Come see me at the Mother Earth News Fair - April 12, 2014, Asheville, NC
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Birth by Flashlight
As many of you know, my wife Deborah is one of The Farm Midwives. The other morning, the power went out just as a baby was about to enter the world.
"Pamela and I were about to deliver a baby on one of the coldest nights of the year, 8 degrees, when suddenly the power went out! It was 5:38 AM and still quite dark. We pulled out our flashlights and strapped on 2 headlamps provided by the dad. The baby was born at 6:20 am. We kept the baby warm by placing him skin-to-skin with the mom.
The
power came back on around 10:00 am. The baby and family are all well and have now returned to their home. I told the parents, "Well, you have a story to tell about this birth!!"~ Deborah |
Deborah and Pamela deliver a baby during a power outage.
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| EcoHostel Expansion Campaign |
The plans for the new EcoHostel
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In 1994, Albert Bates founded the nonprofit, Global Village Institute and created the Ecovillage Training Center at The Farm. Since then people from more than 60 nations have received training in subjects such as permaculture, solar electricity, and natural building. We've begun a major overhaul of our site to create more and better opportunities for interaction with the general public — including you!
The new expansion will include an auditorium, an expanded hostel for overnight stays, a world class vegan kitchen, and soaring artistic expressions that celebrate the best work of a generation. This 18000 sq-ft building will be solar powered, straw-, clay-, and biochar-walled, with roundpole post and beam framing, a living roof, bamboo floors, and carbon-minus winter heating. Construction is well underway, but more funds are needed to complete the work. To learn more about how you can help, watch the video and make a contribution through the Indigogo campaign. |
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Waldorf Salad
Staying with our Raw Food theme, here is a classic recipe that makes a great breakfast or side dish at any meal. Originally developed as the signature dish for the Waldorf Hotel in New York in the late 1800's, this recipe is a way to insert a raw food dish into your
menu, something that even non-vegetarians can relate to. Start out with the basics, and then add additional ingredients to suit your taste. |
- 1
apple
- 1 small bunch (20) grapes
- 1-2 TBS mayonnaise (
Nayonnaise or Veganaise for vegans). Option: Yogurt
Optional Ingredients: |
A raw food classic: Waldorf Salad
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- 1 stem of celery
- 1/4 cup of nuts:
Walnuts, pecans,sliced almonds, sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup
of Craisins or raisins (or
both!)
- 1/2 to 1 whole banana
- 1 tangerine
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| Dice the apple into bite sized chunks. Slice your grapes in half. Then get creative and use whatever fruits you have on hand. The traditional recipe includes sliced celery. Raisins may just be grapes in another form, but they provide a different texture and chewing experience. Nuts and seeds insert a dose of protein. Walnuts are the standard, but I use a variety of
nuts. Add your mayo/nayo to taste or go with yogurt as a healthier choice. Stir and serve! |
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Excerpt from The Farm Then and Now
Green Building: Energy Efficiency and Insulation
A common concern is the importance of energy efficiency, generally regarded as a reduction in power, particularly as it relates to healing and cooling costs. One of the primary ways to accomplish this is through insulation. The type of insulation used in Farm homes has a direct correlation to the timeline and progression of technological advances and their availability in the marketplace.
Insulation is rated by its R-Value per inch of material, representing the resistance to heat flow, keeping heat out in summer and holding onto it in winter. A 6-inch wall would have a 50 percent higher R rating than a 4-inch wall of the same substance. Following that logic, it would take twice as much of material rated at R-3 to achieve the same level of insulation as it would for a material rated at R-6. These numbers are important when designing a home in order to estimate its energy efficiency.
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Spray foam
insulation expands when applied,
producing an air-tight seal.
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For many decades, the only commercially available insulation was fiberglass, having a value of R-3.6 to R-5. Fiberglass is manufactured from sand and 20 to 30 percent recycled glass that is combined and spun into a light and fluffy material resembling cotton candy. The sand is normally acquired through mining, and the fiberglass manufacturing process includes toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde.
The spun fiberglass is often attached to a paper or foil batt that can be stapled to wall studs for easy installation, simultaneously creating an air and vapor seal. Holes cut to provide access to electrical boxes and light fixtures break that seal and can be a source of cold air flow or drafts. Fiberglass is also the least expensive option, and it is still widely used in standard construction.
Insulation made from cotton scraps, such as the leftover material from the production of blue jeans, was one of the first readily available type of green insulation. It consists of 80 percent recycled material and does not contain formaldehyde. Acquisition of the raw
material (farming cotton and recycling) has less impact on the environment than mining. The R-value is roughly equivalent to fiberglass, but installation and overall costs are frequently a bit higher. It is sold in rolls and stapled into walls like fiberglass or blown 6 to 8 inches deep into attics and ceilings.
Blown cellulose made from 80 percent recycled newspapers is another commonly available green insulation that carries a value of R-3 to R-4. Cellulose has lost favor because it has been found to settle as much as 20 percent over time, reducing its insulation qualities. Both cotton and cellulose insulations are treated with chemicals as a fire retardant.
Spray foam is a liquid that expands on contact, filling all crevices or gaps producing a perfect, tight seal, blocking any intrusion by outside air. Unlike blown cellulose, it adheres to any surface, allowing it to be used between rafters, floor and ceiling joists or against lightweight skirting enclosing a pier foundation. It has a value of R-3 to R-7, as good or better than any other insulation. The foam also adds to structural stability, functions as a sound barrier and works better than plastic as a vapor barrier.
The downside? Spray foams have been petrochemical based, but
formulas based on soy oils and others are being developed from recycled sources. The HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) and HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) compounds used as propellants to spray the foam are greenhouse gases. Foam also releases toxic fumes if burned, such as in a house fire. Hopefully both of these drawbacks will also change as newer methods and formulas are developed. Because of its excellent R values and ability to seal any and all intrusion from hot or cold air, spray foam insulation has been the choice in many newly constructed homes on The Farm.
Next Month: Straw, the Natural Choice |
Thank you for your time and attention!
Douglas@thefarmcommunity.com |
