Sustainable Farming Bits.

I found an international array of useful stories on sustainable farming and food endeavors.

In South Africa, we have a report on intensive small plot growing for urban farmers and we find it's echo in a report from Newton MA.

Pacific Canada offers a piece on Farmers markets that is applicable anywhere.

The UK is increasingly focused on sustainability with growing excitement. Carp farming and free range livestock options were among the weeks features.

Oregon sees the arrival of enhanced water retention supplements for arid region farming while sustainable vineyards come to California .

Green Economy Bits.

I tried to set up my Google news feeds to gather Green Tech and Sustainability stories but there isn't really a keyword standard just now.

Amid the convulsions on Wall Street the Alternative energy news front is mainly enthusiastic and I imagine there are streams of smart venture capital flowing toward this sector while many others tank.

So below find a mish mash of stories from the last week or so about prospects for ALternative energy investment and growth.

Peoria brings an item on heat pump plans.

There's some early Merger and Acquisition movement in solar.

Post petro economy options are grist for Canada's pending election.

Web world is revving up new venture research portals.

And Harold sums it up.

Slob Chic Horticulture.

Over the course of the summer I've kept an eye out for columbines, clematis and balloon flowers in various lush neighborhood gardens. I was waiting for the blooms to fade and seed pods to form to gather a few and brighten another corner.

It's kind of cool as you are doing it the ancient way rather than opening a packet from a store. Another aspect of my Slob Chic approach turns on leaves. The area around my office is dropping crab apple leaves and some other sidewalk exotic I haven't pegged yet. It's dropping lots of seeds now too.

Since these leaves compost easily, I mulch the impoverished soil of the elderly ornamental strip along the sidewalk. Why toss these into the recycle stream when they are free and useful here?

Internal Environmental Quality.

By Jesse Herman from Asbestos.com

What fills your lungs inside your home may be worse that what you’re breathing outside!

For decades, the word “pollution” has been on the docket of every politician campaigning for one office or another. Cleaning up our air, our water, and our overall outdoor environment has been a huge priority since the 1960s, when the word “air pollution” first came into vogue. We’ve fought for emission laws, battled against companies that empty hazardous chemicals into our streams, and have made numerous other attempts to reduce the carbon footprint stamped on our outside world.

But what about the world inside our homes and offices? Surely, aside from a few germs and bacteria spread by family members and co-workers, our interior domains – for the most part – keep us safe and healthy, don’t they?

Not really. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), known health effects of indoor pollutants include asthma; cancer; developmental defects and delays, including effects on vision, hearing, growth, intelligence, and learning; and effects on the cardiovascular system.” (Source: Healthy Buildings, Healthy People: A Vision for the 21^st Century) And when you consider that the average American spends 90 percent of his/her time indoors, it’s easy to understand why cancer rates and the number of people affected by other environmental diseases are through the roof!

Hazards of Old Homes and Workplaces

Indoor environmental contaminants weren’t much of an issue when America was involved in the post-World War II building frenzy. The biggest concern was providing homes for all those growing baby boomer families, so houses went up quickly. Builders like William Levitt – famous for his many “Levittown” developments – constructed thousands upon thousands of homes in just a few years time, enticing homebuyers to the suburbs of America’s great cities where they could buy mass-produced homes cheaply.

Of course, not ever quickly-built, inexpensively-priced home of yesteryear was toxic, but many probably contained one of the biggest hazards of the 20^th century – asbestos. Little or no thought was given to the use of this naturally-mined mineral; everyone was impressed by its heat- and fire-resistant qualities, and because it was readily available, it was cheap and easy to obtain.

However, during the last 30 years, asbestos has emerged as the poster child for indoor environmental toxins, sickening not only those who worked in the construction industry of that era but also homeowners and do-it-yourselfers who came in contact with toxic forms of the mineral.

