Things That Interest Me

Other than politics and reiki

Came across this article the other day and thought, not a bad idea for starters. Wastewater plants in the past have relied upon anaerobic digesters to take care of waste primary solids (big pieces de caca, corn that sinks, excess vegetables) that get past the initial screening pprocess. Why not expand that process to take restaurant wastes, using the same principle. Heck, in Milwaukee, they often take digester solids, treat it a little more and sell it as fertilizer (millorganite.) It could be done to food wastes. And if someone were really, really visionary, combine the wastes with collected green wastes (in CA they separate them) and comp[ost the whole shoting match and make high grade yard compost. It would be great. You know, though, that there would still be some swizzle sticks and straws in it, because people don't always really sort their wastes. Hint, that is why there are huge grinder pumps in wastewater plants to cut up primary solids. They can mash up old underpants, blankets, plastic bags and prophylactics so you don't know they are there. And after being in three commercial compost facilities in CA (don't ask), there are plenty of plastic bags left over in there that get sifted before the final product.

and here is an interesting, but simple approach to helping with CA drought woes. Collect rainwater and reuse it, before it goes to the sea. duh! Use it to recharge wells and for irrigation. When it comes to water reserves that are so stressed because they were designed for 20,000,000 less people than live here now, you think this would be simple stuff, but water planning in CA has always been, we can steal it from somewhere. see Chinatown. and now that the Colorado River is spoken for (it was easy for LA to take the extra water when Las Vegas was a burg and Arizona had no canal to siphon of their water rights), things like this, which seem so simple, need to be part of urban planning. Who knows, with appropriate planning the Kern River may again reach Bakersfield. Nothing like seeing a river walk and bike path with no river, except for holidays when they divert flow to make it joyous.

and maybe an expensive solution that would create jobs, but a practical one nonetheless. Upgrade irrigation practices so they can match the need. I have no room to talk as I did not finish my irrigation system this spring and have top water with a sprinkler, instead of drip irrigation, but this could save a ton. Match the needs to the crop instead of flood irrigation. Big difference. I can see flood irrigation next to the river when you grow rice, but in the middle of the desert, makes little sense. and why grow corn, that takes a ton of water, where you need to irrigate via long-distance canals. Maybe another less thirsty crop is appropriate.

and it seems like a toone is in order--



This young thing can play!!!!!!

rojo