Vertical Space as a Solution to Food Production in Urban Environments

It has become increasingly clear that moving toward a more sustainable agricultural system means finding ways to produce more of our food supply locally. Cutting edge research is being conducted aboard a barge on the Hudson River - research that hearkens back to the early days of such sustainable agricultural pioneers as the New Alchemy institute in Woods Hole Massachusetts and the Permaculture Institute in NH (here's a bit of interesting trivia - Stoneyfield Yogurt Founder Gary Hirshberg was one of the original founders of the Permaculture Institute in Wilton, NH.).






Building a homemade hydroponic system



Longview Cows

Invisible Disaster: Fall Migration over the Gulf

Billions of birds will migrate this fall to a Gulf Coast filled with insidious threats. As green herons, yellowlegs and flocks of others land in oily marshes to feed on contaminated fish, these birds may suffer from the most grueling migration of their lives -- with tragic but unseen consequences. Read the article.



Bench Panorama

The Ideology of a Cancer Cell

“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.”
- Edward Abbey


Two Falls



Image by Wayne D. King
http://www.artforconservation.org/artists/Mindscapes
Other Limited Edition Prints
http://bit.ly/ckDZyA

3 Small Cap “Save the Gulf Companies"

3 Small Cap “Save the Gulf Companies" - (OTC: GNOLF, MOPN, EVTN)

Date: June 1, 2010 12:59 PM

Publisher: DRanieri

Categories: bloo, US Markets

Tags: Bloomberg, bloomberg, EVTN, Financial, GNOLF, Gulf Coast, MOPN, Oil Spill, OTC, Stocks, World Market Media

Here are 3 Companies which focus on separation solutions as a way to help solve the Gulf Coast Oil Spill

MOP Environmental Solutions Inc. (OTC: MOPN)

New Hampshire-based MOP promotes a patented product, MOP Maximum Oil Pick Up, which can clean up oil spills, while at the same time also recover the spilled material. MOP is promoting itself diligently by saying that its patented product is the ultimate solution for protecting ecosystems along the coastline from hazardous oil spills. The company also claims that, unlike competitors, its solution is 100% biodegradable and 100% recycled. Charles Diamond, MOP’s president and CEO, has said that that its product outperforms every other sorbent, both on oil pick up per pound and cost per pound basis. He also said that the company’s product is the best solution for oil spills like the one in the Gulf of Mexico.

Full Article

"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors,
we borrow it from our Children."
American Indian Proverb

Limited edition print
16 x 20
$195.00
Click here

Financial Times Covers MOP Demonstration

Click here for Financial Times Story

Is the other BP Well in Trouble?

Inside sources say that a rumor is sweeping the gulf that the second BP well in the area is in trouble. Our sources say its true but BP is keeping it under wraps. No way to know unless it begins to manifest.

Who Owns the Oil Spilled in the Gulf of Mexico?

With news that fisherman and others trying to protect their own waterfront areas are being arrested if they are acting without authority from BP, on charges of stealing oil, it is worth asking the question "Who really owns the oil floating in the Gulf of Mexico?

Currently BP is asserting ownership of the oil. Yet I believe that a storng case could be made in a court, or a congressional action could be taken, that rules this oil to be abandoned property. Under the law of the sea, I believe that would ean that anyone who picked up the oil was entitled to it.

Such a clarification could open up new opportunities to those who seek to protect the shoreline areas and those opportunities might at least pay for themselves through revenues derived from sale of the oil. At the very least it would prevent the abuse of power currently being visited on folks who are just trying to protect their own property. There is no good reason to be arresting people who seek only to protect what they already have a legal right to protect in almost every other conceivable way.

Peregrine Webcams

Peregrine Falcons have made a bigtime comeback from the brink of extinction. That comeback has been accompanied by research into the species that could very well make them one of the most closely studied species ever.

When I went online to check out the nesting pair on the New Hampshire insurance building in Manchester a quick google search yielded many peregrine cams positioned to let the public take a once-rare look into the nest of a Peregrine Falcon.

Just for fun I've put links to a few of those cams below. You can set up two or three abreast and watch the action across America. Just think, you are witness to the miracle of what humans can do when they consider our brothers and sisters of other species an integral part of our own life circle.

