March 2007
Spring is Just Around the Corner! YEAH!
The Climate Project
What a year so far! I went to Nashville to study the science of global warming along with NASA and NOAA scientists, the National Wildlife Federation board chairman (pictured) and the National Resource Defense Council lawyer that drafted the case to sue our government to put the polar bear on the endangered species list, just to name a few. All lectured to by Al Gore teaching us to be presenters using his slides from the Academy Award nominated movie "An Inconvenient Truth". I have booked 6 of my 10 requested presentations so far. Yeah! Check out my blog for write ups of these exciting events. Also forward my press release to people you think would want to host me to give a free talk on global warming.
During the 7 hour training session, Al Gore was very generous with his time. He is a true orator. He used fiery quotes off-the-cuff to inspire us which succeeded in spades!! He quoted Lincoln's annual message to Congress (1 December 1862) comparing the challenges we face today similar to the ones our country faced during the Civil War. And he quoted another Republican president, Theodore Roosevelt, the greatest conservationist president ever. This was NOT a political event but an EARTH event. And I am so honored to be a part of it.
Bush is even on board now. February 11, 2007, in his weekly radio address President Bush said, "Every Member of Congress who cares about strengthening our economy, protecting our national security, and confronting climate change should support the energy initiatives I have set out. By working together to pass energy legislation soon, we can help solve one of the great challenges facing our generation. And we can leave behind a cleaner and better world for our children and grandchildren."
The Climate Project training was a promise Al Gore fullfilled to train 1000 presenters, 200 at a time, to use the Powerpoint (or Mac's Keynote) presentation which is about the science of global warming that was used in his movie. If you have not seen it, please do. It changed my life. Really.
Randy and I both have embarked on a mission to help others understand the problem and take action to solve it. My new boss at GMAC Insurance, Flynn Galbraith said, "You sure have drunk that Global Warming Kool-Aid, eh?" Get it? Kool-Aid for Global Warming?- clever, that guy, very clever...
Follow the link to our website - http://www.TheClimateProject.org - and find my presentations in North Carolina and come on out! I could use a friendly face in the crowd. Find the USA map at the bottom of the page and find a presentation near you. Go to one or invite the presenter listed to speak at your event to help people understand the problem. It is human nature to be afraid of what we do not understand. The first step is understanding. And to help EVERYONE ON THE PLANET understand, we are throwing party. A BIG PARTY called LIVE EARTH.
http://liveearth.msn.com
Check it out on 7-7-07
S O S
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Medley Meadows will have an outdoor viewing P-A-R-T-Y on our new HDTV projector at the vineyard stage. Stay tuned!
But FIRST we must welcome SPRING on April 7th!
April 7th from 2 PM - 6 PM- Bud Break Fest with The Dreamsicles from TEXAS
Introducing The Dreamsicles - the Texas based folk/pop
duo featuring Tom Prasada-Rao and Cary Cooper. Two
voices and a guitar, intricate harmonies with a little
cheerleading thrown in, singing love songs for grown ups.
"Stealing the show was the Dreamsicles' Cary Cooper
whose duets with Tom Prasada-Rao were some of the
best I've ever heard. It's as if their voices were
destined to meet, two people connecting soul to soul."
Bryn Benson, On The Map Concerts
DO NOT MISS THIS CONCERT
Be sure to check 'em out at
http://www.thedreamsicles.com/
Come on out and enjoy an afternoon at the farm. Bring a chair, a cooler and enjoy the cool spring weather around a fire, but maybe it'll be hot as blazes - you never know. If it's too cold or bad weather, this will be a house concert, in the house set up theater style. We can get 50 or so people in the house, so come on out! Either way it's a go! Tom and Cary are coming from TEXAS. :-) SO put it on your calendar, NOW! (please ;-)
$10 per person and ALL proceeds go to the traveling troubadors from Texas.
March 11th update- Stonefield Cellars Wines will be sold during the day! We sell our grapes to Robert and Natalie Wurz of Stonefield Cellars!
