up eventually), I haven’t been very good at sharing much of the newly created flower beds and newly expanded garden. I can’t express how thankful I am to the various friends who’ve given me perennials from their gardens/stores – my little flower beds look like they’ve been there forever, not like they were just built this year! And Butchy has put in SO MUCH WORK in expanding Fort Knox (including having to build raised beds in parts that were too rocky) and adding in all sorts of new veggies. We now have root veggies, rainbow swiss chard, flashy trout-back lettuce and have even started an asparagus patch! We still seem to be having issues with coaxing forth any green peppers, and unfortunately by the time we realized our brussel sprouts were not flourishing there were no plants left to buy….But the beauty of the North Country is that you always have a friend, a community garden, a co-op or a farm stand that you can buy veggies from cheap and fresh!

We also started a few different berry patches and a variety of fruit trees – I’ll post photos of those soon. And as usual, there was no shortage of butterflies, bees and birds nesting in our birdhouses….or building nests wherever they felt! Even Smash-cat, perpetual homebody, decided that she was now a wild-thing and wants to be outside all the time, stalking the wild potato beetle.

2011 saw torrential rains that stalled the creation of the original part of the garden, and this year we were sidetracked by a neighbors broken tiller…but at least we seem to be right on the same production schedule we were last year. Maybe next year we can get an earlier start, but I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, all by ourselves! We’re in talks with a neighbor on buying a quarter-share of a cow and on the horizon for next year at the Five Birch Perch? CHICKENS!

 

Green 101: Upcoming Permaculture/Sustainability Classes pt 5

I’ve definitely gotten behind on sharing these classes, but decided to take some time to finally sift through all my Permie mailing lists to share the opportunities that haven’t already happened (and if its too late for some, at least you know for next year)! And to see what I’ve already posted for this year, click here.

And besides the classes/events listed below, check out Ithaca Freeskool, the Sustainable Living Project, Yestermorrow Design Build School and the Hog Island Audoban Camp (in Maine!) for continuous opportunities to learn this summer.

Spotlight On: North Country Community Gardens

In a 2010 article from North Country Public Radio on Zenda Farm’s community garden, the benefits of such gardens is described perfectly: “The Community Garden Initiative brings neighbors together and empowers them to supplement their food supply by growing healthy and nutritious food themselves.  Community gardening stimulates social interaction, encourages self-reliance, truly beautifies neighborhoods and produces nutritious foods, while reducing family food budgets.  Also, the community is connected to the source from which their food originates, fostering a sense of trust and collaboration among the participating residents.”

A more recent article from the Trust for Public Land, has farmer Jen Smith elaborating: “It’s so important that people have the option to get food locally,” says Jen. “One can see, from looking at the current food system, that it’s just not sustainable to truck and transport food. There’s real strength in having local agriculture in cities and towns…We want to offer super-fresh local produce, but also a place to see your neighbors, a place for kids to camp, run through a field, and watch a carrot come out of the ground—places like this are hard to come by these days.”

Naturally, Zenda (pictured above) is the first community garden I’ll mention, the farm being a TILT preserve, but other established, and fledgling, community gardens are available in the North Country as well:

TILT Announces New Staff in T.I. Sun

Serious street cred in the T. I. Sun! Although, I do think it’s time for me to lay low for a while – people are going to get tired of seeing my mug all over the local news. And, while we’re talking blogging about the new job: I went on my first TILTrek of the season – a Signs of Spring walk on Macsherry Trail, led by naturalist Peter O’Shea (who has a fantastic NYC accent). See photos from that trek here. And make sure to follow TILT on facebook, twitter and even YouTube!

Green 101: Upcoming Permaculture/Sustainability Classes pt 4

I will list classes as I hear of them (and I don’t really have it in me to fix all the formatting – sorry in advance!) And see other classes I’ve already posted here.

—

The War of 2012: Pale Swallowwort vs. Me

After receiving a newsletter last summer from the Thousand Islands Land Trust, I realized that the entire back hill on our property (and all along our neighbors driveway and the seasonal road) is covered with the dreaded pale swallowwort.

Besides being near impossible to eradicate, this invasive weed can be deadly to Monarch butterflies. Swallowwort is related to milkweed, which Monarchs traditionally lay their eggs on. Unfortunately, Monarchs can get confused and lay their eggs on the swallowwort instead, and when the caterpillars hatch, they die.

Green 101: Upcoming Permaculture/Sustainability Classes pt 3

As I predicted, listing upcoming Permaculture/sustainability classes has become an ongoing series. Here goes the latest batch:

Green 101: Upcoming Classes/Events pt 2

Since posting my latest list of upcoming sustainability classes and events, a few more have appeared in my inbox. So here’s part 2 of what will probably become an ongoing series:

—

Green 101: Upcoming Permaculture/Sustainability Classes & Events in the North Country and Beyond

Being subscribed to about a million and one Permaculture mailing lists, I’ve been seeing a overabundance of interesting workshops on the horizon for end of winter – summer in the North Country, Northeast, and beyond. I’ve listed the courses in chronological order as best as I could, but there’s a lot here, so get comfortable:

Can Bartering Help Reinvent the North Country?

