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market-farming - Agriculture bibliography Part 17

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflondon AT mindspring.com>
  • To: market-farming
  • Subject: Agriculture bibliography Part 17
  • Date: Sat, 04 Mar 2000 00:59:29 -0500




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The Humanure Handbook : A Guide to Composting Human Manure
by Joseph C. Jenkins List Price: $19.00 Our Price: $15.20 You Save:
$3.80 (20%)
Availability: This title usually ships within 2-3 days. Paperback -
198 pages
(July
1996) Chelsea Green Pub Co; ISBN: 096442584X ; Dimensions (in
inches): 0.56 x
8.88
x 7.21
Reviews The author, J. C. Jenkins (JCJenkins AT JenkinsPublishing.com) ,
November
29,
1996 This may be the start of a Big Movement.
Customer Comments : robert1776 AT yahoo.com from Moscow, south carolina
,
September
28, 1998 Very Funny, Excellent technical info. One of the few
memorable books
I
would own. Ideal for anyone concerned with individual responsibility
of their
own
waste. Excellent reference material. midwife @mailcity.com, MARI
Patkelly
from
San Miguel de Allende, GTO, Mexico , July 20, 1998 Always wanted to
write this
one,
but he did it first!!!! This book tells all you'll ever need to know
about how
you
can save the precious by-products of the food you eat. Joe tells us
organic
gardeners how (our shhhh)it can be completely recycled - safely and
simply while
saving lots of: 1. water, 2. time, 3. money spent on commercial
fertilizer
and/or 4.
sweat lugging so much animal manure from far away places to our
gardens. A
reader
, September 16, 1996 "dangerous writing, subversive, wonderful!!!"
If you eat
(therefore defecate), a must read ....... So much "fecophobia" has
driven our
society that this is (pardon the expression) a breath of fresh air. I
can't say
enough about the big picture approach Jenkins displays when discussing
resource
recovery. Grandma said "what's taken from the earth, should go back"
and can be
easily and inexpensively started with thinking such as this book. I
can
personally
attest (I wish I could leave my Email add.) to the simplicity of
Jenkins'
system. In
the wheel of life it has helped to close the circle.........

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Cottage Water Systems : An Out-Of-The City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing,
Water

