Biodynamic treechange (homesteading)

New York finally sees the light while Australians get a dimmer view

One thing New York has lots of is roofs, and for many of them, not much happens on them. That could all be about to change.

The State has just passed legislation that will update its net metering standard, from the tiny and almost insignificant 10 kilo Watt cap for solar installations, limited to residential only, up to a gold-standard 2 Mega Watt, available to all customer classes. It is expected that this will have a critical impact on opening the market for large scale solar installations in New York, and is viewed as a significant step towards building a major solar market in the Big Apple. (Net metering allows a customer’s electricity meter to “spin backwards,” providing a credit on their utility bill when their on-site renewable energy systems send unused power to the grid.)

Forums and Yahoo Groups - a fun way to tap a huge knowledge base

Regular readers here will know that I'm a member of quite a few internet groups and forums, and find them an excellent source of knowledge.

Whether it's just by 'lurking' and only viewing what's being commented on, or actively participating in the discussion by contributing comments, there's much to be gained by communicating with a whole range of people all over the world who are doing similar things to you. The format allows you to ask what you think are the most basic questions without fear of ridicule, knowing that someone out there has an answer.

You get to choose your level of engagement to, by either reading the posts on each groups website, or by being sent emails of the posts, either singularly or as a daily digest. (Isn't technology amazing?)

Thanks to the 350 Challenge, we've created a brighter planet

A quick post today, and it's on a cheerful note.

Four weeks ago, Brighter Planet launched the 350 Challenge to help bloggers raise awareness for the fight against global warming. The 350 Challenge ties in with Bill McKibben's 350.org campaign that I wrote about in this earlier post 350 - the new magic number we all need to know

In return for posting about the 350 Challenge and leaving a link on your site, just like the badge in the left column on the Biodynamic Treechange blog, Brighter Planet would offset 350 pounds of CO 2 for each blogger who joined the challenge.

Seems we quickly rose to the challenge.

The real deal with raw milk and the raw deal with unreal milk

For some time now, I've been keeping an eye on an on-going battle in America between dairy farmers who provide raw milk, and the various Government and industry bodies that are trying to shut them down, under the guise of what's best for the community and 'safe' food.  Then my friend Ann at Sunnyside Projects sent me a link for Herdshare Australia, a new movement to have raw milk available here in Australia, so I knew some research needed to be done.

What is raw milk?

Basically, it's milk straight from the cow, unprocessed (homogenised, pasteurised or contaminated in any way) and full of all it's original goodness.

What's the problem with that? If that's what you want to eat, and can source a dairy farmer willing to sell you their milk directly, more power to you, I say. Unfortunately it's not quite that simple, in fact in most parts of the 'developed' world, it's illegal.

The concern that the authorities have is that raw milk is full of bacteria. This is actually the way it's supposed to be - what do all mammal's feed their infants for the first few months? And do we call that 'raw' milk?

Australia's Climate Change Bill - What do we want and when do we want it?

Before my wife Therese and I left Sydney to commence our 'treechange' here on the Mid North Coast, Therese had been very active in the then fledgling Climate Action Coogee (CAC)group. We are now members of the local group here, Climate Change Australia - Hastings, one of many grassroots groups united under the Climate Change Australia banner.

So it is with some pride that I'm able to report what has been happening with Climate Change Australia, and where they are at.

Healthy nutritious produce from Near River

This is a very important day for us here at 1466.

We had a working bee over the long weekend, and with dear friends prepared more beds in our market garden paddock, pulling out grass, and turning the soil. Now all there is to do is add some calcium by way of gypsum and lime, and some aged cow manure.

The seedlings will be underway this weekend in the shadehouse, so all appears to be set.

The weather has even been onside, with good rains and as yet no frost.

And just as well, as this week we've launched our Community Supported Agriculture project, Near River Produce.

Soil and health's true Samaritan

One of many the things that I love about the Internet and World Wide Web is the ease with which we can now access information on such a broad range of topics, and the width and breadth of material that can be sourced. It has brought a massive library to the fingertips, studies and libraries of those of us lucky enough to be able to access it. (No, here is not the time to mention information overload.)

However, my jaw hit the floor when I came across what Steve Solomon has created with the Soil and Health Library.

350. The new magic number we all need to know.

 

In December 2009, the world's leaders will sit down in Copenhagen to sign a successor to the Kyoto Treaty. Over the next two and a half years, we, the nations of the world, are supposed to negotiate the level of greenhouse gas emissions that we as a unified globe will commit to accepting. That is the level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere that we believe to be acceptable to allow us to continue to live sustainably on the planet.

Yes, I know it's a big call. If the precursor in Bali late last year was any indication, it's going to be an interesting couple of years.