Sustaining SoWal

Just a little shameless self promotion here.  I’ve started a group blog called Sustaining SoWal.  Check it out if you’re so inclined.  The topics discussed are sustainability related (global + local) with the goal of creating relocalization awareness in South Walton County, Florida.  It’s still only a few days old so, not much content yet. 

Filed under: Environment, Relocalization, South Walton, Sustainability

Fill Sand

This ties to yesterdays post regarding the soil or lack thereof in my yard.  My daughter just pulled an all-nighter finishing up her project for the school science fair.  She’s semi interested in ecology, but really, I don’t expect that will be the direction she heads.  Anyhow, her experiment was to grow wheat grass in three different soils and chart their progress.  The findings were as expected, though it’s still amazing to see the actual results.  Here’s the photo.  The row on the left is grown in sand taken from the road, which is similar in composition to the fill they used for our lot.  The row in the middle is store bought, enriched potting soil, specifically formulated for starting seeds.  The row on the right is compost taken right out of the bottom of our compost bin.  I think the results speak for themselves! 

 

Filed under: Environment, Sustainability, The Garden

Beets in Need of a Forever Home

It’s no wonder the average U.S. citizen often finds the choice of becoming somewhat more self sufficient as an inconceivable and exhaustible task better left to the ’survivalist’ nut jobs.  I just want to have a beautiful and fruitful garden, in spite of its smallness, to assist in reducing my food purchases and dependence on the ’system’.  I suppose that if it were easy, then yeah, lots more people would be doing it.  The seedling are coming along fine.  No problems there, actually, there aren’t any problems.  It’s all just a matter of wanting to do something bad enough.

So, I called the Growers Supply to order the pond liner, raised bed thing only to be informed by the sales person that the liner wasn’t really a good choice for a raised vegetable garden.  It did read in the catalogue “Commercial raised beds for $0.95 per sq. ft!”, but my interpretation was obviously incorrect.  None the less, I was back to square one, of what to make the raised beds that won’t cost two months worth of groceries.

I finally heard back from my neighbor regarding the urbanite.  No go, they have another friend that has already hit them up for it.  That’s too bad, though I’m relieved to know it won’t end up in the landfill just yet.

Finally, I decide this weekend that I have to figure out the garden situation as the beets are just about ready to be transplanted.  I remembered that the past tenants left some scrap lumber lying about in the backyard of the bungalow.  Turns out to be some nice pieces of 2×6x10’s, NOT pressure treated.  So, I decided by using the scrap (FREE) lumber, I could treat myself to a new circular saw, to cut the lumber.  I figure the saw will come in handy for future projects.  For small projects and in the event of scarce electricity, I also have a sharptooth hand saw, which I highly recommend.  In case you’re wondering why I don’t just plant my garden in the existing ground, saving myself the trouble of building a bed, it’s because I’m only about 10′ above sea level and the soil is mostly fill sand, not even suitable for the native vegetation.  Any attempt to amend the sand would be futile without means to contain the amended soil.

With a little gathering, sawing and assembling, the (2) 5′x3′x1′ beds were made this weekend.  BTW, the sigther took to this project with great enthusiasm and was instrumental in keeping up morale (and assembly).  Since the wood was free, I’m not going to sweat the fact that it will probably rot away in a couple years or that it might attract termites.  It is what it is, for now.

Today, I called a few places about the possibility of having some mushroom compost delivered.  Seems easy enough.  The one place that’s been around for forever in Inlet Beach sells it by the truckload, except I don’t have a truck.  They do deliver, though 4 cu. yards is the only amount they deliver.  I only need 1 cu. yard, barely enough to bother with, but almost too much to fill with bags.  Argh!  I just want to plant a few veggies!  What’s the big deal?! 