Purification, and Privies
by Max Burns List Price: $24.95 Our Price: $19.96 You Save: $4.99
(20%)
Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Paperback - 160 pages
(August
1993)
Cottage Life Books; ISBN: 096969220X ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.41 x
10.99 x
8.89
Reviews From the Publisher The subtitle for this attractive
paperback is "An
Out-of- the-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and
Privies," and
it
deftly fulfils its promise. Mr. Burns uses humor interspersed with
excellent
illustrations to convey technical information in layman's terms. He
provides a
comprehensive overview of all possibilities... the pros and cons of
each
alternative
are thoroughly examined. (Gordon Bock and Lynn Elliot, May/June, 1996,
Old-House
Journal) From the Publisher The do-it-yourselfer's dream for
household water
systems. Cottage Water Systems is a well-written, well-illustrated
guide to
providing your "cottage" (or rural home) with water-in and water-out.
It clearly
explains water supplies, water quality, water in winter (very
important), and
wastewater. Includes troubleshooting guides for common problems.
(Larry
Dieterich,
Whole Earth Review #85, Spring 1995, Special Water Edition) From The
WomanSource
Catalog & Review: Tools for Connecting the Community for Women; review
by Ilene
Rosoff , February 1, 1997 Written as a comprehensive guide for
designing and
building water systems for off-the-beaten-path dwellings, Cottage
Water Systems
is a
how-to manual for harnessing a variety of water sources and their
necessary
peripherals (i.e., pumps, toilets, filtration systems). Chapters cover
finding
water, putting together a pump system, plumbing, water testing and
purification,
outhouses, winterizing and the plethora of details any water
do-it-your-selfer
needs
to concern themselves with. This book is worth reading just as an
education on
home
water technology. And it goes beyond putting in a water system for
your weekend
cabin; the chapters on alternative toilets and on water purification
systems are
useful to any home dweller. As the proud owner of a septic tank, I
found the
chapter
on septic systems highly informative, particularly in terms of its
care and
feeding
(had I read it sooner I could have probably avoided the $150 I just
shelled out
to
have mine siphoned).
About the Author : Max Burns has been a freelance writer since 1981.
The
subjects
Max writes about are as varied as his interests-- everything from
butter tarts
to
motorcycles. He is currently building a passive solar home in northern
Ontario,
he
and his wife doing all the work including installing the septic
system, digging
the
well, designing and installing the house plumbing, and relocating the
outhouse.
Martha (a 90-pound Newfie-Shepherd) and Cat (self-explanatory)
sometimes assist
with
construction. A curriculum vitae of writing and related experience.
Books The
Dock
Manual (The Ultimate Book About Planning, Building, and Buying
Residential
Docks),
to be published spring/1999 by Storey Communications Inc. Cottage
Water Systems
(An
Out-of-the-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and
Privies), ISBN
0-9696922-0-X, 1993. The Winged Wheel Patch (A History of the Canadian
Military
Motorcycle and Rider), co-authored with Ken Messenger, ISBN 0-
920277-85-3,
1993.
Collections (various authors) Harrowsmith Country Life Reader, ISBN
0-944475-09-4,
1990. The Cottage Book, ISBN 1-895261-03-1, 1991. Docks and Projects,
ISBN
0-9696922-1-8, 1994. Magazines General Interest: Cottage Life,
Harrowsmith,
Harrowsmith's Country Life (US), Outdoor Canada Special Interest: Snow
Goer
(Cdn),
Water Goer, Photo Life Motorcycle: Cycle Canada (since 1981 Max has
been at
times a
contributor, a contributing editor, an associate editor, a monthly
columnist,
and a
feature editor), MDT (Cdn motorcycle trade journal), (Qubec) Moto
Journal,
(U.S.)
Cycle World, Rider, Motorcyclist, Iron Horse, (Australia) Two Wheels,
(England)
Motorcycle International, (Germany) Motorrad Reisen & Sport Seminars
and other
media
Hosted and participated in four seminars at the Cottage Life Show in
Toronto
(1994-96). Wrote and performed a live, weekly segment on CBC radio's
Morning
North
show titled "Max at the Cottage". Keynote speaker at the 1995 Lake of
the Woods
District Property Owners Association annual general meeting in
Winnipeg. Various
TV
appearances and radio interviews, including Morningside with Peter
Gzowski on
national CBC radio. Awards Max has been nominated for seven Canadian
National
Magazine Awards, winning one gold, three silver, and three honorable
mentions.
Motorcycle Award for Excellence in Journalism, 1994, for the The
Winged Wheel
Patch.
Excerpted from Cottage Water Systems by Max Burns (as appears in The
WomanSource
Catalog & Review). Copyright(c) 1993. Reprinted by permission, all
rights
reserved
The most obvious connection to nature is via the cottage water system.
This
system
is whatever means we use to obtain water and whatever means we use to
expel it
(including the water that has been run through the human ingestive
system) after
use. It includes all manner of conventional cottage connections such
as a water
pump
to an intake line, and a toilet to a septic tank-as well as more
traditional
alternatives such as a rain barrel and an outhouse. The cottage
water system
is a
private system; we are the owner/operators, totally responsible for
all its
strengths and failings. It can be a serious pain when it ceases to
