permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>]

Chad Knepp wrote:
> Right on!
>
> Also interesting if you haven't already read it is 'Energy in
> Agriculture: Lessons from the Sunshine Farm Project' published by The
> Land Institute in November 2002.
> <http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/09/24/3dbeba6338ac3>
>
> It documents a hands on study of biodiesel production.  Pertinent
> quote:
>
>   It will be a challenge to provide society with considerable energy
>   from agriculture, let alone food, since the energy returns for
>   various energy technologies have generally been greater than the
>   above ratios for mixed crop and livestock farms.  Fossil fuels
>   usually have ratios in the range of 10-30, and solar and wind
>   technologies, typically 3-10, but renewable liquid or gaseous fuels
>   from agricultural production, mostly 5 or less [37, 38]. Solar and
>   wind technologies have greater power densities than energy crops and
>   thus require less land area [24].

To take energy cycling and renewable energy technologies plus sustainability 
in agricultural
(and permaculture) systems s few steps further, I mentioned earlier:
- In flatland or similar terrain, with plenty of excavators and earthmovers 
waiting in the wings,
- grow water hyacinth, kudzu and maybe elaeagnus, bamboo and other plants 
(ground ivy for N cycling and
- source of fermented plant extract, in a a setting where they can be 
efficiently
- harvested, and fertilize them with sewage sludge and effluent (and any 
other clean, natural industrial byproduct).
- In fact have a properly sized facility of this sort
- at sewage treatment plants; generate methane for fuel to run some of the 
equipment. Byproducts (which could also be made on site)
- would include paper, fuel, compost (seedless, of course) carbon 
sequestration and oxygen from the plants.

Can't methane from digesters be compressed and liquified?

Back to the renaissance of the late 50's, 60's and 70's. Let's pick up where 
we left off, continue what was begun in those times
and build momentum for the future.

LL
--
L.F.London
lfl@intrex.net
http://market-farming.com
http://www.ibiblio.org/ecolandtech