Another local place sells it by the bag/ cu. ft.  I’m trying to avoid going back to the big box store and borrowing a friends truck is better left for things like moving, not hauling around compost during work hours.  I resign myself to purchasing the bags I need, from the local landscaper for one bed.  In a few weeks, I’ll do the other bed, unless another solution presents itself in the next few days…*sigh*       

Filed under: Environment, Peak Oil, Relocalization, Sustainability, The Garden

Ross’ Gull & Congestion Pricing

No, they have nothing to do with each other or maybe they do.

First the Gull, no one mentioned global warming, but isn’t everyone thinking it?  I suppose we’ve all just become immune to those words.  Anyhow, this rare Arctic bird made it’s way down to CA, where hundreds of birdwatchers flocked to catch a glimpse. 

Next, congestion pricing.  I think this is a great idea once they hammer out the details as they affect the residents of other boroughs.  Basically, transportation and urban planners would like to reduce traffic in Manhattan by imposing a fee to anyone that drives their car below 60th street.  All kinds of groups are jumping on board with this proposed policy in hopes of reducing the growing congestion downtown.  Of course, keeping in mind there are people that live outside the convenience of the subway, they would need to address this issue in order not to create undue hardship for those Manhattan workers.  Apparently, this charging concept has been implemented in London and has been shown to work.  They are expecting the population in Manhattan to increase by another 1 million people by 2025.

This is an example of some of the tough decisions that policy makers and citizens alike are going to have to make in order to change our course toward a more sustainable future. 

Filed under: Economics, Environment, Ornithology, Relocalization, Sustainability

Zeer Pots & Passive Cooling

Very interesting and informative blog post published in the Energy Bulletin about passive refrigeration and cooling.  I imagine that in the minds of a large percentage of the US population, these impressive, low technological solutions to our huge household energy consumers (refrigerators & heating/ cooling systems) don’t make a damn bit of difference.  The tables will certainly turn when our main source of cheap energy becomes scarce.  Unfortunately, there may not be enough people knowledgeable about such simple things that could make a difference in our lives post peak oil.  Or…maybe what will happen is most of civilization will be so clueless about how to garden,  build natural building systems and passively heat and cool their homes that anyone that is knowledgeable in such practices will be exalted as a neo-techie guru, instead of shrugged off as a leftover tree hugging, crunchy granola sort.  Ya know, those ones that build houses out of mud (rammed earth), collect rain water (water harvesting), and heat their homes with the sun (passive solar).  That’s crazy!!!  No, no let’s stick to the program of business as usual…the more nonrenewable resources we consume, the more we’ll have and if by chance we don’t, well then technology will save us.  What people might not be prepared for is that technology might come in the form of a Zeer Pot.  

Filed under: Embodied Energy, Environment, Peak Oil, Solar water heater, Sustainability

PCB Airport vs Ivory Billed Woodpecker

http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=9426

Now, ain’t that a fine How’d'e do this morning?  In the eleventh hour, 2 environmental groups based in D.C. no less and a local pilot’s association have filed a law suit in NY aimed to stop the Bay County Airport from being relocated to West Bay.  If this doesn’t cause a major upheaval in our area in the months to come, I don’t know what will.  Of course, this could just as quietly and quickly disappear as swiftly as it was brought to the table with little fanfare, news coverage or local awareness like we so often see here in nepotism/good ol’ boy/St. Joe land.  I’ll be following this one for sure.

More thoughts to come on the subject….have some work to tend to.

I don’t really have a solid opinion on the new airport, but one thing for certain is that it’s become the shining star for many a contractor, subcontractor, county official, retailer and property owner in Bay and Walton Counties.  Our area has experienced the luxury of being exempt from the fall out of the dot com bubble and 9/11, though NOT from the housing market slow down that’s currently rippling across the country.  In an area that relies predominantly on tourism and second home construction, the airport NOT opening would be a potential cause for alarm as to the sustainablity of our local economy.  On the other hand, just because “they” build it, doesn’t mean “they” will come.  No matter what anyone argues, the numbers say we are swimming in a sea of housing glut, two to three years of inventory.  A lot can happen in 2-3 years.  The new international airport claims to bring people from far and wide to our little piece of paradise often affectionately referred to as the “Redneck Riviera”.  Nice, huh?  And supposedly, all those people who travel from the corners of New York, California and Europe will buy up that housing supply and will demand even more.  You might think I sound a bit cynical for someone who is in the field of designing houses and should be fighting tooth and nail for the arrival of this great airport.  Maybe, maybe not.

