Permaculture » Miscellaneous

YouTube – DON’T REVOKE BP’S CORPORATE CHARTER!

greenerman — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:43:46 +0000

YouTube – DON’T REVOKE BP’S CORPORATE CHARTER!.

Biofuels: Ethanol and Biodiesel

greenerman — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:03:54 +0000

“Biofuels” are transportation fuels like ethanol and biodiesel that are made from biomass materials. These fuels are usually blended with the petroleum fuels — gasoline and diesel fuel, but they can also be used on their own. Using ethanol or biodiesel means we don’t burn quite as much fossil fuel. Ethanol and biodiesel are usually more expensive than the fossil fuels that they replace, but they are also cleaner-burning fuels, producing fewer air pollutants.
What Is Ethanol?
Ethanol is an alcohol fuel made from the sugars found in grains, such as Corn, Sorghum and Barley. Switchgrass can yield almost twice as much ethanol as corn, estimates geneticist Ken Vogel, who is conducting breeding and genetics research on switchgrass to improve its biomass yield and its ability to recycle carbon as a renewable energy crop.
Other sources of sugars to produce ethanol include: Potato skins, Rice, Sugar cane, Sugar beets, Yard clippings, Bark and Switchgrass.
Most of the ethanol used in the United States today is distilled from corn, gving rise to concerns over world food shortages, as biofuels demand increases. Scientists are working on cheaper ways to make ethanol by using all parts of plants and trees rather than just the grain. Farmers are experimenting with “woody crops,” mostly small poplar trees and switchgrass, to see if they can be grown cheaply and abundantly.
Ethanol Is Blended With Gasoline: About 99% of the ethanol produced in the United States is used to make “E10″ or “gasohol,” a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. Any gasoline powered engine can use E10, but only specially made vehicles can run on E85, a fuel that is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

Ethanol Is Nontoxic and Biodegradable. Using ethanol means that we use less oil (a nonrenewable fuel) to make gasoline. Unlike gasoline, ethanol is nontoxic (safe to handle) and biodegradable; it quickly breaks down into harmless substances if spilled.
Ethanol Can Reduce Pollution. When small amounts of ethanol are added to gasoline, usually less than 10%, there are many advantages. Ethanol reduces carbon monoxide and other toxic pollution from the tailpipes of vehicles, making less air pollution. It also keeps engines running smoothly without the need for lead or other chemical additives.

Ethanol is made from crops that absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. So growing crops for ethanol may have the potential to balance out carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. The impact of greater ethanol use on net carbon dioxide emissions depends on how ethanol is made and on whether or not indirect impacts on land use are included in the calculations.

What Is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oils, fats, or greases — such as recycled restaurant grease. Biodiesel fuel can be used in diesel engines without changing them. It is the fastest growing alternative fuel in the United States. Biodiesel, a renewable fuel, is safe, biodegradable, and produces lower levels of most air pollutants than petroleum-based products; below is a video of the backyard version of the process of making biodiesel:

Of course all this uses up land that could be used for food. This practice is better run at small-scale local levels, using waste products exclusively.

Compost your old sofa

greenerman — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:16:19 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Your old sofa – and much more – could be composted, say University of Manchester scientists

22 Feb 2010

Polyurethane plastics used to make a host of products from furniture fillings to shoe soles, cable insulation and paints – and which can be difficult to recycle – could soon be degraded in compost heaps, thanks to a study at the University of Manchester.

Dr Geoff Robson and his team at the Faculty of Life Sciences have found that certain fungi can degrade the plastic in soil. Furthermore the rate of degradation increases when the volume of these fungi is increased or nutrients are added to the soil to boost the fungi’s activity.

They are now carrying out further studies to make sure the degradation of polyurethanes does not adversely affect the composting process or its products.

Dr Robson, whose Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded study is published in the Applied and Environmental Microbiology, said: “This is a significant finding. Polyurethanes are used to make many, many products and can take up a large amount of volume in landfill sites, which are rapidly running out of space. This makes it a major environmental pollutant.

