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Biofuels From Invasive Species
Captain’s Blog,
June 27, 2009
Tacoma, WA.
I’ve just finished showing my three hens to a small group of neighborhood kids here in Tacoma, Washington. This is our second trip to Tacoma on the western circuit of our 2009 tour. Already a third trip has been planned. They are really excited about Permaculture and strong community development here and we are excited to be here. Tacoma has proven to be one of a series of dynamic communities we’ve discovered in our travels. It’s a real charge to be in a placed so jazzed about building a sustainable future.
One of the great things about being on the road and being involved with the dynamic folks who make up a growing permi community is how things come full circle. We come from Montana and just recently, we were given, by way of biofuels, a chance to revisit our home. The generous folks up at Earth Excavation just north of Seattle made their second donation of biodiesel to the tour. This time their source was Montana scratch grass. In Montana, scratch grass is an invasive weed. Using it for biofuel changes our relationship with yet another species humans call invasive, exotic, or a weed. All that means is that we either don’t know what to do with it, it stands in the way of our endeavors, or we caused the disturbance the species appearance is a response to. Using something like scratch grass is useful and far more sustainable use of the grass that the normal response of a string of failed attempts at eradication. Why attempting to eradicate such species is doomed to failure is the subject of another blog. In the end it just brings a smile to my face burning up Montana scratch grass on my way to talking with folks about the real nature of invasive species.
On another subject, I want to thank all the folks who have responded to our recent funding request. To be honest, things were looking bleak. The economy is depressed and we were feeling it. We were working hard, really spreading the word, but hanging by a thread. We were not sure we’d be able to continue on without taking an extended break to find jobs. Given the current unemployment rate, that did not bode well. We sent out a funding request to our supporters, y’all, and y’all are responding. “Ask and ye shall receive.” We asked. We are receiving and it does feel good. It can be easy on the road to get feeling isolated on the road. Your generous response lets me know that I am part of a loving community that has let us know, again and again, that y’all know how important our work is. Thank you for that.
To sum up, we appreciate the support and look forward to continuing on. The Harmony Festival was a great time and our trip into the northwest has proven to be a dynamic experience. Soon we will be heading east to make new friends and visit old ones out there. I, the bus, and the crew look forward to it.
Donate On-line:
Go to: www.permibus.org
Click on: Donate
Donate by Mail:
Make checks payable to:
Delyla Wilson.
Send to :
150 Daly Ave.
Hamilton, MT. 59840
Captain, but not Leader,
Stan Wilson
Infrastructure Coordinato
Skills Tour
permipreacher@gmail.com
www.permibus.org
“Small wheels turn by the
flywheel and rod, big wheel
turns by the grace of God(dess)…”
June 27, 2009
Tacoma, WA.
I’ve just finished showing my three hens to a small group of neighborhood kids here in Tacoma, Washington. This is our second trip to Tacoma on the western circuit of our 2009 tour. Already a third trip has been planned. They are really excited about Permaculture and strong community development here and we are excited to be here. Tacoma has proven to be one of a series of dynamic communities we’ve discovered in our travels. It’s a real charge to be in a placed so jazzed about building a sustainable future.
One of the great things about being on the road and being involved with the dynamic folks who make up a growing permi community is how things come full circle. We come from Montana and just recently, we were given, by way of biofuels, a chance to revisit our home. The generous folks up at Earth Excavation just north of Seattle made their second donation of biodiesel to the tour. This time their source was Montana scratch grass. In Montana, scratch grass is an invasive weed. Using it for biofuel changes our relationship with yet another species humans call invasive, exotic, or a weed. All that means is that we either don’t know what to do with it, it stands in the way of our endeavors, or we caused the disturbance the species appearance is a response to. Using something like scratch grass is useful and far more sustainable use of the grass that the normal response of a string of failed attempts at eradication. Why attempting to eradicate such species is doomed to failure is the subject of another blog. In the end it just brings a smile to my face burning up Montana scratch grass on my way to talking with folks about the real nature of invasive species.
On another subject, I want to thank all the folks who have responded to our recent funding request. To be honest, things were looking bleak. The economy is depressed and we were feeling it. We were working hard, really spreading the word, but hanging by a thread. We were not sure we’d be able to continue on without taking an extended break to find jobs. Given the current unemployment rate, that did not bode well. We sent out a funding request to our supporters, y’all, and y’all are responding. “Ask and ye shall receive.” We asked. We are receiving and it does feel good. It can be easy on the road to get feeling isolated on the road. Your generous response lets me know that I am part of a loving community that has let us know, again and again, that y’all know how important our work is. Thank you for that.
To sum up, we appreciate the support and look forward to continuing on. The Harmony Festival was a great time and our trip into the northwest has proven to be a dynamic experience. Soon we will be heading east to make new friends and visit old ones out there. I, the bus, and the crew look forward to it.
Donate On-line:
Go to: www.permibus.org
Click on: Donate
Donate by Mail:
Make checks payable to:
Delyla Wilson.
Send to :
150 Daly Ave.
Hamilton, MT. 59840
Captain, but not Leader,
Stan Wilson
Infrastructure Coordinato
Skills Tour
permipreacher@gmail.com
www.permibus.org
“Small wheels turn by the
flywheel and rod, big wheel
turns by the grace of God(dess)…”