Autumn 2001 Number 69
Off-Road Vehicles
At a local citizens' meeting at the Nature Center on August 9th participants discussed a number of options for controllng Off-road vehicle use (see ASPI Publications). All came to a consensus that an effort should be made to get these vehicles to have state registration as is done in other states. Sherman Bamford, an ASPI research associate, has completed a five month monitoring study of off- road vehicles at traditional area gathering sites which appears on our web site. His ORV Economics paper has found that leakage rates {amount of money from tourists not coming into the destination areas) is quite high. This study, a along with a second on ORV safety, are being published and will appear as an ASPI technical paper.
Nature Center
Ben Perry, our ASPt development coordinator is creating interest in fully
equipping and making
our Nature Center a place for youth to appreciate the natural treasure of
our Mixed Mesophytic Forest. He is in the process of surveying other private
nature centers in Kentucky along with state facilities and academic institutions
for ideas. Currently we are seeking funding .from a number of foundations
for capital improvements, on-going coordinator salary, and for multi-media
presentation materials for those desiring to visit or at the beginning of
tht actual visit.
Additional Lands -ASPI is in the process of acquiring 46.5 acres of
land in Laurel County
which borders the Rockcastle River for one mile across from our own property.
This purchase will ensure that the park-like woods remains unchanged and continues
to provide a scenic environment for our Nature Center. The tract is adjacent
to newly acquired U.S. Forest property and allows an unencumbered block of
land between U.S. 25 and Interstate 75 which rotects the Rockcastle River
and itsendangered orchids and mussels.
The Kentucky Solar Patnership
The Kentucky Solar Patnership (KSP) is
now in full swing with over 40 individual members and 10 organizational members.
For those who have joined and submitted comments, look for responses , on
the simplified website, http://www.a-spi.org/solar
, which is now up and running. Please visit often as changes are frequent
with up-to-date news on solar happenings. Please post any questions, comments,
or suggestions to aspi@kih.net.. The KSP
website will eventually host a number of resources, as well as information
on barriers and incentives for those interested in solar energy use. For those
without internet access, feel free to contact us by phone (606)256-0077 for
information. Since its inception
in July the KSP has done the following:
* Started a website;
* Publicized outreach program to educational organizations;
* Researched barriers to solar energy use in Kentucky (ongoing);
* Finalized electric car solar charging station - plans and purchased
equipment;
* Contacted various utilities for grid interconection requirements;
* Displayed solar car and educational cart at Woodford Co. Environmental
Conservation District Educational Fair (over
300 6th grade students from 4 schools attended) and at 2 Berea
College programs;
* Addressed Governor's Electrical Advisory Committee on net metering.
Upcoming
ASPI Events &Talks
* OCTOBER 6. 2001. Sustainable Living Conference at Abingdon,VA.
AI Fritsch and Joshua Bills present "Appropriate
Technology for Sustainability."
* OCTOBER 11 .200 1 .State Enforcement Procedures for ORV Use.
* OCTOBER 13.2001. The KY portion of the National Tour of Solar
Homes. Tour begins at ASPI's solar house near Livingston,
KY at 10:00 a.m. From there visitors can tour other homes in
the region until 4:00 p.m. For directions to ASPI's
solar house go to website or call.
606-256-0077
* OCTOBER 19. 200 1. Pre-event press viewing of electric car
solar charging station at ASPI Mt.Vernon and
a solar-illuminated U.S. flag dedication with local students at ASPI
Mt.Vernon office at 4:00 p.m.
* OCTOBER 20.2001. Electric Car Solor Charging Station Dedication.
Tours of system begin at 11 :00 a.m. and the official
dedication takes place at 2:00 p.m.
* NOVEMBER 3.2001. Peace Place Solar Photovoltaic Workshop and
Installation (9:00 a.m.), Wllllamsburg, KY. Call (606)
549-3899 for directions.
* NOVEMBER6-8. 2001. Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere
Conference at Gatlinburg, TN. AI Fritsch presents
"Monitoring Environmental Damage from Off-Road Vehicles."
Autumn Garden
- If the fall weather
cooperates we should have a wide variety of vegetables along with the season's
goldenrod, mums and other late summer flowers. Our fall produce will include:
kale, mustard, late onions, Swiss chard, beet greens, spinach, parsley, dill,
collards, Japanese radishes and turnips. Some can thrive right on to
the end of the year and others are being added to the greenhouse along with
Tommy Toes and Swiss chard -the mainstays of the early and late winter, respectively.
We have covered the late summer beds with some straw but the severe drought
(even with watering from our cistern) has harmed the fall crops. With cooler
temperatures these plants may thrive with less watering. Also this is time
to bring out the temporary cold frames which protect fall crops for an addition
two months.
