Meet at the Commonground Fair in Maine, Saturday at noon.

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3509 Location: Maine

We are going to meet to discuss peak oil and what we can do about it locally this Saturday at noon near the tent in the Energy and Shelter area of the Commonground Fair.

It's that rectangle in the energy and shelter area which is near the Rose Gate at the top left of the map:

http://www.mofga.org/TheFair/GeneralInformation/MapofFairgrounds/tabid/319/Default.aspx

Grab something to eat and meet us there! John Howe is going to be speaking there later also. He'll be there at noon also.

It's a great way to connect with peakers here in the New England area.

See you there, at the fair!
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Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3509 Location: Maine

What would you like to talk about at noon? We can discuss any aspect of the local peak oil situation. It looks like it will be a tough winter for a lot of people in New England. We could start with that. What do you think?
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Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

kpeavey · Expert Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 1321

It would take a miracle and I would have to let down a lot of people, but I wish I could be there.

Topics
First and foremost is a meet and greet. If a miracle happens and I can show up, I'll have to see that golf cart. By the way, Congrats on getting the electric vehicle registered.

1. Winter heating in a state with 70% oil based heat systems.

2. Replacing those systems with wood heat.

3. The increase in the rate of firewood harvesting possible as well as required to achieve #2 on the scale needed, equipment, training, certification, potential use of waste products, environmental impacts and replacement contingencies.

4. Alternatives to #2, e.g. solar, geothermal, crank up ME Yankee to 130% of max limits.

5. Insulation, and in no small amount or scale.

6. Networking the people aware of the problems before us, developing that network, and making do with what is available to the greatest benefit.

7. Involving local legislators and leaders, bringing them up to speed, and developing a plan, as well as a means for the region to align itself in a manner better able to withstand the winds of change.

8. Educating and informing the public. In a state where a fantastic majority of the people are far and away more independent, self-sufficient, critically thinking, common sensical and free willed than any other place I've ever seen in my entire life, all I can do is wish you well in this project.

9. Build a big saw, cut Maine free of the rest of the continent, let it float free. Those folks will make do and be just fine up theyah.

Kinda homesick this week. How do the leaves look. Any frost?
How's that Hahbah?

I clicked on a farm for sale in Cornville that made me drool uncontrollably.

Gotta go vizit muthah.
_________________
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever."
-George Orwell, 1984

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Accept the Facts.

coastie · Coal Joined: Apr 14, 2008 Posts: 15

Maine Yankee is gone. They blew the dome up a couple of years ago.

killJOY · Fission Joined: Feb 21, 2005 Posts: 2510 Location: ^NNE^

I'm staying home, as I usually do.

The point of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association event is to sell overpriced produce to urbanites and hawk "healing arts" junk.

As an organic farmer myself, I have no interest in being associated with the crystal-rubbers at MOFGA.

It's tragic: The fairgrounds are lovely. There is no "midway" and there is so much of agricultural interest there. But it is over-crowded, over-priced, and overtaken by new age claptrap.

That being said... I think John Howe is an intellectual giant in the peak oil awareness movement. But like another (part-time) Maine resident, Matthew Simmons, he is totally and utterly ignored by the mainstream Maine media.

The fact that John is relegated to preaching at the Common Ground Fair is, I think, a monumental farce and a tragedy.

In a protest letter to the Maine Blethen papers (and other news outlets) over a year ago, I voiced my outrage (and that of a dozen other signers) that the Maine media was ignoring the pleas of the likes of John Howe and Matt Simmons.

I received no reply from ANY of these sources. Not even an acknowledgment of receipt.

So, I give up. I've done my best as a mere egg in this movement. If they don't listen to Howe, they sure as hell ain't gonna listen to me.

(BTW: I sent a series of articles to the MOFGA paper back in 2005 concerning peak oil and the role of organic farming in the future. Director Russell Libby's response was that he knew about peak oil from reading Heinberg's book, but that he didn't want MOFGA "to sound like a bunch of chicken littles."