Now, what of this Ivory Billed Woodpecker?  Well, there is a local man by the name of MC Davis that has declared over 53,000 acres of his property to be set aside for private conservation.  The land, Nokuse Plantation is a critical piece to a larger tract of connecting land rich in biodiversity that include wetlands, uplands and fresh water communities.  These communities of swamp bottomland happen to be the natural habitat for the ivory billed woodpecker, though the woodpecker is believed to have become extinct, logged out of existence since the 1930’s.  Over the last year, there have been claims of sitings of the great woodpecker and further research by Auburn University has indicated that there may indeed be an Ivory Billed Woodpecker in ‘dem dare woods’.  This is excellent news for Northwest Florida.  Birders from all over the country are traveling to the area in hopes of spotting this wonderful treasure.

Back to the airport.  The environmental groups claim that the FAA may have violated the federal Endangered Species Act due to the spotting of the woodpecker.  Also, they contend the environmental impact is too great and the current location is the best environmental choice.  Wouldn’t you know it, one of those SoWalers says, “It’s just a bird…”  That was probably the same SoWaler that declared (s)he had the right to build whatever beach armament necessary to protect their property from storm surge regardless of sea turtles lives because sea turtles don’t pay taxes.  Nice, huh?  And you wonder why it’s called the Redneck Riviera…

All this, right in my back yard.  Oh, speaking of woodpeckers and the back yard, once again recall my pine trees infested with pine bark beetles.  Well, those trees have attracted a few red bellied woodpeckers that come to feast on the beetles.  It’s almost sad to think that the pine trees will have to go soon.              

Filed under: Economics, Environment, Ornithology, Pine Bark Beetles, Sea Turtles, South Walton, Sustainability

Odds & Ends

I’m still trying to figure out my garden situation that I am now overly obsessed about.  Under the house are some left over deck boards which I initially thought I would build a raised bed from.  That was until I decided that p.t. wood probably wasn’t the best choice of material.  Then I figured I would cut down those pine trees (remember the ones that were infested with pine bark beetles?) and build a cordwood wall.  That would take care of two issues, disposing of the pine trees and building the raised beds, but alas, removing the trees is cost prohibitive at the moment.  Then I had another idea, which I’m still hoping will work.  My neighbor has some nice rectangular cut urbanite stacked up by their guest house.  I left them a note asking them if they would be willing to part with it, to which there has been no reply.  I’m not sure if they intend on using it or if they are possibly concerned I’m just someone who is looking to make a buck off them.  At any rate, I’ll have to wait until I see them working in the yard to approach them about it.  In the mean time, I decided to purchase this pond liner material and stakes that assemble into a raised bed.  My rational was that it’s affordable, easily rolled up and stored or can be moved to another location in the yard when I’m ready to build the permanent bed.

On the seed front, I’ve started some fresh ones: chantenay carrots and bulls blood beets.  Determined to have as little initial investment as possible, I made these little seed trays (pots?) out of rolled up newspaper.  So far so good.  The lettuce is doing well, there just isn’t enough to have more than one salad a week.  On a positive note, my next door neighbor told me she was inspired by my earth box garden and she’s started a few vegetables of her own.

