Hello from across the pond

[MikeNovack]

Another refugee from the The Green Living Forum'

I'm in my 80's now, living on the eastern slopes of the Berkshire Mountains (Massachusetts, USA). I know I agreed to not be political in this forum, but not sure what that means in my context. Over HERE, believing that there is a pending ecological crisis and that climate change is not only real but caused by us humans IS considered "political" by at least half the population. I live in a rural "town" (township) of about 2000, most in a village shared by a neighboring "town". But we don't live in the village, but halfway up a steep valley. The next "town" upstream has about 300 people, less people than deer << and at the moment they've been without power 3-4 days now; the wind only now calming enough to allow linemen to make repairs >>

We live on 80+ acres, almost all forest. When younger we had large gardens, berry patches, and kept goats, but now just small garden. We heat entirely with wood, except on really cold mornings when a little supplemental electric until the wood stove is again cranking. No, don't harvest our own wood as nearby poor farmers depend on a little extra income << Mike, my truck needs new tires; can you take a couple more cords? >> So our land is essentially recovering forest and wildlife habitat.

Full disclosure, Penny and I are ex 60's radicals. Besides being environmental activists, we both are members of the "Ecocentric Alliance" (by invitation group of activists, academics, artists, etc many of us more than one category). which has an on-line publication "The ecological Citizen" (https: ecelogicalcitizen.net) which resembles a much more serious, academic "Orion", artwork and poetry similar. I may also let folks know when a new issue of "Mother Pelican" comes out (shorter articles, less academic, sometimes, but rarely involving religion). Both are free on-line environmental publications. I am also involved with the effort to breed American chestnut (C. dentata) able to tolerate the chestnut blight fungus (C. parasitica) and the ink disease fungus (P, cinnamomi) << once only a problem in the southern US but with climate change now almost reaching Pennsylvania >>

[Joeboy]

Welcome to the forum. It means simply, no politics or religion discussed. Do as others do on here in this regard and you'll be fine.

Welcome onboard.

It's worth mentioning that we have had people in the past who just 'had' to keep going with their politics and soapboxing.

They were fairly warned and then if required, quickly banned.

It's not a nice thing to have to do and we the group lose a long term resource and a strand of complexity is gone from us. I also don't like how it feels when I do it.

Nonetheless and for the equilibrium of the forum as a whole...

No problem with linking to a publication. If there is content that's off (unlikely) I'll pm. Looking forward to reading them.

Fellow WBS owner. Love cooking on it.

[Columbusrat]

Hi Mike!

[Bugtownboy]

[Fintray]

Welcome to the forum.

[richbee]

Hi Mike

[MikeNovack]

To add (what I'm likely to be of help with)

a) wood heat (of course). We've been heating essentially just with wood since ~1979. Mind I am living in an area where the amount of trees/human is much greater than where most of you are.

b) Micro-hydro My original degree was in Physics. I would be able to discuss the different sorts of turbines/wheels, where they are applicable. Also explain that hydrodynamics does NOT "scale" << because of "cavitation", the negative pressure at which even cold water boils >> In other words, much of what you would see in hydrodynamics texts does not apply to "micro" and some solutions possible for micro cannot be used in large (normal) turbines so not discussed by in standard texts.
To give some examples -- in that posting about the Pelton ---- Those actually look like Turgo spoons being used as Pelton, and the water spewing out of the casing NOT an issue as this is an impulse turbine so irrelevant where the water goes after leaving the spoons. Matching speed of turbine to generator critical for ALL types of hydroturbines/wheels so figure on needing that component (gears or belts)

c) Growing garlic