When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine

Many of us dream of carving out a little homestead in the country – living off the land. But actually making a living this way can be quite difficult. Fortunately there are a lot of funding sources out there designed to help small farmers and homesteaders. But how can you tap into these funds? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station in a discussion of what funds are out there and how best to successfully compete for this money.

Nearly 30 years ago Annie and Jay Warmke quit their high-paying corporate jobs, sold their suburban home, and moved to the hills of Appalachia to build a home out of tires and mud. The goal was to live a carbon neutral – or even a negative carbon lifestyle. Many of the over 35,000 people who have visited Blue Rock Station over the years have asked - “What made you do such a crazy thing? And how did you manage it?” Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of their experience moving towards a sustainable lifestyle and the lessons learned over 30 years of living in a house made of trash.

Agriculture is rediscovering the ancient practice of managing forests as a source of food and other revenue crops (other than just harvesting trees for lumber). But there are a dizzying number of terms thrown about that each mean something to someone – each a bit different in process and intent. Terms such as food forests, forest farming, agroforestry, alley cropping, and more. Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Katherine Favor, a sustainable agriculture specialist, based in the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s Western Regional Office to try to make sense of it all.

Electric vehicles are changing the way we fuel our transportation system. They are cleaner, faster, more efficient and cheaper than the internal combustion engine. Every major car company (and many you have never heard of) are planning to convert their fleet of vehicles to all electric by 2040. But there are a number of fundamental changes that will be required to how we wire our homes, how we manage the grid, and pricing policies used by utilities that must change if we are going to make this happen. Can your home handle the requirements of an EV... can your city... can your state? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of many of the challenges we face as we electrify the transportation industry.

We are used to energy becoming more and more expensive over time. The cost of electricity has increased 7 fold since 1970. That same year a gallon of gasoline cost 36 cents. But solar energy has changed that assumption. The cost of a solar panel has dropped from over $100 per watt in 1975 to only around 25 cents today. If these trends continue - energy will soon be free. But that doesn't mean you won't pay for it. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station to discuss how energy will change over the coming decades and what that means to you and me.

Every dollar you spend is a vote. And you should only vote for those companies that support a world vision that you support. But how can you know what their world vision might be? And when you vote - how can you tell those companies you did not buy from that you voted for someone else. In other words - how can you become an annoying consumer. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for an optimistic discussion of sustainable living and living your values.

For the past decade or so, Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station have observed a three month period of non consumption - their Thanks for Nothing season. It is a break from our consumer society, where they do not buy anything - and even turn off the electricity. Find out what motivated this bizarre behavior and what lessons are learned - and how it has enriched their lives.

The concept of a food forests, integrating marketable crops into a woodland environment, managing not just the turf for planting – but every vertical layer of space – is catching on in the world of agriculture innovations. But can this concept be successful in an urban environment as we seek to provide local and sustainable food sources where we live? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion about the promise and perils of urban food forests.

How do you create or recreate a vital and vibrant downtown district? As so many cities and small towns have seen their commercial districts fall into disuse and disrepair, there is a movement to recapture the days of locally-owned, walkable business districts. Marietta, Ohio is a small town located at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers. They have actually been fairly successful in achieving this goal. Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Luke Sulfridge as he talks about his experience in renovating commercial properties in downtown Marietta.

Ohio is dealing with legacy fallout from a nuclear waste facility that has resulted in widespread contamination and soaring cancer rates. Two nuclear facilities are literally crumbling in Lake Erie and are at the center of a scandal involving bribery and the Speaker of the House and other state officials facing prison time. And power from nuclear energy simply cannot compete with wind and solar without massive infusions of public funds. So of course the Ohio legislature has decided that now is the time to create an oversight process that is not subject to public scrutiny – designed to manage and promote nuclear energy in the state behind closed doors. Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Pat Marida, anti-nuclear activist for a discussion on just what is going on with nukes in Ohio.