My Iroquois ancestors would be pleased. One small victory in the life of mother earth.

Rachel Carson State Building Harrisburg, PA

State Capitol Building, Lincoln, Nebraska

New Hampshire Insurance Company, Manchester, NH

Loose Sorbent and the Deepwater Horizon BP Spill

For those who have watched the oil spill in the Gulf grow by leaps and bounds while thousands of workers, volunteers and officials have scurried around like a vast colony of ants there is surely one big question looming in their minds: "Why can't all these people get control of this spill?"

The answer, unfortunately, seems to be directly attributable to a decision made early in the process to ban the use of all loose absorbant products on the spill.

The rationale, that they are protecting the fragile ecosystems, animals and aquatic life by preventing them from being exposed to the loosely floating material seems reasonable enough at first blush. However, the fact that they are permitting the use of loose dispersant that actually exacerbates the environmental problems created by the spill shows an inconsistency that makes one suspect another agenda. Furthermore, if we don't halt the spread of the spill, the danger to a far broader range of territory will make the damage to ecosystems and flora and fauna far worse.

Fighting an Environmental Inferno with a Squirtgun

Here's the problem: Loose absorbents are far more efficient at capturing loose oil than booms. I've spoken about one loose absorbant MOP Maximum Oil Pickup in previous postings*. MOP's patented sorbents, with a 30-1 pickup ratio are the most efficient on the market but there are others that also do a fairly good job. For the purposes of this article I'll use the statistical information associated with MOP as they make both loose sorbent and booms with the loose sorbent packed into them.

One container of MOP, delivered onto a spill using their rapid deployment cannon can lock up 75,000 gallons of oil. By comparison, it would take more than 23,000 booms to accomplish the same amount of cleanup.

Carry this further: if it takes one person 10 minutes to deploy a boom - which is very fast if the booms are to be locked together - the average person would be able to deploy 48 booms in an 8 hour shift. To deploy 23,000 booms would then require 479 people. Then of course another crew of 479 would be required to pick up the oil laden booms. The crew needed to deploy AND skim up the MOP sorbent would be five people: Two people to carry bags to the Cannon, One person to fire the MOP Cannon and one or two people driving skimmers to pick up the oil-laden MOP.

Cost
A container of MOP sorbent costs $32,000. 23,000 booms cost more than $865,000. Finally, with MOP’s patented green sorbent, there is the added benefit of being able to recover the oil. The value of the recycled oil would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $65,000 making using the sorbent actually a profit center rather than a cost center. After subtracting the cost of the container of sorbent, there would be funds left to purchase the next container or to pay for the skimmer rental. In either case it effectively makes the cost of using a loose sorbent like MOP a net zero cost.

Not All Loose Sorbents are Created Equal
First its important to state that not all loose sorbents are alike. EPA creates a set of guidelines that essentially segregate sorbents into two categories

Those that are permissible for use on open water
Those not permissible for use on open water

MOP, for example, falls into the first category. Those allowed for deployment in open water. As such they are allowed to Certify themselves to the on-site administrator as meeting the EPA guidelines for use on open water. Normally this is all that would be required to use the loose sorbent on a spill, however the directive, over rules this process.


* In the interest of transparency, I'm now associated with this company because I believe so strongly in the product

See the numbers detailed in this article here.

Timeline of the Gulf Spill

Timeline of Gulf of Mexico oil spill

An interesting work-in-progress timeline of the spill. All events are color-coded according to whether an item relates to industry, government, media, etc.
Click here

Numbers Sure to Get Your Attention

For over a year I have been writing about the effectiveness of the MOP Maximum Oil Pickup product. About 6 months ago I become associated with the company, coming aboard first as a consultant to assist them in recovering the company from a failed merger and helping craft a new business model and strategies for growth including a revised business plan and short and long-term strategic plans; and now as Vice President for Business Development and Innovation as well as the company spokesman. For that reason I am no longer a disinterested party - though I certainly was when I first began writing enthusiastically about the company.