Ginseng
New Face -During the autumn we
are privileged to have with us Dr. Eric Watson, a Jesuit novice of the Oregon
province and organometallic chemist by training (Ph.D. Brown University);
he is helping with our ginseng research.
Carbondale Meeting -On
that historic morning of September 11 th, Professor Laura Murphy
and research team at Southern Illinois University hosted AI Fritsch,
Frank Show (Chemistry chair of Eastern Kentucky University) and Syl Yunker
in a private research strategy meeting on the effects of ginseng on cancer
cell remission, analysis of fractions, furnishing organic materials, and a
future joint seminar on virtually wild ginseng prospects.
No Cause to Worry -It is quite
possible from results soon to be published about ginseng that commercial laboratories
will strive to synthesize one or two of the most favored ginseng components
or ginsenosides. However, this is not to be viewed as detrimental to
our work with virtually wild ginseng -an herbal medicinal valued for centuries.
Our ginseng is orgqnically grown, and the demand in
this country is bound to rise and the American demand will compete with the
lucrative Asian market.
Influential Allies -The Kentucky Office
of Agricultural Policy is assisting our ginseng marketing card and grading
system ideas. Since the program must go beyond the Bluegrass State, members
of the state administration are backing efforts to include Federal funding
for training graders and expanding state marketing offices to include issuing
of a marketing card. This would halt illegal poaching and give a fair return
to ginseng growers throughout the country. We are promised funding to develop
an open market sales system over the Internet of virtually wild and other
types of ginseng. Ginseng marketing is a focus of our 2001 study through grants
from the Educational Foundation of America and Commodity Growers Cooperative
Association.
ASPI Productons
ASPI Technical Papers-The ASPI
Solar Car by Jashua Bills tells about our vehicle and the photovoltaic
recharging system; TP 64 Nine ORV Control Options by Al Fritsch
tells our mixed success in alerting people to ORV practice and new ways
to control environmental damage and ORV misuse; TP 65 Economic Analysis
and Safely of ORV Riding by Sherman Bamford.
The 2002 ASPI Simple Lifestyle Calendar on "Appropriate Technology in Appalachia" have suffered unexpected delays due to the current national crisis. It will be available in suffcient numbers in October. We apologize for these delays and hope you like this 25th edition and the pictures custom- made for this edition. Another order form is enclosed for customer friends.
Wild Ginseng Growers Manual
is now available on our website
www.a-spi.org/agf/ginman.htm or in
hard 9 copy for $8.00. It will be a great resource for both beginners and
experienced ginseng growers.
Earth Healing Programs. The weekly television show on WOBZ-tv continues at the Saturday night prime time location as the longest running show on that station. Among new programs we have focused on three off-road vehicle shows which deal with landholders, environmental concerns and safety & economic issues.
Thanks:
(from 7/1/2001 to 9/30/2001 ) Paul Winther for an automobile, Ian Rudick,
Sr.
Catherine Arnold of Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, John Lynch & Grace
Cavanagh, Paul Buterbaugh, Stephanie Derossett, Marion McClellan, Walt Bado,
David Miracle, Sharon Rust, Philip Williams, David Cockley, Judith Pensyl,
Dr. Ronald & Maureen Marion, Fran Austin, Sue Garry, Lee Amundsen, Glenn
Ihrig, Robert Blinn, Marilla Barghusen, Dan Kendrick, Imogene Margison, Fred
Weckenmann, Kris Peterson, George & Rita Watkins,
Chris & Gina Watkins, Joe & Paffi Watkins, Rosemary L. Corsetti, Frank
Klensch, Mary D. Schulte, Kathryn Hinkle, Eugene & Sonya Hirschberg, Kathryn
McCoy, Cyril & Juliana Frey, Joanne Buchman, William & Virginia Meyer,
Charles J. Crail, Bernard & Mary Lynne Rapian, Laura Ann Rabe, Fred &
Bonnie Macneel, Francis & Mary Catherine Maurer, Suzanne Brown, Frank
& Ann Olson, John Stoeckinger, Sr. Bridget Haase, Francesca Bartos, Sandy
McFarland, Marilyn Cleveland, Shirley Reynolds, Laura Briggs, Kris Stroad
Moore, Margaret Kiekhaefer, Louise Hamel, Jim Bier, Lynn Chond, Rebecca Czarnik,
Marion
Whish List
ASPI repeats its past request for display materials for our Nature Center such as dried plants and other materials (flora, fauna, rock or other specimens). Again we make our call for scientific, nature and appropriate technology (AT) periodicals and books and want to thank those who are so generous. Currently, this is the largest AT collection in Appalachia and it is being utilized.