Even big agriculture is beginning to look at this ancient process of using our forests as a food production model and venue for crop planting and harvesting. So what is this concept, how does it work, and what does it mean for the health and vitality of our planet? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of food forests, not only regarding their economic benefits to marginalized populations, but as a restorative practice for our planet.

Like humans, many of the illnesses suffered by your pets are the result of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Yet the medical model - which extends to the world of veterinary medicine - seems fairly clueless in how to use natural remedies to keep your pet healthy and help it regain health when things are out of balance. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

In the 1950s city planners pretty much all thought that bigger was better. More growth, more business... all good. Then sometime in the 1970s folks started worrying about the boom bust cycle of development. Planners began asking how development could be more sustainable. Growing with the future in mind. Now growth must be resilient, able to adapt and weather the certain storms of climate change, changing technologies, energy interruptions. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station and their guest, Myra Moss of the OSU Extension Office to discuss resilient and sustainable development within our communities.

The history surrounding the early days of electricity involved backstabbing, double dealing, huge egos battling it out in public – the electrocution of horses, dogs, people, and even elephants. Dubbed “the battle of the currents”, this dis-information campaign pitted Thomas Edison against Tesla (and his boss, Westinghouse). Another in our Dead White Scientists series – find out what happened just over 100 years ago that led us to the electrical system (largely unchanged since then) that we use today.

Society tells us to aspire to certain ideals. We should own a big house, drive a nice car, go for that next promotion... eat this, drink that. What happens when you reject these as goals? How do you form your own path in a world that judges you against fairly rigid guidelines? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

We have heard of net zero energy. Net zero construction. But the heart of sustainability is seeking to live a net zero life. How do you get through this life with as little adverse impact on the generations that follow. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

If you have been paying attention, you will notice that the climate is changing. Plants and trees that used to thrive are dying off. Pollinators are disappearing. The seasons seem to arrive early - or late. It is too wet, then too dry. Climate change is real and it is here now. So how can we adapt our property, gardens and forests to deal with this new reality? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the various challenges and complexities of living a sustainable life.

In a world where it is often a struggle just to get through the day, how is it that some people seem to thrive. What does this involve and how do you get into that state of mind. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on how not to just get by, but to thrive.

Many of us feel that there must be something wrong with us in that we enter college not know what we want to do in life, leave college equally uncertain, enter a job, question that decision, and then seemingly wander through life along an aimless and crooked path. But such a course is likely the norm rather than an exception. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a conversation with Alex Nash about her journey from intern to college to job to Peace Corp to college to job to whatever comes next.

A recent report shows the average cost of electricity rose more than 15% from 2021 to 2022. Yet the cost of producing electricity has fallen just as dramatically over recent years. Why is this happening and what will happen in the future? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion the impact of fear, greed and the weather in the world of electric utilities.

In 2021 Amazon shut down all their solar electric systems on their buildings because an incredible 12% of them caught fire since being installed. So does solar PV present a significant risk or was this just a case of shoddy installation? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of rooftop solar and the risk it presents for fires.

Most of us are just getting through the day. But there are a few among us who seem to thrive – embracing each new dawn as a joyous opportunity. How do they do it? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

What is cultural appropriation and how does it differ from cultural appreciation? Is it a real thing, or just a Twitter excuse to be offended by just about everything? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for an inappropriate discussion about cultural appropriation.

It's hard enough to make a living in agriculture. But for women and those who identify as non-binary, it can be an incredible challenge. What are the unique challenges they face and how can they overcome them? Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Stephanie Enloe, Director of Programming at WFAN (Women Food & Agriculture Network) for a discussion on programs available specifically for women and non-binary people in agriculture.

Two things are happening at the same time. America is becoming much less religious, and our sense of community is crumbling. Are these related? Does one cause the other? And as religion wains, what will take its place? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on the intersection of organized religion and a sense of community.

Congress recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act which, among other things, will dramatically change the world of renewable energy in ways so profound that we will probably be discussing it for generations. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on what is contained in this landmark legislation and how it will affect your life as well as the renewable energy industry as a whole.