If MOP Loose Sorbent were allowed for the Gulf Oil Spill Cleanup
Figures are per 75,000 gallons of cleanup
Polypropylene Booms 8" x 10' vs. MOP Sorbent

Required to Absorb 75,000 Gallons Oil
MOP loose sorbent: 1 Container (1,000 20lb bags)
Polypropylene Booms: 23,047, 8" x 10' booms

People Needed to do the Work (placing booms and picking up booms)
MOP loose sorbent: 5 People working 4 hours
Polypropylene Booms: 994 working 8 hours

Cost of Labor per Day
MOP loose sorbent: 5 People working 4 hours= $540.00
Polypropylene Booms: 994 working 8 hours=$214,704

Cost of material
1 Container MOP loose sorbent: $32,000
3,076 Polypropylene Booms: $865,350

Oil Recovery @40/barrel
MOP loose sorbent: $64,772
Polypropylene Booms: 0*

Labor + Materials
MOP loose sorbent: $33,050
Polypropylene Booms: $972,702

Labor + Materials
MOP loose sorbent: $33,050
Polypropylene Booms: $972,702

Net Cost Labor, Materials & Recovery
MOP loose sorbent: 0 (oil recovery more than offsets costs)
Polypropylene Booms: $972,702

Wayne King Selected for Prestigious Conservation Artist Designation

Sale of Art Designates Percent for Conservation

Former Senator Wayne King has been selected as one of a small prestigious group of Conservation Artists by a selection board of acclaimed wildlife and conservation artists and the International League of Conservation Artists. His work will now be featured along with the works of other artists at the League’s website ArtforConservation.org.

“I’m honored to have been selected as a Conservation Artist” said King. “I have made a commitment to designating a nonprofit organization as a recipient for a portion of the proceeds on the sale of any of my art. The images at ArtforConservation.org benefit the World Wildlife Fund.”

Nonprofits interested in being designated as the recipient for an image can view Senator King’s images at a number of websites carrying his work including his site on internet giant RedBubble: waynedking.redbubble.com/ or contact Wayne King’s office by email: wdking@plymouth.edu

MOP Environmental Offers Green Oil Spill Kit for Boaters

Kit includes Skimmer to Keep Gas and Oil out of Public Waters

Bath, New Hampshire

MOP Environmental Solutions, Inc. (MOPN-pk) CEO, Charles Diamond today announced a new, affordably priced, Oil Spill Prevention Kit made especially for recreational boaters concerned about protecting the environment. The kit, includes a bilge skimmer (also offered separately) that is placed into the boat’s bilge. The skimmer immediately absorbs oil or gasoline assuring that the water from the boat’s bilge will not in any way threaten the purity of the public waterways.

The Spill Prevention Kit utilizes MOP® Maximum Oil Pickup, the company’s patented green (environmentally sutsainable) sorbent as the key component in a range of products including socks, pillows and the bilge skimmer. Made using renewable hydroelectric energy, entirely of recycled and organic materials MOP® Maximum Oil Pickup is the only "cradle to cradle" green product on the market. "Unlike many other green products, however," said President Charles Diamond, "MOP® also has a competitive advantage on both price and performance in the market." MOP's sorbent aggressively absorbs gas and oil while repelling water completely. With a pickup ratio at, or approaching, 30-1, MOP® is the most effective oil sorbent available anywhere.

Diamond continued, "We personally believe that other non-biodegradable spill sorbents such as clay and polypropylene should be banned from the market because they represent an irresponsible and unnecessary risk to the environment, particularly when it comes to disposal. Where MOP can be land farmed, composted, or even disposed as a solid waste, both clay and polypropylene almost always have to be treated as hazardous waste, adding huge costs to the products in the disposal process."

Refills Also Available

In addition to the environmentally friendly Spill Prevention Kits, MOP Environmental Solutions, Inc. has also released a new set of refills for all their Spill Prevention and Cleanup Kits. "We are exceedingly proud of the fact that we now offer refills for all of our spill prevention and cleanup kits, allowing us to refill only the consumable items at a substantially reduced cost to both the consumer and the environment .



