Peak opportunity #3- Pathways to Powerdown May 29, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Peak Oil , 2commentsIn the last couple of posts on this subject I had a look at some of the main issues and concepts that need to be addressed if we are to begin to navigate towards a sustainable alternative.
While rising energy prices capture everyone’s attention, the overwhelming response is on supply side solutions: the oil is running out, what will we use instead?
The short-sightedness of both public and debate and official policy is most clearly seen in the concern for “keeping things going the way we are used to” for as long as possible: any suggestion that we are facing collapse or a serious unraveling of the economy is attacked as being “gloomer-doomer”. (more…)
End of Term May 22, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Permaculture , 3commentsWith last week’s end-of-term celebrations and presentations of another batch of Permaculture Design Certificates to the first year students, I have completed my second year as permaculture teacher on the Practical Sustainability Course at Kinsale Further Education College.
This unique course, devised by Rob Hopkins in conjunction with college director John Thuillier six years ago, is growing in popularity with the next years increased intake booked out months ago and a growing waiting list approaching sufficient numbers to run a second course (were it possible!). (more…)
Bitter-sweet Harvest May 17, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Bees, Food, Gardens , 3commentsWest Cork bee-keeper Tim Rowe kindly sent me this article he has written highlighting the plight of bees and bee-keepers on account of widespread Colony Collapse Syndrome:
BITTER-SWEET HARVEST – a beekeeper’s year.
It’s been a strange year. Last summer the honey harvest from my bees weighed over half a ton. That’s stacks and stacks of wooden boxes all stuffed with dripping honeycombs, gloriously pungent and sticky. It came as a culmination of a whole lot of work – some of it by me. 
below: Tim at his house near Bantry
The bees had been collecting nectar from early spring, increasing in numbers in time for the main flows of clover and blackberry and heather. At the peak we all worked from dawn to dusk, they in vast numbers frenetically hurtling back and forth, me struggling round in my sweaty bee-suit controlling swarms and adding supers to hives as tall as me. (more…)
Peak Opportunity #2 Too Much Energy is Bad for You May 14, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Peak Oil , 4comments
left: Sandra and horse
When introducing the concept of Peak Oil and explaining what implications it will have I like to start with an image of renewable energy, but I suspect that that phrase will conjure up for most people images of photo voltaic panels or wind-turbines rather than a horse. David Holmgren has pointed out that in the 30-odd years PV panels have been being developed, the technology has approached the level of efficiency of plant chloroplasts (somewhere in the region of 20% )- a stunning achievement given that plants have taken millions of years to evolve to this stage. We might guess from this however that this level of efficiency is perhaps the most that will ever be achievable by this technology, and not put too much hope into further leaps in this kind of technology. (more…)
Peak Opportunity May 6, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Peak Oil , 1 comment so farLast week I was invited to speak at an event hosted in Bandon, Co. Cork. The event was organised by Dr. Philip Michael of the Irish Environmental Doctor’s association, with a view to initiating a localisation/powerdown group in the town. Also speaking were Colin Sage of UCC; Alison Wickham of Sustainable Clonakilty; and Klaus Harvey of Transition Towns Kinsale.
*Right: Graham Strouts, Alison Wickham, Colin Sage, Dr. Philip Michael at the Munster Arms Hotel, Bandon
I have been giving variations of this presentation around Ireland over the past three years, and I thought it would be a good time to reflect on this time and give an outline of some of the issues I think are the most important to get across. (more…)