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Dawn Hewett, editor of Bird Watcher's Digest, in a discussion of the impacts of global warming and our non-sustainable lifestyle is having on the bird population. Since 1970 more than 3 billion birds have disappeared from our modern day version of nature. What is happening, what does it mean, and how can we minimize the impact on our planet?

Different generations have very different perspectives on how the world looks and feels. A global climate crisis, dysfunctional government and media, too many choices, changing perspectives on race, religion and sexuality. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion with post millennials Anna Haught and Dalia Fabb-Soto for a discussion of what they feel they and we can do to address these issues.

Different generations have very different perspectives on how the world looks and feels. Is it the end of the world as we know it, or has it always been thus? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion with post millennials Anna Haught and Dalia Fabb-Soto for a discussion of where they feel the world has been and issues that will affect their generation.

Globalization and genetically modified food has led to a world where nearly every plant can be harvested and shipped nearly every week of the year. While this is convenient - it is not natural. And can lead to some serious problems. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

Hate to break it to you, but we are all going to die. Yet the way we dispose of those final remains has become more and more unsustainable. Cemeteries are full or filling up, cremation fills the skies with toxins and greenhouse gases, hundreds of thousands of cancer-causing fluids are pumped into dead bodies to make them look a bit more lifelike. So alternatives are increasingly the norm - from reusing graves to dissolving bodies in lye to paper coffins to home burials. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the problems associated with getting rid of our corpse and some possible solutions.

Solar energy is one of the most disruptive technologies in the history of mankind. It is about to displace the fossil fuel industry and change the world in ways we can barely imagine. So what are some of the changes and technologies that are underway - often below the radar of most people's experience. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the 10 new innovations and changes in solar energy that will change the world.

Battery technology is the next great technical frontier. As we transition to renewable energy, we face the reality that the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow. So how do we store energy when it is abundant and use it when we need it. We are in the very beginnings of an industrial revolution that will transform our society in ways we can only barely imagine. Join Annie and Jay Warmke as they discuss the next big things in battery technology and how these innovations will soon change your life.

For the past 30 years or so, the Internet has changed our lives in ways we could not have imagined. It connected 7.5 billion people together regardless of time or distance. But we ain't seen nothing yet. The Internet of Things has already connected nearly 30 billion "things" together, and that number is poised to grow exponentially. Is this amount of data bombarding us constantly sustainable? Can our brains cope? And have we become so technologically dependent that we are hopelessly disconnected to the world that we live in? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how the Internet of Things will change our lives and our society - for better and worse.

We are used to energy becoming more and more expensive over time. The cost of electricity has increased 7 fold since 1970. That same year a gallon of gasoline cost 36 cents. But solar energy has changed that assumption. The cost of a solar panel has dropped from over $100 per watt in 1975 to only around 25 cents today. If these trends continue - energy will soon be free. But that doesn't mean you won't pay for it. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station to discuss how energy will change over the coming decades and what that means to you and me.

Fuel cells are a technology that has been around since the early 1800's. Every decade or so, the scientific press gets all excited about them and declare that their emergence as the next big thing is "just around the corner." Yet that corner always seems to recede into the distance. So why does this technology never seem to catch on? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the myths and realities of fuel cell technology and why it is the technology of the future... and always will be.

Many of the illnesses suffered by your pets are the result of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. So what are some of the healthy, natural, and sustainable ways you can feed and care for your pets without breaking the bank or incurring massive vet bills. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

Out picture of the family farm, Aunt Bea and Uncle Joe pushing the plow, raising a few cows, tending the vegetable patch – hate to break it to you – but it's a myth. Maybe it has always been so, but farming is a large corporate affair, riddled with insurance fraud, corporate welfare, crushing debt – and a relentless push toward mono culture food-like substances. Join Annie and Jay Warmke for a discussion about sustainability and how it affects our lives.

Since the dawn of time women have dominated the field of agriculture. But it has only been recently that the US government even acknowledged that women farmers exist. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the unique issues and challenges women face when they decide to dedicate themselves to agriculture - and what programs are available that are designed to help.