Here's the full line-up:
2 PM - Dr. Brujo - Gents conjuring up jazz-rock with blues influences of originals written by Cory Myers.
3 PM - Beggar's Green
A bohemian alterna-folk trio from Winston-Salem, NC… Two guitars, a fretless bass, a harmonica, and occasionally a droning organ accompany these eclectic fellows on their campaign of the folk music highway. From melancholy bottoms to sixties-style protest anthems to compelling love songs, these gents manage to incorporate their influences into a colorful assortment of genres.
Influences: Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Nick Drake, Donovan, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Simon & Garfunkel, Neutral Milk Hotel, etc
check em out at http://hellospaceman.com/bg
4 PM - The Beautiful Creatures are Going Away - Randy and Vivian's multi-media-eco-tunz Earth Day preview
5 PM - The Dreamsicles http://www.thedreamsicles.com/
Details and Directions
Randy plays Earth Day Fair April 21
Randy will be on the main stage as a performer. Vivian will have her "The Climate Project" booth and is showing several movies in the library including "An Inconvenient Truth" and Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax" - a classic. Come on out and hear some great music and shop for services to help save the planet. I am looking for a solar hot water heater then I can take long, hot bubble baths...mmmm.... This is a great cause!
April 28th - Randy at The Soul Cafe in Durham at Duke Memorial
You gotta see this place! It is SOOO cool. This has been a dream of Frank Newsomes since as long as we've known him. We are so happy for Frank and Jill. If you have a chance, GO TO THIS VENUE SOMETIME! And please come see Randyman at the Soul Cafe April 28 at 7:30 PM! Details and Directions
Phillip Harrison of Penumbra Designs
Phillip Harrison of Penumbra Designs designed and built our Kyoro Gumi Gazebo in Spring 2005. He believes in using local materials to reduce green house gases (GHG). So he cut the trees from around our vineyard to use in his construction. This also gave the grapes more sunlight which was needed! I know, I know, which is better, to leave the trees that absorb GHG's and buy the materials from Lowes or cut down trees? According to the math (you do it, I am still learning) it is LESS GHG to get supplies LOCAL. These are the kinds of things we have to start asking ourselves. But fortunately there is help available.
In 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council established the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System to promote construction of buildings that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
Developers can earn points toward LEED certification by incorporating innovations such as recycled materials and systems that conserve water, and lighting that reduces dependence on heating and air conditioning systems.
Phillip uses these LEED methods in his construction. He is a blacksmith, timber framer and stonemason. He also teaches classes in Fine Arts and Historic Contruction.
If you have upcoming projects, please check out sustainable resources and designs.
Contact Phillip Harrison
PHarrison@PenumbraDesign.net
Phillip Harrison of Penumbra Designs
Measure your carbon footprint
Typical CO2 output per household per year
United States-54,600
Germany-27,700
Sweden-14,600
Mexico-10,600
Kenya-400
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When I first measured the carbon footprint for our household, it was an astronomical 75,000 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions per year! I was flying each week to Philly or Hotlanta or DC. It was this high even though our passive solar house emits only an average of 1200 units per month (our AVG electric bill is only $98 per month year around).
Once I quit flying and bought a Toyota Prius we are down to 40,000. We still have a long way to go to become carbon neutral. But I am researching solar and biomass and wind. There's a LOT of new gizmos to look into. Have fun with it. We are. We are even thinking of GROWING power and selling it back to Duke Power by putting a solar powered electric plant on the farm.
Check out the North Carolina Solar Center. It's a great resource that has been there a long time but is now coming back into vogue. There is a directory of professionals for the entire state to help you with your project or put your name out there to offer services!
http://www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/
Don't worry. Be happy. We'll figure this thing out. We just have to put on our thinking caps!
The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice. - Mahatma Gandhi
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better; it's not," said the Lorax.
From Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
Cheers!
Randy and Vivian
Measure your Carbon Footprint
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