“This study opens the possibility that fungi could be used to degrade these materials instead of dumping them into landfill sites.”

The team placed polyurethane pieces in soil containing fungi and bacteria. As the polyurethane, which is made from petroleum, degraded, the number of fungi increased as they digested the byproducts, showing that it was indeed the fungi that were breaking down the plastic.

Dr Robson added: “Fungi which naturally occur in soils have a remarkable capacity to degrade dead plants and animals, playing a pivotal and essential role in nutrient cycling in the environment. This study demonstrates some of these fungi also have the ability to degrade man-made polyurethanes.

“We demonstrated increased degradation of polyurethanes when buried in soil either by enhancing the activity of fungi already present by adding nutrients to the soil or by adding specific fungi to the soil that had previously been isolated from the surface of degrading polyurethane.”

The team is now investigating how best to apply their findings to polyurethane waste management. One possible method would be to spray fungi onto the polyurethane but another method would be to compost polyurethane along with other compostable materials – using already existing facilities.

Dr Robson, a biochemist and plant biologist who has studied fungi for many years, said: “Fungi are the classic underdogs. If we didn’t have fungi, we wouldn’t be here – we would be buried under mountains of stuff that they break down for us. They are also a treasure chest of pharmaceutical products, producing not just penicillin but also other antibiotics and immunosuppressant drugs. They are used to make arachadonic acid, the fatty acid essential for brain development in babies and used in baby milk formula, and their enzymes are used to turn milk into cheese, make bread dough rise better, clean our clothes in detergents and make fruit juice amongst many, many other applications.

“There is very little research on fungi compared to other microorganisms and only a fraction of them are actually known – around 20% have been identified.

“This latest finding just shows what amazing organisms they are.”

Notes for editors

The paper ‘Effect of Biostimulation and Bioaugmentation on Degradation of Polyurethane Buried in Soil’, in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, is available.

For more information, a copy of the paper or an interview with Dr Geoff Robson contact Media Relations Officer Mikaela Sitford on 0161 275 2111, 07768 980942 or Mikaela.Sitford@manchester.ac.uk.

via Your old sofa – and much more – could be composted, say scientists (The University of Manchester).

Secret Life of the Motorway

greenman — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:27:19 +0000

The End of the Affair: Watch on BBC iPlayer

Part 3 of the BBC series documenting the history of the British motorway, looking at how we began to question the promises made by the motorway and along the way found our voice of protest. After the first 1,000 miles or so had been built, the impact of motorways on both town and country was becoming apparent and Middle England rose up and disrupted public inquiries to voice its frustration, and showing the extent of public protest which has spanned generations, long before Swampy.

Save Chorlton Meadows

greenman — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:13:45 +0000

Historic Hardy Farm, part of Chorlton Meadows in the Mersey Valley, is under threat from development. A company called West Didsbury and Chorlton Grounds Ltd, fronted by Rob Turley who is also vice chairman and CEO of West Didsbury and Chorlton AFC (a separate entity), and formerly of Turley Associates planning consultancy, has purchased all the land shown green on the map, with the immediate intention of building 8 new football pitches including an astroturf pitch, Exempla style fencing and 15 metre (49ft) high floodlights for 2 pitches.

Clicking the map should open a PDF in a new window (Adobe Reader requ’d) in which can be seen the extent of the proposal.

Some of this land has been purchased from Manchester University; who owned the rest is not known.

The area is rich in wildlife and biodiversity; it is the only wild open space in South Manchester and there are already too many under-used football facilites See Google map close by. Floodlights and fencing will completely change the character of the area, and the lights may disturb bats, which are already on the decline in England. Once it is gone it is gone.