function-because
as the owner/operators, it's our job to fix it.
Customer Comments : Alex Murdoch (murdoch AT nbnet.nb.ca) from
Fredericton, New
Brunswick, Canada , January 7, 1999 Wonderful source of information
for anyone with
a well I am a Health Inspector in New Brunswick and many houses in
rural areas
require well and septic disposal fields. I found this book well
written and
informative. A must-read for new home owners who are dealing with
wells and
on-site
sewage disposal fields for the first time. A reader from Houston, TX
, August
25,
1998 Beautifully illustrated, easy to read, humorous, educational I
posted
this
review on an internet forum discussing rural retreats... "Cottage
Water
Systems: An
Out-Of-The-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and
Privies" by
Max
Burns. ISBN 0-9696922-0-x. 1993. $24.96 Retail, I paid $19.96 at
Amazon. 150
pages.
4 color, large size paper back book. This book is like a "Time-Life"
series...
it
has many colorful and well-drawn illustrations about water systems.
Maybe that's
why
the publisher's name is "Cottage Life Books." This is a very
informative and
easy
to read book... particularly given the unusually narrow focus of this
book. If
you
are about to build a cottage out in the woods (maybe for Y2K)... then
this is
the
very first book you should read to understand how to obtain a water
supply and
how
to handle the sewage/septic systems. The explanations could not be
clearer. The
author even shows you several beautiful designs for outhouses. He also
discusses
and
illustrates such alternative toilets as: electric, self-contained
composting
toilets. His clear diagrams show how leaching systems work. Same with
pumping
water
in from lakes or up from wells. This is an EXCELLENT book... and if
you are
interested in the subject matter, I would rate it a MUST READ. The
author is
Canadian, I believe... and he refers to the bathrooms as "loos". I
would imagine
they would say... "Hey Joe... Let's pull over so I can hit the loo."
Here's a
sample discussing water quality: "...The nutrients of primary concern
to
cottagers
are phosphorus, because of its effect on aquatic life in our
waterways, and
nitrogen, because of its potential health effect on humans. They also
tend to
travel
together. Most fresh-water ecosystems, like lakes, are phosphorus
limited in
their
natural state, meaning that phosphorus is in relatively short supply
in that
system.
So aquatic plant life is also limited. But as phosphorus is introduced
into the
water - the process being greatly accelerated by faulty septic and
municipal
sewage
systems, continued use of phosphate-based soaps... (and he goes on to
discuss
blue-green algae)... Other than affecting taste, phosphorus doesn't
directly
degrade the quality of water for drinking purposes. Nitrogen, however
, is
another
matter. High levels of nitrates have been linked to
methaemoglobinemia, a
disease
causing oxygen deficiencies in blood... (and he continues on about the
negative
side
of nitrogen)..." OK, this was just a short passage on the nutrients
and
contamination of water supplies that would affect a cottager. He
spends most of
his
time discussing the practical/how to side of getting your water supply
ready.
But
without the ability to show the beautiful illustrations, you would not
appreciate
the clarity of his explanations. Again, I think it is a great read,
and good
luck
on your cottage water system. John www.dunbarco.com George Mathews
(geomathews AT mindspring.com)ng.com from Dawson County, Georgia , April
1, 1998
Cottage Water Systems tells you what you need to know! The importance
of
establishing a good water supply is unsurpassed for those living
beyond the
reaches
of municipal amenities. This simple fact requires an effective manual
dealing
with
all aspects of water-- its acquisition, preservation, use, and
disposal--
because
it's up to the homesteader to know all about it. Max Burns provides
this
invaluable
companion text in Cottage Water Systems, an easily read and remarkably
entertaining
guide to being your own little water and sewer company. This he
accomplishes
with a
folksy wisdom which transforms the potentially tedious subject matter
into the
common theme in a series of interesting fireside chats. For the reader
with a
limited attention span, the book is expertly sectioned into short
how-to
passages
with timely sidebars and very effective illustrations. The chapter on
outhouses
finds the author in his best form and should not be missed. I found
Cottage
Water
Systems to be the definitive guide I needed to confidently tackle the
indispensable
project of successful water management. However, the reader must
consider how
much
he or she agrees with the author when he declares,"..part of the fun
is in the
fixing." If your idea of an enjoyable cottage experience does not
include
extensive
labor (sometimes requiring a backhoe), then some of the tasks
explained in the
book
will be passed on to others. Still, the reader/cottager enjoys the
future
benefit of
knowing what he or she is talking about. I get the feeling that I'll
be going
back
to Cottage Water Systems again and again for its complete how-to
information and
learned wisdom. topgun10 AT aol.com from USA , December 18, 1997 This
ones a
keeper. Mr. Burns does a good job in this book telling you how to;
for me as a
youth camp site manager this book has been a big help, but Max also
tells you
the
why. Any one who has a camp of any kind would find this book helpful.
Thanks Mr.
Burns.