While bundled, intact asbestos generally causes no release of toxins and may merely require containment, damaged or old asbestos in both homes and commercial buildings can be a real stinker. “Friable” asbestos – the old stuff that crumbles and flakes off – is easily inhaled and absorbed into the lungs, where it wreaks havoc with pulmonary function. While not everyone who inhales asbestos develops asbestos-related diseases, the risk is very real, especially when asbestos is disturbed during renovation or demolition projects. Asbestos was used in various sorts of insulation and could also be found in floor tiles, “popcorn” ceilings, drywall glue, and myriad other building products. It’s often encountered during remodeling, much to the surprise of many homeowners.

And because most asbestos diseases, such as the cancer mesothelioma, remain latent for 30-40 years, many individuals who were unaware of the dangers of working with asbestos – including both homeowners and construction workers – are just learning that they’re battling this dreaded disease. Currently, there are no mesothelioma treatments that result in a cure.

New Homes?

Of course, the building boom continues in America, despite economic woes, and we no longer have to worry about asbestos and other similar toxins, do we?

Ever walk through a poshly-decorated sample home and take a deep whiff of that “new home” smell? Aah…doesn’t it smell marvelous? Fresh paint, new carpets…all those things you’d want in your brand new abode. Nothing to worry about here. No asbestos, no lead paint. Just a safe and clean place to live, free from all the contaminants found in old homes that were built before toxins were a concern, right?

Wrong! Various scientific studies have shown that our tightly sealed homes of the 21^st century are full of toxins. Remember that “new home” smell? That’s just a plethora of cancer-causing vapors drifting through your home, cleverly disguised as those “fresh and clean” smells that are expected in new construction. These petro-chemical concoctions from products such as synthetic carpets, toxic paints, particle board, and OSB (a.k.a. wafer board) are slowly sickening the inhabitants of newer homes and offices and most Americans simply don’t realize this is the case.

So, what’s the answer? Green building experts will tell you it all has to do with reducing what they like to call VOCs – volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde – at the source. These compounds cause cancer, skin ailments, and any number of other diseases, like asthma, which is at an all-time high among the nation’s children.

Asbestos may be a thing of the past, but today’s widely-used inexpensive building materials are destined to be the new asbestos. Formaldehyde, for example, is everywhere. You’ll find it in pressed wood cabinets and furniture, paints, glues, draperies, and in fuel-burning appliances. Eliminating formaldehyde at the source by choosing eco-friendly building products significantly reduces exposure to toxins and increases the internal environmental quality of a home or office.

Building green has never made so much sense and more and more green builders are emerging. Buyers of new homes and renovators of old ones, however, must be willing to go the extra mile and spend the extra dollar on building products that make sense. The quality of our indoor spaces – in a time when Americans spend way too much time indoors – is an issue which must be addressed with ongoing fervor – a fervor necessary in order to avoid another asbestos-like environmental catastrophe.

Added Value Found.

I've been looking into the rise of locally produced added value food items as they are an indication of a long term rooted regional food economy. It turns out that there are so many that the topic needs its own periodic column.

In this case it will be a fun haphazard thing, a summary of food finds in no particular order or organizing principle.

Vermont is one of the more avid states for small holding food makers. Many can only be found through the directory section of The Northeast Organic Farm Association of Vermont.

A few examples I found with websites include Arcana Gardens in Jericho, VT with a cottage industry array of foods and herbs, the Brotherly Farm in Brookfield with a focus on certified organic dairy, meat and produce, and the Flack Family Farm in Enosburg Falls, which is exploring special fermentation for Sauerkraut and Kim Chi.

Sawmill Site Farms makes a conventional Sauerkraut all with several other condiments at its Western Mass facility. Cricket CreekFarm in Williamstown MA has several artisan cheeses to meet the run of seasons. Appalachian Naturals is growing a line of salad dressings in Greenfield MA Harvest Craft is gathering Chanterelles in the Petersburg NY area. They also make a line of Jewelweed soap.

