When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine

053 - Battle of the Currents (Was Edison Smarter than Tesla?) - Dead White Scientists Series

In the early days of the electric grid a battle emerged between DC electricity and AC electricity.  Thomas Edison championed DC - Westinghouse (and Tesla) argued for AC power.  What emerged was the "Battle of the Currents" - with engineers traveling the country electrocuting dogs and cats (and perhaps even elephants).  The bodies of technicians hung tangled in wires in front of city hall.  Spin doctors and editorials ran wild.  So what really happened and why do we use AC electricity today instead of DC?  Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

052 - Reclaiming Building Materials (Salvaging our History)

In a world that is running out of everything, he with the most garbage wins.  Modern building techniques normally focus on reducing the amount of time required to install - rather than the quality of the materials used.  Old buildings, that are usually crushed and thrown in the landfill are an amazing source of high quality building materials.  When a building is lost, the stories of our past are lost with it.  Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

051 - Becoming a Sustainable Engineer

If you look hard enough, some university engineering programs offer an emphasis in sustainability.  Nicholas Anderson, intern at Blue Rock Station and engineering student at the University of Dayton discusses his decision to focus on sustainability, the challenges faced in going against established systems, and how theory and reality part ways.   Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

050 - Eating Seasonally

Globalization and genetically modified food has led to a world where nearly every plant can be harvested and shipped nearly every week of the year.  While this is convenient - it is not natural.  And can lead to some serious problems.  Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

049 - Seed Saving

Savings seeds is an act of revolutions and in many cases - illegal.  Find out how we came to find ourselves in a world where it is legal to patent life and lifeforms, and illegal to hold back seeds to plant in the coming year.  Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

048 - Building a Plastic Bottle Greenhouse

For the past 15 years or so, the plastic bottle greenhouse at Blue Rock Station has helped start the garden in the spring and kept greens safe over the winter.  Find out how to build a handy greenhouse from discarded 2-liter soda bottles, and some old tires.  Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

047 - Factory Farms

About 95% of all the meat consumed in America is produced in factory farms.  Meanwhile, about 85% of Americans say they want the animals they consume treated humanely - a big disconnect.  Find out the harsh realities of factory farming and what we can do about it.  Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

046 - Big Agriculture (Myths versus Reality)

Since World War II our food system has morphed from a network of family owned farms raising a variety of crops to a global mono-culture based industry that focuses on the production of wheat, soy, corn and rice.  And government policies encourage, almost mandate this transformation.  What is happening and what can be done about it?  Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

045 - Creating a Not-for-Profit Homestead

Turning your farm or homestead into a not-for-profit corporation may be the way to go as you seek to make a living, live sustainably, and change the planet.  Claire Orner of Quiet Creek Herb Farm and School of Country Living explains how they went about turning their 30-acre herb farm into a non profit educational destination - and the advantages and challenges they faced in the process.  Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

031 - Raising Dairy Goats (part 4)

Raising goats on a homestead is both rewarding and challenging.  This series discusses the issues and solutions found at Blue Rock Station in raising and caring for a small herd of dairy goats.  (Part 4 of an ongoing series).