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Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
by Rolfe Cobleigh List Price: $12.95 Our Price: $10.36 You Save:
$2.59 (20%)
Availability: This title usually ships within 2-3 days. Paperback -
296 pages
Reprint edition (March 1996) The Lyons Press; ISBN: 1558214321 ;
Dimensions (in
inches): 0.66 x 7.02 x 4.48
Reviews Amazon.com Originally published in 1909, "Handy Farm
Devices" is more
than
an engaging trip down memory lane. For any small farmer or
homesteader, the
techniques and devices described in detail are just as useful,
durable, and
fully
functional today as they were 75 years ago. You will learn to build a
portable
chicken coop, a stone boat (for moving stone), a lightweight orchard
ladder,
gates
that don't sag, and a handy wood splitter, as well as rudimentary farm
structures,
well houses, bee hives, a baby's cradle, a cheese press and much more.
The
charming,
turn-of-the-century language and useful and inspirational quotes from
Shakespeare,
the Bible, Bacon, Longfellow and many others make this book a delight
to read.
--Mark A. Hetts
Customer Comments : Dave Lilligren (dave AT lilligren.com) from
Minnesota , August
11,
1998 This book will save you both time and money. This reprint of
the 1909
classic
should be on the shelf of every serious homesteader. Farming is hard
work, and
this
book will teach you how to save both time and money to get the job
done. In this
little gem you’ll learn how to make your own tools for your workshop,
how to
build
things for around the house, for the barns, and for your livestock, in
addition
to
other devices for your garden and orchard, including a section that
discusses
fence-making and gate-making. Several pages are devoted to building a
farmhouse
(including the floor plan for my wife’s dream house), barns, and other
outbuildings.
This book also makes for very entertaining reading. Peppered
throughout are
worthwhile quotes from famous (and not-so-famous) farmers from the
past. I’m
glad I
found this book. I hope you will be, too!