And then there’s the animals… (big sigh) Elvis is great for a rabbit going on 10.  I strategically placed the compost bin near his cage so the compost is fed regular shovelfuls of rabbit poop.  Most Excellent!!  Cool, the sigthers 18 year old cat, is also in the same geriatric club as Elvis, though he gets along quite well.  Last week, he punctured his paw and wound up with an abscess that had to be drained.  Needless to say, he had to wear one of those Elizabethan cones while it healed.  We felt sorry for the little guy and at the same time it was a bit humorous.  Tango, the please rescue me-parvo puppy turned mange face, was completely mesmerized by “the cone” and couldn’t take his eyes off Cool.  Tango has turned into a handful and is beginning obedience classes next month.  The vet wanted to postpone neutering until he was healthy enough and now we are counting the days.  Meanwhile, Lola has turned into a complete mush pot, though she still maintains her position in the household and continues to startle unsuspecting guests.

  

Filed under: Environment, Pine Bark Beetles, Recycling, Relocalization, Sustainability, Tango, The Garden

Greener On The Other Side

• The other day, a friend of mine turned me on to another friends blog, which in turn, led me to yet another blog (um, we all know this routine), eatlocalchallenge.com.  A visit to my local health food store turned up a few local items from one of the local growers. 
• A friend and fellow healthy living advocate, Susanne Morrone, delivered a beautiful presentation the other night at a local venue, on the dangers of everyday toxins.  There were very few attendees.
• I’m considering starting a co-author blog about sustainability in Walton County, so I did some searching to see what Walton County would reveal about itself to the world via the internet.  The results weren’t completely disappointing, though there was less enthusiasm than I anticipated.

I mention these three things because they’ve been on my mind lately.  It’s not a secret to those who know me that I haven’t been very happy about where I live.  I’ve been here 10 years now and it’s been a love-hate thing.  You see, the beach is gorgeous & peaceful.  The weather is down right fabulous for about 8 months of the year.  The crime rate is low, creating a seemingly safer environment to raise children.  Life is easier, slower and laid back.  That’s the love part.  The dislike (hate’s just too harsh, really) part is the resort-transient-detachment sentiment that seems to infiltrate this place and wreak havoc on the best intentions for creating a more sustainable community.  Hence, I’ve viewed my existence here through jaded glasses, a temporary stop.  The glass was always half empty, grass always greener on the other side.

I have to admit that I do bear the responsibility for the past of not engaging more in practices that would bring about the changes I wished to see around me.  10 years here and I’m just now starting to frequent the health food store on a regular basis.  Prior to that I just did a lot kvetching.  Not very productive.  Better now than never I suppose.

This year has found me becoming more involved with the things I care about, issues of sustainability and green living.  In the past several months, the view has changed to one of opportunity, an opportunity to connect with like minded individuals (no matter how small in number) and provide a source of inspiration to others.

In the movie, Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train, I’m reminded of a remark that Zinn made at the pre-beginning of his career; he wanted to go anywhere but the south.  For reasons I would speculate that he would not be welcome and/or surrounded by like-minded individuals.  And to the South, he was sent, where he had a tremendous impact on many peoples lives.  Not that I fancy myself as a pioneer of the Zinn caliber, I just want to make the point that if we always surround ourselves with people like ourselves, we may limit our and their potential for growth.

This leads me to one other item that’s been on my mind, a dissertation I just read by Rob Hopkins, Energy Descent Pathways: evaluating potential responses to Peak Oil.  I purchased the dissertation that was just published because 1. I’ve read some of Hopkins writings and found them thought provoking and 2.  I want to explore other ways to address sustainability in South Walton County.

Hopkins dissertation begins with reviewing the literature surrounding Peak Oil from the concept and history, to critics and proponents.  He then explores potential scenarios and outcomes.  Hopkins leans toward re-localization as the movement that will have the greatest appeal in an energy transitioning time and proposes the question : “is peak oil a crisis or an opportunity?”  With this idea firmly planted, he opens up the door to what causes people to change their behavior, behavior of the addictive sort, dependancy.  In the final chapters, he outlines elements that a community may incorporate and implement in response to energy descent.  The dissertation presents another view that’s somewhat hopeful in terms of what the future may or could hold provided communities take the necessary steps to prepare now.  Essential reading for anyone following Peak Oil and those interested in exploring new ideas regarding sustainability and behavior modification.