MOP Environmental Solutions, Inc. (MOPN) is a publicly traded company. Their website is www.MOPEnvironmental.com

####

Forward-looking statements in this news release are pursuant to safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Investors are cautioned that statements in this release are not strictly historical statements, including without limitation, management's plans and objectives for future operations, assessment of market factors, statements regarding strategy, company plans and its strategic partners. These constitute forward-looking statements, are not guarantees of the company's future performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties, such as funding for machinery and materials, success in acquiring customers, maintaining needed government relationships, and successfully executing a business plan, which could cause the company's actual future results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

Prescott Arizona

Prescott is a small thriving city located in the mountains of north-central Arizona only 90 miles, but a world away, from metropolitan Phoenix. The town is nestled in a scenic valley at the northern edge of the rugged Bradshaw Mountains. The pine-clad mountains above town reach heights of nearly 8,000ft, but downtownPrescott sits at 5,400ft.

The climate is a delightful combination of four moderate seasons with monsoon rains in the late summer and snow in the winter producing an average of 19" precipitation per year. The high percentage of sunny days each year provides ideal conditions for outdoor recreation opportunities. The area is well known for its picturesque lakes set in striking pre-Cambrian granite formations and wooded pine forests. Residents and visitors enjoy miles of hiking, horseback, and mountain bike trails throughout the forests surrounding town.

Prescott's central downtown business district is built around an elm-shaded, traditional courthouse plaza. The historic plaza hosts activities throughout the year ranging from bustling art shows, evening music concerts, antique fairs, and family oriented community events.

Population statistics:
Prescott - 40,770
Prescott Valley - 33,575
Chino Valley - 12,325
Yavapai County - 205,105
(Source: DES Estimate, 7/1/05)

Economic indicators:
Sales tax revenue up 17.7% YTD (through Oct.)
Lodging tax up 9.4% YTD (through Oct.)
Cost of Living Index (3rd quarter 2005): 111.6 (national norm of 100.0) Unemployment (Nov. 2005): Prescott MSA- 4.1%

Forester Media Releases Waterprint Free iPhone Application

Forester Media publisher of Water Efficiency, The Journal for Water Resource Management recently announce the release of their free iPhone application, Waterprint.

Waterprint is a one-of-a-kind iPhone application that calculates how much water you consume on a daily basis., accounting for what you wear, eat, drive and drink.

Several months ago, Greener Minds began emphasizing the importance of one’s water footprint, so we’re pleased to see this new development. We believe that future international disputes are as likely to focus on access to water resources as the more common oil resource wars that drive so much foreign policy.

According to Elizabeth Cutright, the Editor of Distributed Energy Magazine who recently profiled the iPhone App.

“The Waterprint iPhone application is designed with a simple interface that allows users to easily navigate through various categories and individual items.”

Water Efficiency's Editor, Elizabeth Cutright, said, "We've all heard about carbon footprints, but it's just as important to be aware of how much water is used for every product we buy and every activity we're engaged in. Our goal with Waterprint is to empower users to reduce their own water footprints."

Forester Media, Inc. Publisher, Dan Waldman, added, "Water is our most precious resource, and by simply increasing awareness of how much we use in the course of our daily activities, we can have a huge impact on how efficiently we use it. Waterprint is a simple, no-cost and very powerful tool for increasing that awareness and has the potential to reach tens of millions of people."

Best Friends
Limited Edition Poster Signed by the Artist
Open Edition Reprodutions

Colors of the Heart

The Art of Cameron Sinclair
By Wayne D. King

Talk with almost any New Hampshire Gallery owner these days and ask who is the New Hampshire artist with whom people fall in love and chances are pretty good that he, or she, will lead you across the room to a painting signed “Sinclair”. Most likely, your eye has already been drawn by the bright, often swirling, colors that evoke a powerful emotional response. Not an “I’ve been there” response but rather a “this is how my heart sees” response. Because Cameron Sinclair, better known as “Cam”, captures what the heart sees.

Cam Sinclair was born in Shanghai, China, and raised in Bombay, India and American missionary boarding schools until age 14. He returned to the United States at 14 to attend the Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania for four years. From there, Cam Sinclair went to Springfield College in Massachusetts as a physical education major. Along the way Cam became an All American Wrestler and finished second in the National (NCAA) Tournament while at Springfield College.

Not exactly a typical resume for an artist . . . so where did the interest in art develop and evolve into the work Cam does today? Continued