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The Home Water Supply : How to Find, Filter, Store and Conserve It
by Stu Campbell, Roger Griffith (Editor) Our Price: $18.95
Availability: This
title usually ships within 2-3 days. Paperback - 240 pages (October
1983)
Storey
Books; ISBN: 0882663240 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.62 x 10.91 x 8.42
Customer
Comments : A reader from Auburn, KS , October 15, 1998 Excellent
read I
bought
this book based on the review from the NC reader. This is a great book
on the
topic.
Easy read, good examples, great information. If you are looking to get
into well
work or building a lateral system, get this book. A reader from
North
Carolina,
USA , September 10, 1998 Comprehensive, practical, and fun to read.
Covers
everything from finding water to getting it to treating it and
controlling it.
Describes ponds, catchments (roofs and paved areas), wells of several
different
kinds, springs, and running water.

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Root Cellaring : Natural Cold Storage of Fruits and Vegetables
by Mike Bubel, Nancy Bubel, Pam Art (Editor) Our Price: $11.96 You
Save: $2.99
(20%)
Usually ships in 2-3 days Paperback - (October 1991) 320 pages
Customer Comments
:
pat AT simplyhealthfarms.com from Montana USA , January 20, 1999
Straight-forward,
no
nonsense and filled with valuable infor This book has many
tremendous, no
nonsense,
inexpensive, simple, low-tech, and energy saving ways to keep our
harvests
fresh.
It has reminded me of some simple techniques I'd forgotten, and taught
me
several
new ones. I highly recommend it for those interested in what Y2K might
present.
A
reader from Wisconsin , January 17, 1999 This book gives the complete
root
cellaring picture. We're fortunate to have bought a property with a
well
designed
root cellar already in place. Until I read this book, I had no idea
how a root
cellar 'worked'. This book suggests what foods are best for root
cellaring, how
long
to expect to store them, and what temperatures should be maintained.
Had I not
read
this book I would have wasted time and energy, and lost the nutrients
in some
foods
by canning them rather than root cellaring them. A city dweller friend
of mine
borrowed my book and has decided to buy it. There are variety of good
root
cellar
plans complete with illustrations and drawings for nearly any
situation.
Annette
Kent troykent@ safelink.net from Rupert, Idaho, USA , October 6, 1998
very
informative, and complete in all areas of information. I was looking
for how to
build a root cellar. Several Ideas were presented, along with what can
be
stored,
how to store it and how long it could likely be stored. I first saw
this book as
a
loan from another library. Now I want to get one to have as reference
in my
library.

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Woodstove Cookery : At Home on the Range
by Jane, Cooper, Sherry Streeter (Illustrator) Our Price: $10.36 You
Save: $2.59
(20%) Back Ordered Paperback - (August 1983) 208 pages

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Living Without Electricity
by Kenneth Pellman, Stephen E. Scott Our Price: $5.56 You Save: $1.39
(20%) Back
Ordered Paperback - (February 1990) 128 pages