The Big Picture Link Directories.

The most useful aspect of this thing, if any, are the link directories in the "Big Picture" link list. Allow me to direct your attention to tow, in particular as they can be really helpful when you are trying to find resource things like a retailer of Solar Panels. For much of the emerging eco technology, there is hardly a retail franchise system in place. Traditional outlets like Home Depot or Lowes are well behind the curve as it is all brand new. The Eco Business directory is predominantly focused on North America and is a wealth of stuff for the end user consumer.

The Green Pages are more international in scope like a giant data base and may be particularly useful for those who are doing research about business options. Between them you should be able to find out about neaarly any green based thing in the expanding post petro world.

Consider New Dreams.

Juliet Schor is to American working stiff and consumer awareness problems what Susan Faludi is to a very enlightened feminism and we as a nation are better for the presence of both.

Back when I still listened to NPR, she was always one of my favorite commentators with her tireless exploration of the horrific deal working stiff families have been handed since Reagan waltzed into office to begin a protracted period of ruination and looting for average working Americans that is now wildly imploding.

New American Dream is her brain child, a valuable site for those who are seeking ways to protect themselves from out of control marketing that wants to turn your hapless toddlers into constantly whining nightmares over consumer trifles.

Making a good bullshit detector in modern predatory America is fairly difficult so it is good to know that Professor Schor is on it.

Neptune's Harvest and Monster Pumpkins.

I first read about the potential of certain seaweeds for soil enrichment and livestock feed in the 1980's in a now out of print Sierra Club guidebook by Micheal Berrill about the North Atlantic Coast. They had a series of astonishingly good guides to many diverse biomes but for some grubby reason, have failed to keep the series in print. The child of Muir has been going down hill for a few decades and the loss of this reference set is just one example. Used copies can be found at Amazon and Al Libris.

Back then I didn't see much evidence of anyone with a business model for actually bringing this renewable resource to market and use was limited to a few savvy organic gardeners and farmers. Times have changed. This valuable resource has gone from being overlooked to being coveted as this quarrel story from Maine indicates.

Gloucester Massachusetts based Neptune's Harvest is one of the very few businesses that have run with this potential, an outgrowth of a decision to turn fish preparation by-products into soil enhancers and livestock feed. Here is the core of their story from their website.

"Neptune’s Harvest is a division of Ocean Crest Seafoods Inc., which was established in 1965 as a wholesale fish and seafood company. The focus of Ocean Crest has been to purchase the freshest seafood the “port of Gloucester” has to offer and distribute it to many of the best supermarkets, restaurants, and retailers on the East Coast."

'The Neptune’s Harvest division came about as an endeavor to fully utilize the fresh fish that we process. When a fish is filleted, (the process of cutting the edible portion from the fish) up to 70% of it is in the form of heads, skeletons, scales and fins. In 1986, when Neptune’s Harvest was started, this portion was being brought out on fishing boats and dumped back to the sea. Clearly there was a need of more economical and environmentally sound method of use for this valuable by-product.'

"Ocean Crest Seafood’s and Neptune’s Harvest, in conjunction with the state of Massachusetts and its local universities, has developed a process through which we changed an environmental hazard into an environmental benefit, the result being Neptune’s Harvest liquid fish fertilizer. After several years of trial and error and further refinements we now believe that we have the finest fertilizers (either organic or inorganic) available today."

Ms Ann Molloy directs sales for Neptune's Harvest and graciously provided a sense of how this has worked for the company over the passing years.

Describe the business growth over the past ten years.

"Our sales have almost doubled every year. I contribute this to the rise in organic awareness and the fact that our products work so well, the word of mouth factor really works for us."

Has the seaweed harvest side helped to offset losses to the seafood side due to fishery depletion?

"The seaweed does help spread the fish out further, so we have more fish to sell, when supplies are low."

How is the livestock feed aspect doing?

