Category Archives: ecology

Sea water turned into drinking water

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Creation Assistance has this post up on an invention to turn salty sea water into drinking water.  Absolute genius.   I wonder if this can be applied to our dirty drinking water through public utilities?  Could it take out the prescription drugs, petroleum products, fertilizers, herbicides, etc.?

Here’s the article in translation:

A Frank Liefooghe Project ConceptMr. Frank Liefooghe :
DSC_5245
OF SEA WATER BECOMES DRINKING !
January 4, 2014 by reglang22

From http://izitech.ma :

eliodomestico1

OF SEA WATER BECOMES DRINKING WITH THIS INVENTION OPEN SOURCE THAT WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES .

Lack of access to clean water is one of the leading causes of mortality in poor countries .

In recent years , several efforts have been made to make seawater drinkable . This required power plants that consume a lot of energy and was inaccessible to poor countries.

Italian designer Gabriele Diamanti , had the idea to rally two natural elements in the service of the environment.

He created the ” Eliodomestico ” an eco- distiller that turns salt water into drinking water using solar energy.

This project is aimed at developing countries and allow these people access to clean drinking water at lower costs, with the added technical “Open Source” .
How does the ” Eliodomestico “?

eliodomestico

Eliodomestico each device can produce five liters of drinking water per day. More than enough for a family of 4 people .

The concept is simple, just put the sea water (salt water) in the morning in a special boiler.

This boiler is waterproof and thanks to the sun ( heat ) water evaporates throughout the day.

The steam passes through a connecting pipe and condenses in the cover pan.

The user can retrieve the fresh drinking water contained in the tank after sunset.

A more satisfactory idea for transporting drinking water, just wear the pelvis on the head ( a common practice).

Click the link to see more!

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I would caution, however, that since this is made of clay, that water not be allowed to stand in it.  Clay is notorious for having lead in it.

Michael Twitty on Culinary Injustice

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Here is a good video of Michael Twitty and his efforts to have African cooks recognized for their contributions to culinary endeavors.

I just want to add that women in general have added so much to our culinary endeavors, but that has been under recognized, if at all.   Men put on white hats and call themselves “chefs”.  Women cook.  Get it?

 

 

The benefits of Winter

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Okay, people, stop your whining about how c-c-c-c-cold it is and the snow…

So…I thought I’d list the benefits of Winter:

–The snow is ESSENTIAL for us not to have a drought.  A biology teacher once said that we needed at least two feet of snow each winter to avoid having a drought.  With the climate change weird weather, I would up that to three feet of snow.  Right now, we’ve almost gotten that, so we’re looking pretty good for next summer.

–The freezing weather kills a lot of bugs.

–Playing in the snow is fun.  The beauty is phenomenal.

–After a winter is through, we can appreciate Spring and warmer weather.  Would we appreciate it as much if we didn’t have the colder weather?

–Winter isn’t for sissies.  Like the butterfly struggling out of its cocoon, the struggle makes one stronger.

–The winter allows the plants to “sleep” and rest.  The snow protects the roots from the severe cold.  I dislike the “bad” part of this post, because it is always from a human’s perspective, instead of all of nature.  The broken branches or dead trees serve as homes to creatures, or as a base for other living plants that use the decaying matter as food.

Here’s a neat video with an amazing dead tree hosting several plants:

And here is a video on life beginning again after a devastating wildfire.

Related to the trees, I found this video on saving acorn seeds for planting:

(As a side note~ I just have to say that I’m digging the hairy arms.  I don’t know how it all got started, but men shaving their arms and chests bare is a turn off.  )

Also related to winter, I came across this ecotraction substitute to winter salting on roads.  Great idea.  I heard that they were using beet juice now in salt mixtures for the roads, and at first I thought that was better than the destructive effects of salt, but then I thought…they’re using food when people are hungry…yeah, can’t support that.  Beets are especially good for their detoxing effects.