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The Evolution of an Independent Home; The Story of a Solar Electric
Pioneer
by Paul Jeffrey Fowler Our Price: $21.95 Availability: Usually ships
within 24
hours. Paperback - 254 pages (August 1995) Fowler Enterprises; ISBN:
0964511177 ;
Dimensions (in inches): 0.69 x 10.02 x 8.05
Reviews The New Sunpaper, September 1995 Reading this book is like
having a
good
friend tell you how he did it because he hopes his experience will
help you to
decide to do it yourself.....More than any technical manual could,
Fowler's book
invites the reader to realize the ideals of building an earth friendly
house
while
encouraging them to appreciate the many facets of what it takes to get
the job
done.
Rhode Island Solar Energy Association, Summer 1995 This book is for
those who
want
to know how to build a passive solar house powered by a solar electric
system.
It is
a working diary, interestingly written.....and easily understood.
Northeast
Sun,
Autumn 1995 The Evolution Of an Independent Home provides interesting
insights
for
those seeking broad treatment of the whys and hows of passive solar,
photovoltaics,
battery storage systems, gardening, being an owner-builder, and
running your own
business. This book's straight-forward delivery and engaging story
make it a
worthwhile read. Backwoods Home Magazine, March/April 1996 Jeffrey
Fowler is
one
the pioneers in the home solar electric field and his book is the
account of his
odyssey to an independent lifestyle. Along the way he became a
respected solar
electric expert with a successful solar electric business. If it is
your
intention
to build a solar home, read Fowler's advice and see how to plan it
from the
start.
Home Power, February/March 1996 The inspiration and knowledge we can
gain
through
Fowler, and his willingness to jump into his dream with both feet, are
as
valuable
as technical data. His dream came true, and ours can too. This book is
motivational
and useful to anyone beginning to plan a renewable energy or efficient
home
project.
It will help you ask many good questions, and will help you decide
which answers
are
best for you. Fine Homebuilding, December 1995/January 1996 Fowler
discusses
building an independent homestead and living off the grid in the New
England
town
where he grew up. There is a certain Walden Pond quality about
Fowler's
experience-building a home, learning about how to build it at the same
time and
then
writing about the experience-that is appealing, and although Fowler's
writing
doesn't resemble Thoreau's, his firsthand knowledge of the solar
electric
industry
over the past two decades more than makes up for the rough edges.
Green
Living,
Fall 1995 Armed with a shoestring budget and plenty of creativity,
Fowler built
his
home and developed into one of the country's leading authorities on
solar
electric
homes. The book is part autobiographical and part how-to. While we
follow the
story
on Jeff's life, we also learn how an alternative energy system works
and why we
need
such things as inverters. For those who are technically adverse, the
human
element
keeps the pages turning so you learn without glazing over. Fowler has
a knack
for
making technical information accessible for the uninitiated - a talent
that made
his
earlier books on solar electric homes popular. Library Journal, July
1995 An
environmentalist "child of the Sixties," Fowler sought a simpler life
in the
early
Eighties. Since it would have cost $20,000 to bring electricity to his
homesite
in
western Massachusetts, he designed a solar home that would not be
dependent on
the
power company. This is a well-written autobiographical account of the
growth and
development of his personal life, going from self-contracting a house
with
passive
solar heating through the addition of increasingly larger and more
sophisticated
solar electric systems. Along the way, he became a solar electric
dealer and
authored two "how-to" books on solar electric energy systems to assist
other
solar
electric pioneers..... A good buy for libraries where interest in
alternative
energy
and alternative lifestyles is high. Book Description The site was
up a
winding
dirt road, in the remote hills of western Massachusetts, 1.3 miles
removed from
the
power line. After a long search, Jeffrey Fowler found the piece of
land he had
been
looking for -- one that he could call home. This is the story of how
one man
used
local resources, ingenuity, imagination, and patience to create a
homestead
powered
by the sun. Fowler, who later used his knowledge and experience to
become an
authority on remote solar electric homes, recounts the unique
successes and
struggles in developing this new technology for his lifestyle. Read
this book
and
learn to live the good life - solar electrically. From the Publisher
The
success
of The Evolution of an Independent Home is best expressed by its wide
range of
readers. We have received letters of praise form current alternative
energy
users,
environmentalists, architects, Y2Kers, and people who so far only
dream of
energy
independence. From the Author The Evolution of an Independent Home
is my
story of
living the good life - solar electrically. I wrote this book for both
alternative
energy homeowners and those who dream of energy independence down the
road. This
is
a narrative of my experience building and designing a solar electric
powered,
passive solar home. When you read this book you not only get a good
story and a
lot
of practical knowledge, but you just might find you have painlessly
learned to
think
and plan like someone with my level of expertise. This can help a
dreamer turn
his
dream to reality, or help a current alternative energy homeowner to
stop, think,
and
refine his or her own solar electric system, house, and homestead..
>From the
Back
Cover The Evolution of an Independent Home is a coming of age tale of
independent
living. Jeffrey Fowler went from neophyte to one of the country's
experts on
solar
electric homes. Evolution of an Independent Home tells that story and
more by
Fowler's recounting the creation of his homestead. If Walden Pond
self-sufficiency
with computers and hot showers on demand appeals to you, it is a must
read. -
Marshall Glickman, Publisher and Editor of Green Living magazine.
"We are
taking
energy into our own hands, as we did with computers. Likewise, new
thinking is
required. In this fine book, Jeffrey Fowler displays a rare
combination of
technical
competence, whole-life experience, and the ability to communicate." -
Windy
Dankoff,
Dankoff Solar Products, Inc., Santa Fe, NM. "This book is Yankee
ingenuity in
its
purest form. Jeffrey Fowler's honest and straightforward depiction of
his
experience
with solar electricity should be an inspiration for readers to start
using solar
electricity now." Joel Davidson - Author of The New Solar Electric
Home. "I
have
thoroughly enjoyed reading Jeffrey Fowler's personal account of the
building and
powering of his independent home. I recommend this book to even the
readers who
only
dream of energy independence." Ken Cox - President of Trace
Engineering Company,
Inc. About the Author Jeffrey Fowler resides in Worthington,
Massachusetts in
a
passive-solar, solar-electric powered home with his family. He
founded,
developed,
and later sold Fowler Solar Electric Inc., a successful business that
supplies
alternative energy components to power remote homes. Fowler wrote
several
successful
how-to books and booklets on solar electricity while working at his
former
business.
He has a B.S. in Biology from Tufts University and Masters Degree in
Environmental
Studies from Antioch New England Graduate School. Excerpted from The
Evolution
of