According to a United Nation's study, the planet has only about 60 years of soil left. The nutrients in our soil have been so depleted that today you must eat 8 oranges to get the same vitamins that your grandparents got by eating just one. So what are the issues and what can we do about them? Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Heather Kabler and Chitra Iyer of the Isha Foundation to discuss the Save Soil Movement and what is being done to raise awareness of this critical issue.

Early settlers of America found the most comfortable homes were often similar to those inhabited by the Native Americans who had survived in this climate for thousands of years. Early residents of Philadelphia built cave homes along the Delaware River - but where forced to abandon them when William Penn decided they were not "British" enough. Homes made of sod, grass, mud, and yes - even log cabins dotted the landscape. So what did the early pioneers build and why? And why did it all change? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of dead white scientists and their continuing impact on the realities of sustainable living.

What is social justice and why is it not incorporated in all aspects of life, business and our culture? What can we personally do to help promote a culture of fairness and equity in our everyday activities. Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Jarod Marsh, who recently graduated with a degree in human rights and sustainability from the University of Dayton - then packed off to India to experience whether not the world reflected the theory.

Huge solar arrays are beginning to dot the landscape - sometimes 300 acres or more... spreading out across farmland and next to highways. So what is happening? What are the dynamics that are changing the utility landscape, closing coal and natural gas power plants and replacing them with acres of solar? And is this all a good thing? Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Jake Kuss, assistant director of the Utility Scale Solar Energy Coalition of Ohio for a discussion on utility-scale solar and how it will change the way we get energy for decades to come.

We have all had periods in our lives when there there are pressures that seem determined to suck the joy out of life and lead us down a path of constant toil. For some this is a terminal condition. We all have to work to live... but do we need to live to work? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on how to find the right balance between work and living your life.

The world is your buffet if you only know what to look for and where to look. Not only is every walk in the woods full of plants that are nutritious and delicious - but there is also a free medicine cabinet out there packed with remedies for what ails you. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they are joined by Laurel Hobden for a discussion what naturally healthy plants are waiting for you in your back garden or along your favorite woodland trail.

Solar energy is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. It currently produces about 3% of the US electricity - but is anticipated to generate as much as 30% within a decade. And as is true with any large industry - it will create its share of problems. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the environmental problems the growth of solar energy will generate for our planet - from mineral extraction, to pollution during manufacturing, to how to deal with the waste stream when the systems grow old and fail.

The industrialized food industry has discovered that a growing number of people are hungry for meat alternatives. Everyone from fast food restaurants to mega grocery stores are rolling out their meat alternatives. But are these fake meat products healthy (as claimed)? Just what is in this stuff? Join Annie and Jay Warmke as they discuss the evolving world of fake meat - coming to a grocery store near you.

As solar goes more mainstream, we are beginning to see solar “aluminum siding salesmen” knocking on doors and trying to sell homeowners systems that are overpriced and may or may not meet the needs of the household. We are seeing misleading advertisements claiming there are “new incentive programs for your zip code” that the utility companies “don't want you to know about.” So how do you separate the truth from the BS? Every six months, the solar consulting company Energy Sage publishes a comprehensive study, asking solar installers around the nation questions about how the business has changed and what things really cost in the market today. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of this report's findings and what you should expect to pay should you decide to put solar on your roof.

Increasingly there is a growing awareness that the world is in crisis. Four years of Trump, two years of Covid, the outbreak of war in Europe... people are reaching an emotional breaking point. Well clearly the sad reality is that difficult and troubling things happen in each of our lives. But how do some seem to deal with this stress better than others? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how to create emotional resiliency in your life.

Ah, the suburban dream. A lush, freshly cut lawn stretching as far as the eye can see. But as far as the planet is concerned, that lawn is an ecological disaster, a toxic polluting wasteland devoid of biodiversity. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the resources consumed and the environmental problems unleashed when we pursue the perfect lawn. And what are some alternatives that are a bit gentler on Mother Earth?