Gordon Blair

So vibrant and elegant!

Anne Miller wrote:Have you ever wondered what it is like being a raven or crow?

https://theconversation.com/whats-it-like-being-a-raven-or-a-crow-257171?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

There was a very philosophical movie all about this, starring Brandon Lee...

The present economy coasts on finite & undervalued fossil-fuel inputs, like someone whose 'wealth' depends on a line of credit. Industrialised ag is an efficient calorie-producer--while it lasts.

I don't have a crystal ball, but we might see a time where there are fewer-still lucrative opportunities for the global majority to ride that hydrocarbon-powered gravy train. The cheap calories may dry up along with the oil. It might become important once more to be able to grow without chemical assistance. It may no longer come down to a calculation like: "Why garden when I can earn 20,000 calories in an hour?" because that possibility will only be for a few at the top of the pyramid.

Who knows? But I think this is one of many plausible arguments for permaculture. I watch Nate Hagens on YouTube sometimes--quite the rabbithole--he brings on all sorts of scientists and interesting people. He's convinced we're facing a 'great simplification' of society once there are no longer the energy resources to support extreme social complexity. He says the transition to this will be rough or smooth to the degree we're prepared. Again, I'm not committed to a belief that this is how things will pan out... Maybe someone will come up with abundant, near-free fusion energy and solve some of those problems...

Annie Hope wrote:This really interests me as an alternative to plastic.  Would it be possible to make it out of any other type of paper or make cloth from second hand sheets?

I've seen a couple of YouTube videos about DIY methods of making ordinary sheets incredibly waterproof, like a tarp.

Christopher Weeks wrote:I just ordered a 20-meter roll of Hanji paper for experimentation. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EIA90PI)

I wonder what I should oil it with. It seems like the oil can help with water-shedding and transparency...but does the kind of oil matter? Are there other attributes the oil controls?

Great! I hope you can get around to it and report back!  :-)

These eliminate the need for plastic.

https://londonkoreanlinks.net/2019/11/22/the-worlds-first-active-greenhouse/

I'm sure there are downsides, but I wonder if anyone here might be interested in trying it? I couldn't find any other experiments online.

Ah jeez, Paul, I wish I could teleport over to Yankland to help out. You've been a successful self-experimenter so far; looong may it continue.

I mean, passive rodent-heat does sound kinda cute in theory...

11 year ago! You've got some memory, Anne.

I think that using focused/redirected sunlight to heat liquids (or black surfaces) is a criminally underexplored renewable-energy approach. Probably because there's no expensive tech and profits involved. The GREENPOWERSCIENCE channel do loads of interesting stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/@GREENPOWERSCIENCE

I understand about the sun being unreliable & variable, but unless I am dealing with a nuclear winter, there will be *some* sun while I'm away for a fortnight in winter, and my concept here is that the thermal mass will store and radiate enough of that energy just to keep my pipes from freezing..?