Short video on state of the art amphibian road crossing tunnel

Most of our native amphibians are at risk of death when migrating across roads to their breeding sites.  Here is one solution:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/monkton-road-wildlife-crossing

CT-NOFA Winter Conference last Saturday

We were privileged to present two workshops last Saturday at the annual winter conference of CT-NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Organization).

The event was held at the campus of Western Connecticut State University and there was the largest attendance ever recorded for the midwinter conference.  What an achievment for the staff and volunteers of NOFA.  Way to go guys!

Stuart and I presented workshops on building a Cob Oven and on Raising Shiitake Mushrooms.  You can see our power points at www.hgconnsoil.com and click on "Press Releases and Link".

Also, here is another link to a terrific write-up of the event:

http://www.localfoodrocks.com/2014/03/some-food-for-thought.html?spref=fb 

Scientists "discover" importance of soil carbon!

It's never too late for academia to catch up with what a lot of us have known for a very long time - that soil is vital for the health of the planet.  In so many ways, and in the following terrific article from Yale University, scientists have "discovered" that putting the carbon back into the soil (yep - that's the carbon we let escape by employing ill-advised agricultural techniques) we may be able to arrest climate change and at the same time make the soil healthier for our agriculture too.  A win-win situation if ever I heard one.

http://e360.yale.edu/feature/soil_as_carbon_storehouse_new_weapon_in_climate_fight/2744/

Practical Beekeeping Workshop announced

Beekeeping With Al Avitabile

6 April 2014

1:00 pm

Fee:    $40

Outdoor Demonstration and Lecture

Eminent beekeeper and bee researcher, Al Avitabile, returns 

to the Center for Sustainable Living for another spring workshop. 

Al’s previous workshops at the Center have been our most popular 

events.  Al will share his expertise and vast knowledge with us.

Al is extremely generous with his time and spends as much time

as needed to cover all topics that are brought up by attendees. 

Previous workshops with Al have included visits to local bee yards

to observe various practices and maintenance projects first-hand.

This workshop is a must for all existing or new beekeepers. 

To register for this program please visit www.hgconnsoil.com for a registration form.

Albert Einstein quotes worth sharing

I seem to be seeing quotes by Albert Einstein all over the place these days.  Perhaps people are waking up to the truth that he brought to the world - we are all connected.

Here are a couple of quotes I've seen recently:

"A human being is part of the whole, called by us, "Universe", a part limited in time and space.

He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the  rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness."

and also:

"Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better"

SOUNDS LIKE PERMACULTURE TO ME!  Perhaps Bill Mollison got some of his inspiration from Einstein when he realized that humans were part of ecology and cannot be separate from it.