When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine

Every dollar you spend is a vote. Every dollar you invest or save is also a vote. How can you make sure that the companies you support also support an agenda and a world vision that you agree with? And just what should you look for when trying to decide where to place your money? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they speak with Michelle Wilson, Financial Planner and owner of Athens Impact Socially Responsible Investments as they discuss the evils and advantages of money.

The average age of an American farmer is 65. More and more farmland is transitioned to other purposes, such as condos, suburban homes, or commercial properties. Each year we loose about 400,000 acres to development. So how can we reverse this trend. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they speak with Ian McSweeney, organizational director of the Agrarian Trust, and organization that seeks to transform the ownership of land using the Agrarian Commons model – transitioning vast tracks of privately held land to a non-profit community status and encouraging new farmers into the field - bringing a sense of equity and purpose to those involved in agriculture.

The world is teetering on the edge of disaster. The Great Depression – the Cold War – 9-11 – Katrina – the 2008 Economic Meltdown – Covid... Doesn't it make sense to build yourself a bunker, stock it with beans and ammunition, and wait out the Zombie Apocalypse? Is that what it means to be a “prepper.” Or is it just a common sense approach to have the skills and supplies on hand to deal with whatever emergency may come your way? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they discuss the realities of living a sustainable life.

Ah, the suburban dream. A lush, freshly cut lawn stretching as far as the eye can see. But as far as the planet is concerned, that lawn is an ecological disaster, a toxic polluting wasteland devoid of biodiversity. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the resources consumed and the environmental problems unleashed when we pursue the perfect lawn. And what are some alternatives that are a bit gentler on Mother Earth?

The raising of livestock is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas.  Our industrial meat production processes are cruel and inhumane to the animals as well as the people who work within the system. The over-eating of meat is a major contributor to the decline in health of the planet's population. So why not change things up a bit? Flexitarian is the new buzzword for those who have decided to give up a bit of meat, use meat substitutes, and generally try for a bit of moderation in their diet.   Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the various challenges and complexities of living a sustainable life.

Huge solar arrays are beginning to dot the landscape - sometimes 300 acres of them spreading out across farmland and next to highways. So what is happening? What are the dynamics that are changing the utility landscape, closing coal and natural gas power plants and replacing them with acres of solar? And is this all a good thing?   Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Jake Kuss, assistant director of the Utility Scale Solar Energy Coalition of Ohio for a discussion on utility-scale solar and how it will change the way we get energy for decades to come.

Social media, virtual reality and the advent of artificial intelligence will push us and our society more and more towards being alone – together.  A sense of isolation has become a reality for a large portion of the population.  We were not meant to live this way.  We are social creatures. Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how each of us can work to build a sustainable community where we live.

When we give birth, it is generally with the help of a midwife or a doctor who has been through the process before and knows what to do and what to say to ease us through what is, after all, a natural process. So why is it not the same with death? In the not-so-long-ago past, death was a community affair. Friends and relatives would take charge of the process, assisting the dying, helping those that would be left behind – explaining the process, washing the body, arranging for the remains. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they speak with Donna Baker, founder of Columbus Community Deathcare. She is an INELDA-trained Death Doula, hoping to revive some of the ancient rituals and practices that made the process of death a much more normal part of life.

How can we reach a world where energy generation is carbon free?  One solution being proposed is to electrify everything. First it must be understood that electricity currently only accounts for about 1/3 or all the energy we use - the rest is used in transportation (oil products) and industry (primarily natural gas).  So this two-step solution envisions an electrical grid composed of renewable generation - and all energy, for buildings, vehicles and industry - powered by this renewable grid. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of this vision - what are its goals and are those goal achievable?

Many of us dream of chucking it all and moving out into the country, living the idyllic life on a small homestead. But then there is that nasty reality of having to make a living.   Well, one option is to set up your business and property and create a non-profit homestead – opening it up as a learning center for others who have the same dream.   Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living, speaking today with Claire Orner, owner of Quiet Creek Herb Farm and School of Country Living – located in Brookville, PA

We have all witnessed a certain decline in civility within our society (some more than others).  So why can't folks just be nice to each other?  And just what does it mean to be nice?  But shouldn't we strive to be kind rather than nice – and just what is the difference? Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the nature of niceness versus kindness, how they are the same and how they are different.  And can a society really be sustainable without a heaping helping of both.

We are already dancing around the edges of universal basic income.  Of the 267 million working-age adults in America, about 100 million have already opted out of the workforce.  Artificial Intelligence soon may realistically eliminate 20 percent of all the jobs currently held by high-paying professionals.  Is it time to consider that our relationship with work is about to change in very profound ways? Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how our society may soon change in ways not seen since the harnessing of fire or the invention of agriculture.

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.

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.

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.

What is it like to live in an Earthship (a home made of tires, bottles, mud and assorted garbage)?  Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the serious topic of sustainable living - without taking ourselves too seriously. You can take a free virtual tour at www.bluerockstation.com

Probably the most important scientist that you have never heard of.   It can be claimed (and we will claim it) that William Murdoch was involved in creating or perfecting most of the major inventions that brought us through the Industrial Revolution to the modern age.  From the steam engine to the locomotive, to the automobile to the steam boat - he even invented the pneumatic tube (that thing that delivers checks at the bank) and a way to purify beer with fish.   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.

We are all going to die someday.  So how would you like to go?  Many people are opting to reject the industrialized death machine that has gradually emerged in our society - one that makes those who love you spectators rather than participants in what is, after all, a natural and inevitable end to being a part of this world.  Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they speak with Donna Baker, founder of Columbus Community Deathcare about the process of conducting a home funeral and burial options that are more natural and easier on this planet that we have come to know and love.

