When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine

It is a common dream. Buy some land out in the country, build your little cabin, raise some chickens and some tomatoes and maybe a goat or two – and watch the craziness of the world sail past. But just how do you go about making this dream a reality? What should you look for and what should you avoid when seeking out that little patch of paradise? 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.

Often the news can be a bit depressing and overwhelming. But there may be hidden gems that give an indication of just how sustainable this world we live in can be. Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of a few stories in the news and their impact on our lives.

Increasingly agencies are turning to solar as a workforce re-entry pathway for those dealing with drug addiction or trying to find a career after leaving prison. Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station speak with Jimi Braswell of Clean NRG Solar Recovery who, after leaving prison, founded a successful solar installation business and employs folks like himself who are trying to get their act together after struggling with addiction issues.

We are just beginning to hear about artificial intelligence and the ways it will change our lives in the future. Is it a means to a prosperous and sustainable future – or the blueprint for the destruction of human existence? Join Annie and Jay Warmke for a discussion of artificial intelligence and how it will change our lives in the near term – and perhaps well into the future (if we last that long).

Often the news can be a bit depressing and overwhelming. But there may be hidden gems that give an indication of just how sustainable this world we live in can be. Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of a few stories in the news and their impact on our lives.

For many, the world can seem a pretty hopeless place. We are constantly bombarded with negative messages. The problems we face, both personally and globally, can feel overwhelming and without solution. But there are tools and practices that can help you take control of your responses to these negative inputs and face each day with a hopeful attitude. Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the four principles of “active hope” and how to put them into practice in your life.

You may have noticed a large number of strikingly similar signs popping up on farms throughout the Midwest protesting “No Solar on Prime Farmland.” So what and who is behind this campaign? And why are farmers protesting against this new potential revenue source? Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on this Washington DC political maneuvering posing as a grassroots campaign.

How much is enough? Is the next generation less obsessed with a big home in the suburbs? Can comfortable shelter be achieved on a small footprint... with a small budget? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they speak with Destiny Dame, a student intern at Blue Rock Station who is currently working on the $5,000 tiny home project- and contemplating how to live a life and create a business around a smaller household footprint.

The electrical grid has not changed much since the days of Edison and Tesla. The electrical system in your home has largely remained the same since screw-in fuses were replaced by circuit breakers in the 1960s. But all that is about to change. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how distributed energy (wind and solar) is changing how power is delivered to your home and how smart home devices are going to dramatically change how you consume that power.

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.

In 2004 Rural Action started a produce auction in the heart of Appalachia. In the early days, a number of volunteers and a group of Amish farmers formed the core of this enterprise. Over the years it has grown to be an economic engine within the community of Chester Hill, Ohio – as well as an unlikely tourist destination. Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion with Emily Elam of Rural Action on some of the history, projects, challenges and successes of the Chester Hill Produce Auction.

Things are always changing, often without us noticing. This is especially true in the world of solar energy. Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of a few stories in a typical week in the world of solar and how these events will impact our world, our culture and our lives for decades to come.

Just as tiny houses require all the limited space to be used efficiently for shelter – urban forest gardens use every bit of available space (side-to-side as well as up-and-down) to grow a mix of local produce. But farming in an urban setting present a unique set of challenges – from codes and zoning that may shut it down, to theft and vandalism, to tip toeing around utilities and easements. Chad Cully, graduate student in Cornell University's Natural Resources and the Environment program joins Annie and Jay Warmke from Blue Rock Station for a discussion design challenges in creating an urban forest garden.

Former congressman Zack Space (OH) joins Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for this milestone 100th episode of When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine. Congressman Space's experience in working within the US Congress as well as president of Sunday Creek Horizons - a strategic communications, issue advocacy and business development consulting firm - provides a unique perspective on the possibilities and challenges of trying to change the system from the inside.

It's easy to get the impression that everything and everyone around you is either crazy or in the process of going crazy. This is largely because it's true. Mental health is the number one illness or complaint facing those living in our soul-sick society. So how can you deal with and cope with the mental stresses of everyday life? What are some of the things you can do to try to stay sane in an insane world? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the ever changing landscape of living sustainably.

The search for energy has largely been a search for light. We have evolved from huddling around campfires, to burning candles made of animal fat, to hunting whales on the oceans, to refining oil and ultimately the electric light. This is a journey filled with adventure, fortunes, misfortunes - but mostly lies and lawyers. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of sustainable living - and the Dead White Scientists that made it all possible.

How do you construct a home or cottage from straw bales? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of sustainable living and alternative housing options.

You can't fix the system because it ain't broken. Sustainability is political. Join Annie and Jay Warmke from Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainability in this culture we live within.

More and more corporations are promoting their net-zero or carbon-neutral goals. Is this more corporate greenwashing, or is it a real thing? Can the profit-driven corporate structure really shift to embrace a long-term impact-neutral process? And what does net zero really mean? Join Annie and Jay Warmke from Blue Rock Station for a discussion about the impact of a truly net zero society.

Over one-third of American workers are employed in what has come to be called the Gig Economy. If you are between 18-35 years of age, more than half those working (53%) do not have a steady paycheck. Gig workers get no sick leave, no medical, no paid vacations. Yet the vast majority claim they would not trade the freedom this work situation provides for 'traditional' employment. Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station and their guest, gig worker and graphic artist Ryan Evans for a discussions of the pros and cons of being a contract worker.