an Independent Home; The Story of a Solar Electric Pioneer by Paul
Jeffrey
Fowler.
Copyright 1995. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved Chapter
26: What
Is
Next: Our current solar electric system consists of a 32-battery,
battery bank,
24
33-watt modules, and eight 48-watt modules. The battery bank is rated
to store
42,000 watt-hours of electrical energy. The sum of all the modules is
rated to
produce 1,200 peak watts. This output is roughly equivalent to the
output of 24
50-peak-watt modules that are sold today. Our 1,200-peak-watt arrays
produce an
average of 2,400 watt-hours per day of usable electrical energy in the
winter
months, and an average of 4300 watt-hours per day of usable electrical
energy in
the
summer months. For most of the year we use our appliances, never
worrying
about
the solar electric system. It fully charges the batteries on the next
completely
sunny day. We are careful with our electrical use during a span of
four weeks
between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Once every ten years we are
confronted with
a
span of three weeks where we never have a sunny day. We still receive
a small
amount
of output from the modules in cloudy weather. We cut back our use as
the length
of a
no-sun period increases. Our goal is to never discharge the battery
bank below
half
full. Most years, we have a week of poor weather, then a sunny day
that
partially
recharges the battery bank before the next cloudy week. We conserve
only a small
amount during these years. I have lived with a solar electric system
for
twelve
years. I ran a solar electric business for the majority of those
years. For most
of
the years running the business, I spent most of each day designing
solar
electric
systems and solving unique problems for solar-electric-system owners.
Our system
is
ideal for our needs. Still, I confess that I have trouble leaving well
enough
alone.
On any given day, I follow Lea around telling her my next daydream of
improvements
or future expansion. My rational side stops me from actually expanding
our
system. I
do, however, have many ideas of what we will and will not do in the
future.
Our
current 2600 watt Trace inverter has a large internal battery charger
that is
meant
to be powered by a 120VAC generator. If our need for power increases,
the most
logical addition to our alternative energy system would be a portable
generator
to
charge our battery bank during the worst winter months. We do not
really want to
invest in a generator, listen to its noise, or maintain another
gasoline engine.
However, this would be the next expansion that I would professionally
recommend.
If
our loads increase, what we would really need would be the on-demand,
winter
supplement to our energy production. This could only be provided by a
standby
generator. Our choice for now would be to discharge our battery bank
no lower
than
half full during a winter low-sun stretch, and to then rent a
generator for a
day to
recharge our large battery bank to full. We plan to replace our
Trace 2600
watt
inverter with the new Trace 4000 watt inverter in the next few months.
The size
of
our current inverter is adequate. We will upgrade to the 4000 watt
inverter for
two
reasons. This new inverter produces a true sine wave. Many appliances
will run
more
efficiently. We will eliminate electrical interference noise in
problem
appliances
and radio frequency interference on our AM radio reception and our
telephones.
The
second reason we want the new Trace inverter is because this inverter
has a much
improved, and much larger, battery charger. If we ever need to rent a
generator,
we
will have better and quicker capabilities for recharging the battery
bank.
This
summer as I considered a wind machine installation similar to the
Cooks', I
realize
I have been dreaming of larger alternative energy systems that would
power
larger
loads. On a small scale this is analogous to a utility company
planning to build
another power plant for customers whom they will have to convince to
expand
their
use. If the power company would listen, I would advise them to urge
their
customers
to conserve and avoid building that next power plant. On my small
scale, I must
also
follow the same advice. In the future, I hope to harness my desire to
design an
expanded alternative energy system and direct it toward refining my
conservation
without changing my standard of living. Our life here on Bashan Hill
is
different
from the normal American life. When the power is out in the town, we
have
electricity. When the winter is severe and cold, we are warm and our
heating
bill is
unaffected. We are aware of the stresses and the inconsistencies of
modern life.
We
try to make decisions that avoid some of these pitfalls and give us a
more
rewarding
life. Buddhists profess that suffering is a result of expectations and
wanting.
Their solution for a life of contentment is the cessation of
suffering. They
believe
we should see the world as a glass half full, not as a glass half
empty. New
Englanders remind us that the grass is not really greener on the other
side of
the
fence. Lea and I, and Terry too, are content here on Bashan Hill. We
enjoy
making
our own power and growing much of our own food. Our other children,
Bethy, Kurt,
and
Jarod, who live primarily with their father in a large house, on an
income many
times greater than ours, sometimes ask in their adolescent confusion,
"Are you
and
Mom poor?" I answer them, "We are rich. We have everything we could
possibly
want."
Customer Comments : A reader from Central Vermont , January 14, 1999
Year
2000
worriers should read this book This fun book taught me how to think
in terms of
independent living. One of the best on my shelf. A reader from
Newton,
Massachusetts , November 24, 1998 An extremely clear and well written
book As
a
Biologist, I have been looking for a book that would give a clear and
concise
introduction to solar energy and photovoltaics. Paul Fowler's book
does just
that.
It is written for the person who has an interest in solar power, but
who does
not
have the technical background to immediately delve into more detailed
texts.
It's
story format is engaging, yet also very informative. I highly
recommend this
book.
dougl AT dri.edu from Reno, Nevada , September 30, 1998 An interesting
autobiography
AND technically informative This is much more than a "how to" book.
Nonetheless, it
contains ample basic and detailed information on energy efficiency and
construction
of a solar-powered house. It is a must read for those who are thinking
about
living
"off the grid". It is also a fascinating personal history. Fowler has
used his
innate abilities and creativity to forge an independent lifestyle. The
evolution
of
his wonderful home goes hand in hand with the growth of his family.
It's an
inspiring story for anyone seeking to redirect his or her life away
from some of
the
more toxic aspects of our culture. And though he's passed away,
Fowler's little
dog
Rollo will always live in my heart. twhalen AT phs.org from
Albuquerque, NM ,
September 22, 1998 Enjoyable, humorous, informative AND inspiring! A
very
readable
story of Jeff Fowler's 20+ year development of his independent
homestead in the
Berkshire Hills of Mass. This is a homegrown story of a hometown boy
grown into
solar pioneer and returning to a simpler way of life. His embrace of
hometown
friendship and simple life-style has been an inspiring wake up call to
me. In
the
past 4 years, I have lived in three regions of the US (Northeast,
Florida and
Southwest) and have found the technical aspects of the book readily
adaptable to
each of these regions - a book for all seasons. I encourage you to
read and
learn
and enjoy.