So there you go.)
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"By the time individuals discover that remaining resources will not be adequate for the next generation, the next generation has already been born. " David Price

The_Virginian · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jun 19, 2004 Posts: 1528

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3509 Location: Maine

I don't care if we are howling in the wilderness. I think it's time to talk about how we'll make it through this thing. It looks like the next 2 years will be about the economy tanking, and that will mask the worst effects of peak oil. The price of oil may not go up much but we won't be able to pay for it anyway because we'll all be out of a job. Demand destruction.

I agree Kpeavey, insulation is the key. We just visited one of my wife's cousins who lives in an old farmhouse that takes 30 cords of wood to heat. I would build a small insulated piece and live in that.

We need to do something before the whole state moves out.

We have a beautiful place here, blessed with forests, lakes and rivers. Not that much farmland, but gardens can make a lot of food.

It's time. See you on Saturday at the fair. It's a fun place!
_________________
Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

kpeavey · Expert Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 1321

30 cords of wood for the winter? Gawdamma!

If my math is right it works out to... 2 men working around the clock throwing wood into the furnace without a coffee break.
_________________
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever."
-George Orwell, 1984

______________
Accept the Facts.

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3509 Location: Maine

He told us 30 cords. Unbelievable. They have an outdoor wood boiler, so that means a lot gets thrown in at once. They are going to block off half the house and heat the rest, so that should get it down to around 10 or 15 cords. Still a ridiculous amount in my opinion.

Anyway, we'll have the solar car at the Fair on Saturday as well. We aren't allowed to drive it (we got in a little trouble for letting the boys take off with it a couple of years ago). But it will be there to check out anyway.

I'll tell people about the meeting in the morning on Saturday.

See you at noon near the Energy/shelter tent. The car is painted bright green, and will be right near the tent as well.

Bring some munchies and we'll talk peak oil.

It'll be fun, or as fun as talking peak oil can be.
_________________
Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

Woodenpaddler · Coal Joined: Jul 29, 2008 Posts: 16

I'd like to make it to the Commonground fair, if my kids are up for a couple hours ride; are there lots of things kids under 10 would be interested in?

We went to a fair in NH last weekend and the midway games and stuff just digusted me; all those cheap plastic throw-away oil-based prizes!

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3509 Location: Maine

There is no midway at the Commonground, but there are lots of things for kids to do:

http://www.mofga.org/TheFair/Areas/ChildrensAreaGardenParade/tabid/327/Default.aspx

Just wandering around the fair is really fun. There are people on stilts and all sorts of cool stuff at the fair.

Great food too!

Grab some and meet us at noon. We'll have a bright green solar car near the energy and shelter tent.

The kiddos can check out the booth right there with all sorts of energy stuff. Potato batteries and little solar panels and stuff like that. It's for kids and is really fun.

If you've never been to the Commonground you're in for a treat.
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Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

strider3700

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3509 Location: Maine

Some of these old farmhouses are like tarps wrapped around a boiler. That's why people don't live in them except in the summer. I know a family that keeps the old family homestead as a kind of a museum. They drain the pipes in the winter, but they use it as a place to get together in the summer. Nobody has any interest in living there in the winter.

Anyway the Commonground is a great thing to see if you can get there.

Check it out:

http://www.mofga.org/TheFair/tabid/135/Default.aspx

It should be in full swing on Friday!

See you peakers at noon on Saturday. Look for us by the Energy and Shelter tent.

Bring something good to eat and we'll talk peak oil.

We'll have the solar car there too.
_________________
Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3509 Location: Maine

I was just at the Commonground talking to people. So far we have a guy from Transition Towns, A guy from EV Maine, John Howe and lots of others coming Saturday at noon.

Meet by the green solar car in the Energy and Shelter section of the Fair. It's at the Maine Energy Education Program booth in the tent at the fair. We'll find a good place to talk and eat lunch.

Each person introduces themself, and then we'll each offer a way that we can ameliorate the effects of peak oil in our towns.

We all know the problem. Now it's time to talk solutions.

We'll talk for an hour or less.

See you there, at the fair!
_________________
Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

coastie · Coal Joined: Apr 14, 2008 Posts: 15

How did the discussion go?