Category Archives: earth

Pump for Chandler Biodiesel

Woot! This is really exciting news. Some friends of mine have cars that run on biodiesel, and I know that it is inconvienient to collect and process one’s own grease. Having a local source for already converted oil will be a huge step for those who have been considering the switch. It sounds as though it will be at a much lower cost than traditional diesel as well.

More and more alternatives to traditional fuel will be a better solution than one. In other words, we can’t all switch to one other type of fuel–we need diversity. A community that has a strong mass transit system combined with telecommuting, biking, electric and algae fueled cars, motorcycles, and transportation options that haven’t been invented yet are a better solution than simply processing mass quantities of corn and soy for fuel.

Growing food like we have been is not sustainable and is poisoning our water and land. We need to return to closed system farming that recycles the waste of animals into fertilizer for the crops. Farms like Polyface Farms in Vermont are an example of the types of farms we need to support as consumers. I know here in Arizona we have access to CSA‘s and local farms like Crooked Sky Farms and Tonopah Rob’s Farm from which we can buy our produce.

If you aren’t able to garden yourself, I recommend joining a local CSA or finding out how you can buy produce at a farmer’s market.

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community garden

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So the garden is looking pretty good.  If anyone is dying for arugala–come and get it.  There is aplenty.  Even though it was pretty late in the season, we managed some broccoli and this one small cabbage head.  The chickens get to eat most of the late winter crops because the aphids seem to target anything that liked the colder weather.  Hopefully, the chickens will start to lay eggs soon.  We are talking about buying a dairy cow.  If you want in, let me or Wendi know. (preferably Wendi because her friend will keep it.)  The purple beans are looking beautiful.  I cannot wait to try them.  I hope they produce a million beans.

we have spring too

So everyone on the internet around the country is posting pictures of sprintime blossoms jutting forth from the snowy ground.  Pushing tiny green leaves towards the sky; bursting delicate flowers on a tree branch.  Ha! Those sissy plants would burn under our scorching sun! I see your pansy petals and I raise you a prickly cactus.  You haven’t seen beauty until these plants have shown your thirsty soul a vision in the desert.

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