 

DIY Solar Power **edited

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I have the bah humbugs for the New Year…can’t get too worked up over the new year–too many times hopes have been dashed…

So…I thought I’d go looking for something to lift my mood...here’s a neat thing–do it yourself solar panels.  I think even if someone only wanted to do one panel, it would still help reduce their electric bill, and that would reduce the country’s needs for energy produced by oil or other environmentally toxic stuff, like fracking.  Note that the author recommends a professional installation, or having a professional inspect your work if you do it yourself.

Eartheasy also has a page on energy efficient lighting, with LED lights.  I was happy they did not have the dreaded mercury-filled lightbulbs.

Enjoy.

**edited to add:  As I read the comments, the author mentions they have a small generator when the sun is not available.  It flashed in my head that with the stupid chemtrails creating a solid mass of “clouds” it could also interfere with available sunlight for the solar panels.

Preppers versus Tradition

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Granny Miller has a post up on the curious phenomenon of preppers.

 

I am positively revolted by the survivalist perception and belief that somehow there will not be enough food, water, clothing, shelter and goodness and humanity to go around when “the collapse” comes.

…wisdom from the elders….

( TEOTWAWKI = The end of the world as we know it.  TSHTF= the sh*t hits the fan.)

 

Highway collapses along U.S. – Mexico border

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Global News has this up on highway collapse thought to be caused by several local earthquakes.

So…yeah, I’m looking at fracking in the area.  Here’s a report on fracking near the area:

(not linking to it for obvious reasons)

thehydroexcavationblog.com/south-texas-hydro-excavation-link-love-shale-fracking-growth/

From the article:

U.S. oil production has reversed a 30-plus year decline and, by some estimates, the country will become the world’s largest oil producer by as early as 2017 and will achieve full energy self-sufficiency by 2030.

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::…meanwhile, citizens are dropping dead of *mysterious* illnesses at  a rate parallel to the amount of fracking being done…..:: /not really snarky, but a little too close to the truth

I found a protest blog by Mexican nationals.   Again, you’ll have to use google translate.

I also found this on the detrimental decision to release control of Mexico’s oil resources to outside investors.  Combine that with this previous story on the huge reserves just ripe for fracking…and well, you can draw the picture.

Egyptians are also protesting fracking.  Can you imagine poisoning the Nile?  Good Grief.

 

Happiness that money can’t buy

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Gene Logsdon has a post up on the Christmas gifts that go against the notion that you have to buy the “latest” to make someone happy.  I’m all for the practical gift that someone will truly use and appreciate.  I would love to get a jar of homemade orange marmalade or a jar of raw honey for Christmas.

Be sure to read the comments–a former Marine bought a farm after leaving the service and he writes about it in the comments.  A truly inspiring story.  Enjoy.

Probiotics and brain function

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The more I learn about the gut and neurological health, the more amazed I am at the intricate workings of our miracle bodies…and how spot on Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride is with the GAPS diet…

I’ve been all over the ‘net this morning, reading blog after blog on probiotics.  One linked to this post on the gut-brain-skin axis.

Some of this is over my head, but it appears that probiotics help reduce inflammation after a heart attack.

Here’s a good paper on the connection between probiotics and the brain.  It is so interesting that fermented food, like sauerkraut, can contain acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.  Blows me away.

This blog has a recipe for GAPS yogurt.  Since I was very sensitive at first, I gave up on yogurt.  I tried making my own according to another member’s method of putting it in an electric skillet on low heat, but didn’t have satisfactory results.  It could have been that I didn’t use yogurt starter, but rather, used store-bought kefir.  I found out later that this brand, an expensive organic brand, was putting the live cultures back in after processing it.

Yeah, that’s not going to work.

I like her idea of using raw milk.  But since obtaining raw milk is a crime…I’ll have to go through the Mafia to get some.  /super snarky

She talks about using her food dehydrator for growing the culture, but I thought it might be easier to use a yogurt maker.  I looked at several brands, and they had automatic shutoffs at 6-10 hours, which is waaaay too short a time to allow the cultures to develop…but there was this one that follows GAPS, too.  Not having tried it, I’m not able to give any kind of review on its ease of use or reliability.