I don’t know how to express how completely inspired I am by Ithaca-based Share Tompkins – if only because it’s exactly, EXACTLY, the type of thing I want to organize up here in the North Country/Jefferson County. Share Tompkins is a volunteer-run group that was formed through an open community meeting in 2009, and through their efforts help folks share and trade goods and services in Ithaca and Tompkins County. Sidenote: Of course it was Ithaca that managed to launch a successful bartering system – they’ve developed a local currency that currently has over $100,000 in circulation!

Obviously, bartering isn’t new, but when money is tight, why not get what you need through a trade of your own skills and resources? Craigslist was the original give-and-take site (albeit with sometimes shady motives), with others like Freecycle, Neighborgoods and Task Rabbit following suit by zoning in specifically on the trade aspect. But Share Tompkins goes beyond the virtual by hosting local events. And that’s what bartering is all about – building community with face-to-face, human interaction.

Folks in the North Country are a resourceful, and highly skilled bunch. It’s not unusual to trade snow-plowing for canned goods, but the connections are typically word-of-mouth and don’t usually result in a broadening of your social circle, since everyone who trades tends to know each other already. A group like “Share Jefferson/Share North Country” could not only get your porch built for the price of your accounting services, but could introduce you to the neighbors down the road that you normally just wave to as you drive by.

So what do you think – could the North Country work as a bartering society? Or is there a different solution that would work for this unique area?

Image from alt-market.com

Winter Solstice Tutorial From the Ditzy Druid: White Pine Tea

Grey Catsidhe over at the Ditzy Druid posted a great Winter Solstice tutorial on white pine tea:

Tonight, a recipe perfect for wintery nights! It uses an ingredient native to my home in Upstate NY –  pinus strobus – The Eastern White Pine.  If you live around the North Eastern part of America, you’re probably very familiar with these trees.  They should be especially recognizable to anyone who has ever spent time in the Adirondack Mountains.  They’re very common there!  In fact, the word “Adirondack” is Iroquois for “bark eater” – a reference by the Mohawks of the Algonquins.  They would eat the nutritious inner bark during difficult winters.  The White Pine is also culturally important to the Iroquois as the Tree of Peace.

Bookworm: World Made by Hand

Inspired by the book club list for the P’lovers store in Kingston (which I blogged about here), I recently borrowed World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler from my local library.

Set in upstate NY in a not-too-distant future, World focuses mainly on former software exec turned handyman Robert Earle and his small town of Union Grove. Peak Oil is a thing of the past – the world is post-apocalyptic, with large cities either nuked or in the midst of epidemic-fueled civil war, and small towns living in what is essentially olden times.

This is no horror story a la The Road, but a starkly realistic picture of what daily life might actually be like if things keep going how they are. And it’s not all desperation and hardship – the strongest passages in the book describe tasks we take for granted now (cooking for example) in an eye-opening and informative way. I’m not sure how accurate the Kunstler’s solutions are on a mechanical level, but the book at least got me thinking about my own disaster preparedness (which is a big part of Permaculture), and how currently lacking I am in that department!

Major plot twists also happen: A cult-like religious sect moves into town, a local plantation owner’s crew goes missing (a team is dispatched to the Wild West of Albany to go find them) and a local turf war breaks out between the regular folks in town (who have finally started to organize themselves) and the gang of shady characters that run the local dump/salvage yard. There are some weird moments of awe-inspiring hoodoo surrounding the religious group and their leader, giving me a sneaking suspicion that the author personally believes that religion is necessary in times like these (of which I disagree, but that’s neither here nor there).

All in all, World Made by Hand is inspiring, not just in its useful tidbits on how to refrigerate food once the electricity is gone, but in how communities can successfully pick themselves up, as a collective whole, even when all hope seems to be lost.

 

Book cover from Better World Books

Spotlight On: Organizmo

With headquarters based on a small farm in Tenjo, Columbia (about 30 kilos from Bogota), Organizmo is doing their part to change the world, one sustainable habitat at a time. Their mission statement:

We are a Design School for Sustainable Hábitats  focused on developing concrete actions towards the creation if sustainable communities through organic architecture and community work.

ORGANIZMO  is a place that promotes  the principles of permaculture, bio-architecture and the implementation of intuitive technologies, contributing to community empowerment through the knowledge and local resources and through the facilitation of a spaces that makes possible the implementation and technology transfer, education and advocacy groups from life experiences and the assessment of sustainable systems.

 Only parts of the website can be viewed in English, so I can’t get too many details on all the projects Organizmo seems to be involved in, but just the photos alone are inspiring!

Photo from Organizo’s Techos Verdes project

 

A Heap of a Community Garden Project

Miss Angela, patron saint of popular music, sent me a link from Imogen Heap’s website concerning a community gardening effort in her London neighborhood. Apparently there are the remains of a burned down Manor’s walled kitchen garden in a local park, and Heap has joined forces with UK Charity Clear Village to revitalize it as a community garden. From what I understand, for 2 weeks in September, while the folks at Clear Village (and volunteers) work on clearing debris, tilling, creating artwork for the space and meet to discuss the garden’s future, Heap will be working onsite on her newest album (Heapsong3), inviting anyone who drops by to contribute.