Generating Renewable Power

I recently acquired a piece of paradise of old growth forest on a lake. I carefully followed the slope of the property and built a simple road down to a clearing where I've parked a travel-trailer. I'd really like to heat my pad with solar power and keep off the grid. Due to the density of the tree-cover this may prove a tougher task than expected! Going back to the beauty of the land, it was hard to turn down the opportunity of ownership, so removing/pruning some trees will need to happen in order to get sufficient light-flow.

The task of figuring out size of solar panels, ability of said panels to provide the necessary power, inverter, multi-point power system, length of wire, amp/hours, batteries, etc, etc is becoming an unenviable journey, but one that I and a growing number of folks are taking. And it's proving to be quite the learning curve. There seems to be a ton of info out there assisting in the setup of these systems, however the calculations needed to get the right power configuration for one's needs is difficult and can be costly. It sort of equates to organic vs. pesticide-grown foods: organic is still more expensive yet environmentally better for everyone. I will prevail and remain power pole free!

On a different note, in an endeavour to use as much of the black vinyl resulting from production of recycled record label coasters, I am introducing a new product aptly called ``Uncommon coasters`` and cut from the working part of the lp, the vinyl itself. These drink coasters are simple as they are not sealed hence over time they may show wear and have no cork underlay so both sides can be used. Still perfect as coasters without the longevity of their counterparts. Ideal for occassional usage, fun gifts, or for throwing a modern party with a retro feel.

Breaking New Ground

I recently started a new job to complement my private tree health care work and my online business. It is with a small construction company that specializes in accessing tight spaces. (www.cuttingedgeconstruction.org). Most impressive to me is the care taken not to disrupt surrounding wildlife, avoid damage to trees and the use of ground covers to reduce compaction on grassy areas. With this comes a down-to-earth attitude from all their employees. I definitely fit in.

Anyway, I digress. This is what transpired this morning and will continue for a few more days: as a groundman, shovellor, implement changer and looker-on, I'm here supporting an excavator operator contracted to dig 6 1/2 foot holes to accommodate power poles. The problem is that the ground is solid slate and maybe granite too. Yesterday, the first hole took all day with an hydraulic breaker and bucket. Today, as I watch hole number 2 being attempted I am suddenly snapped back to reality by Ram Jam's Black Betty playing on the radio through the safety muffs I am wearing. Since I started writing this blog, the line-up has been stellar: Big Bang Baby, Crazy Train, Fat Bottom Girls, Closer to the Heart, Jump...

Whoa! There's a cloud obscuring the sun - sudden coolness reminding me that the summer is waning in these parts and Fall is fast approaching (which is obvious as the Maple leaves are reddening already.) It's good to be outdoors even though the breaker is incessantly shattering the silence. I guess this can be called progression in some circles. For all of us who own dwellings, travel roads, utilize fuel and power, we accept and often forget about the march onward with new construction.

I consider working with this company as an opportunity to instill in this industry even a small amount of care and education about our environment. The consequence of disregard for our small world is rearing its' ugly head more than regularly and although I am not a tree-hugger, I care for the being of plants and the co-existence of man, machine and that which can rapidly be erased or depleted.

TNT by ACDC is pounding away in my ears. How appropriate.

Nova Scotia, Canada vs UK and Europe in Recycling

I returned recently from a fantastic, relaxing trip overseas and was amazed to see how "advanced" our methods of recycling are. Please don't let my observations diminish the beauty, tranquility and hospitality that abounds in the following countries. This is purely about recycling:

Examples:

In the Netherlands almost everything ends up in the household garbage except for drink bottles that can be returned to the grocery store, for a refund. Interestingly, there are several golf courses and green spaces built on reclaimed garbage dumps. So these areas don't literally go to waste.
In Spain where we stayed along the Costa Blanca, everything goes into the garbage and then gets thrown into a metal dumpster. Whether it gets separated on the other end is anyone's guess, however this would be easier if done at the source. There were some bottle and paper disposal containers for use by cafe's, restaurants and bars.
In England, specifically Bristol and Wimbledon, recycling was a little more important where bottles and cans can be returned and paper is set roadside and picked up. The day we left Bristol, recycling officers were making their rounds and taking notes of individuals' recyclables, which my sister said was unusual. Maybe they were doing this for my benefit!

It's become a habit in our household here in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to separate everything and throw as little as possible into the black bag. We've obviously got a long way to go in terms of recycling anything with a symbol of '3' or more and we need to continue to find new ways to reduce our waste.

So let's all do our part: reduce, re-use and recycle. And encourage our powers-that-be to cut down on the burning of coal for power and resort to wind, solar and water.

Changes to http://www.recycledlprecords.com

Just a quick note to let you know that I am presenting my recycled record products in a slightly different, updated, more user-friendly way. Easily add products to your cart and pay with PayPal. You have total control and security and we do not hold your personal charge card information - safer for everyone. (The security was the same before, only less relaxing!)

Also, shipping is now seperate as opposed to being included in the price, which could have been misleading. A shipping costs page will be up and running shortly, so please check in for our competitive rates. We will also be re-using shipping materials such as bubble-wrap, cardboard, newspaper, plastic chips, etc to keep your costs. Giving back to both you and the environment.

Please continue to re-use and recycle and plan for the future of our earth.

Until next time,

Kevin.

A new beginning.

Every now and again I acquire a big box of old LP's some of which are scratched up pretty badly and "snap, crackle and pop" their way through songs. I haven't found a good way to remedy this to produce a better sound so I recycle the records into clocks, coasters and bowls. Even the ragged old sleeves are converted into greeting cards and sent on for others to enjoy. Just to clarify, some of my creations come from records in very good condition that are common and easy to come by! Obscure and hard-to-find LP's stay in my home collection, get put up for auction or get traded.

A tip: for records that are dirty, water-damaged or smudged, take a lightly damp chamois cloth and gently rub the record from the centre outwards. Provided the cloth is smooth and soft, it will not scratch the vinyl. It makes an amazing difference to the sound quality and appearance.

Please check out http://www.recycledlprecords.com for something different.