Posts by — dyslexic_farmerswig

Cute or what?

The phenomenon of Green Roofs currently sweeping across Europe inverts our spatial perception by taking vegetation from the ground to the rooftops. Aside from their ecological benefits, nobody would deny the aesthetic improvement of replacing an ugly old rooftop with a floral delight.

Advocated by the UK Minister for housing, Yvette Cooper, these living roofs. come in two main types,

extensive, which needs little maintenance, consisting of laying moss or sedum as a fertile base to nurture wild vegetation, and intensive roofs, basically the creation of a more labour-intensive roof-top garden or patio. Aside from absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, green roofs also take-in rainwater, meaning run-off and flooding is lessened, and they act as natural insulation by keeping heat from escaping. The figures suggest savings of 3-10% on your winter fuel bills Best of all, they provide an excellent way of attracting wildlife back to the city.

Although turf-topped buildings were popular in the 1930s, their current presence in the UK is much less than in (more…)

Festival year starts soon

This is the launch of our regularly updated Festival guide focusing on places where you are expected to stay off-grid in tents or vehicles but including every kind of Fest.

Thanks to Sing Out! for much of the information. Please email us at Off-grid if you want to add to our listing. This is a free listing, from a variety of sources. To have your event listed, e-mail the information to us.

WORLD’S BIGGEST FEST-LIST

LEGEND: CO = CAMPING ON-SITE; CR = CAMPING REMOTE ; HO = HOOKUPS ON-SITE; HR = HOOKUPS REMOTE; A = WHEELCHAIRS OK ; I = INTERPRETED FOR HEARING IMPAIRED

MAY

5/1-6; SHENANDOAH APPLE BLOSSOM FEST–Where: Winchester, Va. Info: John H. Rosenberger II, Exec. Director, Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, 135 N. Cameron St., Winchester, VA 22601; Ph: 540-662-3863; Fx: 540-662-7274. (E-mail: ; Web: < www.thebloom.com >). 649 to go…. (more…)

Jadoo fuel cell assembly

By 2010 Americans will require 10 kilowatts-hours of “personal power,” compared to the 10 watt-hours averaged in 1980 (Motorola estimates). But while the power of computer chips has doubled every couple years, battery power has advanced little in that time. Now a small US company leading the way in Fuel Cell production may be providing some answers. With only 32 employees, Jadoo Power is responsible for 11% of all shipments of Fuel Cells, according to the company. That it has real live Fuel Cells on sale now is impressive in an industry which is more mouth than trousers. We bring you an exclusive interview further down.

Fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction involving hydrogen – a component of water, and abundant and nonpolluting. Much of the recent publicity over fuel cells has been lavished on big ideas like hydrogen-powered vehicles or electrical generating plants. Jadoo (the name means “miracle” in Hindi) has different aspirations. (more…)