On another related note, I’m somewhat obsessed with this eat local challenge that I may very well starve to death if I dare try in my current location.  Unless, of course I supplement my diet with tender young ferns, acorns and hearts of saw palmetto.   I suppose if I expanded the radius from 100 miles to 250, it would encompass portions of Alabama and Georgia that may indeed suffice for other food sources.  If nothing else, it’s made me sit up and take notice at the health food store (or any grocery store for that matter) of how far our food travels before it gets to our kitchens.  I recently inquired about 2 different types of shrimp available at the local grocery chain.  Keep in mind, I live in Florida.  The shrimp were the same size, though different color (species).  The pink Florida shrimp caught somewhere in south Florida were $13.99/ lb.  The already de-veined shrimp of comparable size were $9.99/ lb…origin…Thailand.  There is something definitely wrong with this picture, a shrimp caught within 500 miles is $4/lb more than a shrimp caught in waters 10,000 miles away…and it’s been de-veined!!!  WTF?  I’m sure there is a rational explanation for this, probably that the shrimp in Thailand were caught by means that would not hold up to the current regulations set forth for our local shrimpers.  All the more reason not to purchase the apparently “less expensive” shrimp.

And those are my thoughts for the week…

Filed under: Peak Oil, Relocalization, Sustainability

The Wee Garden

That’s how I see my garden, wee, my small attempt to bring some amount of homegrown produce to the table.  I’ve made small gardening attempts many times in my life, with limited success.  Many of those attempts were made in the backyards of places where I rented and usually consisted of your standard tomato and melons plants.  Back in those crunchy granola hippie days, I even participated in a few co-op gardens, though I quickly grew disgruntled with the shared garden experience.  You see, in one of these co-op gardens, I had planted some broccoli in my plot, which I loved and tended religiously until the plants began to prepare for production.  One day while I was at work, and much to my dismay, this over zealous, Birkenstock wearing, twirly skirt, nymph-like girl, thought my broccoli plants were “done” and promptly plucked them all from their warm cozy earth beds and tossed them about the garden to spend their final moments baking in the sun.  Then there was the garden at the Big House, which actually produced enough tomatoes, onions and peppers to make and can several jars of salsa for the winter.  That was sweet.  Then I moved to Florida and that was followed by many failed garden attempts due partly to the salt air, harsh sun and lack of ‘growing in my region’ knowledge.

Well, here I am today having lived in Florida for 10 years, reading up on the demise of civilization as we know it, concerned about food scarcity and quality and wanting desperately to do something to make it all better. I mentioned previously in another post that I had purchased some Earth Boxes and a compost bin and that I had successfully grown some Cherokee purple heirlooms in the boxes. They rocked, BTW.  I have 3 boxes.  One is still over flowing with banana and purple peppers that just won’t give up.  I probably have about 20-30 peppers out there now, ready to be picked.  In the other 2 boxes, I have planted mesclun and romaine.  Both boxes appear to be doing well, though their little lettuce leaves are so small and fragile it makes me wonder how in the world I could feed a family with my little hobby garden.  I sense the gravity of the world food situation right here in my little yard and it’s frightening.

My next venture (since I have gained a sense of confidence that I can indeed grow food) is to build a more permanent raised bed.  I’m going to relocate the anise shrubs in front of the bamboo fence further left, then build the bed at the base of the fence.  There are so many things to consider: of what is the best material to build the beds, where will the soil come from, potential pests, storm protection, Mosquito Control’s regular spraying, what are the best things to plant and where.  Decisions, decisions.  I suppose it would be helpful to decide what it is I want to accomplish with my garden.  Supplementing our regular vegetable purchases, oh wait, that’s basically re-stating what I wrote at the beginning of this post.  Feeding a community in the event of a crisis seems like a daunting task at the moment, so I’ll keep it simple for now and just learn to tend the wee garden the best I can.  We have to start somewhere and that’s often the hardest part of turning the tide. 

Filed under: Peak Oil, Sustainability, The Garden