A Planning Application has already been submitted for the floodlit pitches; planning already exists for the other pitches, dating from UMIST’s ownership

Objections deadline was Oct 1st 2009, however if you missed the deadline please keep submitting objections. Generally, the dept. will still include ones that are in when they are collating their report. Objections, even as late as the day before committee are included in late representations.

Links: Friends of Chorlton Meadows (biodiversity, photos) | In the News | Contact your Councillor or MP

UPDATES : For more information, posters, leaflets and to see what is happening and what you can do, visit:

WWW.SAVECHORLTONMEADOWS.CO.UK

SOD Zoospores Emerging

greenman — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:29:33 +0000

Sudden Oak Death is a disease that has killed hundreds of thousands of trees in California and Oregon. It has infected large areas of live oak and tanoaks forests. This microscope footage shows the zoospores of Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of SOD, emerging from the sporangia. Under the right environmental conditions infectious zoospores are released and will infect new host trees. …

Plan Carefully When Building a Greenhouse

Saun David — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:14:25 +0000

by Paul Cameron

If you’re thinking about putting up a greenhouse, there are a number of things you’ll need to plan out ahead of time. There’s a vast array of styles, sizes and price ranges when it comes to greenhouses. You might decide to build a greenhouse yourself, or simply assemble a pre-fabricated kit. Either way, there are some fundamental issues you’ll have to think about before you begin. In the end this will save you a lot of time.

Your first step is to carefully consider the best location for your new greenhouse. You might be lucky enough to have just the perfect flat parcel of land where you can build it. Or you might have to create a level patch of ground for it. As well, you need to take a good look at the trees on your property. Your greenhouse should be positioned where there aren’t any trees that will block out the sunlight.

You also need to take into account some weather related issues, like how much sun you get and the climate conditions in your area. If you live further north, you’ll get plenty of sunlight in the summer months. You’ll get much less in the wintertime, however. If this is the case, you will need to supplement the sun’s light with a greenhouse lighting and heating setup. However, this will require an investment of both money and time.

As well, take into account the heat and moisture levels in your region. If your climate tends to be dry, an irrigation system will be necessary. The amount of rain you receive means you need to think about how to deal with drainage. Water and mud may have a tendency to pile up around the door and outside walls.

You also need to consider the wind. Strong gusts coming through the window or door could be very detrimental to your plants. The windows and doors will need to be sheltered as much as possible from the wind.

You also need to think about what kind of foundation you’ll use. You can choose from a variety of materials, ranging from gravel to cement. Some people cover the floor with tile or carpet. However, before you decide, think about the cleaning requirements for the material you’re considering and decide if it’s appropriate for you.

You don’t have to be a professional contractor in order to have a greenhouse on your property. But as you make your plans, you should attempt to think like one. That might be difficult if you’re more inclined to gardening than building. Ultimately, though, you’ll enjoy your greenhouse gardening much more if you take the time to make some plans.

About the Author:

Greenhouses are easy to build and maintain, and are available in an assortment of sizes and materials to suit every home and budget. You can even get an indoor greenhouse if you don’t have a backyard. Learn more at Garden Greenhouses.

Sudden Oak Death

greenman — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:45:08 +0000

This program examines the disease Sudden Oak Death (SOD) which is attacking oaks and now other trees and plants in the San Francisco Bay Area. Program shows the symptoms of SOD on oaks, explains the cause of the disease, and outlines steps people can take to help slow its spread. Includes interviews with UC horticulturist Pavel Svihra who discovered and named this disease, UC Davis plant pathologist David Rizzo who discovered the pathogen responsible, and Forester Kent Julin of the Marin …

National Hedgelaying 2008. Part 1 Chainsaws.

greenman — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:19:15 +0000

A reporter from the Sunday Telegraph asked if the use of the chainsaw was frowned on, some people have a romantic vision of what is involved in hedgelaying. This is my view. …

National Hedgelaying 2007.

greenman — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:05:04 +0000

A view by a Lancastrian cutting in the Yorkshire class, dedicated to Gilbert Johnson and Bert Clarke. …