***************************************************

The Solar Electric House : Energy for the Environmentally-Responsive,
Energy-Independent Home
by Steven J. Strong, William G. Scheller (Contributor) Our Price:
$17.56 You
Save:
$4.39 (20%) Usually ships in 2-3 days Paperback - (January 1994) 288
pages
Customer Comments : Bob Hammond (b.hammond AT asu.edu) from Tempe,
Arizona ,
January
30, 1999 ...the most comprehensive solar electric book available
Steven
Strong's
book "The Solar Electric House" is the most comprehensive book
available
regarding
the application of solar-generated electricity (photovoltaics). The
book is well
organized, well written, and easy to understand. Although this book
was first
printed in 1987, it is amazingly current today (1999). I have been
using this
book
since 1987 when I build my stand-alone PV-powered home in Prescott
Arizona, and
referred to Mr. Strong's book on a regular basis during design and
construction
of
the solar-electric system. I still use this book today -- as the
primary
textbook in
two classes that I teach at Arizona State University: "Introduction to
Solar
Energy
and Photovoltaics" and "Photovoltaic System Design". wlord AT bu.edu
from Cape
Porpoise, Maine , January 25, 1999 A necessary companion for those
building a
solar
house I have long wanted to be able to harvest the sun's energy for
heat and
electricity, but I was in doubt about whether the technology was
dependable or
affordable. Steven Strong's book erased my concerns. While the science
of
converting
the sun's rays to electricity eludes me still, I found Steven's
down-to-earth
examples reassuring - so much so that we engaged him to design our
solar home in
Maine. This book will help us all envision a new Millenium with less
pollution
and
more independence.

***************************************************

The Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook : The Complete Guide to
Renewable Energy
Techologies and Sustainable Living (9th Ed)
by John Schaeffer (Editor), Doug Pratt (Editor), Real Good Staff
(Editor),
Douglas
R. Pratt Our Price: $24.00 You Save: $6.00 (20%) Usually ships in 2-3
days
Paperback
- (July 1996) 670 pages
Reviews Amazon.com It is arguably a form of cultural insanity that
industrial
civilizations constantly bathed by free and clean energy from the sky
(the sun
and
the wind) continue to depend upon dirty and limited chemical fuels
that poison
the
people, their foods, and the land upon which they depend. Happily,
this
comprehensive sourcebook provides those of you with foresight a way
out of this
madness; it includes products ranging from simple energy-saving
devices such as
compact fluorescent lights to home-scale energy-harvesting systems
that utilize
the
sun, wind, and water to make electricity for people living
"off-the-grid."
Chapters
focus on Independent Living, Land, Shelter, Harvesting Energy,
Managing Energy
Systems, Heating and Cooling, Water, Energy Conservation, the Nontoxic
Home,
Home
and Market Gardening, Mobility and Electric Vehicles, and Livelihood
and
Learning.
Committed to selling only products that promote environmental
responsibility at
an
honest value, The Real Goods Trading Company is one of the
fastest-growing
companies
in America. Many of the products listed in another of our favorites,
the
Millennium
Whole Earth Catalog, can be purchased by mail from Real Goods. Whole
Earth
Review
The Sourcebook remains the best introduction to energy-efficient
technology for
common folks.
Customer Comments : Mark Stevens (genesis1 AT adnc.com) from San Diego,
CA ,
September
21, 1998 An Outstanding Starter and Reference I found this book to
be a very
informative and well researched compendium of information for those
who wish to
learn more about independent living. This book is an excellent mixture
of common
sense advice (based on real world experience), technical information
and a
practical
guide to a myriad of products. It may not be everything I wanted to
know about a
new
subject but it comes as close to delivering that as any book I have
ever read.
Good
job! windsun AT windsun.com from Phoenix, AZ USA , September 7, 1997
An
excellent
book in general, but watch out for the agenda.. I found some chapters
to be
excellent, others less so. The less technical chapters especially
seemed to be a
lot
of "feel good" inspiration without a lot of practical value unless you
live in a
place with good rain, moderate climate, running streams, and no
neighbors. Lotsa
luck. The technical chapters on solar and energy savings were much
better, and
make
up about 75% of the book. Well worth the money, but some of the
editorial
comment
reminds of the sixties.
Lawrence F. London, Jr. Venaura Farm
intergarden.com InterGarden
metalab.unc.edu/intergarden InterGarden
metalab.unc.edu/permaculture PermaSphere
metalab.unc.edu/intergarden/orgfarm AGINFO
lflondon AT mindspring.com london AT metalab.unc.edu



  • Agriculture bibliography Part 17, Lawrence F. London, Jr., 03/04/2000

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