"Because of the high price of soybeans, as a protein source, we are selling more fish to be used with feed. Fish is a less expensive and better source of protein. Seaweed in the form of Kelp Meal, is an excellent animal feed as well. The Kelp Meal is fed free choice and has many minerals and other nutrients animals need to stay healthy. The reports back from customers has been amazing on this product. I’ve heard stories about animals being on deaths door, and completely rebounding after being fed the Kelp Meal."

Are you seeing growth in the larger order areas for organic farming operations?

"Yes, as organic acres increase we are selling larger quantities to organic farms. Some even buy by the 4500 gallon tanker-truck."

How far does your customer base extend?

"We sell throughout the country and also small amounts to Asia, Europe, Canada and Mexico."

Has an online presence contributed to your growth.

"Yes. Every year we increase internet sales, and more and more farmers are searching products out on-line now. It is also helpful that farmers can get application rates and usage guides on-line, so they can get what they need right away."

So there you have it, a very intelligent sustainability adaptation by a local small business built from smart collaboration with governmental and academic research entities here in the Commonwealth that promises to have a very valuable role in needed soil enhancement for the growing number of family farms springing up all over the region. Whatta pumpkin!

Sense of Place: New Hampshire Seacoast.

Sense of Place: The New Hampshire Seacoast.

I spent most of the early 1990's living in Portsmouth New Hampshire or Kittery, Maine. Portsmouth was affordable and surprisingly complete, a perfect micro city. The other area communities are robust and live-able as well.

The seaward face of the area is part of the last stretch of sandy beach littoral before the coast goes rock bound and cobble strewn north of Portland, Maine.

There is a significant inland body of sea water called the Great Bay where a workable brackishness and substrate is attractive to Oysters. There were rumors of rare bold Atlantic Salmon nosing up the Piscataqua back then and current data tends to confirm a ghost presence at best.

This makes the bay a growing center for sustainable mariculture. One of the more notable projects is a mussel farm off the Isles of Shoals.

The bay is fed by a lacing of small coastal rivers that all make home to good spots of farmland and this is where the region has really seen growth. The first indication is a fairly extensive network of farmers markets for nearly every town in the area. This indicates a good solid local loop that marks a rebirth of patterns that obtained in the pre-supermarket era.

The markets, in turn, are served by an impressive variety of sustainable farms . Seacoast Eat Local has made a handy portal into the region. Slow Food Seacoast also offers detailed pieces on the growth of ingredients options.

The farms, for their part offer a number of models and foods. Willow Pond offers a place for individuals to share in crop creation in a community farm design. Meadows Mirth and New Roots hew closer to a family farm model. All of the former focus on produce, flowers and herbs.

Lasting Legacy, McClary Hill and Riverslea farms are examples of different meat, egg or poultry operations with Riverslea also preparing wool.

And finally, Seacoast NRG gives a glimpse into energies directed to energy alternatives and completes a sense of how this unique corner of New England is moving away from the fossil fuel era.

Solar Convergences and other Energies.

There have been a run of encouraging reports over the past week amid the big picture market turmoil and electoral attention. There is an encouraging acceleration of solar install activity on the horizon.

Spire Corporation is cited as a growth engine here. Soon after come announcements from National Grid, and an echos in Pittsburgh. New Jersey is weighing in on wind. Vermont has expansion plans for bio-gas production in dairy farms.

The best thing about all this and a likely factor in accelerated growth is the install costs when compared with proposing, designing, permitting, insuring and building a conventional power plant and I imagine the decentralization is pretty appealing too.

There is also a likely advantage in cost overrun relief, surely a welcome thing here in Massachusetts, where cost damage from the horrific Big Dig has cast a blight shadow over the entire remaining infrastructure as it leaves a crippled economy in the State Government sector.

So, as the finance world chokes on its own mess and the media pummels us with drivel about the election, may we take comfort in the likelihood that these decentralized adaptations may have a useful impact well before the 700 billion dollar bailout does, if it does.