Lithium and specifically lithium batteries promise to be the “oil” of the coming decades. But like oil, it comes at a price. There has already been a military coup of a democratically elected government (applauded by the US govt, sound familiar?) over control of this resource. Mining practices are wreaking havoc on some regions of the world – and the transition to lithium is just beginning. But is the future of lithium all doom and gloom, or the dawn of a bright new age? Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the positives and negatives the world faces as it transitions to a battery economy – and what new sources and technologies hold promise that history does not have to repeat itself.

So you want to change the world. We know the political and social structures that helped make that possible in the past are deaf and/or broken. So how can you begin to create effective change from where you are... with the resources you have available? Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on how not to feel helpless and hopeless in a world that often feels overwhelming and dysfunctional.

After WWII the US Department of Defense decided it would be a good idea to refine Uranium for nuclear bombs in the small southern Ohio town of Piketon.  Over the decades the released vast amounts of radioactive material into the region, elevating death rates to twice the national average, causing schools to be closed due to high radioactive measurements and resulting in more than $1 billion in worker's comp claims.  Yet few people have heard of this... and they are planning to reopen and expand operations. Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Pat Marida of the Ohio Nuclear Free Network to discuss the history of this plant and an upcoming forum to be held in Piketon to address the past and future issues this plant is imposing upon the region.

Appalachia is a region that seems perpetually stuck in recession, followed by depression, followed by recession. What are some of the causes of this chronic cycle of poverty and how can the region emerge economically. Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Natalia Rudiak of Reimagine Appalachia and Ted Boettner of the Ohio River Valley Institute for a discussion of these and other issues that face the region.

According to a United Nation's study, the planet has only about 60 years of soil left. The nutrients in our soil have been so depleted that today you must eat 8 oranges to get the same vitamins that your grandparents got by eating just one. So what are the issues and what can we do about them?   Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Heather Kabler and Chitra Iyer of the Isha Foundation to discuss the Save Soil Movement and what is being done to raise awareness of this critical issue.

Cooking with the sun. Not only is it a practical solution to deforestation in third-world nations, keeping smoke and ash out of poorly ventilated buildings and causing women to risk their health and safety by walking miles for fire wood – but is also a great alternative here at home as well. Join perhaps the nation's leading expert on solar cookers, Luther Krueger, as he discusses the art and science behind solar cookers with Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station.

As the song goes... "we all want to change the world..." but how to go about it? The old tropes, call your congressman, write a letter, protest... it just seems that absolutely no one in power is listening.  So how can we, each of us, change our little part of the world. Join Annie and Jay Warmke from Blue Rock Station for a discussion on how to make "good trouble."

In case you hadn't noticed, the climate is changing and plants are dying. How can homesteaders cope with extreme weather events and a changing ecology. Well, one way is to create an environment for their garden that they can control to a certain extent. This is where high tunnels come in. A high tunnel, or hoop house is a greenhouse like structure where plants can be cultivated and raised under more controlled conditions. Join Annie and Jay Warmke from Blue Rock Station for a discussion on their experience with high tunnels, building it, the grant process with the government, and plans for how they intend to use it in the future.

The world is teetering on the edge of disaster. The Great Depression – the Cold War – 9-11 – Katrina – the 2008 Economic Meltdown – Covid... Doesn't it make sense to build yourself a bunker, stock it with beans and ammunition, and wait out the Zombie Apocalypse? Is that what it means to be a “prepper.” Or is it just a common sense approach to have the skills and supplies on hand to deal with whatever emergency may come your way? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they discuss the realities of living a sustainable life.

Huge amounts of money have been allocated by the government under the Infrastructure Law as well as the Inflation Reduction Act. So how do local recipients ensure that the funds actually benefit the local community – and not just provide wages for out-of-town workers who swoop in to build a project and then move on to follow the money? Community Benefit Agreements are one tool to make sure these funds are equitably distributed. Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Natalia Rudiak of ReImagine Appalachia in a discussion of how the region can “win the win” when these funds are allocated.

s amazing as it might seem, there is a move by some corporations (and of course the government is enacting laws to support them) to prohibit customers from repairing the products they buy – forcing them to buy new things when the old may only need a bit of upkeep. And some groups are fighting back.   Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station in a discussion of the issues and implications of corporations trying to take away your right to repair.

Solar is already the cheapest form of energy available – bar none. And the government, through a number of recent incentive programs, has just put it on sale. You almost cannot afford NOT to put solar on your home or business.   Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station in a discussion of the various tax credits and grants that are now available to make solar even more affordable and will lead to an amazing energy transition.

It seems that the Appalachian region is always in a state of recession. When times are good nationwide – nothing seems to change in Appalachia. When the nation is struggling, Appalachia feels it first and longest. Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Natalia Rudiak, special projects director at Reimagine Appalachia in a discussion of the challenges facing the Appalachian region of the Ohio River Valley and what can be done to create a vibrant and sustainable economy.

We are living through transformative times. Not since the Industrial Revolution has the energy system that powers our society changed in such profound ways. But we are too close to it to see it clearly. Over the next three years, wind and solar will make up 90% of all new energy sources. Coal is dead. Nuclear is dead. Natural gas is dying. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station in a discussion of the enormous changes that are going on around us and how it is the end of the world as we know it... and thank God!

Many of us dream of carving out a little homestead in the country – living off the land. But actually making a living this way can be quite difficult. Fortunately there are a lot of funding sources out there designed to help small farmers and homesteaders. But how can you tap into these funds? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station in a discussion of what funds are out there and how best to successfully compete for this money.